PriesthoodDarkness1 Peter 2:9WhanaketiaAbuse in CareRoyal CommissionInter-dependenceChrist's authorityEphesians 1:22-23Camp DayJusticeGoodAmos 5:15Esther 6:12Regional SummitsTraining leadersMatthew 24Jesus' returnBirth painsCatastropheCrisisPrejudiceEsther 6:6Langham PreachingChrist's humilityPrideHamanEsther 3:5Gordon FountainChairWorkshopsShepherdingEmmett Street Community ChurchTaurangaEnd of all thingsComing of Jesus1 Peter 4:7Church Street Bible ChapelGod's timingGod is with usWinter experiencesPsalm 22:1Feilding Bible ChapelPreaching trainingConfidenceLamentations 4:17Stand FirmHeretaunga Community ChurchRowley Bible ChurchGod's graceClimateWeatherLamentations 4:13Youth CampChurch communityRevelation 7Jesus' righteousnessGod's judgementLamentations 4:21Father's DayTuvalu Brethren AssemblyMatthew 26FriendPathways Bible CollegeDeveloping leadersDig & DiscoverEvery peopleEvery languageEvery tribeEvery nationRevelation 7:9Women's retreatPastroLinkNew selfNew creationColossians 3:10Matthew 5:14LightParenting CourseDeveloping preachersColossians 1:4-5Māori Postal AotearoaTākaka Christian AssemblyKaikōura Gospel AssemblyMarlboroughNelson-TasmanServe like JesusAuckland SummitSchool holiday programmeBible conferenceChristian Korean ChurchAbrahamSustainerRevealerHeirHebrews 1:1-2HolidaysKids' programmeGiftEphesians 2:8-9Karakariki Christian CampAgora ChurchCommunicationWordTim CourseLongviewAshleigh TrebilcoGospel & CultureHebrews 10:19-22Nehemiah 9:6UnverseCreatorTorrey HiltonNelson SchonfeldtGreg BurgessWinter Bible SchoolWairakei Road Bible ChurchBryndwr Chapel1 Peter 4:9Leadership TeamDr Darrell BockChurch @ 109PastorLink RetreatSermon sharingChurches coming togetherOtago SummitCCCNZ TeamDr Murray HarrisNorthland2 Corinthians 7:5–6Matthew 26:39Halswell Community ChurchPaul WindsorTraining preachersLanghamGod's goodnessPsalm 103:1PraiseInvercargill Bible SchoolRomans 3:10-12RighteousnessSinMark van Wijk1 John 4:10SubstituteHawke's BayRegional GatheringThe Orchard ChurchGreerton Bible ChurchKylie BrownLifezone ChurchStaff DayDave BradleyTrustPsalm 146:3Luke 9:1Community outreachBethel Christian FellowshipWillow Park Christian CentreKakariki Christian CampWeaknessPowerBay of PlentyMen's breakfast1 Corinthians 2:2ConflictsChurches and campsColemanGrace ChurchLower North Island1 Peter 1:1PeterCitizens of heavenJobRedeemerGraham AshbyPrime Time ConferenceJH Baldwin ScholarshipForest LakesThe Anchor ChurchAlan ThompsonSydney Missionary & Bible CollegeManurewa Bible ChurchChurch campGrant BirksTroubleSydneyStewards AustraliaKatoombaMMMHoward RobinsonRoosevelt Road Bible ChurchRotoruaSisters HuiHuiAlan AitkenTe MaruThank youDan TylerBrian RopitiniNew Plymouth Community ChurchManawatūComfortHoly SpiritConsolationUnited with ChristRomans 6:5PreachingTheological studiesLincoln Road Bible ChapelNorth BeachThe EmbassyDeathOBH Camp ProjectStewards TrustStaff ConferenceEAUKSTestimonyWaitangiJoyTom McIvorPaul SamuelsGraduationIan PaynePapatoetoe Bible ChapelSalvationMatthew 1:21UnitedTītahi Bay Community ChurchEphesians 2:14KidsChristmas outreachMission Without BordersTōtara Springs Christian CentreManawarū Bible ChapelBearing fruitColossians 1:6Sefton MarshallFarewellStuart BayOnekawa Bible ChurchGod's willCalendarGlentunnel ChapelNick GoodwinKoinoniaGratitudeFellowship1 Corinthians 10:16 DunedinNew buildingCornerstone International Bible ChurchDoctrinePastoral Theologians FellowshipExamine ourselves1 Corinthians 11:28Children and FamiliesKaitaia Bible ChapelNextGen Summit1 Corinthians 11:27CommunionBethany TrustDoug BennFamily FiestaFinlay ParkNarrows ParkTotara SpringsRaleigh Street Christian CentreLight PartyRedemption ChurchMark DramaFenton Park Bible ChurchOctober 7IsraelHeretaunga Christian CentreLazarusLifeJohn 11:43Peter AllenGovernanceIan Elliott ScholarshipWhite SundayBaptismsWeepingJohn 11:33Holiday ProgrammeChurch-centric campingAuckland Leaders DinnerThe Street ChurchPathway Christian CentreBroderick Road ChapelVivian Street Gospel HallInternational ServiceChurch on IngestreGriefJohn 11:35Joel BirkinHolidays ProgrammeSouth IslandComfortedConfrontedJohn 12:5Growing leadersServing the communityInvercargillCelebrationThanksgivingFranklin Bible ChurchKing JesusHosanna!John 12:13Prayer breakfastWorking beeCrossGod's powerColossians 2:15North Beach Christian FellowshipTe Awamutu Bible ChapelCity to CityMoirs Point Christian CentreMangonui Bible ChapelCoopers Beach Christian Youth CampKaitaia Bible ChapeTōtara North Bible ChapelRaumati Crescent ChapelFar NorthJesus is LordCaptivated by ChristColossians 2:6Tim HodgeCCCNZ Board75th AnniversaryMissionaryMovement of the WordKaipaki Bible ChurchAlpha CourseDave FirthLast WordsHopeDavidPsalm 139:23Jesus knows usPathways CollegeLichfield LandsScholarshipsLiz HodgeSuffering ChristiansElisabeth ElliotRevelation 6:10CampsitesEl RanchoRoss BayMiCamp TaupōExodus 29:42Church-Camp PartnershipHousing ProjectOrwell Street ChurchEden Community ChurchPakuranga Christian FellowshipAnniversaryRukumoana MaraeKids programmeKelston Community ChurchPapakuraLive the gospelEmergency housingKarakarikiWhitioraNew ZealandActs 17:24FearIdolsActs 17:16Gospel MinistryChurch Camp PartnershipMararikiJob 9:9Ruth 1:20God's purposesMaraNaomiRuthHorsemenLambRevelation 6:1Rally NZTauwhare MaraeAGMRevelation 1:12-13HM RageJesus' salvationJohn 18:10Community connectionsYouth groupServing SundaysInvercargill Combined Bible SchoolFurnaceMatthew 26:46Matthew 26:42Police chaplainsHumilityPhilippians 2:7Known unto GodJohn 15:13Willow Park Christian CampKids CampLifeSwitchChurch @ CedarwoodKingston Community ChurchRomans 1:14-15Ambassador's WrapRomans 1:18God's wrathLakeland Park CampNorm and Liz SilcockRegional summitNorthgate Community Church1 Corinthians 1:18Sarah ChalmersStewardsDoors openColossians 4:4Genesis 1:12-13Ian RoweThird-Day GardensMatthew 5:16Natural disastersFamily campLighthouse ChurchChurches working togetherOrdinary peopleJohn 1:43John 1:29The LionThe LambWho are you?Who is He?John 1:21-221 Peter 1:13Psalm 13:11 Peter 1:1-2God's realitySober-mindedFrustrationPastorCampsCycloneCampsiteHowick Community ChurchHaggai 1:3-4Psalm 46:1God is our refuge and strengthLuke 2:10Good NewsIn the beginningJohn 1:1-5Luke 1:27Titus 1:9MarkLuke 1:28Psalm 31:1-5Romans 12:15Matthew 1:1Road to EmmausLuke 24:29John 20:16Mark 10:45Queen Elizabeth IIHorizon of HopeThe Mark DramaLamentationsGraceSecond windSwedish Method1-2-1 Bible ReadingPreach the WordRiccarton Community ChurchInternshipsPsalmsCreativityHoliday CampRiverbend Bible ChurchPaengaroa Bible ChapelPalmerston NorthChurch on VogelThe House Next DoorSchoolLaunchpadLifewalkAmos 5:8MatarikiBad GuysTitus 3:1-2Auckland Bible ChurchDarrell BockLeanne BrownCrossroads ChurchKaipara Bible ChapelDargaville Gospel ChurchMarsden Bay Christian Camp2 Timothy 2:21 Corinthians 1:18-31James 1:2-42 Timothy 2The Orchard Church Te PukeEvangelismChurchesSupport MinistriesEasterThe cross-shaped life2 Corinthians 1:8-9IsolationLast SupperWestChurchGeoff StarkUkraineRobert MitchellTasman ChurchChurch LeadersRevelation 2-4Psalm 31Ezra 31 Timothy 6:11-21Galatians 2:10The gospelThessaloniansAotearoa, NZEphesians 2Waitangi Day 2022Working TogetherCCCNZ AucklandAmatakiloa Bible ChurchTongan TsunamiLeslie ScottRebekah ReeveConnectionsSummitTop of the SouthEaster CampRegional ConnectionsCCCNZ Children and Family MinistriesRutland Street ChurchManawaru Bible ChapelYouth Reachout RoadtripWord of LifeConnectionPartnershipRichard DavisLawson ScottRegionalChristchurchEphesians 12 Timothy 2:1-131 Peter 12 Peter 1HarvestActs 8Psalm 24:1-2Acts 27:23–26Resurrection1 Corinthians 15:14Ezra-NehemiahPsalm 231 Corinthians 15:8-111 Corinthians 15:3-81 Corinthians 15:3-5CCCNZ PrayerHillcrest ChapelPeaceConflictWearyEldershipCOVID-19 Protection FrameworkWoven TogetherAnnual Report 2020-21FaithfulnessAPARichard FountainIndianChristian radioJeewan DhaaraPsalm 146Ambassador's BlogHeavy ladenEmily TylerBaptismWhitiora Bible ChurchLifeChurch ManurewaQSMNational CCCNZ Youth TeamRob MortonWhat Comes Next?BoardAbortion Legislation BillPandemicMark GraceResponsePhilippiansChurch response to COVID-19Church response to coronavirusCoronavirusCOVID-19Worship EnablerYvonne HengNorthcross ChurchGC3AppealBushfiresSophia McCrindleCCCAustAustralian BushfiresPacific CommunityAne PonifasioLui PonifasioQueen's Service MedalNew Year's HonoursPasifikaTāmaki Community ChurchThe Riverside ClubIdeasIntergenerational ministryMassey Community ChurchBirkenhead Community ChurchBitternessThe Greatest SaviourPrayer GatheringCCNZChristian Camping NZTeapot Valley Christian CampNancy Jean Forbes Training CentreWoodend Christian CampCanterburyChurch PlantingJackie MillarPrayingDanielle DiproseAdministrationFinance60 yearsCamp ministryChristian CampingLakeland Park Christian CampPreparationChristchurch Mosque AttacksHealingTraumaWhat's Next?Julie McKinnonUnityHospitalityCultural diversityOrosiusImmigrationTeenagersGiftsYoung leadersSummer SchoolChildrenParentsChildren and Family Ministries75 JubileeGirlsBoysNZ RallyRestCCCNZ PastorLinkGrowthOrewa Community Church2019God StoriesChapel Hill Community ChurchEncouragementFriendshipEldersSuccessionGod's faithfulnessGospelFireHope Community ChurchNelsonTogether Works BetterFIRST TrainingYouth SummitCampingCommunity MinistryChildren's MinistryRallyAuthenticityMillenialsMinistryYoung AdultsLeaving HomeStudentsCampusStudent ministry at OtagoUniversity of OtagoO WeekJesus ChristStudent LifeTSCFStudent ministryTreaty of WaitangiPākehāMāoriTreatySpiritChristianityWaitangi Day 2019ColombiaRosedale Bible ChapelSouthlandInternational StudentsTimaruChurch Street ChapelIan ElliottTeensCalledTauwhare Gospel ChapelCompassionWaikatoRefugee MinistryCambell ForlongCity Bible ChurchInternationalLiving GodGlobalisationDr Merv CoatesEngagingRongopaiMulticultural ministryHaggaiPlanningPrayerJeremy SuistedInconvenienceJosephMaryLoveSaviourO Holy Night LyricsLyricsChristmas CarolO Holy NightDiscipleshipClark Road ChapelVolunteerEducationCitizens Advice BureauTe Ao NgākauCommunity CentreJames 1:26-27OutreachMaungarei Christian Community TrustMt Wellington Community ChurchMurray BrownChrist-centredHealthy youth ministryYouth leadershipHukanui Bible ChurchBible readingFreshLearningDevotionsFamilyCommitmentBible in a yearCarolsLightsOnslow Community ChurchMusicTheologyPathwaysWorship leadingWorshipPathways School of Worship LeadingSOWLChristmas messageJesusEventsAucklandGlow in the ParkAdventChristmasSupportRespiteCareRetreatLeadersPastorsPastorLinkKerry RickardSpiritual formationCross-culturalChristianGap YearHeadspaceKiwi24-7 YouthWorkCommunityFaithYouthTrainingCCCNZ YouthYoung peopleChurchChristYouth ministryCCCNZScriptureLeadershipChristian CoachingCoachingBiblePaulFaithfulOrdinary ChristianExtraordinary GodComfort ZoneGodHadfieldMissionNZWellingtonRegional Enablers
TAGS

Unguarded Strengths

John 18:10

"Na he hoari ta Haimona Pita, unuhia ana e ia a haua iho te pononga a te tohunga nui, tapahia ana tona taringa matau. Ko te ingoa o taua pononga ko Maraku."

"Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)"

"O Simona Peteru foi, ua i ai le pelu, ua se‘i e ia, ma taia a‘i le auauna a le ositaulaga sili, ua tipiesea lona taliga taumatau; o Maliko le igoa o le auauna."

When he meets the soldiers, Jesus instantly de-escalates the situation and diverts the soldiers' attention away from the disciples and onto himself.

Simon Peter, on the other hand, is doing the exact opposite. He draws his sword and slashes the ear of the high priest's servant Malchus. He is both escalating the situation and drawing attention to himself.

Simon Peter is an "Ear Cutter". With the best of intentions, he does exactly the wrong thing.

Many of Simon Peter's strengths—his courageous faith in Jesus (John 6:39-30), his loyalty to Jesus (John 13:37), and his can-do attitude—are on display in this moment. But Jesus rebukes him. Why?

1) A man is writhing in shock at the loss of his ear. It’s not in the text of John but Jesus does attach the ear back onto Malchus.

2) He wanted to save Jesus, but Jesus didn’t need saving.

3) What he thought he was doing was being helpful, but what he was actually doing was being a hindrance.

4) At the core, Peter wanted to be a saviour—but Jesus is the only Saviour.

I can be a lot like Simon Peter at times.

A fully qualified "Ear Cutter". Not literally, but metaphorically. "Ear Cutters" have strengths, but at critical times they fail to guard them.

J. Oswald Sanders, a profoundly significant New Zealand christian leader from a previous generation, once said: “An unguarded strength can become a double weakness.”

Chris Clarke, NZ CEO of the Wilberforce Foundation, recently made a similar observation: “Leaders guard our weaknesses closely; we know they have the potential to undo us and those around us. We seldom guard our strengths. And yet it is typically our strengths and not our weaknesses that catch us out because they are unguarded.”

When I recall incidents where I have contributed to a situation becoming strained or tense in a leadership team, it’s often due to an unguarded strength.

I'm not surprised to note that when a strength is unguarded, it's because an area of my character is still to be fully formed or forged. If you count yourself with the "Ear Cutters" as I sometimes do, the good news of Jesus’ gospel is that he, by his Spirit, moulds our strengths and deepens our characters, within the leadership communities in which he places us.

The good news of the gospel is this: just like Jesus fixed the pain that Peter's unguarded strength caused, he is more than capable of fixing and using our mistakes.

The good news of the gospel is that I am not my own saviour, and I am not the saviour of the leadership teams I'm in. He alone is our saviour.

By Mark Grace, CCCNZ Ambassador

News from Churches in NZ

Our vision is to see churches—and the regional campsites and national support ministries who serve them—working together to point people to Jesus through the gospel from the Scriptures.

It was a delight then to hear about three churches in the Canterbury region reaching into their communities through a combined regional Rally camp last weekend: Church Street Bible Chapel, Glentunnel Chapel and Rutland Street Church.

As they worked together, 68 children experienced and heard the gospel throughout the weekend.

It was encouraging to see ten teenage cadets (volunteer Rally leaders in training) take on significant leadership responsibilities. I am grateful too for Marty Scheib from Riccarton Community Church for pointing the kids to Jesus, through the gospel, from the Scriptures.

I also heard that Church Street Bible Chapel won the tug of war. Well done team!

I received the photo above from Sue Barrow at Kelston Community Church. It was taken at their Alpha camp last weekend, held at Willow Park Camp in Auckland.

What a joy it was to see the church family and inquiring friends discovering more of Jesus and his good news together.

Dear Lord, we ask that your Spirit would be working through your Word to point these people to you over the coming weeks.

I loved hearing from Daryl Bay at Hope Community Church in Nelson.

Daryl writes:

“'Show the Way' is our leadership development program, a fruit of covid learnings. We gather one hundred of our leaders, disciples, and counsellors once a term for an evening. It is filled with sharing stories, sharing dinner and learning about a specific area of focus. This term Rowland Forman taught on ministering to people in pain.”

What a simple but significant idea. Investing into leaders, disciples and counsellors on a regular basis. Love it!

Lower North Island Regional Summit (27 May)

Above left: Peter Rhodes-Robinson from Onslow Community Church talking with leaders from Wellington and the Kāpiti Coast. 

Above right: Max Faletutulu from Tītahi Bay Community Church talks to leaders from Church on Vogel, Feilding Bible Chapel and others in the prayer workshop.

Below left: Mark van Wijk, CCCNZ PastorLink Enabler, and Henare Whaanga, Pathway Christian Centre, talk with leaders from Onslow Community Church.

Below right: Susie Snell and Karen McLeod from Feilding Bible Chapel talk to leaders from The Anchor Church and Porirua Gospel Chapel.

On Saturday more than 90 people from eighteen churches came together for the Lower North Island Summit.

It was a delight to sit in and hear local church leaders from the region talking through both opportunities and challenges.

Maria Henderson from Riverbend Bible Church (pictured below) talked about how Riverbend and Onekawa Bible Church worked together for clyclone relief. It was so encouraging to hear that churches across the movement have responded to the need practically and financially.

Maria has co-ordinated the churches' relief efforts and noted that diggers are still in hot demand. If you or a group with a digger want to spend a weekend in the Hawke's Bay, do touch base with Maria at Riverbend.

Maria updates summit attendees on the work done for cyclone relief

I loved hearing about the impact that a talk on intergenerational ministry by Heather Rhodes-Robinson's from Onslow Community Church had on listeners.

Another highlight was seeing church leaders explore the opportunity to develop a leadership pathway with Joel Birkin from Kingston Community Church in Palmerston North.

Elders in particular appreciated the practical and professional nature of the crisis communications workshop, which gave tangible counsel regarding how to handle increasing media interest in Christian activities. The workshop was led by practitioners who work across the New Zealand church and marketplace.

I am immensely grateful for the volunteer church leaders who give their time to point us to Jesus.

I can't wait to see what the Lord does to point more people to himself through the new relationships made throughout the summit.

Thanks to the church family at Church @ Cedarwood for leading us in worship.

Also thanks to Isaac Pettersen from Crossroads Church pointed us to Jesus from the book of Hebrews, and many ministry leaders from across Lower North Island Churches contributed to workshops.



 

This product has been added to your cart

CHECKOUT