Together Church Hobart: Recent Episodes
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The word "Christian" appears in the bible a handful of times, but the word "disciple" is scattered throughout the scriptures. So what is a disciple? How do we make disciples? And how can we be better together at making disciples in the context of community?
This is our final talk in the Better Together series, by Daniel Sih.
Mission is an adventure and we are better together on mission. But in a hyper-individualised society, what does this look like in practice? How can we create patterns and rhythms to collectively connect with friends who don't yet know Jesus?
In this talk, Daniel Sih explains the great mission strategy of Jesus (Mark 6: 6-13) sharing his own experiences of being called to serve as an overseas missionary to Hobart, Tasmania.
Most of us are interested in community, but struggle to break out of the isolation of our culture. But life is better together when we share our lives with others in the service of Jesus.
In this new series "Better Together," Daniel Sih shares his experiences of living in a village in Vanuatu and paints a vision for what it might look like to live and act communally as God's people (Acts 2: 42-47).
We live in a world of dark and light, where things that are good and life-giving are mixed together with pain and brokenness.
In this talk, Daniel Sih shares reflections from his time on Sabbatical, focusing on the parable of the wheat and weeds.
In 2015, Caitlyn Jenner was named Woman of the Year, paving the way for the transgender movement to become mainstream. Since then, gender non-conformity has become one of the defining issues of our age.
But what is transgender and how might we respond to this transgender moment as Christians, in love?
In this talk, we unpack terms like gender dysphoria, transitioning, and gender nonconformity. We explain why we need to respond with love and kindness to transgender people. We also challenge trans affirming culture and its unexpected impact on children, explaining the need for tough love.
Men like cars and are good at reading maps. Women are domestic and enjoy cooking. Really? In our culture, there are competing visions for what it means to be a man and a woman. Some are helpful, but many are not.
In this talk, Daniel Sih outlines the biblical vision for male and female. He challenges gender stereotypes, as well as gender fluid ideologies, offering a way forward to become whole-heartedness as men and women in a deeply confused culture.
Note: this sermon was re-recorded because of technical errors when recording the original talk.
According to scripture, marriage is the lifelong covenant between a man and woman, voluntarily entered into for life, to the exclusion of all else.
In this sermon, Michael Wood talks about the gold standard of marriage, what it means and how it connects with our faith. He also touches on singleness as a gift from God, representing another gold standard of oneness with God.
Human sexuality is wonderful, complex and personal, but what is the purpose of sex? Does God have an opinion about how we use our bodies? How is the physical act of having sex connected with our emotional and spiritual selves? What does the bible have to say about soul ties? And how might we resist sexual immorality?
In this talk, Daniel Sih outlines two false beliefs that have impacted church and culture, providing a positive vision for how we might embrace a biblical view of sex.
Freedom is one of our most important values in Australia. But what is freedom and what does it look like to be truly free?
In this talk, Daniel Sih explains the challenges of defining freedom through popular culture. He examines the biblical imagination of personal freedom and demonstrates how freedom requires logical limits in the areas of health, money and sexuality.
"Don’t throw your pearls to pigs. They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you." What is that all about?
In this talk, Julia Verdouw continues our Longing for Love series by discussing what it means to love sacrificially with agape love.
How does the way we view people shape our ability to love like Jesus? Who are the pigs? And what might we need to do about it?
Download presenter slides here.
This two-part teaching was recorded for a Together Network Global Gathering in May.
Hope Group leaders meet every 6-weeks to discuss questions about mission, discipleship and evangelism.
In this podcast, Daniel Sih talks about how to progress friendly conversations, to meaningful conversations, to spiritual conversation, to gospel conversations. He also discusses how to recognise a Person of Peace.
This two-part teaching was recorded for a Together Network Global Gathering in May.
Hope Group leaders meet every 6-weeks to discuss questions about mission, discipleship and evangelism.
In this podcast, Daniel Sih talks about how to build predictable patterns in our lives to connect with unchurched people.
The Beatles once suggested that "all you need is love." But what IS love?
In this talk, Michael Wood explains the importance of defining love by something other than itself. He outlines four different Greek concepts for love, which are Storge (family affection), Philia (friendship), Eros (romantic) and Agape (divine love).
All of us need love. Love is one of our highest emotions. We search for love in many places, even if there is confusion about how to live out our most intimate relationships.
This talk introduces a new series called ‘Longing for Love,’ exploring the bible’s perspectives on sex, sexuality and gender. We outline a framework for the series and explore the importance of beginning with the revelation; ‘God IS love.’
It can be hard to live in a culture that does not believe in God, particularly when we experience pressure to conform. In this talk, Daniel Sih shares two stories from the book of Daniel, to help us live faithfully as a remnant in exile. This talk also summarises the series as a whole.
Michael Wood continues our series on “Eyes That See” by exploring the pattern of worship and idolatry seen in the Older Testament. What made a good king? What made a bad king? And how do these biblical lessons shape our capacity to love a ‘jealous’ God in our day and age?
Monotheism is typically defined as “the belief and doctrine that there is only one God.” But there’s a problem. This is not how the writers of the Old and New Testaments understood the 'oneness' of God.
In this talk, Daniel Sih explores the nature of the spiritual realm as it relates to biblical culture, and secular culture. What does it mean for YHWH to be King of kings, Lord of lords, and God of gods? How do we orientate our lives around one God in today's world.
To be human is to love -- to connect deeply with someone or something greater than ourselves. Love is important. Love motivates us to help others. Love compels us to worship.
In this talk (in a series, Eyes That See) Daniel Sih introduces the concept of worship and idolatry as expressions of love. What do I love so much that it defines me? What do I orientate my life around when no one is watching? What is the functional master of my heart? When we discover these things, we discover who or what we worship.
CS Lewis once wrote: "It's funny how day by day nothing ever changes, and yet when we look back, everything is different."
In this talk, Jamie Bester explains that discipleship happens in the everyday normality of our lives. Unpacking Deuteronomy 6: 1-12, he shares how ordinary people, doing ordinary things, can transform lives through the extra-ordinary love of God.
What does it look and feel like to experience life-on-life discipleship? Hosted by Michael Wood, we hear four stories about discipleship from within our own community, to encourage, challenge and inspire us in our faith.
In this talk, Daniel Sih shares a dream that he received from a member of Together Church, connected to a message about joy, dancing and the presence of God in our coming season.
Download presenter slides HERE
Jesus took a few loaves and fish, and multiplied a feast. In the Kingdom of God, things don't grow... they multiply!
In our final "A Life Well Lived" talk, Daniel Sih explores the importance of a multiplication as a mindset for disciple making. God can take our little and make it a lot. We celebrate the multiplication of Hope Groups globally, and remember our vision to multiply communities across the suburbs of Hobart.
Jesus was a most unconventional teacher. Rather than making disciples in a classroom setting, he taught his followers on the road, life-on-life. If we are to make disciples, we will need to do the same.
In this talk, Daniel Sih discusses the importance of structured and organic discipleship, including the role that organic teaching plays in the formation of a disciple.
You can download the presenter slides HERE.
How did Jesus equip and mobilise his disciples? How might we, as fathers, mothers, uncles, and aunties, follow Jesus example to raise healthy spiritual children?
In this talk, Daniel Sih introduces our next discipleship principle called "Invitation and Challenge."
You can download the presenter slides here.
Jesus had three great loves -- a love for the father, a love for extended family, and a love for a lost and broken-hearted world.
Daniel Sih re-boots our series on "A Life Well Lived" by teaching us how to pattern our lives on the pattern of Jesus. As we learn to balance our life according to the principle of UP / IN / OUT, we mature in our faith, grow as disciples, and form cultures where people look and act more like Jesus.
Thanks to Doug Paul of Summit church for the video resource.
This is our last Scattered Stones episode (at least for now) and will explore the idea of contending with God. When our self-image gets out of sync with God's reality, it is wise to contend! Thank you Julia for inspiring us during this time of COVID-19 with your spirit-filled reflections.
Here's another wonderful podcast episode by Julia Verdouw, providing her reflections on Black Lives Matter and reconciliation week. How might we respond and how might our faith guide us?
In this short talk, Julia Verdouw takes a risk to share her personal story of hope -- a tale of faith, doubt, deconstruction, emptiness and renewal. It's a beautiful story that will inspire many, even those who are not religious. Don't miss this fabulous episode... it's a gift of the heart and a hope-filled benediction!
Sourdough and the three temptations of Jesus. Surely this is enough to entice you to listen to this week's message by Julia Verdouw! Enjoy this invitation to seek and follow what Jesus is doing in our day.
We often struggle to connect our internal and external worlds, keeping our love for Jesus hidden from our professional networks and social media profile.
In this fabulous episode, Julia Verdouw shares honestly about her personal struggles in sharing her beliefs on Facebook and Twitter... and the lessons we might learn as a result.
We recently celebrated Mother's Day and in turn, this podcast is an Ode to the Hoods (Mother-hood that is!)
Julia Verdouw speaks about her challenges of being a mother in this cultural moment; of the pressure that mothers' experience in having to do more, be more, know more. But there is a different path...
Once again, Julia Verdouw shares her reflections on what it means to be still, and secure, during a period of liminality.
Let us be like Jacob, who wrestled with God and surrendered, rather than the people of Israel, who made an idol of gold in the wilderness to avoid waiting patiently for what would come.
In our second Scattered Stones episode, Julia Verdouw describes what it means to pay attention to what God is saying in the moment.
Reflecting on the Parable of the Great Banquet, she suggests that "the invitation is a call to come to a Kingdom moment, in the middle of any day, at any moment. God’s kingdom invitation is given to us. Are we prepared and will we respond.” (Luke 14:15-24)
Here is the first episode of a new podcast by Julia Verdouw, called Scattered Stones.
This message was recorded for the "Stones" missional community, to encourage one another during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We have decided to share these weekly messages broadly across Together Church as they are just so good!
Jesus said: "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" But how do we love one another, at a distance, during a pandemic?
In this talk, Daniel Sih speaks into our current predicament, drawing lessons from the past, from scripture, and from science, to suggest practical ways for our churches to respond in love, during the coronavirus.
He explains our reasoning behind stopping church services, outlining a practical plan to strengthen community bonds, through the use of digital technology.
Note: this will be our last sermon for some time, until we resume services post pandemic.
Jesus suggested that there are two types of people in this world. There are people who hear and discuss ideas, and those who put his words into practice.
Daniel Sih continues his series on "A Life Well Lived" by teaching us how to hear and follow God's voice in everyday life. We can practice the words of Jesus by identifying kairos moments, and by walking the learning circle as a community.
Jesus gave us an important mission: "Go into all the world and make disciples." The word disciple ('mathetes' in Greek) appears 269 times in the New Testament, and is central for those who follow Jesus. But what is a disciple? And how do we embrace the practices of the discipleship today?
In this talk, Daniel Sih unpacks the D-Word, providing both practical and theological foundations, to help us 'learn through imitation' as disciples of Jesus.
We all want to experience the good life, but what does it mean to live well in practice? How do we make decisions about what to do, and not do, in a hyper-consumer culture?
In this series we explore life, discipleship, and how to live joyfully in the way of Jesus. Come and begin this journey, towards life, peace, and abundance! (Speaker Daniel Sih)
Mary the mother of Jesus, in a moment of great joy, sang a song to God: Magnificat anima mea Dominum (my soul magnifies the Lord). This was her response to an encounter with the living God.
At Christmas, we celebrate that God came to earth and became like us. We rejoice that he is near… not just back then, but also today.
Research shows that gratitude is good for the soul, but how can you be thankful when life is hard, your community is broken, or the world around you is burning?
In this talk, Daniel Sih shares a number of stories from the life of Jesus, exploring the value of practice, and encounter, as we seek to live lives of thankfulness.
Freedom is an ultimate value in our culture, yet do we really understand what personal freedom really is?
In this talk, Matt Bain discusses the history of freedom, the drawback of freedom, and the danger of seeing ourselves as the architects of our own lives. He also helps us to consider ways to journey from hyper-individualism towards community.
Jesus was the archetype leader. As part of the Great Commission, he invites us to follow his words, his works and his ways.
In this talk, Craig Ogden from PlentyLife Church shares some of his stories about following Jesus into mission, in the outer suburbs of Melbourne.
Few of us think of hospitality as a skill to master, yet the scriptures suggest that we are to “practice hospitality,” just as we would a musical instrument.
In this training, Daniel Sih provides us with instructional tips and insights to help us practice hospitality. Do we create a warm and generous environment? Do we know how to form predictable patterns? Do we measure the spiritual temperature? Are we able to both give and receive? Do we practice hospitality together?
Anyone can throw a dinner party, yet it takes a miracle to desire to have strangers, and indeed the unlovable, in your home.
In this talk, Jared Khu describes how hospitality transformed his life, and the life of others, in China and Tasmania. Such hospitality, in the way of Jesus, has the capacity to transform the host, the stranger, and the unloveable.
Eating as neighbours is an expression of the Great Commission. As we share a meal with friends, we connect at a deeper level, and create space for God to move.
In the words of Ryan Cook: "The table is a powerful symbol of a world put right. At the table you look people in the eyes. The surface of the table is level. It creates an environment whereby you reach your hands into the same pot, take from the same food, to sustain your lives in the same way. It’s a levelling act.”
In this talk, Daniel Sih provides reflections on the story of Zacchaeus, and how we can eat with people like Zacchaeus in our own context.
What is the heart behind radical hospitality? Why do we open our homes, our tables and our lives to others?
In this talk, Daniel Sih unpacks the story of Jesus turning water into wine. Why did Jesus turn water into wine, providing 100 litres of Pinot Noir to a party that was already pissed? The answer has something to do with the Kingdom of God, where things that are ordinary become extra-ordinary.
Download presenter's notes here.
For many of us, apprenticeship to Jesus is a long and windy journey, rather than a sudden, miraculous transformation. To use a biblical analogy, it is more like the Road to Emmaus than it is Damascus!
In this podcast, Andy Goodacre compares our journey with that of the disciples on the Road to Emmaus. He outlines six practical lessons to help us grow as apprentices of Jesus.
What happens when a group of ordinary people eat and drink together, once a week, in the name of Jesus? The answer might surprise you… especially when God provides the wine!
In this second talk on radical hospitality, Daniel Sih explains the importance of “meating” together as believers, as an expression of communion. He shares his experience of God providing 48-bottles of premium Barossa Valley wine in answer to prayer, and draws parallel's with the book of Acts.
You can download our presenter's slides here
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“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’” (Luke 7: 34)
In Luke’s Gospel, according to Robert Karris, Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal. He ate, and drank, and spent time with all the wrong people. And it surprised everyone!
In this first talk in our Radical Hospitality series, Daniel Sih shares his story about living in community and sharing more than 500 meals with neighbours over 10 years.
You can download our presenter’s slides here
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Everyone needs a Star Trek ray gun, don’t they? But what does this have to do with light and dark?
In this sermon, Tim Piesse from Crossway Baptist Church (Melbourne) speaks to us about the journey from light to dark. In Jesus, who is the light of the world, we also become light.
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The digital age is upon us. Our phones, tablets and smart watches transform the way we live, work and rest, for better and for worse.
What does it mean for us to rest in the digital age, in a culture of constant connectivity? What do the scriptures have to say about technology, and how might we rethink our habits to engage deeply in Sabbath rest?
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"I need more rest in my life. But how do I start?”
In this practical talk, we outline a best-practice framework to help you plan and practice a weekly day of rest.
Sabbath Workbook
View presenter's slides or visit website
In today’s world, many of us feel tired, stretched & disoriented. Yet Jesus brings us hope.
This talk describes what it means to find freedom in rest, providing theological insights & practical examples of what it means to Sabbath in a progressive, secular society.
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Life is busy & cluttered. There are more tasks & more activities than we can possibly complete each day. What might it look like if we were to stop working, wanting, & worrying for a full day each week? This talk focuses on the weekly rhythm of sabbath. It outlines a theology & the gift of sabbath & encourages us to begin our own journey towards a sabbath rest!
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In 1971, an English film crew filmed a homeless man, in the London underground, singing a song about Jesus. He was destitute, yet seemed to exhibit peace in spite of his circumstances.
Easter is a time for peace. Yet is it possible to experience joy & peace in spite of our circumstances?
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We live in an age of anxiety. In this talk, Sarah Deutscher from RED Church in Melbourne, shares her insights about neuroscience, the brain, and the impact of thoughts and behaviours on our emotional well-being. She draws parallels between what science is discovering about our brain, and what the bible says about renewing our minds.
View slides here
“Speed. I am speed. Faster than fast, quicker than quick. I am lightning!”
Our culture is busy & tired. Like the Disney character Lightning McQueen, we avoid taking regular pit stops & end up feeling empty. If we are to regain a sense of balance, & rhythm, we will need to imitate the patterns of Christ & Creation, each day, each week, & each year.
This is the second sermon on the Rhythms of Rest.
“Come to me, all who are weary & burdened, & I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28)
This is an amazing promise from Jesus, isn’t it? But is it really possible to experience deep rest & inner peace, when we are relentlessly busy?
This sermon helps us to re-think the meaning of rest in an age of anxiety.
View slides here.