The Main Game
Learning to Live like Jesus in Hobart
4 February to 17 March 2024
A key focus of being part of HBC is Learning to live like Jesus in Hobart. Jesus constantly called people to “Follow me” (Matt 4:19). Following Jesus meant putting into practice what he taught. It wasn’t an easy thing to do. Jesus told the crowds that; “‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).
The cross was a symbol of death. Jesus called people to give up their personal agendas, expectations and hopes, and join with his kingdom agenda. When we are able to do this in our daily lives we are able to access a more fulfilling and complete life.
For us today in Hobart, this is not just a Sunday thing, but a whole of life — a 7-days-a-week, 24-hours-a-day, undertaking. Every area of our lives, our family, school, work and even our alone time, is impacted by our commitment to be disciples of Jesus.
We begin 2024 with the encouragement to keep Learning to live like Jesus in Hobart and put plans in place to keep learning and growing.
Read more below the table …
| Date | Topic (orange text = video link) | Suggested Readings | Speaker |
| 4 February | The Fruitful Life | John 15:1-8 | Stephen Baxter |
| 11 February | Your Call | Romans 12:3-8 | Stephen Baxter |
| 18 February | Remain | 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 | Stephen Baxter |
| 25 February | The Time Out | 1 Corinthians 14:26-39 | Matt Henderson |
| 3 March | The Main Game and Creativity | 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 | Michael Henderson |
| 10 March | Building Culture | Acts 2:42-47 | Matt Henderson |
| 17 March | Living like Jesus | 2 Timothy 1:6-10 | Stephen Baxter |
Jesus Followers Gathering Together – Huddles
When Jesus followers get together, whether it is on a Sunday in a larger group, or during the week in smaller groups, they come for instruction, support and encouragement for living out our calling in the context God has placed on our lives with ongoing creativity.
It’s a bit like time out in a basketball game or a half time coach’s address for football team.
A time out is often an important opportunity to find rest, to encourage each other and to receive instructions from their coach. The time out is not the main game, but it is very important. When we are a part of a church community it can be easy to fall into thinking that what we do on Sunday mornings is the main game.
But the truth is that our Sunday service is intended more as a time out. The main game is played out in our everyday lives; at our workplace, around our dinner table and when we do life together with our family, friends, colleagues and peers.
When we come together as a church community, we are having a time out from the main game. It is our opportunity for finding rest and encouragement, to receive instruction for living, and for taking time to remember and worship our God.
But how is the main game of life going?
On a basketball team, like most teams, people have positions they play. Teams need to support and encourage each other. Teams need to communicate well and value the contribution each person plays.
Our church community is called to do these same things. We each have a context and a calling on our lives. We all have work to do. We all need to be valued and encouraged.
Over the next few weeks, we are going to be looking at how we are travelling in these areas as a community. We will be looking at how we can support each other in the main game of living life Jesus, and how we can get the most out of our time outs.