East Coast Anglican: Recent Episodes
East Coast Anglican
Paul expresses the greatest joy when he sees God at work in people’s lives and the most sorrow when people fail to walk God’s way.
You are clean: be clean, because you are totally different to others and because God lives with you.
Paul longs for the glorious life in a ressurection body with Jesus. When we life the difficult life of following Jesus life is at work in others.
Pray the Spirit's life-giving work would save others.Pray the Spirit's transforming work would mark us.
Because of God’s grace in Christ, love warns of judgement and extends forgiveness for their joy.
(We’re sorry that the audio of the second part of this sermon is very quiet).Because God is the ever-comforting God who lifts our spirits and is powerful to rescue, we can rest in hope by prayerful, patient perseverance through our distresses.
Jesus' death unites us to each other so we cannot serve God without each other. You are united in love to love and need each other.
Jesus' death exchanges our shame for glory so we can bear shame for him. You are honoured to be shamed for Jesus.
Jesus' death forgives us to humble us and make us bold. You have been forgiven to demonstrate God's grace.
Jesus’ death frees us to live in fullness with Jesus without fear of spirits, teachings or traditions. You are free to grow in faith and thankfulness.
Jesus’ death frees us to live in fullness with Jesus without fear of spirits, teachings or traditions. You are free to grow in faith and thankfulness.
God’s sovereignty gives us confidence in sharing Jesus with others. Josh Skeat works with Bush Church Aid in Tasmania.
Abraham passed on God’s promises to Isaac before he died, although Abraham didn’t see the completion of God’s promises.
Abraham’s life and decision-making give us wisdom for making decisions as God’s people today.
Abraham's test shows us that God provides what is needed to atone for our sins. And it also shows us that we need to give up anything that gets in the way of God being God for us.
Abraham’s journey of learning to trust God has had ups and downs, but by Genesis 21 he seems to have reached a level of maturity. Abraham obeys God, listens to God and blesses others. We can learn from Abraham’s example and look to Jesus for assurance that God won’t turn his back on us.
Is there any way the righteous could cover the sins of the wicked so that they aren’t swept away? Abraham pleads with God that this might be the case.
Follow your heart? You do you? God gives his people a new heart to love, trust and obey him. Christians can follow their new heart. You do the new you.
We are sinners in a sinful world. God is present with those suffering in a sinful world. While God is present to Hagar in her suffering, how much more has God determined to be present with us in our suffring. In Jesus God himself has suffered because of us and for us so he could be present and then end suffering for all time.
You can trust God because it doesn’t depend on you. You can trust God because he confirms his promise with a ceremony.
Abram learns that because God is good he is secure. We too learn that because God is good we are secure. We are freed from anxiety about doing good to be embraced
We look at three responses to wrong as three characters deliver Jesus to death. How do you atone for your wrong? What does Jesus offer us?
Jesus explains to his followers when the temple will be destroyed (in the near future) and when he will return to rule perfectly (at some time without warning). We are to be ready and stand firm.
Jesus pronounces judgement on the religous powers and departs the temple, saying a decisive moment has been reached.
An announcement of good news. Do you believe the good news?A mission of fruitfulness. Do you participate in the mission?An invitation to feasting. Have you accepted the invitation?
The king comes, gentle and praised.The king confronts the religious powers.The king challenges outward appearances.
A fun Christmas Eve celebration, thinking about Joseph’s experience and what we learn about Jesus. What does it mean that God saves and God is with us?
Boaz shows us a picture of redemption as he redeems Ruth and Naomi. Boaz brings them to the safety of his family. Likewise, by Jesus’ death for us, we are brought into the safety of God’s family and the relational joy this allows.
Ruth shows us gives us an example of the way the Lord Jesus trusts God the Father and serves us by his becoming human to die on the cross. Because of Jesus, we are able to trust God for our security and serve others sacrificially.
Bitterness does not mean abandonment and groaning is different to grumbling. Naomi’s story is a prelude to our redemption.
Being Christian is not about doing things for Jesus, but about giving yourself to Jesus.
Jesus gives us a framework for viewing marriage, divorce, remarriage and being unmarried. Hearing this enables us to deal with the diverse complexities of these relationships with God’s wisdom.
Focussing on humility and thankfulness, as well as the return of Jesus helps us to forgive as Jesus says we should. This, of course, is based only on God’s forgiveness of our insurmountable sin.
What is faith? Faith is a lifestyle of deep, personal trust. Faith says: I don’t doubt it, I can’t do it, I don’t know it, I won’t demand it. What achieves results isn’t a large quantity of faith, but the unlimited love of God.
Scott Doran-Sargent from CMS Tasmania encourages us in our efforts at sharing Jesus with others.
The way of the king is upside down. Life in the kingdom is upside down. What sort of Jesus do you believe in (or not believe in)? Because Jesus was opposed, suffered and died, God knows what it is like for us when we face these things. They don’t mean God has abandoned us.
The default for humans is to make a name for ourselves. The other alternative may seem to be having no name, being nothing. But there is a third alternative: to receive a name from God.
We look at the patterns set up in these opening chapters of the Bible. Believing God's promises, trusting God's provision, and accepting God's power are how we ensure we avoid the ways of the snake. These things are secured for us by Jesus sacrifice and the new covenant it secures.
As God gives new life out of the decreation of the flood, Noah’s sacrifice secures the creation, and Jesus’ sacrifice secures peace with God.
As God uncreates the world to wipe it clean, Noah finds favour and those with him are rescued. Their rescue points us to Jesus, and the fact that God will rescue those with Jesus.
As death spreads, God preserves life and hope and points us to the one who will crush the snake—Noah! We are reminded we need to be with the one who will turn curse to blessing, so we need to be with Jesus.
As sin increases after Genesis 3, God's gracious response increases all the more and the promise to one day defeat evil is preserved through Eve's child, Seth.
God has gifted humans with an extravagant, good world. Praise and thank him. Humanity is male and female; God creates each human as male or female. God invites humans to partner with his life-giving, order-bringing activity and rest. You are valuable.
Our vision is to follow the risen Lord Jesus, calling others to follow him. One way we can do that is by revealing people’s ignorance to them.
Our vision is to follow the risen Lord Jesus, calling others to follow him. One way we can do that is by having others examine the Bible.
Our vision is to follow the risen Lord Jesus, calling others to follow him. One way we can do that is by explaining Jesus to others.
[The last part of this recording is missing]. Sibin Varghese visits and help us know the great possession we have through knowing God in Christ Jesus.
The centre of prayer: asking God to do what he has promised through his king Jesus, for others and for ourselves. We consider some things we can pray for other Christians (and for ourselves) and we think of some helpful ways to pray for each other and be prapered to see God work.
The centre of prayer: Asking God to do what he has promised through his king Jesus, for others. As we consider the most imporant things to pray for non-Christians, we also consider how and why to pray for healing and improved circumstances for people.
The centre of prayer: Asking God to do what he has promised through his kin. This sermon looks at the promises God made to King David. We see that God's promises will be kept through his king. And we consider David's reponse to God's promise. We look at praise, thanks and lament and how we can make these part of our prayer life.
The centre of prayer: Asking God to do what he has promised. This sermon looks at the first place in the Bible that people ask God for something. It's the first place God is telling us about prayer. What does mean for us to ask God to do what he has promised?
The religious rulers don’t understand the phase of history. The age is that of entering God’s rule and considering God’s concerns, not human concerns.
Are you following Jesus? Do you know the supreme value of following Jesus? With whom are you opening the Bible to talk about these things?
One reason for this parable is to challenge us. How are we responding to Jesus? Another is to encourage us to keep calling others to follow Jesus.
Failure to follow Jesus fully is as fatal as a flatout fight against Jesus. There is no middle ground, says Jesus.
Jesus warns all people of the need to repent. Then he gives us some pictures of what this looks like. It's being needy, letting Jesus reveal God the father to us, coming to Jesus and learning from Jesus.
While John the Baptist has doubts about whether Jesus is God’s son, we can be more certain than John was. Jesus suggests we should not stumble over him, and we should be greater messengers than John the Baptist was. What type of Jesus do you want? What type of church do you want? Let’s embrace the real, true Jesus and his church.
Stephen Carnaby, the Director of Ministry Development for the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania, considers how the angel’s visit to Mary applies to our lives. First, we can be assured of the truth of the real Christmas story. Second, we are receivers of God’s favour/grace, just like Mary. Third, remember that nothing is impossible with God.
The people say, “It’s futile to serve God.” The Lord responds, “You will see the distinction between those who serve God and those who don’t.” Whatever may appear to be the case, or however you feel, God has not forgotten his servants.
God’s ancient people, Israel, are urged to return to God by trusting and obeying him so that other people will see that God is with them—that they are blessed. “I, the Lord, do not change. Return to me, then the nations will call you blessed.”
God’s people longed for justice. They are given the news they longed for: The Lord will come. Then they are given the news they didn’t expect: The Lord will come to put you on trial. We have been given the news we need: We are justified by faith.
Bryan Haro will soon be heading to Ecuador with his wife, Sarah, to share Jesus with the people there. Bryan shows us that Jesus is able and ready to forgive our sins when we come to him.
God has loved and continues to love his people. Yet, despite the nature of this relationship, God's people in Malachi's day dishonour God. God's people need a great priest who is cursed, despised and discarded in their place. God's people need a great priest who won't decieve them. Thank God for Jesus who is the priest we need and helps us conform our ritual, heart and life to the nature of our relationship with God.
Does God love you? Why or why not? God's people question whether God loves them. God declares to us, you are loved because you are with Jesus. God's love for us isn't based on what we have or haven't done, or what our circumstances may suggest. God's love is based on his promises to us, which are ours because we are with Jesus.
Jesus says to his followers: don’t fear speaking of me! We see at least four reasons 1) The truth will be told, 2) Your soul will be saved, 3) God is in control, 4) Your work is worth the welcome. Jesus calls us to follow him, even to death if necessary, but also to give up our lives to do as Jesus wants.
Jesus sends us out on a dangerous expedition. He tells us our message, their response, and our manner and reminds us who our master is. This message, “The kingdom of heaven has come near,” is so important it is worth the risk of opposition and hatred, or worse.
Jesus calls us to follow him, and he calls us to go into the harvest field to call others to follow him. We don't have a unique message and we don't use unique messages. Jesus wants us to keep speaking about him and the kingdom of heaven. To pray, to be thankful, to love others. The normal is God's powerful way of working.
Matthew retells more miracles of Jesus. But, Matthew wants us to see the greater significance of these events. The miracles are significant, but as we understand the greater narrative of who Jesus is and what he’s doing we see the deeper meaning: faith brings salvation, death is like sleep, faith is like seeing.
Religious observance isn’t repentant obedience. God lovingly warns his people if they haven’t truly repented. How can we ensure we are living lives of repentant obedience? Repentant obedience practices mercy, prioritises God, and promotes enjoyment.
Jesus demonstrates his authority over nature/creation/weather, over the spiritual world, over our bodies/health/sickness, and shows his authority to forgive sins. Everything you do is under Jesus’ authority. Therefore we can trust Jesus and thank Jesus.
As some people come to Jesus intending to follow him, Jesus challenges cheap commitment. We consider what cheap commitment to Jesus might look like in our lives and aim to live as if our lives cost Jesus his life.
Our vision is to follow the risen Lord Jesus, calling others to follow him. This sermon considers the place of generosity in living that vision: Severe trial doesn’t prevent overflowing joy. Extreme poverty doesn’t prevent rich generosity. Rich generosity depends on the attitude of the giver and the resources of the giver. Generosity is God’s gift, imitates Jesus and serves others.
Our vision is to follow the risen Lord Jesus, calling others to follow him. This sermon considers two illustrations of following Jesus: we are smelly slaves and living letters. We think about what it looks like to call others to follow Jesus boldly.
How do we live with the Spirit? The power of the Spirit works through Scripture and our work. The power of the Spirit works God’s faithfulness. Living with the Spirit result sin maturity and mission, both individually and for the church.
The Director of the Church Missionary Society, Tasmanian Branch, visited to speak about the reconcilation God has given us, and the responsibility we have to declare this message to others.
Sibin Varghese visited as a guest preacher. Our apologies for a couple of glistches in the recording.
The Holy Spirit establishes churches according to his will. The church is a unity, and so must strive for relational and doctrinal unity. The Holy Spirit gives leadership and gifts to the church for the purpose of growing the church in maturity and engaging the church in mission. All is to be done in love.
The Holy Spirit is given to Jesus without measure. Only as we are in Jesus are we able to be given the Spirit and so be adopted as God's children.
[Unfortunately the last part of this recording was lost.] God the Holy Spirit brings us into the eternal love relationships of God.
We can experience Jesus' life today. We can see Jesus is God's son, hear Jesus call our name, and feel Jesus gives us hope.
We can experience Jesus' death today. We can hear the truth that Jesus died for us, see the life that Jesus brings us, and feel the joy that Jesus gives us.
Jesus concludes the sermon on the mount by asking us to choose. There are only two options. Which way are you going? What fruit are you bearing? Whose will are you doing? Whose word are you obeying? He says there is destruction or life at stake. He says choosing to obey him is the wise way to life and the way to do the will of the Father. All this is founded upon trusting Jesus so that we are willing to obey him.
Jesus sums up the body of his sermon on the mount by saying, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." In light of all that has gone before, Jesus followers can only hope to make progress towards this high standard through prayer. And so Jesus reminds us of what sort of heavenly Father we have: a good one who delights to give good gifts to his children.
Jesus says those who follow him have no need to worry. This is because they have a loving heavenly Father who is good and is able to provide all they need. This frees Christians to pursue God's priorities and the life he desires instead of earthly riches, treasures or experiences.
Jesus says that those who follow him, seeking to live for him, must have pure motivations for their actions. Living out our faith isn't to be done so others see us, nor is it to be done to win God's favour. Rather, we are to live for Jesus in a way that if people see us, they will praise our father in heaven for his offer of forgiveness.
Jesus corrects those trying to find a loophole in the law of the Old Testament. And in doing so, he shows us the true nature of love. Love must extend to those outside of your group, outside of those you naturally have affection for, even to those who hate you and persecute you. In doing do, Jesus points us towards our perfect heavenly father who first loved us while we were his enemies.
Jesus teaches against the abuses of Old Testament laws designed for the courts, and designed to limit retaliatory sentencing. But Jesus goes far beyond stopping the abuses. He says that those who follow him are to demonstrate over-the-top kindness and generosity towards everyone, even those who might be seeking to take you to court. Such a lifestyle can be attained by Christians as we see the over-the-top kindness and generosity of Jesus to us.
Jesus teaches against the abuse of oaths and vows in people's attempts to not have to do what they say. Yet, says Jesus, his followers should simply do what they say and not do what they say they won't. There should be no attempts made to get around what you've said. The faithfulness demanded of Christians points us to the perfect faithfulness of Christ to deal with the guilt and sin of our unfaithful ways.
Jesus demonstrates how he fulfils the Old Testament by teaching about the true purpose of the Old Testament divorce regulations. He teaches against abuses of marriage, and spouses, which the law was designed to protect. He shows the very high value of marriage, and the severe damage adultery causes. And all of this points us towards Christ as the groom of the church. He is always faithful, and he purifies and cleanses his bride, the church.
Jesus demonstrates how he fulfils the Old Testament by teaching the true purpose of the command, "Do not commit adultery." He says the command has a much greater depth than simply restraining negative actions, but that it should also restrain negative emotions/desires. And, in correspondence with the greater length Jesus explains for the command, "Do not murder," it is right to assume that there is a greater length to this command against adultery. This should promote a controlling of our desires and imaginations along with an effort to be content with our circumstances. This can lead to positive relationships with others. But in all of this, Jesus gives grace to those who turn to him.
Jesus demonstrates how he fulfils the Old Testament by teaching the true purpose of the command, "Do not murder." He says the command has a much greater depth than simply restraining negative actions, instead it should restrain negative emotions and words. He says the command has a much greater length than simply restraining negative actions, instead it should promote positive actions towards others to maintain reconciled, healthy relationships. The high standard of righteousness drives us to Jesus as the poor in spirit who cry out in repentance.
Jesus teaches that the Old Testament in its entirety remains relevant for those who follow him. He says that he fulfils or completes all of it and that we must do it. How we relate to the Old Testament must now be understood through all that Jesus did and taught, because he fulfils the Old Testament by what he did and taught.
[The last part of this recording was lost. Our apologies]. As Jesus commences "The Sermon on the Mount" he speaks to his followers: those who have repented and turned their lives towards him. Now he begins explaining what life in the kingdom of heaven (following him) is like. He explains how his followers should be, not so they can enter heaven, but because they already have. Christians follow Jesus for God's glory for the good of others.
[Our apologies for the poor audio quality. We are working to improve this] As Jesus begins his public work in the north of Israel, we see that he primarily is a preacher, calling people to repent (to turn to him as God's king). And Matthew shows us a model for repentance as Jesus calls his first followers: Repentance is urgent, unexpected abandon to follow Jesus so you can bring others to Jesus.
[Poor audio quality - our apologies for the poor audio quality' we are working to improve this] As Jesus is led by God the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted/tested by Satan, we see that the Son of God submits to suffering. He doesn't seek to simply satisfy himself, or to showcase God's safekeeping, or to sieze sovereignty.
John the Baptist comes proclaiming that the kingdom of heaven is arriving with Jesus, therefore all people must repent and turn to the king. Heaven arrives with Jesus; he alone enables entry.