Talks from 2021 (Page 2)
Before and After || Freedom In Jesus || Galatians 3:23-4:7
“Before and After” photos can reveal stunning changes. Before and after dieting and exercise; before and after renovations; before and after following Jesus! Paul, in Galatians, describes a before and after that the Jewish people went through – before …
Claim your inheritance || Freedom In Jesus || Galatians 3:15-22
In Julie’s final talk at St John’s, she tackles one of the densest parts of the letter to the Galatians. The church in Galatia was looking back to the time before Jesus, at the law of Israel – something Jesus came to fulfil and free them from. Paul cha…
Absolute Idiots. || Freedom In Jesus || Galatians 3:1-14
You IDIOTS!
Paul starts this part of his letter to the Galatians calling them absolute idiots. Why such a strong telling off? Tim explores the right and wrong way to live the #blessed life.
Paul Calls Out Peter || Freedom In Jesus || Galatians 2:11-21
A strongly worded passage, this part of Paul’s letter to the Galatians refers to another leader in the early church – Peter (or Cephas, same person). Paul calls out Peter’s actions, as he was withdrawing from eating and interacting with those who weren…
Added Improvements || Freedom In Jesus || Galatians 1:11-2:10
One of Tim’s dear friends adding water to wine. Another squirting tomato sauce on pizza.
When we make additions to things that are already great, we can ruin them.
Jesus’ message of grace and forgiveness is already everything we need. Adding to i…
To the Galatians, Love Paul || Freedom in Jesus || Galatians 1:1-10
Following Jesus is all it takes to be a Christian, but the church in first-century Galatia (now Turkey) tried to add things on top of that. Paul’s letter to the Galatians starts off really nice – “grace and peace be with you!”, but quickly, his tone ch…
Open House 50th Anniversary || Jordan Wakelin || Luke 5:17-26
At St John’s, we’re passionate partners in God’s worldwide mission. We support organisations like Open House through prayerful and practical support, as well as financially. Paul Burgess, from Open House gives us an insight to Open House’s 50-year hist…
Open House 50th Anniversary || Paul Burgess || Matthew 25:31-40
At St John’s, we’re passionate partners in God’s worldwide mission. We support organisations like Open House through prayerful and practical support, as well as financially. Paul Burgess, from Open House gives us an insight to Open House’s 50-year hist…
Easter Explorations || Kirk Mackenzie || John 20:24-29
During the school holidays, we spend time asking questions about stories about Jesus or that Jesus told.
This week, Kirk thinks about “Doubting Thomas” and his interaction with the risen Jesus.
Easter Explorations || Julie Blinco || John 20:19-23
During the school holidays, we spend time asking questions about stories about Jesus or that Jesus told.
Join Julie as she looks at Jesus appearing to the disciples just after Easter.
Easter Sunday || Kirk Mackenzie || John 20:1-18
Easter Sunday – and Jesus’ resurrection – elevates the Easter story from a nice tale of sacrifice, to a world-changing event with implications for everyone everywhere.
A New Agreement || The Weeping Prophet || Jeremiah 32:27-34
Jeremiah was given a harsh message from God – that he would uproot and tear down, overthrow, destroy and bring disaster. But in chapter 32, we see hope. A new agreement between God and his people, not written in stone like the Ten Commandments were, bu…
False Prophets || The Weeping Prophet || Jeremiah 23:15-32
This passage from the book of Jeremiah is basically a smackdown from God towards false prophets. Jeremiah, as a true prophet of God, received a message that was straight from God, for God’s people. Kirk takes a look at how to spot a false prophet, and …
Turning Around || The Weeping Prophet || Jeremiah 15:10-21
Have you ever felt let down by God?
God’s Direction || The Weeping Prophet || Jeremiah 7:1-15
When Julie first moved to Melbourne, she bought thermals and wore them 11 months of the year; growing up in the NT and Far North Queensland meant she took a few years to acclimatise. At first, it was a shock to the system, but she got used to it in the…
Jeremiah’s Dirty Job || The Weeping Prophet || Jeremiah 1:1-19
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had? Jeremiah had a rough time, being called as a prophet of God as a teenager, he had some hard truths for God’s people. God gave him words to “uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant” – m…
Pleasure vs Joy || Songs of Joy || Psalm 97
Psalm 97 has a lot to say about joy. But what is joy? How is it different to pleasure? Kirk wraps up our series Songs of Joy, looking at the differences between joy and pleasure.
A Lifestyle of Praise || Songs of Joy || Psalm 96
Praising God is something that can feel easy when everything is going our way – but what happens when life throws challenges in our path? Julie gives us four reasons to praise God in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in.
Good Posture || Songs of Joy || Psalm 95
We had to learn heaps in 2020. From coughing into your elbow to scanning QR codes, there was lots of change. As we get back to some level of normality and we get to do things again (outbreaks notwithstanding), there’s a sense of joy.
This new series l…
The Promised Land || Summer Stories || Deuteronomy 1:19-36
2020 brought challenges and plenty of lessons. Will we learn from those lessons, or just snap back to our lives from 2019?
Fishing with Jesus || Summer Stories || John 21:1-14
Julie leads us through a story about Jesus – a story of Jesus appearing to his followers after his death and resurrection and helping them find a haul of fish.
What stands out to you in this story from John 21?
What do you like about this story?
What …
When Life Disappoints || Summer Stories || Mark 8:34 – 9:1
On New Years Eve, Tim and his family where holidaying. Spending time at the beach, shopping and hanging out. Then they got a call that the border between NSW and Victoria was closing. They needed to travel hundreds of kilometres on a moments’ notice. T…
Blurry Vision || Summer Stories || Mark 8:22-33
Spitting isn’t great, socially. It’s pretty gross, especially in a pandemic. But when Jesus spits in his hands and rubs it into a blind man’s eyes, the blind man is healed – but only after a second attempt by Jesus. Initially, the man has blurry vision…
Jesus Meets Our Needs || Summer Stories || Mark 8:1-21
Through 2020, we saw scenes that we may never have expected – supermarket shelves empty of food and toilet paper. In 2021, Tim encourages us to trust that Jesus will provide all our needs, just as he did for the 4000 people (and the 5000 in a previous …
Creating a Faith Based New Year’s Resolution || Matthew 17:14-20
With a New Year upon us, you might’ve been asked: “Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions?”. Julie challenges us – if your resolution is something that could be achieved in your own strength and effort, think bigger! Rely on God for your New Year’s R…