nathanhedt

The Good News Goes Global - Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10)

nathanhedt — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:22:30 +0000

Could the Good News possibly be for those outside God’s ‘chosen people’ - the Jews? Peter certainly took some convincing that this was the case, but when he visited Cornelius’s household, he proclaimed the Gospel and God poured out his Holy Spirit ‘even on them!’

Acts 10 tells of this ‘Gentile Pentecost’ - the pivotal event in the history of the early church that showed that ‘the Good News is for everybody’ and opened the way for the good news to ‘go global’ so that repentance and forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in Jesus’ name to all nations.

This sermon was preached on Sunday May 13th at St John’s Southgate Lutheran church.

It can be usedwith the Bible study to be found at this link and with this Prezi zooming visual presentation.

Enjoy!

You’ve been set up - Acts 8, Philip and the Ethiopian

nathanhedt — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:19:39 +0000

Have you ever been ’set up’ for a (delightful) surprise by friends - say a surprise party that you were completely unaware of until it happened ?

In the passage from Acts 8, it is clear that God has been ’setting up’ the Ethiopian official from hundreds of years before he was born, to prepare him to receive the good news of Jesus.

God does the same in our lives.

He plants the seed of the Word in the soil of a heart prepared to receive it, and waters it with baptism and the power of the Holy Spirit…to produce a delightful result, a multiplying of the seed of his word and faith.

This sermon was preached on Sunday May 5th at St John’s Southgate Lutheran Church. It can be used in conjunction with the bible study to be found at this link.

Enjoy!

A new heart and a new covenant - Jeremiah 31:31-34

nathanhedt — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:50:02 +0000

Donald Miller writes in Blue Like Jazz, ‘…I honestly don’t believe we will be solving the greater human problem with our efforts. The problem is not a certain type of legislation or even a certain politician; the problem is the same that it has always been. I am the problem…This is the hardest principle in Christian spirituality for me to deal with. The problem is not out there; the problem is the needy beast of a thing that lives in my chest…’

God deals with the problem of the human heart through forgiveness - through a new covenant in which he promises that people will know him personally, and he will implant his law in their minds and hearts.

This sermon outline from Jeremiah 31:31-34 shows how God deals with the problem of the human heart and how Jesus inaugurates that new covenant.

It can be used with the bible study found at this link.

Enjoy!

Where is God to be found? John 2 - Jesus and the clearing of the temple

nathanhedt — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 05:08:37 +0000

Where is God to be found? Where can we find access to God?

For the Jews of Jesus’ day, the answer was simple and clear: we find access to God at the Temple in Jerusalem.

It is only with this background that we can understand the stunning impact of Jesus’ prophetic action of clearing the temple. Jesus is acting as if HE is the Temple in person - as if HE is the one who grants access to God.

He thus claims to embody Israel’s God, and grants us access to God.

This sermon was preached on Sunday 11th March (Lent 3) 2012.

The Prezi visual presentation that accompanies this sermon can be found at this link.

An invitation into Life - Sermon on Mark 8:31-39

nathanhedt — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 03:09:39 +0000

Jesus’ life and ministry is a true reflection on the Paradox at the Heart of the Universe: that seeking our own life, fulfillment and happiness is ultimately futile, and it is only through giving our life away that we find true life.

Jesus invites us to share not only suffering and death, but also resurrection life - the life that only he can give, through his own suffering and death. His call to discipleship is a call into the paradoxical life which he gives.

This sermon on Mark 8 was preached on Sunday 4th March at St John’s Southgate Lutheran Church.

It is designed to be used with a bible study that can be found at this link. The Prezi zooming visual presentation for the sermon can be found at this link.

Enjoy!

Young Adult Leadership Day - the polarities of faith (panel and forum)

nathanhedt — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:40:40 +0000

At the Young Adult Leadership Day, a group of people from diverse backgrounds honestly answered questions from the open forum - questions regarding the polarities of faith, from doubt and fear to joy and hopefulness.

This is the audio of that open forum session.

30mb, around an hour of audio.

Young Adult Leadership Day - the state of faith with Rowan Lewis

nathanhedt — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:16:23 +0000

On Saturday 25th February, a Young Adult Leadership Day was held at Werribee in Melbourne’s west. Rowan Lewis, the plenary speaker, gave an opening talk with gave a clear picture of the ’state of faith’ among young adults and the challenges facing young adult ministry across denominations.

This is the audio of that opening talk.

Note: this file is 33Mb, over an hour, but well worth listening to for anyone interested in the reality of young adult ministry.

Enjoy!

The baptism and temptation of Jesus

nathanhedt — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:07:24 +0000

How will we live as people of God in a world that is full of attractive options and choices and competing ideologies?

The baptism and temptation of Jesus from Mark 1:9-15 gives us a paradigm of life as God’s beloved ones because of Jesus.

This sermon was preached on Sunday 26th February at St John’s Southgate Lutheran Church.

Enjoy!

The cleansing touch of Jesus (Mark 1:40-45)

nathanhedt — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:27:49 +0000

For many days it was bursting out of me…Jesus healed me! He cleansed me!

But now this story deserves a more dignified retelling, a more complete and thoughtful response.

A dramatic monologue/sermon meditation on Mark 1:40-45 from the point of view of the leper who was cleansed by Jesus.

This sermon was preached on Sunday 12th February at St John’s Lutheran Church, Southgate.

This is part of a sermon series on ‘The good news of the Kingdom of God’ - unfortunately due to technical difficulties, not all of these have been recorded for podcast. However, there are a connected series of Bible studies on ‘The Good News of the Kingdom’ which can be found under this link.

Enjoy!

Luke 1,26-38 - contemplating the Incarnation

nathanhedt — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:41:46 +0000

The Incarnation is the hinge of history - the point about which everything else pivots.

It is a gracious royal visit from the King of Kings, the Creator of the Universe enfolding himself into time and space, wrapping himself in human DNA, cells, and organs, and becoming fragile and dependent.

This sermon contemplates the Incarnation based on the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she would become the mother of the Son of God, as described in Luke 1:26-38.

It was preached on Sunday December 18th (Advent 4), 2011, at St John’s Southgate Lutheran Church.

Enjoy!

Let your face shine on us (Psalm 80)

nathanhedt — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:48:01 +0000

The lament Psalms are a cry from deep within the heart of God’s people - a cry for God to keep his promises, to hear the distress of his people, to be gracious. Many of us when we read these Psalms recoil in shock. They are so raw and honest - we piously think, ‘You can’t say that to God!’ But God does have shoulders big enough to cry on, ears big enough to hear even our sorrow and pain.

Psalm 80 expresses a longing for God’s restoration - ‘Restore us, O Lord God Almighty. Make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.’ Its longing and yearning for restoration take us into the suffering of the world, and in the midst of Psalm 80 we meet Jesus himself.

This sermon takes us into the depths of Psalm 80. It was preached on Sunday 27th November 2011 (Advent 1) at St John’s Southgate Lutheran Church.

Enjoy!

New Beginnings (Mark 1:1-8)

nathanhedt — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:33:17 +0000

The first word of Mark’s Gospel (in Greek) is the word ‘Beginning.’ It is the beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

We read in Mark 1:1-8 that John the Baptist inaugurates this new beginning through his proclamation to ‘prepare the way for the Lord.’ John points beyond himself, and beyond ourselves, to the one who is coming, Jesus. We aren’t worthy for Jesus to come to us, but he comes graciously to begin something new: the coming of the Kingdom of God.

This sermon was preached on Sunday 4th December 2011 (Advent 2) at St John’s Southgate Lutheran Church. It can be used in conjunction with the downloadable Bible Study found at this link.

Enjoy!

Children of the light…ready for Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5)

nathanhedt — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 03:24:06 +0000

As a child, I used to think ‘I hope Jesus doesn’t come back before Christmas, because then I might miss out on my presents.’ But the return of Jesus is not something to be feared or put off. For Christians, children of the light and of the day, it will be like the surprise visit of an old friend.

Paul unfolds the joyous hope of Christ’s return in 1 Thessalonians 5.

This sermon was preached at St John’s Southgate Lutheran Church on Sunday November 13, 2011.

Enjoy!

Good News About Death (from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

nathanhedt — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:26:58 +0000

Good news about death!??? Mostly in our culture we try to ignore or minimise death. Who wants to talk about it?

But good news about death - and resurrection - lies at the heart of the Christian gospel.

Jesus’ resurrection is like a sneak peek at the final chapter - we know the ending, for those who are in him!

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 opens up the good news about death.

This sermon was preached at St John’s Southgate on Sunday 6th November. It can be used in conjunction with the downloadable bible study that can be found at this link.

Enjoy!

Give to God what is God’s - Matthew 22:15-22

nathanhedt — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:37:42 +0000

When Jesus is asked by the Pharisees whether or not they should pay taxes to Caesar, it seems simply like a tricky question and a perfect comeback. But there is a lot more going on here than there first appears to be.

Jesus in his reply touches on foundational aspects of human life, including truthfulness, idolatry, and true worship.

This sermon was preached at St John’s Southgate Lutheran Church on October 16th, 2011.

Enjoy!

Simplicity and Mystery in the two greatest commandments

nathanhedt — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 01:24:28 +0000

When Jesus is asked in Matthew 22 about which is the greatest commandment in the law, he gives an answer that seems to be very simple: Love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbour as yourself.

Yet this simple answer leads us into mysterious and beautiful territory, as we enter a response to God’s initiating covenant love for us.

Just as in mathematics, simple rules can sometimes lead to great complexity and beauty (think of the Mandelbrot Set), so Jesus’ seemingly simple ‘Two Greatest Commandments’ lead to a Christian ethical response that is both complex, nuanced, and beautiful.

This sermon was preached at St John’s Southgate Lutheran Church on Sunday 23rd October.

Enjoy!

Alms for an ex-leper - a theology of thanksgiving for a borderline community

nathanhedt — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 05:12:56 +0000

What do Monty Python, a Canadian hog-farmer’s wife, and Luke 17 have to do with LSF Victoria’s 50th anniversary?

In Luke 17, we find the beginnings of a theology of thanksgiving for a ‘borderline community.’ In some ways Tertiary Ministry will always be on the margins, on the borders between ‘in’ and ‘out’ of the church. And that’s great, because the borderlines and the margins are where Jesus is found. Like the Samaritan leper, we too can immerse ourselves in thanksgiving rather than anxiety and fear, or discontent.

This sermon, based on Luke 17:11-19, was preached at LSF-Victoria’s 50th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service on Sunday 18th September 2011 at St John’s Southgate.

Enjoy!

By the Grace of God - Envisioning the future

nathanhedt — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 02:05:35 +0000

God always comes down. In the Word and the Meal, in the Bath and the Community, God always comes down. There is nothing we can ever do to turn the arrow around the other way.

God’s grace is the foundation of all we seek to do and be - and living out of, and by, that grace, the LSF community exists to equip people to

Love one another (community)

Serve the World (Mission)

Follow Jesus (Discipleship)

in, around and beyond the Tertiary Context in Victoria.

Join the conversation!

Matthew 18 - What price forgiveness? (The parable of the Unmerciful servant)

nathanhedt — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 01:35:19 +0000

The grace of God is extravagant, outrageous…and expensive. God pays the price of forgiving the debt of sin we owe.

What price forgiveness? The answer may surprise you.

What price unforgiveness? That’s a question of life and death.

This sermon is based on Matthew 18:21-35 - the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant - which gives us a glimpse into just how extravagant God’s grace really is, and the price of unforgiveness in our own lives.

It was preached on Sunday 11th September 2011 at St John’s Southgate Lutheran Church.

Enjoy!

Vision 2011 Part 3 - Love one Another (Romans 13:8-20)

nathanhedt — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 06:25:22 +0000

Jesus’ self-sacrificing love for us has left us with a debt to God we can never repay. But God doesn’t want us to ‘pay him back’ - rather to ‘pay it forward’ to others by ‘loving our neighbour as ourselves.’

In Romans 13, St Paul writes that to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ is to fulfill the law. Living in this response to God’s magnificent love for us calls us into freedom and joy, to put off darkness and to put on light, to clothe ourselves with Christ.

This sermon was preached on Sunday September 4th at St John’s Southgate Lutheran Church.

You can view the PREZI zooming visual presentation which accompanies this sermon at this link.

There is a sermon-based bible study which you can download from this page.

Enjoy!