Sermons

Maybe you're concerned that you won't feel comfortable at church. One way to help you decide is listen to one of these sermons (a fancy word for a talk that helps understand a passage of the Bible). We're convinced that Jesus is the smartest person who ever lived, so what he has to say on life still makes sense today. More than that, what he has to say actually puts life into full vivid colour.

Real Relationships

(24th March 2024)

Philippians 2:1-18 (read it here)

Why do we live in a "dog eat dog" world? Is there an alternative? What would that look like?

You need a priest!

(17th March 2024)

Hebrews 4:14-5:10 (read it here)

Can your God say "no" to you? And if you choose not to listen, what's does that mean? Is it really possible just to stroll into God's presence? Or do you need a priest?

Real wisdom and power

(3rd March 2024)

1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (read it here)

Wisdom and Power matter. We want one, or both, to make sense of life. But is your wisdom enough, is your power enough? Shame to get to the end of life and have got that one wrong...

The wonder of promise

(25th February 2024)

Romans 4:13-25 (read it here)

"On Saturday I'll take you to McDonald's." That a promise that is wonder to many a child. Why? Because it is beyond the child to fulfill that promise. That's the wonder of promise.

Why follow Jesus if life seems harder?

(18th February 2024)

1 Peter 3:18-22 (read it here)

It's not cool to be a Christian. The 2021 Australian Christian Book of the Year was titled:" Being the Good Bad Guys." This is not a new siuation. Peter has a wonderful answer to why you would follow Jesus even if it seems to make life harder.

Freedom from the burden of "my rights"

(4th February 2024)

1 Corinthians 9:16-23 (read it here)

Our society is obsessed with "my rights." This is important to stop abuse, but it can also cause abuse. Is there a better way? In this ancient letter we hear the truth that sets us free from being at war with one another over "my rights". 

Sow your tears

(17th December 2023)

Psalm 126 (read it here)

The Christian life is full of joy, but that does not mean an end to tears. What does it mean for followers of Jesus to experience both? The remarkable thing about following Jesus is that we don't need to deny our tears, they can be used to experience a deeper joy.

Don't fear the future

(3rd December 2023)

Mark 13:24-37 (read it here)

Jesus doesn't want you to fear the future. It's easy to read the news and think disaster is on it's way. Jesus has a better way to live.

Living like loyalty

(26th November 2023)

Matthew 25:31-46 (read it here)

Jesus wants us to know how to live right now, not just the future, what matters and what will count for eternity. You might be surprised what he says will be remembered. Or maybe you'll see, yes, that just the natural outcome of a life shaped by loyalty.

Sharing the happiness of Jesus

(19th November 2023)

Matthew 25:14-20 (read it here)

Give someone a gift and tell them not to use it? Crazy. Yet, maybe that's how we respond to God's kindness and generosity to us. Explore this theme with a short sermon from a man who should have known better.

What Jesus expects of leaders

(5th November 2023)

Matthew 23:1-12 (read it here)

Jesus' harsher words are saved for leaders. It is a sad fact of history that many of those who claim to lead in the name of Jesus have failed him. What does Jesus expect of leaders?

The true alternative to the conservative-liberal divide

(22nd October 2023)

Matthew 22:15-33 (read it here)

What makes my contribution to the world come alive? Jesus offers us an alternative to being conservative or liberal, choosing Left or Right, carrying the burden of "making it happen". 

You are invited

(15th October 2023)

Matthew 22:1-14 (read it here)

At least admit it to yourself, even you like a royal wedding. That's one of the concrete image Jesus gives us to understand heaven. What does it tell us?

Respect the Son

(8th October 2023)

Matthew 21:33-46 (read it here)

How do you behave in someone else's house? This is God's world, how do you behave here in his "house"? Will you respect his Son?

Breaking the cycle of revenge

(17th September 2023)

Matthew 18:21-35 (read it here)

If you think that the only way to get justice is "maintain the rage", Jesus disagrees with you. He says there is a more powerful way to honour justice and break the cycle the cycle of revenge.

Reconcile!

(10th September 2023)

Matthew 18:10-20 (read it here)

How do we live with each other? What would it look like to live in better harmony, even when we disagree? Jesus, the best teacher who ever lived, has words of life about how to live with others.

Finding your true self

(3rd September 2023)

Matthew 16:21-28 (read it here)

"Get behind me Satan." Jesus strong rebuke to Peter, must mean that something very important, super important, is at stake. In fact it is, the very self that we hope to be. 

The political power of Jesus

(27th August 2023)

Matthew 16:13-20 (read it here)

Jesus and politics do mix. Actually, Jesus is intent on bringing order out of chaos and creating a people who do the same.

How to approach Jesus

(20th August 2023)

Matthew 15:21-28 (read it here)

Since 1548, the Anglican church has remembered this pagan woman every time they meet at the Lord's Supper. She teaches us how to approach Jesus.

Losing your lunch

(6th August 2023)

Matthew 14:13-21 (read it here)

Does following Jesus seem like you might miss out on life? Or is Jesus actually the Lord of the Feast, the true life-giver?

Jesus' desire for you

(30th July 2023)

Matthew 13:44-58 (read it here)

Is your vision of what Jesus wants for you the same as his? Its easy to think that Jesus wants to reduce our life, but these parables show us he wants to do the exact opposite. 

Shine like the sun

(23rd July 2023)

Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 (read it here)

This can be a dangerous and even evil world. Can we be safe here? Jesus says yes. More than that, he believes that in the end, if you listen to him, you will shine like the sun. The sermon starts with a kids talk.

Fertiliser for the soul: Listen!

(16th July 2023)

Matthew 13:1-23 (read it here)

The ways of God are learnt like a child learns maths - from an expert teacher. Jesus is that expert teacher who will show us how to remove the hardness, rock and thorns that affect our souls. The surprising thing is, he can do that through the simple act of listening.

The Gospel tune that releases our burdens

(9th July 2023)

Matthew 11:15-19, 25-30 (read it here)

What is the gospel tune and can we hear it? Or are we caught up in our own way of doing life and our burdens? 

Will you receive Good News?

(2nd July 2023)

Matthew 10:40-42 (read it here)

The nature, or principal, of Jesus' message can be summed up as "receive." Why is this so hard if you're a seeker, and why is this so hard if you're a follower?

Sparrows have a very strong daddy

(25th June 2023)

Matthew 10:24-39 (read it here)

Jesus wants his followers to be like him, with authority, which means dealing with what can happen to disciples, like persecution. Jesus answer may surprise you.

Jesus' plan for the world involves you 

(18th June 2023)

Matthew 9:35-10:8 (read it here)

The vision of Jesus is that we might move from harassed and helpless to his co-workers with the same authority. The recording starts with the kids' talk and a lost sheep.

Wrestle with worship (4th June 2023)

Matthew 28:16-20 (read it here)

This message is a chance to meet Thaddeus, one of the first disciples. Why did he doubt that he should worship Jesus? What changed his mind?

Fire in you! (28th May 2023)

Acts 2:1-21 (read it here)

Fire. Beautiful, warming, life giving, and also dangerous. Why does God use this image? What would it mean if that fire were in you? The sermon begins with a kids' talk about fire

Jesus prays for you! (21st May 2023)

John 17:1-11 (read it here)

What would it look like if God prayed for you? We don't need to guess, but we have the opportunity to listen in, and maybe even learn to pray for ourselves like Jesus does. The sermon begins with a kids' talk about gold and glory.

Jesus with us (14th May 2023)

John 14:15-21 (read it here)

Jesus encourages us that he never leaves us. His Spirit is active in our lives when we seek him.

Where We Belong (7th May2023)

John 14:1-14 (read it here)

Jesus says that we can particpate in the current reality of heaven. How is that possible? (includes a kids' talk building a house with duplo at the start)

The Good Life (30th April 2023)

John 10:1-10 (read it here)

Jesus says that he came to bring us abundant life. What does he mean, and under what conditions will I experience this?

To Good To Be True? (23rd April 2023)

Luke 24:13-15 (read it here)

Is the resurrection of Jesus like a fairytale, too good to be true? Or is it the true fairytale from which actually makes sense of history and offers us as reality the best future we could dream of?

How do I see Jesus? (16th April 2023)

John 20:19-31 (read it here)

Christianity stands or falls on the event of the resurrection of Jesus. But isn't faith just a leap in the dark, a feel good moment? This message helps you explore these questions.

A Reality That We Can't Contain: A Relief, Or Not? (9th April 2023)

Matthew 28 (read it here)

The Resurrection asks us to deal with reality, intimacy and our deepest fear. This message was shared on Easter Sunday. The "bangs" you might hear are party poppers to emphasisie the joy.

More Than a Brutal Death (7th April 2023)

John 19 (read it here)

Jesus does not waste a word, but tells us emphatically what he is doing and what it means for us. Our thirst freed to drink from God again so that we might know him as Father and live as a restored family. This message was shared on Good Friday. 

The Safest Place to Be (6th April 2023)

John 13 (read it here)

This message was shared on the Thursday before Easter. It's answering the question, If life is chaotic, what would give me a true experience of feeling safe?