Sharing in Christ 1. Humanity Isa 7:1-14; Ps 40:1-10; 1 Tim 3:14-16; John 1:1-14 St Mark’s3.6. 18 Introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S47pL9QGq8 From New Testament times every Church failing is grounded in a failure to share fully in the life of Christ (Col … Continue reading
Where has the Spirit Gone? Alive@5St Mark’s27.5.18 Romans 1:16-20; 8:1-11 https: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdYYTl5Ht4o Part 1: Introducing the Problem Read Roman 8:1-11 “But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of … Continue reading
Discerning a Wedding Word Introduction As a republican I studiously avoided watching the recent royal wedding. Then however, just after praying for growth in discernment in my life, I found myself bombarded with comments about the sermon of Bishop Michael … Continue reading
Rainbow Submission. Introduction Last Saturday Donna and I were privileged to attend the Diversity Dinner in Perth, reputedly Australia’s most multicultural city in Australia, to celebrate our diversity in Christ. Folk were there from many nations in an open and … Continue reading
Call and Gifts Alive@5 6.5.18 Jer 1:4-10; Rom 12:3-8; Luke 3:21- 22 Introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKbFGdT8tBQ I used to teach that God calls us to perform a particular task and gives us the gifts to perform that task. This is true, … Continue reading
Cities of Blood 2 Introduction My previous article suggested that the selfish bloodletting of the City of Man directly opposes the sacrificial spirit of the City of God founded on the shed blood of the Lamb. I argued that the … Continue reading
Cities of Blood Introduction Whilst attending the usual mid week prayer meeting in the CBD I was struck by the scarcity of city-workers to intercede for the welfare of our city (Jer 29:7). The people of God will gather to … Continue reading
Unbelief St Marks 15.4.18 Num 13:25-14:4; Ps 78:9-22; Heb 3:12-4:2; Mark 6:1-6 Introduction https://youtu.be/dZvq5VkJPn8 In the Gospels, Jesus is said to be amazed only twice; at the great faith of a Roman centurion who believed he could heal his sick … Continue reading
Jesus and the Bible Alive@5 8.4.18 Deut 6:4-9 John 5:30-47 Introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SxUY4F-NBshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=allFFmkEa-4 Why is it that only 20% of professing Australian Christians regularly read their Bibles? Clearly, most of the Church does not experience “the word of God (as) living … Continue reading
Foundation’s Sacrifice “Thus says the LORD: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem…Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great … Continue reading
The Cross in Hebrews Isa 55:1-9; Ps 37:23-26; Heb 9:23-28; Mark 10:35-45 St Marks 4.3.18 Introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CnmJ8LWIl8 The booming popularity of the gay pride parades testifies that we are living in the midst of an unprecedented cultural revolution; but it … Continue reading
The Cross through the Eyes of Paul St Mark’s 25.3.18 Isa 50:4-9 ;Ps 40:1-10;1 Cor 1:18-35; Luke 23:1-49 Introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avzl7v1pZGM Preaching on “The cross through the eyes of Paul” might call for an exposition of his big theological ideas, ransom, … Continue reading
Blood and Light Introduction The New Testament presents becoming a Christian as an incredibly radical transition. In commissioning Paul to preach to the Gentiles Jesus said, “I am sending you…to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness … Continue reading
Repentance Leads to Life Alive@5 St Mark’s 11.3.18 Introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_YXxgb4vmE Against the strong prophetic background of God’s calling sinful Israel to turn away from evil and come back to him (Jer 26:3; Ezek 14:6; Isa 55:6-7 etc.) Christ’s proclamation of … Continue reading
Groaning is a Gift for Glory Introduction Like the prophets I go through periods where things are exceptionally bitter for my spirit (Isa 22:4; Jer 13:17; Lam 3:15; Ezek 3:14; Zeph 1:14). In several public meetings last week I was … Continue reading
Serving the Lord over the Powers Dan 10:1-21; Eph 1:15-22 Alive@5 18.2.18 Introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exy30cOPMN0 Last week Dale focussed on how the death and resurrection of Jesus delivers us from sin and death; this week we want focus on the … Continue reading
Why the Vision Perishes Phil 2:1-11 Zion Fellowship18.2.18 Introduction This time of the year many churches have a “Vision Sunday”.[1] But I have … Continue reading
Renaming “God” Ezek 16:8-22 ;Ps 104:14-35; Acts 14:8-18; John 13:1-15 St Marks 18.2.18 Introduction https://youtu.be/Y6Do2As58t4 There’s something dreadfully wrong when we hear Christian people talking a lot about “God” and not speaking much about “Jesus”, for scripture teaches us that … Continue reading
Driven Mad “The LORD will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of mind” (Deut 28:28) “evil appears as good in the minds of those whom gods lead to destruction.”(Sophocles c. 441 BC) Turning and turning in the widening … Continue reading
Saving Australia’s Day Introduction As a fun time to celebrate national achievements Australia Day is a beloved occasion for most of us. However an increasingly vocal and growing minority, including thoughtful Christians, say the Day needs to be shifted, scrapped … Continue reading
Honoured to Fight, to The Very End Neh 4:10-20; Ps 35:1-10; 1 Tim 6:11-16; John 18:33-38 St Mark’s 21.1.18 Introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NNQfJw3G94 Australia Day next Friday will be full of fun and fireworks, but the day which most weighs on our … Continue reading
A Song of Protest: a call for prophetic music Introduction I was deeply moved recently by reading a book about early Christian devotion to Jesus. In his letter to the emperor Trajan the Roman official Pliny (c.112 A.D.) records torturing … Continue reading
Hungry Bride[i] Introduction Following my exhortations in “Forget the Lunch” I received emails outlining how some people had indeed decided to forego meals, and other things, to seek the glory of the Lord. Their seriousness has provoked me to reconsider … Continue reading
Old and Young for Jesus Is 61.10-62.3; Ps 148; Gal 4.4-7; Lk 2.22-40 St Mark’s 30.1.17 Introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ5VZeeaeAQ 2017 has been a painful year for God in Australia. The Royal Commission into sex abuse provided countless examples of how so-called … Continue reading
Baptism vs ‘Christmas’ St Marks Baptisms 17.12.17 Isa 7:10-16; Ps 72:1-8; Rom 1:1-7; Matt 1:18-25 Introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gnol4RncgKg Everyone is baptised into something. I will never forget the experience of being in Cairo during the call to prayer when countless loudspeakers … Continue reading
Seeing Jesus’ Glory in All Things Bible Readings: Heb 1:1-4 with Rom 8:28-30, then 2 Cor 5:14-17 Introduction http://www.daleappleby.net/media/podcastmanager/YatesRom8.mp3 While teaching in Hong Kong last weekend I came into much greater clarity on what it means to be able to … Continue reading
Politics or Jesus Introduction This teaching was provoked by recently reading “To Change the World” by sociologist James Davison Hunter. His persuasive thesis is that in engaging the powers of the political realm American Christians have been ensnared in the … Continue reading
Married for War Introduction I have long taught that the key to finding understanding, strength and growth in a Christian marriage comes from a revelation of the marital relationship between Christ and the Church, this is clearest in Paul’s words … Continue reading
Grace Unlimited: The Workers in the Vineyard Matt 20:1-16Alive@5 12.11.17 http://www.daleappleby.net/media/podcastmanager/WorkersVinYates.mp3 Read from 19:23. ““For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. 2 … Continue reading
Christ Centred Community of Faith Gen 1:26-28; Ps 2; Col 1:15-20; John 12:20-33 St Marks 5/11/17 Introduction https://youtu.be/KH9qTtHPpB0 At the next Church Council meeting there will be a annual review of Dale’s ministry; this is straightforward, but do we realise … Continue reading