The Euthanising of the Church: Committing Spiritual Suicide Introduction This dramatic title flows from a week of speaking into immature conduct between senior Church leaders and attending a breakfast put on by the Barnabas Fund; an international ministry dedicated to … Continue reading
Christ Only Reformation series St Mark’s 15.10.17 Isa 9:1-7 Ps 110 Acts 4:1-12 John 14:1-6 Introduction Audio: http://www.daleappleby.net/index.php/mp3-sermons/51-recent-sermons/816-christ-alone If you had been born in Europe in 1500 you would have been immersed into a religious culture whose intensity we find … Continue reading
The Final Romance Introduction The slogans “love is love”, “same love” or “love wins” used by the Yes side in the same-sex marriage (SSM) debate seem naturally irresistible. Surely “gay marriage (should be seen) as an expression not of … Continue reading
Real Hate Introduction “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, … Continue reading
Reformation 2 Grace and Free Will Jer 17:1-13; Ps 51; Rom 8:1-11; John 6:35-44 St Mark’s 24.9.17 Introduction Salvation by grace alone (sola gratia) or grace plus free will; this was one of the sharpest controversies of the Reformation. But before … Continue reading
Ephesians 6:1-9 Life at Home and Work Introduction https://youtu.be/MBXl2KhyNPI On a superficial this section of Ephesians might seem irrelevant to progressive modern life. Such a judgement would be a serious mistake as its 5-fold references to Jesus as Lord and … Continue reading
Wisdom of the Aged: God’s strategy to re-disciple Australia Introduction The massive support for same sex marriage (SSM) shown by the business, sporting, educational, health, legal, media and entertainment worlds etc. is a prophetic sign that the Church has lost … Continue reading
Ephesians 5:21-33 Marriage Glory St Mark’s 10.9.17 https://youtu.be/8oRRJ_bfANg Introduction A lot of Christians are stressed by the pressures of the SSM issue, but I believe it is a time of kairos opportunity in the sovereign purposes of God for us … Continue reading
Scarred for Life Introduction In the likeness of Christ “Scarred for Life” mean carrying a permanent wound to bring life to others. Jesus exposed his wounds to his disciples after the resurrection, and he retains the marks of his slaughter … Continue reading
I thought that today I would speak a little about fear of death. The reality is that people inevitably get older every day and sadly the number of funerals I attend grows every year. As death gets closer it is … Continue reading
This is a talk given to Tabor Combined Chapel for 30th August 2017 Today I am going to make a couple of remarks about same-sex marriage. I obviously can’t say everything there is to say because of time constraints. If … Continue reading
There seems to be little else on Facebook at the moment than people on both sides of the same-sex marriage (SSM) debate making statements about whatever side they are on. I fear that perhaps as Christians we have lost the … Continue reading
The Question I was recently asked the question: “Is there a will of God?” My immediate response to this was “Of course”. However, the question is not that simple. Does God have a specific will for each person or does … Continue reading
One Lord, one Ministry Ps 68:11-18; Eph 4:7-13 https://youtu.be/9-Oeo6gpiMI Introduction Earlier in this chapter Paul declared categorically that the people of God share in one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father. … Continue reading
While listening to the communion introduction at a church I attended recently, I reflected on the way that Christians in non-liturgical churches do communion. What particular interested me is the matter of remembering. In both Luke and 1 Corinthians we … Continue reading
Violence and final Revelation Background If there is a left wing-media “War on Christianity” (Andrew Bolt) few Christians have insight into God’s greater purposes in it all. This came across to me starkly as I joined several hundred leaders listening … Continue reading
In the news lately there have been a number of politicians who have been forced to resign as a consequence of section 44 of the constitution, which forbids elected officials having allegiance to a foreign power.[1] These people have dual … Continue reading
Giving in God’s Gift Ex 35:4-29; Ps 116:12-19;Acts 13:1-3; John 3:31-36 St Mark’s 23.7.17 Introduction https://youtu.be/_0ckSAwyF54 As soon as you mention “giving” in Church most people begin to think about money. This is because what Jesus said is true, “where … Continue reading
Possession – an indigenous Problem Background Recently I was in a meeting concerning the decades old A National Act of Recognition (http://actofrecognition.org.au/).This is a people’s movement seeking to invite Australians to Botany Bay to renounce the violent acts of Captain … Continue reading
Ephesians 3:1-13 Now Alive@5 16.7.17 https://youtu.be/30ssfhjNWhA Introduction Critical to understanding the atmosphere of this part of Ephesians are Paul’s references at the start and finish of this passage to his imprisonment. In verse one he describes himself as “a … Continue reading
Protected by Blood Zion Fellowship 16.7.17 Introduction With those with ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches (Rev 2:7 etc.) alarm bells are ringing constantly and they show no sign of stopping. This is not the first … Continue reading
Fighting Women Introduction One lunch time I was in a coffee shop with a mature sister who was lamenting the young women she knew that were looking for (Christian?) men online for sex, plus those in long term relationships where … Continue reading
Ephesians 2:1-5 Dead and Alive St Marks 18.6.17 Introduction https://youtu.be/bdR0y6X14zU Paul was a much wiser teacher than I was a lecturer. When I first started teaching on salvation I used to begin with the doctrine of sin to convince the … Continue reading
Be Angry like your Father Jer 2:26-32; Ps 68:1-10; 1 John 1:1-4; John 2:13-22 St Marks 11.6.17 Introduction https://youtu.be/XZFqmpzKU0k Around six o’clock last night I was confronted by an angry drunk outside a friend’s house, when I went home and … Continue reading
Rebuilding the Church 3.The Church at Rest City Church of Christ 23.4.17 Introduction This is the third and final sermon in our “Rebuilding the Church” series and this one is titled “The Church at Rest”. This teaching whilst very difficult … Continue reading
Ephesians 1:19-23 Far Above St Mark’s 11.6.17 Introduction https://youtu.be/ClbZCmeZe0Y Paul has been praying that the Ephesians “may know…”God’s great blessings, tonight’s portion of Ephesians 1 makes it plain that all these blessings are concentrated in the Christ’s exaltation for us … Continue reading
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to … Continue reading
Thankful Prayer Eph 1:15-18 Alive@5 4.6.17 https://youtu.be/5jukDETqTE0 “For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you … Continue reading
The Pentecostal Centre Acts 2:1-41; Ps 104:27-35; 1 Cor 12:1-13; John 7:37-38 St Marks 4.6.17 Introduction https://youtu.be/C8zYHjeWSMU Pentecost is a wonderful time of celebration for Christians of all sorts who remember when the Holy Spirit was first outpoured on all … Continue reading
Restoring the Beauty of Fatherhood 2. Dystressed[1] Few believers seem to be aware of the level of stress levels currently pressing on the people of God; surprisingly in recent days centred on our city of Perth. First we had local … Continue reading