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Tag: church
China: The cross on our shoulders and in our hearts
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12 Spheres of Influence – National Prayer Strategy
Adapted from Prayer Strategy for the Spheres of Influence
The original 10 domains are now expanded to 12 spheres of influence – https://prayerstrategy.org.
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12 Spheres of Influence – National Prayer Strategy:
https://renewaljournal.com/2021/10/13/12-spheres-of-influence-national-prayer-strategy
The 10 Domains: https://renewaljournal.com/2015/01/30/the-10-domains
Renewal Journal – a chronicle of renewal and revival: www.renewaljournal.com
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You, or your group, could include these spheres in your prayers.
From the National Prayer Strategy:
The vision for the ten domains was revealed to Peter Kentley, the former CEO of Australian Marketplace Connections. Since 2009 we have received a number of confirmations to adopt and develop this vision in Australia, and to establish prayer (and mission) strategies for these domains.
The original ten domains were:
1. Trade and Finance (Business)
2. Government and the Military
3. Law and Justice
4. Religion and Philosophy
5. Creative Arts
6. Education
7. Charity and Not for Profit Welfare
8. Health and Science
9. Media and Entertainment
10. Sport and Recreation
These are now expanded to 12 spheres of influence – https://prayerstrategy.org.
Introduction
During the 20th Century life became multi-faceted and overly busy with Marketplace spheres (or mountains or domains) of influence dominating and competing for the Families’ time, money, affections and ambitions, and drawing them away from the Church (the eternal family) and God our creator.
Every month we dedicate prayer for these 12 spheres (click on each):
- Marriage and Family
- Church (Ecclesia)
- Government and the Military
- Trade and Finance (Business)
- Law and Justice
- Religion and Philosophy
- Arts
- Education
- Charity and Not for Profit Welfare
- Health and Science
- Media and Entertainment
- Sport and Recreation
To a great extent God is being largely relegated outside these spheres of our society. The cost of this relegation has been incredible: costs to society in the form of corporate ethical failures, physical and mental health burdens resulting from people failing to engage with Biblical solutions such as forgiveness, and the near-meltdown of the whole global financial system (the ‘GFC’ and potential ‘GFC2’) as a result of debt-driven artificial wealth creation that was not based on Godly values and principles.
Even the Church has been largely seduced into a Greek world view of the division of sacred and secular, creating a separation of Sunday from Monday. This resulted in the Church only accessing some 5% of its people’s waking time and Christian discipleship becoming emasculated (minimizing the impact of the Great Commission).
Yet the Marketplace is the place where Christians spend some 67% of their waking time Monday to Friday. It is in the workforce that the Christians’ attitudes and character are put to the reality test…
…and if the Christians’ Monday behaviour does not reflect their Sunday belief, why would anyone believe their belief?
From this we can conclude that the BIG answer for the Church impacting the world is not primarily in programs, as good as some of these may be. The answer is in the excellence of discipleship expressed into the world: i.e. into the workforce, into the marketplace, into the shopping centres, into the schools, into the hospitals, into the courts and onto the sports fields and so on. This is our original Commission from Jesus in Matt 22:37-40 and 28:17-20 and John 17:18.
Our Principles are God’s Principles;
‘… on earth as it is in heaven’ (Matthew 6:19)
(Reviewed by Ps. Geoff Armitage)
At this time in history we are living under God’s grace, where good and evil can produce order or disorder (respectively), and according to our obedience or disobedience to God. In this reality two doctrines work in parallel: the free will of man and the sovereignty of God. While God calls all people to himself through His truth and kindness, not all will respond. God is not responsible for our sin and He will ultimately have the last say.
Ultimately, for the life we have been given we will all be held individually accountable (John 3:16-18). The time will certainly come when the Lord Jesus Christ will return to earth to rule and reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords over the whole earth from the city of Jerusalem (Micah 4:1-8).
Therefore, our faith is in Christ the Son of the Living God (John 3:18), and this is where we stand.
Our Mission is to pray and connect people who are passionate about participating in growing the governance of Christ in every sphere/mountain/domain of influence in our society and follow God’s command to love one another as He loved us (John 13:34-35).
We look to connect Christians, who are passionate about the Great Commandments (Matthew 22:34-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) in everyday life. This connection is without regard for denominational affiliation.
Our ethos is vibrantly alive around nine magnificent truths:
- The Government rests on the shoulders of Jesus and his government and peace will never end – the Lord Almighty will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7).
- The offices of Jesus in Heaven and Earth are Prophet (Hebrews 1:1-2), Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) and King (Revelation 19:16).
- The three institutions of God on earth are Family, Government and Church.
- Church and State have separate jurisdictions under Jesus. For the Church Jesus is the head and high priest. For the State Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
- Society operates through spheres/mountains/domains with a multitude of sub-spheres/mountains/domains.
- The foundations of the Kingdom of God are Justice and Righteousness (Psalm 89:14).
- The Power of God works through all spheres/mountains/domains.
- Jesus Christ will come again to rule and reign over the earth.
- Our connection with God is through humility, faith and obedience (Matthew 18:4, Hebrews 11:6).
We are implementing these truths through praying and encouraging many church and marketplace leaders who represent their spheres/mountains/domains of influence.
Adapted from Prayer Strategy for the Spheres of Influence
GENERAL BLOGS INDEX
BLOGS INDEX 1: REVIVALS(BRIEFER THANREVIVALS INDEX)
BLOGS INDEX 2: MISSION (INTERNATIONAL STORIES)
BLOGS INDEX 3: MIRACLES (SUPERNATURAL EVENTS)
BLOGS INDEX 4: DEVOTIONAL (INCLUDING TESTIMONIES)
BLOGS INDEX 5: CHURCH(CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION)
BLOGS INDEX 6: CHAPTERS (BLOGS FROM BOOKS)
BLOGS INDEX 7: IMAGES (PHOTOS AND ALBUMS)
BACK TO MAIN PAGE
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12 Spheres of Influence – National Prayer Strategy:
https://renewaljournal.com/2021/10/13/12-spheres-of-influence-national-prayer-strategy
The 10 Domains: https://renewaljournal.com/2015/01/30/the-10-domains
Renewal Journal – a chronicle of renewal and revival: www.renewaljournal.com
FREE SUBSCRIPTION for new Blogs and free offers
House Church: The fastest-growing expression of church
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Trialblazing the online church
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Pandemic brings churches back to life
Pandemic brings churches back to life
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How the web changes the church
The rise of the Internet is without doubt the most revolutionary development of the last 25 years. It has radically changed our lives. But has the internet also influenced the Church?
I’ve known Heidi Campbell from the early years of the internet, so when she approached me in 2013 for an interview to give my perspective on this as a ‘religious digital creative’, it led to a contribution to the book. I’m making this available in a pdf.
The internet has given ordinary people (the ‘laity’) considerably more influence.
- Everyone who wishes to do so has the opportunity online to nurture and shape their own spirituality, to become a creator or influencer, and to connect with others in communities and on platforms, completely outside the scope of their own church.
- To faith communities and church leaders, the internet provides an infrastructure and tools to make church fully interactive and participatory, and to extend its missionary reach far beyond the physical sphere of the church building.
This is fundamentally revolutionary. For the Church today, the Internet can be what the printing press was for the Church in the Reformation. A game-changer.
See also: The 10 Domains
Coronavirus brings Unprecedented Openness to the Gospel
Pandemic brings churches back to life
GENERAL BLOGS INDEX
BLOGS INDEX 1: REVIVALS(BRIEFER THANREVIVALS INDEX)
BLOGS INDEX 2: MISSION (INTERNATIONAL STORIES)
BLOGS INDEX 3: MIRACLES (SUPERNATURAL EVENTS)
BLOGS INDEX 4: DEVOTIONAL (INCLUDING TESTIMONIES)
BLOGS INDEX 5: CHURCH(CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION)
BLOGS INDEX 6: CHAPTERS (BLOGS FROM BOOKS)
BLOGS INDEX 7: IMAGES (PHOTOS AND ALBUMS)
BACK TO MAIN PAGE
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Free PDF books on the Main Page
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How the web changes the church:
https://renewaljournal.com/2021/01/27/how-the-web-changes-the-church/
Renewal Journal – a chronicle of renewal and revival: www.renewaljournal.com
EnCOURAGE: Love One Another

EnCOURAGE: Love One Another
New in 2020
EnCOURAGE – Encouragement adds courage.
EnCOURAGE – PDF
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EnCOURAGE: Love One Another:
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EnCOURAGE – Basic Edition in print – Amazon – $7
EnCOURAGE – Gift Edition in colour – Amazon – $19
EnCOURAGE – Kindle edition in colour – download immediately – $5
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Previously published as The Leader’s Goldmine (now updated and expanded)
Hundreds of Ideas for Christian groups (2020).
Hundreds of ideas for Christian groups with a wealth of activities, studies, prayers and resources for groups of all ages. Contents are: Ideas for integrated Bible studies; Ideas for Bible studies and prayers; Ideas for church activities – devotional, educational, creative, serving, social, sporting; Ideas for all ages together; Ideas for building relationships.
This book offers a huge range of activities, arranged according to group activities. It provides a wide range of activities for many different kinds of groups. The first section, Ideas for Integrated Bible Studies, gives you four group studies on each of the themes or topics.
Contents:
How to use this book
Ideas for integrated Bibles studies
The Great Experiment
Prayer
Relationship
Good News
The Church
Mission
Finding New Life
Living New Life
Faith Alive
Great Chapters – Old Testament
Great Chapters – New Testament
Jesus
Ideas for Bible studies and prayers
Bible passages
Bible study methods
Bible reading and relationship building
Bible readings and prayers
Ideas for church activities
Program emphases: Devotional, Educational, Creative, Serving, Social, Sporting
Witness and Sharing Weekend
Survey Questionnaire
Commitment Indicator
Interests Indicator
Gifts Check List
Ideas for all ages together
Activities involving young children and others
Activities involving older children and others
Family and church family questionnaires
Useful teaching activities
ABC of resource ideas
Simulation activities. Simulation Game: Build my Church
Ideas for building relationships
Deep – ideas and attitudes
Deeper – ideals and values
Deepest – ideologies and commitments
What is your main love language?
This book is available in Paperback (print & colour) and as digital eBooks (Kindle and PDF).
See details, contents, photos, and reviews of renewal and revival books on Amazon
Share with others – Blessed to bless.Revival Blogs Links:
See also Revivals Index
See also Revival Blogs
See also Blogs Index 1: Revivals
GENERAL BLOGS INDEX
BLOGS INDEX 1: REVIVALS (BRIEFER THAN REVIVALS INDEX)
BLOGS INDEX 2: MISSION (INTERNATIONAL STORIES)
BLOGS INDEX 3: MIRACLES (SUPERNATURAL EVENTS)
BLOGS INDEX 4: DEVOTIONAL (INCLUDING TESTIMONIES)
BLOGS INDEX 5: CHURCH (CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION)
BLOGS INDEX 6: CHAPTERS (BLOGS FROM BOOKS)
BLOGS INDEX 7: IMAGES (PHOTOS AND ALBUMS)
BACK TO MAIN PAGE
Free PDF books on the Main Page
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EnCOURAGE: Love One Another:
https://renewaljournal.com/2020/08/03/encourage-love-one-another/
Coronavirus and Churches
Coronavirus and Churches
The pandemic coronavirus (COVID-19) now affects gatherings of people worldwide. Churches are adapting to this challenge.
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Coronavirus and Churches:
https://renewaljournal.com/2020/03/12/coronavirus-and-churches/
Christian doctor’s winning Covid treatment
Standing in Faith against Coronavirus
PROPHECY
PRAYER
DECLARATIONS
HEALING PRAYER
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Practical Ideas and Resources for Churches during COVID 19
PASTORAL AND CONNECTION CARE
COMMUNITY HELP
DISCIPLESHIP
EVANGELISM
PRAYER
Riverlife Baptist Church
Here is relevant information from Riverlife Baptist Church, one of the larger churches in Brisbane, Australia. You may be able to use or adapt this for your church congregation.
You have probably been following along with the developing news and growing concerns of the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). As a church family, we do not want to partner with any fear but simply practice good hygiene and safety to minimize the risk to our community. Please read the following carefully.
Your Role:
As in any cold or flu season, I want to encourage you to stay home from Sunday gatherings or other church-related events throughout the week if you, your family members or roommates are experiencing any cold or flu symptoms (fever, persistent cough, headache, chills or unexplained rash). Please seek medical attention if you are experiencing these symptoms.
If you have recently travelled to any high-risk countries (China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, Hong Kong or Japan as currently identified by the World Health Organisation and Australian Government Department of Health), please follow the recommended guidelines here and stay home for a couple of Sundays (14 days).
If you are planning on attending regular activities, please ensure you wash your hands with soap, make use of hand sanitizer stations, cough into your sleeve, sneeze into a tissue and put any tissues or waste in the bins provided. Simple, but very helpful!
We post the sermon to our weekly messages podcast here and the video feed on our website here and encourage you to access the teaching from home if you are unable to join us in person. You might also like to take advantage of our Spotify playlists here for some worship playlists we have collated.
Our Role:
We are also taking extra precautions to keep our building sanitary for everyone who will worship with us in person this weekend and in the coming weeks and have also reviewed some of our ministry guidelines to include the following:
- We are stocked up on hand soap and hand sanitizer (located at several stations).
- We are sanitizing surfaces between gatherings (including Kids Check-in Kiosks).
- Volunteers, as always, please follow cleanliness and safety procedures in our Children’s Ministry and be even more diligent during this time.
- Our friendly Host Teams and Greeters will be welcoming you with a smile and a wave this week rather than a handshake.
- Our Ministry Teams (both in service and at special events including Encounter) will adjust prayer ministry protocols to be mindful of personal space and close contact.
In faith, we continue to uphold those directly affected by this virus in prayer and ask that God would release wisdom to our leaders, strategies to our health professionals and healing to those experiencing symptoms.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at church@riverlifechurch.org.au.
Blessings,
John Robertson
Senior Pastor
Advice from Queensland Baptists
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Other adaptions could include following the Jewish tradition of a treasury or offering box at the entrance, and communion available on designated tables.
How the Early Church handled epidemics
This free mini-eBook is available from Joel News:
https://www.joelnews.org/
A quote from that eBook:
Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, wrote about the plague in the Roman Empire:
How suitable, how necessary it is that this pestilence, which seems horrible and deadly, searches out the justice of each and everyone and examines the minds of the human race;
whether the well care for the sick,
whether relatives dutifully love their kinsmen as they should,
whether masters show compassion for their ailing slaves,
whether physicians do not desert the afflicted.
Plagues in the Roman Empire, and currently in many countries, also became times of evangelism and revival.
See more information about revival such as the Moravian Revival among refugees which sparked the Evangelical Awakening in Europe and America.
Berthelsdorf Church, near Herrnhut in Germany, the home of the Moravian revival.
Link: Power from on High – the Moravian Revival
See also
Coronavirus brings Unprecedented Openness to the Gospel
Over 1 million respond to Good Friday service:
Good Friday 2021 broadcast reached over 200 million
Christian doctor’s winning Covid treatment
China: How Christians Respond the the Coronavirus Outbreak
Italy:_Light in a Doctor’s Darkest Night
Standing in Faith against Coronavirus
Pandemic brings churches back to life
Revival Blogs Links:
See also Revivals Index
See also Revival Blogs
See also Blogs Index 1: Revivals
GENERAL BLOGS INDEX
BLOGS INDEX 1: REVIVALS (BRIEFER THAN REVIVALS INDEX)
BLOGS INDEX 2: MISSION (INTERNATIONAL STORIES)
BLOGS INDEX 3: MIRACLES (SUPERNATURAL EVENTS)
BLOGS INDEX 4: DEVOTIONAL (INCLUDING TESTIMONIES)
BLOGS INDEX 5: CHURCH (CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION)
BLOGS INDEX 6: CHAPTERS (BLOGS FROM BOOKS)
BLOGS INDEX 7: IMAGES (PHOTOS AND ALBUMS)
BACK TO MAIN PAGE
Free PDF books on the Main Page
FREE SUBSCRIPTION: for new Blogs & free offers
Share good news – Share this page freely
Copy and share this link on your media, eg Facebook, Instagram, Emails:
Coronavirus and Churches:
https://renewaljournal.com/2020/03/12/coronavirus-and-churches/
Christian doctor’s winning Covid treatment