Episodes
Monday Sep 01, 2014
Monday Sep 01, 2014
Does God care?
Is God powerful?
Who is God, really?
These deep questions about the character, power and identity of God have been raised throughout the history of God's people, especially in light of vast evil such as genocide.
Tens of thousands of Christians in Iraq have been driven out of their homes, systematically killed and cleansed by the militant Islamic group calling itself 'Islamic State'/ISIS. This story of human suffering and tragedy on a vast scale is possibly the closest contemporary equivalent to the situation faced by the people of Israel at the beginning of the book of Exodus.
When God appears to Moses he addresses questions about God's character, power and identity, and calls Moses to be his agent to set his people free.
This sermon compares God's response at that time and in our time through Jesus to such evils as genocide.
It was used with the Prezi zooming visuals found at this link.
It includes audio from this youtube clip from the speech of a Bishop of the Orthodox Church at a rally in Melbourne in support of Iraqi and Assyrian Christians. The Bishop calls for both forgiveness of the perpetrators of these evil actions, and for divine and human intervention in this horrific circumstance.
Please pray for persecuted Christians and others suffering under such evil.
If you want more information on the persecuted church, please visit opendoors.org.
This sermon was preached at Sunday Night at St John's Southgate Lutheran Church on August 31st, 2014.
I usually finish my posts with 'Enjoy.' You may not enjoy this sermon. But that does not mean it is not important.
Wednesday Aug 20, 2014
The Freedom of Forgiveness: Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 45-50)
Wednesday Aug 20, 2014
Wednesday Aug 20, 2014
Faced with the chance for revenge, Joseph chose to forgive his brothers.
One of the choices that most shapes our character is the choice to choose forgiveness when we have been hurt.
We are both victims and perpetrators of sin: we are hurt, and we hurt others. But with forgiveness comes freedom from the guilt and fear of wrongs we have committed, and freedom from the pain and bitterness of wrongs committed against us.
This sermon explores forgiveness through the story of Joseph and his brothers found in Genesis 45-50.
It can be used in conjunction with the Prezi zooming visuals found at this link.
It was preached at Sunday Night at St John's, Southgate, Melbourne on August 17th, 2014.
Enjoy!
Monday Aug 11, 2014
Monday Aug 11, 2014
Joseph was a dreamer...the story of Joseph has been inspirational to many people. Despite the difficulties of his life, Joseph learnt humility, forgiveness, and purity through his trust in God.
If you could something, at which you knew you would not fail, what would you attempt for the glory of God?
What God-given dreams do you have? Have they been broken or crushed by the pits of life you find yourself in from time to time?
How does being a person who belongs to God shape your decisions?
This sermon explores these questions by listening to the story of Joseph from Genesis 37-50.
It can be used in conjunction with the Prezi zooming visuals found at this link.
Enjoy!
The sermon was preached at Sunday Night at St
Monday Aug 04, 2014
Walking with a limp - Genesis 32, Jacob wrestles with God
Monday Aug 04, 2014
Monday Aug 04, 2014
After Jacob wrestles with God, he is left with both a blessing and a limp...
Blessed but limping? Is that really the way God works in our lives?
Could it be that our limp is actually a sign of our encounter with God?
And what happens when God encounters us?
This sermon explores the theme of suffering through the lens of Genesis 32.
It was preached at Sunday Night at St John's, Southgate, Melbourne, on August 3rd, 2014.
Enjoy!