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Why We Need Christmas || Does God Love Us – Do We Love God? || Malachi 1:1-14
With his final talk at St John’s, Sam launches our Advent series leading into Christmas: Why We Need Christmas. This series looks at the prophet Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, as evidence of why Israel (and ourselves), need Jesus to come …
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…
Come & See || Chais & Phil
When we find something really good, like an exceptional bowl of strawberries and ice cream, we feel compelled to tell others about it, and to get them to try it for themselves. In the same way, we’re inviting you to Come & See how good a relationship w…
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Thanksgiving 2018 || Psalm 34
On our 151st birthday, Tim gives us an ABC of thanks from Psalm 34.
The Church On Mission || This Way or That? || Acts 21:1-17
When making a decision, Christians often look for a sign from the Holy Spirit; a prompting, or a miraculous sign clearly saying “YES, GO THIS WAY”.
Even Paul though, facing a decision to return to Jerusalem, experienced the Spirit both encouraging him…
The Church On Mission || Opposition & Goodbyes || Acts 20:1-12
In this section of Acts, Paul is compelled by the Spirit to end his journey through the ancient world by returning to Jerusalem, where he doesn’t know what will happen to him, other than he has been prompted that prison and hardships are waiting for hi…
The Church On Mission || Supper & Power || Acts 20:1-12
In a story which includes someone being raised from the dead, you’d imagine that would be the focal point- the highlight of the story. In this passage of Acts though, this act of raising a young man from the dead is not prioritised, and instead, the a…
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 …
The Church On Mission || Miracles & Repentance || Acts 19:11-22
During Paul’s journey through Asia Minor (Turkey) and Greece, he spent a long time in specific places – two years in Ephesus alone. While he was there, he would have worked his trade, making tents. The people of Ephesus, believing so strongly in the go…
The Church On Mission || Baptism & The Spirit || Acts 19:1-10
This episode launches our new series, The Church on Mission, following Paul as he travels around Greece and Asia Minor in the first century, commonly referred to as his 3rd Missionary Journey. Kirk gives us an introduction to reading Acts, unpacking ho…
Strangers || PS You Are Loved || Psalm 23
We’ve finished working through the first letter Peter wrote to early Christians in the first century, and this week, Julie brings us a “P.S.”, reminding us all that God loves us. Psalm 23 describes God as our Shepherd, and Julie looks at four things we…
Strangers || Humility || 1 Peter 5:1-7
Finishing off this first-century letter to early Christians, Peter addresses the’elders’ of the communities he is writing to; that is, the senior leaders of the church. He gives them three tips for good leadership within the Church, which can be easily translated to any leadership positions. Peter then addresses people in positions of ‘followers’, under someone else’s leadership.
Essentially, Peter says to lead and be led with humility. Kirk explores humility for leaders, and humility for followers in the final talk in our Strangers: Far From Home series.
Strangers || Eternal Perspective || 1 Peter 4:1-19
As Megan delivers her final talk at St John’s after filling in during Tim’s leave, she shows off her Latin vocabulary and looks at the phrase sub specie aeternitatis, meaning “from the perspective of eternity”. Peter uses this section of his letter to first-century Christians to lift our eyes to the reality of eternity – the present reality of suffering can make our lives difficult, but we must live in the light of eternity and things to come.
Peter writes about ways people in the first century lived in the day-to-day, debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, detestable wild living – and while they might not be a part of our day-to-day focus, there are still signs of living for today. If time is short, maximising the amount of pleasure in your life might be making sure you have the best clothes, that your money is secure, that your own personal success is guaranteed. Having the perspective of God, from an eternal point of view, can help us pe […]
Strangers || Suffer for Doing Good || 1 Peter 3:8-22
Continuing our look through Peter’s letter to first-century Christians, scattered throughout the Roman Empire, Peter addresses a people who are beginning to be persecuted for their faith. Within a few years of this letter being written, Christianity is outlawed throughout the Roman world, and Christians are arrested for their faith.
Sam explores what happens when Christians suffer for doing good, and sees how Peter shows that they are blessed for their suffering, that suffering exercises their hope, and that Christians participate in suffering with Jesus- just as he suffered for us.
Strangers || Missional Respect || 1 Peter 2:13-3:7
Grappling with harder and weightier topics in the Bible together as we strengthen our community and our faith in God. Megan tackles Peter’s instructions to first-century Christian Slaves, Wives and Husbands to submit to authority. These early Christians were freed in their relationship with God, and welcomed into this new family – no Jew or Greek, Slave or Free, Male or Female. The identity of these people broke through previous barriers of their culture. How does Peter’s instruction to submit follow through to us in the 21st century? Megan looks at the trajectory which Jesus himself set the culture on, and where it is leading us today.
Strangers || Taking the Right Path || 1 Peter 2:11-12
How do you know how to take the right path in life? Sam explores these two verses from Peter’s letter to first century Christians, and how they show us which path we should take in our lives.
Should we walk the path of isolation, of assimilation, or of proclamation?
Strangers || Living Stones and Royal Priesthood || 1 Peter 2:1-10
Peter’s letter to churches scattered across the known world of the first century speaks to the identity of the recipients of the letter and reminds them that they are a chosen people – chosen by God.
Julie looks deeply into the phrases used to identify these early Christians, and by extension, us today. Being called ‘living stones’, and a ‘royal priesthood’ isn’t something we easily relate to today, but 2000 years ago the context of the ancient world would have made these identities make more sense.
Strangers || Be Holy || 1 Peter 1:13-25
A 2000-year-old letter written by one of Jesus’ friends, 1 Peter presents the Christian life as a journey that we all go on – beginning when we decide to start our relationship with Jesus, and ending when we see him face-to-face.
Peter gives us directions for this journey, and this week Kirk explores Peter telling Christians to “be holy”, by being obedient. Obedience has a pretty lame reputation in most contexts, but Kirk shows us how being obedient can be a very good thing.
Strangers || Waiting in Hope || 1 Peter 1:3-12
Peter’s letter to early churches scattered across the world speaks to people waiting in hope of something great to come. Though the people this letter was originally written to were facing trials and persecution, Peter encourages them that trials “…have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
Megan explores waiting and how we are still waiting for Jesus. The experience of waiting is expected and purposeful for God’s people- we do not wait in the dark, but rather we wait with evidence.
Strangers || Elect Exiles || 1 Peter 1:1-2
Over the next 9 weeks, we’ll be reading through the first letter Peter wrote to early Christians, scattered throughout the known world- included in the Bible as the book of 1 Peter.
Peter was the leader of the early church, the first to realise that Jesus was and is the Son of God. Peter still though, was human. Peter denied Jesus three times on the night of his arrest, claiming not to know him, nor be his follower. Regardless, Jesus forgives and restores Peter to his identity as a follower of Jesus, and as the leader of the church.
This letter from Peter is addressed to “elect exiles”; what does this identity mean for Christians? Sam explores who this letter was written to then, and how that can still identify us today.
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.
Mission Partners || The Heart of God || Luke 18:28-30
“If you take the work of God’s mission out of the Bible, all you’re left with is a front and back cover.” Kat Shields takes a look at what mission looks like and finds that for the most part, it is ordinary. An ordinary life, saturated with gospel intentionality- a commitment to building relationships modelling Jesus, and talking about faith as a natural part of conversation.
Kat is a regular member of our Sunday evening service, bringing us this talk from Luke 18.
Mission Partners || Wycliffe – Josh Bartlett || Acts 2:1-41
Wycliffe Bible Translators aim to see disciples of Jesus growing through the Scriptures available in the language that speaks to their hearts. To that end, they are actively working on translating the Bible into new languages. While there are 2,000 lan…
Mission Partners || Anglican Overseas Aid || Luke 10:25-37
As a church, we’re proud to support a number of excellent organisations across the world. We give 15% of our offerings to missions, including Anglican Overseas Aid. Their CEO, Bob Mitchell joins us, sharing about their work in Syria, as well as reflecting on the story of the Good Samaritan- asking who is our neighbour?
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.