What does Christmas mean to you?

It’s that time of year! The time when it’s hard to find a parking spot at the shopping centre. The time when you are trying to think what on earth you should buy for that aunt or friend who seems to have everything. If you have school children, it’s the time when there are break-ups, parties, concerts and end-of-year reports. It’s the time when you ‘bake and take’ food to various places. Is it a time you enjoy and look forward to, or is it a time you endure, waiting for January to come so you can recover, and work out how to pay the credit card bills?

Take some time this Christmas to think about the baby who was born in a stable and placed in a manger, the one who will be king over the whole earth. If you enjoy singing why not get together with friends to sing some Christmas carols, or read the story of the wise men visiting Jesus in Matthew 2 or the shepherds’ visit in Luke 2. There is so much more to Christmas than tinsel and presents. Include Jesus now!

Holiday hours

The Dandenong Bible Education Centre shop and library will close for the Christmas holidays on Thursday December 24 at 2pm. It is planned to reopen on Monday January 18 at 10am. During the holiday break, classes will continue to run on Sundays.

Gift idea

Don’t forget gift vouchers are for sale at the Bible Education Centre. Buy them for your friends and let them choose their own presents from our range of books and gift items.

Christmas – the birth of new hope

This fascinating two-night course explores the intriguing background to some of the traditions of Christmas. It sheds some light on the true story as told in the Bible, and its phenomenal impact on the world. Attending this course would be a great way to find true meaning and encouragement amid the festive blur.

What? 2-night course
When? Thursdays, December 10 & 17
Time? 8:00pm - 9:15pm

New Life Class

11.30–12.30 Sundays

December 6 – What does the world need from God: Justice or mercy?
December 13 – Israel - chosen or rejected?
December 20 – Who was John the Baptist?
December 27 – Faith, hope and love

Christmas Eve service

Join with us in a special Christmas worship service and celebration. Remember the birth of Jesus before starting Christmas day. Christmas can be so much more than presents and parties. It can be a time to remember that a little baby was born in very humble circumstances to a young virgin. From these small beginnings came one who will be the king of the whole world, and who is the son of the Almighty God. If Jesus hadn’t been born, we would have no hope for life everlasting. But he was born, he did live a sinless life and he did die for those who would believe in him. So think of his humble beginnings at this Christmas worship service.

What? Christmas worship service
When? Thursday, December 24
Time? 7:00pm

Tree of Knowledge

Please view the PDF version of this file to see this section of the newsletter

Did you know?

Christmas carols and children’s Bible storybooks talk of the “Three Wise Men” who visited baby Jesus. Did you know that the Bible record doesn’t say how many wise men visited?

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
Matthew 2:1-2

These wise men (called “Magi” in some versions) brought three gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh - which has suggested to some people that there were three wise men.

As well as this, the wise men visited Mary, Joseph and Jesus in a house, not in the stable where he was born some time earlier (Matthew 2:11).

All our plans are “God willing”

Great holiday reading! “Exploring the Bible” by H. A. Whittaker

This book is available in the library for loan or can be purchased second hand for $3.

In the preface the author writes, “A strong appeal is made here to readers not to be content to be always spoon-fed in Bible instruction. If these chapters do not send readers back to the Book to explore and study and think for themselves, they have failed utterly in their aim.”

So here is a book which is intended to help the reader to find ways that will help in the study of the Bible. The author does not aim to tell the reader what to do with the Bible, or what to think about the Bible. Rather, he wishes to show a number of different ways that the reader can study the Bible to help them to learn more detail of God’s message to mankind. The author encourages the Bible reader to read with care and also to look for similar passages in different parts of the Bible to gain a fuller understanding of the part being read. He speaks of the symbolic language in some sections of the Bible, the parables and miracles in other parts. There is a chapter on using a concordance, to help in your hunt for a particular word throughout the Bible, and another chapter on using your imagination to fill out the details of Bible passages.

These and many other helpful ideas are packed into this small paperback book with under 150 pages. So if you are looking for something small and thought provoking to read over the Christmas period, this could be the book for you!

Remember this book is available in the library and also as a second hand book, so come and visit us soon for a copy.

Hooray!
Certificate of Occupancy arrives!

Many prayers of thanks to God were said as the welcome news came. A Certificate of Occupancy has been granted for the Dandenong Bible Education Centre. So now you have the opportunity to come and see the new centre. It is planned to open on Monday October 26, at 10am. Why not be there to meet the staff and take a peek at the changes. We think you’ll be pleased with what you see. Don’t forget the new address:

118-120 Foster Street, Dandenong.

New Life Class

11.30–12.30 Sundays

All are welcome to attend this class which considers a variety of Bible topics. A light lunch will be served afterwards.

October 25 – Jesus – I’ll be back soon!
November 1 – Becoming a householder
November 8 – Growing the fruit of the Spirit
November 15 – Does it matter what you believe?
November 22 – Pagan Christianity
November 29 – The message of the Bible
December 6 – What does the world need from God: Justice or mercy?
December 13 – Israel – chosen or rejected?
December 20 – Who was John the Baptist?
December 27 – Faith, hope and love

Just for fun!

Q: Why couldn’t Noah talk to the goats?
A: Because they kept on butting in!
Q: What is as big as an elephant and weighs nothing?
A: His shadow!

Bible Study Weekend
Fri Oct 30 – Sun Nov 1

Join in the rejoicing at the new, improved Bible Education Centre. The theme for the weekend is:

“Jacob – Learning to Lean”

Three Bible study sessions are planned, to discover more about the Bible character, Jacob. From this we can learn more about how we should be leaning on God too.

The program is as follows:

Friday October 30

8:00pm: Dedication and worship evening, followed by supper, chatting and playing board games.

Saturday October 31

4:30pm: Study 1 – Living in a Tent
6:00pm: Dinner
7:30pm: Study 2 – Relinquish

Sunday November 1

9:30am: Study 3 – One manner of people
11:00am: New Life Class – Becoming a householder
1:00pm: Lunch

What is the origin of species?

2009 marks the 150th anniversary of the publishing of the book “The origin of species” by Charles Darwin. 50-year-old Charles published this book on the 24th November 1859, and it has had a great impact on the ideas of many about the origin of all that is around us in the natural world. His theory was that the variety of plants and animals around us gradually came into being over millions of years through small changes. This theory directly challenges the clear statements in the Bible that there is a creator (the Almighty God) who made everything by speaking and it happened. For example we read,

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth... And God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light” Genesis 1:1,3

“And God saw everything that he had made and behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31

Although the theory of evolution is accepted as a fact by many people, it remains unproven. In fact there are many problems with the theory, and there are many scientists who do not accept that what we see around us came about by evolution. They are convinced that it is God who is the origin of species!

God is the origin of species!

Featured Library Book

“The case for a creator” by Lee Strobel

A journalist investigates scientific evidence that points toward God.

This paperback book is available in the library of the Dandenong Bible Education Centre. Why not borrow it soon? To join the library there is a once-only fee of $5.

During his academic years, Lee Strobel became convinced that God was outmoded, a belief that coloured his ensuing career as an award-winning journalist at the Chicago Tribune. Science had made the idea of a Creator irrelevant - or so Strobel thought.

But today science is pointing in a different direction. In recent years, a diverse and impressive body of research has increasingly supported the conclusion that the universe was intelligently designed.

At the same time, Darwinism has faltered in the face of concrete facts and hard reason. Has science discovered God? At the very least, it’s giving faith an immense boost as new findings emerge about the incredible complexity of our universe. Join Strobel as he re-examines the theories that once led him away from God. Through his compelling account, you’ll encounter the mind-stretching discoveries from cosmology, cellular biology, DNA research, astronomy, physics, and human consciousness that present astonishing evidence in “The case for a creator”.

Free presentation: Evolution is not a fact

7.30pm, Wednesday October 28, at the Knox School, Main Auditorium, 220 Burwood Hwy, Wantirna South

All our plans depend on the will of God.

118-120 Foster Street – get ready to visit!

Exciting things are happening at 118-120 Foster Street. By the time you read this, the carpet and vinyl should have been laid. The kitchen is already installed and tiling is finished. Many paint tins are empty and the walls are all painted. So much has been completed with God’s help, and we feel we are heading for the “finish line”! As with many building works there have been delays, but God willing all will be ready for opening in coming weeks. Watch your letterbox for a Term 4 course brochure with the shop opening date on it. We cannot give the date yet, as we must wait for our Certificate of Occupancy before moving in and a few vital jobs need finishing first.

We are sure you will want to come and visit the new Dandenong Bible Education Centre! There is a coupon for a half-price book in the PDF version of this newsletter. Print it out and keep it in a safe place, for we expect to be open before the end of this month.

Watch your letterbox in coming weeks for Term 4 course s and shop opening date!

Mission Sunday, October 4

11.30–12.30 at ‘The Walker Street Gallery’

Come to the Gallery (corner Robinson Street and Walker Street) this Sunday to hear about “The gospel in Bangladesh”. Phil and Ros from Albury have spent considerable time in Bangladesh, visiting each year for a few months. They have much interesting material to share about life in this poor country and the spread of the gospel there. Join us to hear more.

New Life Class

11.30–12.30 Sundays

The New Life Class subjects planned for coming weeks are listed below. God willing, these will be held at 118–120 Foster Street (subject to a Certificate of Occupancy!).

October 18 – Blasphemy - does it really matter?
October 25 – Jesus – I’ll be back soon!
November 1 – Jacob have I loved
November 8 – Growing the fruit of the Spirit
November 15 – Does it matter what you believe?
November 22 – Israel – chosen or rejected?
November 29 – The message of the Bible

All our plans depend on the will of God.

Something to think about! Mobile phone versus the Bible

Have you ever wondered what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our mobile phone?

• What if we carried it around in our bags or pockets?
• What if we flipped through it several times a day?
• What if we went back to fetch it if we forgot it?
• What if we used it to receive messages?
• What if we treated it as if we couldn’t live without it?
• What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
• What if we used it when we travelled?
• What if we used it in case of emergency?

Does this make you want to go and get your Bible to read? Just imagine how much closer to God we would be if we used our Bibles in the way we use our mobile phones ... and as often! Try it today.

There is an additional puzzle in the PDF version of this newsletter