Only Natural from 4.11.16 Personal Matters How many Perth congregations will join in the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted Church this week? This is not an attempt to publicise an event, but a warning that our failure … Continue reading
Church on Fire from 28.10.16 Personal Matters The contemporary Western Church fulfils the prophetic warning of Isaiah; “Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by … Continue reading
Lord by the Spirit Ex 35:30-36:1; Ps 115:1-8; 1 Cor 12:1-11; John 14:25-26; 16:12-15 St Mark’s 30.10.16 Introduction Some traditions measure spirituality in terms of commitment to social justice, for others it means frequent communion and deep meditation, elsewhere those … Continue reading
Wisdom to Disciple from 21.10.16 Personal Matters The discipleship crisis across the Australian churches cannot be healed by any amount of programming. There is no “hunger and thirst for righteousness” in our land and so no being “filled” with … Continue reading
Revival and Bible from 13.10.16 Personal Matters The savage decline in Bible knowledge is a common feature of Western Christianity. Even for older believers, including me, God isn’t experienced as near as he used to be in the reading … Continue reading
Apostolic Truth from 7.11.16 Apostle= one who is sent on a mission Personal matters When Peter describes false teachers as “waterless springs and mists driven by a storm” he means they promise nourishment but produce nothing. (2 Pet … Continue reading
The Law of Lawlessness from 30.9.16 Personal Matters When previously Christian states pass laws legalising abortion, euthanasia and same-sex marriage we are certainly approaching the summit of lawlessness. These are the “terrible times” of “the last days” when “People … Continue reading
In Micah 6:8 there is a famous statement about the fundamentals of faith: act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. But just a few verses earlier there is a much less famous statement, which nonetheless we should … Continue reading
One Foundation, One Temple 2 Chron 7:1-16; Ps 26; 1 Cor 3:1-23; John 2:13-22 St Marks 2.10.16. Introduction This is the third in our series on 1 Corinthians and once again Paul is taking on problems amongst the church members. … Continue reading
Father Revealed from 23.9.16 Personal Matters What is blocking of a fuller revelation of God’s Fatherhood to the Church? A vital answer appears at the climax of Jesus’ teaching ministry in John; “O righteous Father, even though the world … Continue reading
Embarrassed Isa 29:11-19; Ps 17; 1Cor 1:26-2:16; Matt 27:27-54 St Mark’s 25.9.16 Introduction This is the second sermon in our series on 1 Corinthians, and as with all Paul’s communications with this divisive, arrogant, immoral and confused church what he … Continue reading
Over the last two days [19-20 Sept] I attended a conference in Adelaide hosted by the gender studies department at University of South Australia. Much of the terminology and the references to theorists went over my head, since gender studies … Continue reading
Confusion from 16.9.16 Personal Matters Open up a conversation about abortion, global warming, refugees or same-sex marriage amongst congregational members and watch what happens to “the unity of the Spirit” (Eph 4:3). Whereas the LORD promises “I will give … Continue reading
This short message was written as a follow-up to a discussion in church about the kingdom of God, which never comes to an end. The book of Daniel begins with the exile of the nation of Judah to Babylon. In … Continue reading
Seeing the Invisible from 9.9.16 Personal Matters We started our time of prayer with this text, “But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” (2 Cor 10:12). Comparisons between … Continue reading
Prosperity versus Spirituality Personal Matters Last week I was in Bandung Indonesia for an Asian Christian leadership conference. This Christ-centred event raised more sharply than ever the question of whether a spiritually mature Church can ever exist in a materially … Continue reading
Orphan-age from 26.8.16 Personal Matters In recent weeks I have been praying consistently about the dreadful situation of fatherlessness permeating the spiritual atmosphere of Church and nation. (“Fathering” encompasses male and female.) This issue confronts me regularly in ways like … Continue reading
Bear the Burden St Mark’s Bassendean Isa 53:1-6;Ps 32; Gal 6:1-6; Matt 22:33-40 Introduction As we have been discussing for several months the Galatian Christians were being strongly tempted to take on keeping the Old Testament Law as a means … Continue reading
Royal Sacrifice from 19.8.16 Personal Matters We were led into prayer by this scripture, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” called to offer “spiritual sacrifices acceptable to … Continue reading
The Show-Off Spirit Rise Up St Mark’s Anglican21.8.16 “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his … Continue reading
Indignation = anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment from 13.8.16 Personal Matters When the Lord really wants to get a message across he has a way of lining up events so that his testimony is … Continue reading
Trust the Truth from 5.8.16 Personal Matters Scepticism about religion is viral. Whilst 92% of Australians trust nurses only 35% trust ministers of religion, largely because news about sexual abuse in the church seems endless[1]. “Brand church” appears toxic. … Continue reading
In January 2016 a teenager stole a car and ran over a pregnant woman—Sarah Paino. She died but the baby was saved. The sentencing of the teenager was reported recently. When I heard the news story about the teenager being … Continue reading
The Dove and the Desert from 29.7.16 Personal Matters Several young Christians in Perth recently and independently had a vision of a dove flying over a vast desert, and believed this was a message from God about Australia. The … Continue reading
This is a short message delivered to a combined Church gathering addressing the question: “What is God saying to the Church?” We are asking tonight, what is God saying to the Church? I believe that there is something to be … Continue reading
from 15.7.17 Personal Matters Christians always seem to be divided. Quite independently two folk recently sent me an article about Hillsong which claimed, “Houston has single-handedly destroyed Christianity in Australia”. The writers of such articles seem not to grasp … Continue reading
I confess that I am very insecure about my own capacity. Every time I write something and put it in the public sphere, I wonder if I have said something which is not correct. How can my ponderings on topics … Continue reading
Jesus is the Kingdom Introduction When Gary told me that he was about to spend six months on the topic of the kingdom of God I was both surprised at the length of the series but not the topic. Just … Continue reading
Little Ones E.Vic. Pk. Baptist 17.7.16 “There has never been a more exciting time to be alive than today and there has never been a more exciting time to be an Australian.” Malcolm Turnbull’s words failed to ring true for … Continue reading
Trouble from 8.7.16 Personal Matters It is not possible to get through a week without being troubled by news about the Church’s response to same-sex marriage, a pastoral leadership crisis or some such thing. The people of God seem to … Continue reading