15 April 2018 Vol 80 No 17 Free On Request: …

1 In one of the largest developments ever seen in the Blue Mountains,Katoomba Christian Convention hasplans for a $64 million rebuild on its premises at Cliff Drive. The plans call for the demolition of several existingbuildings and building of a new auditorium for public worship, a 500 seat dining hall, six eco lodges and threeeco chalets to accommodate 390 people, a new reception building, bookshop and cafe. The first phase of the de velopment would be a $25 million replacement of the 2,100 seat auditorium with a 3,500 seat structure, as wellas a new bookshop, toilet facilities and seven meeting has been at the site next to Scenic World since the 1950sand executive director Jonathan Dykes says theupgrade is needed to bring the tired facilities up to standard and to meet visitor expectation.

2 Things have beenadapted and updated as finances and resources have allowed, but we can only stretch that so far for so long, hesays. Works conducted over the years to ensure standards compliance, including asbestos removal, have reducedthe capacity of the site, yet still did not deliver accessible accommodation for people with a disability. The new fa cilities have been designed to be respectful of the location and its significant environmental new auditorium would be re-orientated to funnel noise away from neighbours, and Mr Dykes believesthe development will lessen the impact on surrounding residents because it would keep all activities in one place,reducing traffic movements to and from the site.

3 The Development Application, which gives the estimated totalcost at $ million, says the new buildings would not interfere with views at popular lookouts nearby. And whilesome trees would have to be removed for construction, more than 80% of the site would remain is the largest conference venue in the Blue was also used as a staging base for emergencyservices and community information meetings during the 2013 bushfires. Katoomba Christian Convention is anot for profit and interdenominational Bible preaching ministry that relies on volunteers, donations and the fi nancial support of visiting delegates.

4 It started in Katoomba in 1903 as an informal gathering of Christians in ahouse overlooking Echo Point. By the 1930s, 800 people were attending to sing hymns and listen to guest speakersand Bible held seven worship events last year,including the Easter Convention which was attended by 3,100 upgrade could see the centre made available to secular not for profit organisations like schools or to groupslike the Ultra Trail Australia running event, although its main purpose would remain a place of worship. Jennie Curtin15 April 2018 Vol 80 No 17 Free On Request: Tell the people the full message of this new life Acts FOR YOUON REQUEST Refurbishment For Katoomba Christian ConventionArtist's impression of the proposed new auditorium at Katoomba Christian Conventionon Cliff Drive near Scenic LIFE 15 April 2018 Page TwoNEW LIFE 15 April 2018 Page TwoVOLUME 80 NUMBER 17 ISSUE DATE:15 April 2018 FILE NO: NL 2018-04-15 ISSN:1033-7903 FOUNDER:Eric J.

5 Daley (1910-1992)EDITOR:Rev Bob ThomasPhone:0417 592 Address:PO Box 457 Mitcham VIC 3132 OFFICE MANAGER:Rachael VriezePhone: 0415 612 On RequestACCEPTANCE OFADVERTISINGDOES NOT LIFERESERVESTHE RIGHT TO REJECTADVERTISING BY:New Life Australia LtdABN: 15 005 035 138 NOTE TO CONTRIBUTORS:New Lifeis archived by theNational Library of Australia. It is assumed that contributorsagree with this arrangement andso are willing to be published onthis basis. PREACH THE WORD! There is nothing confusing or surprising about Paul's dying exhortationto hisyounger partner in ministry, Timothy: 'Preach the Word; be prepared in season andout of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruc tion' (2 Timothy ).

6 It is not confusing. Timothy is to see that his ministry revolvesaround the public, open proclamation of the Word, the Word which God breathed out(2 Timothy ). Timothy was a Pastor at Ephesus and he would have been very fa miliar with Paul's pioneering work there. When Paul rehearses his method of plantingthe church to the elders of the Ephesian church, he speaks of preaching, teaching, de claring, testifying and proclaiming all Word proclaiming explanation and declaration of God's revealed Wordwas at the heart of 1stCentury apostolic ministry and this must still be at the heart of 21st Century apostolicministry.

7 This is not confusing. A pastor today exercises his pastoral role of preachingthe Scriptures by correcting, rebuking and encouraging the flock with this Word. Cutthe modern day pastor and he must bleed Bible!Neither is this surprising,because Paul has already reminded Timothy that it wasthis breathed out Word of God which 'gave him wisdom for salvation' and is 'useful forteaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness' (2 Timothy ,16). TheBible is God's Word, it's origin is God Himself. Not to preach it therefore and preachour own ideas is perverse. The faithful preacher must set about the task of explainingand applying a passage of Scripture.

8 Be it a verse, a paragraph, a chapter or a wholebook, it will always be the Biblical text which is the focus of the preacher's this is rarer than we think! Instead we may have preaching which takes the idea of the text and preaches theidea in isolation from the may have sermons which are addressed to allsorts of contemporary issues, which tell much more about the issue than what Godsays in the Bible. We may have sermons about a theme which follows the themethrough the Bible in a doctrinal way, 'flipping preaching', which does not settle downin one passage and explain and apply that passage to hearers.

9 One pastor asked re cently, Does this mean I have to expound a passage every week? No, but realise thatthe week you don't expound a passage is the week the sheep will go home this mean we never preach on topics?Not at all. It simply means that we willnever take a topic and not expound a section of Scripture in relation to that me give an in the light of that very emotional confession ofAustralia's cricket captain Steve Smith, I might have preached a sermon on the topicof, Why The World Is In Such A Mess. I would preach on the dynamics of Genesis 3, Adamand Eve receiving God's Word, but the contrary voice of the Serpent tells them the lieand the lie is believed.

10 The reason the world is the way it is, is because a lie has beenbelieved! I would cross reference just once, to Jesus' description of the Devil as a liarand murderer (John ) to show that the contrary voice is always the voice of theSerpent. I would warn the church to always be aware of two voices, one which speakstruth the other the lie. Don t follow the lie! Steve Smith listened to the lie that the endjustifies the means. Dont you listen to the lie, which always causes us to doubt that theWord of the loving God cannot be have thus preached on a contemporary topic of why the world is the way it is,Ihave done it from Genesis 3, probably in a series on these early chapters.