It’s a big weekend of sport.

The Super Rugby semi-finals are here, the Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup begins, and the FIFA World Cup has kicked off. The last of those is the biggest World Cup ever, with billions of people expected to follow the tournament from all around the world.

Sport has a remarkable way of bringing people together at a time when so much seems to push us apart. In just a few hours, it can capture the full kaleidoscope of human emotion: joy, sorrow, hope, frustration, anticipation, relief, and celebration.

Last week I had the chance to head to the Reach Conference in Australia.

Each year, it is a great encouragement to gather with brothers and sisters in Christ who are committed to reaching their cities with the life-changing news of Jesus. We sit under clear and faithful Bible teaching. We learn from those who have gone before us. We carry burdens with one another. And we return with renewed clarity, vision, and commitment to keep going in the work of ministry God has given us.

“There are no atheists in the death zone on Mount Everest, everyone believes in something bigger than themselves up there.”

“Sorry for my language, Paul, I didn’t realise you were a pastor.”

“Can you tell me more about what your church is like?”

Those are all real conversations I’ve had over the past month at my Tuesday night trail running group. It’s a group of men and women who love the outdoors, love running, and love talking honestly about life. And almost every week, someone asks me about my faith in Jesus.

This week I had the privilege of spending time with a brother in Christ who was feeling particularly overwhelmed by life and down about the state of the world.

He turned up at the office, shared honestly where he was at, and together we read the Bible and prayed.

Nothing spectacular took place. There was simply the sharing of a burden and the quiet encouragement of God’s word.

But as I reflected on that time together, God reminded me of two blessings he gives us as we follow Jesus together.

Some have said, “that church camps provide 6 months of relationship building over a weekend.” 

I definitely found this to be the case last weekend on Night Church Weekend Away. 45 members of Night Church went away for the weekend and it was a great time of relationship building with each other and deepening in our relationship with Jesus. It was so encouraging that 20 of the people who came on the Night Church Weekend Away were there for the first time, and for many of them, it was their first Christian camp ever.

Over the next nine weeks, we’re going to be hearing sermons on some sermons.

If that sounds a bit unusual, don’t worry—it will make sense soon.

We’re beginning a journey through the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. It’s the final book of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), set on the plains of Moab just before Israel enters the Promised Land.

The first generation rescued from Egypt has died in the wilderness because of unbelief. Now a new generation stands on the edge of God’s promises. Moses, who will not enter the land himself, addresses them with a series of final sermons—preparing them for life with God in the land.launch