Sermons

Treasures in Heaven

What does Jesus mean when he says 'store up treasures in heaven'? And how does seeking the kingdom first mean everything else will be added to us? Jesus is not content to be simply 'one among many' of the things that demand our attention. He claims your heart, your core, the very centrality of all you are and ever will be. Amazingly though, this is not a burden, it is our freedom.

My Glory, or God’s?

Its one thing for Jesus to pick on adultery and murder and swearing. We expect him to say something about these things, and challenge us to live more fully in his ways in the world. But surely he can leave the good that we do alone, surely there is no need to go putting our giving, our prayers and our fasting under the microscope? But that is exactly what Jesus does in Matthew 6:1-18, because he knows the sorry state of our hearts and he knows we will look for an idol wherever we can find it, even if its in 'doing good.' And this week Jesus is going to expose our 'good deeds,' refine them, and refine us, as he goes about using us as salt and light in his world.

The Heart and Soul of Change

This week: a young boy was killed by a schoolmate, terrorists were jailed in Sydney, a footballer is charged with rape, and it's been a month since the devastating earthquake in Haiti. We despair for our world, and we long for change. Are we kidding ourselves? Or can real change come to our world? God has a plan to bring change to the world, and he wants you in on his plan.

Seeking out darkness

What do you do when faced with a 'dark' situation? What do we do when faced with world poverty and oppression, with relationship breakdowns, and domestic violence? Sadly, our reaction has often been to run and hide, head for the hills, dive for cover. The problems are too big, not ours to worry about, someone else's mess. Right? But as Jesus continues to unveil his new kingdom and its citizens he uncovers a very scary relationship between us, and the world of darkness. He says that we are actually to be 'darkness hunters' - those who armed with the good news of Jesus, bring salt and light to a decaying and dark world.

Broken, Bruised, and Blessed

When we are at our lowest, at the end of our tether, shattered and damaged, we often think God is far from us. When we're broken and bruised, it's hard to think that we're blessed. The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus announcement of God's liberating reality in Jesus. If you are broken and weary, bowed and bent, stuck in a funk of doubt or godlessness, then Jesus, his words and his people are just what you need.

God's future in the present

So we know that Jesus has come, he has died and risen again, and given us forgiveness from sin. And we know that Jesus will someday come again and bring about the completion of his work. But the question is then... what do we do in the meantime? On February 7^th we start our series on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), but this Sunday evening we will have a look at Matthew 4:12-17, as we prepare, by looking that what Jesus says about living between the times.

Partnership with God

There are so many types of partnerships in our world. Marriage is a partnership; so is a business agreement. A political settlement is another type of partnership; and so is committing oneself to a church family.

In the Bible we see that God is also very much into partnerships. He is the One who always takes the initiative. God comes to people, not the other way round!

How sad that God's human partners always let Him down!

But not Jesus! He is the only one who remains perfectly faithful to his Father, and in His ministry of dying and rising again brings such amazing changes to God's covenant with us.

That new ministry is the ministry of the Spirit of Christ; God's will no longer engraved on stone, but written in our hearts!

Running a Race of Grace

We are in the beginning of a new year, a new stretch of the race of our lives that God has marked out for us. Though we do not know what we may experience this year, we can be certain that we will experience hardship of all sorts if we follow Jesus. It is when - because of these hardships - we want to quit the race, that we must remember: we are running a race of grace...

Right Foundations, Right Commitments

As we head into a new year, so quickly our thoughts go to what is to come, what we are going to do, how we are going to do it, when it will be done by. But in Deuteronomy, as the nation of Israel looks forward to going into the promised land, they are encouraged to first look backwards. As we look at history, we see a lot about who God is, and what he has done, so we are encouraged to go into a new year with the right foundations, and the right commitments.

The Cost of Following Jesus

Our image of Christ is influenced by 2000 years of Christian culture, the sermons you've hear, your own interpretation of Scripture, even by our contemporary culture. The result is we often create a plastic Jesus who we understand, one we're comfortable with, who doesn't cause us too much conflict or difficulty in life. The big catch cry of contemporary Christianity is 'get Christ in your life and all your problems will be solved and all your worries will be gone.' But is that the truth? Is that what being a Christian is all about? Jesus tells three short parables in Luke 9:57-62 that challenge our understanding of what it means to follow him.

Is God in the House?

Throughout the Bible, people have struggled to work out whether God is in the house, or whether he has left the building.

This morning we see that while David wanted to build a house for God, God wanted to build His household instead.

Do we still try to find ways of putting God into a house, even though God's desire is to build a household of people who He can live with.

Our Coventantal God

Children of God

Jesus came into this world, not just as a man or even a King... He came into this world as God's Son, which he tells us in Luke 2:49. He came as God's only Son to be about God's work in this world. And what is that work? To make God's created people his sons and daughters as well. God's Son comes to bring forgiveness so we can be the co-heirs of life and salvation. At 12 years of age Jesus points to this amazing mission and the reason he came into this world.

Shocking

I wonder if any of got great surprises on Christmas morning. Maybe it was an unexpected gift, or a surprise visitor. Christmas has a habit of throwing up the odd suprise here and there. The same was true of the very first Christmas, Mary and Joseph got more than they bargained for. This Sunday, we will continue looking at the gospel of Luke, this time focussing on some of the events immediately the birth of Christ. Here we are introduced to two faithful servants of God, waiting for the coming Messiah. And they have some pretty startling things to say about this child, that will change the face of this world.

For the next 3 Sundays we will be having the same sermon in AM and PM services.

Cosmic

In just the space of 20 verses (Luke 2:1-20), as Luke recounts the night that Jesus was born - he manages to cover the depth and breadth of creation. There are kings and rulers, simple folk and inn keepers, a chorus of angels, joy to the world, and a group of numble shepherds. You see straight away we are being told something, Christmas is an event of far reaching consequences. Not just a day off and some good food, but a comfort and a challenge for all of us.

Redeem

Jesus has been interpreted and reinterpreted throughout history. From revolutionary, to political leader, to pacifist. But before his birth, Zachariah the pastor, moved by the Holy Spirit sings a song about Jesus, and his own son John. And in it we see the gospel - the Good News of what God has done, and is doing, through his Son Jesus. We will see that Christmas is more than an event to make once a year - its God's action to celebrate every day of our lives.

Jesus the Revolutionary

It has always been the case in this world that the powerful rule, and the weak get trampled on. It started with Cain and Able, and it continues on in the world today. It was the case at the time of Jesus birth as well. But in this amazing scene that we are going to consider this week, in Luke 1:39-56, we have two women, one old and barren, one young, unwed and pregnant, bearer the forerunner of the messiah and the messiah himself. You see Jesus turns this world and its thoughts and systems of power on its head. He started then - and he continues today.

Understanding God

It is so easy to have our understanding of God shaped by the wrong sources. From our parents, from our fears, from media or from people who really don't know God. The Bible tells us that the best way to know God is to know Jesus. And so as we continue our series in Luke, we'll get to know a little more about Jesus - and in doing so, get to know God. And we'll address two major problems we have in our understanding of God, and having them corrected, be in a better position to respond with genuine faith.

Proclaim

Looking ahead to next week, we are continuing our series on "The King" through the gospel of Luke. We are going to look at Luke 1:39-56. I want to focus on the 'revolutionary' side of Jesus. Here we have two simple and socially disregarded women, one bearing the forerunner and the other the messiah himself. And so Mary's song is really about the values of this world being turned on their head by Jesus. And so we want to see how God does this in Christ - and what it means for his followers to be the recipients, the community and the messangers of that revolution.

Would you rather be Safe or Brave?

The parable of the bags of gold is often applied in the context of personal gifts. Perhaps it's more a statement about living in faith and courage, and in the assurance of the rich promises of our Master. Maybe this 'courageous Christianity' is something of what Jesus means when he talks about his gift of 'life to the full'. In this message Dave will round off the 'God of Justice' series, and will include some practical steps we all can take to start stepping forward as the people of justice and hope we are called to be.

Joseph Recognises God

Last week, as we looked at the life of Joseph, we saw things just get worse and worse in his life. His one shot at getting out of prison, seems to have been forgotten by the cup bearer to Pharoah. But in an amazing turn of events (or God moments) Joseph is lifted out of the dungeon, and given the second in command position is Egypt. And so this week we want to have a look at what God was doing through the triumph of Joseph, and how Joseph used his blessing for the blessing of others, and the cause of God's kingdom. And as we do that, we'll be thinking about why God may have blessed us, and be challenged to think about what we are doing with it.

There is no "Plan B"

We feel uncomfortable when we witness injustice and abuse on the TV or some other context. How does God see it? More importantly, what does he think about it? And then we have the age old question: Does God have a plan to do something about it - if so, what is His plan?

When Life Bites

You have got to love the story of Joseph. It is the first and ultimate in riches to rags to riches stories. But we don't only like Joseph for drama, we also like it because there is so much to relate to. No matter how poor you are, and how tough life is, Joseph was poorer, and his life was tougher. No matter how much you have in terms of power and possessions, Joseph probably had more. And yet throughout it all, we see what life looks like when God is with you and we honor him no matter what the circumstances. This Sunday in the PM service we start a 2 part mine series, called "Where is God?" looking at the life of Joseph. This week we'll look at Genesis 37-40.

I'm bored - but why?

We're looking at the story of the young man in Luke 19. It may be that his life is somewhat of a reflection of ours. He's asking the question 'what do I still lack'? The answer he expects to hear is that he doesn't lack anything. In many ways we don't lack anything either - we're incredibly blessed! The surprise is that rather than leave us satisfied, this 'rich life' often leaves us restless and discontent. Could it be that Jesus' call to 'give it all away' is less about what we do with our wealth, and more about how Jesus' followers find their way out of their yawning dissatisfaction? Wondering why your life seems to lack passion? Want to find out how to address that? Come Sunday 9am, and listen to what Jesus has to say.

In hopeless times God works mightily

Just when you think it's all over and there isn't any hope left, God goes and does something amazing. Just when everything seems lost, God reveals his mighty plan of redemption and victory. This is how things go at the end of the Samson story. When we think it's hopeless for him, God shows up and kicks some serious butt! This week we're gonna get a big reminder of how loving and faithful our God is. From him and this story we can know that when things seem low in life, God is at work doing something great! Don't miss the ending! Judges 16:22-31.

Repentant Revival

We live in a very strong 'success' culture. We want to appear successful and to have it all together. No one likes to admit to any weaknesses. And the same goes for the church as well. We want to present a good, strong image, that we know what we are doing, and we are doing things right. But when we look at the Bible, and history, we see something that is very worrying for successful churches. Because we see that revival means repentance. Revival means grieving over sin, recognizing that we haven't got it right, and that we need to do things God's way. Is the church willing to go the way of humility, for true revival? Are we willing to sacrifice 'self' for the path of Jesus?

Downfall

This week we see the climactic downfall of our psycho saviour Samson. He's never been what you'd call a 'standup citizen', but it's at the end of his career that he hits a new low. Like so many men in the Old Testament, he's brought down by a deceptive lover and his own weakness for women. She is Delilah. And in this story we find tow lessons, a moral one and a theological one. We learn from Samson that seduction is a real killer because it draws us away from our faithful God. And we learn from Samson that we are in need of a true Saviour without the weaknesses and failures of a sinful man. Jesus.

God has His Purposes

This Sunday we continue in our series on Repentance. Last week we looked at some of the basics, and saw that repentance is a throwing ourselves on the mercy of God, knowing that he extends kindness and grace to sinners. It is to turn from sin and to God, and to walk in his ways. But too often we view that as something that takes place at the start of the journey of faith. But this Sunday we are going to see that this is to be a practice of Christian living, turning from sin, and turning to our savior. We want to cover a big chunk of scripture this Sunday morning (Nehemiah 8-10) so any reading you can do before hand will be of great benefit.

Standing by the Psycho

When you get right down to it, Samson has all the characteristics of a terrorist. He's a freedom-fighting, lone-range guerrilla whose vicious acts of vengeance would've struck fear into the heart of anybody. As I said in the first week - he was a psycho!

And yet, what is so unbelievable about the story of Samson is that God stands by this vengeful man, even after he repeatedly exhibits his glaring vices. But God doesn't remain faithful to Samson because of who Samson is... He remains faithful to him for his own purposes - his purposes to deliver and to teach and to judge. God stands by the psycho because he loves his people.

Question Of The Week: How do you obtain a fresh jawbone of a donkey? Read Judges 15.

Repent for the end is nigh!

The prophets of the Old Testament called for it. It was the basis of John the Baptist's ministry. I was the first thing that Jesus called people to do. It was the conclusion to the very first sermon ever preached by a pastor. It is REPENTANCE. Everyone knows that repentance is necessary, but do we actually know what it is? What are we responding to when we all called to repent, what do we actually do, and what does it do in our lives? This Sunday we begin a new 3 part series in REPENTANCE.

Time to Come Home

Why you should come back to God... Some many people would not even consider matters of faith, or having a relationship with God. Do they have any idea about the God they think they can do without? And sin. It seems many people don't get the whole 'sin' thing - we just don't know what to do with that whole idea. What if God was more wonderful than you could imagine, and what if sin was more insidious, uglier than your worst dreams - what then? Come Sunday, and find out...

So that

"Wow, 10 years!!! Its great, amazing. And what about the next 10, they're going to be cool too, right?

But what are we really celebrating when we look back over the last 10 years, and what is really worth looking forward to? This Sunday we will look at 1 Kings 8:56-61 and see Solomon's focus as the nation of Israel celebrates, and let God guide us as we celebrate on Sunday.

Samson - Deliverance

Samson was a man appointed by God even before he was born, much like Jesus. He was called to be one of God's Judges, set apart for God's purposes, and empowered by God's Spirit. Why? To deliver God's people from the hands of their enemies.

Because God is the deliverer and the hero - that is the point of the story of Samson. We don't focus on the man, but on the purposes God used him for. And where Samson failed, God's appointed Son did not. Through him we also have been set apart and empowered for God's work.

It is more Blessed to give than to Receive

We have all heard the words. We would say we believe them. But do we live them? How would this play out in a society that seems to live like it's more blessed to receive than to give? Where people strive to acquire, and where the economy is fuelled by the desire to possess? Would our community be any different if we really lived this truth? Read ahead at Luke 6:38, Acts 20:13-35 and think about key verses describing God as the great Giver.

Taming your Tongue

Of course we all want to live well and right, and to understand what life means and where it's going. Well, we must start with God, the first step in learning is bowing down to God, for "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom".

The Book of Proverbs deals with some 50 or 60 different topics and the topic we meet most often in this book, is our speaking. Proverbs is full of godly counsel as to how to speak wisely, so as to please God, and build up the people around us.

And yet, we all sin in the way we use our tongue; no one has as yet been able to tame the tongue. But Christ, through His Holy Spirit, is in the business of tongue-taming!

Your Weakness - My Power

The AFL Grand Final has just been played - which team contemplated being weaker on the day? Our society tells us to advance our own position at all costs. No one wants to be seen as weak, right? So, do we believe these words or not? Were they only relevant to Paul, or could it be that God's power will be seen in people who intentionally walk a path of weakness? And what is weakness anyway - and by whose measure?

How do I know God is Real

Many Australians have trouble believing in God. They look at world history and life situations tend to reason against His existence or that He cares. There are other things to look at, though, and some of these things provide compelling testimony that God is real and that he cares. Dan Neville will open this issue up for us on Sunday night, issuing us with a great challenge and a greater comfort.

The Power of a Forgiving Word

Forgiveness is something we all seek, and crave from those whom we have wronged. Why then is it so hard to give forgiveness to another? What happens when we don't forgive, and what might happen if we were to live forgiveness in all its fullness?

Live out your Redemption

If you ever get a little slack in your faith, you can be sure that you're not the only one. The knowledge of our salvation can make it easy for us to get complacent in our confidence. But Peter encourages us to live out our salvation by adding to our faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love. While only God can save, we are called to make every effort to live out the grace he has shown us and make our calling and election sure.

In over your head?

Ever have that feeling that God is calling you to greater things - but if you take the step, you're stepping into a void? How come God's call can be so uncomfortable? If you've ever wrestled with this, you are going to love what will happen on Sunday.

The Fear of the Lord = Wisdom

This morning will be somewhat of an introduction to the Book of Proverbs.

Most of us will have read bits of this ancient wisdom literature, and we may well ask: what is it that makes these 31 chapters so special to have them included in the Bible.

It does give instruction on how to live wisely and righteously in the 'fear of the Lord'.

As New Testament believers we must also focus on Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, Colossians 2.

Pointing to the light

Being Jesus' witnesses means pointing people to Jesus. It's not about methods, styles and programs. It's about pointing to the light of the world - Jesus Christ. We point to who he is and what he's done. It's not about us and our gifts, but simply about pointing to Jesus. We are simply here to help people recognise that Jesus is the light of the world. On Sunday evening we will look at the first New Testament witness - John the Baptist. For context, read all of John 1.

Be My Witnesses!

We seem to spend a lot of time talking about witnessing and how to do it. But God does not command us to be part of some program. He calls us to be his witnesses, carrying his transforming likeness into our world. If you've ever wondered about how you could ever do that, you will be keen to hear what God says.

A People of Compassion

To be like Jesus means to be people of compassion, concerned for the justice of the poor and oppressed. In fact, new life in Christ guarantees we develop compassion and care for all people made by God. This compassion helps us to see and treat others like we would treat Jesus.

We know the needs, we can see the hurt - Negligence is not an option.

Loosening the Chains

We do not often associate a passion for justice with the likeness of Jesus in us. Perhaps it's high time we did. Jesus began his mission with a promise of justice (Luke 4) - it is a marker of his Kingdom. How can it mark his Kingdom in us, today? This very special service will find us listening to God from Is 58 - feel free to read ahead.

How to Love Again

What does it really mean to love another person, or to love others? And why is love so graphically connected with selflessness by Jesus? Can we expect to follow his example? How realistic is this?

Trust

In a fallen world it's hard to trust anyone but yourself. We know what it's like to be let down and disappointed and we find it much easier to just rely on ourselves. But can we really trust ourselves? The Bible teaches us to trust in God, not in ourselves. As difficult as it seems, we are called to depend on Christ for everything. Everything. Only when we trust in him can we really become like him. Jesus relied 100% on his Father and he calls us to do the same.

The Church of Laodicea

The Laodicea church (Revelation 3:14-22) comes in for strong criticism from Jesus. The church's problem has very much to do with smug self-sufficiency: they were convinced that they were doing very well indeed as a church, and as individuals. But Christ tells it like it is, and His evaluation of them is quite devastating. But at the same time, His love knows no bounds: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock." As one commentator says: "In an act of unbelievable condescension Christ requests permission to enter and re-establish fellowship."

Walk the Line

When you're led down a dark path by a guide, it requires some action on your part: you need to go with that guide. When we're led through life by the Holy Spirit, it requires some action on our part: we need to keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). So, how can we keep in step with Spirit? We walk the line, we obey, we listen, we depend. In our society it is unpopular to do this, but this is how we live by the Spirit and see the fruit of the Spirit evident in our lives. For extra reading check out Romans 7:7-8:39.

Like Father, Like Son

You can tell a tree by its fruit, and God wants his children to be known by his own character. So, what would happen if the Spirit's fruit were a lot more visible in your life?

Be Filled with the Holy Spirit (Part 2)

The Holy Spirit is a gift we cannot experience apart from Jesus. Jesus promised the Spirit to all of his disciples and he sent the Spirit to us after he had returned to his Father's side. The Holy Spirit is Jesus living in us. And the Holy Spirit is our Helper - he helps become more and more like Jesus. The next few weeks we're looking at becoming like Jesus, and we begin by recognising the essential role of the Holy Spirit. Do you need a Helper?

Be Filled with the Spirit

Max Lucado recently wrote: "when it comes to the Holy Spirit, we are confused at best and frightened at worst. Confused because we've never been taught. Frightened because we've been taught to be afraid." This Sunday we want to look at what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and we want to do so in a way that deepens our desire to live as Jesus' followers bringing hope to his world.

The beat goes on...

When we think of the Song of Songs, we often can't get past images of women with necks as long as towers, and teeth like straying, furry sheep. But the song of songs speaks far more deeply to us than we might imagine. There is a longing for love and acceptance deep within our hearts that is often almost impossible to satisfy. Where does this desire come from, and how we can we find the love and acceptance that we crave?

Living the Dream

Dan Neville will be speaking to us on Sunday morning - the PM crowd has really come to love Dan's messages, and this Sunday the AM crowd will also get to enjoy one for a change - thanks Dan for stepping up!

Trials Turn to Joy

Where do you turn when life weighs you down? What underpins your hope that you'll endure? Peter understood these questions when he wrote to exiled Christians buckling under persecution and suffering. His response may surprise, though. Not content to offer pithy 'how to' advice, he draws their attention [and ours as well] away from false hopes to focus instead upon the one who gives us living hope.

Sixth Church in Revelation - Philadelphia

Community Section (0.78 MB)
Keith Warren
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The church in Philadelphia (in ancient Asia Minor, today's Turkey) is one of the two churches (two out of seven!) in the Book of Revelation which do not receive criticism from the Lord.

It's an insignificant little church: few resources, little finances, no programs, not many movers and shakers in this church.

But in the eyes of the Lord they were a mega-church! They have kept the Lord's Word, they have not denied His Name, and they practiced godly endurance.

Christ - as the only One who opens (and closes!) the Kingdom of heaven - has set before this insignificant group of Christians and open door! That is: an open door into the Kingdom, and an open door into the world!

The Life of Wisdom

Once we know how great God is and how small we are, we can ask the question, "So how should I live?" If the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and we gain a true perspective by discovering our ONLY significance is found in Jesus, then how do we live in response to that? Simple: obedience. We plan to do his plan and then we implement it. We hear the words of Jesus and we put them into practice. That is what the wise man does. We serve God, we serve one another, we serve the gospel! We store up treasures in heaven, not meaningless junk on earth. And we live out the new life given to us by our Redeemer.

Can we fix it?

Are we kidding ourselves to think that we can actually change anything about the economic situation? What difference can we make, really? Well, you may be surprised at how God might work through his people to make his Kingdom Come!

What is your Life?

When our focus is properly fixed on God, on fearing him, we can begin to gain a true perspective of ourselves. Once we know who God is - our Creator and Redeemer - we can figure out who we are. And James tells us that we are a mist. A mist that appears for a short time and then vanishes. Compared to our Eternal, Almighty God, we are nothing. And we are definitely not the centre of the universe. When we realise that we gain wisdom - a true perspective. And with that knowledge God's love for us is even more amazing. And the plans for our lives become more meaningful than ever! Have a read of Psalm 90.

Will we Survive?

With so much uncertainty about the general economic situation, as well as our own personal financial resilience, it's not hard to see that 'market confidence' has taken a huge hit. The big question is: will we make it? How do you maintain faith in an economic crisis? What is our 'Faith Stimulus Package', and is it realistic?

Wanna be wise?

Life is meaningless. The things we do are useless - a waste of time. Work, education, travel. Friends, fun, money. None of these things will prevent you from dying and none can be taken with you when you go. All of it - a waste of time. So what's the point of living? It's simple: To fear God and keep his commandments (Ecclesiates 12:13). This is the whole point of living. Fear God. What does it mean to fear God? Revere him. Honour him. Worship him. Glorify him. And know him through the love he showed us on the cross. Because all of that you can take with you from this life to the next.

To kick off our series on wisdom try reading through the book of Ecclesiastes.

How did we get here?

Everyone knows we're in the middle of a global financial crisis, but no one seems to know how long it will last, or what the next horror story will be. This short series of messages will be less about financial and market analysis (which is good, because they are coming from Dave...), and more about these two questions: What is God saying to us in a time like this? (and) Are we listening? We read about numerous meltdowns in the Bible, and on Sunday morning we'll be looking at the one mentioned in 1 Kings 16:29-34.

New Creation

Paul closes his letter to the Galatian Christians with a crisp and succinct personal note. As he summarises his main point in the letter, he opens our eyes to one of the most wonderful realities: the very thing Jesus' followers are freed to do and to be.

God's Heart for People

The last chapter of Jonah is a strange addition to the rest of the story. Just when we think all is going to end well, we get chapter 4. But there is always more to learn - that is the point. And this week we learn even more about the greatness of God and the love of God. We learn more about how to live in humility. We learn more about God being in control. And we learn more about God's heart for people.

What will you do with it?

We all talk about 'doing everything to the glory of God' - but what does mean? Prayerful motives? Inspiring worship songs? Good morals? Alastair McEwen, Vice Principal of the Reformed Theological College in Geelong and our teaching guest on Sunday night, will lead us into a challenging understanding of this passage.

What does the Spirit desire?

Pentecost is the church's celebration of when God poured out His Spirit into his church. We celebrate his empowering, we celebrate His gifts and we celebrate His fruit, but we will never have this in perspective until our hearts are set on His desires. What might that mean for you? For community?

Free at Last

The call to freedom is one of the most motivational themes in human history. And the quest for freedom has sparked some of civilisations greatest upheavals and victories. The question needs to be asked: do we know what true freedom is, and do we understand how to live in it? Even though most people see faith as a loss of freedom, in Jesus we find it is something very different.

God Changes Hearts

This week we continue our series through the book of Jonah - Chapter 3. And again we find ourselves marvelling at the greatness of God. After Jonah has sunk to the lowest depths, God rescues him and delivers him and calls him once again to the task of spreading his word. We've seen how human Jonah can be, but we've also seen how mighty God can be. And through the feeble words of the runaway prophet, God brings the great, godless city of Ninevah to repentance. Though we are weak, God can still work wonders through us. He calls us to spread the gospel, and when we do, He saves.

But God...

This Sunday night we continue on in our series in Galatians. This week we see what it means to 'grow up' from slaves to adolescents to heirs. We've seen so far how the Galatians were trying to turn back to their old ways to attain acceptability in God's eyes. This week, we see God's perspective on things and how what seems so impractical is actually the centrepiece to our very lives.

Do Churches ever die?

In Revelation 3:1-6 we come face to face with a dead church, even though it had a marvellous reputation. But Jesus sees beyond the facade, whether it's churches or individuals.

It is so easy for us to be fooled by outward appearances, not only in others but even in ourselves! Christ uncovers our very hearts, and He calls us to repentance.

The church we look at this morning, Sardis, was impressively busy with all kinds of things, but it appears that they did not acknowledge Jesus before men. They did not allow themselves to be guided and enthused by the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Life!

We ought to make sure that Christ will acknowledge us before His Father in heaven!

My Story, Our Story, His Story

From time to time special services are planned, and the prayer is always that Jesus' grace will impact on the hearts and lives of all present. Well, this Sunday may well be one of those days. In both 9am and 5pm services, we will be treated to some very special stories. They will tell us how God has worked in and through normal people, and we'll dream a little about what the future might bring. I've seen some of the advance material, and it's very good.

So, maybe this is the best thing you can do for your mum, for your family and ultimately, for your church - come and be encouraged with the Gospel that brings extraordinary hope to everyday lives.

The Gift

This week we move on to Galatians 3, where Paul looks at how God's gift and God's law relate.

If faith in Jesus is all I need, then why did God give us the law? What are we supposed to do with all these laws and regulations?

Does God want us to have a bet each way, or is God teaching us something far more profound?

Thanksgiving from the Deep

It's easy to forget that we must face trials in order to grow as Christians. It's easy to forget that we need God to rescue us numerous times in our lives, and not just the once. It's easy to forget that the Jonah who went down into the depths of the sea and down into the guts of a fish was man of God. But he was. And he needed the reminder of God's grace in order to strengthen his faith and reignite his song of thanksgiving. And like Jonah, we also need reminders of God's grace to renew our faith and turn our focus back to Christ. Read Jonah 2... Maybe even a few times...

When Grace is hard to do

Sometimes it just doesn't seem right to rely on grace alone. Sometimes we feel we have to do the "right thing" in the eyes of others, rather than live out the reality of pure grace. Am I prepared to be known as a "sinner" so that the message of grace can be heard by those around me?

"Who's in Control Here?"

This week we're starting a new series on the book of Jonah called, "To Obey Or Run Away." Just like Jonah, we have the tendency to run from God's calling on us. Either that or we pretend we don't know what it is! Jonah heard it directly and ran the other way. We say we don't hear it and then plead ignorance.
But it's clear from reading Jonah that God's purpose is to use us to turn unbelieving people into believers. And we need to know that God will never let up on that purpose - it is his mission. If we run from that calling, God will pursue us and help us become the mission-minded people he wants us to be. Because remember, he is sovereign!

But Wait... There's More

But wait - there's more!

This week we begin a new series on Paul's letter to the Galatians called Free at Last.

So often we hear that simply believing in Christ is only the first step towards God, and that there are other things you need to do if you are going to really enter into the fullness of God's blessing.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul passionately defends the all-sufficiency of the gospel, and claims that anything added to the gospel only serves to deny God's grace in Jesus.

God: Loving and Judging

This morning we continue the series dealing with the seven letters to the churches in Revlation; this is letter number 4.

Again, one of the biggest problems - also of this church - is compromise with the world.

False teaching continues to plague these young churches, and accompanied with that is an immoral lifestyle. The Lord is angry when he sees that there is an attitude of tolerance and broadmindedness, on the part of those churchmembers who remain faithful.
Judgment is certainly to follow, and we have to ask ourselves whether our view of God and Jesus is sufficiently anchored in Scripture. Do we see Jesus only as Saviour, without realizing He is also Judge?

Saturday Won't Last Forever!

Late last Sunday evening the ABC showed a 'Compass' program, entitled 'The Hidden Story of Jesus'. It was a presentation by an English theologian whose aim it was to find similarities between the story of Jesus, and stories of other religions.

And there certainly appear to be some similarities. One thing however was glaringly absent in his presentation, and that was the UNIQUENESS of the Christan story!

The death and resurrection of Jesus should have been presented as absolutely different from what any other religion offers!

For without Jesus taking upon Himself the righteous judgment of God against US, and without Jesus rising again, proving thereby that His saving work was truly done, what hope do we have? None!

Let us celebrate Easter 2009 by not just singing about the wonderful resurrection news, but let us celebrate daily in response to the Easter news by LIVING A NEW LIFE!

What Did It Take?

Have you ever pondered on what it really took for Jesus to bridge the gap between us and God? Have you really considered the extent of Jesus' punishment - the punishment he took for us? We often think about Jesus' suffering before and on the cross, the pain and torture he endured. And the cross becomes the symbol of Jesus sacrifice. But in many ways, the cross itself is just the beginning...

In order to bring us back to God, Jesus suffered complete separation from God. He was forsaken by his Father for the first and only time. The Trinity itself was at that point fragmented and broken. This is the way it had to be so we could be saved. The cross for Jesus didn't just represent the death sentence... It represented the wrath of God for the sins of the world. On Friday we praise Jesus because he lost his heavenly Father for a time so we could be reunited with him and look forward to eternal life with him.

You, Me and Our Belly Buttons

We'd love to see you there for another Easter lead-up message and time of worship and fellowship at 5pm.

The Hand of Grace

It's quite possible to look at the life of Judas Iscariot and see a reflection of ourselves, isn't it? Many of us enjoy a relationship with Jesus and have walked with him for quite some time, but, just like Judas, we've often used that relationship for selfish gain and personal agendas. Yet, the most amazing part of the story of Judas is that Jesus never stopped offering his hand of friendship. Jesus' response to the man who betrayed him was to be gracious and loving, always ready to forgive. Thanks to Jesus, we don't have to share the same destiny as Judas. He offers us his hand, that we might accept his grace, no matter where we are in life, and be his friend for all eternity.

The Glance Awakening

People say that you cannot penetrate a rock. The surface is just too hard. Tonight we will meet Peter, a rock-solid follower of Jesus who crumbled under pressure. But something even more powerful changed his life forever. Jack De Vries joins us for the series "The Way Up is Down" as we look at the gospel account of Peter's denial (Matt 26:31-35; 69-75). In his message, "The Glance Awakening", Jack will show from Peter's life how through the tough times of life God can work his purposes in and through us.

Whose will be done?

Have you ever wondered what the alternative to Easter would be? Ever wondered what your life would be if Jesus had refused to be arrested, called 12 legions of angels to his side, destroyed the Romans, and ruled over all mankind? The Bible says he was tempted. But while it all sounds heroic and exciting, we would not be so blessed if he had. We would still be weighed down by sin, guilty in the sight of the conquering King, and ultimately dead. Thankfully Jesus did the will of his Father - humbly and obediently - he responded to God. For us that means life, also under God's will, serving him and looking forward to an eternity with him.

The Last Supper

It's three weeks to go till Easter, and today we're starting a new short series of sermons focussing on the gospel of Matthew, chapters 26-28, right up till Good Friday and Easter. There's even a title for this series: The Way Up is Down.

The Kingdom of God runs counter to many of our expectations and beliefs. The disciples would find their beliefs about Jesus as Messiah challenged every step of His journey to the Cross. Their hopes for the restoration of Israel were anchored in political and economic victories as well as dreams of personal greatness, and how totally different did it all turn out!
The scene of 'The Last Supper' and everything that happens around it, shows Jesus' followers as ignorant, confused, fearful, even quarreling amongst themselves, while their Master shows deep humility and a readiness to continue walking the road of suffering right up to the bitter end.

The passage for today will be Matthew 26: 17-30, but as Mark, Luke and John also write in detail about these final days for Christ, we will also look at some references from these gospel writers.

Moved to Action

Human trafficking is a global epidemic, yet remains widely unseen or acknowledged.
It is the fastest growing form of international crime, and the second largest source of illegal income, raking in more than 31 billion dollars every year.
That's 31 billion dollars made on the buying and selling of innocent and exploited human beings.
But the issue goes far beyond statistics. God is calling the church to respond to injustice in its every form, and to open our hearts to the cry of the oppressed as a central part of being a follower of Christ.
A team of passionate child advocates (from RCRC as well as other congregations) will be leading the service and sharing on the reality of human trafficking and sex slavery, what it means for the church and how God is calling his people to be moved to action.

Change and the Church

Ever wondered why the NT church seemed so flexible, and yet we who have 2000 years of development behind us sometimes find the smallest change hard to handle - why is that? And if we change, how do we avoid mere accommodation of pop culture? How can we deal with change?

Can I Help You?

How can you help others in need? Sometimes we forget that serving people's needs is another great way to share the gospel of Jesus. As the old saying goes, "Actions speak louder than words." By loving and serving others, we're doing exactly what Jesus did. See, it's not natural for people to care about others, only themselves. But when Christ genuinely moves us to help others, they know there's something different and special about us - we have the gospel in our hearts. And when people see that, it opens up the door for meaningful conversations about Christ. How can you help others in need?

Each one Teach one

Training leaders and discipling Christians is more a models of 'each one teach one'. For too long we have left this to a few people. Do we understand the sheer power and possibility of the NT discipleship model? This is not just a matter having good teachers, this is about raising up people to carry the Gospel into the hearts, homes and communities of the future. What role might you have to play in all this?

Come and Meet Jesus

Have you ever meet someone important before? Do you remember what it was like? Have you meet someone who was important and did not realize that the person was important? Come with us Sunday night and discover what it was like for a lady who meets Jesus for the first time!

Churches that Plant Churches

It used to be that many saw planting other churches as something that happens as well as worship, teaching, serving and Christian community. What can we see in the NT church, and why does it matter?

Baptise the BBQ

Christian sometimes struggle to maintain friendships with people outside their church networks. This does not seem to have been a problem in the NT. Surprisingly, relationships with people who did not know Jesus may have been the backbone of missional success. How can we use relationships as open doors for Jesus' message? Read ahead at
Question: Why is it so hard to maintain good friendships outside church circles?

Really Knowing God

Today is a national day of mourning, and of course there is great sadness in many hearts and places. We will consider some words of the prophet Jeremiah in chapter 9, and he certainly knew what mourning was!
Next to the mourning for devastating losses, we have to mourn for our sins, and for the many times that we grieve Almighty God.

God's Story and Our Story Intertwined

Telling our story can be one of the most impacting ways to share the good news of Jesus. On one hand, it is the power Jesus has to enter into a person's story, show them love and grace, save them from sin and turn their life completely around. But on the other hand, each story that features the saving work of Jesus is part of a much bigger story - God's story of salvation and redemption! Each of our lives is like a mini version of God's restoring work in the world. So, our testimony not only helps other people to identify with real life circumstances, it also points to God's great story of hope and rescue, which sees it's climax in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! Your story is not just for you... God can use it to bring more people to know Jesus. Have a look at the story of the blind man in John 9 for an example.

Where is God in all this?

It has been a terrible week, hasn't it? I have stared at my screen or TV more than a few times and have just been assaulted by the level of destruction and the heaviness of grief in Victoria and to a lesser extent, northern Queensland.

The questions just keep coming: Where is God in all this? Why do these things keep happening? Why?
Sunday AM we'll seek to place ourselves in Scripture's light, and find some meaning in what God has to say. We will be praying. We will be seeking. And together we'll search for Jesus' comfort together.

Fitting Jesus into Culture

Where do we aim to get people? The head or the heart? That's one of the questions we face when we think about evangelism. Do we pile them up with data and information or do we just say, "Jesus loves you." Well, the truth is, there is no right or wrong answer here. Some people need to be convinced in their minds before they believe in their hearts and others just need to feel loved. This week we want to think about the intellectual approach to evangelism - and the question, "Is Jesus relevant in today's culture?" If not, what are we doing to change that. Some of us, especially, are called to know Jesus, know the culture and make that link between the two, just as we see Paul doing in Acts 17:16-34... Have a read!

Prayer is where the Heart is

Ever examined what you actually pray for over the period of a week or so?? What tends to be the focus of your prayers? Do you think your prayers show the true focus of your heart, and is this a good focus? When we look at Jesus' prayers, and Paul's prayers, this is, in fact, what we see. On Sunday 9am, we'll be looking at the role of prayer in joining God's mission.

Tell it Like it is

In the age of acceptance and tolerance we often find ourselves trying to mould the gospel into something pretty and non-offensive before we feel ready to share it with others. We want people to like Jesus and like Christianity and like us, don't we? Yet, Peter reminds us that the gospel of Jesus is confronting, making people stumble and fall. It is not a pretty lifestyle, but a bold declaration of Jesus, the Son of God.

Though we are not all gifted as preachers and public speakers, we can all seek to become bolder in our sharing of the gospel. We're not called to be chickens for Jesus. And people need to see that Jesus gives courage and that the Christian faith is worth making a stand for. For those gifted in confronting people, Peter's example in Acts 2 encourages you to 'tell the gospel like it is' - there is definitely a need for such boldness.

Our Missional Manifesto

Want to know what RCRC is really on about? Want the big picture on where we are headed? Then you need to lock into this new teaching series. It will help you understand the 'why' or our planning and ministry, and it will help you understand more about the CRCA. Whether you're new to RCRC or an old timer, there are bound to be a few surprises.

When it comes to planning, goals and strategies, some people suggest all that sort of stuff is an invasion of business methodology into the church. Every thought about that? This series will help us understand that Jesus had a plan, and he followed it. Paul had a plan, and he followed it. God has a plan, and the Scripture is the story of him following that plan and bringing it to completion in Jesus.

The question we all need to ask, then, is “do we see how important it is to be intentional about planning what we do, how we are going to do it, and why it all matters?"

Can you hear the cry?

As the year begins, we're all making lots of plans and goals. We're thinking about our priorities and our directions. For some of us, perhaps the year is already looking a little busy. Do you want to be a better reflection of what it means to follow Him in 2009? Interestingly, this is not far from any of us, and the most surprising thing is that it comes through very surprising means.

Compromise and toleration!

This morning there is correspondence for the church at Pergamum, and this letter is also for the church at Redlands!

In Pergamum there are plenty of distractions, especially for Christians. But the church there remained faithful even in a tough situation. But even though these Christians had maintained their acceptance of the truth, they nevertheless tolerated in their fellowship some false prophets. Was this a matter of sacrificing some truth for the sake of love? Or had they just become slack?

The Lord of the Church rejects this attitude of compromise. Repent!

Honour Roll

TIME magazine has honoured Barrack Obama as the "2008 Person of the Year".  Do we live our lives in such a way that we matter?  What kind of recognition or honour would you receive?  What would it take for us to have our picture on the cover of TIME magazine?  As we think about the year ahead, how we live our lives today will have an impact on how we will live our lives into the future and even eternity.  Jesus is prepared to do for us in heaven what we are prepared to do for him on earth.  We are to live our lives in such a way that we will receive divine recognition.

Do we have to try?

Often we find ourselves in times of apathy in our faith. Our efforts seem to be going nowhere and we wonder if doing anything is worthwhile. We get mixed messages from people, some saying we have to wait and let God work in us and others saying we need to take initiative and let God work in what we do. And so the question comes to mind, "Do we have to try?"
In John 15, Jesus teaches us that our Christian lives need a bit of both. God is the one who bears fruit in our lives and makes us grow as Christians. But Jesus clearly calls us to remain in him also. He calls us to try, to put in the effort and make it a priority to live and exist in Jesus, drawing from his unlimited life-source. When we do that, a passion to serve and bring glory to God is promised.

Your Hope Shapes your Life

Eyes that see, but never see!

From Fear to Faith

Jesus sends a letter to the church in the city of Smyrna, some 2000 years ago. Today that city is still there (it's now called Izmir, in Turkey), but how different the situation! In Revelation 2:8-11 the apostle John writes to a church which is going through a very tough time: persecution, poverty, even death. Fear must have been their daily companion.
Jesus encourages them to remain faithful, for He knows all their pain and grief. He is in control, He is victorious! And because of that, His children will also be victorious!

God's Powerful Work

So what difference does God make? How do lives look different when Jesus and his work takes over? As we read the book of Acts we often focus on what is happening in the world as the gospel goes out and churches are planted. But when we start to look at the lives of those who carry the gospel, we see some pretty powerful stuff going on there as well. And so what might God do in our lives if we start to get serious about him and his work? What might the results be for 2009? Well explore this on Sunday night.

The Gospel of Ruth

The story of Ruth is a very simple story at heart. It's the classic girl meets boy - girl and boy get married - boy dies - girl moves in with the mother-in-law - girl finds another boy - falls in love - gets married  - everyone lives happily ever after - type of story. It's the sort of story that speakers at women's conferences like to use, and it's a popular study topic for groups of teenage girls, because both Ruth and Naomi are such strong, heroic characters. But we want to see that the reasons for including Ruth's story in the Bible go much wider and deeper than just her strength of character. These reasons go right to the heart of God and what He is doing in this world, and so God is really the focus of this story, not Ruth.

Experiencing God - End of Year 2008

How can we experience God more in 2009? We all seek more power, and we all want to be more loving. Is there a way to make this happen more effectively? And imagine a church where this is working well. Want to go there in 2009? Then Sunday night will be good for your heart and your soul.

Me or the Mission?

Its amazing when we become so totally focused on something, how we will allow other things to just fade into insignificance. An athlete, focused on their sport, will forgo all sorts of social activity. A scholar, heads buried in the books, will completely forget about eating meals. So what happens then when we are totally focused on the most important thing in this world - Jesus and his mission? What will begin to fade into insignificance as we put God's priorities first?

Welcome Home to Hope

Christmas Day service.

Waiting for more this Christmas?

Christmas time is a time of waiting and expectancy. Waiting for holidays, expecting pre-requested gifts, waiting for food, expecting happiness, waiting for the new year, expecting new chances. And yet there's a deeper waiting and expectancy going on as well. We're waiting for salvation and the ultimate joy that comes with it, just as Simeon and Anna were doing (Luke 2:21-40). We're waiting for more. But often, as we wait for more, we forget about those who are waiting for their first truly meaningful Christmas. So, as we wait for more, we need to remember that Jesus has already come and brought hope and redemption to the world so that we can share it with those who are waiting and in desperate need of more. We could die happy today having known Jesus, if not for the millions who have not heard he has come.

Welcome Home to a Fresh Start

Have you ever experienced utter hopelessness? That point where you have run out of options, and have nowhere left to turn? It's a scary and desperate place to be. When we open up the pages of Luke, the nation is Israel is there. They may not know it yet, but its pretty bad. Even one of the priests refuses to believe God, even when an angel personally turns up to give him the message. But its into that situation that Jesus comes. And he comes to bring hope, and a new beginning, for the nation, for the world, and for people like us. Jesus is still about turning up in hopeless situations. He is still about bringing hope and new beginnings.

Come and Find Forgiveness

We've seen them on the beach: red & yellow caps: eyes focused just beyond the breakers. Life savers are there for people who get into trouble and who cannot save themselves. Hardly a more relevant picture of Jesus. The big question is: do you need rescuing? Are you ‘getting into trouble' or ‘out of your depth?' Jesus is your Rescuer, and that is good news.

We Three Kings

The old carol goes, "We three Kings of Orient are ... following yonder star", but how accurate is that? It just might not be the whole story! In fact, a close look at the visit of the wise men to Jesus, reveals some very interesting things about who they were and why they came. And in a way it will reveal something very interesting about who WE are and why WE come as well. Have a read of Matthew 2:1-12 while humming the Carol and see what you find.

Christmas Wow Factor

Remember as a kid how exciting  the whole time of Christmas was? The presents, the holidays, the parties. It all added up to be one great time of celebration and excitement. To be honest, I wish I could go back to that sometimes, because sometimes Christmas feels like more hassle that it really is - something to be endured, rather than something to be celebrated. But the very first Christmas was a time of great celebration. In Luke 2 we read words like "great joy", "rejoicing", "praising God." So what's the celebrate?

Egyptian Idolatry

Watch this Sermon

For thousands of years ancient Egypt had a very strong focus on the worship of idols. Many of these idols were pictured as animals or part-animals.
This morning we want to consider how Romans 1 relates to idol worship, and what some of the consequences are. Not just for the Egyptians, or the Israelites, but also for us in 2008. The only one who can set us free from wrong worship, is Jesus.

Ordinary Christmas

If all we ever knew about from Christmas was from Christmas Cards, we would get a very interesting picture of what happened when Jesus was born. It would be a very pretty scene, clean barn, clean animals, Mary looking like she had just stepped out of a salon. Joseph the kind of rugged good looking type that should have made an appearance in the new movie "Australia." But when we begin to read the New Testament, and have our images shaped by the Bible, we get a very different picture. It is in fact all so... ordinary. This week we start a new series called "Four Christmases" looking at the birth of Jesus from the point of view of 4 different groups of people, and what they experience, and what they have to teach us. This week we start with looking at Mary and Joseph.

Give It To Me

Do you ever think about our vision ‘to see the city of Redlands become a community of hope' and then think to yourself ‘Yeah, right'. How can we be serious about this when the task seems so huge, impossible even? Who are we trying to kid? Jesus' words about this are profound, challenging, perhaps even confronting. And Dave is going to open them up next Sunday. You won't want to miss this.

Professions of Faith

On Sunday evening four of our young people are professing their faith and sharing their testimonies. This is an exciting celebration for these young people, their families and the whole church community. It is a time to remember the great promises God makes to his people, how he fulfills them in Jesus and how he guarantees life through the gift of his Spirit. We often focus on our agreement to follow Jesus, but it's good for us to also remember God's decision to bring us into his family. Afterall, our faith -  the profession and the growth - is another amazing example of God at work.

Are you home yet?

Don't you just love coming home after a long time of absence? Even when you have had a great time away, its good to get home. The smells are familiar, you know where everything is, people are glad to see you, it just feels... right. What we don't often appreciate is that when we come to faith in Jesus, God brings us home. Home to himself, and home to his people. Its where we are meant to be, its that place that is just... right, and it fits. This Sunday we will be looking at that idea of God bringing people home, as we consider Zephaniah 3:14-20.

New Creation

You've probably noticed: often when people start talking about'; the last days' the tone of conversation changes, often shifting into a ‘minor key'. God wants us to think about the last days, but the interesting thing is that the Bible speaks of Jesus' return in wonderfully positive terms. It's a victory we're longing for! So, what are ‘the last days', what does it mean to live in them? What is ‘heaven' and why/how should we be longing for it? Finally, does God have a plan for his people until Jesus returns? This message will be full of challenge, and there are bound to be a few surprises.

Made Right to do Good

We often think that Jesus death and resurrection, and the resulting holiness that this brings us, is purely to do with us getting into heaven. God makes us clean, so that we can be in relationship with him, and live with him forever. And this is of course very true, and praise God that it is. But when we read Titus we see that there is more than this as well. Be are made right, so that we will live right. We are made holy, so that we will live holy, and in so doing be God's instrument of restoration in the world.

The Church

This week in our Walk Through The Bible series, we come to the most relevant section - the Church. In thinking about the Church and our role in God's story, we really want to flesh out what it means to be blessed by God, and also what it means to be a blessing in the community around us. When we talk about hope for the Redlands, we're talking about US being a blessing in the Redlands. We're talking about being used by God to bring about his restoration in the Redlands. We really have been blessed to be a people who know God. But by blessing his people, God intends to make them a blessing to others.

Biblical Christianity

Titus is to teach the Christians on the island of Crete to live good and godly lives, so as to make the gospel of Christ attractive. An excellent way to evangelize!

How are we enabled to live such lives? Because of grace! At the first coming of Christ we received 'grace upon grace'. Are we now eagerly awaiting the second coming of Christ, so that our salvation wil be complete!

Why is it Hard to Believe in Jesus?

"Some of the greatest barriers people have to following Jesus are his current followers" I am not sure how you respond to that. But I do think that even a casual reader of the Gospels will find a yawning gulf between the Jesus they read about in the New Testament and most Australians who go by his name today. Some will address this tension by suggesting we need to go back to the New Testament church. The problem is that there is no uniform picture of the New Testament church. Which one of them would you really want to be like? Perhaps the better advice is that we should clearly identify with Jesus. Is that what you want to do?

Did God Fail?

If it were up to me, the Bible would be a much simpler and shorter book. Basically, it would jump from God's promises to Abraham in Genesis 12, straight to Jesus in the New Testament. I wouldn't have bothered with all that stuff about Israel and kings and temples, just adds too much time and confusion into the whole equation. But I am not God, and surely he did know what he was doing. So what are we to make of the nation of Israel, especially as they fall into decline, get taken away into captivity and return just a shadow of their former glory? This week we look at the Exile and the Prophets, and see that without Israel and their failure, we wouldn't really understand Jesus.

How to Change Things for the Better

We have heard a lot about the need to make a difference on our world. We talk about 'hope for Redlands' and we have a program for this, and a process for that, and we have to read this book, and go to that seminar. Sometimes it seems there are too many demands placed upon us: we're busy enough, right?

Surprisingly, being God's change agents may not be that complicated after all. It may not as hard as you might think, in fact it might be very simple. Sunday morning we will be find out about the ingenious plan of God, and even see how it has been at work through history.

Is God Really with me?

Do you really believe God is with you? Could this be the most basic question of humanity? Might it explain why we are chronic seekers, always looking for something to give us that deep sense of security and significance?
Perhaps this is the basic question God's people have always faced - even in the Garden. It might explain why the ancient people of Israel wanted a King 'like all the other nations'. God had told them, and shown them, again and again, that he really was with them. Why couldn't they just listen?

But let's not just leave the challenge with them - what about you? Do you really believe God is with you, and does that make some kind of difference on your life? Does it impact your values? Your dreams? The way you love, and live?

We will be looking at 120 chapters of the Old Testament (start reading now!) Start at Joshua 1 and go through to 1 Kings 11 Our focus will be 1 Kings 1-11.

Leaders are Lovers of Good

Perhaps the greatest challenge we face as Christians is to 'practice what we preach' as the saying goes. We can talk and talk and talk about the Bible and Christian living, but do we live the way we encourage others to do so? In our second Titus section Paul gives us one of his famous criteria lists for Christian leaders. But unlike other job criteria, the criteria for servants of Jesus revolves completely around character - not gifts, not skills - just character and integrity. Because to be a servant of Jesus, as we all are, we need to work on the inside in order to get positive results on the outside.

Exodus and Law

Moving beyond Genesis this week, we find ourselves learning more of how God goes about restoring his world and fulfilling his promise to Abraham. The books of Exodus to Deuteronomy can excite us with stories of God's power as well as bore us with long lists of drawn-out laws. But every chapter in these books fits perfectly into God's promise to reverse the fall and rescue his people. He begins with the rescue of one nation to be his people, a kingdom of priests, used to further implement his plans and purposes in the world. The random passage can be from anywhere in Exodus to Deuteronomy, so start hunting now!

Ministry 101

Sometimes I have been called a "minister" in the church, and I don't really like it. It's not because it's not accurate, it's just that it's a half truth. Because when it comes to ministry, it's not something that just the few are called to, it's for every Christian. As we begin to look through the book of Titus today, we see that Paul is spelling out that ministry is something we are all involved with. And so, as we look at Titus 1:1-4, we will be looking at the basics of ministry, what it means to be a servant of God.

Walk through the Bible

Reading Genesis can be most fascinating. Some of the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the rest of the family can be entertaining, but leave us wondering "What on earth is God trying to tell us here?" But when we read it remembering what we saw in Genesis 1-11, and looking at God's promises in Genesis 12, we see that God is not just trying to entertain us, but tell us some vital news about his world rescue operation. He is telling us about how this reversal of the fall is going to take place, what he is going to do through Jesus, and also how he is going to use us. Don't forget to get ready for random passage, this time from Genesis 12-50. There are some great ones there, so come prepared.

Worship - Time to Celebrate God

Do you ever think about 'awe' and 'wonder'? If so, does worship ever fit that description? I know, it's a pretty laden comment, but there are ways that we approach worship that will almost definitely set us up for failure. How can worship and awe be more connected in our experience? Read ahead at Hebrews 12:18-29

Walk through the Bible

Genesis 1-12 seems to invite us into a world that is very different from our own, so distant from what we know and experience. There are naked people running around talking to snakes and eating fruit. There are hunters and farmers who don't get on, giants and floods and the building of a big tower. We can end up thinking that it's a nice story, but even if it is true, what does it have to do with us, with today? But when we look at these chapters in the context of the Bible, when we understand them as the beginnings of the unfolding story of God, we see that it has everything to do with us, and everything to do with today. Without understanding Genesis 1-12 we don't really understand ourselves, we don't really see the need for Jesus, and we struggle to understand our (the Church's) place in the world. This week we start our new "Walk through the Bible" series, looking at Genesis 1-12.

Need Some Space?

We see key times in Jesus ministry that he withdrew to be alone: right at the commencement of his ministry, and right at its close, and many times throughout. We have to ask ourselves: are we just too busy, and we can't switch off? Is the pace of life too much? How might that impact on our relationship with Jesus? If we're asking ‘what can we do about it?' we need to know that times of solitude of going to be part of the answer. Read ahead at Psalm 23
PS. How's your homework going?

Speaking to God about People

What happens when God's people pray for him to work powerfully? In Acts 4 we find out how God works through people to bring a community of hope.

What's the deal with fasting?

The ‘Draw Near' series continues: we'll be looking at what Jesus says about fasting, and what role it may have in giving expression to our walk with God. We'll debunk some myths about fasting and seek to discover its true value. Some important lessons to learn about listening to our bodies, and speaking without our mouths. And we'll get a little healthier, in all sorts of ways.

Community of Love

Why do we love? Are we motivated by feelings? Or is it a simple matter of choice? In John's letter it becomes clear that God is our motivation, our reason and our ability to love. In fact, God is love - without him there is no love. When we think about being a community of love, we see that our love for one another is the way God shows his love today.

Homosexuality - A Double Repentance

Back, due to popular demand... A few weeks ago we looked at the issue of being Christian and Gay. A number of people commented that they would like to have a follow up message thinking about how we, as a church, love and support people who struggle with same sex attraction. Too often, for Christians who struggle in this way there have been only two options. 1) A openly gay lifestyle. 2) Cold loneliness of isolation. But we want to suggest there is a third way, the way of Jesus and his church. Before you come, have a read of Romans 12:3-16 and think how a person who struggles with same sex attraction fits into this picture.

A Community of Truth

In the world we live, truth is a matter of opinion. No one is sure of what truth is. People are becoming more and more convinced that there is nothing solid to base life on. Even as Christians, we struggle discerning what is true and what is false.
But John shows us in his first letter that those who walk in the light can be confident in the truth of Jesus Christ. The Son of God is the centre of truth and the measure of everything else in life. In Jesus we find an unshakable and immovable foundation, and from him we can distinguish between what is true and what is false.

Draw Near to God

Somewhat introductory, though we'll be looking at what it means to ‘draw near to God', asking the question of whether we're really as open to God as we could be, and what we might be able to do about it.

Community of Purity

Sunday evening we begin a new series in the book of 1 John, looking at how we can be a Community of Light in this world. Through this letter we'll tackle many challenges to our faith, address difficult lifestyle changes, and come out the other side renewed and refreshed in God's love. In the first week, we'll be looking at being a Community of Purity, continually throwing off sin and obeying God. The question we need to ask ourselves is, "Am I being honest about my sin?" The forgiveness of Jesus is powerful, but only if we are willing to acknowledge our need for it. And when we do, we receive confidence to obey God and live pure lives.

First of Seven Churches - Ephesus

How special it would be if Jesus would write us a letter, specifically to Redlands CRC.
Well, He did do that, you can read it in Revelation 2:1-7. True, this letter was for the ancient church in Ephesus, but as it's in the Bible, it is also for us.
Lots of activity in this Ephesus church, they couldn't stand wrong teaching, they did not deny Christ. But was it all done with a cold heart? How is that possible?
How does Redlands CRC take this to heart?

Men and Work

This is the final in "It's a Bloke's World" series We'll be looking at why is it easy for a man to work too hard and too long too often. How can we find a sense of balance? Is it really possibly to really love your work, really love your family/others, and really love God all at the same time? And why did Jesus invest so much effort as an apprentice carpenter with Joseph, only to become a preacher/rabbi?

Sunday vs The Rest of the Week

Who are you on a Monday morning? We all know the reality, church on Sunday was great, a real lift, a boost, a reconnection with God and his people, a recommitment to God's mission. But come Monday morning, something has happened. It's like 8 hours of sleep slowly dissolved everything that was so certain and sure the day before. So how do we close that gap, how do we deal with the disparity of Sunday vs. the rest of the week? We will wrestle with 1 Peter 2:4-5, and have our vision of Jesus, his people and his mission expanded, beyond Sunday, and on into the week.

Man about the House

How do men deal with the responsibility of leadership? How does it work out in today's world? Can in work without becoming an ugly display of male arrogance and superiority? God seeks to transform human relationships, and Jesus helps us understand how that is not only possible, but probable, when men follow him with all their heart.

Spiritual Warfare - Taking a Stand

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'Spiritual warfare' is sometimes one of those topics that we get a little bit scared of. It seems to be inviting us into an unseen, unknown and volatile world that is for 'super Christians' and people a little bit on the edge. But when we start to explore the Bible's teachings on the issue we begin to see that being involved in spiritual warfare is not optional for a Christian, we are already in the middle of the battle. The only question is whether we are battling well, and prepared, or just letting things happen around us.

No More Little Secrets

Breaking the cycles of childhood sexual abuse (Dave G & Jo Briffa - Bravehearts)

There is a seedy side to our world, and it is being driven, controlled, and perpetuated by men. It destroys kid's lives and dehumanises women. It devours marriages and families. Are we realistic in thinking that men who follow Jesus could challenge - or even change - this terrible situation?

Can you be a Christian and Gay?

On the surface, it's a simple question, with a very simple answer, and one that has been given by the church for 2000 years pretty consistently. NO. The two are mutually exclusive. But then you start to ask some questions around that. Questions like "Is that really what the Bible teaches, or are we just reading our own homophobia back into the Bible," or "But what if a person is gay, and doesn't have a choice about it," or, "But what do we do with people who struggle with this, can they be open about it, or do they have to ‘pretend.'" We begin to realize pretty quickly that this is not an open and shut case, and to give simplistic ‘rehearsed' answers actually damages people, and damages the church's witness.

Male Models

Your Career as a Male Model - The importance of positive role models for kids. What is it that men don't get about being a positive example for young children - especially boys? How can following Jesus lead us out of this quagmire?

Let Freedom Reign

One of the most common instructions given to New Testament Christians is that they are to forgive others. The sheer number of times that it is mentioned makes two things immediately obvious. Firstly, that Christians are not immune to hurting and hurting others. It's a sad fact, but we carry around the scars of life. Secondly, its not a simple issue, and its not that easy to do. This Sunday, as we begin our "I have a friend who struggles with..." series, we will be looking at the issue of forgiveness. We'll see that its more than a matter between me and another person, it's a matter of Christ, and it's a matter for the whole community of Christ.

Am I my Brother's Keeper?

When we look around at the world we live in, the over-arching message is that to survive, you need to look out for number one (yourself that is).  Many of us would know that Jesus calls us to look out for others but would not be aware of the extent to which we are to do it and the consequences of following the world's 'me first' path.  In Luke 17, Jesus has a hard lesson to teach the apostles, and in turn us.

A Letter From Jesus

Mail from Jesus! How exciting, and how intimidating at the same time! What is the Lord writing to us, yes, also to us, for a 2000-yr. old letter still speaks to the Church of today! Amazing, but true!
 
This morning we will focus on the author of the correspondence in Revelation 2 and 3. John is the writer and Jesus is the author. He is the One who walks amidst His people, and the clearer we see Him with the eye of faith, the clearer we will reflect Him to those around us!

Getting to know Jesus better, may well be the best tool to evangelise the Redlands!

Beyond Good and Evil

This Sunday night we will look at the story of Job and try to understand some of the story behind his suffering. Was Job being punished for something he did or didn't do, or was he just the victim of a cruel game played by God?What does Job's story teach us about suffering, and do we see the same sort of thing today? How was Job's relationship with God changed through this experience, and what does it have to say to us about our faith in God?

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Is Jesus Enough?

Jesus is so cool. I mean he takes care of my sin, he washes my soul clean, and sorts out the issue of where I go when I die. He really lets me get on with the rest of my life, knowing those things are taken care of. Like a handy laundry detergent, "gives me peace of mind so I can get on with the rest of my day." But is that what Jesus has in mind when he calls us to follow him? Is he only interest in part, or all of our lives? IN this passage (Luke 14:25-35) Jesus has some pretty tough stuff to say - basically when it come to him, he wants everything, and no other rivals.

What's in your hands?

In the same way that God used what was in Moses hands (and by all measures, it wasn't much), he fully intends to use what is in your hands. Your time, your opportunities, your resources. But God does not really force your hand, he wants to work and act through your choice and the exercise of your restored will. So: what's in your hands? What have you been given? What are you going to do with it to display God's big picture?

Humility

It's so easy to fall into the trap of feeling like we deserve to be followers of Jesus. One minute we're thinking of God's grace and how much he's done for us, the next minute we're trying to earn our way into the good books. After a while we begin to take God's grace for granted and see ourselves doing all the hard work. But following Jesus means living a life of complete humility - daily recognizing our unworthiness and daily thanking him for his love and salvation. In Luke 14:15-24 it's not what we think. The acceptance of grace does not give us status, but humbles us over and over again.

Stewardship

Our response to a God who has given us everything is to live as givers in this world. We don't do this through our own strength, but through the grace of God. And because of this we trust that God can use what we have in our hands to do great things. Nothing is too small for him to work with and no cause is too hopeless for his changing power. When we give of ourselves, we don't do it to highlight our own generosity, but to highlight what God will do through us. He can turn the ordinary stuff in our hands into something amazing and extraordinary! And there exists our confidence to give.

It's Not What You Think

This week we are starting a new series looking at Luke 14. In this chapter Jesus has a number of different things to say about himself, and about following him. In each of these incidents he is challenging the commonly accepted views on life and religion. Jesus' words a just as challenging today as they were 2000 years ago. He tells us that his version of life, the real version of life, is very different to what we might be expecting. Prepare to be challenged. (you can read ahead in Luke 14:1-14).

God: Giver and Gift

We're commencing a brand new series on giving and stewardship. And just so we get things in their right perspective, we're starting with God. At his very essence, God is a giver. He made a choice and he gave. He gives of himself in creation, in the covenant of grace, in the establishment of his people, the nation of Israel, the coming of Christ, the Cross, Resurrection, the mission of the Kingdom, and the ultimate restoration of all things. Perhaps the best known verse of all, is that God so loved the world that he gave... If we ever want to understand what giving is all about, we have to start here!

Kingdom Bringers

Our guest speaker, John Hoogenhout, will be talking about the kingdom of God - how we already live in it, but don't fully have it. (Double Dutch eh?) We are called to live the kingdom of God life... it's hard yes... but that's the gist of Mt.6:10.

Goldly Faith for God's Word

Israel's role as a ‘light to the nations' and how their disobedience to God meant that they were actually a stumbling block to the people, and how now in Christ, the church is again called to be a light to the nations and take a gospel with us wherever we go and the difference that makes in people's lives.

The End of all Prayer

The day is coming when prayer will be 24/7. Every longing we have for life, for hope and for justice is a prayer than yearns for fulfilment. The day will come. And it will come when Jesus comes. Are you praying for that? And until the day, are you living your prayer in the here and now?

Tomorrow's Hope Today

When Amos predicted hope for the faithful few in Israel, even he was probably not aware of how much of God's grace was still to be revealed. Thousands of years later, we can look back and see that there was great hope beyond such harsh punishment. Not only did the Lord bring some of his people back from exile, he also sent Jesus to bring hope for all who would believe. This was God's greatest act of mercy. Yet, this hope still stands in contrast with God's wrath as a warning to people - to have any hope at all they must return to him. By turning from plastic religion to Godly faith, all people can still come to know the hope of God's promises and life in Jesus as we wait for the final judgement.

Persisting in Prayer

Abram first heard God's promise about a son when he was 75 years old. The promise was fulfilled 25 years later. His life tells us something about persistence and humility. How did he deal with the delay in fulfilment: not particularly well. And if that how Abram managed, what hope have we got? How will we stick it out?

What are you Chasing after?

We all want the blessing of God in our lives, right? Surely its not a bad thing to want the blessing of God? We want peace, joy, security. Its only natural. People in Amos' day wanted exactly the same things - and they even wanted them to be of the "God" variety. Only probably was, they bypassed God to get them. They chose 'experiences' of God, over God himself. They chose the good of themselves, over the good of others God had called them to. So it makes us ask, when we desire these things - are we seeking them from God - or are we bypassing him altogether.

The Persecuted Church

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For thousands of years those who chose for God have met with opposition.  Persecution - whether big or small - has always been with us. Even today millions are suffering for the Kingdom of Jesus.
How is that true of us? How does opposition for Jesus' sake bring blessedness and joy?

Holiness and Humility

When worship becomes about us and what we want to do, it becomes a form of plastic religion. We are forgetting what lies at the heart worship - God. Worship is not about music or methods. It's not about us and what we love to do. Worship is about complete humility before an awesome and holy God. It is about our unworthiness before our perfect God. We quickly limit worship to the things we want to tell God or sing to God. But worship is not heartfelt if we are not standing before his holiness, open and vulnerable, in complete humility, silenced by his perfection.

Prayer on the Hard Road

"Prayers of request tend to fall into one of two categories: trouble or trivia" (Yancey) Does prayer really make any difference? What ‘difference' are we wanting to see? What if prayers go unanswered? Did Jesus ever find his prayers unanswered? Have read of Psalm 42 to warm up for the message.

Are you sure you're safe?

To be perfectly honest, I have no problem with God announcing and bringing judgment on bad, sinful people. Not nice for them, sure, but it kind of fits. But the problem I have with Amos is that it is written to people who were Old  Testament "Christians." People who thought / assumed /believed like they were safe from the judgment of God. Now that is scary, because it makes me ask the question, "if that happened to them, can the same thing happen to me?" This Sunday as we look at Amos 2-3, we are going to look at the differences and similarities between 'covenant' and being 'saved', and be asked a very important question, are we really saved?

Prayer: Steering wheel or spare tyre?

With all the calls for us to have ‘devotions' and ‘time with God', and that those times should be sustained, informed and worshipful, how can we actually make it happen? What concrete steps can we take? How do we move beyond the stale air of self centeredness? If you observe some of God's praying people in Scripture we see something very enlightening: they hardly ever prayed for themselves! OK, so what did they pray for? (Read ahead: Ps 72, Col 4:2-6, Amos 2, John 17)

God's World

The Lord God, the roaring Lion, is Sovereign over all the earth. 
That's the first thing that becomes clear in the prophecies of Amos: 
God is our all-powerful God. Every person in the world is under his Lordship, under his love, and under his judgement. And everyone is expected to live responsibly as his image-bearers. This means loving others and treating them as Jesus would. While plastic religion is all about going through the motions, Godly faith is all about caring for everyone else in God's world. As the church, we need to be extra vigilant about setting an example in relationships and calling the 
world to Christ's Lordship. Amos 1:3-2:3.

Will God Listen?

What could be more irritating than trying to satisfy a whole bunch of people clamouring for what they want? That's what people at Dominos get paid to do - so keep me out of it! Why should I do that? More: why should God do that? Does he ever get sick of hearing all those prayers? What hope have we got? Just think for a moment: if you were God, would you answer prayers like the ones you offer?

Word of God

We often hear that we should read the Bible more. But is this really what God wants, more and more reading? Proponents of Plastic Religion, such as those in the time of Amos, and today, make a great deal of reading the Word of God, knowing lots about the Word of God, but yet still come under the judgment of God. Why is this? This Sunday night we begin our series in the book of Amos, looking at 7:10-17, and being challenged to consider our response to the Word of God. Are we simply going to listen to it, be wowed by it, or are we actually going to live it?

God's Glory in you?

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What's the Big Deal?

This is the question we ask when we really want to get to the bottom of something: the missing money, the broken window, the stain on the carpet. Our hope is that there is an acceptable explanation.  What about life? Can we ask that question about life? About being a follower of Jesus? About the church? Sunday night we ask this question from God's perspective. When you understand the answer, it may just change your life.

Wise Investments

Ever wondered what advice Jesus gives for financial planning? Ever wondered where he thinks is the wisest place to invest your money? In fact, Jesus quite deliberately avoids the issue of such planning, and by recognizing why he does, we can all learn a valuable lesson. Through the story of the Rich Fool, Jesus shows how, what the world might see as wise, can often be regarded as foolishness to God. There is a challenging message to all Christians who live in the West to 'Beware of the love of possessions,' and 'be rich towards God.'

Who is God?

So is God a hard task master, or more like a gentle giant? There are two 'versions' of God that we often hold on to. One where he is stern and mean and punishing (that's the God we would like to unleash on all the bad people out there) The other is where is forgiving, loving and welcome (that's the God its good to come home too). Is it possible that God could be both at the same time? Could he even be both to Christians and non-Christian alike?

Miracles - and for what?

Miracles - Their Effect and Purpose: We all know about the parable of the talents: we are called to be courageous with the opportunities and gifts God gives. You also see this when God works in wonderful ways: given that God has done this, what does it mean for us, for ministry, for Gospel work?

Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory

We've come to the last (and 9th!) sermon dealing with the Lord's Prayer: 'Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory'.
Is that what we see in this world? Is God recognized as King; do people revere Him as all-powerful; does He get all the glory?
Sadly, the answer is so often in the negative. There are so many others in our world, competing for power and glory! Nevertheless, in FAITH the church continues to praise God, and says: "Yours is the kingdom, the power, the glory."
And God's people say "Amen" to that!

What makes Miracles Happen?

Skimming through the Gospels we see pretty quickly that there is often a connection between miracles and faith. Often, but not always. But often enough for us to observe the connection. Whether we understand it well, though, is another question. So Sunday, we're going back to Mark 5 - same passage as last week - to ask ‘what makes miracles happen'? There is hardly a more difficult or more important question. The week after we'll be looking at the general effect of miracles in the Gospels and acts: plenty of comfort and no small amount of challenge.

Is Your God Big Enough?

What does the NT say about miracles? How does that challenge and/or confirm what we believe and express today? During the next few weeks we'll be look at this issue in the PM services. This week, we want to start with what a miracle actually is, and consider how this influences how we go about life as followers of Jesus.

What is a Miracle?

What does the New Testament say about miracles? How
does that challenge and/or confirm what we believe and express
today?
During the next few weeks we'll be looking at this issue in the AM
services.
This week, we want to start with what a miracle actually is, and
consider how this influences how we go about life as followers of
Jesus.

The Light of Life

On Sunday morning we look at the greatest turning point in the course of history, and what this means to us. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ brought light in the darkness and made life possible to all who would receive it. Often we focus on the death of Jesus and his sacrifice for us without moving naturally to the resurrection and the urge to shine the Light of Life!

We live in the future of the cross, with all that Jesus' resurrection brings - life over death, freedom from sin, light in the darkness! And now our risen Saviour has lit us like candles to shine the light of life to those who still live in the darkness. Come on Sunday morning to celebrate once again the EPIC story of Jesus' powerful defeat over death!

It's over!

If you still want an opportunity to bring something to the Cross, you can do that on Friday. It will be a powerful reminder of the life Jesus has won through his death. So whether it's a testimony of thanks (and we have so much to be thankful for this week), a personal commitment to change, or a heartfelt declaration of faith, Friday is the day.

At the close of the service we will celebrate the Lord's Supper, which will be our assurance that Jesus in his mighty power has fully delivered us from death and forgiven us completely.

So come Friday morning, come prepared to fall in humble worship before our awesome Lord of glory!

What Next?

Update on Clinton's Health (1.61 MB)
Clinton Berends
Number of Downloads: 137

This Sunday we will look at what Jesus invites us into when he takes control of our lives.

The Only Fitting Response

Jesus - Just Another Death?

The Death of Jesus

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In the event of Christ's death, God shows to the world the extent of His love for disobedient sinners, that's us! The amazing truth of the gospel is that, as regards the way of salvation: ALL has been done for us!  God calls on us to accept that with a believing heart!

The criminal on the cross was not able to do anything, apart from recognizing Jesus as the King and ask for mercy! And that was what he received, in the nick of time! Paradise for him!

Seven Stories of Rescue

Lost and Found

What claim does Jesus have?

What Is Christianity, Really?

You Can Trust the Bible

Showing Jesus

Overflowing with hope

Deliver us from the evil one

Truly you are a God who hides himself, O God and Saviour of Israel

The Right Religion

Just like Jesus

Transforming our Culture Through the Gospel

Lead us not into Temptation

Jesus Shaped Church

Great New Years Resolutions: Develop Opportunities for the Gospel!

Great New Years Resolutions: Pray More!

Surprise Surprise

Glory Revealed

Faith - Doing it Tough

What are you waiting for?

Simply Jesus

Gospel Revolution

Spirit in You

Mission Possible

Forgiveness means Freedom

Ambassadors

New Life, New Attitudes

In Paul's day most people only had one set of clothes. If you had some special garment, it could identify you. This passage outlines what that garment is for followers of Jesus: Love. This is what identified Christians.

As we live in love we identify ourselves as followers of Christ, and we reflect the new life of heaven in this world.

Gospel breeds Gospel

What is it that gets you up in the morning? To love and care for your family? To serve in the church? To work at your job? Motivation makes all the difference. Wrong motives will lead us to wrong results, or simply to give up. But the right motives will carry us through the temptations of self centeredness and apathy. As we look at 2 Corinthians 4 we will see what drove Paul, in ministry, in life, and what is the only motivation that can drive the life of those who belong to Jesus.

Worthy of Complaint

Healing, Hope and the Future

Why, God, Why?

Our Daily Bread

Healing and Mystery

Healing and Faith

Get Some Guts

Have you ever thought that the mission of being a Christian is too hard to accomplish? Are you too scared of failure and humiliation to do anything too extreme for God's kingdom? Is God's call to faith just a little too risky for your liking? You should try conquering numerous ancient kingdom with a big bunch of timid desert-slaves. 

Take a look at the mission Joshua was given by God in Joshua 1:1-9  and see the constant encouragement he is given. In this message we want to look at the similarities of our mission and Joshua's mission.  Jesus has sent us out, but not without all the encouragements we read in this passage - encouragement that will strengthen us and give us courage for the conquest! The battle is already won, for the battle is the Lord's! So don't be content with wandering in the desert when there is a kingdom to be built and people who need to be led into God's promises! Be strong and courageous! Get some guts! Be encouraged and strengthened by the Lord!

The Holy Spirit's Relationship with You

Jesus and Healing

Is Change that Important?

The Continuing Acts of Jesus

New Identity

What is Worship?

Why Worship?

If God is for mission...

GO! In the name of the seeking God!

God Defined Greatness

Serve

The Impossible, made Possible

Luke 17:1-10 is one of those passages. Its demands are too big, its expectations are too huge for me. But maybe that's the point. Maybe the point is that what is impossible with me, actually is possible with God. What I can not do, God is doing, as he grows me to make me more like Jesus.

Road Trips with Jesus

As followers of Jesus we know that we have so much in store for us when Jesus comes again. Its going to be great, more than we can every imagine, and it will make the things of this life seem pale. But that doesn't mean we put our heads down and duck for cover until that day.

As Jesus walks along the road in Luke 9, 3 potential disciples are ‘tested' for their suitability. And as we see Jesus' response to them, we see that there is something important in the journey - Jesus is not just inviting people to wait for heaven, he is inviting disciples.

Profession of Faith

This Sunday, in our 5pm service, a number of our people are going to be doing there profession of faith. These people are: Dylan Greeff, Jo Kippen, Tracy Montgomery, Matt Kippen, Rob Ferguson, Lachlan Black, Lily Sikkema, Sarah Bos, Ben Rowan and Ryan Salisbury.

This is basically their statement that they believe that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior, and that they are followers of Him.

Also at this time, Dylan, Rob, Ben and Ryan will be baptized as a symbol of Christ's work in bringing them new life.

It's a great day for them, their families and for us as a church. It will also be a great opportunity for you, your children and your friends to hear of God's work in their lives through Jesus.

Belong

What we find in the Bible is that Jesus builds a transformational community which had an unmistakable impact on the world around them and beyond. What a blessing that we get to share that mission in our part of the world today!

A River for the World

God, Money and Justice

Just One Sip

Community Section (1.80 MB)
David Groenenboom, Susan and Heather
Number of Downloads: 260

More Blessed to Give

What are you Dying for?

Alive to Jesus

The Lord's Supper

Possessed by Possessions?

It's All About Jesus

What does a community and a life looked like that is grasped and shaken by God?

This Sunday we wrap up our series in the life of Jacob and see God bringing Jacob full circle, back to Bethel and the place of promise. We also see a number of changes in Jacob's life and family, some fruit from a life that is grasped and shaken by God.

Treaure in Heaven

This week we start a new series: Money! Given that it's the end of the financial year, and we're all thinking about tax time, how much we earn (or would like to earn, or how much we don't earn - as the case may be...) I thought a month-long series on Money would be timely. This won't just be focussing on ‘giving', rather it will look at how and why Money is so dominant in our lives, and how as followers of Jesus, we are called to live with a distinctive Kingdom flavour.

This Sunday we're looking at what ‘treasure in heaven' is, what is means to ‘store it up', and even a little of what ‘heaven' is and what difference it makes. All very crucial stuff to understand. Who knows? Maybe deciding to come to Sunday services for the next four weeks could be the best financial decision you will ever make!

The Cost of Compromise?

Freedom and Fullness

Focus

Community Section (4.45 MB)
Clinton Berends; Doug and Aimee Pobjoy
Number of Downloads: 272

Too much to carry...?

Community Section (1.40 MB)
Rebecca Hemelaar
Number of Downloads: 267

Breaking and Re-Making

I Am All You Need

Life of Jacob - Part 1

Walk the Talk

What Gospel Work Really Is

Community Section (2.20 MB)
Clinton Berends
Number of Downloads: 277

Seek the Peace

When Jesus Meets the Religious

Matters of the Heart

When Jesus Meets the Faith-less

Fullness in Christ

Amazing Faith

Have you ever thought like this?

Sure, let's study the life of Jesus, but what about us? We've never met Jesus in person. Nobody's met Jesus for 2,000 years... So, let's have a look at a man who didn't meet Jesus. A Gentile. A Roman Centurion. The last guy you'd expect to have 'amazing faith'. And through this little story, we'll learn more about the power of Jesus to change lives and bring about the unexpected.

How to Deal with a Hostile World

As Paul prays for the young Colossian church, he wants them to be able to manage all the threats that will come their way. And there will be plenty of them. The sort of things they dealt with are way different to what we have to deal with.

But guess what: the basic cause and the ultimate solution have not changed. What will surprise us most of all is that Paul knows what he says will really help people deal with an ugly and hostile world. Can you believe that?

When Jesus Meets the Enslaved

Community Section (2.51 MB)
David Groenenboom
Number of Downloads: 281

Transforming the Ordinary

When Jesus Meets Sinners

Community Section (1.23 MB)
Dan Kroon
Number of Downloads: 448

What has been the biggest life changing experience for you? Getting married, having children, going overseas?

The testimony of the New Testament is that the biggest life changing experience we can have, is to meet, or be met by, Jesus. No one meets Jesus and leaves the same. And so over the next 5 weeks we are going to be looking at some of the people in Luke who met Jesus, and what they experienced and how Jesus is calling us and meeting us the same today.

Trust and Obey

Will your Grave be Empty?

What is Faith?

Jesus called Thomas to 'stop doubting and believe...' - but what is faith, really? Is it grounded in my emotions? My intellect? My will? If faith is about 'feeling' does the 'right side of the brain' (the analytical 'let's see if this stacks up' part of the brain) ever have to be used?

How can we call people to faith, praying that they will have faith, and be fuzzy on this? The po-mo's might even ask 'what does it matter?' ...well, does it?

Crossing Over

Bridging the Gap

Community Section (1.20 MB)
Clinton Berends
Number of Downloads: 269

What is Heaven Like?

We have been challenged with a lot over the last 40 Days. We have been challenged to greater love, obedience, service, mission, worship, fellowship. And just because the 40 Days of Community is over, doesn't mean that these things now stop. In fact, now they really begin. So what sustains us for that long journey, what keeps us going? God has given us something very special in Revelation 21 and 22 for just that, he has given us a glimpse of eternity. In this glimpse he is saying, it is worth it, it is so worth it. Keep pressing on.

It's All About Worship?

We read Malachi and we ask ourselves: "How did things get that bad?"

The answer is more simple than we think.

It's also a good reason for us to reflect on our own approach to worship. On the other hand, some other examples of worship, e.g. Acts 2:42-47, and Hebrews 10:24-25 allude to worship which is transformational for people and honouring to God.

Here's the question: Can we do anything to ensure that the worship we do together is more God honouring than God distressing?

Serving Together - Where do you fit?

Ever feel like a cog in a machine? Feel that way at work, in your family, in life? Ever feel that way in the church?

Sometimes we just keep doing stuff, serving, ministering, but we wonder what its all in aid of.

In Ephesians 4, Paul gives us a unique look at our place in the body, in the world and in the plan of Jesus. When we see this, we can never simply consider ourselves a cog in the wheel again.

Let's be Honest

Most of us have heard Rick Warren say that loving community is the number one factor in churches that grow. That's an attractional quality.

But what else is needed for that community to move toward maturity?

If we really are going to grow together, if the church really is to be the new community it's called to be, what sort of things should we be thinking about. Eph 4 draws us into Kingdom life that really is an expression of new creation. It's a wonderfully attractive picture: read about it in Eph 4:25

Learning to Hear the Voiceless

So 40 Days is going great, isn’t it? Sunday service attendance is up, Small Group attendance is up, people are doing devotional readings, and mission projects are about to happen. Its all good. As long as a group within the church get more pumped and more involved, its all a great success? Right? WRONG.

Today we look at why.

Hospitality is Not an Option

Having an open door is a sign of having an open heart. Not only is hospitality commanded in Scripture, it could just be one of the most effective ways to show the Kingdom in our neighbourhood. Baptised BBQs, lounge chairs, and the gift of a smile can be beautiful carriers of Jesus' love, grace and acceptance. But more: the Scripture's command to hospitality was a direct challenge to the prevailing culture, and a direct demonstration of the ruler of the heart.

Love the Church

We look at the church and we see lots of great things, and also a few not so great things. When our eyes are glued to the human, we will always look a little ordinary. Ever wonder what God says about the church? You may be surprised! One thing is for sure, when you hear what he has to say, you really will want to be part of the family.

Better Together

Why are relationships so tough? We're not even thinking of romance here - we're just talking about life, right? Why can't people just get along? We just seem to get more and more fragmented. Does following Jesus as individuals or a group make any real difference to these struggles? If so, is it sustainable, or just baptised wishful thinking? Could it have real impact on Cronulla Beach, or in Bagdad, or with your next door neighbour?

I am Community

Why are relationships so tough? We're not even thinking of romance here - we're just talking about life, right? Why can't people just get along? We just seem to get more and more fragmented. Does following Jesus as individuals or a group make any real difference to these struggles? If so, is it sustainable, or just baptised wishful thinking? Could it have real impact on Cronulla Beach, or in Bagdad, or with your next door neighbour?

Broken People - Does God Care?

Community Section (2.64 MB)
Clinton Berends
Number of Downloads: 275

Lord's Prayer: Your Kingdom Come

Watch this Sermon

Community Section (1.55 MB)
David Groenenboom
Number of Downloads: 289

The second petition of the Lord's Prayer: "Your Kingdom come". Wherever people love and worship God, there the Kingdom has already come. But that Kingdom is far from complete, and it is only when Christ returns that God will be "all in all". In the meantime, God's people are to be fully involved in extending that Kingdom, for the devil is still wielding much power. No one can pray "Your Kingdom come", and at the same time remain a fence-sitter.

Where do we fit?

We are different. We know that. Christians are different from the world around us. But what do we do with that difference? The two options that we usually take are these: 1) Isolation – we cut ourselves off from the rest of the world so we don’t stand out and cop too much flak, or 2) Assimilation – we minimize some of our differences so that we don’t look so different after all. But the New Testament talks about another way, a different way. A way of remaining pure, and distinctive, but at the same time being an agent of change in the world.

Jesus' not-so-hidden Agenda

Community Section (1.38 MB)
Clinton Berends
Number of Downloads: 278

At the beginning of the year (more or less) what priorities should we be thinking about? What about the Master Plan? Where are we headed? What's really important in all this? Jesus words to Peter in Matt 16 are a wake up call for all of us, challenging us with who he really is, and the implications for his church today.

Preparing for Marriage

Community Section (1.43 MB)
Kim Seymour
Number of Downloads: 266

Finding a marriage partner is like buying a new pair of jeans. You look around, try a few on and pick something that feels comfortable, makes you look good and doesn’t cost you too much. Right? Well, not quite. If we view dating and singleness like this, its pretty likely that our marriage is going to run into a few problems. Dating, and singleness are both times of preparing for marriage. So this Sunday night we are going to look at what God says about marriage and then work back to see what he says about dating and singleness.

Our sin for Christ's Righteousness

Community Section (2.64 MB)
Greg Tenni
Number of Downloads: 270

Our sin for Christ's righteousness. It’s hardly an equitable trade is it? The Holy God of heaven takes all of our brokenness and sin and places it on His perfect and sinless son, Jesus. In turn He gives us a right standing before Him. As incomprehensible as it seems this is foundational to all that we believe. Everything in the life of the Christian flows from this great though often misunderstood truth. This morning we are going to begin to unpack what this means for our daily lives and the impact it will have upon our community.

Love One Another

The key to any relationship is love. How does Jesus want us to relate to those around us in church? Love them. How do we do this? By humility and service. Why? Because Jesus loved us, and asks us to love each other.

Marriage Matters

Community Section (0.75 MB)
Dan Kroon
Number of Downloads: 269

So our marriages are personal, private affairs. Right? Not the kind of place we want other people, the church, even God, sticking their noses in. Right? Wrong. God has a lot to say about marriage, about what works, what doesn’t. Its stuff that we are not always comfortable hearing, stuff that has been abused and misused in the past, but still instructions that we must wrestle with today if we are to see the gospel invade every corner of our lives.

Intimacy With Jesus

Community Section (1.40 MB)
Steven Faulkner
Number of Downloads: 272

What makes a follower of Jesus? Is it someone who knows all the right things about Jesus? Is it someone who does all the right things? In John 15 we begin to see that while these two things are vitally important – there is something more. The Christian is someone who is in a living relationship with Jesus Christ. This Sunday night we are going to explore this living and life giving relationship with Jesus and see what Jesus is inviting us into when he calls us to follow him

Pots of Clay and the Gospel

Community Section (1.13 MB)
Clinton Berends
Number of Downloads: 275

On this first Sunday of the year we look into the uncertainties of 2007. There is only one thing certain; and that is the love of God in and through Christ. That is the glorious gospel. But this gospel has been given to us, who are very fragile earthenware pots. The more we realize our human weakness, the more the glory will go to God, and to Him alone!

Reflections 2006

Come to the Manger

The Bethlehem story is timeless - familiar to just about everyone. The amazing thing is that after 2000 years it still moves us. Still more amazing is that it challenges us, changes us, and offers hope for our world. Come to the Manger this Christmas Day, and be challenged by the One who promises never to leave you the same...

Immanuel

Community Section (1.52 MB)
David Groenenboom
Number of Downloads: 264

What does it take for two or more people to live together? Patience, sacrifice, a sense of humour? It all helps. But what does it take for God to live with people? Is it the same, or is there something more? At Christmas time we celebrate Immanuel – God with us. We celebrate the amazing news that God has come and made his home with us. On Sunday, as we explore Exodus 25:1-9 we will see that this has always been God’s plan, a plan that he continues to see through today, and is inviting us to become part of that process.

What are you Waiting For?

What are you waiting for? We are all waiting for something. Maybe to get married, maybe to finish school, maybe just to be old enough to leave home. What is behind these desires, what drives them in our lives? When we read the book of Matthew we are reading a book written to a group of people who had been waiting for over a thousand years. Waiting for God - waiting for God to finally act in their lives and in the world. And Matthew's message is "The waiting is over." Could that be his message to us also this Christmas?

A Season of Fulfilment

"Hey, I'm coming!" ... "Yeah, so is Christmas..." Not the most encouraging thing you will ever hear. The one speaker is usually frustrated: it's all taking too long. The one being spoken to is normally stressed, wanting to get it all done quicker, but finding it impossible. Which one are you this Christmas? Which one might God be? And in an age of increasing frustration and stress, does the birth of Jesus make any difference at all?

How do we get to Christmas?

How do we get to Christmas? 4 trips to the shopping mall, 7 visits to Woolworths, 5 end of year functions, 3 Carol Services and 1 packet of Valium? No really. How do we get to Christmas? How do we get to the situation where Almighty God is born as a helpless child in a dingy dirty animal shed? This Sunday morning we will explore Isaiah 49:8-13 and see that there is a lot more going on here than our Christmas cards suggest. That driven by compassion, God is meeting our greatest need. And more... God is continuing to act.

Jesus and the Failures

Community Section (1.86 MB)
David Groenenboom
Number of Downloads: 275

If you were to start a world changing movement, who would pick to assist you? Probably those with experience, charisma, a proven track record and an undying commitment to see the task done. And so naturally, that is who God would choose. Isn’t it? But when we read the Word we begin to see something different. We see failures, stuff ups and ‘spiritual’ losers being transformed by God for his work of changing the world. So if you think that you life and your past has disqualified you from the grace and the power of God, this Sunday night is for you. If you think that your clean record, your proven faithfulness makes you the ideal candidate, this has something to say to you.

Need Patience?

Community Section (3.05 MB)
Clinton Berends
Number of Downloads: 280

36 six months interest free! You deserve it! Pamper yourself! Drive away, no more to pay! ... hey we've all heard it. Today have to wait for anything. Is it any wonder that we get stressed when life doesn't work out? Jonah knew all about that, but not before becoming a piece of vomit and totally losing perspective. What does Jesus' coming tell us about God's patience, and how can it help us with ours?

Jesus and the Rejects

Christian ministry among the sick and have always been powerful pointers to the Kingdom of God. No small wonder: it's exactly what we see Jesus doing in his ministry. The big question is: what does it mean for us? [I have changed untouchables to rejects, because this will communicate more accurately the experience of the leper in his [lack of] community].

Jesus and the Rejects

Christian ministry among the sick and have always been powerful pointers to the Kingdom of God. No small wonder: it's exactly what we see Jesus doing in his ministry. The big question is: what does it mean for us? [I have changed untouchables to rejects, because this will communicate more accurately the experience of the leper in his [lack of] community].

The LORD Will Provide

Ever had to give up something you really love? Spare a thought for elderly Abraham. Waited longer than many of us will live for a son, then God says "Give him up!" What does this very short story have to say to us about life and how we do it? Is it possible that in letting things go, we may actually really receive them? Could this loosen the hold materialism has on us, maybe once and for all? Dave suggests you read ahead at Gen 22:1-19 [Dave will be preaching on the same text in both services, though application will be quite different. Hopefully, you'll enjoy the meal, and the dessert as well!]

Would Jesus Go to Schoolies?

What are we to make of the whole schoolies phenomenon?

• What does the church have to say on the matter?
• How should parents be responding?
• What guidance will you give to your children, grandchildren and teens you know and love?
• In fact, what might Jesus have to say about any celebration we might undertake? How would he RSVP to any party you have?

Would Jesus Go to Schoolies?

What are we to make of the whole schoolies phenomenon?

• What does the church have to say on the matter?
• How should parents be responding?
• What guidance will you give to your children, grandchildren and teens you know and love?
• In fact, what might Jesus have to say about any celebration we might undertake? How would he RSVP to any party you have?

Jesus and the Snickers Bar

Community Section (0.90 MB)
Kim Seymour
Number of Downloads: 282

Is Jesus merely your drug of choice? Is he simply the ‘thing’ you turn to when you are down, broken, and have nowhere else to go? And if he is, is he really any different then to a pill, the bottle or whatever else people choose to get them through? And if he is, what do you do when you don’t have problems, you aren’t down? When people ate the food that Jesus produced they thought “GREAT!!! We’ll have some more of that, thanks” But Jesus says “Hang on, I’m more than a vending machine – I am the Snickers Bar of Life”.

Hallowed be Your Name

Community Section (1.09 MB)
Kim Seymour
Number of Downloads: 264

The Lord Jesus teaches us to make the glory and holiness of God an important part of our prayers. Hallowed be Your Name. May Your Name be honoured as holy. So we are to pray to our heavenly Father to help us direct all our living - what we think, say, and do - so that His Name will always be honoured and praised.

To pray like that is very much needed in our world, where God and His Name are either ignored or blasphemed.

God in the Storm

Community Section (1.69 MB)
Frank Hemelaar
Number of Downloads: 294

When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water through the storm, John tells us that they were terrified. How could someone they had known for so long suddenly seem so menacing? What was Jesus doing and why? Good question. Why does God seem so terrifying to us at times? Why does He seem to just surf on by and ignore us when we are going through really difficult times?

Still Hungry?

Community Section (2.00 MB)
Frank Hemelaar
Number of Downloads: 288

Hungry? You got to be kidding! Can’t remember the last time you felt really hungry? But what about the inside? What about there? Oooh yeah. Sounds a bit hollow. What am I missing? And what does Jesus being the ‘bread of life’ have to do with all of that? Ready for a challenge?

Judgement Day

Community Section (2.05 MB)
Eddie Bos
Number of Downloads: 426

Judgment Day. Made famous by the terminator movies, brings us to the end of the world. But what will really happen when we stand before Jesus as Judge on the real Judgement Day? Should this be a factor in your planning? Is there anything you can do that will make a difference? John 5:15-30

Twisted by the Pool

Community Section (3.88 MB)
Eddie Bos
Number of Downloads: 433

A man, lame for 38 years, is healed by Jesus at Bethesda Pool. A remarkable event in itself – so why is there no celebration? No praising God? Why did it happen that way? More importantly: what does this event tell us about Jesus, his ministry, and the church he intends to grow? Read John 5:1-18

The Man Took Jesus at His Word

Community Section (0.72 MB)
Joshua Hemelaar
Number of Downloads: 415

Do you remember David Copperfield? He was the magician who dazzled audiences with disappearing cards, sawing assistants in half and levitating 10 metres off the ground. He captivated millions. The truth is, people’s fascination with magic isn’t a recent phenomenon. People of Jesus’ day thought that he was a bit of a magician and asked him to perform tricks. This Sunday night we will look at his reaction to their queries and also a man who, through desperate circumstances, looked beyond the signs and wonders and saw a life-giver. This will be a great message for those who don’t know Jesus yet so bring along your friends.

Who Really Belongs?

Community Section (1.04 MB)
Joshua Hemelaar
Number of Downloads: 419

Who are the most thirsty people? Jesus interaction with the Samaritan woman tells us that often those with the greatest need are those ‘religious people’ tend to avoid. Jesus is prepared to cross the social, moral and cultural divides of his time. What will the response of his followers be to similar challenges today? And how does Jesus motivate us this task?

The Most Shocking Verse in the Bible

Community Section (1.19 MB)
Steven Faulkner
Number of Downloads: 421

Have you ever wondered what the most shocking verse in the Bible is?

All Fired Up

What gets you all fired up? What injustices in the world spark a 'righteous anger' inside you? War and violence? Famine and poverty? Sunday morning drivers? Reality TV? Great injustices and small annoyances both seem to get us fired up at times. And the things that fire us up are usually the things we consider important in life. But are these things really that important? Worth getting excited about? And what did Jesus get fired up about? Have a read of John 2:12-25 and come Sunday morning to find out what's really worth getting all fired up over.

The Abundance of God

Something is wrong with this world. When Matt Stanley at 15 gets killed on a Saturday night, when oppression and injustice are the norm for a large portion of the world, where relationships fail almost as often as they succeed, we feel it, something is wrong with this world. So why Jesus Christ? What difference does he make? What does following Jesus mean for the tragedy and injustice of the world? This Sunday night we continue in the gospel of John and see how a simple wedding, with a wine making miracle is the announcement of God’s answer to the wrongs of this world.

What do you Want?

CSI is one of the most popular shows on TV. It gets us asking 'who are we?', 'what is life about?', 'what are we really looking for?' Do you know who you are? Do you know what you're seeking? More to the point: do you know the impact Jesus has on your question?

Self Image

Who, or what, defines you? Are you defined by your weight, by your job, by your ability? Are you defined by your matching the expectations of others, parents, friends, media? Who says who you are?

We struggle with this sort of stuff. The evidence comes out in a thousand different ways, but its there. It’s a crucial question – who defines our self image? This Sunday night we round off our series on “I have a friend who struggles with…” and will look at the number one issue as voted by you SELF IMAGE. And we will see that they only ONE who can define us is the one who makes us, knows us, cares for us and saves us – our God.

How can I Know for Certain?

Can we ever know anything for certain? Are there any absolutes in this world of relativity.

Jesus said: " I am the Way, the Truth and the Life" one of the more strident statements in all of scripture yet we sometimes find ourselves questioning whether statements such as these are little more than pious wish.

This week we begin a series in the early chapters of the Gospel of John and we will seek to address one of the key questions this Gospel asks, "Just who is Jesus Christ ?" Beginning with the testimony of John the Baptist we will explore this very question "Is Jesus really all that the scriptures say he is. How can I know for certain?"

What If We're Wrong?

Community Section (0.75 MB)
Greg Tenni & Kim Seymour
Number of Downloads: 432

What if the assertion many make is really true: God doesn't exist and nothing really matters?

• Is that the sort of world we would want?
• Would that sort of life really help us?
• How have people of faith dealt with these questions in the past?
• What alternative does the Bible present for us?
• ...and the really big question: does knowing and following Jesus really make a difference?

Let's see how God's Word helps us deal with life's tensions.

The Battle Rages

“I’m a material girl, in a material world…” Its true of us, isn’t it? We focus on the fact that we live in a material, physical world. We want to know about the things we can touch, taste, smell, see and hear. But when we read the Bible, especially when we read the book of Revelation, the curtain is drawn back and we see that this world is not all there is. That there are things happening in the supernatural realm, that we only catch a glimpse of. So this Sunday, as we look at #3 on the “I have a friend who struggles with…” voting, we will be looking at Understanding the Supernatural World. And we will see that we are in a battle – a spiritual battle – of which the outcome is already certain.

Gospel according to Dilmah

Community Section (1.58 MB)
Frank Hemelaar
Number of Downloads: 403

Hospitality: we all know what it is, but how do we apply it? Just to a small circle of friends? Or is the Gospel's radical call to something more and something greater? Could this include a baptised barbie (the 'steak' thing, not the 'doll' thing)?

Beyond the Pain

Watch this Sermon

When we read through the pages of the Bible we read about people; real people; broken people; you and me people. We are painfully aware that this world is a broken place, and that we are a part, as perpetrators and victims. But the good news, to which the Bible testifies – is that there is hope. That we don’t need to be the products of our past, that God is bigger than our hurts and that he is about making us whole people for the future. This Sunday night we continue our series “I have a friend who struggles with...” looking at ‘past hurtful experiences.’ And to do that we will focus on the life of Joseph.

Does God really make a difference?

Community Section (1.13 MB)
Todd Hammond
Number of Downloads: 423

Do you have an interesting life? Probably not, we think. Interestingly, the lives of ordinary people are used by God to tell the extraordinary story of His grace and love. There are some basic things you need to know about doing this. We'll see them in an educated man like Paul. We'll also see them through the life of someone everyone had written off as both useless and hopeless. God is still using these stories to impact people's lives. How might he use you?

Sexual Boundaries

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Community Section (1.47 MB)
Kim Seymour
Number of Downloads: 432

I love sex. Who doesn’t? It is one of the best things that God ever invented. Too often its portrayed as dirty, ‘of the devil’ and wrong – but we forget that God is the sexpert who gave it to us, and the expert who knows how it works the best.

Tonight we begin our series “I have a friend who struggles with…” Coming in at #4 on the voting is sexual boundaries. And who hasn’t or doesn’t struggle with this? So we will explore this great gift of God, its purpose, its use, and also its abuse.

Be a Salt Shaker

Evangelism and having a contagious faith is not always verbal and cerebral: sometimes actions are the most eloquent sermon. As someone once said, "always preach the Gospel, and where necessary, use words."

I will also be leaning into some of the material I developed on Sunday night: specifically a challenge that God seeks to use us to transform Redlands. One of the ways he will do this is to work through a lifestyle and ethos of service to our community. A big challenge. An expansive vision.

Hope for Redlands

So where a church in our community. Is our community any different because we are here? Would we be missed by the community if we were disappeared overnight? What is God’s desire for our community – as much as we can determine that? And what is our part in his plan? And the big question we need to answer is this: are we prepared to follow his call?

What to do While we Wait

Community Section (2.08 MB)
Josh Hemelaar
Number of Downloads: 420

What to do while we wait. So far in our series on 2 Thessalonians we have focused on the return of Jesus and the coming of the antichrist which is associated with that. Through that we have seen the extreme confidence that followers of Jesus have, in regards to His power over the antichrist, and his work in us. But what do we do until then? Paul now goes on to focus on that time, and to speak about the Word of God and its work, both in the world and in Christian lives and Christian communities. But in particular how we are to be involved in its increasing influence throughout both spheres, the world and the Christian community. Read ahead in 2 Thessalonians 3:1-15.

Have you got two Fathers?

Watch this Sermon

I'd like to preach a series of sermons dealing with the Lord's Prayer, but as I don't preach that often it will take a while before this series is finished. But tonight we will at least make a start, and look at the opening words of the prayer: "Our Father in heaven." Today some people are questioning the relevancy of addressing God as 'Father', but the work of Christ and the testimony of the Holy Spirit point us in another direction. I know someone who has a brother in the corridors of power in Canberra, but it's much more important to have a brother (Jesus) in heaven, who is praying to the Father on our behalf.

Who are you?

Community Section (1.16 MB)
Steven Faulkner
Number of Downloads: 416

What we think of ourselves determines much of what we do. Think about it. If we think that we are successful, brilliant, an achiever, we will act this way (not that we will be these things, but we will act as though we are). If we think we are a loser, a failure, a nothing, we will act this way as well. When it comes to followers of Jesus, and communities of faith, the same thing is true. That is why Paul, as he follows on from speaking about the antichrist, and the trials he will bring, goes on to talk about us, about who God has made us to be in Christ, so that we will begin to live in the security that God has provided. This unique look at our ‘self image’ takes the focus off what we do, to what God has done and continue to do in us.

Your Next Australian Idol

Community Section (3.16 MB)
Keith Warren
Number of Downloads: 414

No-one can doubt its popularity, but has anyone noticed how flippantly we use the word ‘idol’ these days? Tonight we’ll look back at what God told Moses and the Israelites about idols and how the Israelites reacted when Moses was taking his time on Mt Sinai. We’ll answer some questions about what all this has to do with Jesus and our very own ‘Australian Idols’ of today.

The Antichrist - Should we be Worried?

Community Section (1.27 MB)
Keith Warren
Number of Downloads: 405

In a few places in Scripture we have reference to a shadowy figure called ‘the antichrist’ or ‘the man of lawlessness.’ The fleeting references, combined with the destruction he is associated with have lead to all sorts of theories of who this man / creature is, and what he is on about, and how much we should be concerned with him. When Paul makes mention of him in 2 Thessalonians he does so in a way that discusses his reality, but firmly places him under the reign and conquest of Jesus Christ, giving us a firm assurance that when he is revealed, Christians need not fear his power or influence. For more, come along Sunday morning.

Reason to believe...

The Model Christian Church

Community Section (1.53 MB)
Dan Kroon
Number of Downloads: 283

“Many people, writers, newspapers, have made comment on the current state of the world. Wars in the middle east, natural disasters, they all seem to point to the fact that something is not right. One of the things that the Bible tells us about such events, is that they serve as a reminder that Jesus Christ is coming back, and we as churches and individuals must be vigilant in being prepared for that event.

When Paul writes to the Thessalonian church, he writes to a church that were experiencing persecution, another sign of the coming of Christ. But he speaks very positively about them and holds them up as a model for others to imitate.

So this Sunday AM, we being a series in this book, looking at what a church in the last days should look like.

Read ahead in 2 Thessalonians 1.”

Knowing Christ is Far Better

Community Section (0.78 MB)
Todd Hammond
Number of Downloads: 414

And what about passion?
Not so much the romantic kind, but the kind of 'emotional fuel' that gets us fully into something.
More: why connect the word 'passion' with following Jesus?

Thank God you're here!

• What is it about compassion? Why do we feel the tug on our heartstrings when we see another person in distress?
• What do we make of Jesus' compassion?
• And what is the best example of compassion, ever?
• And how does that one act work to make our world a more compassionate place?

Jesus and Big Brother

Community Section (1.06 MB)
Greg Tenni
Number of Downloads: 417

You can only be amazed at how Paul the Pharisee reacted to what he saw in Athens and how that impacted on what he said on Mars Hill. Make no mistake: if we were part of his culture his approach would have made us profoundly uncomfortable.

What does it have to say for how we share the good news of Jesus with our culture?

Read ahead at Acts 17:16-34

The Cross and Your Tongue

Community Section (0.71 MB)
Greg Tenni
Number of Downloads: 413

The apostle James has some hard-hitting words about the way we use our tongue, when he makes a comparison with a bushfire:

"The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body . . . no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison" All of us will be well aware of the power of our tongue, a power for good or a power for evil.

It is vital for our Christian walk to know that Jesus also gave His life for our tongue, and that the Holy Spirit desires to sanctify that little organ, so that more and more we use it only for the good of others, and for the glory of God.

Tomorrow May be Too Late

Community Section (1.50 MB)
Kim Seymour
Number of Downloads: 405

John Hoogenhout is our guest preacher. He will be looking at what the Bible says about Hell, and more importantly, what Jesus has done about it.

Gentleness and Respect

Community Section (1.29 MB)
Kim Seymour
Number of Downloads: 402

“Is this the right room for an argument?" Can you use a confrontational style to witness effectively? Peter did (Acts 2:14-41) - but how does it apply to us in an age of vilification, legislation and political correctness?

God goes to the Cemetery

Community Section (1.51 MB)
Keith Warren
Number of Downloads: 443

"God goes to the cemetery..." Ever been in a situation when you've been totally bereft of hope? When all you meet is brick walls? Our world is full of those situations: they are disheartening and dispiriting times. What happens when God enters situations like that? Read Ezek 37:1-14

Weak is the new Strong

Community Section (1.96 MB)
Keith Warren
Number of Downloads: 422

We talk a lot about strength in our society. We talk about shows of strength, strength of character, physical strength, and much more. And there is this temptation to think about our faith in the same way – about a strong faith, a strong character, a strong conviction. But what happens when the central symbol of our faith is a man being crucified on the cross, the ultimate symbol of weakness? Does faith, life and character look somewhat different?

This morning we are going to look of 1 Corinthians 1:26- 31 – words written to a church that was all about strength – but Paul has something different to say.

Confession of faith

In the history of the Christian church there has always been plenty of emphasis on feelings and experiences, and that often in a lopsided way. Already in the day that Jesus walked the earth, many of the crowd following Him were really only interested in seeing the miracles He did, so as to get a kick out of that!

Actually, Jesus accuses them of that unbalanced attitude when He told them that the reason they were following Him was because of their desire for the spectacular stuff. They were not really interested in the words of life He spoke.

Today such attitudes are still with us, and tonight we want to look at both Biblical faith and Christian experiences.

Read Romans 4:18-25 and 1 Corinthians 1:26- 2:5.

Everyday ... I live for you

There's a danger in seeing the OT characters merely as people to imitate: Esther's response is not squeaky clean. Some of her actions are laudable, others are not and represent systems we do not understand (9:14). These stories tell us more about God than people. When we walk in faith, God will work through us for his glory. Your call is to use your circle of influence for the Gospel and to trust that God will honour it. Read Esther 6.

The Cost of Sin and Forgiveness

Community Section (1.38 MB)
Frank Hemelaar
Number of Downloads: 401

What does it matter when we sin? What does it matter when someone as famous as David commits the most horrible of sins? Is it merely a stutter in the conversation of God, or does it forever colour the picture of David? Or is it possible that the cost somehow holds the two in dynamic tension. This week we explore David’s most infamous moment, and examine the cost of sin, and the cost of forgiveness. Read 2 Samuel 23:8-39

When Life Falls Apart... Keep Trusting

Community Section (1.87 MB)
Frank Hemelaar
Number of Downloads: 396

When things go really bad we often think God has left us and we've done something wrong. Esther and Mordecai remind us that even in such times, God is still at work and present in our lives. Sure, believing "God is in control" presents a few problems for our faith - especially in a world where (we think) so much is under our control, but the alternative is too ugly to contemplate... Jesus' own life shows us that despite evil people, we can be determined to do the will of the Father. Jesus, who is victorious, will strengthen us. Read Esther 2:19 - 6:3

What God can do for You

Community Section (1.36 MB)
Josh Hemelaar
Number of Downloads: 407

So David is nice and settled as king. He has a great palace, a time of peace, lots of wives, a growing family. And so David thinks, what can I do for God? He sees the Ark of God in a tent, looks at his house and says, “I know, I’ll build a house for God.” But God comes back with the most amazing promise for David, he will establish David, his family, and the nation, FOREVER. It is not ‘what I can do for God’, but ‘what God can do for me’.

Why Truth Brings Freedom

Community Section (1.84 MB)
Josh Hemelaar
Number of Downloads: 411

Does truth really set you free? How can that happen when they say that truth hurts? Why do so many people try to escape the truth of their lives? What will we believe? Does truth still matter? More importantly, can truth change people's lives, for the better?

Your Kingdom Come?

Community Section (1.90 MB)
Greg Tenni
Number of Downloads: 411

So far in this series in David we have seen God anoint, empower, and protect his king. We have seen David respond as a man / king who is after God’s own heart, trusts God and desires to see God’s honor above all things. But what is this all in aid of? This evening we begin to see what God is accomplishing through all this, for the kingdom of Israel, and how he is still about the same things in our world today, through his king Jesus.

When Life is Good ... Thank God

Community Section (2.22 MB)
Greg Tenni
Number of Downloads: 395

Sometime we are blessed beyond our expectations with opportunity and things going well. We can be tempted to think “hey, this is the logical consequence of my ingenuity". Really? Should our response be governed by who we are or what we have done?? God wants us to realise that the good we have has come from him, and our call is to honour him in that.

Are You Ready?

Community Section (1.04 MB)
Todd Hammond
Number of Downloads: 418

Jesus paints an inspiring but fearful picture of the day when he will return as judge. For some it will be the final entrance into a kingdom which was prepared from the creation of the world. For others it will be eternal fire. And if this is true, and if there is a such a stark difference in end results, we had better know what the grounds for going to each really is. But when Jesus talks about that in Matthew 25, the answer is somewhat surprising.

God Noah's Ark & Baptism

Community Section (0.72 MB)
Todd Hammond
Number of Downloads: 418

Everyone knows the story of the Flood, and in many children's picture books we come across Noah and the animals. Next to the awfulness of the story there are also some very positive aspects.

There are also some very specific aspects of the person of God that come to the fore this morning when we look at the Flood story. We'll have a look at those and see how these would affect our own lives. And we may even say that Noah was a type of Christ, a forefather of our Saviour.

Who is Jesus Really?

Community Section (1.49 MB)
Steven Faulkner
Number of Downloads: 409

Now that we have seen that the New Testament text is trustworthy, and the church did not tamper with the books that make up the NT - are we any closer to seeing who Jesus really is? Will the answer comfort us or disturb us? Why is there so much opposition to the Jesus of the New Testament?

And what about those claims of Jesus being married to Mary Magdalene, them having kids, the descendants of whom live today? Is there any truth anywhere, and how can we ever know?

God Honouring Struggles

So David proves himself to be the 'man after God's own heart.' He is obedient, he gives honour to God, it’s all going well. And so we would expect God to reward him with an easy life, a free run into kinship, happiness, wealth, wholeness, right?

Guess again. Like us, David experiences immense struggle and hardship as a follower of God and a witness in the world. In fact, he spends the next major passage of his life constantly on the run, harassed, persecuted.

But during that time, he learns some lessons, about God, about struggle and about how to cope with hardship. Lessons that he passes on to us, for our benefit and encouragement in the form of Psalm 34.

Today we will look at this period of David's life, and reflect on the things he passes on to us through this Psalm.

Have we Got the Right Books?

Community Section (1.14 MB)
Clinton Berends
Number of Downloads: 418

Dan Brown claims that the New Testament has been tampered with, that we don't have books that should be in it, and that the message about Jesus we do have is corrupt. Is this correct? Who decided what books should be included in the New Testament, and what criteria did they use? Is this something we can be happy about?

Killing Giants

We live in a world where it’s very clear that bigger is better. No matter who we are and what we do there is someone who seems to do it better than us. And in this climate it’s easy to find ourselves competing. And we know that it’s possible for the same mindset to enter the church. But is it a matter of bigger is better? When we read of David and Goliath it begins to challenge this conception. It begins to get us looking in a completely different direction. It begins to get us thinking about small people in the hands of a massive God.

Faith's Stategy for a Day of Small Things

Is God working in our time? In a day of small things when we do not always see God at work, how ought we to respond as His people?

What is faith’s strategy for such a time as this?

God in the Gap

Community Section (2.55 MB)
Frank Hemelaar
Number of Downloads: 400

David is often one of our favourite Bible characters because we so easily identify with him, an ordinary bloke, who experiences the highs and lows of life. But in those highs and lows we see a robust, every day faith, an example for us to follow.

But David is important for more than that, because David’s story is really the story of God, and how he deals with people, and most importantly, how he works for the saving, leading, and restoring of his people.

Today we begin by looking at his anointing in 1 Samuel 16.

Obedience to God's Precepts & Principles leads to Freedom

What does David tell us about finding freedom? Read 2 Sam.6:1-15 to whet your appetite...

Is the Bible God's Word?

Community Section (1.01 MB)
Kim Seymour
Number of Downloads: 407

This Morning Pastor Dave will start his mini series on answering Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code. Today we will explore the question raised by the novel - Is the Bible really God's Word?

Can it be trusted? How can we know this, really? What is the historical and manuscript evidence for the New Testament, and how does that compare with other ancient books? What difference does all this make?

Should I Enjoy this Movie?

Community Section (2.88 MB)
Keith Warren
Number of Downloads: 402

“To do or not to do, that is the question.” We all struggle with various issues in the world around us and how as Christians we should interact with them; movies, music, TV, alcohol, pubs, what we wear. We struggle with questions about if we should enjoy them, how we should treat them, whether there is an issue of right and wrong. And many of them seem foreign from the world of the Bible and removed from its scope of influence. And while the Bible may not address them specifically, it does have a fair bit to say about this world, what God thinks of it, and how we should enjoy it. So on Sunday night we are going to explore some of these things together, not to formulate a list of ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ but to begin to see this world as God sees it and to enjoy this world as we were created to enjoy it.

Poverty

Watch this Sermon

Community Section (1.34 MB)
Clinton Berends
Number of Downloads: 381

As a result of the visit to the New Life Orphanage in Burma I began to do some thinking about poverty and our responsibility towards those who have so little, compared to the abundance that we enjoy.

It is amazing how often the Bible speaks about the poor and the disadvantaged. It's also abundantly clear in Scripture that God is very much concerned about the issues of justice and integrity towards those who are often on the margins of society.

Our Lord places a very big responsibility on our shoulders here. He loves the cheerful giver.

Time for a Fresh Start

The scene has been painted thousands of times, depicted in hundreds of movies and spoken of in millions of Sunday messages. But at the centre of the scene of the crucifixion of Jesus is the God/Man who cries out “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” But how could such a person make such a cry, what travesty of justice would lead to such a scene? What hope do we have if this man cries out this cry?

If it Wasn't for Him

You've just forsaken your closest friend in their moment of need. Your gut wrenches. You hate yourself for it. To make matters worse: his enemies are also after you. You are scared witless. And all of a sudden, the one you betrayed is staring you in the face. What have you got coming to you?

We know how it goes, right? Jesus is different. He greets those who have forsaken him with peace, he sends them out on his mission, and he enables them to follow his call. Could you really have a fresh start like that?

Jesus Easter Victory says "yes!" - come and celebrate!

Doubt Your Doubts

Community Section (1.04 MB)
Todd Hammond
Number of Downloads: 394

"What to do when you doubt" - Just one week out from Easter and who is Jesus, really? What happens when we doubt? When there's nagging doubts about who Jesus is or what he came to do what should we do? Ignore them? Deny them? Feed them? Listen and find out...

Worship the King

Community Section (1.19 MB)
Todd Hammond
Number of Downloads: 391

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey people honored Him as their King. And still today we say and we sing that we aught to honor Jesus. But why? What makes him so worthy of the honor of our lives? This Sunday we will explore Psalm 24, a Psalm that looks forward to the coming of Jesus and describes why he is so deserving of the praise of our lives.

For the Long Haul

Over the last 2 weeks we have been on a short term mission trip to Redlands, one that is opening our eyes to see the mission trip called life. During that time, we have most likely experienced pain, hardship, discomfort, as well as joy and excitement as we have seen what God does. But what is meant to sustain us for the longer journey? Where does our hope, comfort, our joy really come from? This Sunday night we will delve into Jesus’ debrief for his first 72 missionaries, and see what he has to say to us about the mission trip called life.

The Power of Doing Good

Who can read about Jesus’ washing his disciples’ feet and remain unmoved? But what does it mean? Is it symbolic of Jesus’ selflessness? His humility? Might there be more to it? Clearly: there are implications for how followers of Christ do life, and they are huge. Read ahead at John 13:1-17.

The Majesty of God

The evangelical church scene is a busy one. You certainly couldn't accuse the Brisbane churches of quietly vegetating in a little corner somewhere. There is so much going on; also in our congregation.

That's why it will be good to focus tonight on God's majesty, for in the midst of all our congregational activities we could lose track of the most important part.

Do we know of genuine awe and reverence, in our approach to Almighty God? We will be looking at the vision of the prophet Isaiah (6:1-7) and see how it can help us today.

Stewards of Grace

Community Section (1.94 MB)
Greg Tenni
Number of Downloads: 238

“How can I live closer to God?” – a question that has occupied the thoughts of people since ancient times. Some religions think this comes by withdrawal from the world. Others by attaining ‘nirvana’ (the spiritual state, not the band). Still others by religious practice like reading the bible, prayer, and fasting. Is this what the Bible teaches? Hmmm. The answer is surprising.

Your Mission Trip Starts Here

Short term mission trips are great. We pray hard, we learn heaps, we get a taste of what it means to impact the world in the name of Jesus. Sometimes, though, we see mission as confined to those important, but brief, moments of our lives. But what would happen if we were to look at LIFE AS A MISSION TRIP? Tonight we will see how Jesus sends the 72, and us, into the world on a mission trip, how he prepares us, urges us and explains the importance of what we are called to do. The revolution continues, through us.

What? Me a Priest?

Our world consistently tells us that our needs are primary and that our greatest quest is satisfaction earned at the altar of self indulgence. Citizenship in the Kingdom of Jesus presents a radical reversal of this world view. Jesus calls us priests, and that impacts on how we live as individuals. It also impacts fully on what we do as a church and how we make our plans. How are we to understand this call to live beyond ourselves as a body together? Could it really be part of the answer to seeing our world change? See 1 Pet 2:9-12.

Adventures in Following Jesus

When we talk about being a Christian sometimes we feed into people’s preconceptions that its ‘boring’, ‘straight’, ‘strict’ and ‘more hassle than it’s worth’. Sometimes we ourselves forget that it’s not just a system of beliefs and a way of life, it’s FOLLOWING THE KING OF THE WORLD. And that is the greatest adventure known to mankind. So we are going to start looking at the adventure that following Jesus is, starting with Luke 9:57-62, and we are going to see that it changes our perspectives on just about everything’ - comfort, priorities and safety. Be excited, the adventure is just beginning.

The Big Gamble

So Jesus is saying that I will only find life if I give myself away, right? And that if I keep my life revolving around myself, I'm really a loser? Are we serious about believing we were created for something more? Do we really believe that living beyond ourselves is the truly fulfilling life Jesus spoke about? See Mark 8:34-39.

Seeker Sensitivity

Lost People Really Matter. It's hard to over emphasise just how much importance God places on the lost being found in his Son. It's equally difficult to overstate the gap between God's intention and what we often see in the practice of the church. The Bible has some startling things to say, and Paul uses well understood images to convey God's passion. Tonight we look at it. Have a look at 1 Cor 9:24-27, and ask yourself what Paul's crown might have been. Do we share his passion? Should we?

Dynamic Leadership

Community Section (1.11 MB)
Steven Faulkner
Number of Downloads: 255

We have lots of examples of leadership around us, from politicians, to teachers, to people in the business world. But what sets Christian leadership apart? Can we simply adopt the skills and the examples of the world around us? This morning we will explore our value of Dynamic Leadership, by looking at 1 Peter 5:1-5 and see what sets leadership in God’s kingdom apart from the rest, and what it means to live under such leadership.

Nurturing Growth

Community Section (2.10 MB)
Joshua Hemelaar
Number of Downloads: 244

Birds do it, bees do it, even monkeys in the trees they do it? No its not falling in love, its growth. Everything grows! It has to or else it dies. But what about us? What about Christians? Are we meant to grow, how are we meant to grow, where are we meant to grow? This Sunday night, come along as we explore the value of Nurturing Growth by studying Philippians 3:4-14.

Authenticity

Ever bought something that’s not what it’s cracked up to be? We feel pretty ripped off. Imagine how people feel when they expect Christians to be genuine, and get something else. Or imagine how God feels when we short change him. OK! Time to get real. God wants us to be genuine in our love and service of him. And guess what? The world wants us to be genuine too! How can we do this better?

Love and Unity

There are all sorts of pressures on the church today, and it doesn’t matter who you speak to – it’s not long before you find something you think differently about. What can hold us together? The church has something to offer which this world desperately wants. It is the very thing God has given freely through his Son.

Determined Witness

It's enough to strike fear into the heart of the most hardened of Christian veterans. We know we are supposed to? But where do you start? Actually we start with us. We start with our hearts, our mind sets, our motivations. You have heard of the ‘I am’ statements of Jesus. This Sunday morning we will be looking at the ‘I am’ statements of Paul from Romans 1:14-16, and what it was within Paul that made him such a determined witness.

Giving Your Life to Something that Matters

So we all know that we are meant to serve. We hear about it a lot, we feel guilty when we don’t, we know that its part of being a follower of Jesus. But what’s it really all about? Is there a purpose to it, when, how, how often? This Sunday night we will have a look at Exodus 35 and 36, God’s plan to build a house for himself to live. We will also see that this is what God is still on about, and amazingly, he invites us to join him in that.

Radical Gospel Focus

How can the church navigate its way through changing culture, and ever increasing challenges? If all these pressures are bearing down on the church, how will they ever stay committed to the things that really matter, and what are they? Is there something that unifies our whole approach? What, really, is the ultimate foundation? And will it give stability in a changing world?

The Second Coming of Christ

The Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is a huge topic in the Bible; there are many hundreds of references.

It is also a quite controversial subject. In the liberal as well as the evangelical wing of the Christian church people hold views which are not helpful at all.

What is to be our attitude as regards the return of Jesus to this earth? Should it have more prominence in our thinking and speaking?

Give Me Light

We tend to equate teaching with passing on information. Not Paul. When he talks about teaching he's always talking about transformation. About change, and leading people to maturity in Jesus Christ. And get this: he uses himself as an example. In his dealings with the Thessalonians, we see the care of a mother, the leadership of a father, and the imitation of Christ. We see him asking 'what do these people need?'; "where do they need to go?', and 'what will it cost me/them?' This is what we ask ourselves, and commit to undertake when we become teachers. Think of the teachers you see at RCRC - what a privilege you have to support them and encourage them in their task?

Without Make-Up

So what do you think about when you think about your church? Most likely we describe it in terms of what type of music we sing to, what programs we run, or how highly (or lowly) we value the teaching or the leadership. But so often these things are merely cosmetic. There is so much more to God’s church and churches than these things. So this Sunday night we are going to look at who we really are, what God has made us to be deep down, beneath the make up.

The Mark of a Spirit Drenched Church

What really happens when God pours His Spirit on His Church? What should we expect? How does it concern us? When the prophet Joel thought about this it thrilled him - especially after such a terrible time of hardship and judgement. God's grace would be seen clearly, wonderfully, unmistakably. Peter confirmed this at Pentecost as a result of Christ’s death and rising: we see God's people powerfully declaring God's will and word to His people. All barriers of age, sex, race, and status are overcome. No follower of Jesus is excepted, everyone is included. And: God has work for you to do!

Looking at our Church Identity in Christ

Searching for the Best Possible Life?

Community Section (0.80 MB)
Clinton Berends
Number of Downloads: 236

Learning to Live Loved

The Church you Never Knew

Community Section (0.84 MB)
Todd Hammond
Number of Downloads: 248

This Sunday we will continue looking at “The Church you never knew” this time from Micah 4. We will see God’s plan and blue print for the whole world, what Jesus was on about, and where we, individually and as a church, fit into the picture.