The River Ōpāwaho: Recent Episodes
The River Ōpāwaho
This podcast is a collection of the Sunday teaching from The River Ōpāwaho - a community of Jesus followers in Ōtautahi Christchurch. To find out more about us go to theriverōpāwaho.org.nz
Find out more about us at theriveropawaho.org.nz
Our Collective CallingWe exist to extend God’s Kingdom to hearts, habitats, and humanity.
We believe that Jesus calls his church to be a compelling force for good in the world.
We believe that the church is at its best when it serves, sacrifices and loves, caring about the things God cares about.
In the essentials of faith, we pursue unity*, in non-essentials we value liberty, and in all things, we pursue loving charity.
We are all invited to live out the transformative message of the resurrected Jesus.
We believe that God loves us, and God likes us. We are broken, we are forgiven, and we are trusted with the kingdom.
We were created to live for something larger than ourselves.
We are The River Ōpāwaho
We’re The River Ōpāwaho - a small church with a big heart in Ōtautahi Christchurch. This podcast is where Sunday teaching, local stories, and the odd theological rabbit hole come together - all shaped by our commitment to follow Jesus, love our neighbours, and seek the renewal of people and place. It’s thoughtful, a bit scruffy, and hopefully good for the soul. Find us at theriveropawaho.org.nz
To find out more about our community head to The River Ōpāwaho
Quote from The Day The Revolution Began by N.T. Wright
"To reflect the divine image means standing between heaven and earth, even in the present time, adoring the Creator and bringing His purposes into reality on earth, ahead of the time when God completes the task and makes all things new. The “royal priesthood” is the company of rescued humans who, being part of “earth,” worship the God of Heaven and are thereby equipped with the breath of Heaven in their renewed lungs, to work for his kingdom on earth. The revolution of the Cross sets us free to be in-between people caught up in the rhythm of worship and mission. "
In this teaching, we explore Luke 15:11-31
We also reference this book:
Poet and Peasant Through Peasant Eyes - Kenneth E. Bailey
To find out more about our community check out www.theriveropawaho.org.nz
If you want to dive deeper into this topic then have a look at these resources:
Ngā Here - the Many Connections
Huia Come Home by Jay Ruka - The Book or The Audio Book
He Tatau Pounamu by Alistair Reese
Ka Whawhai Tonu Matou - Ranginui Walker
Common Grace Aotearoa
To find out more about our community check out www.theriveropawaho.org.nz
Tell it Slant: A Conversation on the Language of Jesus in His Stories and Prayers by Eugene Peterson
In this episode, we explore Luke 14:1-24.
Here are the books mentioned in this episode:
Poet and Peasant Through Peasant Eyes By Kenneth E Bailey
The 3D Gospel: Ministry in Guilt, Shame, and Fear Cultures" by Jayson Georges.Here is Our Collective Calling Statement:
We exist to extend God’s Kingdom to hearts, habitats, and humanity. We believe that Jesus calls his church to be a compelling force for good in the world. We believe that the church is at its best when it serves, sacrifices and loves, caring about the things God cares about.
In the essentials of faith, we pursue unity*, in non-essentials we value liberty, and in all things, we pursue loving charity. We are all invited to live out the transformative message of the resurrected Jesus.
We believe that God loves us, and God likes us. We are broken, we are forgiven, and we are trusted with the kingdom. We were created to live for something larger than ourselves. We are The River Ōpāwaho
To find out more about our community head to www.theriveropawaho.org.nz
In this teaching, we explore Luke 13:6-9
We also reference these books:
Run With The Horses - Eugene Peterson
Poet and Peasant Through Peasant Eyes - Kenneth E. Bailey
To find out more about our community check out www.theriveropawaho.org.nz
This message is based on Luke 11:37-53
37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
39 Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
43 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.
44 “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”
45 One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”
46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
47 “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. 48 So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. 49 Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ 50 Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.
52 “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
53 When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, 54 waiting to catch him in something he might say.
To find out more about our community, head along to www.theriveropawaho.org.nz
To find out more about our community head along to theriveropawaho.org.nz
Resources to explore from the message:
As Kingfishers Catch Fire by Eugene Peterson
To find out more about our little community visit www.theriveōpāwaho.org.nz.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Anaximander - Carlo Rovelli
Echos of Scripture in The Gospel - Richard B. Hays
With Burning Hearts - Henri Nouwen
If you want to find out more about our community, then check out www.theriveropawaho.org.nz
In this episode, we finish our series in Colossians.
If you want to find out more about our community head to theriveropawahao.org.nz
Kia ora anō.
Welcome to our 7th episode as we explore the book of Colossians. If you want to find out more about our community check out www.theriverōpāwaho.org.nz
Kia ora anō. Welcome to our 6th episode as we explore the book of Colossians. If you want to find out more about our community check out www.theriverōpāwaho.org.nz
In this episode, we dive into one of the most amazing compact poems within the New Testament. Colossians 1:15-20.
If you want to find out more about our community then head along to www.theriveropawaho.org.nz
In this episode, Amy explores what it means to live into the reconciliation that we have been invited into because of Jesus' death and resurrection.
If you want to find out more about our community, head along to www.theriverōpāwaho.org.nz
This is part three in our series on the book of Colossians.
To find out more about our community head along to www.theriverōpāwaho.org.nz
In this episode, we explore the biblical, historical and theological context of the book of Colossians.
If you want to find out more about our little community, check out www.theriverōpāwaho.org.nz
In this episode, we begin our journey in Colossians.
If you want to find out more about our community check out www.theriverōpāwaho.org.nz
In this episode, Jess explores the depths of Psalm 42 and the human experiences of grief and joy.
To find out more about us head along to www.theriverōpāwaho.org.nz
This is the final episode on the Sermon On The Plain. We look at what it means to build your house on the rock.
If you want to find out more about us then go to www.theriverōpāwaho.org.nz
At The River Ōpāwaho, one of our core values is expression. We believe that as God moves through us, we need to make space for the creative expression of God's transformative love.
We value creative people and creativity and endeavour to create space for art and artists to lead us into the mystery of God in a way that only artists can.
To find out more about us go to www.theriverōpāwaho.org.nz
In this episode, we explore the depths of the truth that we are loved by God and the ways in which God's love powerfully transforms us from the inside out.
If you want to find out more about us then visit www.theriverōpāwaho.org.nz
In this episode, we dive into Luke 6:37-42 and we look at what it might mean to be Jesus' Kingdom people.
If you want to find out more about us check out www.theriverōpāwaho.org.nz
In this episode we explore one of Jesus' most challenging teachings and we look at how the community at Parihaka put these teaching into practice and what that might mean for following Jesus today.
To find out more about The River Ōpāwaho go to www.theriverōpāwaho.org.nz
In this episode we begin a series looking at the sermon on the plain found in Luke chapter 6.