A Vision of Fruitfulness Ps 22:26-32 Acts 8:2-40 1 John 4:7-21 John 15:1-8 https://youtu.be/OmKfM9HOM3A Introduction The Bible begins with a garden full of fruit-bearing trees (Gen 1:12) where all living creatures, including us, were commanded “to be fruitful and multiply” … Continue reading
The Gracious Power of the Cross 6. Shows God’s Love Ps 103:1-12 Ex 12:21-27 1 John 4:7-14 Matt 26:17-30 https://youtu.be/CQRKKQIq1kc Introduction In our dreadful time in history “God is love” has been exchanged for “love is God”. Not only do … Continue reading
The Gracious Power of the Cross 5. Puts Sinners to Death Ps 34:11-22 Jer 33:14-18 Gal 2:15-21 Matt 26:1-16 https://youtu.be/z0jBPtRE1Sg Introduction As a young Christian I used to struggle with the thought that being crucified with Jesus somehow meant I … Continue reading
Upside Down “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” (Acts 17:6-7) … Continue reading
The Gracious Power of the Cross 4. Reconciles Sinners Ps 34:1-10 Gen 22:1-19 2 Cor 5:14-21 Matt 16:13-28 https://youtu.be/-8cLjcYbPAE Introduction “Reconciliation” is a powerful and disturbing word we always seem to associate with unfinished business, like the healing of our … Continue reading
Baptism: A Meditation 14.3.21 “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as … Continue reading
The Gracious Power of the Cross 3. Saves Believers Isa 1:10-20; Ps 32:1-5; 1 Cor 1:18-2:5; Matt 6:19-34 https://youtu.be/tAM5kHucD4M Introduction The title of today’s talk in our series, The Cross Saves Believers, needs to be interpreted carefully. As a very … Continue reading
Restoring the Godly Virtue of Sex Introduction Australian media has been awash with multiple allegations of rape in federal parliament. Numerous investigations have been launched. Unquestionably, alcohol, naked ambition, and the gross lack of respect characteristic of our political scene … Continue reading
The Gracious Power of the Cross 2. Peace with God Isa 52:13-53:12;Ps 51:10-19; 1 Pet 2:21-25; Matt 4:12-22 https://youtu.be/O2ZGcqZwQP0 Introduction Any series on the cross must be a series about Jesus. If, “Jesus Christ is the atonement.” (Barth), “he/Jesus is … Continue reading
The Gracious Power of the Cross 1. Atonement for Sin Heb 10:1-14; Ps 51:1-9; Matt 3:1-17 (Lev 16:1-34) https://youtu.be/jd_qayw-wIQ Introduction To my shame, especially as someone who likes to see themselves as a “prophet of the cross”, it took some … Continue reading
The Glory of Transfiguration 2Ki 2:1-12; Ps 50:1-6; 2 Cor 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9 8.2.21 https://youtu.be/50hkffEnx94 Introduction The focus of today’s readings is the transfiguration, when Jesus’ whole being shone with the radiance and glory of God. Compared to other high … Continue reading
Fleeing to Jesus for Refuge Jesus Talk Num 35:6, 9-15; Ps 62:1-8; Heb 6:13-20 https://youtu.be/pK2jAuSI0iE Introduction The followers of Jesus live in a society increasingly opposed ideologically to our faith. The most recent and threatening example of this is the … Continue reading
The Universal Gospel of God Isa 40:21-31, Ps 147:1-11, 1 Cor 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39 https://youtu.be/R7GoMzMbDcA Introduction In his final sermon last week Dale pointed to Paul’s great prayers in Ephesians, that the Church is “his (Christ’s) body, the fullness of … Continue reading
Conspiracy of Fear “the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me…“Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the Lord of … Continue reading
Filling the Void Jan 2021 Introduction We live in increasingly extreme times. From the ideologues of political left and right, to antivaxxers, to climate change warriors and deniers, to those who speak as the final authority on their sexuality/gender unquestioning … Continue reading
Lessons from America “I myself will lift up your skirts over your face, and your shame will be seen.” (Jer 13:26) Preamble As a child of parents who lived through WW II, there wasn’t anything much America could do wrong … Continue reading
The Baptism of our Lord 10/1/21 Gen 1:1-5; Ps 29:1-11; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11 https://youtu.be/bDbnGxpr9Vg Introduction The bible teaches of the one baptism uniting all Christians (Eph 4:5), but the Church is divided over the age of baptismal candidates, how … Continue reading
The City Worth Dying For Introduction Many mature Christians are sure the Lord has revealed to them something much better than the present state of Church and nation, but it has not yet come to pass. Why? A significant factor … Continue reading
“Tented for Us”: The Mystery of Christmas Introduction Recently I stated that the renewal of Western Christianity depends on a “tent dwelling” spirituality “looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” (Heb 11:9-10). Since … Continue reading
Part II: Whose City? Heb 12:18-25 Rev 21:1-14 Audio: https://www.daleappleby.net/media/podcastmanager/BeyndPolit.mp3 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA4tpuU2cBQ Introduction It is much easier to argue with someone over political right and wrong than it is to wrestle against the evil spiritual … Continue reading
Beyond the Political Part I: The Dilemma of Our Times Gen 4:1-17; Matt 5:21-23 Audio: https://www.daleappleby.net/index.php/mp3-sermons/51-recent-sermons/1076-the-dilemma-of-our-times Video: https://www.stmarksbassendean.church/post/the-dilemma-of-our-times Introduction Daniel says the God who “changes times and seasons; removes kings and sets up kings; gives wisdom to the wise and … Continue reading
The Straight Way of the Lord Isa 40:1-11; Ps 85:8-13; 1 Cor 1:1-9; Mark 1:1-8 Audio: https://www.daleappleby.net/index.php/mp3-sermons/51-recent-sermons/1075-the-straight-way-of-the-lord Video: https://www.stmarksbassendean.church/post/the-straight-way-of-the-lord Introduction John the Baptist’s one great mission in life was to prepare his hearers for the coming of the Lord. As … Continue reading
A New Landscape. Really? “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth … Continue reading
The Love in the Supper: a meditation John 13:1-35 https://youtu.be/MhTVOTz3B4g Introduction We live in a time, in the Western world at least, of little spiritual discernment. Millions of Christians, by reaction or reaction, have been distracted by a noisy gong … Continue reading
Grief upon Grief: true and false spiritual fathering Introduction Somewhere around 3 am, unable to sleep, I inquired of the Lord if there was a specific issue disturbing my heart. I sensed the Spirit illuminating that I was suffering grief … Continue reading
The Power and Presence of the Lord’s Supper/Eucharist/Mass/Holy Communion Luke 22:14-23; 1 Cor 11:17-34 https://youtu.be/gqeDYRQzlsA Introduction For centuries the meaning of the Lord’s Supper has divided the Church with an intensity like almost nothing else. If you are a Catholic … Continue reading
Spiritual Discernment 2. Discerning of Spirits Introduction It is likely that the church in Sardis were familiar with this prayer, “that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able … Continue reading
Spiritual Discernment 1. The Way of Jesus and the Discernment of Persons https://youtu.be/A13W-7RWvIo Introduction Christians have long struggled to discern the voice of God in their life circumstances. The Corinthians were beset by Greek views of wisdom and knowledge, the … Continue reading
The Door Ps 24; Isa 22:15-25 (Rev 3:7-13), Acts 14:24-28; John 10:1-9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzXlAfad2FQ Introduction Despite significant spiritual growth at St Marks in recent years, as a group we have yet to shift our focus from maintaining activities that benefit ourselves … Continue reading
Prophets and the rest of God 2: The Church at Rest Jer 31:1-9; Heb 3:7-4:11 https://youtu.be/vbqkGfU7bDU Introduction Last week I spoke about the content of the rest of God in Christ. That after enduring the judgement of God in our … Continue reading