Church in the Marketplace

06/09/2026

The Father’s Good Gifts

Matthew 7: 7-11

One of God's most generous assurances to His children is found in today's passage. Not only are we granted permission to come to the Father with our requests, but He also promises to answer our prayers. However, you may be thinking, If this is true, why hasn't He given me what I asked for?

The key to understanding this passage is verse 11: "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" The God who made us is more keenly aware of our needs than we are (6:8).

We may ask for what we perceive as good and necessary when it isn't truly in our best interest. But our Father gives what He knows is more beneficial. The qualities of Christlike character are among His best gifts, and these develop through trials and testing.

When it seems the Lord isn't answering your requests, remember that He's a loving Father, and consider what good gifts He is giving instead. Although it may take years to gain a godly perspective, in time you'll say, "Lord, You were right. Thank You for giving me exactly what I needed."

Source: In Touch Ministries: Devoted Living

04/09/2026

03/09/2026

Top 10 Tips to Honour Dad This Father’s Day

01 Show gratitude:
Nobody's perfect, not even parents. Focus on the special things about your father and thank him for even the small things he does for you. Something as simple as showing gratitude helps with bonding.

02 Communicate:
Find opportunities to talk with your father. Wait until he's had time to unwind from work and daily stresses and talk about things of mutual interest. Ask him about his work and tell him about your day.

03 Share hobbies or interests:
Find common interests and enjoy them together. This could be fishing, camping, watching sports or working on a project together.

04 Pray together:
Set up a special time to pray together. This could be just before bed or after dinner. Praying together is incredibly powerful. Keep a journal of your prayers and when they are answered, write the date next to it.

05 A homemade gift:
Make something special for him. This could be a special frame you decorate for a photo of a special memory you have of him. Or a knitting, pottery, painting, or woodwork project that shows off your handiwork which perhaps you learned from him.

06 Read the Bible together:
Sharing God's Word not only strengthens your Bible knowledge but builds a strong bond between you. You can finish off by praying together as tip four suggests.

07 Ask him to share his memories:
Your father wasn't born an adult. He's been through the struggles of being young and vulnerable. Encourage your father to share stories of his life journey, his challenges, his mistakes, and his victories.

08 Cook something special:
Show off your MasterChef skills if you have them! You've heard the saying, The way to a man's heart is his stomach!' Share this special meal or treat together and maybe include some of the ten tips while you're at it.

09 Find out his love language:
Gary Chapman wrote a book called, The 5 Love Languages. These are: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Physical Touch (hugs), Acts of Service and Receiving Gifts. These have been covered in the Top 10 Tips to heip you connect with your dad this Father's Day.

10 Forgive or work towards forgiveness:
If there are past hurts or misunderstandings, seek to resolve these issues. Holding onto resentment serves nobody. Let it go and keep communication open if safe. Consider professional help for complex issues.

Source: Vision180 magazine’s WORD4TODAY

02/09/2026

The Psalms talk of oceans and rivers and mountains praising God. Join us this Sunday as we look forward, with a powerful hope, to a time when all of creation will be united in worship of its Creator, singing a new song about the wonderful things God has done, and the salvation he has revealed to the nations.

01/09/2026

Vote for us at Grill’d Bondi Junction in September

CMP will feature on one of the Local Matters jars at Grill’d Bondi Junction for the entire month of September.

Each month Grill’d supports three local community groups. At the end of the month, the group voted for most by customers will receive $300 while the other two will receive $100.

The money we receive will go towards supplying our food cupboard, which supports locals in need.

So, eat at Grill’d Bondi Junction and vote for CMP in September!

31/08/2026

The Harvest is Coming: Keep Sowing in Faith

"Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." Psalm 126:5-6

Have you ever prayed for something for a long time and wondered if God was doing anything at all? Maybe you've been praying for a family member to come to faith, believing for healing, or asking the Lord to open a door that still seems firmly shut. You keep praying, you keep trusting, but nothing appears to be changing.
If you've ever felt that way, Psalm 126 has an encouraging message for you.

These verses remind us that God's work often happens where our eyes cannot see it. Long before we see the harvest, He is already at work beneath the surface. The psalm paints a simple picture. A farmer walks into his field carrying seed because he knows there will never be a harvest unless he first plants what he has. Once the seed leaves his hand, it disappears beneath the soil. For a while, the field looks exactly the same. Nothing seems to be happening. But beneath the ground, life has already begun.

The psalm also tells us that the farmer goes out weeping as he sows. I don't believe these are tears of despair. They are the tears that often come with sacrifice. Once the seed has been planted, the farmer cannot take it back. He has done what God asked him to do, and now he must trust God to bring the increase.

Our walk with the Lord is often the same.

Sometimes God asks us to keep praying even though the answer hasn't come yet. Sometimes He asks us to keep serving when we are tired, to keep giving when it costs us something, or to keep sharing the Good News when people don't seem interested. We don't keep going because we already see the fruit. We keep going because we trust the One who promised the harvest.

If that is where you are today, don't lose heart. Keep sowing the seeds God has placed in your hands. Keep praying. Keep serving. Keep loving people. Keep sharing His truth with grace and compassion. None of it is in vain because God is faithful to every promise He has made.

Psalm 126 ends with a wonderful promise. Those who keep sowing in faith will one day return with joy, carrying the harvest that God Himself has produced. Our responsibility is to sow faithfully. The harvest belongs to the Lord. As we continue to trust and obey Him, we can rest knowing that He is working, even when we cannot yet see it. And when His time comes, the tears of sowing will give way to the joy of reaping.

May the Lord encourage your heart and give you fresh strength to keep sowing. He is faithful, and in His perfect time, He will bring the harvest for His glory.

Source: Pastor Israel Pochtar – Biet Hallel Congregation & Voice of Judah Israel.

25/08/2026

As we confirm several new friends into membership of our church this Sunday, we will all be reminded of the profound call to offer bodies as 'living sacrifices’ as our everyday act of worship to God.

24/08/2026

If you are unable to join us in person, please use this link to view the service:
https://youtube.com/live/4n2_i-FSRtU?feature=share

24/08/2026

Seeking God All Day

I seek you with all my heart: do not let me stray from your commands... Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. PSALM 119:10,97 (NIV)

Quiet time? What's quiet about a life rushing around juggling work, family, church and friends? Not to mention the endless driving, housework and washing!

I used to feel guilty (and sometimes still do) that I'm not as disciplined as my husband who gets up early every day and spends quiet time with God reading His Word. I benefit greatly from deep time with God on days when I can, but how can we have personal, meaningful time with God on other days when life is busy?

The psalmist in today's passage talks of meditating all day long and seeking God with all his heart, not just part of it. Time with God is not just a theoretical exercise where we learn and then move on with our day, it's a relationship we're in with the God who loves us. It's our heart drawing near to God all through the day, in everything.

It's important to make time to stop and give Him priority. But I've also learnt the value of actively connecting with God IN the busyness, with regular habits. Listening to Real Hope devotionals on my drive to work lets me contemplate His Word when I don't have time to sit still. Listening to worship music gives me time to be with God and praise Him. Listening to podcasts when doing housework challenges me to live out my faith. Praying through the day helps me bring all things before Him, so I work in His strength.

How can you invite God into your whole day as you
seek Him with all your heart?

Source: Jodie Williams Real Hope Devotional