Many Australians are unsure about God - they don't believe he is real or can make a difference in our lives. So can God make any sense in the modern world? A great conversation exploring the reality and impact of God today.
Our guest: Julie-anne Laird. Julie-anne worked for many years on university campuses helping students to consider Jesus. She now works as a young adults pastor at All Saints Anglican church in Greensborough, with City to City, a church planting and leadership development organisation, and a Canon for church planting with the Anglican diocese of Melbourne.
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Bigger Questions asked in the conversation
You worked for many years with university students and now work as a young adults pastor - are young people really interested in spiritual things at all?
Smaller Questions
To kick off Bigger Questions we like to ask some smaller questions just to get us thinking. Today we’re talking with Julie-anne Laird about why we should bother with God. So Julie-anne, in today’s smaller questions, I thought we’d test you on how much you know about bothering with God.
Why bother with God?
So Julie-anne - why should we consider bothering with God? A minority of Australians believe he exists and people who do believe he exists are often pejoratively labelled as ‘God botherers’ - so why should we consider exploring this question?
Is it worth clarifying what we mean by God? For there have been thousands of conceptions of god in the history of humanity?
You’ve spoken with a lot of people about God, particularly young people, and the question of God doesn’t seem to disappear - what makes people contemplate this big question?
But a lot of people find meaning without God? Why do you need God?
Some would even say having a relationship with God is like having an imaginary friend for adults?
The Bible: whatever is right
These issues are raised by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament letter of Philippians where he writes in chapter 4, verses 8-9,
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
How does this help in bothering with God?
Testimony
What difference has bothering with God made to you?
Have you seen God change others you’ve spoken with?
Big Question (30:00)
So Julie-anne, why bother with God?
