Liberti Church Coomera Sermons: Recent Episodes
Darren Dakers
We are a gospel-centred family of churches, who worship joyfully, grow together, and live sent. This podcast features weekly messages from Liberti Coomera. Podcasts are also available for other Liberti churches. For more info, visit www.liberti.church
If you want to see the glory of God, you need to see the grace of Jesus. For the God whom no-one has seen, has now made Himself known through Jesus becoming human. And in Jesus, we receive an abundance of grace that displays His glory.
There are two - and only two - possible responses to the light of Jesus Christ: either fully reject Him or fully receive Him. To those that receive Him, He gives the highest possible blessing, which is to make them children of God.
For a book written with the explicitly stated purpose, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name" (Jn. 20:23), the book starts how you might expect. A breathtaking presentation of the pre-existent 'Word' in the first five verses.
If God is the sovereign giver of mercy, who are we to hold it back from anyone? Jonah learns a lesson about his own love for mercy and his implicit need to be part of extending that mercy to others.
Is anyone beyond the mercy of God? Chapter 3 of Jonah shows how an unlikely city facing God's judgement ended up receiving God's mercy. And in doing so, became a sharp example for God's people of what humility and repentance looks like.
As Jonah is thrown into the ocean, he quickly recognises his utter despair and need of the mercy of God - mercy he did not want to show others. Through a surprising 'saviour', Jonah's life is spared. Once again, we find Jonah is us. We too are drowning in sin and unable to save ourselves. Jonah reminds us that salvation belongs to the Lord.
The surprising mercy of God is experienced even through the actions of Jonah. This reluctant prophet would do anything to withold mercy from his enemies, even if it cost him his life.
As we see in Matthew 2, the reality of Jesus' kingship can either cause great trouble or exceedingly great joy. As Jesus is established as the legitimate King, we're invited to humbly and sacrificially worship Him.
All the foundations for who Jesus is and what He will accomplish in His time on earth are revealed in this short Christmas story. Joseph is an ordinary guy having to navigate extraordinary things: from his pregnant fiancé Mary, to a visit from an angel telling him that Jesus will be our Saviour from sin.
We need to be careful not to take anything out of context, as context often gives us the real meaning behind what is happening. It is the same with Christmas. When we seek to know the true meaning of Christmas, the context, it turns out, is the Old Testament. Matthew begins his gospel by summarising the Old Testament family lineage to Jesus and includes in the list, exactly the kinds of people Jesus has come to save.
As Peter draws the letter to a close, he summarises the central message of the book: that humility comes before exaltation; suffering before glory; and that by the grace of God we may stand firm in our faith and resist Satan.
Who should lead the flock of God, and what should that look like? Peter gives instructions for elders to shepherd the church with pure motives and to set a godly example. The response to this leadership is a humble submission that is necessary to navigate life as elect exiles in a hostile world.
What are your expectations of what the Christian life would be like? In this passage, Peter tells Christians not to be surprised when trials and suffering come. We discovered how Christians throughout the world and in history were not surprised, but rather rejoiced when facing persecution for the sake of Christ.
Our discipleship in this world ought to ask the question, "What time is it?" If we want to live as a faithful presence for Jesus in our world, then we need to live in the reality that His return is near. In light of this end, we are to give no more time to sin, but instead give our time to serving others.
We live in a world that is marked by fear right now. It is therefore very easy for the Christian to succumb to fear as we deal with both present and future suffering for holding fast to biblical truths. Into this culture Peter calls us to "have no fear of them, nor be troubled".
In a hostile world filled with opposition, the church is the place to be filled with compassion. There is a tender humble love that characterises the local church to sustain us as we live as elect exiles.
Marriages can be a confusing topic in today's age. How can the Bible help bring clarity to the way husbands and wives relate to one another? And how does this distinct character end up leading us into greater joy and greater witness for the gospel?
In a culture of expressive individualism, the Christian faith is one that is marked by submission to others, even those who mistreat us. In this passage, Peter encourages us to follow the example of the faithful slave, and the example of Jesus Christ himself who suffered for doing good without sinning.
Submitting to authority can be hard for any of us. But it is one way that our good conduct can help point others to Jesus. As servants of Christ, we use our freedom to obey so that God may be honoured.
Everyone's life is built upon something. But not everything builds us up. For the Christian, they are being built into a spiritual house where God dwells. In response to God's grace, they both speak and show His excellencies with their lives.
Everyone is looking forward to something. The Christian ultimately looks forward to their future heavenly hope. This is no easy task however, and requires we prepare our minds. This response to God's grace empowers us to live out holy lives and conduct ourselves in a manner that values the price paid for our freedom.
How practical is theology in helping us stand firm in a hostile world? Peter begins by laying out the future realities of an inheritance that is secure and spectacular. He also acknowledges our lived experience is one marked by purposeful trials and inexpressible joy. It's not the final word, but it's the first place to start.
Peter writes a letter to persecuted Christians and from the very start reminds them of who they are. They are "Elect Exiles". Chosen by God, and rejected by the world. He wants them to know how the Triune God (Father, Son, and Spirit) has worked with one harmonious will to secure their salvation. This ought to bring them - and us - great comfort in times of suffering for the gospel.
Psalm 42 is a song of lament which means it is sung out of deep despair. The psalmist offers complaints against God who seems distant from him, and at the same time reminds himself to hope in God. It is a raw look into how we might speak to God and to ourselves during times like these.
It is not enough to merely hear the sermon on the mount, we must also obey it. As Jesus closes out His message, He warns of the judgement of God for those who fail to obey.
Life is full of choices, but in response to Jesus there are only two. The path of genuine discipleship is hard but life-giving. On this path we must watch out for deception and be careful we don't deceive ourselves. Genuine discipleship is marked by intimacy and obedience to Jesus.
For the person who has entered the kingdom of God, the Sermon on the Mount lays out a grand vision for their life. While we desire to live this vision out, we wonder if we can without Divine help. In this passage, Jesus calls us to Ask, Seek, and Knock and it will be given. We have the assurance that God cannot give us bad gifts.
Judgementalism characterises so much of our culture: we not only disagree, but despise and look down on others. In this passage, Jesus shows us how we can both hold strong to our convictions and love those whose opinion differs to ours.
This week we looked at anxiety and ambition, asking 'who are we trusting?' and 'what are we seeking?' We need not worry about basic needs when we look to our Father's provision and focus on the pursuit of the Kingdom.
True wealth lies in single devotion to God, not the serving of money. Christians seek to store up heavenly treasure that lasts, not earthly riches that fade.
When we pray, our goal is neither to impress other people nor attempt to twist God’s arm into doing what we want. Instead, God’s people pray The Lord’s Prayer. The six requests in this prayer shape how we are to pray for ourselves and others.
In order to preserve true religion from hypocrisy, the Christian cultivates private devotion to God, seeking the reward from an audience of one, rather than the praise of many.
In a world that places limits on who we love, Jesus teaches an unrestricted love that even extends to enemies. When we love like this, we show ourselves to be His children and show the world His love.
“The people of God may experience personal wrongs and the way they respond to them really matters. Instead of getting even, or getting back, they give up such rights and go beyond to win people to Christ. “
In our "post-truth" world of fake news, lies, and false promises, Jesus calls His people to be radically committed to simply speaking the truth and keeping their word.
Divorce - Matthew 4:31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Since God is always at work, there’s always reason for thankfulness. As we celebrate four years of God’s grace, we are encouraged by the work of God in us and through us.
We live in an angry age where division marks our culture. According to Jesus, such things do not have a place among God's people. We are called to neither be angry with another, nor allow others to be angry with us, without pursuing reconciliation.
How will we respond to the cross? Will we, like the centurion, recognise that truly Jesus was the son of God? That this was no ordinary crucifixion, but through His death, life is ever changed?
“How do people who live according to the beatitudes make an impact on the world around them? They are to be salt and light. A distinct presence that visibly points people to God.”
“In eight sayings, Jesus lays out the blessed life according to the kingdom of God. With each successive statement, He confronts our worldly value system. For Christians, the beatitudes act like a mirror for us to see if we are, or are even willing, to live as Jesus calls.”
“In eight sayings, Jesus lays out the blessed life according to the kingdom of God. With each successive statement, He confronts our worldly value system. For Christians, the beatitudes act like a mirror for us to see if we are, or are even willing, to live as Jesus calls.”
This Sunday we began our new series on the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is the King and He will teach us what life looks like in His kingdom. The sermon begins with the most important question – are you in the kingdom? Jesus explains the way into the kingdom with the first sentence, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“There are two ways to live the Christian life. You can live it either for the heart of Christ or from the heart of Christ. You can live for the smile of God or from it” - Dane Ortlund. This week we finish our series looking at the heart of Christ. We see that our ‘lawish’ hearts will learn to reframe life through His lavish heart.
In Isaiah 55, God openly invites anyone and everyone to come to Him. But how can the sinner believe that there is compassion and forgiveness for them? It is because God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts.
Many Christians know what Jesus did through his life, death and resurrection, but what exactly is He doing now that He is in heaven? One answer is, He is interceding for His beloved saints. We look at Christ’s heart through His interceding work.
We know that at the heart of Christ, he is gentle and lowly. But we may question how long will he be gentle and lowly for? Could he tire of us, or change his heart toward us? We are assured by Jesus’ promise “I will never cast out”.
What do we make of Christ’s response to our sin, struggles and weaknesses? Because Jesus is our great high priest, he’s able to deal gently, not harshly, with people like us. And because he’s’ been gentle with us, we can deal gently with others. Hebrews 5:1-4
Whilst the heart of Christ is gentle and lowly, there is also a firmer side to God. What do we make of his heart when we face times of affliction? We learn that whilst God may afflict, he does not do so from his heart. His natural work is mercy, his strange work is judgement.
The heart of Christ enables us to run our race with endurance. However, we tend to misunderstand his heart and avoid coming to Him. We learn that Jesus delights in being our Saviour and it is to Him that we look.
The heart of Christ is far more compelling than we realise. It might surprise us to know that at His very centre, is a heart that is gentle and lowly. This is who He is, and He invites everyone of us to come to him, learn his ways, and experience His heart of rest.
There are many things we may want in 2021. One thing we do want is a fuller experience of God’s love and power. And it is only through prayer that we see this become a reality.
This Sunday we looked at the glorious calling to be a member of a local church. That God calls each member of the local church to commit to lovingly watch over each other’s profession of faith in Jesus.
How does one describe the kingdom of heaven? Jesus tells two parables that teach on the immense value of the kingdom. So valuable, that giving up everything for it, could feel like you’ve lost nothing at all.
Life's difficulties and enigmas can raise more questions than answers. In the pursuit of finding what life is all about Qohelet came up empty handed. Yet the end of the matter is this, "Fear God and obey His commands." This helps orientate our lives towards life and fullness.
It can be hard to make sense of the pressing tension between the despairing enigma of life and the sheer joy of life. When we don’t know everything, we’re invited to trust the one who knows all. When we can’t control anything, particularly death, we’re invited to trust the one who is sovereign over all.
Unfortunately due to technical difficulties we were unable to get a recording of yesterday's sermon. Feel free to jump over to Liberti Carrara or Mermaid on the Liberti website to have a listen to their sermon. Otherwise join us this coming Sunday as we continue in Ecclesiastes
Sometimes things in life don’t add up. When people don’t understand why bad things happen to some good people whilst some wicked people seem to prosper, there is a temptation to either try harder to be righteous or to throw the towel in on living the Christian faith. Human wisdom can’t figure out the mysterious of life, but wisdom from Christ does. And it’s following his path that makes sense.
We are rarely comfortable dwelling on the difficult, the dire, and the depressing things of life. We have a tendency to make light of serious situations, escape to trivialities, or distract ourselves by thinking of the positive. But Qohelet tells us that there is much to value by spending time contemplating the more serious side of life. Joe Khan, Rosalie Baptist Church, helps us find wisdom and hope in the house of mourning.
No one sets out to live an unsatisfied life. Yet many find themselves with lots of stuff but little joy. The good news of the gospel is where wealth and possessions fail to satisfy, Jesus does!
Money and wealth often over promise and under deliver. They seldom satisfy, are costly to keep and easy to lose. Whilst money doesn’t satisfy, Jesus does. And though you can’t take money with you, you can have Jesus forever.
Often our approach in worship can be overly casual or overly cautious. Both miss the heart of God. Through Jesus, we can confidently approach God in worship.
Life is best lived alongside others. Yet often we find ourselves pulling away from relationships and going it on our own. Today, Pastor Will from Liberti Mermaid shows us the necessity of Christian community.
If you look around the world, injustice is everywhere and no one seems able to stop it. It can make you wonder if God hasn’t brought justice now, will he bring justice later? The Christian story tells us that there is a judgement after death that will bring justice. And in the meantime, the oppressed aren’t overlooked, but rather comforted by Christ.
Sometimes life can feel out of our control. There may be a time for everything, but often we struggle to know that purpose. Instead of distracting ourselves with life’s pleasures, we’re invited to give ourselves to God by embracing our limited knowledge and trusting the one who knows all.
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be, If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee - C T Studd
Is life all about having a good time and feeling good? This week in Ecclesiastes we explore the path of pleasure and see whether it provides the kind of fullness that our hearts crave.
Ecclesiastes exposes us to the emptiness of the world so we may get a grip on what is truly filling - life with God. All is vanity says the preacher, as he looks at the march of time, the monotony of life, the reality of being forgotten and the frustration of wisdom. What can fill this gaping hole? Listen in to our new series in Ecclesiastes.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9. God invites us to confess our sin, and each time we do, we find him faithful to forgive. Each time we confess to him we get to re-live the joy of salvation, the joy of the moment we first tasted his grace and forgiveness.
Getting along together in the church can be tough at times. Particularly when our conscience differs on disputable matters. Here’s 8 principles from Romans 14-15 to help guide us towards accepting one another as Christ has accepted us.
Romans 14:1-15:7
When it comes to the Christian life, we are to passionately pursue Jesus and not fall into complacency. Because Christ made us His own, we press on to make him our own. This is Christian maturity, and this is a life worth following.
We all need to watch out for a ‘do-it-yourself’ righteousness that seeks to add to the finished work of Jesus. The way you fight against a legalistic life is by knowing the surpassing worth of Christ.
Self-centredness is natural. But as we see that Jesus is the centre (and therefore not us), our lives will shine with the freedom of gratitude, that takes joy in serving others.
Unity is essential for the Church to stand strong amidst opposition. So what is it that destroys unity, fosters unity, and where can the hope for unity be found?
A Christian’s conduct is to line up with their creed. A life patterned after the gospel is a product of the gospel’s power. It looks like standing firm, striving forward and suffering well for Christ.
According to the Christian, what is a life worth living? It is a life that is lived for the glory of God and the good of others. It’s the kind of life that sees death as gain, and the kind of life that serves the needs of others. That’s a life worth living.
In this passage, the apostle Paul gives a gospel update of how the good news of Jesus Christ is providentially advancing...even in the midst of Paul's imprisonment.
We would all like to live an excellent life, but we often make ordinary choices. How can we learn to choose what is best? Paul says it will take an abundance of a particular kind of love. And all to this end he prays.
What could stir great joy and gratitude for the Christian? Partnership in the gospel may be an unexpected answer but it’s precisely what Paul had in mind. Though distant in prison, he held God’s people close to his heart, and was expectant to see God’s work continue.
Titus 1: 2-3 (1) Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness (2) in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began (3) and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior.
Today we explore the journey of Paul as he preaches in Athens, whose people had many idols to worship. As we carry out our lives in a world filled with idols, we learn from Paul’s approach to sharing the word of God in a land filled with things that absorbed their hearts and imagination more than God. Paul teaches of the ultimate God who is Creator & Sustain-er and we need not look any further.
Wisdom tells us to watch our words. They are powerful instruments that can be either harmful or helpful. We watch our words because our words reveal our hearts. And our hearts are in need of a better word than the one we hear in the world.
In a sex saturated culture how can we walk in wisdom? Proverbs teaches that walking the path of sexual wisdom leads to life and satisfaction whilst the path of sexual folly leads to death and destruction.
Having good friends is an important part of wise living. Proverbs teaches us to be the kind of friend we hope to find. And it shapes us to be the kind of friend we’d hope to keep.
To know wisdom is to embrace God’s patterns, under God’s rule so that we live in harmony with ourselves, others and our environment.
There is a sentence of death that looms over every person. In this chapter, we see Esther as a model of intercession on behalf of her people. She foreshadows Christ and informs the way we can plead for the lives of others to be spared the eternal death. The result is great joy as a new message of deliverance is announced.
Esther 7 - Pride and Destruction Haman spent his life grabbing after applause and power, only to discover that the staircase of self-glory led not to a throne, but a gallows. At the climax of the story of Esther, we see that one of the bedrock principles of the entire universe is this: pride leads to destruction and humility leads to life.
Esther 6:14-7:10
Esther 6:1-13 God’s providence can be difficult to see at times. Often His timing is different to our expectations. In order to see his providence it takes time, it takes trust and ultimately it takes God.
Due to some technical difficulties, we have Pastor Adam who preached at Liberti Carrara this week.
Esther 5:1-14 What are you living for? Who are you listening to? As we see Esther's plan and Haman's plan begin to unravel, we also see that the answer to these two questions shape the trajectory of our lives.
Esther 5:1-14 Whilst the book of Esther shows us Gods radical faithfulness to His people; chapter 4 places His people under the microscope and asks if they are still faithful to Him. We learn that whilst God has orchestrated for Esther to rescue the Jewish nation from disaster , God’s going to use this pending disaster to rescue Esther.
Esther 2:1-18 Mordecai is a long way from home, in more ways than one. Esther is beautiful yet broken, and has something to hide. Compromise is everywhere and everyone has got problems. But no one is beyond the reach of God’s transforming grace. In this way, Esther helps us to see ourselves; we’re all compromised by our own sin and victimised by the sins of others. And just like Esther, God is not done with us yet!
Esther 1:1-22 What do we do when God seems hidden to us? We’ve all experienced times in our life where we’ve wondered, “Where is God in this?” The Book of Esther is a deeply humanising historical narrative, that tells a story of God’s sovereign plan unfolding through imperfect people and unlikely circumstances. Throughout its pages, God is not mentioned. There are no prayers, no prophets, no temple, no Scripture quoted, no moral heroes, and no miracles. It is a story that helps us see God in the shadows, when life isn’t going according to plan. It is a story that helps us see how God’s plan stands over all human plans. As God’s people learn to navigate life in exile on the margins of society, they learn that He is true to His promises, even when they can not understand the hand of His providence.
Matthew 11:28-29 Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. take up my yoke and learn from me, for I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Ephesians 4:25-32 | HOLINESS | In this section of Ephesians, Paul describes how conflict in the church can be handled in a loving and constructive manner, or how it can lead to devastation. What does it look like for your pride to be set aside when real offense and anger arises? How can we love one another even though we will inevitably sin against each other?
Ephesians 4:17-24 | HOLINESS | As Christians we are called to live a renewed and transformed life. Paul calls Christians to both: leave our dark-minded and deceived past, and to assume a new life of righteousness and holiness in God. This change is not something we accomplish by our own strength or determination, but through a renewing work of the Spirit that gradually conforms us to the image of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-16 | THE CHURCH | Have you ever wondered am I called to ministry? This week we see that each and every Christian is called to minister to one another using the variety of gifts God has given them. God has also given the Church gifted leaders to equip them for this task so that they may mature and grow up together in Christ.
Ephesians 3:1-13 | THE CHURCH | The grace of God is not merely the entry point into the Christian life; it is the limitless fuel of the Christian life! Every part of our lives now orbits around the incredible news of what Jesus has done for us. And when the Church has this message of God’s grace on repeat, she becomes a message of grace — a living sermon — for the entire world to see.
Ephesians 2:11-18 | SALVATION | We have all experienced the devastating effects of division and hostility that plague our world. But apart from Christ, an even larger division stands between us and God. The good news is that Jesus has abolished this wall of division, giving all who believe in him access to God. As Christians, we are called to display this peace and oneness that Jesus has made possible.
Ephesians 1:15-23 | SALVATION | After unpacking some of the richest truths in all of Scripture, Paul begins to pray that Holy Spirit would “open the eyes of our hearts” to more deeply grasp the grace of God and more deeply know the God of grace. As he does, we see that the prayers of Paul were marked by thanking God, asking God, and praising God.
Ephesians 1:11-14 | SALVATION | Throughout Scripture there are tensions. In Christ, our salvation is an ‘already’ reality with a fullness that is still yet to come. God is completely sovereign in salvation and we have a genuine responsibility in which we are called to repent, believe, pray, obey, and share the gospel with the entire world. These tensions were never meant to be resolved, but embraced. And when we do, our lives will be marked by a greater sense of assurance, humility, and boldness as we live “to the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1:1-2 | SALVATION
Please note: Unfortunately we were not able to capture sermon audio at Liberti Coomera this week, so we have substituted for Liberti Carrara's audio. Thank you for your patience!
Mark 10:17-27 | There is a common understanding in our culture that good people go to heaven. Yet when a morally good man comes seeking eternal life from Jesus he gets an answer he wasn’t expecting. In fact, his morality and materialism serve as barriers to entering the kingdom of God. Who then can be saved? With man it is impossible, but God all things are possible!
Acts 17:16-34 | David Foster Wallace wrote that, “There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.” As Paul addresses the Areopagus he is fuelled by a holy indignation toward the Athenian idolatry, yet delivers the message of the gospel with a harmonious blend of tenderness and truth. As we examine the model of Paul we can consider our own sense of provocation toward an idolatrous world and how we ought to respond compassionately & intelligibly as ministers of the good news.
Acts 16:16-40 | Experiencing injustice for the sake of the gospel can be difficult to handle. However, while we cannot always control what happens to us, we can control how we respond. This week we see the gospel reaching whilst people at very different places in their life. One girl is out of control whilst another guy is losing control. Through it all it becomes clear that God is in control and secures safe passage for the gospel in the city of Philippi.
Acts 16:6-15 | In light of God’s sovereignty, Paul and Silas rejected any form of Christian passivity. They’d received their marching orders in the Great Commission and their lives were marked by prayerful, deliberate intentionality. After ending up in Philippi, a wealthy woman named Lydia becomes the first Christian in that city. As the Lord opened her heart to receive Christ, she opened her home to receive the disciples. Intentionality and hospitality are indispensable to God’s mission through our lives.
Please Note: This is a recording from Liberti Carrara; unfortunately we were unable to post the recording from Liberti Coomera this week. Thank you for your patience.
Acts 15:1-35 | The early church had arrived at theological crossroads: “Are we made right with God through faith in Jesus and His work, or faith in Jesus plus our works?” The Jerusalem Council declared that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus alone. In light of the gospel, we are to eliminate any obstacle to people turning to God, and use our freedom in Christ to serve one another. We can know that the gospel has moved from our heads to our hearts, when beauty shows up in the way we treat one another.
This world seems to have so much to offer, yet it is only temporary. Where then will we find true riches? If all else will fade away, we must look to what is eternal. This passage in Luke reveals that our only hope of eternal significance lies in Jesus.
The gospel is not just for our salvation, but also to sustain and strengthen us in the trials of life. In Acts 14 we see a model of strengthening and encouraging work that is comprised of gospel-shaped discipleship, God-centered prayer, and grace-filled stories.
As the gospel continues to spread, Paul and Barnabas engage the surrounding pagan cultures with boldness, missional humility, and perseverance. When the gospel is preached, some will get saved and some will get mad. Christians should not be shocked by either response. It is only when we no longer need the acceptance of this world, that we’ll be able to truly serve it and speak prophetically into it.
All of us have anxieties and fears about the future. Who will we spend it with? How will we be provided for? These same concerns drive Naomi to make a risky plan and Ruth to make a bold move toward Boaz. In Boaz’s response we see that redemption is on offer giving us a glimpse into the gracious heart of God.
The world will know that our good news, is true news, when beauty shows up in the way we treat one another. Through the undeserved kindness of a man named Boaz, Ruth experiences the grace, tenderness, and provision of God. In the same way, the gospel radically transforms both our vision of humanity and our hope for the future. When our hope is anchored in Him, not only will we endure the inevitable storms that come our way...we’ll be empowered to live lives of risk-taking love.
Pain and loss have a way of bringing to the surface what’s truly inside us. There are paths that can take us away from God and to world. We’re encouraged by Ruth who’s path lead her to faith in God and faithfulness to Naomi. When we cannot trace God’s hand in our circumstances, we must learn to trust His heart.
No matter who we are, all of us will experience crisis and suffering at some point in our lives. How can we prepare? How do we suffer well? It all comes down to how big our vision is of God.
Fellowship and Friendship are extremely important parts of the Christian life. As we fulfil our devotion to the fellowship may very well find friendship. True friendship is a blessing worth finding and a bond worth forming.
Fellowship and Friendship are extremely important parts of the Christian life. Yet sometimes we demand more from the local church than it was promised to provide. The truth is, as we aim for fellowship, we may very well find friendship.
Jesus' prayer in the garden of Gethsemane is both instructive and inspiring. We see him stand firm through trial as his disciples falter and fail. Through his actions, we learn to pray to be prepared for temptation, persist through pain, and to be submissive with confidence before our Father.
The last Supper was a meal shared between betrayal and abandonment. Through this meal, we see Jesus giving himself not only to His disciples but for his disciples. As we gather around the Lord’s supper, we are to remember his sacrifice, receive his blessing, and long for his return
What does it look like to live with the energy of the Holy Spirit rather than the energy of the flesh? The Spirit-empowered life is to know that in Christ we are no longer condemned, but accepted; no longer dead, but alive; and no longer slaves, but adopted into the family of God.
The Holy Spirit sovereignly gives every single child of God spiritual gifts, for the advance of the gospel and the building up of the Body of Christ. In this message we explore the gifts of prophecy and speaking in tongues, along what the Bible has to say about the use of these gifts in the Church today.
The Holy Spirit sovereignly gives every single child of God spiritual gifts, for the advance of the gospel and the building up of the Body of Christ.
The Spirit-led life can be summed up in two short yet explosive words: "Yes, Lord." To walk with the Spirit, is the moment-by-moment practice of saying "yes" to His Word and guidance over our own. Because we belong to Christ, we no longer need to grab after self-importance or chase after sinful desires. We have been set free. And the evidence to a watching world, is in the radical new way in which we treat one another.
Experiencing growth in the Christian life doesn’t come without its opposition. The old self, while being dealt a mortal wound, won’t go down quietly. The good news is, as we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, we can expect to see victory in this battle that produces the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
To be filled with the Holy Spirit is the experience of personal revival, that overflows into gospel boldness. The good news for every believer is that God does not want your strength to carry out His mission. He wants to give you His.
Christmas can be a wonderful time, yet it can also be a difficult time. Where can we look to for hope for a better future this Christmas season? Isaiah 9:6 speaks of a coming Saviour who will bring light into our dark world. Each week we will explore one title of the coming Saviour, “Wonderful Counsellor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Christmas can be a wonderful time, yet it can also be a difficult time. Where can we look to for hope for a better future this Christmas season? Isaiah 9:6 speaks of a coming Saviour who will bring light into our dark world. Each week we will explore one title of the coming Saviour, “Wonderful Counsellor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Christmas can be a wonderful time, yet it can also be a difficult time. Where can we look to for hope for a better future this Christmas season? Isaiah 9:6 speaks of a coming Saviour who will bring light into our dark world. Each week we will explore one title of the coming Saviour, “Wonderful Counsellor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
In the story of the prodigal son, we see a reflection of our waywardness and God's grace-filled reconciliation. Whichever son best represents our hearts, we must look to God's response to the lost soul - being ready to run to him and see him redeemed. Who has God set in your life to pursue?
To be holy, means to be wholly God’s. The pursuit of holiness goes deeper than merely avoiding that which corrupts our character, and includes pursuing that which most satisfies our hearts. Holiness does not rob us of anything, except the sin which seeks to rob us of everything. To pursue holiness, is to pursue joy.
When asked the question, “What does pursuing worship look like?”, we turn to Psalm 63. We see that David pursues the worship of God personally, earnestly, expectantly and actively. Because he knows that he is held by God, he is able to cling to God through worship. The good news of the gospel is, we can pursue the worship of God because God in Christ has pursued us.
How do you be remain faithful to the end? Daniel, now an old man in his final years, shows us what it looks like to remain faithful publicly and prayerfully in response to trusting God.
Just like Belshazzar, the story of humanity has been one of feasting on the edge of the grave. The writing is on the wall and the divine verdict is in: we have been numbered, weighed on God’s scale and found wanting, and are divided. It is here, at the point of despair, that the gospel breaks in with incredible news about what God has done to balance the scales.
The human appetite for glory is as destructive as it is seductive. Nebuchadnezzar discovered what so many others have throughout Scripture and history: that those who exalt themselves destroy themselves. Our hunger for glory will never be satisfied, until like Nebuchadnezzar, we learn to treasure the glory of God above all else.
King Nebuchadnezzar has another frightening dream, and calls on Daniel to provide an interpretation. The dream shows him that he must either renounce his self-righteousness and control to God, or be cut down like the great tree in his dream. Like King Nebuchadnezzar, we are given a warning of judgement coming our way. The good news is we are also given a way out, by heeding God’s warning and returning to His ways.
In this world Christians can be sure of two things: 1) They will have many fiery trials; 2) God will meet them in the fire. A gospel-shaped people have been given the power to love the world, without bowing to it.
Daniel lived in the kingdom of the world, but he lived for a different King. Brought before a raging Nebuchadnezzar, God gives Daniel insight into both the king’s dream as well as its meaning and prophecies in advance the next four global empires as well as the coming of Christ. The wise men of the kingdom are spared execution, Daniel is promoted, and Nebuchadnezzar confesses, “Truly your God, is God of gods.” History shows us that kingdoms will rise and fall, but even the mightiest empires, rulers, and voices in our world amount to little more than broken sandcastles on the pages of God’s story. God’s kingdom is the only one that will endure, and it is growing, advancing, and filling the entire earth. Everybody is building somebody’s kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream confronts each of us with a question: am I living for a kingdom that is fading away, or the Kingdom that will last forever?
The story opens with a King plagued by nightmares and unable to sleep. Who will bring rest to a restless mind? Where worldly wisdom falls short, Godly revelation comes through. Through Daniel, God revealed a heavenly dream that made sense of King Nebuchadnezzar’s worldly nightmare. One of humanity’s greatest concerns is insecurity that one day our lives will come crumbling down. Into this dilemma comes a revelation of God’s goodness that is ultimately revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the clearest revelation of God who ministers into our deepest anxieties and insecurities. The good news is that Jesus is the revelation the world has been looking for.
Hello Liberti Coomera, we had a little hiccup with our recording on Sunday but the great news is Pastor Adam Ramsey launched the same series at Liberti Carrara. Please Enjoy.
Daniel and his friends faced a seemingly impossible situation. Removed from their homeland and taken away as captives to Babylon, they now find themselves facing a powerful combination of isolation, indoctrination, seduction, and oppression. Babylon was dedicated to eradicating any remembrance of their true homeland, their true identity, and the true God. And yet in the midst of the most hostile city in the world, Daniel and his friends thrived. Like Daniel, believers today can thrive in cultural exile when we remember that God is in control and that God is with us. When we remember that God is in control, we grow in humility. When we remember that God is with us, we grow in courage. If we are to bless our surrounding culture without bowing to it, God’s people need both.
Prayer is the vehicle God has sovereignly chosen to accomplish His purposes in this world. It is human weakness, leaning on the strength of the Infinite. Pray with us for the progress of the gospel, that God’s Word would continue to speed ahead and be glorified. Pray with us, for protection from opposition, that we would not lose heart. Pray that Jesus would direct our hearts and continually redirect our eyes to the steadfast love of God. At the end of it all God’s Word will triumph, and we’re invited to participate through prayer in the greatest victory lap the world has ever seen.
Ours is a day of great anxiousness. From global unrest, to the rise of terrorism, to the powerful way in which platforms like smart-phones and social media have changed the way we connect, combined with a hundred smaller daily pressures normal to life in this world...there are plenty of reasons to be anxious. How do believer's fight for joy, while living in the cultural smog of anxiety? From Genesis to Revelation, at the heart of the gospel are two life-changing, anxiety-destroying words: God provides. God's people were never meant to carry the weight of worry, but to cast it at the feet of a loving Father. For the Christian, every single anxiety the Enemy shoots at their heart, God calls them to use as kindling in the bonfire of prayer.
If you’ve been around church you’ve probably heard the concept of tithing. Is tithing to be seen as an obligation to endure or rather an opportunity to embrace? The good news is, the principle of tithing is no longer a religious requirement to fulfil the law but rather a joyful responsibility to support the gospel. Because God did not withhold himself from us, we will not withhold ourselves or our money from Him. Through a lens of Christ, we are able to give joyfully, regularly and sacrificially to support the work of the gospel and the word of God advancing forward. No longer are we restricted to a tithe but freed to reveal with our finances where the grace of God has reached us so we can reach others.
We live in a world with contested gender theories and sexual ideologies, and the issue surrounding homosexuality has been followed by a shadow of confusion of controversy. Navigating a way forward to best understand our sexuality is a daunting challenge. However, with the unchanging nature of God’s word and the truth of the gospel, we find hope and encouragement. Jesus brings a word confronting religious hypocrisy while also extending forgiveness and pardon to those suffering from sexual sin. Through a new identity in Christ and the help of the local church, those with same-sex attraction can find fulfilment and sufficiency, to live faithfully for Christ and attest to his redemptive work through the gospel.
We live in a cultural context that often blinds us from our daily need for Jesus. Both materialism and morality can give the illusion of being fulfilled by "the good life"; yet both fall woefully short in the presence of Jesus. He makes clear that these things block us from entering the kingdom. Jesus came to give us something far more satisfying and beautiful than "the good life"; He came to give eternal life and fullness of life to all who would humbly receive it.
The reality of suffering and evil has scraped and shaped every single one of us. Each of us has shaken our head at the state of the world and wondered, “Why, God?” And yet the problem of suffering and evil is not unique to Christianity; it demands an explanation from every worldview and religion. In this message we see that not only does Christianity give the best explanation of why there is suffering and evil, but that Christ alone gives the resources we most deeply need in order to face them without despair. While we are not always clearly shown the answer to our individual questions of ‘why?’ when suffering invades our lives, God does give to all who trust in Jesus a ‘what’, a ‘who’, and a ‘when.’
We all start things that we don’t end up being able to finish. But does God? Since the Bible makes clear over and over that “salvation is of the Lord,” the question is better framed, ‘Can Jesus lose a Christian?’ In response to this, God's people are given a wonderful promise: to the degree that Jesus is secure in the grip of the Father, the Christian is secure in the grip of the Son. So while it is true that only those persevere to the end will be saved, it is also true that God’s grace will preserve every genuine believer to the end. What God starts, He finishes.