Toongabbie Anglican Church Audio Podcast: Recent Episodes
Toongabbie Anglican Church
Welcome to the Toongabbie Anglican Church audio podcast. Whether you are a member of our church, another church or never attended in your life we hope you can spend 30 mins with us. We are Ordinary People Encountering the Extraordinary God, and we are glad you have found us. Find out more at www.tac.church
Ephesians 4 is the celebration of unity we have in God expressed in a diversity of gifts used to serve one another as we together mature in faith.
We are the demonstration of God's wisdom and saving grace!! The church is the new humanity forged in God's saving grace. As Paul zooms out to help us see God's big plan He sees his purpose so clearly to hold out this grace to the world.
We are a new humanity in Christ who has given us peace with God and with each other. He has torn down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles and therefore let us be attentive to ways that we inadvertently create new walls that divide so that the peace of Jesus will extend to others.
This week we kick off vision month and it’s theme of “God is at work” celebrating God’s grace and that we are his handiwork.
As followers of Jesus, we are free. Which means we are free to adapt our behaviour to serve those we're trying to reach, so that they may be saved. Just as Jesus humbled himself and became like us so that we could be saved.
Stand firm in the power of the resurrection, the proof of the resurrection and the grace of the resurrection.
Romans 5 steps into the implications of Justification by Faith. Because we are justified, we have peace with God. This peace is filled with hope as God fills us with the love of Christ.
Righteousness is given through faith in Jesus! This demonstrates GOD’S righteousness, as he both shows his justice in punishing sin, and beautiful mercy in offering the means of justification to us poor sinners!
No one can meet God's standard, and we deserve his righteous judgment. But God is faithful to his promises, and he gives righteousness to all who believe in Jesus.
God’s justice is based on truth – which had been given to the Jews. Those who have rejected the truth misunderstood God’s kindness (law, forbearance, repentance).
This passage highlights the devastating consequences of exchanging the glory of the Creator for created things, leading to separation from God's righteousness and revealing our profound need for salvation.
Today we begin looking at one of the most impactful books of the New Testament; the book of Romans. Today’s focus will be the good news of God, which is his power to rescue and save all who believe.
To finish this launch series on discernment we'll look at longing for the kingdom of God as we imagine, pray, wait and explore.
In our middle week of this discernment launch series we look at love. How we are rooted and established in the love of God, how we enjoy that love together as church and how we hold out to our neighbour. This must shape our vision in the concrete reality of our church community and context.
This mini series on discernment begins a process for us to refresh our vision for the next 5 years. Mike will be teaching on 3 basic aspects of discernment to help us reflect on how God guides us and how, in unity, we might step forward. This week we begin by exploring how we listen to God.
Jesus is not ashamed of us because he makes us holy and brings us into the family of God. Because of this, we can approach God with confidence and persevere through hardship.
In Jesus’ welcome to the little ones he extends a radical gracious invitation to us all in all our messiness.
As we gear up for ToonieKids Week, we start a mini series called “Childlike Faith”. Romans 8 reminds us of the joy & wonder of the gift & privilege of being adopted as God’s children.
In today’s passage from 1 Samuel 13-15, we see both Saul’s folly and fall. These chapters show us that God rejected Saul because Saul had rejected God.
As Samuel approaches the end of his life, Israel desperately seeks confidence in their leadership but by looking to those around them rather than to God. God grants their desire, setting the stage for their failure and highlighting the contrast to Jesus, the eternal priest, prophet, and king.
We can't control God like a lucky charm, but need to worship him in repentance and humility through Jesus our great High Priest.
What is wrong with the world? The bible's answers to the root problem is that humanity has rejected God. We live in the consequences of that. The Christian worldview allows us to be honest about the world and humbly respond to God seeking his forgiveness as well as humbly love others.
In this second week of the life course we look at 'Can We Trust the Bible'. We'll explore what the bible is and the historical reliability of his it.
In our first week of the life course we'll be exploring what is life to the full, what is Solomon's assessment of life full of worldly things (meaningless) and what Jesus offers when he offers himself to give us His life.
At this point in Acts, we see Paul clash with the Jewish opposition that claims he preaches against the law. However, Paul shows through his testimony and preaching that he is more faithful to God and His law than those accusing him. This interaction mimics our experience, as Christians, of accusations from culture. Particularly, the accusation that Christians are unloving. Paul’s situation encourages us that even if we don’t feel an immediate sense of victory when our faith clashes with our culture, God works through all situations, no matter how troubling. We only need to remain steadfast in our faith.
Paul meets people in Ephesus who had not yet received the Holy Spirit. Upon baptising them in the name of Jesus, they receive the Holy Spirit, leading to miraculous demonstrations and the spread of the Gospel amidst opposition and spiritual confrontation.
Today we remember again the death of Jesus for us and the significance of Jesus' final words "It is finished".
Acts 17 shows Paul’s heart and skill for communicating Jesus in a way that is relevant, understandable and powerful to the culture around him.
The Power of Grace: Believe. Receive. Live. This week we join Paul on his second missionary journey and see the birth of the Philippian church. It’s a story of riots, steady faith and God’s marvellous provision especially through His people including an incredible woman named Lydia.
Guarding Grace. The early Christian's wrestle with what to make of salvation going to the Gentiles by grace and whether they should obey the laws of the Old Testament or not.
Mike preaches from Acts 14 and shows us how the explosive and unstoppable gospel turns the world upside down (and how it is often received with confusion and anger and how we can follow the example of Paul’s response).
We begin our series in Acts starting at chapter 13, where Paul recaps the history of God’s people climaxing in Jesus and His death and resurrection which is central to forgiveness of sins - a message for the nations.
In our final week of making sense of God and life we look at the difference Jesus makes to understanding love. Mike will look how Jesus redefines love and how that reshapes all of our loves, especially the command to love one another as brothers and sisters.
In our second part of our series we look to Jesus to make sense of life. Our first topic is: “a life of joy: making sense of pleasure”. Jarrod will speak to the goodness of pleasure, how pleasure is flawed because of sin and how we rediscover pleasure in Jesus who will perfect pleasure.
Throughout this series we’ve considered how God is both real and good. If we’re truly persuaded that he is, then trusting in him is not only the sensible conclusion we reach, but where else do we have to go when the words of eternal life are found in Jesus alone?! We’ll consider both the real cost of following Jesus and the insane privilege it is to know the king of the universe and be wrapped up in his glory for eternity. Are we responding to take the step of faith in repenting and following Jesus each day?
In this second week of making sense of God we ask the question of “is God good”? The bible says He is and reveals him as so in Jesus the good shepherd. But his goodness to be real to us we need to make sense of our experiences that are not good; particularly the existence of evil and God’s judgement (especially in the Old Testament). Mike will explore these and point back to the good shepherd who lays down his life for us as God’s ultimate answer to the root problem of all that is not good: our sin. The sermon will go for 15-20min followed by 15-20min of Q&A with Mike and Nat.
This series is designed to help believers, explorers and doubters make sense of God and life. This first talk seeks to lay a foundation of the reality of God in the context of living in a “post-truth” world. The resolution of this is in encountering truth in the person of Jesus who invites Thomas (and us) to bring our doubts and make sense of Him and find peace.
All things were created through Jesus and for him! All we see and cannot see is all ultimately about him. Christmas is a desperately needed time for us all to remember how the Lord Jesus, God eternal, entered our world to show us that everything is about him and to make peace with a world at war with him. I will encourage us all to continue trusting in this good news and actively place Jesus at the centre of our world where he belongs.
"Joy to the world" is a chorus of all creation celebrating God’s salvation and righteousness.
O Holy Night is a carol that holds the weariness and suffering of the world in tension with the hope and joy of the Christmas story. These will be the lyrics I will focus on most: “Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices”. Romans 8 draws on this message by highlighting the groaning and weariness of the world as well as the hope we have as Christians that our groans are purposefully directed through the Spirit to future glory. My application will be found in v25 of Romans 8 as well as the lyrics, “Truly he taught us to love one another” as we reflect on what groaning and eagerly waiting for this future hope looks like.
Come to Jesus, because he is the everlasting God who reveals the glory of God, and because he has come to us.
Hark! The heralds angels sing is an invitation to stop and pay attention (that’s what hark means!) and join in with the angels as they glorify God. Luke 2 shows how God arrested the attention of (and paid attention to) lowly shepherds to show how Gods glory was being revealed in a manger. Let us join in the triumphant chorus of praising God and long that others will hark too.
Last week we considered Jesus extraordinary statement that he was the light of the world. Today we are looking at prophecy concerning this light some 700 years before Jesus came; considering this one. He is amazing in wisdom, almighty in power, intimate in care and the true peacemaker.
As many around us celebrate the festival of lights (Diwali), we remember that the Israelites also had a festival of light - the Feast of Tabernacles. It was during this festival that Jesus stood up and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” We’ll see that Jesus is the light for all nations.
In our final week of vision month Mike will be preaching about what it means for us to be a church family (God’s people) and how that is expressed in sharing life together and serving others.
God loves to save people from all tribes and nations and tongues. What a glorious gathering we have to look forward to around Christ for eternity! The diversity of the body of Christ now magnifies the beauty of our Lord Jesus. He is the only one able to truly unite people with such varied desires, ideas, practices and culture. We’ll consider how we can wisely long for and embrace our diverse church family.
We long to be an ever growing church, not because bigger is better but because God grows us closer to himself and grows his church because he’s a God who saves. All this is from God and to God. To God be the glory!
This week we begin Vision Month which is themed “To the glory of God”. This Sunday we’ll begin with looking at what God’s glory is and how we are to respond in worship. Romans 11 is the climax of Paul’s outline of how God brings salvation to all who believe and it causes Paul to burst out in praise: “To him be the glory forever and ever”. Romans 12 then begins our response: to worship as living sacrifices. We are all worshipping something, we’re all looking for glory… but only God is worthy and has demonstrated this in Jesus!
Today is our final day in the book of Titus. We've noted throughout the book of Titus that the truth transforms us. The learning is for living.Last week in Titus 2, we saw that the grace of God leads into living Godly lives. Today, in Titus 3, we see the grace of God leads us into living good lives for his glory, that, by his grace, others will also be transformed.
After describing the detestable teaching and the greed and lying of the households of Crete in chapter 1, Paul declares to Titus in chapter 2 how a household transformed by the gospel should live. This is grounded in verses 11-15 which serves as the gospel heart of this letter. How we are to live and relate to one another should not discredit the gospel but be compelling to those around us as we live in the light of God’s grace.
In this week’s sermon, we start a new sermon series in the book of Titus. Mike explores what it means to stand firm in the truth that transforms, especially so through pressures because God is at work.
On the topic.... men and women in church ministry. Mike will explore 1 Timothy 2 in the context of broader scripture that celebrates men and women as co-workers in the gospel and ways to make sense of the (in)famous prohibition of women preaching as we explore future possibilities together.
This topical sermon on singleness will involve a whirlwind tour through Gods word, showing how this topic develops in scripture. We will consider how the view of eternity must shape our thoughts and actions about singleness and reflect on ways in which our culture has sometimes shaped our view of singleness more than the Scriptures. This will be a call for every one of us to think about singleness in the way Scripture does and show compassion, grace and love across marital status.
We have been given everything we need to grow together in Christ who will persevere us to the end. It is a privilege, a responsibility and a challenge for us to practice and encourage people in our faith as we wrestle with the challenges of life. Mike will explore aspects of resilience, care and relational dynamics of being a community of faith.
In the final parable of this series Mike will explore how we are to express our faithfulness with all that we've been given by God, while the time is short.
This parable appears straightforward while its message of forgiveness is pastorally difficult. There are three scenes to this parable based on three interactions, with v23 serving as an intro and v35 serving as an interpretation of the parable. In this parable we see a forgiven man refuse to forgive another. Through that disjunction, we side with the Master's response in the third scene. v35 turns the parable to us to have us think about how we would respond as the servant and how we ought to respond. On its own, our refusal to forgive a debt can feel right. But because God has forgiven us, it is right, necessary, and possible to forgive each other.
The kingdom of heaven is like..... we'll see how God's kingdom is both unstoppable and priceless. God is building his kingdom in our world and this reality ought to have us re evaluate what we treasure.
This week were looking at two parables: the log and the speck in the eye as well as the wheat and the weeds in the fields. Both speak to judging: the way we judge and the way God judges. We want a god and a friend who cares enough to judge things well. Mike will show how Jesus reveals both perfectly as we wrestle with this tricky topic.
Jesus longs to bring us into his kingdom and his presence - and invites us to ask for these great things that he promises.
It’s the Toonie Kids Week finale! This week we look at the Parable of the Lost Son. It tells the story of two lost sons and a compassionate Father. It is told by the 3rd son, Jesus, the perfect son who died to save us.
It’s the Toonie Kids Week finale! This week we look at the Parable of the Lost Son. It tells the story of two lost sons and a compassionate Father. It is told by the 3rd son, Jesus, the perfect son who died to save us.
Moses' final words to Israel are heavy with the weight of all that God has done, with a pessimism of Israels heart and hope in the God who is devoted and faithful to his covenant. What is a devoted God to do with an undevoted people? Moses was the greatest prophet in the old covenant and yet his failure and success point to the need of someone greater: Jesus.
oday our focus is from Deuteronomy 30 where Moses speaks to encourage Gods people just before they enter the land that God was going to give to them. In his final words to them, he pleads with them to take God seriously and respond to him rightly, and outlines the repercussions of turning aside from the Lord, or the blessings they would receive in holding on to him; with the encouragement to choose life.
Deuteronomy has made reference many times to all these commands and obedience to them. This week we look at some of the many specific commands given to Israel as we make sense of them this side of Jesus as people of the New Covenant.
In this part of Moses sermon to Israel he labours what it means to obey the Holy God as he recounts what has already happened when they angered God and what will happen next if they do not obey. What shines through is Moses intercession which points to Jesus who ultimately takes our place before God.
The Shema v4 is one of the most important verses in the whole Old Testament for Israel. Listening to God involves responding to him and that comes from the heart (love God with all your heart.....).
The 10 commandments are some of the most famous words in the Bible. They are words of power and life that point to Jesus and his kingdom.
Carl brings us our second sermon in our series on Deuteronomy. He encourages us to trust and obey the one true God who rescues, reveals and loves.
Mike introduces our new series on Deuteronomy. In this book well see that God is determined to create a people totally devoted to the God who is totally devoted to them in love and faithfulness for His glory and their blessing.
In a one off sermon for compassion Sunday, Mike will help us see that real faith expresses itself in works (similar to last Sunday’s talk) with a special focus on the poor. There is a wonderful historical witness of the church caring for vulnerable people and we will continue to testify to the character and will of God as we do likewise.
In this last talk in the I am series Mike will speak to Jesus statement I am the vine. This passage is challenging but ultimately will bring us comfort and help us see (and expect) Gods fruit in our lives as we remain in Jesus.
As we hide in the darkness we long for the exposure of the light.The main points will explore what it means for Jesus to say he is the light of the world, before exploring how our darkness is brought into the light and beautifully exposed in Christ for our benefit.The application will focus on the good that comes with bringing things into the light and what that looks like for a community that belongs to the light of Christ.
Jesus feeds thousands of people in the wilderness to point us to what really satisfies. He is the bread of life, the true source of life for all eternity with whom we will never hunger or thirst again. Jesus teaches us that if we come and believe in him, he will never cast us away.
Mike involves people on stage to act out the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from death and involve the audience to explore what it means for Jesus to be the resurrection and the life.
Mike is preaching on John 10 and Jesus as the good shepherd who lays his life down for the sheep.
The first talk in the 'I am' series will be "Before Abraham was, I am" from John 8:30-59. This talk will consider the significance and implications of Jesus claiming this title for himself and ultimately point to Jesus as both personal and necessary.
In this final sermon in our series on Philippians, Mike will show how Paul has learned through difficult and fruitful seasons how to find contentment and that when were content, were more able to show care to others.
In this sermon, Mike will explore how the joy and gentleness that flows from the gospel intersects with the tension and worry of everyday life.
Philippians 3 describes the joy and the challenge of our Christian journey. Verse 14 sums it up well: I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Where do we find our confidence? What do we find ourselves boasting in? If we go looking for it in ourselves we’ll come up short. God’s word teaches us that our boast is in Christ. Our greatest joy is a relationship with him and he gives us a righteousness not our own by what he’s done for us! Our old sources of confidence, identity and boasting before God are like dung compared to knowing Christ!
Following on from outlining Christ’s humility and obedience to the Father, Paul encourages the Philippian believers to “work out their salvation with fear and trembling.” What does this mean? What part do we play in this, and what part does God play? We will explore this today and consider what it means for us as God's children to shine like stars in this world.
We come to central vision of the exalted lord Jesus who is exalted because he has revealed the very nature of God in humility and death on a cross to save sinners. Our entire life is an act of worship as we imitate him and glorify the exalted Lord Jesus.
Philippians 1:12-30 is a continuation of what we heard last week and explores particularly how Paul’s convictions intersect with his circumstances. He models a Christ-centered non-anxiousness that speaks powerfully into our everyday today.
This week we launch the year by commissioning our growth group, youth and kids ministry leaders. We are also starting our new series in Philippians: “JOYFUL: all of life with Jesus”. Mike will lead us in rejoicing in the partnership we have in the gospel as Christ’s church.
Jarrod shares his search for identity and belonging and points us to how He found that in Jesus, the one in whom the fullness of God dwells.
History, Science and Jesus. Mike will explore how history and science point to Jesus in a way that doesn’t require ‘blind faith’.
We believe in Jesus because he has captured us with a purpose worth living for. A self-determined purpose in life will fail us now and into eternity. A God-given purpose will enthuse, comfort and sustain us in life as we consider our ‘end’ - a resurrected life glorifying God. Isaac will share how he noticed that the determined pursuits of people following their own hearts ultimately fell short and easily became a meaningless chasing after the wind. However, those living with the clear purpose Jesus brings had a steadiness and joy!
Mike will share why he's a Christian. He'll unpack the kind of "rest" and peace Jesus offers because of God's grace (God's undeserved favour and life giving power).
This is the start of the series of Why I believe - Today's focus will be the significance of relationship.
In the final sermon on advent we will be looking at Isaiah 55:1-56:2 and be invited to take up the invitation to “come all who are thirsty” and anticipate the fullness of “salvation is coming soon”.
As we turn our eyes upon Jesus, the suffering servant, might we consider the depth of God’s love for us! Jesus willingly took the punishment we deserved as rebels against God. He took our place as he was punished and by his death for us he has brought us back into peaceful relationship with God. His resurrection from the dead declares that he has done it!
Where do you look to find your comfort?Isaiah 40 tells us that:1/ Real comfort comes when sin is pardoned2/ Real comfort comes when God visits to rescue3/ Real comfort comes when all other ‘comforts' are cast aside, and we trust God’s word / plan / rescuer alone.
We begin our new advent series from Isaiah as we head into Christmas season! As Isaiah anticipates the coming of the King, the Prince of Peace, so we too long for and wait for the full revelation of this peace in Jesus.
In this final week of vision month Mike will be speaking on the final M: “Ministry”. Romans 12 shows us how in God’s mercy He has “served” us and now we’ve been saved and gifted to serve in the body of Christ; wonderfully diverse and yet unified in love.
In a world full of many pressures and concerns for our kids and youth, how might we equip them best for life? We have everything we need for the next generation in God’s word to us! We’ll consider both the primary role parents have in God’s redemptive work in the life of young ones and the essential role the entire church family has in discipling them!
Let us be inspired by the picture of a community who depended on each other. We will consider how this early church had a close community which did not hinder the mission of God in adding more to their number. We’ll remember that we aren’t solo as we share the gospel but we’re a family on mission as we invite people to be members of Christ and of our community. We will also get a chance to consider our plan moving forward as a church coming out of the recent outreach workshop.
As we start vision month Mike will show us how being deep in God’s word is the foundation for all that we do as Christians and in church. It is an an extraordinary life we have in Christ and let’s celebrate that! Our two areas of focus for week 1 is maturity and magnification.
Mark finishes his gospel with 3 women encountering the risen Lord Jesus. “Trembling and bewildered” they, and we, realise that nothing will be the same when we answer the question of “Who is Jesus”.
God requires our whole-hearted worship. We are unable to do that in our own strength because of our sinful hearts. God steps in through Jesus and transforms us to have new hearts that are powered by his Spirit to enable us to rightly worship him.
Mark 14 answers the question that Mark has been asking all the way through his gospel: "Who is Jesus?" In this chapter, we will journey with Jesus through the final hours of his life. These verses show us what Jesus came to do, why he came to do it, and ultimately, who he is.
We see here in Mark 14 the amazing authority and compassion of Jesus, in that although he is the Son of God, and one who has authority, he is willing to be obedient to the Father’s plan of salvation; to give his life a ransom/ the true lamb of God who takes away the sin on the world.
“Hosanna” cry the crowd as Jesus enters Jerusalem as the humble king on a donkey. But don’t be fooled to think He is a push over; for his first act in Jerusalem is an act of judgement as we see his righteous anger in the temple at those who stop the nations coming to God in prayer.
Jesus shows us the ‘upside down’ nature of the kingdom as we seek to live for him. Various people come to Jesus in this passage with questions and requests for life and in each case Jesus shows them how the Lord ‘who came not to be served but to serve’ changes our perspective completely! It is worth saying, that one of the topics that Jesus speaks to is divorce. This is a hard topic and many of us have been effected by broken marriages. Mike will be taking some time to use Mark 10 and other passages to pastorally speak to this topic.
In Mark 9, we will get a glimpse of the unveiled glory of Jesus in his transfiguration. As we consider the incredible glory of Christ, we see how great it is that he gladly humbled himself to death. Unlike the disciples here, we seek to be humble before God, just as the father of the boy illustrates when he declares to Jesus “I do believe; help my unbelief!
Mark 8 invites us to see Jesus in all his fullness as the suffering son of man. The crowd, and even Peter only partially see. For those with eyes of faith, Jesus will enable us to see him fully and respond accordingly with a life of taking up our cross and self-giving to Christ.
In Mark 7, Jesus reveals the defilement and hypocrisy of our hearts, but also shows us that in humbly accepting God’s grace, we can be made clean.
Mark 6 shows us the raw tragedy of humanity as Jesus is rejected by his family and John the Baptist is killed for petty reasons. And yet, Jesus has compassion on those without a shepherd. His divinity shines through as he speaks to us "have courage, it is I. Don't be afraid."
Jesus has just been asked by his disciples “do you care that we are perishing?”. Jesus now gives them (and us) no doubt that he cares deeply for us in a world of death, demons and disease. If we’re convinced that God is concerned for us in our suffering, we can trust him on the most difficult days.
In our fourth sermon in this series, Mike goes through the parable of the sower. Jesus’ parables show that the Word of God is what brings about the Kingdom of God in this world. There will be those who see it and recieve forgiveness; and there will be those that don't.
Col continues our series in Mark, looking at the different reactions that people have to Jesus & why getting the identity of Jesus correct is crucial.
Who is Jesus? This is the question that will be answered as we make our way through this series in the book of Mark. In the first sermon of our new series, Mike explores the first chapter of Mark and the good news of Jesus Christ.
Why do you go to church? What does it mean for you to be part of a church family? In our third and final sermon of this series, Isaac looks at what it's like to belong to Jesus and to belong with each other.
Why do you go to church? What does it mean for you to be part of a church family? In our second sermon of this series, Mike begins to explore what it looks like for us to display God's love in action.
Why do you go to church? What does it mean for you to be part of a church family? Mike begins this new sermon series where he will unpack the gospel foundations for why we do what we do.
Are you feeling burnt out from failed friendships? Isaac teaches from Proverbs about what it means to have biblical friendship with one another. Listen in to learn how you can be a true and wise friend to others.
Do you struggle to be diligent in your work or generous with money? In today's sermon, Isaac challenges us to be guarded against laziness and greed. Proverbs shows us that God delights in work that is done right and longs for us to be wise and generous with what we have.
In today's sermon, Mike tackles the difficult topic of lust and adultery. Proverbs is concerned with wisdom that is not just intellectual but lived out. We must be critical of our hearts and come to God for wisdom and grace so that we may love Him and others as He loves us.
Harmful words can have a crushing effect on us. Col speaks on the power of the tongue and encourages us to listen to God’s wisdom. By speaking words of life we are able to love and care for each other.
Are you a good listener? Listening is so important but can be difficult to do well. Col encourages us to look to Jesus so that we might be transformed to love and listen well to others.
Wisdom shows us how to live well in God's world, but it doesn’t come naturally to us. So how do we get wisdom? Mike speaks from Proverbs which guides us towards God, the one who loves to give wisdom to those who ask for it.
What is wisdom? Is there a difference between the world's wisdom and God's wisdom? Mike teaches from Proverbs and encourages us to look to Jesus, as he has mastered wisdom. It is in him that we can find rest and peace for our weary souls.
The certain and living hope we have in Jesus is a hope that everyone needs to know. So what does it look like for God to use you in his plans for Salvation?
Are you looking for hope again? Mike shares about the substantial hope we have in Jesus. He has risen and gives us the confidence and power to have joy and peace in all things.
When you hear about the cross, does it seem foolish and perplexing? Isaac shares from 1 Corinthians where we see that the cross is in fact beautiful. Listen in to hear how God’s power and wisdom are revealed through Jesus' death on the cross.
We can't help but talk about the things that are on our hearts and minds. So what about Jesus? Mike helps us to think about how we can share the living hope we have in Jesus with others.
How do we hold out hope to the poor and needy? Paul Beeston, from Compassion shares about God's heart for the poor and needy and how He calls us to respond.
What are you hoping for? When our hope is in worldly things that we cannot attain, we can become disheartened or even lose hope. Hear from Matt as he shares about the living and assured hope we have in Jesus.
Our world is broken and there is a deep need for reconciliation. You might be longing for painful or damaged relationships to be restored. Hear what Mike has to say about our restored relationship with Jesus and how we can share this gift of reconciliation with others.
Isaac reminds us that our bodies are tents - fit for purpose in this world (usually), but temporary, insecure, fallible. We wait and long for something more.Find out what else Isaac had to say about 2 Corinthians 5:1-10.
Are you looking for some good news amidst the chaos of what is happening in our world today? You might be struggling to see God at work and wonder why He doesn’t just fix everything. In 2 Corinthians 4, we learn that God is very intimately involved in what is happening in the world today. God is at work! He enters into our chaos and has won the victory over evil.
Do you feel the pressures of the world to reinvent yourself to become more recognised or accepted? Mike shares with us from this central part of Paul’s letter, that it is God who is transforming us as we follow Him. There is no need to pretend to be someone else before our God. We can feel free in His presence, confident that we are fully known and fully loved.
Have you ever wondered what it means to live an authentic Christian life? Col shares three important characteristics of what life looks like when we are centred in Jesus.
In our second sermon of the series, Mike reminds us of the amazing grace we have received. God has already accepted us, just as we are. Listen in to hear more about the freedom we have in God. He is the one that makes us whole again. It is in Him that we find our joy.
We all seek comfort in this world. Many of us face challenging and difficult circumstances that can lead to feelings of anxiety, despair or depression. The good news is that we have a God who enters into this suffering with us and brings us comfort. You may feel your circumstances are too great a burden but Jesus’ comfort will overwhelm you. Listen in to hear Mike explain how even in our weakness we can find comfort from our great God.
Do you ever feel alone, like no one is listening? When your prayers go unanswered it can make you question whether God is even listening. Psalm 46 is a great encouragement that God is always with us. We may face difficult times but God assures us that in Him, we can find refuge.
What makes you feel secure? Often we don't realise until it's taken away. Psalm 62 reminds us that we are vapour, here today and gone tomorrow. If we want to feel truly secure we must learn to trust in something other than ourselves. This Psalm shows us that David trusts in God and God alone. Just like David, we can find our security in God alone as he is sovereign and good.
God's love for us is big so how should we respond? Matt shares from Psalm 103 which helps us to recognise the only appropriate response to who God is and what he has done for us.
Howard shares with us from Psalm 139, where we see the all knowing and loving character of God. Our greatest resource is to have a restful confidence in God, the one who knows each one of us and loves us deeply.
Psalm 118 reminds us of many truths about God. In times of distress we often try to save ourselves. This psalm encourages us to turn to God as our saviour and our help. We are blessed in the name of Jesus, who died to save us from our sins. His faithful love endures forever!
In the first of our Summer Psalms series, Isaac looks at Psalm 96. This song of creation calls us to recognise God as Creator. He is above all else. You may not carve an idol from stone but we all have idols in our hearts. What is the object of your affection? Are you serving the created or the Creator?
What is our greatest need? Jesus invites us to come to Him and that is where we will find what our souls need at the deepest, most precious part of us. Jesus frees us from our burdens and addictions and invites us into a relationship that is meaningful and full of love.
‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ Matthew 11:28
Jesus knows what it is like to face temptation. We can come to Him and seek His protection from the trials and testing we face. Col reminds us of our weakness and the need to ask for God’s protection so that we might remain in Him and turn away from Satan’s lies and deception.
Do you want to hear about the one who can not only meet your most basic needs but also your most significant and eternal need? Col shares from The Lord’s Prayer which teaches us that God is our great provider.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Our dreams often revolve around our own desires and vision of what will make us happy. James reminds us that our overriding ambition should be for God’s Kingdom to come and His will to be done.
As a follower of Jesus, where should your priorities lie? Jesus uses the Lord’s prayer to teach His followers how to focus on what is important. Col brings us our first sermon of the series as we begin to think about Kingdom priorities.
What are you hoping for? Maybe you hope to gain financial security or you hope to start a family with your spouse? There are many things in life we hope for but when we live in a world that is marred by sin, our unfulfilled hopes can bring about suffering. Ryan encourages us that Christian hope looks beyond suffering in this world, to a time where we will suffer no more.
Seeking reconciliation can hurt. Joseph gave up the chance for vengeance and chose to forgive his brothers which took an emotional toll on him.
Isaac reminds us that the forgiveness we find in Jesus cost Him dearly. Have you considered the gift of forgiveness that Jesus offers and the eternal impact it can have on your life?
It's difficult to live through suffering. When we dream for so much more it's hard when things don't work out. Matt encourages us through Joseph’s story of hardship, trials and temptation. Through it all Joseph remains faithful to God. We too can hold onto God in the midst of our suffering as he promises to always be with us.
Where do you put your trust? It can be hard to trust as we constantly deal with people who disappoint us. Because of sin we all fail and no one born of the flesh can be trusted.
So how can we trust Jesus? Samuel encourages us that we can trust in Jesus because he has been born from above. Jesus has conquered death, He can forgive our sin and give us eternal life.
What does family mean to you? We all have different experiences and for many of us, family can be hard and messy.
In his final week at TAC, Murray describes what it means to find security in our eternal family. As we gather together around Jesus, we are brought into His family and can share in the amazing privileges and responsibilities of being children of God.
You might not be feeling great at the moment. The unknowns that COVID and extended lockdowns have brought have been hard!
Murray encourages us through this passage that our greatness doesn’t come from our own abilities or actions but from Jesus. If you love and follow Jesus then you are part of the Kingdom of Heaven and you share in Jesus’ blessings and greatness. We are ordinary people made great in the kingdom of the extraordinary God.
Do you ever look at the church in all it’s brokenness and wonder why you are a part of it? We don’t follow Jesus because it looks good but like the sick need a doctor, we know that we need Jesus. It is in Him that our deepest needs are met.
Murray reminds us that the gospel is a gospel of grace, a free gift for anyone who sees their need for Jesus and is willing to receive Him with open arms.
Have you ever stepped back and thought about the big picture of the global church? It's an incredible story!
In this last chapter of John’s gospel we get a look behind the scenes and it isn’t pretty. Even the greatest missionaries lose their nerve!
Stepping out to boldly share your faith can be hard. Marty encourages us that even though we falter, we have a Lord who always welcomes us back to Him and restores us so that we can share His love with others.
How do you feel about change? Many of us try to avoid it if we can. What would it take for you to stop living for yourself and start living for God?
In Genesis 35, we see what it takes for Jacob to make a change and start living in true worship and obedience to God. Matt reminds us that God chooses to use the weak and the broken to carry out his plans, just like Jacob. If we are willing, God will also change our hearts and transform us to be more like Christ.
Are you facing trials in your life? Do you hold onto Jesus during these times?
As we learn more about Jacob’s life, Col helps us to see that even in the midst of his pain, Jacob clings to the Lord. Just like Jacob, we can’t rely on our own strength to face the trials that come our way. If we submit our lives to God, even in our struggles He is with us and will never leave us.
How are you coping with the frustration and disappointment of this season? What are you trusting in to get you through?
As we meet the characters in our passage today we see the gaping holes in their hearts and how they desperately try to fill them. But God still works through this mess of a family.
Murray encourages us that God can still work through us and in us, even in this difficult time.
Is God unfair? How do we reconcile the apparent favouritism shown by God with what we know of his love for all? Isaac tackles this big question, looking at the familiar passage of Jacob and Esau. We learn that God’s choices are far above our own self-serving reasons for treating people differently.
Do you trust in God’s provision for your life? We often spend too much time worrying about the future instead of finding our security in the one who promises to meet our every need.
This passage from Genesis demonstrates God’s heart to provide for us. Col assures us that just as God has completed his salvation promise through Jesus, we can have faith that He will also provide our daily needs.
Do you ever worry about your eternal security? Maybe this lockdown has you doubting your hope in Jesus.
In this passage from Genesis, God commands the Israelites to perform a physical sign to remind them of His promises and blessing.
Ryan encourages us that we no longer need an external sign or marker to remind us of God’s goodness to us - we have the gift of the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit we have certainty in our relationship with God and His promises of blessing for us as His children.
Do you ever wish you could know what the future holds? It may not be clear to us but to God the future is known because it is His plan. We can trust in God’s promises of blessing because they are part of His plan for our lives.
Murray reminds us that just like Abraham, we can trust in God and have faith because God is the King of the past, present and future.
What does it mean to have received God’s blessing in your life? There is more to being blessed than having health, wealth and success.
Matt takes a look at the promise of blessing that Abraham received in Genesis 12 and shows us how we too share in this blessing as children of God.
When you feel stressed or worried do you turn to prayer? We often feel the need to do something but don’t see prayer as a way to take action. You might even wonder what the point of prayer is.
Murray takes us through this passage in Ephesians 6, where we learn that prayer is useful, powerful and good. As children of the Father we are called to pray because this is how we take part in God’s work in the world.
As children of God, we have the incredible privilege of being loved by Him. So what does it look like to live your life as a member of God’s family?
Col shares from 1 Thessalonians, where we can be encouraged by Paul’s boldness and integrity as he lives as a child of God.
Have you ever thought about what it means to be a child of God?
Because of our sin, we deserve to face God’s wrath. But through Jesus death on the cross, we can be made right before God. We don’t have to be fearful or enslaved to sin but can live in the joy and power of Jesus’ resurrection.
James encourages us to think about our inheritance as children of God and how we are to live as co-heirs with Christ.
We are constantly striving for control over every circumstance in our lives. How does it feel when we lose control?
In our sermon today, Murray shares how we can experience joy and peace in our helplessness. We are to be humble before God and dependent on Him, the one who delights in His children.
Murray begins our new sermon series Such as These which echoes the words of Jesus in Mathew 19:14 -
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Have you ever thought about the significance of childhood faith for yourself or your own children? Hear what Murray has to say about the importance of childhood faith and how living like God’s children shapes our relationship with Him.
In our last sermon of the series, Ryan speaks about the confidence we have in Jesus.
God has given us eternal life and this life is in his son. 1 John 5:11
But how can we remain in this truth and not be distracted by the idols of our world? Hear what 1 John has to say in the final words of this letter.
1 John tells us that life with Jesus, means love without fear. But often our lives are controlled by the things that we fear.
Murray explains what it means to have life with Jesus and shares how we can loosen the hold of fear on our hearts.
Don't believe everything you hear! So how can we know if what we are hearing is the truth? In 1 John we learn how we can test what we hear and know it is the truth from God.
Matt challenges us to live out this truth, by loving others, not like the world loves but like God loves us.
How do we know that Jesus is genuine? In 1 John we are shown how to expose the counterfeit by looking at the truth of Jesus and understanding who He is.
Col explains four ways we are called to respond to this truth, so that we can reflect Christ’s love and life to others.
What are you building your life on? Is it paying off? It is so easy to be deceived and tempted into putting our trust in worldly desires but these always leave us wanting more.
Murray encourages us through 1 John to diagnose our desires, detect the danger and dwell in the good news of Jesus. If we have Jesus, we have all that we need.
Can you really know if you are a genuine Christian?
Isaac teaches from 1 John, who introduces us to two tests that can assure us of our sincerity in following Jesus and our salvation in Him.
We begin a new sermon series on 1 John, looking at Jesus as our light, love and life. Today, Ryan explains the purpose of Johns testimony and encourages us to focus our eyes on God, the light of the world.
Do you confidently walk with Jesus towards your own death? In our last sermon of the series, we look at what the Bible has to say on eternity. Murray follows up todays sermon with a question time to answer some of your tricky questions.
We have been looking at what it means to follow Jesus. Col encourages us in the Good Friday sermon to acknowledge the seriousness of our sin and to trust that Christ came to forgive us. Jesus goes to the cross alone for us so that we can come to Him forgiven and cleansed.
Murray speaks to us about the key cost of discipleship. We are called to die to ourselves so that we might have life now and into the future.
If we truly see Jesus as King we will choose to die to ourselves and walk with Him. Do you see Jesus clearly?
In Luke 10, Jesus says that the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. This is still true for us today. There are so many people that need to hear the good news of Jesus.
Isaac encourages us with these words from Jesus to see the goodness of serving others and reminds us to be focused on God’s work of salvation.
When you make a good deal you expect to get more than what you give up.
Matt challenges us through the words of Luke, that as followers of Jesus we are asked to give up everything. But what we receive is so much greater than what we give up.
How would you describe the growth of your spiritual faith? Do you base it on your own performance? This can be dangerous and unhelpful because the Gospel is not about what we do but what Jesus has done for us.
Murray encourages us to see Jesus more clearly so that our hearts might be transformed to become more like Jesus each day.
As we begin our new sermon series, Murray reminds us that we are called to be Jesus’ disciples. Just like the very first followers of Jesus, we are called to walk with Him so that we might be transformed to become more like Jesus.
In the past 12 months we have all learnt that to trust in the processes of this world is a futile exercise. But the day of the Lord is coming!
In his final words, Raj encourages us all to long for the return of the Lord and live for that day.
Where is the chink in your armour? What is stopping you from loving and serving the Lord wholeheartedly?
Raj urges us, through Paul’s last words to the Ephesians, to open our eyes to see how the evil one is attacking and undermining each one of us. If you are to love and serve the Lord, you must cling to Jesus and all he has done for you.
The last words of Marks gospel take us to the heart of the cross. Over time we can fall into the temptation to downplay the importance of Jesus’ death and resurrection for our lives.
Raj encourages us to cling to the cross of Jesus and make it central to our lives so that we can work together to reach people with the message of Jesus Christ.
It is so easy for us to be caught up in our consumeristic world. Where do your preferences and desires lie? Do you have an ambition for the things of God?
Raj begins his final sermon series encouraging us to look to the cross where Jesus puts aside his own desires to die for us so that we can serve and worship the Lord.
Do you ever feel like Gods love isn’t big enough for you? Even in their wickedness and sin, God shows grace and compassion to the people of Nineveh.
Col brings us this incredible message of Gods love and grace for all of us. No matter who you are or what you have done, God loves and cares for you.
Jonah’s task from God is simple “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Just like Jonah, we are called to share the Good News with others.
Isaac encourages us to hear this call from God and to be obedient to him, trusting in his plan for our lives.
Jonah and Jesus make an extraordinary claim, "My Death will give you life". Murray shares how the big fish of the story isn't really the big fish...
Ryan Kicks off our Jonah Series looking at what prophecy is and helping us understand the historical context. We are challenged to see how God uses ordinary weak people like Jonah and us.
What is just one thing that can help your prayer life? Ben unpacks how humility makes all the difference from James 4.
What are you battling and how can you stand firm? Col talks us through the armour of God and the place of prayer in all life’s ups and downs.