Go Deeper
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 PETER 2:9 (NIV 1984)
Download our phone screensaver of our key verse for the series to encourage you during the day.
Our Sunday teaching, Growth Group studies and series booklets will all be on the topic of Belonging. By Monday morning, this page will be updated with a few resource recommendations to help you go deeper with each topic and the sermon podcast will be uploaded.
WEEK 6 - Belonging at the Table
- Learn – 5 minute Bible theme video | Holy Spirit by Bible Project (2018)
- Reflect – 6 minute live worship video | Communion by Brooke Ligertwood (Brooke Ligertwood, 2022)
- Resource – Book | Common Prayer (SDS, 2012)
WEEK 5 - Belonging in the Gathering
The key activities of the gathered church and gender roles in participation.
- Learn – 20 minute Video | The role of women in ministry. Matt Chandler, Josh Patterson and Jen Wilkin. The Village Church.
- Listen – 59 minute Podcast| What should women do in the church and why does it matter? (With all Due Respect- Michael Jensen & Megan Powell du Toit.
- Read – 3 mins| A List of the 29 people in Romans 16:1- 16
- Resource – Book | Burgeois Babes, Bossy Wives, and Bobby Haircuts: A Case for Gender Equality in Ministry by Michael Bird.
WEEK 4 - Belonging Together
- Learn – 5 minute Bible theme video | Holy Spirit by Bible Project (2018)
OR
- Learn – 2 minute video | Why God Gives Us Spiritual Gifts (and Why He Doesn’t) with Matt Chandler (The Village Church – Flower Mound, 2020)
- Listen – 40 minute podcast | Let’s Talk: Spiritual Gifts with Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes and Melissa Kruger (The Gospel Coalition, 2021)
- Resource – Book | Side by Side: Walking with Others in Wisdom and Love by Edward T. Welch (Crossway, 2016)
WEEK 3 - Belonging in the World
- Learn – 5 minute Bible theme video | Temple by Bible Project (2019)
- Reflect – 6 minute video | How Radically Ordinary Hospitality Changed Rosaria Butterfield’s Life (Zondervan, 2018)
OR
- Reflect – 4 minute music video | Lecrae – Messengers ft. for KING & COUNTRY (Reach Records, 2015)
- Subscribe – Podcast | Evangelism in a Sceptical World with Sam Chan (Eternity Podcast Network, 2020)
WEEK 2 - Belonging to Each Other
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Read – 5 minute article | How to be in a small group by Tony Payne
OR
- Read – 2 minute article | Carrying Burdens by Scarlet Hiltibidal
- Reflect – 3 minute music video | Love of the Father (Acoustic) by CityAlight (CityAlight, 2020)
- Resource – Classic | Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (HarperOne, 1991)
WEEK 1 - Belonging to God
Biblical theology of church as a work of God
- Read – 5 minute article | The Apostles Creed (12): The Holy Catholic Church by Marty Foord (The Gospel Coalition Australia, 2021)
OR
- Learn – 5 minute video | What is the Apostles Creed? by Michael F Bird (Zondervan, 2021)
- Reflect – 3 minute live worship video | This I Believe (The Creed) by Hillsong Worship (Hillsong Worship, 2014)
- Subscribe – Podcast | 5 minutes in Church History with Stephen Nichols by Ligonier Ministries
WHEN CHURCHES FAIL
The topic and experience of church can be painful for a number of reasons. The following resources may be useful to you:
- Reflect – 3 minute video | Apology by Kanishka Raffel – Archbishop of Sydney Anglican Diocese (SafeMinistry, 2021)
- Listen – 40 minute podcast | Overcoming Church Hurt with Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes and Melissa Kruger (The Gospel Coalition, 2021)
- Resource – Book | A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing by Laura Barringer and Scot McKnight (Tyndale, 2020)
Everyone deserves to feel safe. While we should approach interpersonal hurt with humility, abuse in the church community should not be tolerated. The ministry staff are committed to cultivating safety within the St James community.
If abuse related to church community has impacted you in some way, we stand with you. If you are experiencing abuse now, please talk to someone at St James that you trust. If you have serious concerns about the behaviour of a staff member, call the Sydney Anglican Professional Standards Unit on 9265 1604.