Talks by Tim Johnson (Page 5)
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Talks by Tim Johnson (Page 5)

Joyful Friday || Good Friday 2019 || Hebrews 12:1-3

Why is Good Friday called Good Friday? And how should we respond to the fullness of life that Jesus offers by sacrificing himself on the cross? As Tim brings us the message he explores this very question: Could we even call it Joyful Friday? After all,…

I am a Groaning Person || Who Am I? || Romans 8:18-30

  Over the past eight weeks we have looked at different aspects of our identity as followers of Jesus. But despite our new identity in Christ, not everything has been resolved. We still groan as we experience the effect sin has on both ourselves and th…

I am a Man or a Woman || Who Am I? || Acts 8:26-39

The topic of gender can be both a complicated and sensitive subject. After all, it forms a key part of many people’s identity. This week, Tim is back to tackle some difficult questions. What does the bible have to say about gender and how is it still r…

I am in Christ || Who Am I? || Romans 8:1-17

Through this series, we’ve seen how we as humans are made in God’s image, how we’re whole people with thoughts, emotions and a conscience, but also how there is a brokenness about humanity, and regardless of our race, nationality, age and gender, we ar…

I am a Free Person || Who Am I? || John 8:31-36

I’ve got to break free, I’ve got to break free! – Queen, I Want To Break Free ‘Cause I need freedom now and I need to know how, to live my life as it’s meant to be – Mumford and Sons, The Cave So what is freedom? What does it mean to break free? Is fre…

I am a Fallen Person || Who Am I? || Genesis 3

Are humans basically good, or basically bad? In the opening chapters of the bible, we see God create humanity, and proclaim them to be “very good”, and yet just two chapters later, we see Adam and Eve fall into temptation and eat from the tree of the k…

I am a Whole Person || Who Am I? || Psalm 84

There is more to a person than just the physical impulses. Science would say that you and your personality, your memories, your decisions, are nothing more than electrical signals in your brain, reacting with nerve cells and molecules. The bible though…

I am a Created Person || Who Am I? || Genesis 2:4-7

This week begins a new series, running through the next 10 weeks, asking the questions “Who Am I?”. Throughout this series, we’ll be looking at passages from the entire story of the Bible, beginning this week with creation in Genesis. Fundamentally, wh…

Summer Stories || Biblical Storytelling

Throughout January, the talks at St John’s have taken a different format to usual, meaning they haven’t been appropriate for the format of a podcast. In this episode, Andy and Tim chat about what the teaching has been in January, and will catch you up …

Come & See || Rosemary & Andrew

Like Sam Johnson, who’s excited about his train set, and wants to show his dad, Andrew and Rosemary invite us to come and see how Jesus has been at work in their lives. Coming from two very different life experiences – Andrew a staunch atheist, and Ros…

The Church On Mission || Idols & Riots || Acts 19:23-41

This passage in Acts is real history, with real people, and real events in time – a good reminder that the bible is about real people, and it is a historical account. But what do we do with this story? How do we learn from it and what can we take away …

Strangers || Feed My Sheep || John 21:15-19

We’ve all got stories of times we’ve failed in our lives. Whether it’s leaving the Salmon out of a Salmon Tortilla, or leaving $200 in cash in an ATM. Tim looks at the failure of Peter, one of the key leaders of the early church, when he denies knowing Jesus three times just as Jesus is arrested and crucified. Jesus knows our failures, he isn’t surprised by them, or unaware of them: he knows everything we’ve done in our lives. BUT Jesus knows about these failures, and forgives Peter, just as he forgives us, giving Peter a new life, with new purpose.  This biography of Peter’s failure and life serves as an introduction to our new series, Strangers Far From Home, looking through the book of 1 Peter, an open letter written by Peter to believers scattered throughout the world.  

Joy In Your Life || Stand Firm in the Lord || Philippians 4:1-23

The final section of Paul’s letter to the Church in Philippi packs a whole bunch of great points into a pretty short section. Tim manages to squish seven talks worth of tips from Paul into just one! Paul gives us seven things to help us “stand firm” in Jesus. Both Paul and Jesus knew of the challenge that many people go through, with the burden of worry and anxiety. Paul speaks to this in his letter, and Tim lends his thoughts and experiences to the reality of anxiety in our lives.  If you or someone you know struggles with anxiety to an extreme, reach out to someone for help. You can always call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Joy In Your Life || Work Out Your Salvation || Philippians 2:12-30

Our journey through Paul’s first-century letter to the church in Philippi continues this week, exploring a slightly unusual phrase: “…work out your salvation…”. Tim looks at what this phrase doesn’t mean, to try to understand what it does mean.  What do we do in our lives to ‘work out our salvation’? Tim offers a framework in his talk, which you can find here.

Joy In Your Life || Humility || Philippians 2:1-11

UPDATED: Apologies, as we originally used the wrong audio for this episode. Call it a lesson in humility. Continuing our series through Paul’s letter to the Church in Philippi, Tim explores what Paul says about humility. Paul makes it clear that if you’re a Christian, you’ve received love and acceptance through Jesus, before you’ve done anything at all. Our reaction to that, though, our response to God for uniting himself with us, it to be united with others. If it’s true that we’re loved by God, we should be loving others. If we have the Spirit of God within us, we should be united with others through that same Spirit.  In response to Jesus, we necessarily need to live differently. 

Partners in the Gospel || Philippians 1:1-11

When you think about Christians, how would you describe them? Would you think that they’re judgmental? Bigot? Do-gooder? Paul, in the first century, wrote a letter to a new church in Philippi, saying that believers should be characterised by the joy in their lives. Throughout the book of Philippians, Paul uses the word joyful, or rejoice, over and over again.  Paul says that we can find joy in ‘partnership’ in the Gospel. He finds joy in the fact that both he and those in Philippi are on the same team, sharing the good news of Jesus. Tim Johnson looks at some of our mission partners, and how we can be finding joy in those partnerships.

The Resurrection of Jesus – Fishermen

Jesus’ resurrection is real. Jesus’ resurrection is miraculous. Jesus’ resurrection is about relationship.   Tim takes a look at John 21:1-14, and the third time the resurrected Jesus appeared to his disciples. In this somewhat ordinary time, the disciples go fishing, and then have breakfast with Jesus. But this simple story shows us somewhat profoundly what the resurrection of Jesus is about.  If Jesus is really risen from the dead, and if he is really with us now, what would you say to him? Maybe you’d say, “Jesus, I do believe you rose from the dead, and I want to start following you.”, or maybe you’d say “Jesus, I don’t know if you’re real or not, but if you are, show me!”, or if you’re already a follower of Jesus, you’d ask him for help with something you’re struggling with, or you’d thank him for something great in your life. Jesus is alive. The resurrection isn […]

Good Friday – The Servant

Superheroes are huge at the moment. 2700 years ago, a prophet named Isaiah wrote about someone who would come and save the world; but unlike Superman, Batman, and the Flash, who are obviously super, Isaiah’s hero is named The Servant. This ordinary character doesn’t sound impressive, nor like they could save the world. Yet at Easter, we remember this person, this factual person, Jesus.  The greatest outrage of our nation this year has been focused towards the Australian Cricket Team, and their faults and failings. The players broke the rules, and went against the spirit of the game, and have been harshly criticised by people who themselves, have undoubtedly bent or broken rules to their own benefit. No body does the right thing, all the time. No one! This is why we all need the hero of the Servant, of Jesus. We don’t need to earn forgiveness, as God offers it freely through Jesus Christ, and his death on Good Friday.