Hello church,
I’m writing this email from Melbourne airport as Matt and I wait to board our flight home after an excellent conference on the book of Leviticus, which we’ll get into at church next year. We’re very thankful to have had the time to step out of the usual weekly routine to think deeply, to be stretched by great teaching, and encouraged in fellowship with other pastors from around the country. And it’s been fun to spend a bit of time hanging out together in airport lounges and over meals!
But perhaps the biggest thing that has stood out to me from a couple of days in Leviticus, is just how REALLY good and true the love, justice, freedom and hope we have in Jesus is. Leviticus is all about the holy God making a way to live with his people, despite their ongoing sinfulness. Again and again, it highlights how wonderful Jesus us! If Leviticus shows us God’s loving pursuit of his rebellious people, it is Jesus who shows us the extent of this love. Where Leviticus teaches us about our total dependence on God’s mercy in the face of his justice, Jesus teaches us that he is the one who makes both justice and mercy possible. Where Leviticus highlights the pervasiveness of sin, it is Jesus who offers us real freedom from sin. And built into the relentless cycle of sacrifices in Leviticus is a hopeful longing for things to be different – a hope that finds it’s fulfillment and certainty in Jesus.
I’d love to hear what has stood out to you from our Good and True series. Feel free to hit reply and let me know. And perhaps this Sunday’s AGM after church can be a great time for praying that our church would continue to revel in the goodness and truth of Jesus – for our great joy and his great glory.
In Him,
Simon
Upcoming Dates:
Sunday April 28 – Trinity Church Brighton AGM, straight after church
Saturday May 11 – Adelaide Men’s Convention. https://www.adelaidemensconvention.org
Saturday May 25 – Grace Conference for Women. http://www.graceconference.org.au
Saturday June 8 – Ladies Dessert Night at the Marshman’s