Sermons

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

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

Watch this Sermon

'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?

Download Sermon Notes

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

Watch this Sermon

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?

Watch this Sermon

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: 131

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

Watch this Sermon

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: 84

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 h