“Endure to Mature”: Paul Dale on the Value of Enduring Trials
In this talk from the book of James, Paul Dale shares the value of endurance in the Christian faith, especially when facing trials and hardship. Paul reminds us that Christians are not exempt from challenges in life and gives practical wisdom for how we can stand firm in the faith, so that we do not drift when challenges come.
The Tough Road to Maturity – Paul Dale
Key Quotes:
“Being a Christian doesn’t exempt you from the trials and sufferings from this world.”
“On that tough road, endure whatever trials you face so you might mature in your faith…cling onto God in the midst of them, because God is maturing you through them.”
Build a Solid Faith with KCC+
This talk is part of our KCC+ February 2024 collection, ‘Building a Solid Faith’, available exclusively for subscribers. This series includes:
4 episodes of ‘The Divine Story’ by Nancy Guthrie, tracing the major themes of the Bible (episodes 4-8 to be released in March).
The Divine Story by Nancy Guthrie
11 ‘Unconditional Surrender’ bible talks by Peter Jensen, David Jones, and Kirk Patston on trusting in God’s promises and being inspired by people in Scripture who took God at His word.
3 ‘Rising Above it All’ talks by Paul Dale from the book of James about enduring life’s hardships with God’s help.
Access this and much more from only $4.99 / month (on an annual KCC+ subscription). Learn more: https://www.kccone.org.au/
Paul Dale shares the value of endurance in the Christian faith, especially when facing trials and hardship.
By Heidi Tai
Meet BASECAMP 24 Speaker: Sam Allberry
We are pleased to share that pastor, preacher and apologist, Sam Allberry, will be speaking at BASECAMP 2024 on the topic “Building Brotherhood”.
Sam speaks around the world and is the author of Seven Myths About Singleness, Is God Anti-Gay? and What God Has To Say About Our Bodies. He is also the co-host of the podcast You’re Not Crazy: Gospel Sanity for Young Pastors. Sam is the Associate Pastor at Immanuel Church Nashville, a Canon Theologian for the Anglican Church in North America, and a Fellow at the Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics.
In 2024, he will speak at BASECAMP men’s conference, helping delegates to consider God’s design for brotherhood. Sam will share how men can better link arms with other men in their life with Jesus and become a brother that other men can trust and lean on.
In this sermon from Luke 12, Sam explains the parable of The Rich Fool and what Jesus teaches about human folly. He shares that according to the Bible, “folly is the absence of wisdom”. While the world calls us to be intelligent, the Bible calls us to be wise—and wisdom can only come from knowing and fearing God.
“There are certain things from our Sunday life that we can’t get from our small group life.” In this video, Sam explains the dangers over-prioritising small group, and the value of gathering as a larger body of Christ on Sundays.
Contemporary culture would have men think that ‘standing on their own two feet’ is the way to be man, whereas I find it incredibly powerful to see so many Christian men, by their mere presence at BASECAMP, stand and say that relying on Jesus is God’s way to be man.”
— PHILLIP
BASECAMP will return in 2024 over two weekends in three different formats:
BASECAMP City (3 August 2024) – A one-day recharge held at the UNSW Roundhouse in Kensington
BASECAMP Mountains (9–10 August 2024) – An overnight retreat held at StayKCC in Katoomba
BASECAMP Online (9–10 August 2024) – An online livestream of BASECAMP Mountains that can be aired from your church hall, lounge room or shed!
Early Bird tickets are now available. Register today: basecampmen.com
BASECAMP 23 Highlights
Get to know the BASECAMP men's conference speaker for 2024!
By Heidi Tai
Understand Your Bible Better with Nancy Guthrie’s “The Divine Story”
Do you ever hear a Bible talk, and the preacher observes things in the passage that connect to other parts of the Bible, or the personal work of Jesus? Have you ever wondered how Bible teachers draw out themes from specific passages and link them to God’s larger story?
In this 8-part series, The Divine Story, Nancy Guthrie will show us the major themes in the Bible so that we can better see God’s divine story from Genesis through to Revelation.
As the new year begins, we invite you to join us in strengthening your spiritual muscles and to make it a commitment to better understand and treasure God’s word. Get a taste of what The Divine Story is all about here:
The Divine Story by Nancy Guthrie
Build a Solid Faith with KCC+
The Divine Story is part of our KCC+ February 2024 collection, ‘Building a Solid Faith’, available exclusively for subscribers. This series includes:
4 episodes of ‘The Divine Story’ tracing the major themes of the Bible (episodes 4-8 to be released in March).
11 ‘Unconditional Surrender’ bible talks by Peter Jensen, David Jones, and Kirk Patston on trusting in God’s promises and being inspired by people in Scripture who took God at His word.
3 ‘Rising Above it All’ talks by Paul Dale from the book of James about enduring life’s hardships with God’s help.
Access this and much more from only $4.99 / month (on an annual KCC+ subscription). Learn more: https://www.kccone.org.au/
In this 8-part series, The Divine Story, Nancy Guthrie will show us the major themes in the Bible so that we can better see God’s divine story from Genesis through to Revelation.
By Heidi Tai
Matt Sparks to speak at Easter Convention 2024
We are pleased to announce that Matt Sparks will be joining Katoomba Easter Convention (KEC) as a main speaker. Along with Tim Blencowe and John North, Matt will unpack the theme ‘Conquering Worldliness: Resisting the Gravitational Pull of the World’, helping delegates to navigate the ‘wisdom’ of the world and to win the battle against worldliness.
Meet KEC24 Speaker: Matt Sparks
Matt is married to Tash, and they have three kids, living in Sydney’s eclectic Inner-west. In 2014, they took a leap of faith and planted Anchor Church in their small two-bedroom apartment with a team of 17 people praying for a powerful move of God. Today, Anchor is a growing movement of churches committed to planting vibrant, missional churches that form people into the image of Christ. He is passionate about the local church, the glory of God, and the Parramatta Eels!
Matt will be giving three talks in the evening at KEC. Get a taste of his teaching here:
In this talk, Matt explores themes from our favourite blockbuster movies, and shows us how the messages of our culture as depicted in film, intersects with the gospel. By unpacking the popular theme of being “true to yourself”, Matt explains that movies reveal the values, dreams, hopes and wishes of our culture, and encourages Christians to watch with discernment and the gospel in mind.
What do we do when we feel spiritually dry and drowning under life waves? In this sermon, Matt shares how Psalm 42 is an honest and determined cry to experience more of God—even when our faith is failing.
In the ‘Deconstructing God’ series, Matt Sparks addresses some of the doubts of the Christian faith, and to provide good answers to questions that shake our faith. In a world which tells us that to deny your desires is damaging, or even dangerous, how can Christian sex ethic possibly be good news for those with same-sex attraction? In this talk, Matt addresses this important question and provides wisdom and comfort to Christians who are doubting the goodness of biblical sex ethics.
Experience KEC this Easter!
Katoomba Easter Convention offers you a wonderful opportunity to enjoy time with friends and family in the Blue Mountains, to get away from life’s busyness and hear powerful, life-changing preaching every day.
Join us as our speakers John North, Tim Blencowe and Matt Sparks unpack the theme ‘Conquering Worldliness: Resisting the Gravitational Pull of the World.’
Enjoy praise and worship with over a thousand Christians each morning and evening. Hear personal testimonies that remind you of God’s sovereignty in our everyday lives.
Meet new people and form lasting friendships for years to come.
Experience a strengthening of your faith.
Experience encouragement for every member of the family.
Experience God’s beauty as you rest in the Blue Mountains.
We are pleased to announce that John North will be joining Katoomba Easter Convention (KEC) as a main speaker. Along with Tim Blencowe and Matt Sparks, John will unpack the theme ‘Conquering Worldliness: Resisting the Gravitational Pull of the World’, helping delegates to navigate the ‘wisdom’ of the world and to win the battle against worldliness.
Meet KEC24 Speaker: John North
John North was born in India to Australian missionaries and loves to teach God’s word in a penetrating way that changes people’s lives. He is the Director of EvangelismSHIFT International and the National Director of Ambassadors for Christ International (AFCI) in Australia. For 30 years he has helped AFCI to build a team focused on accelerating the spread of the gospel through local churches.
John wrote GrowthWorks, a book to help you get back on the path of spiritual growth. He is on Hope 103.2 radio each morning in Sydney with the Time With God devotional spot.
John is married to Lois and they have four children. In his free time, John rides his mountain bike, plays games with his family, and reads.
John will be giving the four main morning talks across the KEC weekend.
Get a taste of his teaching from these ‘Time With God’ devotionals:
Getting Older In this devotion, John opens Psalm 92 to explore the topic of ageing. In a culture obsessed with staying young, John shares God’s purposes for old age, and how we can grow stronger and more fruitful as the years go by. Tune in here.
God’s Purpose For You In this devotion, John shows us through Jesus’ example, that God’s plans for us may include painful and difficult experiences. He then explains why through hard times, God is still worthy of our trust and how we can respond to God when we’re going through challenging times. Tune in here.
Reasons, Emotions and Faith In this devotion from Isaiah 1:18-20, John explores the vital role that human reasoning and emotions play in our faith and affirms that God wants us to engage both our minds and emotions when walking with Him. Tune in here.
Peace For Today What does it mean to have peace? Is ‘world peace’ truly possible? Can we have peace if we struggle with stress or anxiety? In this devotion from John 14:23-27, John explains the biblical definition of ‘peace’ and how we can have it today when we put our faith in Jesus. Tune in here.
Experience Katoomba Easter Convention 2024
Experience KEC this Easter!
Katoomba Easter Convention offers you a wonderful opportunity to enjoy time with friends and family in the Blue Mountains, to get away from life’s busyness and hear powerful, life-changing preaching every day.
Join us as our speakers John North, Tim Blencowe and Matt Sparks unpack the theme ‘Conquering Worldliness: Resisting the Gravitational Pull of the World.’
Enjoy praise and worship with over a thousand Christians each morning and evening. Hear personal testimonies that remind you of God’s sovereignty in our everyday lives.
Meet new people and form lasting friendships for years to come.
Experience a strengthening of your faith.
Experience encouragement for every member of the family.
Experience God’s beauty as you rest in the Blue Mountains.
We are pleased to announce that Tim Blencowe will be joining Katoomba Easter Convention (KEC) as a main speaker. Along with John North and Matt Sparks, Tim will unpack the theme ‘Conquering Worldliness: Resisting the Gravitational Pull of the World’, helping delegates to navigate the ‘wisdom’ of the world and to win the battle against worldliness.
According to Tim, Easter is a time for Christians to reflect on God’s love and commitment to His people in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Though it may be our temptation to fill our lives with other loves, Tim hopes that KEC will help delegates to treasure Jesus—the One who promises deep satisfaction and contentment.
Meet KEC24 Speaker: Tim Blencowe
Tim and his family are part of the international community of Macquarie Baptist Church, where he serves as senior pastor and as a chaplain to Macquarie University. Tim was raised in a missionary family, has a background in high school teaching, and enjoys helping people embrace a living faith that integrates the whole of life.
Tim will be giving four short talks each morning over the KEC weekend.
In this talk, Tim Blencowe joins the dots between Jesus and work, so that instead of compartmentalising faith and work, Christians can begin to see how their faith correlates with their day-to-day experience. Watch it here.
In this sermon from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Tim encourages listeners to consider their mortality and the realities of death. He compares different religions and belief systems about death, concluding that the resurrection of Jesus is our greatest hope.
Experience KEC this Easter!
Katoomba Easter Convention offers you a wonderful opportunity to enjoy time with friends and family in the Blue Mountains, to get away from life’s busyness and hear powerful, life-changing preaching every day.
Join us as our speakers John North, Tim Blencowe and Matt Sparks unpack the theme ‘Conquering Worldliness: Resisting the Gravitational Pull of the World.’
Enjoy praise and worship with over a thousand Christians each morning and evening. Hear personal testimonies that remind you of God’s sovereignty in our everyday lives.
Meet new people and form lasting friendships for years to come.
Experience a strengthening of your faith.
Experience encouragement for every member of the family.
Experience God’s beauty as you rest in the Blue Mountains.
Pastoral Supervision: Protecting Your Heart to Go the Distance
In this workshop, “Pastoral Supervision: Protecting Your Heart to Go the Distance in Ministry” from Oxygen 2023, Susan Marcuccio invites ministry workers to examine their hearts for the things that have the power to end one’s ministry.
She begins by explaining that while there are many things that can affect our ministry—accusations, discouragement, conflict, sickness, moral failure, addictions—none of these external things hold the power to ruin our ministry because God is in control. Rather, it is the internal things of the heart—bitterness, unforgiveness, cynicism—that can grow and fester to make us lose passion for ministry.
Susan then explains the value of pastoral supervision in giving ministry workers a safe, trustworthy and confidential space to share how they are really going, and to guard their hearts so that they can go the distance in ministry.
Pastoral Supervision: Protecting Your Heart to Go the Distance by Susan Marcuccio
This workshop is part of our KCC+ January 2024 collection, “Shaping Our Hearts”, available exclusively for subscribers. The collection includes 12 workshops from Oxygen 2023, designed to help workers understand the inner and outer challenges of ministry, while providing practical wisdom to renew and revive passion for the work God has called them to do. Here’s a preview of what’s available:
Why aren’t they singing? – Crafting a Sound That Invites the Congregation by Grant Norsworthy
Mending the Broken Hearted: Trauma Informed Pastoral Ministry by Tim Dyer
Serving Confidently Amidst Strain, Uncertainty and Change by Grant Bickerton
Mental Health and Ministry by Miriam Chan
The Importance of Emotional Self Awareness for Healthy Ministry by Dave & Kathy Thurston
Access this and much more from only $4.99 / month (on an annual KCC+ subscription). Learn more: https://www.kccone.org.au/
Susan Marcuccio explains the value of pastoral supervision in helping ministry workers to guard their hearts so that they can go the distance in ministry.
By Heidi Tai
5 Christmas Quotes to Inspire Hope
As Christmas approaches, we invite you to prepare your hearts to meet Jesus afresh. Here are five quotes to guide your mind and heart to the hope of his birth at Christmas:
“In the birth of Christ, God chose to be like us. Submitting himself under the weaknesses that all humans experience which makes sense because a holy God has to be a humble God…God chose to be like you, so He could help you.” – Jackie Hill Perry
“The Christmas Story: There is hope for the weak, for those who’ve failed, for the wicked, the rebellious and those who are foolish and lost.” – Paul Tripp
“The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity–hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory–because at the Father’s will Jesus Christ became poor and was born in a stable so that thirty years later, he might hang on a cross. It is the most wonderful message that the world has ever heard or will hear.” – J. I. Packer
“You have heard the phrase in “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”— “Mild, he lays his glory by.” What does that mean? He did it voluntarily, willingly, and lovingly. No one forced him. It wasn’t just a duty. He faced unimaginable pain and death out of love for you.” – Tim Keller
“We find hope in the ancestry of Jesus that no matter what we’ve done or where we come from, we too can be included in Jesus’ family. Jesus does not look for people who are perfect and have never failed or made mistakes to be in his family. Instead, he is drawn toward people who recognize their failures and see their need for him.” – Nancy Guthrie
Hope Arrived! An Advent Series Available with KCC+
Hope Arrived! An advent series by KCC+
As Christmas approaches, we invite you to prepare your hearts to meet Jesus afresh.
‘Hope Arrived’ is our brand new, 4-part video and audio advent series that will guide your mind and heart to the hope of Christmas. It also features ‘He Entered Into’, a 15-day written devotional series to help you explore how Jesus entered our world to meet and save us.
Now exclusively available for KCC+ subscribers on the KCC One app. Sign up today: https://www.kccone.org.au/
5 quotes to guide your mind and heart to the hope of his birth at Christmas.
By Heidi Tai
Sam Allberry Confirmed to Speak at BASECAMP 2024
We are pleased to share that pastor, preacher and apologist, Sam Allberry, will be speaking at BASECAMP 2024 on the topic “Building Brotherhood”.
Sam speaks around the world and is the author of Seven Myths About Singleness, Is God Anti-Gay? and What God Has To Say About Our Bodies. He is also the co-host of the podcast You’re Not Crazy: Gospel Sanity for Young Pastors. Sam is the Associate Pastor at Immanuel Church Nashville, a Canon Theologian for the Anglican Church in North America, and a Fellow at the Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics.
In 2024, he will speak at BASECAMP men’s conference, helping delegates to consider God’s design for brotherhood. Sam will share how men can better link arms with other men in their life with Jesus and become a brother that other men can trust and lean on.
Hosted by Katoomba Christian Convention, BASECAMP is an annual event for men to renew their strength in Christ. Since 1997, men of all generations and from across denominations have taken time out together to hear God speak. Each year, men have encouraged each other to run the race with their eyes fixed on Jesus.
BASECAMP 23 Highlights
BASECAMP will return in 2024 over two weekends in three different formats:
BASECAMP City (3 August 2024) – A one-day recharge held at the UNSW Roundhouse in Kensington
BASECAMP Mountains (9–10 August 2024) – An overnight retreat held at StayKCC in Katoomba
BASECAMP Online (9–10 August 2024) – An online livestream of BASECAMP Mountains that can be aired from your church hall, lounge room or shed!
Early Bird tickets are now available. Register today: basecampmen.com
Sam Allberry will be speaking at BASECAMP 2024 on the topic “Building Brotherhood”.
By Heidi Tai
“A Reminder We Are Not Alone”: Zoe’s OneLove Testimony
In this interview, Zoe shares why she has continued to attend OneLove over the last 5 years and the impact that the teaching and fellowship has had on her faith and ministry. She also shares her sermon takeaways from this year, and the impact of being able to gather with like-minded Christian women at events like OneLove.
OneLove delegate, Zoe Dumbrell
1. How many times have you attended OneLove, what made you attend this year?
I love attending OneLove and have been coming almost every year since I was in year 10, which means I have attended, online or in person, about 5 times! I came along this year because of how great the previous years had been! I also love the book ‘Gay Girl Good God’ by Jackie Hill Perry, so was keen to hear from her.
2. What was a highlight of this year’s conference?
This year’s conference highlight was hearing a multitude of women singing praises to God. It always gives me goosebumps. So thankful for the ability to worship our great God and for the great musicians to lead us in that.
3. What was something that struck you about the talks?
Something that really stuck me in the talks was the sheer power of God. I often forget His authority in the world, but the talks were a helpful reminder of how God has been working and is working in our lives. It was awesome to look at how he works all things for His glory and that nothing we do can stuff up the plan of God. What a relief! He knows us and yet uses us to bring about His purposes! What a powerful God!
4 How has OneLove encouraged your faith?
OneLove talks encouraged my faith, reminding me that despite being a sinful person, God chose to save me, and even more so, he decides to use me for his ministry. We are fragile jars of clay, but he made us ambassadors for Christ. He called us to spread the love of God with the world and he gives us the power of His son through the Holy Spirit. When there is great news like that, how could I not go out into the world to tell people about Jesus?
5. Why should women attend OneLove in the future?
Women should come to OneLove because it is a GREAT day that encourages and challenges you to live every day for God. The day serves as a reminder that we are not alone in the ministry of God. The world may persecute us but a conference like OneLove shows us that there are so many other Christians who are going through the same thing; working together for the same purpose of growing God’s kingdom. We are united in Christ; sisters in Christ. We are not alone in the Christian walk because we have a Christian family and, most of all, we have God!
Early Bird tickets now available for OneLove 2024
OneLove is a one-day event for all women to gather under life-changing preaching and enjoy fantastic fellowship. Whether you have been a Christian for many years or are still seeking answers about God, join us and be encouraged, refreshed, and renewed for the journey ahead.
Early Bird tickets are now available and include access to the event, a printed booklet, morning tea, lunch and a conference gift. Secure your tickets today: https://onelovewomen.com/
