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 →

This is a message given to Tabor combined chapel 4th April 2018. Easter is the time when we remember the amazing grace of Jesus shown in his death.  In his life, Jesus showed grace to the world, to all the … 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 →

I recently attended a Christian event.  I was hoping to learn something there and to spend some time in worship.  I came home early, disappointed and wondering why I had gone.  Having reflected on what happened there, I know why … 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 →

Those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord are sons of God, and yet many in the western church act as if they were slaves and not sons.  This is due to our immaturity as believers.  This immaturity is evident … 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 →

In 1 Cor 6:5 Paul tells the church, “I say this to shame you”.  I am surprised that shame plays any role at all in the Christian life since Jesus bore our shame upon the cross (Heb 12:2).  And yet … 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 →