Job and Jesus St Mark’s Church on the Rise 15.11.15 Job 10:1-22; Ps 38; James 5:7-11; Luke 22:31-34,39-46 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLf_Nlukra0&feature=youtu.be Introduction There is nothing quite as startling as the story of Job. A respected, prosperous and devout family who suddenly loses … Continue reading
The Prize Sonlife Church 8.11.15 Philippians 3:12-21 Introduction I think one sentence in today’s passage is particularly memorable because it is particularly intense; “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, … Continue reading
The Headless Woman Personal Matters This teaching springs from a story told at a leaders meeting about a church (x) where the pastor turned aggressively against his fellow leaders most of whom then died in quick succession. One person prophesied … Continue reading
The Wordless Father Personal Matters A few weeks ago I was privileged, a word I do rarely use for Christian meetings, to attend a seminar in the city where Letitia Shelton spoke about the ministry of City Women in Toowoomba. … Continue reading
Domestic Violence and the Identity of the Church[i] Personal Matters Our nation is in the midst of a seemingly interminable crisis. One in six Australian women over 15 has experienced domestic violence (d.v.) from a current or former partner. Nearly … Continue reading
Recognise Mt Zion Aussie Indigenous Church Belmont 11/4/15 Introduction I had an aboriginal friend in primary school, and we were the legal guardians of a niece who lived with us and whose dad was an Indigenous elder; but my serious … Continue reading
Joseph of Arimathea St Mark’s 11/10/15 Gen 23:3-9, 17-19; Ps 16:5-11; Isa 53:1-9; John 19:38-42 Introduction People may debate whether the gunman in the recent American massacre actually targeted Christians, but what is not debatable is that the government of … Continue reading
The Beauty Parlour Personal Matters I have not slept soundly since a church related trauma around 20 years ago, but since being on retreat recently things have been considerably worse. (When you feel tired out before 9 a.m. in the … Continue reading
Discerning the Spirit Personal Matters Recently someone shared with weeping about the sudden unexpected loss of a spouse. In the midst of their grief I could sense that this was a dark episode in which the Holy Spirit was moving … Continue reading
Remember Part 2: Jesus and his Father Personal Matters In the previous “Remember” I described overwhelming feelings of regret I experienced when on retreat in Kalbarri. These regretful emotions were grounded in remembering past decisions/actions which I now judge to … Continue reading
The Image and the Voice Introduction Processing current affairs through the lens of scripture always opens up surprising perspectives. I believe that the traumas of our time are opening up the global Church to a level of unity and maturity … Continue reading
Remember Part 1: Good and Wrong Personal Matters Last week I was on retreat in Kalbarri, north of Perth. I anticipated time alone to reflect on the mystery of the Trinity and its implications for the current same-sex marriage debate. … Continue reading
Glory Stolen and Returned Introduction When this month I received an Anglican Prayer Diary with not one prayer addressed to God the Father, and at a public meeting no less a Pentecostal than Margaret Court said “Many Pentecostals today talk … Continue reading
The Intercessory Life Personal Matters I have long believed that God is working through even the seemingly “minor” things of life to bring us to Jesus. Sometimes however we are surprised to discover an aspect of the Spirit’s actions in … Continue reading
Mary and Martha: the Way of Discipleship St Mark’s 23.8.15 Isa 26:1-12;Psalm 16; Phil 4:4-7; “Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had … Continue reading
Excommunication: the grace of the Father “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you…Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as present, … Continue reading
Precious Personal Matters “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel … Continue reading
Cry Mercy Introduction Whilst I am aware of various groups starting up to pray for revival in Australia, I see an essential ingredient missing in the prayer life of the Church; I am not hearing deep cries to God for … Continue reading
Paul St Mark’s 2.8.15 Isa 43:1-10; Ps 71:1-16; Acts 9:1-22; Luke 24:44-48 Introduction (Saul>Paul) Testimony: This has been a pressured week. I had to deal with various very painful situations in people’s lives when I was in Melbourne Wednesday-Thursday, I … Continue reading
John the Baptist St Mark’s Church on the Rise 19.7.15 (Isa 40:1-8; Ps 139:1-16; Acts 19:1-7; Luke 3:1-18) Introduction John the Baptist is perhaps the most misunderstood of all biblical characters. When a preacher labelled John “harsh and legalistic” … Continue reading
Personal Matters The Lord is preparing his Church for a reformation as momentous as anything that has happened in the last 500 years. In this context I was privileged to attend a seminar on the relationship between Church and Marketplace … Continue reading
SHE Personal matters The deepest revelation comes in the context of conflict, because it involves sharing in the sufferings of Christ (Heb 10:32). Such enlightenment however does not come automatically but through willing submission to God’s profoundly exacting purposes. The … Continue reading
Resource W.A. Personal Matters Watching the Swan winding towards Perth then walking across an overpass for rail lines and the Freeway headed towards our CBD I sensed the Lord speaking about cities as concentration points of natural and human resources. … Continue reading
Fear God Luke 9:28-36 (NLT) Heb 5:7 (RSV) Mark 14:32-36; Mark 15:33-34 (ESV) Red Door CC 28.6.15 Introduction The topic today I have been given today to complete your series on fear seen through the life of Peter is the … Continue reading
Jonah and Jesus St Mark’s Bassendean 21.6.15 Jonah 2; Psalm 88:1-10; Acts 2:22-24; Matt 12:38-41 Introduction The book of Jonah is a shocking book, not because it tells the story of a God who puts a prophet in the belly … Continue reading
Beware the Gift Personal Matters The first thing that came up on ABC news radio this morning (8/6/15) was the decision of Hillsong to cancel their invitation to controversial US pastor Mark Driscoll to speak at their upcoming conference. Until … Continue reading
Turning Point: Equal marriage and the Future of the Church Personal Matters Since the Irish referendum on same-sex marriage I have been receiving a host of messages from Christians alarmed about where our own nation is going. On one level … Continue reading
Re-Incarnation: Faith @Work Personal Matters Sitting in a breakfast meeting last week with a small group discussing Faith @Work I became greatly stirred up in my spirit (John 11:33; Acts 17:16). The speaker described his journeying around the world to … Continue reading
In-sight Prayer Ministry and the Spiritual Situation Today People Alive AGM 26.5.15 Presenting Problem, Underlying Issue Ignorance: great need for healing but no inner sense that this is the case Resistance: awareness but avoidance. These behaviours are all based on … Continue reading
Cry Justice Introduction As I was preparing this sermon a huge heading appeared on the front of The West Australian ; NO JUSTICE (13 May 2015 p.1). The average Australian appears to be deeply committed to issues of justice: everyone … Continue reading