Our Details

10 am Sundays at
65 Owen Terrace
Wallaroo SA 5556

PoBox 340 Wallaroo SA 5556

Email; coppercoastbaptist@live.com

Mobile; 0432 017 025

Our Pastor: Rev Markus Schmid

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Friday, March 30, 2012

Week 6 friday the woman at the well

The woman at the well.

it has always interested me that in this story too many pastors label this woman as promiscuous and sinful. It is always dangerous to import our 21st century ideals into a 1st century context.

In this culture it was almost impossible for a woman to divorce a man it is unlikely she was the instigator of the divorces. The most common reason for divorces was barrenness or the inability to bear children(there was no IVF). so even if we assume that the five previous marriages were divorces ( there could have been husbands who possibly died) then she is quite possibly a victim of them.

If Jesus is pointing out sin he does not say at anytime your sin is forgiven or does he ask for repentance. When she goes and tells the town they listen to her (she must have some influence). The amazing thing is that Jesus knew about her situation and valued her as she was. Which is quite possibly the first time a man has truly valued her.

In every text it is best that we remember the culture that it was written and not try to import our own understanding into it.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Week 6 Thursday John's Gospel

John really does have a different way of describing the Good news of the coming kingdom of Jesus. Most people when they think of John's Gospel think immediately of John 3:16, but one of my favorite passages is chapter 2:1-12 the wedding at Cana.

Jesus was not a sourpuss who looked down on the everyday lives of people he actually went to parties. At this party he turns water into wine and not just any wine but by the standard of the day it was the best wine possible! I grew up in a Baptist church and a Baptist home. We Baptists are infamous for being teetotalers but not in my family we were Germans so there never was any problem with moderate alcohol consumption. It seems like Jesus didn't have a problem with it either he obviously knew what good wine was and had no problem by supplying alcohol to this party!

Jesus was up for a laugh why are so many of his people the exact opposite?

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Week 6 Wed

The complete betrayal of Jesus by Peter continues to astound me. But then again we all monumentally fail him in our lives! I don't say this as a good thing , just to point out that just as Peter was able to overcome his failures and serve the kingdom of Jesus we likewise are able to overcome
our failures and serve Jesus in his kingdom. Don't let guilt stop you from serving because guilt is not from Jesus.



Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Week 6 Tuesday

Jesus is coming to the final week of his life and his urgency has increased his patience with the leaders and chief priests is lessened.

Did Jesus claim to be King?
Well it is obvious that is what he was declaring by arriving in town on a donkey and allowing people worship him as such!
Jesus also declares the unrighteous rule of the chief priests over by telling the story of the ungrateful tenant farmers and turning over the tables in Jerusalem. It almost seems like he was picking a fight with the leaders! In fact he was he knew his time was coming and fast.

"The new kingdom is here," That is the Good news! ...is it ? Really ? Do we really believe that? If we do how can we go on living like the new kingdom is in some disembodied existence after we die?

Monday, March 26, 2012

Lent Gospel challenge week 6 monday Mark 5-8

Jesus really lets the disiples have it! He basically calls them thick! Have you ever doubted, or questioned? It isnt always easy for us to keep or faith, Especially in times of trouble when it looks like evil is winning.

If Jesus kingdom had begun why do we see such terrilble things still going on? The battle has been won but the war still rages, evil doesnt believe it has already lost, so the more we gain ground the more evil fights back. When we doubt it is reassuring to remember that even those closest to Jesus doubted and questioned so it is not something we should lose sleep over , but we should remind ourselves that Jesus is king!

Friday, March 23, 2012

Week 5 friday Lent Gospel challenge, Mark

"anyone who does God's will, are my brothers sisters and mother"

How often do we treat each other as family? Really, how often? At best from what I see of most followers of Jesus we treat each other as distant cousins, at worst as aquaintences! We are mostly civil, polite and dont fight with one another. But hardly family as close as brothers and sisters!

I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters, we fought often when we lived in the same house. So much so that my father when asked what he wanted as a present for birthdays etc would respond "peace and quiet". We always thought he was joking but now as a father I am begining to understand.

However if anyone attacked one of us from outside our group we would always be the first to defend each other. If one of us was in need all the others would help, without asking? Support was a constant. Does that sound like your experience of "church"?

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Week 5 thu gospel challenge


Pauls journey to Rome

Pauls strong sense of purpose drives him to continue through storms, shipwrecks, snake bites and opposition. On arrival paul proceeds to preach to the Jews! How strongly do we feel called to our lives?

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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Lent gospel challenge week 5 wed

Acts 25-26

Paul is in custody in a court being judged by the king! So what does he do? Well of course he shares his story! It s obvious it is done with an evangelistic intention because the king says "do you think you can convert meso easily?" to which Paul replies "I wish everyone was as me".

Do we even know well enough why we are followers of Jesus? And if we do do we know how to effectively share our story with others?

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Week 5 tuesday Lent Gospel challenge

Acts 21-24
Pauls friends plead with him not to go to Jeusalem, they fear he will be killed by the authorities. But his reply is that "if my life will be taken because I stand up for what I believe then I am ready for that" ( my interpretetation). In my opinion I dont see many people saying that they will stand up for what they believe. In fact most people go to church wanting to hear that the Bible vindicates their way of life so that they can go on their way and continue to live as they see fit. Whereas God calls us to do as he sees fit wether that is something we want to do or not. Not many of us( in the West ) will be asked to give up our physical life for faith, however we are definately called to give up our authority over our own life and give that to God!

I am reading a lot of Bonhoeffer at the moment. One of the many things that stand out to me about him, was that he had an oppourtunity to stay in America and fight Hitler from there in safety but he chose to return to Germany in the full knowledge that he may die in his quest to lead the confessing church. But he said he could not in all good conscience be part of the rebuilding of his beloved Germany if he did not suffer with his people during their time of need.

How often do we choose suffering ahead of security?

Monday, March 19, 2012

Week five monday gospel reading challenge acts 17-20

The seven sons of Sceva!

Acts 19:14-16
Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. 15 But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.

I always find this funny it is almost cartoonish that these 7 men think they can use the name of Jesus and Paul to subdue this spirit with out the benefit of the Holy Spirit!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Week 4 friday lent gospel challenge Acts 13-16

Ahhh Paul what a character! I wish i was a s zealous as he is some times.

It is difficult to make Hard and fast rules based on what paul does and says, for instance he goes to jerusalem to advocate on behalf of gentiles so the need not be circumcised. Then he makes sure Timothy is circumcised before he comes with him on his journey. So do we get circumcised or not? I believe Paul was an expert at "not causing his weaker brother to sin" if timothys uncircumcision was a problem for those around he needed to be circumcised. If it was a problem for people to support his mininsty he worked as a tentmaker , but he believed that a leader deserved his wages. "to the jew i became a jew to the greeks a greek etc". Do we put too many blocks in front of our brothers/sisters? You must do this or that or act this way?



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Thursday, March 15, 2012

Lent gospel reading challenge week 4 thursday

Acts 8-12

I am constantly amazed at what God can do when his will is required. Gentiles are included as his people, the worst critics are converted, even roman soldiers believe and the laws of physics are suspended as peter just walks out of gaol.

Why do we not see the same things happening today. I believe we do we just dont take the time to recognise them for what they are.

Ps. Really loving reading Acts , inspiring stuff!



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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Week 4 wednesday Acts5-7

Acts 5:40-42
The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.
41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”

This passage always makes me laugh because the response from the disciples after they are beaten is not to get angry with God for what happened and to stop preaching, it was continue to preach Jesus was the messiah. They could have taken the beating as a sign that they were doing the wrong thing, but they didnt they took it as asign that they were doing the right thing.

We easily get discouraged when trouble hits our lives we seem to think that our lives will be trouble free if we live for Jesus Kingdom. All of the prophets faced opoosition and most of them were killed for it. As modern day prophets what makes us think that we wont follow the same fate?



Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Week 4 tueday acts 1-4


I love Peter the apostle I love the fact that he speaks before he engages his brain , I love the fact that when he makes mistakes he makes massive ones and when he gets things wrong he gets them coloosally wrong. Not the kind of person you would make a leader in your church.

But in Acts we see a different person he stands up as the(or a) leader of the early church, he preaches the first sermon after Jesus ressurection a sermon with power and authority, he stands up to the cheif priests and when they tell him to stop (unlike Pilate) he says NO. What happened to change this man?

He was a witness to the death and ressurection of Jesus the King! He knows that the kingdom of God has truly come and he knows that he can do nothing elses.

How much do we GET the kingdom of God?

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Week 4 monday luke 22-24

I have always wondered about Pilate why was he the bad guy? This passage shows that several times he refused to put jesus to death. In jesus christ superstar the musical one of my favorite songs is "Pilates dream" in it he sings about a dream he has:

"Then I saw thousands of millions
Crying for this man
And then I heard them mentioning my name
And leaving me the blame".

Pilate had a chance to do the right thing and he tried but he listened to the voices of the people instead.

Do we ever go against what we know is right because a crowd of voices tells us to? How about our politicians their job is to listen to the people? Sometimes doing the right thing is unpopular and it may cost us much ( our jobs , promotions, ministry, peace in our families) but Jesus didnt say "I have come to make you as comfortable as possible". Peter realises the danger of trying to make peace with the crowd and he denies Jesus 3 times, ( I bet he never did again). Pilate could have said NO and stuck to his guns then the death of Jesus could have been the responsibility of others. But he chose to please the crowd.


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Friday, March 9, 2012

Week 3 friday

Luke 17:1-4

Teachings about Forgiveness and Faith

1 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! 2 It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. 3 So watch yourselves!
“If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. 4 Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”

Forgiveness without repentance! This is what Bonhoeffer calls "cheap grace" this can rarely restore our relationships. The goal of forgiveness and repentance must be restored relationship but if our "brother" doesnt want forgiveness( makes no effort at repentance) how can relationship be restored! Sometimes forgiveness can be one sided but this kind of forgiveness is for ourselves so we are freed from the bondage hate and despair. If the one who sinned against us passes away before they can repent we may need to forgive to free ourselves.




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Thursday, March 8, 2012

Week 3 thur

The Pharisees were very good at making rules and forcing people to keep them , who you can eat with how to prepare food and yourself for the meal on what day you can and cannot work. Jesus says not in my kingdom in my kingdom we dont put obstacles in the path of the lost and suffering we remove the obstacles.


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Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Week 3 wed

Jesus sends out the disciples and tells them to rely on him, not to plan for their trip out of their own supplies. Then he feeds the people when the disciples cant figure out how they will ever afford it. Do we try to do ministry under our own abilities also? I wonder what would happen if we just left it up to Jesus?.


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Week 3 tue

"why do you eat and drink with such scum?" matt 5:30

Why do we spend our lives around all the best people?


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Monday, March 5, 2012

Week 3 day 1

Luke1-4
Luke 4:18-21
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”
20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21 Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”

Good news to the poor, captives released, blind seeing and oppressed set free... Is that what we see happening in our world? Is that the same good news we are sharing with people. We need to think about what "Good News" means in our society.


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Friday, March 2, 2012

Week 2 day 5 gospel challenge

The last 3 chapters tell the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. For the last 2 weeks we have read the other 25 chapters of Matthew. Why did matthew bother if the death and resurrection is the totality of the "Good news", he could have saved a lot of papyrus? Out of the 89 chapters of the Gospels only13 chapters are dedicated to his death and resurrection.
Well perhaps that was not the only message that Jesus came to tell or that Matthew, Mark , Luke and John wanted us to hear. The rest of the Gospels tell us that Jesus came to begin his kingdom and how we should live as his followers/subjects.
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Thursday, March 1, 2012

Week 2 day 4 gospel challenge

Matt 24-25 be "ready" what does that mean? I dont need to "DO" anything for my salvation do I ? We certainly need to be ready so that we are prepared for the day that Jesus comes again.

Just as a pilot practices his craft over and over and over again with monotonous repetition, so that it becomes more than second nature it becomes instinct. One day he might find a bird flies into his engine and in 3 minutes from take off he needs to crash land his plane in the busiest city in the world. His training and discipline will determine how many passengers survive and how many dont. It doesnt matter that at some stage he got a licence to fly , what matters is his character and his commitment to do what has become second natureor instinct.( for the real story read here

We too need to practise our "craft" and become discipled to Jesus so that when we are called into action we can be ready. Ready to use our character, second nature or instinct for God. We need to be ready.



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