Willetton Christian Church: Recent Episodes
Willetton Christian Church
Christians have many different opinions on different ways of being obedient to God. This is especially true on things that God himself has not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. Paul mentioned a list of issues that the Jews and Gentiles would disagree about.However, he insists that we all belong to the Lord and each of us will have to give an account to God, not to each other. Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on each other on these topics where we have freedom to practise in different ways. The kingdom of God is not about the “physical” things on earth, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.Therefore, as God’s people, let us focus on doing what leads to peace and to mutual encouragement of each other. We want to build and cultivate a culture of encouragement, rather than judgement of each other. There’s enough of judgment in our world, let us not add to that. Instead, let us be a culture of grace, modelled after our Lord Jesus Christ.
All glory is to be to God alone. The culmination of the first four “solas” of the Reformation is that glory belongs to God and God alone. We are saved by faith alone in Christ alone through God’s sheer grace alone, promised to us in the Scriptures alone. All of that is only possible because of God’s initiative and work, both through the work of Christ and the work of the Spirit in us.That is Paul’s conclusion at the end of Romans 11. He has been declaring the wonders of the Gospel message of Christ all the way from Romans 1:18 onwards. He concludes the whole story of redemption in chapter 11, and it is only appropriate that he ends all of that with a doxology (praise) to God. In many senses, that is exactly what good theology is supposed to do – to raise our affections for God and increase our praise to him.Paul does exactly that at the end of Romans 11. He praises the wisdom, knowledge, and plan of God.
We receive the grace of God through no work nor merit of our own. We are justified purely on the basis of Christ’s righteousness counted as ours, received by faith alone. We do not need elaborate rituals, activities or work for us to gain favour from God. God doesn’t help us only when we help ourselves. Instead, God gives his grace to us freely in Christ. An encounter with the transcendent gracious God does not leave us the same. This God has saved us in Christ out of his sheer grace. This grace also works in and through us to grow in our holiness and Christlikeness. Finally, this is a grace that is to come in the future when we will see Jesus. Christ will come back and make all things new, and give us a new perfected, sinless bodies to dwell with God forever.
Most Christians are familiar with the basic outline of the Jonah narrative. It's one of the first Bible stories we are taught. But are there truths and details that we miss due to this familiarity? In this message, we take a deep dive into the kind of person Jonah was.
We continue our short sermon series on the Five Solas. This week, we focus on the fact that we are saved in Christ alone through faith alone. In Ephesians 2, Paul begins by describing our condition and lives before Christ. He does not paint a pretty picture of who we are – spiritually dead and deserving of God’s wrath. It is a stark reminder of what we are saved from – our sins.Because of God’s great love, mercy, and kindness to us, he accomplished salvation for us in Christ. All these blessings that God gives is only possible in Christ. He made us alive in Christ, raised us up with him and seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms. We are no longer enslaved, because we are united to the one who freed us. All that belongs to Christ now belongs to us – in Christ alone.We receive all these blessings through faith alone in Christ alone. These blessings are not given to us via all the good works that we have done. The means by which God gives us his grace in Christ is through ou
500 years ago, it was thought that the Scriptures were too complicated for lay people. All we need to receive grace from God is to attend Mass at the local church. It did not even matter that we would not have been able to understand what was said during Mass, as long as we are a part of it, then we would receive God’s grace. Therefore, through this sort of thinking, the teaching of the church and the Scriptures themselves are put on equal grounds.However, it is not the case today because of the Reformation. Scriptures are the very words of God, and what is remarkable is that we are able to understand Scriptures. As the people of God, we are the creature of the Word. We have been brought to life by God’s word. Because of that, God’s word must be central in all that we do as God’s people, as Scripture alone is our final inerrant authority in all areas of our Christian life and faith.
There was a Latin phrase that was once popular amongst Christians and was even used in some Christian liturgies, and that is the phrase Coram Deo, which means "before the face of God". This captures the essence of the text for this week, that the whole of the Christian life is to be lived Coram Deo - before the face of God. To plan our lives apart from God, as if to forget him, is to rob him of his glory. What is more, is that when we forget God and rob him of his glory, we also take his place as the captain of our future, but it is God who works the future according to his goodwill and pleasure. The remedy to planning life without reference to God is not to tack “God willing” onto the end of our plans as some kind of Christian cliché but rather to tether it to our hearts as those who live all of life - Coram Deo.
In Romans 13, Paul continues his call for Christians to live a life of love towards others. He focuses on how Christians are to relate to the governing authorities. We are to submit to them as they are agents of God’s justice in our world. Through governing authorities, God restrains sin in our society and therefore creates a society in which there is order and justice.That is why Christians should submit to governing authorities, because in doing so, we are actually loving our neighbours by fostering a peaceful and orderly culture. However, we only submit so far as what they are promoting is right in the eyes of God.Love is the fulfilment of all of God’s laws. At the heart of all of God’s commands, particularly the 10 commands, is love for others. Love should be central in all our relationships and should characterise our lives as Christians. The end of this age is coming with each passing day. Therefore, let us live in the light, as God’s people with a life of love.
It is something people of all ages long for, especially in times of upset and distress…. COMFORT. The Heidelberg Catechism asks a very important question about comfort: “What is your ONLY comfort in life and death?” In other words, no matter what you’re facing, no matter how critical the situation, even life threatening, what is your only comfort? In the Psalms we find many beautiful songs of assurance and comfort, yes even in the face of death. When we look at the first question and answer of the Catechism and Psalm 16, we find much there that teaches us about the ONLY source of true comfort, regardless our circumstances. A comfort no doubt experienced by many in the face of recent grief and loss. In this service we are reminded of the only source of true comfort.
Romans 12 is a shift in Paul’s letter. After 11 chapters of declaring God’s redemption of his people, Paul shifts the focus to what our response should be towards God’s amazing mercy. In light of all that God has done for us, the only true and proper worship of God involves us offering our bodies as a living sacrifice for God. It is the totality of our lives that we give in our worship to God.Our worship begins with the renewal of our minds. We do not conform to the world, rather we conform to the mind of God. We begin to see the world as God sees the world. Our worship also involves us using our gifts to serve others within the body of Christ and we use whatever gifts God has given us to serve one another. That is how we love one another in our worship of God.So love becomes the primary way we relate, both within the body of Christ and to those outside the church. We pray, serve, share, welcome, honour one another – all out of love for them. Like Christ, we overcome evil with good
God is the grand artist of history, and the world is his canvas. He is painting his story of salvation in this world. Paul gives us a further glimpse of what this completed canvas will look like in Romans 9 – 11. We have learned that God is completely sovereign in salvation and that the Israelites themselves rejected Christ, yet there is still a remnant chosen by God.Those of us who are Gentiles are grafted into the covenant community. Therefore, we should not be arrogant about the blessings we received when it is all God’s initiative and work. Our response should be one of overwhelming gratitude. Even though the Israelites have not embraced Christ as their saviour as this point in history, their hardening will not be forever.So we see, we are just one small part of a very large canvas in God’s plan of salvation. No matter what happens, we know that we play a part in glorifying the God of all, whom we know loves us and cares for us in Christ. To God be the glory forever!
The true offspring of Abraham is the children of promise, chosen freely by God and not based on human effort or desire. Because of this, God’s righteousness can only be obtained by faith alone in Christ alone, which the Gentiles did but the Israelites did not. The Israelites sought to establish their own righteousness, and therefore did not gain God’s righteousness through Christ. That is why Christ is a stumbling block to them, without realizing that Christ is the culmination of the law.This Gospel message of Christ is actually near and available to everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike. All one has to do to obtain the righteousness of God (i.e. salvation) is to believe that Jesus is Lord.This message is meant to be proclaimed, and the Israelites themselves have heard this message, but yet they rejected it. They thought they knew God through all the practices and rituals that they have heard, but yet rejected the one person to whom all these things pointed to.
Paul is in anguish for his fellow Israelites. Even though they had all the blessings and privileges of receiving God’s revelation in the Old Testament, they did not have faith in Christ. There are scores of God’s promises in the OT for the Israelites. God’s promises were never based upon physical descent nor our own works. Right from the beginning, it has always been God’s own sovereign grace towards those that he chose. God is God and he will have mercy on whom he will have mercy. Our salvation is based entirely on God’s electing grace upon us. That does not mean that God is unjust – we are all sinful, deserving only God’s wrath (as Paul mentioned in 1:18 onwards). God would have been completely just in leaving us in our sins but yet in his sheer grace, he has elected some to be saved. That is why the golden chain of salvation is an unbreakable chain, because right from the start to the end, it is God and God alone who saved us.
Suffering is inevitable in our fallen world. If we live long enough, we will go through suffering. If Christ himself suffered and died, how could we as his followers expect that we are protected from that? However, Christ was raised powerfully from the grave into a new glorified body. In that same way, there will be a future perfected world that we are looking forward to. We have a future hope because of Christ and we wait eagerly and patiently for that world.As we wait and live in this world, we have God’s Spirit working and interceding on our behalf today. He is our present hope, helping us to trust in God’s goodness in all things. There are times in our lives when our suffering, pain, and sorrow is so great that we feel numb inside, unable to voice our words to pray. In times like that, God’s Spirit who is dwelling inside of us walks besides us and helps us to pray.Through all these sufferings, we ultimately have a hope that is safe and secure in God’s love.
This week in Romans, we are looking at the high point of Paul’s argument. Paul has made the declaration that we are no longer in the realm of sin and death, and instead we are in the realm in which grace reigns. How should we approach our Christian life now that we have been rescued out of darkness into the kingdom of Christ? In Christ, there is no more condemnation as we have been set free by Christ. We now do not live according to the flesh, but to the Spirit.Living according to the Spirit means that we set our minds on what the Spirit desires. It is an amazing truth to know that God’s eternal Spirit, the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead, is dwelling within us.Therefore, we do have an obligation – a familial obligation. God is our Father and we are his children. We are adopted as sons of God into God’s family, co-heirs with Christ. Thus, in our Christian life, we are meant to think of God as our heavenly Father, not as our Judge.
This weekend we resume our series on the book of Romans after a three-week break. We will be looking at Romans 7:1-25, which is about our relationship to God’s law. We are no longer bound by God’s law because we have died to God’s law in Christ. However, this doesn’t mean that the law is no longer applicable to us.In the first place, the law was given to reveal our sin. Sin being sin, used the law to entice and deceive us to sin. The giving and enforcing of God’s law in the Old Testament did not ensure righteousness. This means that true righteousness is more than mere behaviour as it starts from within our hearts. This also shows that God’s law itself does not guarantee nor produce righteousness in us, because ultimately, we need a change in our hearts.We still need God to save and deliver us through Christ! “Thanks be to God, who delivers [us] through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (v25)
How important are relationships? Are we really so dependent on other people in our lives? The story of Cain and Abel is one of different views on this point. In this week's service, we will unpack the theme of relationship as it pertains to everything that we read in the Bible. Specifically, we will look at: 1) how sin rots our relationships with God and others; 2) God’s deep-rooted desire for walking-talking relationships; and 3) how God restored our relationship through the blood of Christ. At the end of the day, we all need to decide whether we want to live as Cains or Abels!
As we face a world in which war and conflict seem to be ever-present, and even getting worse, the reality of these events may naturally cause us to fear what’s next. As we explore these passages from Daniel and Acts, we will read of why we can be fearless in these fearsome times, for we will see, just as Daniel and Paul saw, that our God reigns, and he has equipped us to withstand the onslaught.
In the Western world, we have been conditioned to crave freedom and break free of limitations. However, such thinking will only result in anarchy and confusion. In our efforts to be set free from all constraints, we find ourselves ironically enslaved to the one thing that we did not expect – our own desires. Ultimately, we are still enslaved. Given our sinfulness, being enslaved to our desires leads only to sin and death.True freedom is being set free to be who we are designed to be in God. In other words, true freedom as the Bible envisions is freedom to obey and worship God. In Romans 6:1-23, Paul declares that we are no longer enslaved in the realm of sin and death. We are set free from our slavery to sin and raised to new life in Christ. His story has become our story. Through Christ’s work on the cross, we are alive and free in Christ. Therefore, in Christ, we are truly free – free to obey and worship the God we love.
Through Christ’s work on the cross, we have peace with God. This is not merely an inner peace within us, but rather a peace that the Old Testament would describe as shalom – a complete wholeness of your personhood, particularly in your relationship with God. Because of this peace, we have the hope of the glory of God and we can boast even in our sufferings. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We are now reconciled to God.We were enemies with God in the kingdom of Adam with no hope of escaping that kingdom. It is a kingdom that leads to sin and death, brought about by Adam’s sin. The trespass of this one man brought about condemnation. He is our representative head. However, Jesus’ obedience brought about our rescue from that kingdom. We are no longer in that kingdom, but we now belong to the kingdom of King Jesus, in which grace reigns supreme.It is through that grace that we have eternal peace with God, a peace that transcends all understanding.
This morning we delve into the timeless truths of Psalm 46. Our sermon will explore how God is our refuge in all circumstances. First, we’ll see how He provides shelter and strength in the face of natural disasters, assuring us that even when 'the earth gives way' (because doesn't it feel just like that sometimes) we need not fear. Next, we’ll examine God’s protection amid political turmoil, reminding us that nations may rage and kingdoms may fall, but His power and presence remain steadfast. We'll also reflect on God’s gracious invitation to rest in Him, finding peace and stillness despite the chaos around us. Come and be encouraged by the assurance that God is our ever-present help in trouble, our fortress, and our source of true rest.
Today, we will continue our reflection on the same passage of Romans 3:21-31. In this passage, we see that Christ is all the more worthy to boast about than ourselves. Salvation is of the Lord alone. In Paul’s description of the great Gospel message of Christ, it is God who initiates, executes, and applies salvation to us. We are merely recipients of this amazing grace.We receive this grace of God’s righteousness by faith alone in Christ alone. Faith in Christ is basically trusting in Christ and what he has done for us. Therefore, it is not about the intensity of our faith, but rather the object of our faith – who we put our faith in – Christ himself.Because it is entirely the work of God, accomplished by Christ on the cross, and applied to us by the Holy Spirit, we cannot boast in ourselves. There is nothing in our salvation that can be credited to us. To God be all glory. Therefore, we boast in God alone.
After two chapters of bleak and convicting passage on sin, Paul speaks the words of life in Romans 3:21-26 to us. In that passage, Paul declares the wonderful Gospel message to us – what God has done for us through Jesus Christ’s work on the cross. That work – the atonement – is like a multi-faceted diamond where we can inspect the beauty of the diamond from different angles. Each angle provides us with another glimpse into the intricate structure of the cut of the diamond, and thus makes us appreciate it even more each time.In our passage, Paul uses three different images to declare the wonders of the Gospel to us. In Romans 3:21-26, Paul declares that:1. God has declared us not guilty before him as a judge.2. God has rescued us from slavery through payment by the blood of Christ.3. God has placated his own wrath towards us through the sacrifice of Christ.The glories of the atonement is something we as God’s people can reflect, embrace, and meditate on for all eternity.
What is wrong with our world? Many have answered this, but at the heart of the issue according to God is the godlessness and wickedness of people. In other words, our sin. Because we did not glorify nor worship God, God gives us over to our sins.He gives us over to our sinful sexual passions. We pervert our sexual desires and activities, using our bodies in a way that God has not designed for. Because of that, we all suffer the consequences that that brings.He gives us over to our depraved minds, filled with all kinds of evil and vice. These are practices that would destroy any kind of flourishing community. We have “no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.”In the Gospel, we have a God who understands, who is faithful, who is love, and who is merciful – the complete opposite to us. The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against our world today, but there is a greater revelation – the revelation of the righteousness of God found in the Gospel.
This morning, we get a glimpse into Paul’s love for the people of God and his unashamed passion for the Gospel. Even though he has never met them before, he prays for the Romans and longs to visit them. He would love to impart spiritual gifts to them to strengthen them in their faith. That is because he has been called to bring the Gospel to all mankind, particularly to the Gentiles.He does all this because the righteousness of God has been revealed in the Gospel, which is received by faith alone. It is the same Gospel that we believe today. It is the same Gospel that has transformed us, just like it did to Paul 2000 years ago. Therefore, we should seek to pray like Paul, strengthen others like Paul, and proclaim the Gospel like Paul.
The word "Gospel" means momentous, life-altering news. Right from the start, we read that Paul was an apostle that is set apart for this Gospel of God - momentous, life-altering news from God. This Gospel has been promised by God in the Old Testament through the many prophets that he has sent. This means that it is not Plan B for God, but rather that it has been in God's mind since the beginning. This Gospel is also about a real historical person and event that happened 2000 years ago - God the Son becoming the man Jesus, who lived a sinless life so that he could die for his people and redeem them. Through his resurrection, the Gospel is that Jesus is now crowned as Lord over all of creation. This news does not only have earthly significance, but it was eternal significance for all of creation.As we embark on this new journey through Romans, what is your response to this call of the Gospel?
Why am I here... why do I exist? What is the purpose of my life? These are questions that people have asked for centuries. Those who have discovered the answer find that in a purposeful life, their life is found to have 'meaning' Many people all over the world ponder these questions. It is good for us to know there are very clear answers... our lives are not meant to be aimless, without purpose or direction. In this service we explore these questions and the answers God in His Word provides.
There are so many fake things in the world of information and media in which we live and breathe. We often don’t know their source, and the wise thing is that if we ignore them, our lives will be unaffected. But there is a radically important truth which will totally impact our lives and change our priorities. It is the truth about who Jesus is and what he has done. It is the Gospel. It is found in the Bible. This is truth which underlies everything in 3 John.
Mankind longs for salvation. Some think that they can find it in gaining power, either power by strength or by influence. Others think it can be found by looking inward to ourselves, either by embracing all our impulses or discarding all our desires. We think that power or inward peace will bring about eternal peace and security to our restless souls.Thank God that true salvation is not found within us and what we can do. According to the Scriptures, true salvation is found external to ourselves in the one eternally unchanging God. He is the one who has revealed his righteousness to us in Christ, and through Christ, purchased our righteousness by Christ's death and resurrection. That is the great Gospel news, meant for all mankind. It is freely offered to all, no matter our background, ethnicity, culture, status, wealth, and moral status.That is why we are called to go and share this wonderful Gospel news. How can people believe in the Gospel without knowing who Christ is? How
Two weeks ago, we read in Ezekiel 37:1-14 that God brings about our spiritual resurrection by his Word through the power of the Holy Spirit. God's people is a creature of God's word - creature in the sense that we were created and made alive by God's word. One author puts it this way, "She [the Church] has been made alive by the Word. God spoke her into existence through the declaration of the Gospel - his righteousness on our behalf."The church has been made alive by God's word. It is also God's word that sustains us, just as how God's word sustains all things by his powerful word (cf. Heb 1:2). This Sunday, we take a look at what the Israelites did when they returned from their exile in Nehemiah 7:73b - 8:18. It presents a wonderful and powerful scene of God's people gathering once again after their exile. There is much we can learn from their example in this case.
Most people want something to believe in even if it’s just belief in themselves, something to hope for even if it’s a bit wishful, and some experience of love even if it's only fleeting. Our hearts are hard-wired for faith, hope and love. And this great triad is also at the heart of the gospel that is perfectly designed to meet, substantially and lastingly, our deepest desires. These three virtues take us to the essence of Christianity and the greatest needs of our souls.
The fundamental problem with our world is the spiritual death of mankind. There is nothing we can do to change that. What can dead people do to save themselves?Ezekiel speaks God's word to the very dry bones and they came to life. Only God can raise us from spiritual death to life. He accomplishes that through the proclamation of God's word by the power of His Spirit. This means that the first and most important activity of our Christian life is to sit under the faithful preaching of God's word.We trust in God's sovereignty in our redemption and in the redemption of the world. He is the one who saves and raises people from spiritual death to life, just like how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
We’ve heard it a lot… ‘Step out in faith’. Yet do we really know what that entails? As individual Christians and as a church are we prepared to adventurously launch out with lots of unknowns and TRUST God that He will provide? Then also, when things appear to go ‘pear shaped’, do we have PATIENCE to ride out the storm with God in the boat knowing He can still the storm? In today’s sermon, looking at the life of Joseph, we will see what it means to trust God and have patience; really believing no matter what happens, He has it all in hand and His plans and purposes for our lives are being worked out for His glory.
It is no easy task to be an elder in the church of Jesus. The church is not another club or organisation, it alone in all the world is the body of Christ, His bride for whom He is very jealous. He loves us dearly, warts and all. In the life of Moses we see how great the love of God is for His people, a love to be reflected in the love, compassion, grace and patience of those He appoints as leaders. Such Christ-like service seems impossible... not everyone in the church is easy to get along with, some are downright obstinate and difficult, just like those Moses was called to lead. God in great love for His people - yes, even the obstinate and difficult ones - calls elders and pastors today to be like Jesus to all His people. He not only calls them to be like Him, through the Spirit He empowers them to do the work to which he calls them.
Prayer is a central part of the Christian life. So why is it so hard? We know the Lord’s Prayer. We sometimes pray around the dinner table or when we need him. But is this enough? This Sunday, we will look at the end of Ephesians - following on from the previous verses on the Armour of God. Here, Paul gives us his explanation of why we should pray; what we should pray; how and when we should pray; and who we can pray for.
It seems that we’ve had a good number of sermons this year on personal afflictions & suffering. Last Sunday we had John’s encouraging sermon from Hannah & the “pouring out of her heart” regarding her childlessness - a major affliction in her days & still today.It’s such a regular part of all our lives - grief, pain, anxiety in all forms. Do you still often struggle with the “why?” of your agonising?James thought so also as he devotes the first section of his epistle to the subject - as we have seen.Well, this morning points us to the God of all comfort - the God for the persecuted - the God who can ease the pain of the oppressed & suffering - & that’s good gospel news for our weary souls. James reveals the essence of God’s Being. This is true wisdom! Understand how our heavenly Father deals with His children! - a bulwark in times of trouble. Know God! Such a knowledge of God becomes a refuge, a strength for our faithOf course, He wants us to see reality from His perspective rat
Life can be great and most of us would know fun times, wonderful experiences and fantastic holidays. But it’s not always like that. At times there are tears in our eyes and we are left wondering, “why is this happening?” or “how long can this go on?”. It begs the question: Who of us gets through life without tears?What do you do then? Tough it out, hoping for better days ahead? Check out Psychology Today on your Newsfeed for helpful advice? Phone a friend? Each of these has some merit. The Christian knows that we should pray. On the days when the tears are running down our face, we have a resource so many should pray. But how?What do you say to a God who seems so distant and so… mean? Can you just vent and leave it at that? On Sunday morning we will see how Hannah prayed through her tears. You’ll get the bigger picture in 1 Samuel 1:1-20 and her prayer is found in vss 9-11. It’s a prayer that is sorely needed today and it’s gold.
As it is still early in the new year, wisdom says that it is good to revisit regular aspects of our Christian life to know that we are not slipping in our devotion to our great Saviour. One vital & regular aspect is TEMPTATION - Ah! Yes! The dreaded word. Dreaded largely because we fail miserably in dealing with the temptations of our sinful hearts.The good news is - in God’s providence - this is the next topic of James’ letter to the scattered church of the 1st Century - so may the Lord by His Spirit bless us as we hear His Word to us this morning.You will need to compare the way you deal with temptations, consider your success rate & listen carefully to what James has written for our growth in wisdom. Some considerations: Does God tempt me? Or is it Satan? Or is it my fallen sinful nature? How did Jesus handle temptation? What is the process of temptation? How can I cope with temptation better in 2024?
The armour of God is a very well known passage in Scripture. But what is it all about? What does it mean for us to put on God’s armour? And why do we need to do this? This Sunday, we will explore what Paul has to say about the spiritual war that rages in our world today and how we can best stand as soldiers for Jesus.
Rebuilding is no easy task. It's hard enough to start a project and see it through to completion the first time around, so to have to do it all over again can feel like a waste of time. In the Bible, we see on numerous occasions that this isn't just true of physical buildings either. In fact, buildings seem to represent our own lives, and our relationship with our own master builder, who is also our foundation: God himself. While we are being built into a 'spiritual temple' for him, the book of Haggai forces us to acknowledge our weaknesses, and examine our lives. Are we prioritising being 'built' by God? Is he the foundation we set our lives on? Or are we letting sin distract us from our purpose, because being built and rebuilt by God for his glory doesn't feel as important as the things of this world?Preacher: Jordan Gommer
It’s that time of the year again. The world seems to get obsessed with their new resolutions for the New Year. Maybe they want to lose weight; drink less; make new friends; or learn a new skill. Whatever it is, most of the time, they’ve given up by the time February rolls by! In today’s service, we will take a look at Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In it, Paul provides a ’resolution’ for us that is actually of greater worth and significance. It is my hope and prayer that we can all be encouraged and challenged to make this resolution our lifelong resolution: to grow in and follow Christ.
There's something about darkness that just seems wrong. Whether literal or metaphorical, darkness hides and conceals all kinds of threats to our lives - physical, mental, and, above all, spiritual. The problem, though, is that the more we look at the world around us, and the more we look at our own lives, the more darkness we seem to find; things we're ignorant of, and things we would rather others not know about. This morning, though, we're going to discover that there is a light shining in this darkness, one named Jesus, who has and will reveal everything wrong in our world and our lives, so that we might look to him as the eternal righter of wrongs.
It's hard to escape all the lights around us at this time of year - it's Christmas, after all - but there is one light who stands above all others, who we'll be considering over a short Christmas series for the next couple of weeks. This week, we'll be thinking about what the apostle John means when he calls Jesus 'the light of life for all mankind' in the introductory passage to his gospel. Just who is Jesus, that John would give him such a title? Is he really that important to the lives of you and me? Hopefully, the answer we come to will be 'yes', as we see how Jesus gives us life, understands our life, and saves our life.
We know the world needs to hear the gospel, but how do we get involved? Romans 10 gives us a logical process of how people are able to call on the name of the Lord and be saved, and it begins with people being sent to preach the good news. Isaiah 52:7 and Romans 10:15 tell us that beautiful feet bring good news. Let us think about our own feet, what message are we bringing and where are we going with it? We are the sent ones and we are the ones called to preach good news. Many of us may be reluctant to think of ourselves as sent ones or as preachers, but let us be challenged to think about embracing this wonderful calling and let us see how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things for His glory through His empowerment. Preacher: Brendan Meyerink
What do we think of the kings we read in 1 & 2 Kings? In my experience, we use the same summaries we were taught at Kids@Church: this king was good; that one was bad. This one was wise; that one was fat…and so forth. In 1 Kings 12, we learn about the kings that split Israel into two. On first reading, we might say they are just ‘bad kings’, but perhaps there is something to be said about us through their examples. This Sunday, we will take a closer look at Rehoboam and Jeroboam to see how their choices are a result of feelings and beliefs that we sometimes share. Ultimately, we will compare these to Jesus - the Servant King - who came to earth, not to be served but to serve. This is the way we should live and the King we should follow!Preacher: Josiah Kappert
The world is a REALLY SCARY place at the moment. The war in Ukraine with Putin’s threats of nuclear war was unsettling enough. Now Israel is in a all out war with Hamas in the Gaza strip and at any time this could engulf the entire Middle East… then who knows what China might do with Taiwan? For some, these foreboding events and threats are enough to put plans on hold… ‘wait and see what is going to unfold’. In the context of a baptism in our worship service, I am reminded of many reports over the years of couples saying they would not have children in such a volatile world. How do we make our way as Christians through such torrid times? Well, it has to do with a matter of perspective… do you see Christ the Lamb who has become the Lion of Judah? Seeing Him in control changes everything!
Picture this: As Mum's birthday approaches, anticipation fills the air, and the kids, determined to make this year truly special, forgo the usual gimmicks. A spirited debate ensues among them, each vying to contribute the perfect idea. Sensing the escalating tension, they converge on Mum's bed one morning, collectively seeking her birthday wish. Without hesitation, Mum's simple desire emerges: "I just want my kids to love each other and get along."In Philippians, the Apostle Paul, expressing deep affection for the Philippian church, unveils his heartfelt yearning. He says to them that the fulfillment of this one desire will "make my joy complete." What is this desire? That they may be "like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of the same mind." Paul's joy for the Philippian church finds its pinnacle in their unity, bound by love and on the same mission. The question echoes: What does this unity entail, and do we embody it?Preacher: Cam Bargerbos
Sermon Description:Can we be assured that when all is said and done, God will welcome us into his Kingdom for eternity? It’s a critical question – not just for Christians but for all people. As we look at the Apostle Paul’s comment about his own future and the confidence with which he speaks about it in 2 Timothy 4, we see that biblical assurance isn’t wishful thinking or a waste of time, but something that can bring the believer not only benefit in eternity but also real, tangible benefits in the here and now. It’s definitely something worth seeking.Preacher: Josh van der Kooij
In Proverbs 8, we have Lady Wisdom calling out to all mankind to listen to her and follow her instructions. She calls us to choose her over gold and silver. Riches and wealth do not guarantee that we will flourish in God’s world. It is only through wisdom that we can flourish because wisdom teaches us how to do that in this world that God has made. As God created our world, he wove his wisdom into the fabric of his world and that is why true wisdom can only be found in a relationship with God.As we come to the New Testament, we see that Jesus Christ is God’s wisdom in the flesh. True wisdom in God is about establishing a relationship with God through Christ and letting Christ’s wisdom rule in our lives. True wisdom is a Christ-empowered life through the power of the Spirit that lives for the glory of God.Preacher: Chin Wee Ang
When reading through the Biblical minor prophets, there are a number of themes and phrases that keep appearing, such as sin and judgement, repentance and mercy, restoration and hope, all of which are connected with 'the day of the Lord'. As it so happens, that phrase and these themes all feature prominently in Zephaniah, which makes it a great book to sink our teeth into for the sake of better understanding what God has to say to us across these books of the minor prophets, as we consider what is and is not being said in these chapters, and how we can only properly understand these prophecies through the lens of Jesus.Preacher: Jordan Gommer
The late Reverend Tim Keller wrote that most visitors to his church [in New York] would say that “they know there are many great stories and sayings in the Bible, but today you can’t take it literally. What they mean is that the Bible is not entirely trustworthy because some parts – maybe many or most parts – are scientifically impossible, historically unreliable, and culturally regressive”. That’s strong language and leaves the Bible with lots of holes in it, but it’s not hard to find similar sentiments here. Where do you land on the question “How can we trust the Bible?”? I’m a convinced YES man, not because the church holds to this truth (important as that is) but because of personal conviction. I humbly believe there are credible reasons why we can – and should – trust the Bible, and that will be what I’m speaking about today. You may not agree. Why not get in touch later, and we can continue the discussion together? Thanks for listening.Preacher: John de Boer
Psalms 42 and 43 could be described as Psalms of the Struggler. They describe the experience of someone who longs for God on the one hand, but who is honest enough to admit that they don’t feel God's presence. Someone who isn’t experiencing God’s love, although they long to. And, someone who doesn’t want things to stay this way. They desire things to change. But how? They’re not quite sure. And maybe that’s you as well. Or it will be you, at some point in the future.God gave us these Psalms to help us when we experience God at a distance. They help us understand some of the reasons why we might sometimes experience God distantly. But more than that, they help give us hope for the future and show us how we can, once again, draw near to a seemingly distant God.Preacher: Andrew Nugteren
We all make promises in our lives - promises to do certain things, to behave a certain way, or to be certain places. And Psalm 132 is full of promises - promises keep, promises broken and promises ignored. But above all, Psalm 132 is about the best promise of all - God’s promise to us of a Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The epistle of James is concerned with living faith. A Faith that has come as the result of our new birth through the word of Truth (1:18). This word, that has given us new birth, is to govern the whole Christian life - James says we are to “humbly accept the word planted in you” and to “do what it says”. James spends much of his letter unpacking what this looks like both in word and deed. James 3:1 - 12 focuses on words. His big idea is that your words should draw from, and reflect, the word of truth planted within you. This means your words should build up and bring life, rather than tear down and bring death and destruction. James knows this is much easier said than done, he is aware that we still struggle with sin, and that our hearts are prone to wonder. What then must we do? We must harness the power of the tongue and let it be guided by the very word of truth that is now within us.
Have you ever noticed how the Christian life is the antithesis of what Society says? This morning we are confronted with God’s view of “happiness” contrasted with the world’s view.Indeed everyone wants to be “happy!” The media is always advising us of the steps to be at peace with ourselves; winning lotto, holidays - whether cruises, tours or just caravanning around Australia - the push for “good health” by the medical fraternity. A quick look in the library or around a book store you see how popular the theme is!God’s way is very practical - it absorbs the presence of hardships, bad news, anxieties and all, as facts that can’t be avoided - and directs us to accept them as part of life - circumstances given to us by the providence of God, our Creator and Redeemer, that lead us to trust Him in all the tough times of life. In fact He reveals to us that these events will strengthen our faith and provide us with the joy, peace and contentment that make up the state of “happiness.”
We all want to live a good life; a life of peace and security, of comfort and prosperity, of life's pleasures, of relationship and community. Even if we don't expect to have all these things, we still desire them, because we recognise that they are good. But where do we turn to receive them? Where does the good life come from? In this passage from Jeremiah 2, we see that God himself is the provider of all the things we enjoy, but that Israel - his chosen people - had turned away from him and sought these things from elsewhere, and were coming away empty. In our text for today, we see both the goodness of God in his lavish grace towards us, and also a stark warning of what we do when we turn away from him to chase the good things he gives us, both now and - even more so - in eternity.
Australia is a wealthy nation & Australians are rich people by the world’s standards. James is writing to poor refugee Christians - the contrast could hardly be stronger! So is this passage of God’s Word unnecessary for us to give attention? Definitely not!There is great danger for rich Christians in this world which sets its goal of earthly happiness in wealth - not in the riches of grace that we have in the Lord Jesus Christ! Wealth is God’s gift to be used generously for the needy - inside & outside the church.James desires that us, as his readers, have a biblical view of money - whether we have it or don’t have it. A Christian World-&-Life-View!He has a word to the non-Christian also. What might that be, I wonder?James uses parallelism & contrast to get his important message of the wisdom of poverty across to us. He uses the words “high” & “low” to contrast the positions of poor Christians & rich non-Christians - then pointing out God’s perspective that we are to practise.
In Psalm 33 we’re challenged to consider our picture of God and to ask whether it’s really big enough! In the Psalm we’re called to praise God for his power and his majesty, to remember that he is an all-powerful, all-seeing God who rules over all things. But we’re reminded that even though God is so big and so powerful he is still a God who watches over and cares for his people. In the light of that truth, then we are called to avoid putting our trust in the things of this world, or in our own plans and wisdom, and instead to rest in the power and wisdom of God and in his good purposes for us.
God has done great things for us through Christ. Despite our sinfulness, he has chosen to send Christ as a propitiation for our sins, so that we are justified by faith alone in Christ alone. This God is for us! This means that there is no one that can condemn us before God because he himself has declared us righteous through the atonement of Christ. This also means that nothing in all of creation, no matter our circumstances, are able to separate us from God's love in Christ. Through Christ, we are more than conquerors.
Preacher: Chin Wee Ang
When turning to the book of Revelation how confusing do you find it? Do you know it is not meant to perplex us, but rather be a blessing by which as God's people on earth, facing overwhelming threats, we have COURAGE to go on an do the work Christ has commissioned us to do. So as we now turn to Revelation 4, we are taken up into Heaven to see God on the throne... our mighty, majestic, all powerful God who is seen in radiant light and glory. The temptation will be to interpret every detail, even though most of the finer details are not explained. Together, these details, layer upon layer, build up to a magnificent picture of the glory of God on the throne. If we fall into the trap of burying ourselves in details not explained, we risk losing the blessing of the bigger picture God wants us to see. By this vision, we the people of God, are meant to put aside any fears we might have, but be very strong and very courageous knowing that our God reigns, the victory belongs to Him and He is wi
The psalmist calls the people of God to trust in God instead of idols. Idols promise much but cannot deliver. The God of the Bible, on the other hand, delivers what the idols cannot. Therefore, we trust in God because he is our help and shield, and will bless us. The greatest blessing that God has poured out for us is secured in Christ. Therefore, trust in Christ, not in idols.
This Sunday we spend our time at the feet of the apostle John, listening and seeking to understand his account of the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was the third sermon from chapter 6 – the first of which focused on Jesus being the true bread, the second on Jesus being in the boat. In both studies we considered the miracles of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and Jesus walking on the water and their subsequent teaching in versus 25-33 and 52-59. Continually in these passages we see the emphasis that Jesus doesn’t just provide bread – he is the bread, likewise Jesus doesn’t just calm the storm but he gets into the boat. The spiritual reality the miracles are manifesting is that Jesus is the source of life, our sustenance – the word made flesh who brings life by the Spirit. John’s purpose in writing this account is that by reading we might believe in Jesus as the son of God and that by believing we may have life in his name. He is at pains for us to not only see who Jesus is but also to res
God is light! When we encounter God, we are exposed to His glorious light, and as believers, we're called to walk in that light. But, In the first chapter of 1 John, the apostle drops a warning about those who claim to be in the light but are actually walking in darkness. Why would anyone claim to be in the light while still walking in darkness? And let's be real, we all struggle with our own sins and brokenness every single day – So, how can we say we're walking in the light if that's the case? Here's the deal: God's light doesn't just expose our flaws and failures, it illuminates a way for us to walk in purity and righteousness. Join us as we dive into what it really means to walk in the light, not just talk about it.Preacher: Cam Bargerbos
Do you ever feel abandoned by God? In the early part of Exodus, God delivers Israel with a mighty hand. The people saw the ten plagues in Egypt, and they were miraculously delivered through the Red Sea in Exodus 14. But already in chapters 15-17 they start grumbling and by the end of chapter 17 they ask the question “Is the Lord among us or not?". Things then reach crisis point in chapter 32 where the people actually make a golden calf to go before them. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10 “now these things occurred as examples for us...on whom the fulfilment of the ages has come. So, what are we to learn? In this message we will look at the story of the golden calf and specifically the question “Is the Lord among us or not” from a new covenant perspective.Preacher: Neil Brandon
How healthy is our church community when it is measured independently by the Lord Himself? Perhaps we would open such a letter with trembling fingers knowing there is nothing Jesus does not know. He sees right through us and from Him nothing can be hidden. Perhaps we may have a view of ourselves as a congregation that has us opening such a letter with eagerness, thinking we have got things pretty well in good order and have nothing of which to be ashamed. In the book of Revelation we find in chapters 2 and 3 a total of seven letters Christ wrote to seven churches for whom the book was first intended. These letters were meant not just for the churches themselves, but also for the Church of all time, including us today.. “He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev 3:22). In our Fellowship in Wongan Hills, we have been following a series on the book of Revelation and have just finished looking at these seven letters. On Sunday 16th we listened to...
I’ve always been fascinated & encouraged with the U.S. dime with its bold statement of faith - IN GOD WE TRUST!Wow! A confessional nation! It’s straight out of the Bible! What a great testimony! A nation whose leaders place their trust & hope in Almighty God! Surely it will be blessed & enabled to face its challenges with peace & calmness!That is what James is presenting to his scattered congregations of believers - with God walking by your side, the trials of life can be endured with joy, even pure joy. They had their share of trials - they were refugees in strange towns, had no friends, had to seek some form of labour to keep the wolf from the door & had to look for a roof over their heads. They were times of great anxiety & worry - challenges to their knowledge of God!This morning the sermon is concerned about your personal knowledge of God. Like James, if you have a God of greatness & goodness, One in whom you can put your trust, then the trials of life can be endured.
It's as if God knew that unbelieving Man would do everything he could to disprove the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.Hence He gave us four accounts of it through the eyes of four different characters - Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. We note the variations in their accounts but all are in accord with the astonishing fact - that Jesus had risen from the dead.In our courts of law, witnesses of the crime are worth their weight in gold - especially when there are a number. So God made sure that we have the personal accounts of many witnesses who saw Jesus, talked with Him, ate with Him - up to 500! That’s very strong proof in any court of law!One other remarkable feature of Jesus’ appearances is that initially His disciples didn’t believe He had risen - they had to be convinced - like Thomas!They should have believed because Jesus had repeatedly told them that “the Son of man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill Him & on the..Preacher: Ross Patterson
The world’s major religions all have a symbol which sets them apart from the others. Buddhists have the lotus flower, Jews the Star of David and Muslims the crescent. But why do Christians have the cross? It hardly seems fitting. A cross was the most terrible and painful means of capital punishment ever devised. No Roman citizen could be crucified. The Jews knew it meant the person hanging was cursed by God. Yet Christians glory in the cross. We sing about it. We preach it. We give thanks for it. Why? Luke 23:44-46 gives us the clue. It shows us that Jesus’ cross was NO ORDINARY CROSS and helps us understand why today can truly be called Good Friday.Preacher: John de Boer
Palm Sunday presents the account of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey. However, we don’t just use this passage because this event actually occurred a week before His death and resurrection…nor is it because of all the palm leaves! It serves as a timely reminder to reflect and ponder the question: Who is this Messiah, Jesus? Is He a nice guy who did a nice thing so we can live happy and comfortable lives? Is He a justice-crazed king who has come down to deliver vengeance on all who have wronged us? Or, is He someone quite different to anyone we have seen before? Join us this Sunday as we answer these questions and discover who Jesus really is ahead of Easter.
They are questions that require an answer. For many people the idea that God is a God of love does not make sense when they see so much suffering in the world. Why did He allow the fifty thousand plus people to Perish in Syria and Turkey with the recent earthquake and now flooding? Why doesn’t He do something about Ukraine? Why do little kids die?” If God is a God of love… why doesn’t He do something?” As we draw near to our celebration of Good Friday and Easter, we find the answers to these questions. Not just ‘glib’ answers but profound responses that spell out how much God does love the world and how much He has done and still is doing.Preacher: Geoff van Schie
Some of you may have read the book or seen the film “The Getting of Wisdom.” Briefly it relates the story of a young girl from a sheltered background, attending a private girls’ school and learning about life - that is, “Getting Wisdom.” To the author, learning how to live in an often hostile world was important. For Christians, it is a similar story. As we grow in our faith, by God’s grace & the work of His Holy Spirit, we acquire “wisdom” but it is a spiritual wisdom, a wisdom that the unbeliever doesn’t understand. James has already expressed one of the enigmas of the Christian life - experiencing “pure joy” while enduring many trials!” Joy in suffering! James knows the challenge of such situations as he writes words of encouragement to the scattered Christians in modern Syria & beyond. He says that we need WISDOM! He says wisdom is needed to endure all the hardships of life with peace & even joy! As usual he doesn’t elaborate on what it is exactly but he does tell us from where...
‘It’s too good to be true’ is a phrase we often hear as to warnings about scams. We are told that if what is being offered seems ‘too good to be true’ then it probably is in fact not true and it is better to avoid the transaction. In times of door knocking in my earlier years of ministry, I came across people, who when told the Gospel thought ‘surely they had to DO something’ in order to be saved. For their ticket into heaven to be FREE was ‘too good to be true’. Sadly, many within the Church while believing in the grace of God, find it hard to believe that through Christ alone, God in His amazing grace, ALREADY NOW IN THIS LIFE, chooses to look upon us as perfect. In this sermon we will see that God’s grace really is amazing.Preacher: Geoff van Schie
We live in a culture that encourages us to think that we’re free to choose from a smorgasbord of spiritual options. We can listen to spiritual gurus from east and west, mix them all together and believe in a spirituality that suits us. Among this mix we find Jesus as just another spiritual option. But can we treat Jesus as just another spiritual teacher? Jesus himself says no. This week as we look together at Matthew 12:38-42 we’re going to examine the claims of Jesus and his claim that he is someone that needs to be taken seriously. He’s not just another prophet, not just another spiritual option, but God’s messenger of salvation. As we’ll see this Sunday there is incredibly strong reasons to believe he is who he says he is and to put your faith in him.Preacher: Ben Murphy
God condemns the wealthy who perpetrated injustice against the poor and vulnerable. They will face severe punishment on judgement day. Believers should heed this warning and act justly and mercifully to the needy and abused.Preacher: Peter Smit
Even among the minor prophets, the book of Nahum is among the lesser-known and read books of the Bible, and maybe one that you yourself have little familiarity with. On the surface, Nahum is a book of judgement against the leaders of an ancient empire, but as with all of the Scriptures, this book of prophecy contains eternal truths for us, around two qualities of God that we don't often put together: his wrath and vengeance on the one hand, and his love and saving grace on the other. May we see through the book of Nahum how these qualities work together in the Almighty God, and how they should be both a challenge and a comfort to us.Preacher: Jordan Gommer
People today have many sources of worry, fear, uncertainty to face - and by the amount of pills being swallowed, they don’t seem to have successful solutions.The wise apostle, taught with God’s wisdom, observes the people of God facing their share of dilemmas and decisions which produce increased blood pressure, stress & the old headache.How can we face life’s straight balls, curved balls & all the other type with joy & success so that we remain cool in the crisis????? How do we endure medical problems, financial problems, family problems, work problems??? Have you noticed that all the facets of life are fraught with situations of stress?Just what does he mean & how does one achieve such “joy?”Preacher: Ross Patterson
It is going to be a LONG service with both Lord’s Supper and Elder installation! I remember as a child growing up in the Dee Why Church in Sydney where I used to dread these combinations of events. As I matured in age and faith, I learnt how rich a blessing it was to be involved in such a time of worship. The Lord’s Supper is truly a deeply moving experience when approached in a worshipful way as we focus on the GREAT love of Jesus and His Father for us and what that sacrifice has gained for us. In sync with this remembrance of this deep love of Christ and His sacrifice, we have the installation of two elders. These men are called and appointed to be SERVANT leaders, being as Christ to His people. In our service on Sunday, let us humble ourselves before our God who LOVES us so much, He sent the GREATEST SERVANT OF ALL, Jesus; and now that Jesus has returned to Heaven, the Lord through Christ and the work of the Spirit, has given us SERVANT elders to love and care to the glory of God.
"Why do we keep making the same mistakes again and again?” This is the weary question that we ask of our broken world. And this is the question that the meek and wise will ask of themselves. The Bible teaches that we persist in disobeying God, make foolish and harmful decisions, and hurt ourselves and those around us, because our hearts are blind to God. The good news is that God in His love and grace has not left us in our blindness. He promised long ago to send his only Son to bring light to our darkened hearts. Jesus proved that he was the promised Saviour, and proved that he had the power to accomplish his mercy mission, when he healed blind Bartimaeus outside the walls of Jericho some two thousand years ago. Today, he heals the sin-broken hearts of anyone and everyone who, like Bartimaeus, will call upon his name: “Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!”Guest Preacher: Campbell Markham
Ok, we have a whole new year ahead of us! What plans have we already made for this year, a new year that is full of potential? Some of the plans we possibly already have may even be summed up by a New Years resolution or two. In both Psalm 90 and our text today, God taps us on the shoulder and puts us in our place, for like the teenagers we were, and as they are today, we can live as though we are indestructible and what we plan is sure to pass if only we set out achievable goals. You know those short term and intermediate goals which when achieved lead to the realisation of our ultimate goal. There is even a ‘recipe’ for such assured goal setting that goes by the acronym SMART… our goals need to be Specific… Measurable… Achievable… Realistic and Timebound. Today God in His Word says ‘Hang on a minute, as SMART as your goals may be, this is how you need to approach the future and your plans.
The beginning of a life is like a blank book filled with empty pages. Everything that will happen in a child’s life lies in front of them, the possibilities and opportunities are seemingly endless. The question then is what will those pages entail? What choices will they make and what circumstances will they find themselves in?This week we have the joy of baptising little Hudson Morine. Hudson has his entire life ahead of him but we too, as we walk this earth, are also not at our natural ends. We too still have the future in front of us. This week through the words of Psalm 138, we consider a lesson in life from a King. It’s a lesson Hudson will need to hear many times and a lesson we all can and should learn from.Speaker: Ben Peletier
Last week, we had the prelude: the birth of John the Baptist, a man who represented Israel’s history as God’s people. This week, we have the main event, which the birth of John all pointed us to: the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. In this story of his foretelling and birth, we can see how there was and is and will forever be no-one like him, and how his birth, which we remember at this time every year, is meant to be a cause for us to have eternal joy. The birth of Jesus is the beginning of the end of the story of the world, but it is an end-without-end, the perfect, ongoing conclusion to God’s work of creation.Speaker: Jordan Gommer
In the first half of our Christmas series on how the birth of Jesus is the 'hinge of history', we will be looking at the birth of John the Baptist, the one who prepared the way for the coming Messiah. In the story of John's birth, we see how God is always acting, in ways we expect and in ways we don't, to bring about his good purposes, for his glory, and in a way that is both big and small, grand and personal, and historical, yet also in the here and now.Preacher: Jordan Gommer
Last week we considered how life is defined by death – by denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following Jesus. This week we look at the other side of the coin – how death gives way to ultimate life. For the follower of Jesus, who dies to self and lives for him, death is far from a loss – instead, it is absolute gain. It is the reception of ultimate joy and perfection. It is a blessing and a gift. And the hope that looms over death should help us live for Jesus – the one who gifts us everything.Preacher: Dan Kroon
For the next two weeks, we’re going to be immersing in the subjects of life and death – life that is defined by death and death that gives way to life. We begin with the former by looking at Jesus’ dramatic call to discipleship – to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. In his invitation, he reminds us that life is all about death – the death of Jesus, on our behalf, and our own death ‘to self’. Everyday we are called to follow Jesus to death. Everyday we are called to die for the gospel. Everyday we are called to deny ourselves and live for Jesus. And the one who died for us gives us the power to do it.Preacher: Dan Kroon
So we come to the most popular Psalm of all – Psalm 23. With its rich imagery and deep promises, it’s no wonder it’s so well loved. And while we want to soak up the comforts these verses offer, we also need to be reminded of the call to receive from God and surrender to God. Like last week, we can’t take the encouragement without the challenge. If God is to be our shepherd, we must accept our place as spiritual sheep, and all the needs that we cannot meet on our own.
As we’ve been reminded of recently, the dangers of war, disease and death are never that far from us. It’s easy to distract ourselves in our own happy worlds, but that doesn’t mean those threats don’t lurk around the corner. And even if they never touch us, there are plenty of other struggles we face in life. But there is encouragement for us, in even the most dire circumstances. Encouragement that comes directly from God. And Psalm 91 is a great example of that encouragement. It strengthens us in difficult times. It gives us an eye-opening vision of God’s help. And it provides an example of how we can also encourage others.
It is good to engage in theology – the study of God and his mighty deeds. But it is not good to engage only with our heads, and not our hearts. To turn theology into a cold, systematic science, rather than a warm, intimate relationship. Psalm 139 displays an amazing balance of affirming God’s attributes, but in a personal, intimate way. It takes the epic realities of his omniscience (knowing everything), omnipresence (being everywhere), and omnipotence (having all power) and presses them firmly on our hearts, both by threatening our autonomy and comforting our fears.
“Our bright, shiny overlords” is a pretty ridiculous title, isn’t it? And it’s totally absurd to give such a label to our phones, don’t you think? After all, they’re just devices that we control, right? Although it makes you wonder why we spend a third of our conscious lives in front of their inviting light (on average). And as we saw last week, it’s the things we think we’re in control of that are often in control of us. As we look at Isaiah 44 this Sunday, we’ll see the true absurdity of our idols, we’ll note the urge to ‘stop and think’ about our devotion, and we’ll hear the call to ‘remember’ and ‘return’ to our Maker and Saviour.
For decades now, sex has been synonymous with freedom and liberation in the West. Through multiple ‘revolutions’, we have thrown off the shackles of traditional convention and thrown open the doors to unrestrained sexual expression. Anyone who has opposed this ‘progress’ has been labelled a prude or an old maid, and asked to get out of the way. But if you peak beneath the surface of this ‘freedom’, you’ll find all sorts of imprisonment – more than enough to make us question whether it is freedom at all. And more than enough to make us wonder whether true freedom wasn’t in the defining boundaries all along.
There is a lot of movement happening in our society around the issue of gender, and particularly the demand for equality for women. These challenges are also levelled at the church, which is often seen to be prejudiced and outdated. And there is a lot of fear (in all spheres) around political correctness and avoiding the firing line of cancel culture. But the Christian gospel made radical leaps forward for equality many centuries ago – in fact, right from the beginning. And we believe God has provided a way, not just to accept gender, but to embrace it and celebrate it completely.
Tens of millions of people are still oppressed in slavery today. Many of them because of sexual exploitation and the screens that connect us to the internet Hence the title for this short sermon series. And to kick it off this week, on our Freedom Sunday, we’ll think about God’s call on us to look after the vulnerable who are in distress (James 1:27). And children who are sexually exploited online fit that definition completely. So, we need to be aware of their distress (the problem) and then fight it with both religious advocacy and personal holiness.
Hebrews 11, “the Hall of Faith” speaks of the ancients whose faith was commended by God, as we go through the list of names we can find great encouragement and insight. This week we look at Noah, called to a momentous task, and see what we can learn from his life and example.
Gratitude is more than just saying 'thank you'. Gratitude is something that's lived out. It results in love and service, no matter how awkward or embarrassing that might make us feel. That's what we see with the woman who anoints Jesus' feet. She is so thankful for the deep mercy of God, that she's willing to live out her gratitude despite embarrassment or awkwardness. Are we willing to respond in the same way? - Dan Kroon
Let’s face it, sometimes life is just downright hard and a real grind. I wonder if you have ever found yourself quietly whispering to yourself – or outright verbalising to someone else – words along these lines: “life just sucks at the moment!”. Hardship that comes our way has the ability to bring the best of us metaphorically or quite literally ‘to our knees’, getting us ‘down in the dumps’. “Why am I facing this at the moment God!” you might even question. Thankfully God through his Word does not leave his people without hope. Nor without purpose even in our troubles.
In our passage this week, we have the opportunity to learn from king David about how to pray and find real comfort in God during hardships. But not only that, David teaches us that we can genuinely find purpose within our hardships. In how they purposefully lead us to our amazing God and his awesome work of redemption in the gospel. - Timothy Gray
One of the perceptions of Christians and churches is that they’re too preoccupied with getting money out of people and they’re too often mismanaging the money they get. And while it’s true that greed infects Christians as much as anyone else (which often plays out in the running of the church), it’s definitely not the way that Jesus has urged us to live. The call in the Bible to give generously is never about obligation, but about gratitude for the grace of God. That grace should be the motivation for all giving, and that grace should be the attitude in which all resources are used (and shared, invested and passed on). Speaker: Dan Kroon
Whether its internet speeds, jumbo jets, or having your best friend on speed dial on your phone, one of the phenomena of our modern world is that everything is so fast! The problem with this however is that our expectations are also set so high. Now waiting for our food to heat for a short few minutes in the microwave becomes a tedious chore! Let alone the anxiety we feel waiting in traffic. The faster things get, the less capacity it seems we have to wait. And yet, it's a virtue worth cultivating – not only in mundane daily life, but also waiting for the ultimate thing – for Jesus to return. But what does it look like then to ‘wait well’ in this in-between-time while we wait for Jesus to come? And how do we become spiritually patient people? To finish our series exploring 2 Peter, the Apostle Peter teaches us exactly this, as he shows us how to wait well for our King. - Timothy Gray
The next chapter in 2 Peter, while still both feisty and fiery, contains some of the most encouraging verses in Scripture. It is a reminder that God is fully in control as he carries out a cosmic, yet detailed plan. He has not abandoned the world to its devices – he is just incredibly patient, while more and more are saved by the gospel. So, Peter urges us not to forget God’s powerful word in these matters, but to remember, recall and remind each other (and others), over and over again. - Dan Kroon
I wonder if you have ever purchased something that you later regret. A new phone that you drop on day one and crack the screen. Or a brand-new car that you regret when the monthly repayments begin to kick in and bleed your bank balance. Or a new piece of clothing that somehow doesn’t fit or look quite as nice on you as it seemed to in the shop. There’s a technical term for this. It’s called buyer’s remorse. In our passage this week we continue the same theme from last week, where Peter, in 2 Peter 2, pulls no punches against false teachers in the church. There’s no getting around it, to Westerners, the language is confronting. Why all this ‘ranting and raving’ from Peter here? Because Peter knew what was at stake, namely the Gospel itself. Buy rebuking these false teachers, he wants to save us from another kind of ‘buyer’s remorse’ – a spiritual one. Namely, giving into the deceitfulness of sin, that ultimately leads to destruction. Instead, Peter offers us the Gospel as the only way o
As we hit the second chapter of 2 Peter, we begin to deal with some very unpopular stuff. As Peter talks about false teachers and their destruction, he continues emphasising the idea of absolute truth, which is a big no-no in our society. Truth is relative, personal and subjective – it’s whatever is good for me. Which also means lies (or falseness) are equally subjective; they’re user-defined. But then we come up against the unspeakable ‘j’ word (it’s judgment, but shhh – don’t say it out loud). Our world condemns judgment (or should it be judges condemnation?), but refuses to acknowledge the irony. After all, if truth is subjective, there can be no judgment of right and wrong. But Peter (who lived in a culture of similar thinking) doesn’t mince words. He says it plain. Heresy exists, even in the church. False teachers will be destroyed. And truth is our only escape. So, in Jesus’ words, we must be ‘as innocent as doves and as shrewd as serpents’ as we discern between truth and lies.
Are Christians fundamentally homophobic? On the surface it may seem difficult to even gain an answer, for churches across the Western world have certainly responded to this contentious issue in a variety of ways. And yet, there really is a way forward. A way forward paved by Jesus himself that takes the heat out of the discussion. A way forward that provides an answer to our culture that is not only a challenge, but also profoundly compelling and attractive. An answer found in John 4, where Jesus marvellously displays great generosity and honesty. Not only in his attitude, but also in how he once again displays the beauty and power of the gospel message he came to declare to the world. Speaker: Timothy & Leah Gray
There's two ways that we talk about innocence. There's the innocence of a child, who has experienced little and is yet to be corrupted by the world around them. And there's the innocence of a person who is 'not guilty' of a certain crime. Spiritually speaking, none of us are innocent. But Jesus does urge us to be more like the 'innocent'. More like children, who are completely dependent on their parents – so we are with our heavenly Father. And more like Jesus, the perfectly innocent one, who is humble, compassionate and embracing of all people – especially the lowly. Speaker: Dan Kroon
“We have everything we need… so make every effort to add to it…” This is the logic of this week’s passage. Last week we considered the gift of the gospel, which Peter goes on to show, is all about God’s power and promises. And this week, we consider how that gift is put to use – how we invest it and capitalise on it. Throughout the passage is an underlying urge that we do not waste what we have been given, but that we use it for godly and productive lives in Christ. Not that this means we go beyond the foundation that Peter starts with, because he urges us to stay grounded in that gospel, every step of the way. - Dan Kroon
Do you ever struggle to remember things? I know I do. Whether it’s what I did on the weekend, or where I put my phone, it’s easy to be forgetful about the most mundane of things. But it is not only mundane things I am forgetful about. Spiritual truths as well are all too easy to become forgetful of! This week we’ll be kicking off a new series that explores 2 Peter. And what we find is that it is a letter that is all about remembering. Not remembering mundane things, but the most important of things. That is, remembering the Gospel! And the first thing we will be reminded of this week is that the Gospel is gift. Not just any ordinary gift, but the best of gifts. A gift that just keeps on giving! - Timothy Gray
When was the last time that you broke a promise you had made? Maybe it was never getting around to cleaning out the garage, or failing to keep in touch with a friend, like you said you would. The reality is, we have all made promises that we have not kept. This often can leave others feeling betrayed by us. Or making us feel betrayed by others who don’t keep their promises made to us. As we turn to Leviticus 26 this week we discover that, when it comes to our relationship with God, this is exactly how humanity has treated God. We have betrayed him! The human condition is fundamentally one of ‘promise-breaking’. This week we’ll consider not only why this is so tragic, but also the only antidote that is available that can cure our covenant-breaking hearts – an antidote found in none other than the promises of God found in the Gospel! - Timothy Gray
“Is God a communist or a capitalist?” It shouldn’t surprise us to hear that the answer to that question is: neither. God cannot be defined by such narrow and imperfect systems. But that doesn’t mean He doesn’t care about economics, or the financial state of his people. In fact, he cares a lot. In Leviticus 25 and 27, we discover some fascinating economic principles, which seem radical and revolutionary to our current society, but which reveal some deep theological truths for all Christians to follow. This is an incredibly important area for the church to show its holiness and separation, not trusting in the accumulation, status and security of wealth, but in the God who owns everything and provides all we need, graciously and generously. - Dan Kroon
At the heart of God’s law for his people is holiness: his own holiness and his people’s holiness (a holy nation). That is, God’s people were called to be set apart (from the nations), pure (morally and ritually), and undefiled by sin. This is why this section of Leviticus (ch. 17–24) is called The Holiness Code. The law served to make the people fit for God’s presence, through sacrifice and atonement as well as obedience. Today, God’s holiness comes to us in a completely different way. It comes to us through Jesus, who makes us holy and fit for God’s presence. And in that holy state, the law now teaches us how to please God and share his holiness even further. Speaker: Dan Kroon
Let’s face it. Sometimes life feels a bit like a storm. Sometimes hardships we face might be rather mild, like experiencing some light rain and the occasional gust of wind. At other times our hardships can feel more like a cyclone, pelting down rain and gale force winds upon us that feels overwhelming. It’s easy to feel fearful and overwhelmed in such times – like the world is against us, and that God doesn’t care. How do we face such times with courage and perseverance? Is it even possible to do so? This week we’ll be taking a short break from our series through Leviticus and will consider how Jesus answers this question for us. Through the well-known story of Jesus calming the storm, we have the opportunity to consider how the Christian faith truly does enable us to face life’s difficulties. And the answer God’s Word gives us might surprise you!
I don’t know about you, but I need reminders! Alarms, lists, sticky notes, calendars, writing something on your child’s forehead – however the reminder comes, its critical in our fast-paced world to have them, otherwise we will quickly feel like we are falling behind. When it comes to our Christian faith, in many ways we can benefit from reminders too. Especially because we need them. Why? Because, if you’re anything like me, our heart forgets. It forgets how good God is. How sinful I am. How gracious God is. How much I ought to be thankful to God every moment. In many ways, that is what the ritual laws in Leviticus 11-15 is about. Although not required to be practiced by Christians today, they remind us of the same Gospel truths. The same Jesus who saves. The same Jesus who both reconciles us to God the Father. And who separates us from our sin, setting us apart as God’s treasured possession. With you come and be reminded of Jesus, the guarantor of a better covenant? (Heb 7:22).
"They don't really care about me – about getting to know me or understand me." "They can't accept me for who I am – I'm not good enough for them." "They only care about getting 'converts'." Is this way that your colleagues and neighbours feel about Christians? Is this the way that you feel about Christians? This Sunday afternoon (4pm) we'll talk about the ways Christians have focussed too much on numbers, and why we think 'conversion' is important in the first place.
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” In the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13–21, Jesus warns us against greed and calls us to seek God’s kingdom first in our service and our finances. Rather than selfishly hoarding for personal gain, we are called to be rich in our giving to God and others.
There is a comfort that comes with someone going on ahead of us and leading the way. An older sibling who raids the cookie jar for the younger sibling. A husband lovingly leading his wife. A captain leading the team out onto the field first. This week we learn of another type of forerunner. That of the Aaronic Priesthood in Leviticus 8-10, and especially the role of the High Priest. Admittingly, if you read these chapters some confusing, perplexing – even shocking – questions might come to mind. Why all the strange rituals and special clothing? Why was God so harsh against Nadab and Abihu? What is the Urim and Thummim anyway? These are good questions to ask. But let’s not miss the supreme significance of these chapters, and who they ultimately point to. Jesus! Our ultimate forerunner (Hebrews 6:20) and High Priest who leads us into the glorious presence of God. This week we’ll be exploring why Jesus is the “better High Priest” and why this is such good news for God’s people.
We human beings tend to approach a lot of things in a transactional way. Gifts, favours, relationships, religion… they can easily become about an undefined, exchangeable currency. Perhaps this is the default way we view sacrifices in the Old Testament – as the human end of the God-people bargain? But as we look at five types of sacrifices in Leviticus 1–7, we see that’s not what it’s about. It’s about, as we saw last week, our relationship with God and how we can be right before him. And this becomes even clearer when we consider how each of the sacrifices is fulfilled in Jesus, and how his gospel plays out in our sacrificial worship today.
To begin our series in Leviticus, we go straight to the middle of the book and its core theme, which is atonement. This is the heart of the book, the heart of the law, the heart of Scripture, and the heart of the gospel. It’s the essential means by which God reconciles us to himself and makes us pure and holy. The historical celebration of the Day of Atonement gives us a glimpse into these themes and highlights what is most important. Through its message, we can understand what it means to meet with God and dwell in his presence – all thanks to Jesus Christ!
For this Sunday afternoon service we have the opportunity to explore another common argument our society has against the Christian faith – and one that is not without merit, with many Christians, including some key leaders having succumbed to this type of behaviour and characteristic. What behaviour is it? The sin of hypocrisy. Or, in colloquial terms, being “two-faced” or “fake”. Publicly appearing and declaring to be something that does not match up with someone’s private life. Does the fact that Christians sometimes still act hypocritically nullify the Christian faith? To answer this question we’ll be turning to the words of the central figure of the Christian faith – to Jesus Christ himself. By doing so, we not only see how fiercely he spoke against this terrible human trait. But we also see what he did to overcome it through the Gospel. Speaker: Timothy Gray
This sermon is part of a sermon series in the gospel of John. The purpose of John’s gospel is summed up in chapter 20 vs31 – ‘ these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.’ Every part of the book works towards John’s goal to foster faith in his readers.
In the first part of John 3 we encounter Jesus’ conversation with the Jewish religious leader Nicodemus. In the conversation Jesus puts forward a foundational truth that it is God who gives eternal life through faith in his Son. The magnificent vs 16-21 are most likely a commentary by John to help his original readers and us understand the purpose of Jesus conversation with Nicodemus and to encourage faith. This truth deeply challenged Nicodemus and by application is an invitation to us to turn believe in Jesus and to have great courage, comfort and expectancy for others to respond in faith. Speaker: Karne de Boer
HOPE is an attitude that empowers us to endure the most devastating circumstances as it lifts our eyes to look beyond what threatens to undo us and see a brighter day. Tragically most place their hope in people or things that cannot deliver what it is they look towards. In the context of a federal election, many look to individual people or governments, or alternate governments. Many politicians make promises as to outcomes over which they have no control and who fail to remember those very important words ‘if the Lord wills’. In this service we look to the ONLY foundation of HOPE that GUARANTEES to provide what it is we look to as we look beyond what may cause us so much distress today, even the death itself! Speaker: Geoff Van Schie
This week we’re exploring what God’s Word has to teach us about an important and volatile human emotion – anger. We all sometimes feel it. We all have experienced it from other people. Many people struggle to control it. How are we to view this very human emotion? Is it good or bad? What does it teach us about ourselves? How are we to approach it, and even overcome unhelpful outbursts of it? To answer these questions and more we’re dipping into the book of Proverbs to see what wisdom we can glean from its pages. Wisdom that is not only highly practical, but also comes from the God of all wisdom. The God who both calls us to come to grips with our anger and gives us what we need to do this through the Gospel. Speaker: Timothy Gray
The one thing our world is severely lacking is forgiveness. There are plenty of demands. There's plenty of tolerance. There's even a fair amount of apologising. But rarely is there much push for forgiveness. And yet this is the message of Jesus, Easter and the gospel. It is God's way for reaching reconciliation and restoration. And it is the calling of all people to learn. It's not easy. It's not popular. But forgiveness is critical in showing love, humility and Jesus to the world around us. Speaker: Dan Kroon
For the Christian, coupled with Christ's death, the resurrection of Jesus is unquestionably the great hinge point of human history. To accept it is, according to the Bible, to be on the 'right side of history'; to reject it is to be on 'the wrong side of history'. But why is this so? What did the resurrection of Jesus achieve for God's people? Today there is much talk about "cancel culture". For the Christian though the resurrection has to do with a whole different kind of "cancelling", where our fears, failures, and worldly ambitions are cancelled. In this way, the resurrection is the great reversal for God's people – opening wide the floodgates from death to life! But for this to be true for us is itself hinged on something else – whether you truly believe it. The question is then, do you believe it?
What is your response to Jesus’ death? What is the result of it in your life? In Matthew’s account of the gospel, we read about all sorts of things that happened when Jesus ‘gave up his spirit’. There was darkness for 3 hours, the curtain of the temple tore down the middle, there was a massive earthquake, and tombs broke open. You could say this was nature’s ‘response’. And you might even be able to explain it away as natural phenomena. But that doesn’t explain the dead people coming out of the tombs and wandering around. And it doesn’t explain the centurion’s (and others’) pronouncement of faith in the ‘Son of God’. Ultimately, we have to see it as God’s response to Jesus’ death, and the results that he causes. So what will be the result in your life? What will be your response? Speaker: Dan Kroon
We live in an anxious and worried world. What will happen tomorrow? Will my business fail or succeed? How can I stop worrying so much about my family, friends, or children? No matter how good life seems to be, you don’t have to try hard to find something to begin worrying or being concerned about. It’s in our nature to worry. In our passage this week Jesus tackles the anxious and worried human heart head on with two memorable parables, challenging us to find solace in him and his Kingdom. In thi
"What do I do?" Whatever kind of lives we lead, all of us ask this question every day, whether it be about what task we're going to do next at work, or how we construct the latest piece of furniture we've bought. But sometimes, when we take our minds away from the small, day-to-day things in life, we may find ourselves thinking along the lines of the rich man who asks Jesus, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" This week, we continue our series on God's Kingdom by turning to Mark's gospel, where we find Jesus making some action-packed statements about how we become part of the Kingdom and inherit eternal life. "The time has come, the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" Speaker: Jordan Gommer
Utopia! Will humanity ever achieve and reach it? That perfect society where there are no troubles, at least very few? As we look at the trouble that persists in our world today, it certainly doesn’t look like this trouble is disappearing any time soon. How can we have hope in present darkness or gloom we might face in this world? As Christians, our hope resides not in earthly power, strength, or intellect. Instead, it resides in God and his Kingdom! This week, in a new series on God’s Kingdom, in the lead up to Easter we are going to explore this very same kingdom. What is it like? How does it come about? And why is it so amazing to be a part of? We’ll begin with exploring two parables from Matthew 13:31-33 that give us true hope in the face of a dark world that God will triumph in the end. Speaker: Timothy Gray
In the late 90’s Pastor Matt Redman penned what soon became a Christian classic in churches across the globe. His song “The Heart of Worship” touches on an important truth. The Heart of worship is all about…the heart! Hearts that love God, his Gospel, his people. But authentic ‘heart’ worship like this isn’t always easy. Life gets in the way. Our sin bogs us down. God seems distant. This week we conclude our series on the life of David by exploring Psalm 138 and David’s heart that praised God, where we’ll explore how to foster a heart that worships God authentically and wholesomely. Speaker: Timothy Gray
Last week we considered David’s ‘human solution’ to his sin, how wrong it went, and how we are all prone to ‘wandering hearts’. This week we will consider the godly response to sin as we consider David’s confession in Psalm 51. And from this Psalm, we find some great answers to the question: What is repentance? What does it mean to have ‘a broken and contrite heart’? It means owning our sin. It means confessing within a personal relationship. And it means seeking a brand new heart – one that is clean, thankful, and overflows with the praise of God. Speaker: Dan Kroon
The story of David & Bathsheba tells us a lot about the nature of sin, which corrupts every one of us as much as it corrupted David. But the story also sheds light on our natural inclination to fix the problem ourselves and how wrong that can go. We’re like someone trying to patch a deep wound with a dirty band-aid even though the doctor is ready with his sterilised needle and stitches. The human solutions to sin are no better than the sin itself, and they fail every time. God’s grace is the only true and permanent fix. Speaker: Dan Kroon
I wonder if you have ever had a conversation with someone, or a personal thought of your own, along the following lines: “Why do I even need God? Life is pretty good without him, isn’t it? The comfort, security, and pleasure of modern life is seen to be good enough for most, so why bother with God?" This week, as we continue our series through the life of David & his heart for God, we’ll discover that such an attitude towards life truly does cause one to miss out – big time! In a very significant passage found in 2 Samuel 7, we’ll see why this is, as we encounter the everlasting God and the promise of his everlasting kingdom. A kingdom so spectacular and out of this world that only God himself, through his Son, can bring it into existence!
Let’s be honest. Other people and their views irk us. We all know why too – it’s because they’re wrong… obviously they don’t get it, they don’t get the whole picture, not like we do. How could anyone be so wrong, like they are wrong, right now? Actually, you know what… I’m going to say it. They offend me. My world is hereby changed, and I’ll have you know it - because they think, speak, or act differently to me and my views. I imagine you already know that this is tongue in cheek. Those aren’t wise or discerning words, nor are they part of a particularly Christian character. Yet if we’re honest, how we respond to disagreements with others, at least at the heart level, doesn’t look all that different. 2 particular texts invite a better response in us this weekend: It is wisdom to overlook offense because in Christ God forgave infinitely more of us than we ever will of others. Christians are given the privilege of entrusting all wrongs against us to the One who judges justly. With peace
What is Christianity? It’s a great question for any one of us to consider, whether we’re Christians or not. If you’re not, it might address some queries you have about God, faith or Jesus. And if you are, it might remind you of what’s most important, especially as the church launches into ministries of discipleship & fellowship for the new year. At the beginning of his first letter, in just a few short verses, John reminds us of what’s at the heart of the Christian faith: a life-giving message and a life-sharing community; all centred on Jesus Christ – the embodied and eternal word of life! Speaker: Dan Kroon
How do you respond when trouble strikes? People may advise us to “stay positive, and you’ll get through it”. There may be some merit to this. But there’s something else the Christian is called to do. Pray! For the Christian, desperate times call for desperate prayers! As we continue our series “Heart after God’s Heart” on the life of King David, this week we get to learn from the prayers of someone well acquainted with hardship. His raw, fervent, and heartfelt prayers teach us not only how to pray in difficult situations, but how to trust and find our hope in God when the world seems to give way. Speaker: Timothy Gray
The relationship between David and Saul’s son, Jonathan, is often held up as a shining example of biblical friendship. And it’s true, there are many characteristics to celebrate and emulate in this story. But what stands out the most is the relationship that their friendship is based on – the relationship between God and his people. Theirs is a ‘godly friendship’ because it is founded on God’s covenant love and it points forward to the self-sacrifice of Jesus. As a church, we’ll be thinking a lot about Christian relationships (and friendships) in the coming months, and this story gives us a great foundation – the love, covenant and sacrifice of God in the gospel Speaker: Dan Kroon
One of the harsh realities of life is the feeling of sometimes being mistreated by others. Whether in the workplace, on the sports field, by a family member or friend, or even the government. There are times we can feel hard done by. The question is, how do we respond – how should we respond – in these situations? If we’re honest with ourselves, either in action or heart motive, the temptation is to strike back. To get even. “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth!” we cry out! In our passage this week we get to explore this issue by returning once more to the Life of David, this time in 1 Samuel 24. Here we see a man oppressed, and yet who did not strike back in return. In this way, David points us to the radical way of the Cross and the Gospel. A Gospel that has something important to teach both the oppressed and the oppressors alike. Speaker: Timothy Gray
This week we have the privilege of continuing a series begun last week on the life of King David. We have so much to learn from him about God, the Christian faith, the human heart, and God’s amazing Gospel. To say that David had a colourful life is certainly an understatement. This week certainly proves this, for we will be exploring one of the Bible’s most well-known narratives – David vs Goliath! You might have read about the story in Sunday school, heard someone mention it in day-to-day language, or even seen a movie of it! If there was ever an ‘epic’ in the Bible, surely this is it! And yet, despite how well known this story is, there is a nagging question that you might have. What does the story actually mean? And how does it affect me today? Despite how well known the story is, it is tragic how often it is misunderstood. Is it really about pulling up our socks, dusting off our shirt, and taking on our own “Goliath” like David did? Whatever that Goliath ...
It’s a new year! That means new opportunities, new plans and new experiences – I wonder what they will be? It’s always a time of hopeful (and maybe cautious) wondering, isn’t it? What will the year bring? What will change or stay the same? What shall we prioritise or focus on?
On our first Sunday of 2022, we want to consider the essential importance of focussing on the heart. Through the story of David’s selection as king, we’ll think about God’s choice being based on the heart rather than the appearance. And it’s important we do the same as we make new plans and resolutions for the new year.
To finish our short series on some of the Old Testament promises of the coming of Jesus, we're going right back to the beginning, to the Garden of Eden and the creation of the world. In Genesis 3, we see the greatest tragedy of all time: humans being deceived into rebellion against God, into sin. Ever since that time, we have been cursed with death as the punishment for our rebellion, "for dust we are, and to dust we will return." Yet even in the midst of this tragedy, God is faithful, merciful and loving towards us, because he promises a way out, a solution to the disaster that we have caused. One day, he says, he will give a woman an offspring that will crush the serpent, Satan, who deceived us, and with it, he will rescue us from the death that has been brought about by our sin, to return us to eternal life with him, as it was when the world was created - and that offspring is none other than Jesus. Speaker: Jordan Gommer
“Oh, that’s amazing, I’d love to experience that one day!” What is your answer to the “that” is this question? One of the things our culture loves to promote is new experiences. Maybe it’s the experience of new places. Travelling abroad or at home (anyone counting down to 5th February?). Perhaps it is putting your culinary skills to work and whipping up a new recipe for friends and family. Or perhaps you’re a thrill seeker and you can’t wait to jump out of a plane and try your hand at skydiving! But there is one experience that trumps all other experiences. That is, experiencing God. His goodness. His presence. His love. And living in a world full of him. As we continue our lead up to Christmas, we’re going to explore yet another well known OT prophecy from Isaiah that speaks of God’s coming King – King Jesus. We’ll be exploring what our passage has to say about who he is, as well as what it means to live in his kingdom. As we do this, we will consider afresh the enormity of what...
Over the next few weeks in the lead up to Christmas, we have the opportunity to explore some wonderful and key OT prophecies that find their fulfilment in Jesus Christ. This will be a fresh reminder for us as Christians where our true joy and hope resides! In none other than the Messiah, Immanuel, our prince of Peace. This week we’ll explore a familiar Isaiah passage. I wonder if you have ever been sure of something in the future – so sure in fact that you speak of it already occurring! Well, Isaiah was so sure of the coming Messiah, that he spoke about it in past tense (~700 years before the coming of Christ!). Who was this coming Messiah? What exactly would he achieve for God’s people? Why was he so desperately needed for Israel? In exploring these questions, we discover afresh the great joy the light of the Gospel brings to God’s people still today, and into our sure future. Speaker: Timothy Gray
Series: The Major Messages of the Minor Prophets This Sunday we’re returning to the next book in our (intermittent) Minor Prophets series, which also moves us into a Christmas lead-up, considering some of the Old Testament foretelling's of Jesus. Micah, in many ways, is a quintessential Biblical prophet – condemning sin, pronouncing judgment, and predicting restoration. In Israel, he refers especially to idolatry, injustice and faithless leaders – problems that human beings have never been able to shake. We all worship other gods in our life. We all neglect our fellow image-bearers. And every leader fails in modelling these things. Thankfully, Micah reveals the solution to all of it, both in God’s character (he’s merciful and just) and in the glimpses of the forgiveness, peace and leadership of Jesus Christ.
Series 1 PETER: Hope & Holiness in a Hostile World | Week Eight This week we end our series on 1 Peter with a bang. This is because, as a community, we have the enormous privilege of celebrating two profession of faith’s and two eldership installations – both things that also coincide well with what the Apostle Peter wants to teach us in his closing words. This week we will be exploring humility within the church community, and what ought to motivate us to pursue this Godly trait – that is, the amazing hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his coming Glory. Peter also gets practical, teaching us what this humility means for elders who oversee God’s flock, and for both the younger and the community at large who also are to act with humility. Lastly, we will be learning why humility is such an urgent call for the Christian in the first place, especially when we live in a culture that, arguably, could be said to have “quite a mixed relationship” with the genuine pursuit of humility.
Series 1 PETER: Hope & Holiness in a Hostile World | Week Seven What is freedom? What is liberty? Is it the option to do whatever you want, whenever you want, without the restriction of laws? No. Is it the ability to exercise your democratic right to choose your government and leaders? No. Is it the opportunity to work and earn and save and spend, however you want? No. True freedom and true liberty is the ability to rejoice in suffering. To praise God, no matter how bad things get in this life. Nothing sets Christians apart more than their hope-fuelled joy in the midst of pain or persecution. Why? Because such an approach demands the expectation of salvation. And such an experience reveals the very heart of the gospel – Jesus, the suffering servant, who triumphs through suffering and death. He is our freedom. He is our holiness. He is our joy!
Series 1 PETER: Hope & Holiness in a Hostile World | Week Five Is there such a thing as ‘good suffering’ or is it always bad? And if there is a good type of suffering, what’s the difference between that and the bad variety? In chapters 3 and 4 of his letter, Peter shows us that there is a difference and that we can choose the good variety. Good suffering is about doing what is right instead of what’s wrong. Good suffering is when we seek vindication from God instead of ourselves or others. And good suffering is endured in the strength of Jesus Christ, who not only suffered before us, but also triumphed for us, so we could be completely vindicated through his victory. This is what good suffering looks like. And when we face suffering in this way, we do not need to be afraid – because Jesus is Lord! Speaker: Dan Kroon
Over the past few weeks, we have been unpacking these themes from 1 Peter, showing how central they are in the Christian life. We have seen the amazing living hope Christians have secured for them through Jesus Christ. We have also seen how Christians are called to live holy lives in a hostile world. Now in 1 Peter things get gritty. As we continue our journey through this letter, Peter next wants to show us what holiness looks like in action – in the trenches of day-to-day life. This week Peter begins with a weighty topic. That is, the call to submit. As Christians we are called to submit. Immediately this might spark several questions for you. What or who are we called to submit to? Why are we called to submit? How does this play out in day-to-day life? Peter helps answer some of these questions by showing us what submission looks like in three spheres of life. Peter shows us the wonderful opportunity Christians have to live radical, yet attractive lives for the sake of the Gospel.
As the West increasingly rejects its own Christian roots, Christians find themselves, as Stephen McAlpine says, “Being the Bad Guys”. At times this certainly places Christians in a difficult situation. Let’s face it, experiencing rejection is hard. It’s uncomfortable at best, and downright terrible at its worst. What is our response to this? The temptation is to not stick your neck out for Jesus. To not proclaim your allegiance to him. In the face of this challenge, the Apostle Peter has some encouraging words for the Christian Church. He reminds us of the very thing we need to know and grasp if we are to live out our faith vibrantly in today’s world. In a word, it involves a new identity. In this way, Peter shows us how through the Gospel we gain a new identity – an identity grounded on something – rather, someone – so precious and marvellous, that we can’t help but to sing out in praise and worship. A sure identity in within the community of believers, to face the challenges of today
Series 1 PETER: Hope & Holiness in a Hostile World | Week Two What do you think of when you consider "holiness"? It is true that, within our current cultural context, there exists many misconceptions about what holiness is. Perhaps for some it is associated with being overly restrictive in one's own life choices. For others the mere thought of "being holy" instantly makes you feel guilty about how much you fall short in being holy. Over and against these things, the Apostle Peter reminds us what the pursuit of true holiness is really about, and how the Christian can find genuine joy in the pursuit of it, rather than being weighed down by it. Speaker: Timothy Gray
Hold fast. Stand firm. Expect suffering. Suffer well. Series 1 PETER: Hope & Holiness in a Hostile World | Week One These are the kinds of encouragements we get from Peter’s first letter to the ‘scattered’ Christians of his time. As they faced opposition, relegation and persecution, they were called to persevere in grace, hope and joy. And this message is becoming more and more relevant for us today. The letter could easily have been written to us directly (and 1:10-12 shows us that it is, thanks to the Holy Spirit). We are also a minority. We are also facing hostility. We are also losing credibility and respect in the world. But we are also called to persevere in grace, hope and joy. As we open the series on Sunday, we’ll be reminded of the importance of our identity, our destination and our purpose, as we deal with our challenging situation. Speaker: Dan Kroon
The topic of ‘sickness’ has been all-consuming in our world these past few years. Wherever we turn to on social media, tv, online or in conversation with others it is a topic that is difficult to escape! But for all this focus on physical sickness there is another type of sickness that plights all humanity – namely, sin! This week we’ll be exploring a solemn Bible passage from the book of Jeremiah that reminds us just how deadly this disease of the human heart really is. How does sin affect our heart? What are the consequences of having a sick heart? And how is such a sickness truly cured? These are some of the questions we will be exploring together. Speaker: Timothy Gray
The quest for "peace" is something humanity has certainly pursued throughout all ages, and continues to be something desirable and sort after today. In addition, as we consider our current world climate, it serves as a stark reminder of the need for peace in our world, and that this peace is by no means a guarantee. When it comes to "peace" and the Christian faith, what does the Bible have to say about peace? And how is the peace offered by God the same or different to peace pursued in the world? Furthermore, how do we go about finding this true peace? Speaker: Timothy Gray
We may think that, as the old saying goes, the only certainties in life are death and taxes. But this morning we will see that the prophet Isaiah wants us to think about another certainty, far greater than any other: God, and the life that he brings us. In this poem, we see how God works today, to raise up the 'weak' and bring down the 'strong', and how he promises to restore the whole world to its rightful place in the future. So, we can with certainty that we will one day enjoy a world of eternal life and joy for us all, through God who saves us. Speaker: Jordan Gommer
Throughout Colossians 3 the apostle Paul spells out the implications of the gospel for the various aspects of our lives. First, he looks at how it should transform our personal lives before God, then at how the gospel should transform our relationships as a church community. In 3:18-21 turns to focus on how the gospel should transform our family relationships. By focusing on the marriage relationship and then the parent-child relationship Paul spells out how we are called to fulfil the different roles to which we have been called in a way that honours Christ. As we reflect on these verses we’ll see how counter-cultural God’s plan for the family is, but also how high the calling we have is, and how much we need the grace of Jesus from beginning to end. Speaker: Ben Murphy
We believe that creation (and the Creator God) gives us meaning and significance. It defines our identity, our humanity and our purpose. It gives us the blueprint for work, rest, worship, biology, sexuality, love, unity and more. This is what we have seen over the last few weeks. And all of it is realised in our relational and communal nature, as human beings. God has made us to be like him, connected and together. He’s made us to fulfil our purpose as a team. He’s made us to form relationships and families and communities and society in general, so we can thrive and flourish together. This week, we’ll consider how God’s design in gender, relationships, marriage and family, all top off his work in both creation and redemption, and how we can build these connections for the worship of God. Speaker: Dan Kroon
Last Sunday we saw how God’s good creation (and the Garden) was a wonderful context for work and rest. Next week we’ll see how it’s a wonderful context for relationships and family. But this week, defining all of it, we see how it’s a place of worship and obedience. Every feature and creature is for the worship, glory and honour of God. And for people made in his image, that’s especially expressed in obedience. Our freedom and flourishing is defined by good boundaries from a good Creator. And one of the exemplary ways we see this in Genesis 2 is the Sabbath Day – a special day of worship and obedience and holy activity Speaker: Dan Kroon
With the return of the sun, perhaps you’ve found yourself outside just a little bit more than last month – enjoying your garden, or a leisurely walk, or the sunshine in general? And perhaps it harkens back to the original Garden – where God provided humans with purpose (work), harmony and rest. As we move into Genesis 2, this Garden becomes our home – the picture and context in which God’s ordinances are revealed to us. These are an expansion on last week’s message about responsibility and purpose (as God’s image-bearers), and we start with the ordinances of work and rest. Both are gifts from God, both are necessary to the rhythm of our lives, and both are about glorifying God as we fulfil our purpose and find rest in him. Speaker: Dan Kroon
We saw last week how our identity as humans is found in the nature of God’s image – how our physicality and spirituality reflect God. This week we will see how our identity as humans is found in the purpose of God’s image – how our responsibility reflects and represents God. We are made to be rulers, caretakers and ambassadors in this world, in the likeness of God. That means we steward the rest of creation; forming, ordering and cultivating culture; but we also steward each other; loving, caring and sharing Christ with other image-bearers. It’s part of who we are. It’s our responsibility and function. And it’s our privilege and joy. Speaker: Dan Kroon
In our society, the importance of personal identity is matched only by its ambiguity. The more weight we add to it, the more blurry it seems to get. And so, there is no question more significant today than, “Who am I?” And it’s our identity that will be coming up, over and over, in the rest of our creation series. Over the next two weeks, we will zoom in on what it means to be made in God’s image, especially in our spirituality, physicality and responsibility. This Sunday we’ll focus on the first two, considering how both our bodies and our souls are part of God’s image. Both reflect him. Both are originally good. And both determine our identity. Speaker: Dan Kroon
While the process and means of creation has sparked many, many debates over the centuries, the one thing we can’t lose sight of is it’s beauty, order and intelligence. Christians might disagree on some of the details, but should never disagree on the origin of this beauty, order and intelligence – which is God himself. In Genesis 1, he has revealed his sovereign act of creation, and he expects a response of faith, humility and awe. And when we adopt such an attitude, we can marvel and wonder at the beautiful pattern of creative forming and filling through the different days of creation. Speaker: Dan Kroon
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” No matter what your views are on the origins of the universe, there is no statement as bold or as encompassing as those 10 words above. No matter what religion you believe, ancient or modern, there is no creation account that can be simplified like Genesis 1:1. And as we begin a six-week series on ‘The Beginning’. it’s the simplicity and beauty and meaning of creation that we want to focus on. There is so much to learn about our lives today from those first two chapters of the Bible. And, as always, it begins with God. The God of creation, who creates time, space, light and matter, all by his simple, powerful and authoritative word. He creates everything from nothing and order from chaos, because he is eternal; the Beginning and the End. Speaker: Dan Kroon
The book of Jonah is a fantastic story and message for all ages. The relationship and interaction between God and Jonah are a great example of God’s love and patience, as well as mankind’s disobedience and entitlement. We learn the importance of being brought low (even into the guts of a fish), so that we depend on God. We learn about the greatness of God, the hero, who saves sailors and shows mercy to a great city, even while teaching his own how to serve him. And we learn about Jesus, who is the perfect version of Jonah, the ultimate revelation of God’s compassion, and the wonderful reconciliation of the two. Speaker: Dan Kroon
It’s astonishing how a pandemic, and now vaccinations, can cause such anxiety in people! The mental condition of many groups of Aussies is a concern. Medical views are diverging, opinions are polarizing, work reductions are challenging many with financial stress. Yes, you could describe it as a mess! However, it is not so for Christians who have a sovereign God, declaring His rule over creation. Belief in such a God is very relevant today especially. It creates a peace and confidence that “all is well with my soul.” The book of Revelation is a wonderful gift of God to His people, who were enduring significant persecution from both the Jewish world and the Gentile world. It revealed a “higher power” – a Throne above this world with a divine Saviour ruling from it! He is the Lion and the Lamb, who was slain for a complete forgiveness of all our sins, and all creation worships in eternal adoration of this “worthy” One seat on the Throne! Be encouraged!
Sibling rivalries are a fact of life – a classic example of selfishness expressed at young ages. But sometimes they last into adulthood, and some of them never heal. The rivalry between Jacob & Esau continued via their descendants for many centuries – it was an ancient grudge. And when Edom pillages and attacks Israel during their destruction, God’s parental wrath is revealed through the prophet Obadiah. In that message, God promises to reverse the pride and arrogance of Edom (and other nations), but also to reverse the destruction of Edom (and other nations). Pride turns to destruction and destruction turns to salvation. And, as always, Jesus is at the centre of it all.
It’s easy to be negative about judgment until we look at if from different perspectives. If you’ve been wronged, you think judgment is a wonderful thing, but if you’re guilty of something, you probably have a very different opinion. It’s usually from the guilty seat that we react to the judgment of God, and if we just understood it better, we’d probably be much more accepting. Amos, like many of the prophets, helps us to do this – to see judgment from God’s perspective and that of other victims. He reminds us of the law and of the many different ways we break it. He highlights the extra responsibility of God’s privileged people. He justifies judgement and justice without question. And he points to a hope beyond judgment, even for lawbreakers. In fact, if you don’t seek to understand the law and judgment, you can’t fully appreciate the grace of Jesus in the gospel.
There are few things in life that pull at our hearts than money. Our text this morning reminds us that giving stems from grace, is motivated by trust, and dedicated to the One of greater worth than the sum of all riches put together. Could the pain of addiction to money be replaced by trust that takes pleasure in God’s kingdom advancing? And if we do invest in God’s Kingdom, will God really have our back? God’s Book keeps no secrets on this matter – it’s all there and free to read this Sunday.
When it comes to giving, the question of ‘what’ goes hand-in-hand with the questions of ‘how’ and ‘how much’. And the answer to each of these questions changes radically when you replace the word ‘should’ with the word ‘can’ (eg. How much should I give vs. How much can I give?) This is the difference between gospel-influenced generosity and legalistic, religious giving. This is why the principle of a 10% tithe in the Bible slowly gives way to a principle of gratitude and total surrender. It is a bigger, broader, more holistic view of stewardship and generosity, where not only the wealthy can give much, but the poorest of the poor as well. Where willingness and a desire to give are more important than actual amounts. And where God’s church community thrives because people live out such generosity together.
We never really stop asking that question from our childhood: "Why do I have to share?" We know that's what we're told to do, but we often wish we didn't have to. After all, that is our default attitude. And so, this is where the need for generosity comes in – as an attitude, not just an action. We need a heart and mind change in order to become generous people. And that can only happen through the gospel – through the example and liberation of Jesus – who gives up everything, so we aren't left with nothing. And with everything he gives us, he frees us to give to others.
On this Pentecost Sunday, we turn not to the New Testament to think about the work of the Holy Spirit, but instead to the Book of Numbers, in one of the earliest passages to deal with his work among God's people. As we look at this demonstration of how God powerfully provides for all his people, we will consider the different ways we can respond to what God gives us, and what it means for us when Moses exclaims that "I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!"
Having seen God come down to meet Moses and Elijah in previous weeks in our series on the Transfiguration, we now get to the event itself. Where previously humans could only get a glimpse of God, in Jesus we discover that God has now come in all his fullness to meet us. Everything about God that we've seen so far is shown completely in Jesus, and God gives us one command concerning his Son: "listen to him!" Having shown us his compassion and grace, his holiness and righteousness, his sovereignty and his glory - having shown us that he is God himself - are we prepared to listen to Jesus? Will we follow his commands and honour him as the fulfilment of the God's plans for the world?
In Australia today we note, what for us as Christians, are absurd developments as to how people are to be identified as to their gender. So in today’s world, where crazy ideas that deny God, His authority and His creation order are devaluing and undermining motherhood, what are we to believe about ‘motherhood’ and why celebrate it today? This morning we face head-on the changes going on in our nation and world, and gives reason as to why these gender related upheavals are occurring. From God’s Word we will be instructed as to what is God’s norm for motherhood and how we best treasure and honour this priceless blessing God has built into His Creation order.
Have you ever felt disappointed with God? It might surprise you that laments are the most common sort of Psalm in the Bible - so you are in good company! This Sunday morning, we will look at the way that Asaph (a song leader in ancient Israel) wrestled with God over difficult times and disappointment, and how, in times of crisis, looking to God will give us more than we could ever hope for on our own.
As we enter the second part of our series on the Transfiguration, we come across a meeting between God and the prophet Elijah. One might expect God to present himself as he did to Moses, but instead of seeing a God who demonstrates that he is above and beyond us and our comprehension even as he exercises his grace, we see here parallel-but-different aspects of him: his compassion, his sovereignty and his righteousness. We see in this passage that far from removing himself from us because of his greatness and our lowliness, God is instead near to us, helping and guiding us even in our struggles, as he brings about his good plans.
At least Jesus had his friends, right? At least some supported him, yeah? Nope. Many of them ran and hid, and no friend can follow you into death. It is a final separation – a final end to relationships. That is, unless there is life beyond death?! On Easter Sunday we will look at some of the friends of Jesus, not because they were better than his enemies (they weren't really), but because Jesus chooses to befriend them – it's all his initiative. And after his resurrection, we see his amazing love at work in restoring his friends and renewing his relationships. We can't claim to be good friends to Jesus, but we can claim to be good friends of him, thanks to his love for us.
This morning, as we read about Paul's missionary ministry in Acts, we can know that the advance of the gospel in the world is God’s work, done God’s way - and this should fill us with confidence. God does save all sorts of people and does it in surprising ways. But if this is God's work, then what is required of us in this mission field? A posture of flexibility & submission to God’s plans; readiness to promote the gospel; and of prayer & worship.
As we begin a three-part series on the Transfiguration, we will this morning be looking at the occasion when Moses saw God in his glory on Mount Sinai. On that mountain, as Moses conversed with God and got to see him in a way that no-one else had since the Garden of Eden, God showed him - and us - three aspects of himself: his holiness (in his rejection of anything evil, for he is a wholly good God), his grace (in allowing us to come near to him and be in relationship with him, despite our rebellion), and his glory (which is so radiant that Moses could only see it in part). As we together see what Moses saw, let us too bow down in worship of our holy, gracious and glorious God!
On Sunday we saw ourselves as the corrupted, hypocritical judges of Jesus; on Friday we will see ourselves as the cruel, selfish mockers of Jesus. As Jesus hung in agony on the cross, all sorts of people heaped insult on him, showing hatred, contempt and a complete lack of empathy. And while we might be more subtle with our emotions and actions, we are, deep down, no better. Our selfishness, in similar circumstances, would result in the same scoffing and scorn. And our sin heaped on him as much as any insult. But Jesus bears it willingly, reversing the shame back onto his mockers and then making a way for shame to disappear completely.
In our lead-up to Easter this year, we will be considering some of the different players involved in Jesus' trial and execution, and how we might see ourselves in their attitudes and actions. After all, we are all active participants in Jesus' death – accessories to his murder. So, we begin with the 'judges of Jesus' – those who convict him and condemn him to his fate – the religious leaders, Pilate, Herod and the crowd. Even today this trial continues, as Jesus is continuously judged by sinners like us. And yet, Jesus humbly submits to this hypocritical human judgment AND takes the righteous judgment of God on our behalf, all so he can enact true justice without our condemnation.
For the final week on ‘Growing in Prayer’, we’ll think about the importance of praying for other people. As people growing in the likeness and mission of Jesus (as priests under the supreme Priest), we are called to intercede under the modelling of Jesus. And there’s no better place to turn then the wonderful prayers of Paul throughout his letters to the different churches. His passion for prayer is matched only by his passion for the gospel and its outworking in the churches he loves. With a particular focus on Colossians 1:9-14, we’ll consider the most important things to pray for others; that together we can become fruitful, strong, healthy, growing trees.
Having established that prayer is all about a relationship with God (Father, Son & Spirit), and not about religion, we need consider two aspects of that relationship: depending on and delighting in God. This week, we will look at Psalm 32 and the second half of the Lord’s Prayer to think through our dependence on God and how it defines our prayers. We’re often tempted to pray for things that will reduce our dependence on God, but in many ways we should be praying for a greater dependence. So, we’ll think broadly about the ways we depend on God and how it defines a healthy relationship with him.
As the Easter weekend approaches, we will today consider one of the many passages in the gospels from the week leading up to Jesus’ death, with what was possibly the only ray of sunshine Jesus experienced that week: having His body anointed with perfume by Mary. While his disciples rebuked her for her action, Jesus commended it & called it “a beautiful thing” that she did. Mary, unlike the disciples, had heeded Jesus’ words about his coming death and resurrection. Believing this, she anointed his body in advance, recognising the eternal significance of what he was about to do. We can’t anoint his body today, but consider also what it is Mary really did, and what we can likewise do for Jesus, our Lord.
Dependence and shared needs are just one side of the relationship coin. The other side is about enjoyment and shared passions. Any relationship that has one, but not the other, whether it’s between husband & wife, parent & child, siblings or friends, that relationship is severely lacking. And that same goes for our relationship with God, expressed in prayer. The Bible makes it as much about delight as it is does about dependence. Both are essential. Both go together. So, this week, by looking at Psalm 145, we’ll consider the ways we can delight in God; basking in his glory, relishing his grace, and declaring his praises to the world.
It’s so easy to approach prayer like a religious routine or ritual. We often call it a ‘discipline’ for that very reason – so we routinely and regularly engage with God. But prayer is first and foremost a conversation with our relational and personable God. And each person of the Trinity is important when it comes to prayer. Each person helps us in our praying and we can relate to each person in different ways. This is part of God’s grace to us – that he relates to us in a variety of ways and hears our prayers. In fact, he doesn’t just hear them – he loves, enjoys and revels in them. So, as we start a four-week series on prayer, let’s consider what it means to pray to Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
If it’s true that we all learn Jesus directly, then the most important lesson he teaches and models is that of love. Love that is not just spoken or sentimental, but is acted out and based on the truth of the gospel. Jesus gives us an example of love that takes initiative, that requires self-sacrifice, and that actually completes God’s love among us. In John’s first letter, he makes it blatantly clear that we are to go and do likewise. We cannot learn Jesus without leading others. And we cannot learn Jesus without loving others.
We are part of a chain. A chain of learning and teaching; following and leading. And it’s not just a single chain. It’s a multiplying chain that spans the centuries and grows the kingdom of God. It’s what learnership is all about. It’s what making disciples is all about. Not just the making of them, but the growing of them. And not just for the first disciples, but for all of us who come after. Which means we’re all called to be witnesses, we’re all called to be teachers and we’re all called to be leaders. This is what it means to be a learner. And this is what models to us so clearly (and what the whole New Testament is about) – “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.” It could also say: “Come with me as we learn Jesus together.” So, what does it look like for you to say the same?
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1Co 10:31) In big things and little things, do it all for God’s glory. At home or at work, do it all for God’s glory. With church family or with non-believing friends, do it all for God’s glory. There’s no better day to highlight and prioritise the glory of God, than on the Sunday that we celebrate the Reformation. It reminds us of our ongoing reform around the centrality of Christ and the saving grace of God. It is around his redemption that we need to build our lives and focus our living. Sometimes that is a new commitment, but often it is an act of recommitment, over and over again, by the grace the God in Christ.
As we arrive at 2 Corinthians 12, we come to the very heart of Paul’s teaching and example on boasting. He’s already talked a lot about his weaknesses, but now he clearly tells us why – because God’s power and grace are revealed and perfected in our weakness. So, this is not just a bonus for God when we go through trials, but is actually a part of his plan for his – so we will depend on him, glory in him and witness him to the world. When we are at risk of flying too high, he will bring us back down to earth and pin us there, so we can look to him and point to him. And his grace will grow and grow and grow in our lives.
In the second half of 2 Corinthians 11, Paul demonstrates one of the best examples of playing ‘the devil’s advocate’, as he attempts to highlight the flaws of his opponents in the Corinthians church. But even though it’s a somewhat entertaining read (and Paul has a lot of fun at their expense), we’re still reminded of the gospel weight of his argument. And the weight is emphasised as he doubles up on his foolishness, not only boasting like a fool, but boasting about suffering and weakness. So, while he’s attempting to reveal the flaws of his opponents, he’s actually flaunting his own failures for the sake of the gospel, building up to the climax of his argument in 2Co 12:9. And it’s an incredibly important reminder of the upside-down kingdom and the foolish gospel. It’s laughable, but life-changing.
When we think of marriage, we most often think about love, don’t we? As Frank Sinatra reminds us, “Love and marriage... go together like a horse and carriage.” So we don’t much think of marriage as being about truth, do we? And yet, marriage is a truth. That’s why you get a certificate. That’s why it has laws to protect it. And for us, it’s completely based on the truth in God’s Word. When Paul uses marriage as an illustration in 2Co 11, he’s urging us to be faithful to the true bridegroom (Christ) and the true gospel (him crucified). He wants the church in Corinth (and beyond) to stay true to the good news of salvation, passed on by the true apostles, out of true love. Similar to Sinatra’s sentiments, it’s actually the pairing of love and truth where “you can’t have one without the other.”
If you want to win a war, it helps a lot to have the best weapons and the best strategy. The same goes for an argument – if you have a strong position, a confident delivery and an airtight logic, you’ll win it for sure. But when Paul moves to a personal defence of his apostleship and ministry in the second part of 2 Corinthians (ch. 10-13), we find that he does not use the usual (worldly) weapons or strategies. Instead he appeals to the humility and gentleness of Christ and how those characteristics must define his boldness and determine his boasting. Because, in the end, our standard and measurement cannot be ourselves or others, but only the cross of Christ – the gospel of grace – “the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1Co 1:24)
Where last week we considered our role as prophets who speak truth and share the gospel with each other, this week we consider our role as priests who encourage, pray and intercede for each other. Where last week we based it on the Supreme Prophet who also embodies the Word in his death & resurrection (the gospel), this week we base it on the Supreme Priest who also embodies the ultimate sacrifice in order to be the eternal Mediator between God and humanity. We are called to be kingdom of priests, making sacrifices of praise in Jesus’ name, praying for each other and the world, and “spurring each other on towards love and good deeds.” All this, thanks to the Great High Priest who has removed the curtain and become the living Way into the presence of God.
In a day and age of rampant identity politics, during another cultural movement against racism, it’s important for us to once again consider who we are in light of the gospel. Our identity is not tied up in ethnicity, culture, family or politics – it is in Jesus Christ. It is in God’s gracious initiative, calling us to be a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and his own treasured possession. These descriptions define us far more than our skin colour, place of origin or heritage.
In all the ‘I Am’ statements so far, Jesus is ultimately talking about life. The Bread, the Light, the Vine, the Shepherd, the Resurrection – they all point to life that conquers death. To eternal life. And the same goes for Jesus’ final claim this week – that he is the Way, the Truth and the Life. But the focus in this statement is on him being the Way. That he is the way to life. That he is the only way to life. And that also makes him the way to live.
What does it mean to have ‘life to the full’? What does it mean to have ‘abundant life’? In the next “I Am” claim and metaphor, Jesus talks about being the Good Shepherd. And in his explanation of the shepherd and his sheep, he gives all the ingredients of a full and abundant life, which is all about knowing him and having a relationship with him. Jesus shows what true wealth is in the description of the shepherd’s provision, protection and salvation. All we need to do is listen to his voice and trust him. Will you hear him out? Will you consider his offer of rich, full, abundant life?
Jesus’ second “I am” statement in John is his claim to be the light of the world. And no matter which way you look at it, this is a massive claim. Whether it captures rich theme of light that weaves through the Bible, or the epic nature of light in creation and science, or the representation of light as truth and enlightenment, or the picture of light as purity and goodness, or the theology of light as God himself... However you consider it, it’s an incredible statement.
Depression and anxiety are an experience often described as being a 'dark' place... where one feels all alone and hope is hard to find. This sermon answers two questions as to the Christian's experience of these challenging and frightful illnesses: 1) Where is God when I feel He does not answer my prayers and I feel He has abandoned me? 2) If I suffer depression and anxiety as a Christian, what does that say about my faith? This sermon seeks to bring comfort, peace and strength through God.
This week we will begin an (intermittent) series on Jesus’ “I am” statements in the gospel of John – statements which reveal his glory, grace and identity, showing us that Jesus himself is everything we could possibly hope for and need. We start this Sunday with Jesus’ claim to be the Bread of Life, where he shows us how the life and sustenance of our daily food is really only a pointer to him, the Living Bread, which gives eternal life and satisfaction.
In a global crisis like this, should we be praying that it all goes away, or that God will use it to bring about important change in our world? Is it possible that we can pray for both these things or are they at odds with each other. To answer this question, we need to think about the prayer behind the prayers. The only satisfying answers are discovered when we look beyond ourselves and focus on the glory, the mercy and the promises of God.
Marriage breakdown can be one of the most damaging and painful experiences that human beings go through. The ramifications can have a wide impact and last for years, decades even, into the future. And we all know people who have suffered through it. It's why we can never affirm, promote and protect marriage enough. It's why Jesus highlights God's good design, and only points to an exception in protection of marriage. And it's why both marriage and divorce must be viewed through Jesus' redemption
We humans can become addicted to almost anything. It’s not just substances that get us, but behaviours, habits and many other pleasures in life. But why is that so many things, can take hold of us in unhealthy ways, robbing us of the joy and pleasure we’re seeking? Ultimately, it is because we give too much of ourselves to those things and we seek more from them than they can give us. We turn to substances and behaviours for reward, refuge and redemption, instead of our creator God.
There's another threatening disease impacting our world at the moment, especially in the West. A disease which remains somewhat undetected, until something like the coronavirus comes along. It's the disease of entitlement. The attitude of deserving certain things, certain feelings, or certain opportunities. And when our so-called entitlements are lost, we don't know what to do, do we?But we really need to remember that all is grace. Life is grace. Every good thing is a gift of grace from God.
Fear is in the air - the fear of an unknown, unseeable virus and what it might do, and the worries caused by its impact. But in the midst of it all, God says to us these words of reassurance: don't worry, I will provide. In this well-known passage from Matthew 6, Jesus shows us how knowing God's love for us, seen in his work of creation and his great plan for salvation through Christ, can calm our nerves and help us to take each day as it comes, focusing on what matters most: the kingdom of God.
This week we consider how we hold fast to that gospel – through prayer. It is the act of humility and dependence, which is our reach out to take hold of God's lifeline, in every storm and crisis we face, particularly the spiritual battle that rages around us. While physical crises and wars come and go, the spiritual war between light and dark is ongoing. And prayer is one of our key weapons as we fight on the frontline and face the enemy who uses crises to try and win the world.
The encouragement to 'stand firm', to 'keep your chin up', or to 'keep calm and carry on' is by no means exclusive to Christians. To a certain extent, it's built into all human beings, to press on in the face of hardship and stay strong in a crisis. The difference is in what keeps us going. What we hold on to: We look to the Word of Salvation from the God of steadfast love.
The joy and confidence of the morning of Easter Sunday, can quickly vaporise: in the face of Satan’s taunts as to our sinful guilt; our focus on personal weaknesses that hinder our personal witness; the challenges that face us in the natural world (coronavirus) as well as the hostile world that rejects God and His Christ and therefore persecutes His Church. To allow these to overwhelm us is to live with an occupied tomb. The REALITY is that CHRIST IS RISEN and the TOMB is EMPTY!
It's easy to mistake Jesus for a victim of circumstance – to see him as an unfortunate man carried along to an unfortunate death. But, as we considered two weeks ago, Jesus never lost control and always chose his path. His arrest and execution point to a much deeper reality: his will to surrender and sacrifice himself; his choice to be captured and killed so that we could be set free. Jesus went to the cross paradoxically so that we could be released from the prison of sin, freed to live for him
Can you imagine what it would like to have a visit from royalty? Can you imagine how surreal it would be if they came to your house? And can you imagine the absurdity if they came to clean your house and serve you? That’s only a glimpse of the paradox that is King Jesus. His entry into Jerusalem and his reception by the people highlight the absurd nature and purpose of his coming. Jesus’ acceptance and then rejection by the crowds reminds us that he doesn’t come to popularly fix surface problems
Solomon’s downfall and death makes for a sad conclusion to his grand story. He started so well and had so much potential, but the enticements of this world proved too much for him and he succumbed to idolatry. His heart was led astray and he walked away from his first love. Sin got the better of him, and it warns us of the tendency of our corrupted hearts to chase idols. We are all at risk. And yet, Solomon’s story still points to Jesus, who brings grace, forgiveness and God’s ultimate answer to the deepest of sin. In Christ, we can escape our own downwards spirals and generational cycles, to find hope and eternity through God’s faithfulness.
A crisis like the current coronavirus is usually toughest on the control freaks. When it seems chaotic, we struggle to ‘keep calm and carry on’. The words we hear most these days, describing the feelings of the general public, are fear, uncertainty and anxiety – the kind of feelings that result from lack of control and seeming chaos. They’re also the kind of things the disciples were feeling when a furious storm rose up on the Sea of Galilee. But Jesus, sleeping comfortably in the boat, was the
Last week, we saw how God exists in an array of wondrous paradoxes, and this week as we look at 1 Corinthians 12, we will see a further paradox that God creates in his own people: unity in diversity. As we have all been united by the gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul shows us how this unity should transform our churches, bringing each of us closer together in humility and in depending on each other, even as we fulfill different places within the church body, for the sake of God's kingdom.
We considered last week how temple was about the salvation and worship of God. This week we consider what defines our worship and how we have a ‘temple approach’ to him today. And it’s all about who God is; his nature, his character, his person. In Solomon’s dedication and prayer, he reveals wonderful things about who God – his transcendence, discipline, attentiveness and grace – and the ceremony reminds us of how we respond to such a mighty and merciful God. Worship means nothing apart from the revealed characteristics of our Father, who is both out of this world and deep within us.
What kind of house are you building? Which house is your priority in life? Is it your physical house? Is it your household and legacy? Or is it the house of God? King Solomon did well with two of these three options and he generally had a healthy priority for the house of God. In fact, one of his major, God-given purposes in life was to build the temple. That’s why more than half of the narrative on Solomon’s life is about the temple of God. It’s what his lineage, his life and his wisdom all pointed to. And the detailed account of the temple’s building and dedication is to remind us of the salvation and worship of God. It is far bigger than Solomon’s little story – it is the grand story of God’s glory among his people. It is the highest priority any person can have. It is the purpose of every one of us.
Where do we find wisdom? There are no shortage of quotable quotes and sayings for us to find in the world, and no scarcity of people wanting tell us what we should do with our lives. But in the writings of Solomon, we see where true wisdom comes from, what true wisdom looks like in practice, and what true wisdom will result in for our lives. These writings are more than just advice: throughout Solomon's work we see reflections of our own lives and situations, as God is providing us with models t
Life can be burdensome. We’re easily weighed down by circumstances and challenges, by thoughts and emotions, and by guilt and doubts. Some of it is out of our control and some of it is self-inflicted. Either way, it can be heavy, stressful and tiring. That’s why Jesus offers to relieve us of our burdens and grant us rest. He does this by giving us faith to cast our anxieties on him and trust to let him carry the ‘weight of the world’ in his capable hands.
As we begin our look at one of Israel's most famous kings – Solomon ('the wise') – we are reminded straight away that human kingdoms are often shaky and uncertain. Even before we're introduced to the strengths and weaknesses of Solomon's character, we see his kingship under threat and his position in jeopardy. And it is an important reminder for us, right at the start of his story, that God is the true King of kings and only his kingdom is unshakeable. It is only He who can firmly establish Solomon's reign and cause the kingdom of Israel to flourish. And this reminder should play a large part in our own lives, whether we're undergoing transitions, trying to rule over ourselves or seeking to provide leadership to others. God is King.
At the beginning of a new year it's good to be reminded that life is a journey – a road on which we walk and a direction in which we travel. But more than that, life is a running race, as the writer of Hebrews reminds us. And because it's a race it has a start and a finish; it requires training and discipline; and it has spectators and supporters. But none of these things are the focus. The focus is Jesus, who runs (and wins) the race before (and for) us, who is our prize at the finish line, and who is with us every step of the way. Through his grace in the past and his glory in the future, we have all we need to focus on him in the present.
In a world that can be brutal in its judgement and shame, Jesus’ encounter with an adulterous woman shows us that grace and love should be the basis for righteousness.
The start of a new year is always a good time to consider the continuous choice we are called to make: will we serve the Lord, or will we fall to the pressure we are put under by the world to reject God? Towards the end of his life, Joshua called upon Israel to make the choice as to whom they will serve. The same challenge is ours today: whom shall we choose to serve?
In our first service of 2020, we'll be looking at 2 Peter 3, where the apostle writes about the assurance we have of Jesus' return. Christmas and New Year have come and gone, and the years seem to pass by the same as ever - but it has not always been this way, and nor will it be this way forever. In this season we not only celebrate the incarnation, the coming of God the Son to this Earth, but we also look forward to his return. God is working according to his plan and timing, and so we must be patient even as we eagerly await the completion of the gift of eternal life we have been given by God by his Son, through his Spirit.
Things around us are often shaking, including the world, our circumstances and our confidence. At any moment the ground could drop out from beneath us. So we need a stronger hope and a firmer footing. Because one day the world will fall away – God promises to shake the heavens and the earth (until everything unwanted drops out), so we need the confidence of belonging to something unshakeable – an unshakeable kingdom. Thanks to Jesus and his blood, we are part of a better covenant, coming to a better mountain, in an everlasting kingdom. In him, we can worship God in thankfulness and awe, under his rule of justice, and without fear of his wrath or rejection.
The last of the four gospel-writers is John, who delivers a significantly different account of Jesus to the other three. Over the centuries, the church has been richly blessed with John’s emphases and theology, as he highlights the light, life and love that Jesus brings into the world. By showing the deity and humanity of Jesus, John urges us to believe that he is the Son of God, so we will have eternal life in his name. And many, many people have come to faith through the wonderful gospel metaphors and the clear gospel revelation that John offers. So, we can continue to be enriched and equipped by John’s Christology, in order to continue sharing it for the eternal salvation of others.
In our advent series this year, we will be looking at how each of the four gospels (or four ‘Evangelists’) deal with Jesus’ coming; how they emphasise different things and encourage us with his mission. We start this week with Matthew and how he writes to persecuted Christian Jews for their reassurance. He emphasises Christ’s fulfilment of prophecy, so his readers will know that Jesus is the Messiah and King – the Promised One. The purpose of this reassurance is so they will share the good news with the whole world, and so they will be comforted in times of suffering and opposition. We need this reassurance just as much as the original recipients did, so we can spread the gospel further and have confidence in the hardships that come.
Having looked at some of the kingly Psalms, we now turn to Revelation 19, where see the coming of Jesus - the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The vivid imagery seen here reflect what Jesus himself predicted would happen before his coming, as seen in Luke 21. As we face an increasingly chaotic and difficult world, we can rest assured that Christ is coming, and that his kingdom is near.
One in four Australians experience loneliness on a weekly basis, and that number seems to be growing. Some might even say it’s our next public health crisis. It doesn’t matter how high the population grows, how dense residential living gets, or how digitally connected we are; loneliness still pervades our society. Quality relationships are harder and harder to find and many people are searching for community. After all, we are made for community. It’s in our DNA. So, we need to go to the source – to the origin of relationship – for the answer to our search. Only in God can we find connection and community as it was meant to be. Only in him can our loneliness be truly cured.
Psalm 72 is a wonderful prayer for the Israelite king and his kingdom, which is so easily and clearly applied to Jesus, that it can well shape our own prayers for the ultimate King and his Kingdom. We pray that Jesus and his kingdom are righteous, enduring, universal, compassionate and divinely blessed. We pray that our King would come and his kingdom with him. We pray that it will happen as God instills those virtues in our leaders and ourselves today. And then we seek to live what we pray and pursue what we hope for.
This Sunday we are starting a new series on the Royal Psalms – Psalms that sing about the majesty of the kings of Israel and, in certain ways, point us to Jesus, the ultimate King and Ruler. To kick us off we’ll be looking at Psalm 45, which is a song written for a royal wedding. It is a beautiful and passionate poem, celebrating marriage, kingship and their fulfilment in Christ. And so, we can be encouraged with the security and majesty of God’s reign, the self-applicable virtues of a godly king, and the true comfort of being Christ’s beloved bride.
What are the main influences that shape your values, your thinking, and your behaviour? This is a really important question for us to ask, and to ask often, because we live immersed in a culture that plays to our sinful nature and wants to draw us away from following Jesus. In Ephesians 5 Paul reflects on how we are called to live as God’s holy people and warns us against being deceived by the world. In fact numerous times throughout the Scriptures we are warned about the danger of buying into the lies of the world and its way of thinking, and consequently acting like the world. This Sunday as we look together at Ephesians 5:3-10 we will consider this danger and what means for us to think and live as children of light.
Success is a nice word, isn’t it? It’s that sense of achievement and recognition – a pat on the back, a gold star, a “well done” and a smiley face – “Congratulations, you did it!” But how do we actually define success? And aren’t we often so preoccupied with the road and the secret to success, that we forget to stop and think about what we’re trying to succeed at? See, when we really think about how we want to succeed – at life, generally speaking – we realise that it’s actually someone else who achieves it for us. Jesus is our success and he completely redefines what it means to succeed in this life.