Impact 2012 Theme

We have settled on a theme for Impact 2012. It will cover the full spectrum of human relationships:

• Husband
• Wife
• Boyfriend
• Girlfriend
• Parent
• Child
• Married
• Single
  
• Employer
• Employee

We have entitled the conference Under Construction: Building Godly Relationships. Watch out for more information as the next year unfolds.

TSBC E-Quipper - June 2011 Issue

The Worship Scene
By Nigel Shailer, Vice Principal and Academic Dean

Is it possible that the church in the Western world has lost its way when it comes to worship? Walk into any Christian bookstore and our subconscious senses are exposed to one overwhelming message – "Worship is music." "Worship is only music!"

Now of course, no one means to say that, and when asked, thoughtful Christians will acknowledge that worship is much more than just music – it includes other activities such as reading the Bible, giving, communion, prayer, service, listening to God, submission to God, and meditating on God. In fact our whole life is meant to be a holy and acceptable sacrifice (Romans 12:1) and everything we do ought to give God glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).

But, for the sake of this article, even if we limit our worship discussion to just the songs the church sings today, we will observe a modern trend – it seems that many of our new "worship" songs are more focused on us than they are on God. Both the content of the songs and the style of the songs are designed to appeal to our personal preferences and subconscious expectations.

Maybe it has always been this way. Senior saints love the good ole hymns of yesteryear. Middle-aged Christians prefer semi-contemporary expressions of praise. Youth demand new sounds and experiences which still haven't been sanctioned by those who grow weary of ever-changing musical boundaries. Churches split over these issues. Doesn't it seem like too much of our focus is on us? – our preferences?

How is worship expressed in Heaven? If we look at Revelation 4 and 5, we see that the worshippers have no concern for themselves at all. They celebrate God's uniqueness, rather than promote their own individuality or independence. They celebrate God's dominion, rather than defend their own freedoms. They celebrate God's creative power, rather than boast in their own creativity. Their eyes are completely fixed on God and they lose themselves in the worship experience, giving no thought to themselves whatsoever.

We can model our public worship on this heavenly example. Worship just isn't about us anyway. It's about Him Who sits on the throne and it's about the Lamb. Why should we steal the focus and put it on ourselves?

Please pray for The Shepherd's Bible College faculty and student body. Our goal is to emulate the expressions of the heavenly worshippers each and every day here on earth and especially when we gather for public worship.

Impact Bible Conference Is Over for 2011

Well, another Impact is done and dusted. It wasn't good. . . It was fantastic!

Of course, every Impact is characterised by those who open God's Word session after session to explain it and impress its truths upon our lives. We want to thank Bill Barrick and Jack Hughes for their masterful expositions which magnified Christ's soon return. We were reminded that in order to live Christ-like lives today we must live in light of the future coming of Christ.

John Richard challenged youth to use their time wisely as they wait for Christ. Lisa Hughes called women to contentment and faith in all of life's circumstances. The missions and discipleship seminars were well attended by believers from all walks of life who were keen to expand their evangelistic and personal mentoring skills.

As the weekend conference advanced, attendance grew to 640. When all those voices joined in worship to our coming Lord, the effect was overwhelming. Our music director, Warren Jardine, and his wonderful teams of numerous singers and musicians lead us in excellent expressions of praise toward God. The roof was lifted on Friday night as we sang some old favourites that looked forward to our future days spent with Christ in eternity.

Benji Carey-Smith (TSBC student) and Tony Nuñez (TSBC lecturer) were responsible for an Impact first – an original song written especially with the Impact theme in mind: "Stepping into Eternity". This song is now available on the Impact website.

The engine room, otherwise known as the Riverbend kitchen team, operated like a slick well-oiled machine. What a joyful experience it was to see so many people serving with a smile. In addition, Riverbend Bible Church provided warm beds for 215 visitors. The church's ministry example and hospitality spoke volumes to all our guests.

Some other statistics illustrate God's kindness over the weekend – 54 hours of fellowship were enjoyed; 190 volunteers faithfully served attendees; 3,000 complimentary books were distributed in 500 gift bags; 3,622 meals were served in the dining room, and 19,800 cakes, biscuits, and savouries where prepared for teas and suppers. We are so thankful for everyone who donated time, scholarship funds, service, physical and spiritual resources in order to bless others. Their contribution glorified Christ and blessed many people.

Riverbend Bible Church magnified God last weekend! Thanks to everyone involved for their faithful witness, sacrificial hearts, and hard work! May we all live in the light of Christ's soon return.

Impact - Live Streaming Video

If you're unable to attend Impact Bible Conference this year, we have the sessions available to you via live streaming video. Click on the following link to view the general sessions as they happen: www.livestream.com/rbcnz/

And remember, all the conference sessions are made available for purchase on CD and DVD from Gracebooks New Zealand after the conference.

Below is the conference schedule so that you can plan your live viewing time slots . . .


THURSDAY, 2 JUNE

• 7pm – General Session #1 – Jack Hughes – A Glimpse at the Resurrected Lord of Glory (Revelation 1:9-18)

FRIDAY, 3 JUNE

• 9am – General Session #2 – Bill Barrick – What Is the Purpose of the Doctrine of Last Things? (2 Peter 3:10-18)
• 3:30pm – General Session #3 – Jack Hughes – A Trip to Hell – Exploring the Realities of Future Punishment (Luke 12:4-9)
• 7pm – General Session #4 – Bill Barrick – How Does the Doctrine of Last Things Complete the Doctrine of First Things?

SATURDAY, 4 JUNE

• 9am – General Session #5 – Jack Hughes – What Will There Be for Us? – Heaven, an Unspeakable Reward (Luke 18:28-30)
• 3:30pm – General Session #6 – Donald Stevenson – Glorification: Motivation to Shepherd the Flock of God (1 Peter 5:1-4)
• 7pm – General Session #7 – Bill Barrick – How Does the Judgment Seat of Christ Relate to Our Glorification?
• 8:30pm – Q&A

SUNDAY, 5 JUNE

• 9am – General Session #8 – Jack Hughes – Present and Future Ministry of Angels to Believers and Unbelievers (Hebrews 1:14)
• 11am – General Session #9 – Russell Hohneck – Receiving a Kingdom Which Cannot be Moved (Hebrews 12:25-29)
• 7pm – Communion & General Session #10 – Bill Barrick – Why Is Christ’s Coming the Focal Point of the Lord’s Table?

MONDAY, 6 JUNE

• 9am – General Session #11 – Jack Hughes – Investing in Eternity Now (Luke 12:33-34)
• 11am – General Session #12 – Bill Barrick – How Does Our Future State Impact Our Current Living? (2 Corinthians 5:6-10)

Nine Days till Impact

Impact is only nine days away and we are ramping up now for what we anticipate will be a fantastic time of preaching, worship and fellowship. Five hundred and forty registrations have been received with more coming in every day.

Here are our speakers again . . .








Don't miss out on Impact 2011. Get registered here.

TSBC E-Quipper - May 2011 Issue

It's All Greek to Me
By Tony Nuñez (TSBC’s new Lecturer of Bible Languages and Advanced Theology)


Having been nurtured in a church that preaches the Word of God, perhaps you remember the time you realised that the Bible you hold in your hands is actually a translation. God did not deposit His eternal truth for mankind in what we hold today, but in ancient dialects. Somewhere along the line, we learn that the Old Testament was written in ancient Hebrew, with portions in Aramaic, and the New Testament was written in first century Koine Greek. And for the most part, believers are content simply to know that there are people, ‘out there somewhere’ that understand these languages enough to produce the version of the Bible they so love.

That is, until perhaps that believer is placed in a situation where he or she must discover the meaning of a passage himself! Perhaps it is a teaching opportunity, or an occasion to defend the faith, or even at a time of extraordinary curiosity about a baffling text. It’s at this time, almost invariably, that he or she becomes driven to seek for answers among the multitude of Bible study resources available in print, software, or online. Once the Christian enters this realm, though, the original languages of the Bible may no longer be viewed with a mere distant awareness. Now, the Bible-lover must come into contact with them. Suddenly a new world is opened! And although there is a dense fog amidst the new and confusing grammatical ideas, a world of richness, clarity, and beauty peers through. And it is at that moment, the thought enters, ‘I would love to learn Hebrew or Greek!’

The Shepherd’s Bible College exists to equip all believers . . . even in the original languages of the Bible. Being for all believers, and not just seminarians, we take a unique approach that is simple but not simplistic, functional and yet accessible, that brings the student through the fog and into the brilliant light of understanding the text with a clarity only possible from the original languages.

Hernia Surgery

Thanks to you who have been praying for my recent hernia repair surgery. Everything has gone very smoothly and I am feeling really good. I was sent home on the same day as the surgery and was glad to comply with the doctor. I am moving freely and haven't needed to deal with much pain whatsoever. I am back in my office and will quietly continue with daily tasks. God has been good. Sereena has been a great nurse and is looking after me as well as taking care of all her Impact duties. It's a busy time of year. What a trooper!

Impact Memories

Here is the Impact photo slide show for 2010. Beware - if you watch this, great memories will flood your mind, and your anticipation for Impact 2011 might be too much to handle :)

Impact Bible Conference 2011

There are three stages to salvation: past, present, and future.

The first stage of salvation happens at a point in someone's life when they become a Christian. He or she has experienced (past tense) salvation.

The second stage of salvation is a present and continual process of living in the light of that past salvation. This is otherwise known as the process of sanctification.

The third and final stage of salvation is yet future for those believers who are still alive. It refers to the day when a believer is removed from this earth and will no longer be subject to the sin and temptations of this present world. That future day is called glorification.

Over the past two years, Impact Bible Conference has focused on the first two of these stages of salvation:

• Impact 2009 – The Gospel and Evangelism
• Impact 2010 – Saved To Be Holy

Now in 2011, Impact Bible Conference will deal with the last stage of the trilogy:

• Impact 2011 – Stepping into Eternity

Glorification is the theme of Impact 2011. This is going to be a wonderful time of challenge and encouragement as we all together prepare ourselves for that day when we will meet the Lord in person.

Will you join us in Hastings for this wonderful time? The conference dates are 2-6 June (Queen's Birthday Weekend). We have a fantastic line-up of international and local speakers, and every family represented at the conference will receive a welcome pack containing five wonderful books provided free of charge for their personal growth and encouragement.

The goal of the conference is that every person would be reminded of the brevity of this present life, have their hearts set on their future glorification, and be greatly invigorated to live in light of both of those realities.

Get registered now online: Impact Registration

For more information, go to the Impact Bible Conference website

TSBC Block Course in Auckland

This past weekend saw the completion of the first TSBC block course hosted at Auckland Bible Church. Thirteen students ventured into the world of English grammar. They learned how to diagram a text of scripture – an exercise that is helpful for finding the outline of a passage which can then form a teaching outline for a sermon or Bible study.


The Shepherd's Bible College is offering more block courses in Auckland this year at Auckland Bible Church and Howick Baptist Church:

• Church History
• Hermeneutics (Bible Interpretation)
• Christian Ethics
• Philosophy of Ministry for Church Life
• Personal Evangelism

Check out our website for details.

Registrations Open

Registrations are now open for Impact Bible Conference. The easiest way to be registered is to go to the Impact on-line registration page. Click on the image below and it will take you there. . .

Berean Bible Church

This past Sunday, I preached at Berean Bible Church in Arroyo Grande, California. Each year, I've been able to come to this church to thank the kind folk for their sacrificial contribution to The Shepherd's Bible College ministry in New Zealand. The church family is so gracious and my time with them is always encouraging. Pastor Randy Bossom is a seminar speaker at Impact Bible Conference in Hastings this June. Here is a picture of me with Randy after the service. . .

The Shepherds' Conference

So the second day of The Shepherds' Conference is done. What a fantastic time of preaching, worship, and fellowship! It has been an especially good networking time as we've been able to plan for future ministry opportunities at The Shepherd's Bible College and Impact Bible Conference.

Eight Kiwis are in attendance at the conference. Here's some of Team New Zealand. . .


At the first session, The Master's Seminary student body formed a choir and sang to the Lord wonderfully. Here they are seated in the choir loft at Grace Community Church. . .


This afternoon, we were able to spend a few moments with John MacArthur. . .


Our visit to Los Angeles allows us to nail down speakers for future conferences in New Zealand, secure resources for Impact, report to TSBC supporters, present the ministry to potential new supporters, elicit new prayer partners, and learn from like-minded faculty members in other TMAI institutes from around the world. It has been a very profitable time. Please continue to pray for us.

Calvary Bible Church - Missions Conference

This past weekend, Lawrence Pickering and I represented The Shepherd's Bible College at the Calvary Bible Church Missions Conference in Burbank, California.

We were able to describe the ministry and answer questions about how the Lord is equipping church leaders in New Zealand, through The Shepherd's Bible College.

We received a very warm welcome at Calvary Bible Church which is pastored by Jack Hughes. Jack and his wife, Lisa, are coming to New Zealand in June to preach at Impact Bible Conference.

On Sunday morning, I was privileged to preach at Calvary Bible Church in two duplicate services. It is a joy to partner with such a wonderful church body in order to extend the boundaries of God's work in the South Pacific.

TMAI Symposium

Yesterday and today, I attended The Master's Academy International Symposium in Los Angeles. With me were five other Kiwis: Russell Hohneck (TSBC, Principal), Greg Stephenson (TSBC, Director of Programme Development), Lawrence Pickering (TSBC, Board Advisor), Jeremy Rolston (TSBC, Student), and Bryan Martin (River City Bible Church, Pastor).

What a joy to network with 85 leaders and educators involved in the training and equipping of Christians worldwide. Sessions focused on the subject of raising support.

The Shepherds' Conference begins tomorrow!