Memorising Scripture

One of the great ways to allow God's word to dwell in us is to memorise parts of scripture. This video shows two guys from a student Christian group at Harvard University reciting 2nd Timothy (such an awesome book to memorise too!).



You may not be ready for such a big challenge, but why not start with key verses from John 1-8??

CBM Ball and NTE

As we draw near to the end of the year I wanted to let make sure everyone knows about two events:

The CBM Ball is on Saturday November 6th from 7pm at the UWS Parramatta Rec Hall. The Cost is $35 for CBM Member or $40 for non members (membership is $5!!) Theme is Masquerade. The best way to RSVP is on Facebook - just search for CBM Ball 2011!

National Training Event is run by AFES and is being held in Canberra from December 3rd to 7th. The theme for this year is "In Christ". The costs start at $265 (for camping accom), but let us know if you can't afford the full amount. The website is here:  http://nte.org.au/

Check out the video:

NTE2011 - In Christ from AFES on Vimeo.


Looking forward to seeing you at CBM.

Questions for God???

During week 4 we are hosting two meetings where you will have your chance to ask your "Questions for God" - and we will try to give some answers.

Tuesday 23rd August and Thursday 25th Augst  in Building 1, Room 1.81.

If you have questions you would like us to try and answer, please add them below (or write them on the question sheets at the CBM stall in Building 1).

SEMESTER 2 MEETING TIMES

Welcome back for Semester 2. Here are our meeting Times:

In week 1 we begin our Main Meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-2pm in Building 1, Room 1.1.081.  We will begin looking at John's gospel with "Introducing the Real Jesus - The Word of God (John 1:1-18)".  please feel free to come along and invite your friends to these meetings any week!

In week 2 we will start the smaller Bible Study groups on Monday and Wednesday 1-2pm in the Chaplaincy (Building 10).

We will also have two groups for International Students (in Chinese - Mandarin), on Monday from 3pm and Wednesday from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm. These groups will also be held in the chaplaincy in Building 10.

If you would like more info please contact me at cbm.bankstown@gmail.com

Looking forward to seeing you on Campus.
. . .

What was the Tabernacle? (Hebrews 9)

We were recently looking at Hebrews 9 and saw that the earthly Tabernacle from the time of Moses was only a fore-runner to the heavenly tabernacle where Jesus served. But what did the earthly tabernacle (from the time of Moses) look like?  Here is a picture (of a model):

The passage from Hebrews 9 describes it this way:

1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover.[a] But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. (Hebrews 9:1-5)

It can help to see a plan as well:

Eventually the tabernacle was replaced by a Temple in Jerusalem - built by king Solomon. This was destroyed when Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians. The second temple was finished around the time of Jesus and looked something like this (it was destroyed in A.D. 70):

So what was the value of this ministry? The writer to the Hebrews is clear that it was not really satisfactory - that it couldn't really 'clear the conscience' - it couldn't really provide forgiveness of sins:

6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order. (Hebrews 9:6-10)

The great news is that Jesus has a better priesthood - because he is sinless and because he offers himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. His sacrifice is made once and for all time on the cross of calvary, but it is also said to be made in the true, heavenly sanctuary.

24 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:24-27)

In chapter 10, the writer of Hebrews urges us not to waste the privileged access we now have to the Father through Jesus:

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:19-25)

What a great privilege to 'boldly approach' the God of the Universe knowing that we are forgiven through the blood of Christ and that he longs to hear our requests!

Video: Follow by Igniter Media

I love this video that higlights the drama of the Easter story as it might have appeared on Social Media.


Follow from Igniter Media on Vimeo.


Throughout the course of his public ministry, Jesus knew both the adoration and desertion of the crowds. Today, just as 2,000 years ago, the gospel asks a question that demands an answer: Will we follow?

..

Does God Care about Suffering - Week 5

I want to let you know about out special topic for our Main meetings in Week 5.

In the light of recent disasters like Floods, Cyclones, Earthquakes and Tsunamis, we will look at the question of Suffering:

Does God Care about Suffering?

Can He Do Anything about it.

Tuesdays 1-2 pm (29th March) Room 23.41 Thursday 1-2 pm (31st March) Room 23.41

Please come along and invite your friends. Extra flyers to hand out will be available in the foyer of Building 1. Check out this website:

Small Group Bible Studies - Semester 1

Our Main Meetings are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-2 pm in Building 23 - usually Room 41. Our topic for most of the semester will be the Letter to the Hebrews. We will be thinking about the fantastic things we learn about Jesus from this awesome letter.

Our small group Bible studies are for those who can't make it to the main meetings or for those who want to go to a second Bible study.

Mondays at 10 am, 12 midday or 1 pm in the chaplaincy rooms, Building 10.
Wednesdays at 1 pm inthe chaplaincy rooms, Building 10.

Our Chinese (Mandarin) Bible studies are on:
Mondays 3 - 4 pm (contact Raymond on 0425 766 991) or
Wednesday 11:30 - 12:30 (contact Wilkinson on 0413 717 975)

If you can't make any of these times please let us know . . . (cbm.bankstown (at) gmail.com)

Welcome to UWS Bankstown for 2011

Dear friends,

Welcome (or welcome back) to UWS Bankstown and CBM for 2011.

This year we are planning be be an active group on campus - having a public presence during the first weeks of the year and having a number of groups at various times.

Our Main Meetings will be on Tuesday and Thursday from 1-2 PM, initially in Building 23 (Lecture Rooms 41 or 40). We will start off with Bible Studies on the letter to the Hebrews - a book which gives us a great understanding of who Jesus is and what he has done for us. The study is the same on Tuesday and Thursday.

We also have Chinese (Mandarin) Bible studies on Mondays and Wednesdays. Contact Reaymond Leung for more details.

From week 2 we will also have small group Bible studies on Mondys and Wednesdays. These are especially for those who can't make it to the main meetings of if you want to get another Bible study.

All our meetings are open to Christians (of all denominations)and to those wanting to find out more about the Bible or Christianity. You will be very welcome!

We have a great team of people helping with the ministry on campus. These include Richard Blight, Tim Willson, Peter Barnes, Scott Donnan and Chris Atahavle. Raymond Leung and Wilkinson Hu are especially ministering to the Chinese students. Feel free to contact us if we can help in any way.

Do look for us at the table in the foyer of Building 1 and say hello. Drop us an email at cbm.bankstown@gmail.com to ensure you are on the list to get updates about upcoming events.

We look forward to seeing you on campus.

Standing For Jesus at Uni

Sometimes we get asked what CBM is on about - what we stand for.

We are affiliated with the national organisation AFES (The Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students). They have produced this video to help explain what we stand for.

AFES stands for Jesus from AFES on Vimeo.

Let us know what you think

:)