Praying with the Prophets: sexual sin and the Church today Background Recently the Anglican diocese of Perth has experienced conflict over the fitness for ordination of people with a recent history of homosexual practice or living in a long-term de … Continue reading
“That the Father Alone is God” Christadelphians 23.5.06 Preliminaries ● 3 preliminaries before I address the question in terms of the identity of Jesus 1. Deity and the States of Christ ● 2 states of Christ, humiliation (birth to … Continue reading
Transfiguration: future and present Ps 99; Ex 34:29-35; 2 Cor 3:12-4:2; Luke 9:28-36 Introduction https://youtu.be/MzkaAVSLJEw Although relatively neglected in many churches[1], the story of the transfiguration is one of the most memorable parts of the Gospels, and one of my … Continue reading
Sermon on Rev 6:1-8:5 for Pilgrim Church 27/2/22 “I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, ‘Come!’” (Rev 6:1). In chapter … Continue reading
Sermon on Rev 4-5 for Pilgrim Church 20/2/22 In chapters 2&3, the focus is on the churches in Asia. But in chapter 4, John is not focusing on the earth anymore or on what is going on in the churches. … Continue reading
Ascending into the Divine Council Background This prophetic teaching comes out of a very specific context. On Friday 18th February the Australian Council of Apostolic Leaders (ACAL), through their local apostolic representative, Paul Botha, called together about 30 people from … Continue reading
“sons of the Most High” Ps 37:1-11, 40-41; Gen 45:3-11, 1; 1 Cor 15:3-50; Luke 6:27-38 Introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQwXMs29F10 Today’s reading from Luke, contains some of the most challenging exhortations of Jesus in the Gospels. Is it really possible to love … Continue reading
Victim or Victor Prophetic responses Since the whole Church is prophetic (Acts 2:1-18), I have included a few inspired responses to my recent article (COVID, Chaos, Cross), by people on both sides of the vaccination mandate question. “As a self … Continue reading
COVID Chaos: Back to the Cross Personal Matters Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28), should not be read … Continue reading
Depart from Me Ps 138; Isa 61:1-13; 1 Cor 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11 Introduction https://youtu.be/vQk6hTUAPW0 The miraculous catch of fish is one of the most memorable stories of Jesus in the Gospels. In it we may see ourselves going through a … Continue reading
Revelation Chapter 1 (Sermon for Pilgrim Church 6/2/22) Revelation reveals to us who Jesus is as the one who has overcome death for the sake the church, his bride. He will punish all the enemies of his bride and usher … Continue reading
The Sign of the Son of Man Ps 105:23-38; Zech 12:10-14; Rev 1:1-8; Matt 24:3, 15-31 Introduction https://youtu.be/mOF-k_UbCQ8 Today is the last of the series on signs of the End and the emphasis I have placed each week on the … Continue reading
The Sign of Jonah Ps 88:1-18; Joel 2:18-32; Acts 2:22-32; Matt 12:38-42 Introduction https://youtu.be/mVpfoNOJwsw This is the third in our series of signs of the End. In our first teaching, I argued that the “signs of the times” Jesus spoke … Continue reading
Total Inheritance Introduction Some intense pastoral issues this week have led me to pray further into the biblical dimensions of Christian inheritance. These are far richer than popular ideas revolving around “legacy” or “succession”. (Desiring to leave a “legacy” can … Continue reading
Baptism: Jesus’ and Ours Ps 29; Isa 43:1-7; Acts 19:1-7; Luke 3:15-22 Introduction[1] https://youtu.be/k0BMPWzPfFs Julian asked me the other day if I’d ever done an infant baptism and an adult baptism on the same day, “No.” is the answer, so … Continue reading
The Final Freedom Introduction FREEDOM FREEDOM is a political ad appearing daily on the front page our local newspaper (United Australia Party, The West Australian p.1. “Freedom” is something people feel strongly about. The nature of human freedom has preoccupied … Continue reading
Signs of His Coming[1]: Persecution Ps 78:37–55; Isaiah 7:11–17; Romans 15:14–20; Matthew 10:1–25 Introduction[2] https://youtu.be/17YkEJh_V10 We saw last week that our existence as the people of God is the primary apocalyptic sign of Christ’s Victory in the world (Rev 12:1ff.), … Continue reading
Signs and Confusions Ps 65:1-13; Ex 8:16-19; Rom 1:18-25; Matt 16:1-4 Background https://youtu.be/Bl15XfEcn9U Following several general requests from congregational members about the End of all things, this is the first of a series on “signs”[1] in the Bible[2]. Introduction Without … Continue reading
Love Beyond COVID Hebrews 8:13-9:28 Introduction https://youtu.be/VJj37sZYNn4 Today is an opportunity for us to go deeper in discerning the purposes of the Lord through COVID19 pandemic for the Church in Australia[1]. As “Lord of all” (Acts 10:36) the “Lamb of … Continue reading
The Sign of Glory Ps 96; Isa 9:2-7; Tit 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-20 Introduction Christians inflamed about contemporary society’s taking of Christ out of Christmas should examine whether our understanding of the birth of Jesus is wholly biblical. Christmas hymns can … Continue reading
Mary Song Ps 80:1-7 Mic 5:2-5a Heb 10:1-10 Luke 1:39-55 Introduction https://youtu.be/zFJ5DcuWd0M The intense spirituality of today’s Gospel reading has been diminished because of two unhealthy trends in Protestant culture, the suspicion of the spirituality of women, especially their emotions, … Continue reading
The Most Excellent Way: Foundation for Revival Introduction The Lord is calling the Church in Perth (CIP),bursting in gifts but lacking in holiness (1 Cor 1:7; 5:1-2), to move on to the “more excellent way” of superlative love (1 Cor … Continue reading
I am the Vine Ps 148:1-14; Isa 5:1-7; Gal 5:16-24; John 15:1-11 Introduction https://youtu.be/Jv75xF4zhhU Whilst I’ve been preaching on the subject of Jesus’ “I Am” statements for some weeks now, it has only been this week that I have felt … Continue reading
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life Ps 146:1-10; Isa 40:1-5; Heb 10:19-25; John 14:1-7 Introduction https://youtu.be/UJ8dSz_RbNY Whilst there are more theologically intense “I am’s”, John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No … Continue reading
Triumph of the Will Introduction Australia has experienced many revivals (https://renewaljournal.com/2016/02/28/local-revivals-in-australia-bystuart-piggin/ ). What is troubling is that there is little evidence from these moves of the “newness” of life that is called to accompany the Church’s union with the resurrected … Continue reading
I am the Resurrection Ps 145:1-13; Isa 41:1-13; 1 Cor 10:12-28; John 11:17-27 Introduction https://youtu.be/kyqGPjPYNck On the wall of this building is a marble plaque that reads, “erected in memory of Jane Charlotte Godfrey who entered into life 14th March … Continue reading
Mortarfication (A pastoral meditation.) Context In an early morning prayer meeting someone shared an interesting conversation with a local bricklayer. Some bricklayers like to add a catalyst to their mortar mix to make it more pliable. This makes the wall … Continue reading
All Clear Introduction This prophetic teaching follows my recent “Skinned Alive” piece. For me, the surprisingly positive message of this teaching is that our Father wants all his children in Christ to feel comfortable in their own skin. Whilst this … Continue reading
Before Abraham was, I AM Ps 65:1-13; Ex 3:1-14; Rev 22:1-13; John 8:44-59 Introduction https://youtu.be/tl9N6QY2D-o Our Exodus reading provides the crucial background for the fourth of our series on the “I am” statement of Jesus in the Gospels. In launching … Continue reading
I AM the Light of the World Ps 40:1-10; Isa 42:1-9; Eph 5:3-14; John 8:12-20 Introduction https://youtu.be/z3tyq_OqVMI This is the third in our series on the “I am” statements of Jesus. Two weeks ago, we saw how the “I am” … Continue reading