I am just back from 2 weeks in the United States. It is so good to be home, back in my own bed. I will be enjoying going through the mail and catching up with family. It is an important time. But if I were to spend the rest of the year at home, with my mail and my family, you will probably think I am selfish.
It is an important life principle. It is easy to be consumed by our own needs and concerns. This applies both as individuals and as a church.
Hence Self Denial. Once a year we remind ourselves that we as Opawa Baptist exist not for ourselves. We use material from Tranzsend, the Baptist missionary agency, as a tool to help us explore our values and our lifestyles.
The theme of Self Denial this year is “Found Wanting.” In the face of world poverty, will we focus on our own needs, or the needs of others? In the face of God’s love for this world, will we focus on our own needs, or the needs of others? Financially as a church we are slightly behind budget. It is tempting to focus less on Self Denial. But that would cause us to be “Found Wanting.”
Practically, there is a “Found Wanting”clay bowl available for everyone to take home. Over 3 weeks we will focus on the theme of the theme of Found Wanting - in our prayer, worship, preaching. Each of us are invited to consider what we might give in prayer and finances. Sunday 23 July we will collect up the bowls and give the money to the work of God in the world outside New Zealand.
Let us use the weeks of Self Denial to consider our life balance.