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Beach at Sunset

SERMON INTRODUCTION

14 SEPTEMBER 2025

Two Kinds of Wisdoms

God intends for His children to possess wisdom.

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  •  Destroyed, in trouble, in difficulties, devastated due to lack of wisdom.

Hosea 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of wisdom!

 

 

Heb word: daÊ¿aṯ - Discernment / understanding /  wisdom

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  •  He is pleased when His children asked for wisdom.

1 Kings 3:9-10 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 

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  • When Jesus preached the crowd together with His disciples on the mount, He ended up by expressing His desire and intention that those who heard Him will become wise.

Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”​

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  • Paul (inspired by H.S) reminded the disciples, fellow Christian in Ephesus to live as wise. – understanding God’s will.

Ephesians 5: 15-17 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 

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  • Likewise, to fellow Christian “disciples” in Colossae – modern day Turkey

Colossians 4:5-6 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

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Two Kinds of Wisdom

 

James 3 : 13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

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  1. The Earthly Wisdom -underlying principle is:

  • Bitter envy (bitterly jealous)

  • Selfish

  • Denying the truth

  • Earthly

  • Unscriptural

  • Demonic

  • Bitter envy

  • Selfish

  • Denying the truth

  • Earthly

  • Unscriptural

  • Demonic

  • No Peace  - brings disorder

John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.

  • Doesn’t know or acknowledge God

1 Cor. 1 :21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

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1 Cor. 3:18-19 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight

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​ 2. Heavenly Wisdom

James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of allpure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

  • All Pure. (gk, hagnos- exciting reverence, venerable, sacred, chaste)

  • Peace Loving

  • Considerate

  • Submissive

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

1 Peter 2:13-14 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.

 

1 Peter 3:1;-2 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 

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Hebrews 13:17 Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

  • Full of Mercy & Good Fruit

James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of allpure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

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Col. 1:9-10 We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e]  so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

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Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

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John 15 about not bearing fruit. 10 Virgin in Matt 25

  • Impartial & Sincere. (without hypocrisy)

James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of allpure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

  • Demonstrated in a good deeds with gentleness & humility.

James 3:13 Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his [good] deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom

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Biblical characters that possess Wisdom from above

  • King Solomon

  • Daniel's humility

Biblical characters that had earthly wisdom (Rich Man)

Luke 12:20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own all the things you have prepared?’ . 

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As true Children of God, it is clear that He desires His children to embody heavenly wisdom enabling them to grow, bear fruit, and maintain peace and order in their lives and within the Body of Christ.  James 1:5-65 If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask [for wisdom] in faith, without doubting [God’s willingness to help], 

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1 Cor 1:26-28 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy[g] when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world,[h] things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 

 

7 SEPTEMBER 2025

The Sin of Pride

When we consider our Christian walk with Christ we need to be diligent to ensure we do things that build us up such as prayer and bible study, but also to be watchful of sins of the flesh that can destroy our faith and the faith of others.

 

Today we plan to look at the sin of pride. We will be considering this by first looking at other words which can be translated as pride such as ‘puffed up’ or ‘haughty’. We will look at how it is demonstrated or manifested by people in the bible.

 

We will see what happens to the proud person and finally how to deal with pride in our lives and in others.

 

We will then consider this in more depth in the bible study. It would help in the study if you can ask yourself - Am I proud in any way ? How can we help each other deal with pride?

31 AUGUST 2025

Father or Judge: Helping Others Choose Their Eternity

Introduction: The Most Important Choice

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Good morning, Church. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we carry the most important message in the world: Will people face God as their Father, or will they face Him as their Judge?

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This morning, I want to equip you with both the theological understanding and practical tools to help others make the most crucial decision of their lives. Every conversation you have this week, every relationship you build, every opportunity to share—all of it points to this fundamental choice that determines eternity.

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In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells us about a rich man and Lazarus. The rich man lived in luxury, dressed in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day while completely ignoring the beggar named Lazarus who lay at his gate, covered with sores and longing for scraps from the rich man's table. After death, the beggar Lazarus was carried by angels to Abraham's side in comfort, while the rich man found himself in torment in Hades.

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Here's the crucial part for us as disciples: The rich man, now fully understanding eternal consequences, desperately wanted to warn others. In agony, he called out to Abraham: "Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire." When Abraham explained this was impossible, the rich man made an urgent plea: "Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment."

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Church, we are the ones who can still warn them. We are the living messengers who can reach the brothers and sisters, the family members and friends, the coworkers and neighbors who don't yet understand what lies ahead. This is why we must be equipped to share the gospel clearly, compassionately, and boldly.

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Part 1: The Problem - Why This Choice Matters

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Many people in our culture don't understand why this choice matters. They ask, "How can a loving God send people to hell?" or "Why can't good people just go to heaven?" We must be ready to explain both God's perfect holiness and our desperate condition as sinners.

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God's Perfect Holiness

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Scripture reveals that God is absolutely holy—completely set apart from sin, pure beyond our comprehension. "5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5). The Bible Project explains it well: God is sinless, unique and amazing like the sun. His holiness is a key attribute.

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This holiness creates a fundamental problem for humans. Scripture reveals that God's holiness is inherently dangerous to sinful humans. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, He warned: "Do not come any closer, God said. take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground" (Exodus 3:5). This wasn't arbitrary—it was protection. Moses had to approach God's presence with extreme caution because proximity to holiness requires proper preparation.

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This danger is illustrated when God's holy fire that blessed Aaron's proper sacrifice immediately consumed Nadab and Abihu for their unauthorized worship (Leviticus 10:1-2), demonstrating that God's holiness itself acts like consuming fire toward anything unholy.

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Our Sinful Condition

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This brings us to humanity's desperate condition. We are not merely imperfect people who occasionally make mistakes—we are rebels against a holy God. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). This isn't talking about falling slightly short of perfection; it's describing our complete inability to meet God's standard of absolute holiness.

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Consider what Jesus taught about God's moral standard. Most people think they're basically good because they compare themselves to others. But Jesus revealed God's true standard: Matthew 5:21-22 " 21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment.”. Matthew 5:27-28. 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[a] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." 

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By this standard—God's actual standard—every one of us stands guilty. We've all harbored anger, entertained lustful thoughts, told lies, been selfish, and failed to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Romans 3:10 "As it is written, There is no one righteous, not even one" 

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God's Justice is Required

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Scripture shows that God actively responds to sin with righteous judgment. Romans 1:18 declares: "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness." This isn't emotional reaction—it's the consistent, holy response of a perfectly righteous God.

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Romans 6:23 explains the consequence: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." The word "wages" suggests death is what sin naturally earns—the inherent result of rejecting the source of life.

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Consider a judge who never enforces justice—he fails his fundamental duty and the community suffers. Similarly, God's perfect character includes unwavering justice. As Moses declared: "He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he" (Deuteronomy 32:4).

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God's wrath isn't cruelty but moral necessity—the settled, righteous response of perfect holiness confronting rebellion against ultimate goodness.

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Part 2: The Solution - How Justice Meets Love

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Here's is the beauty of the gospel: At the cross of Jesus Christ, perfect justice and perfect love met in one incredible moment. Romans 3:25-26 explains that God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement "through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."

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God found a way to satisfy His perfect justice while expressing His boundless love. He didn't compromise His holiness or overlook sin—He dealt with it completely through the substitutionary death of His Son.

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The Perfect Exchange

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Jesus lived the perfect life that we should have lived. 1 Peter 2:22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth". His whole life, He perfectly obeyed the Father in thought, word, and deed. He loved God with all His heart, soul, mind, and strength, and He loved His neighbor as Himself. He fulfilled every requirement of God's law flawlessly.

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Then Jesus took upon Himself the punishment that we deserved. Isaiah 53:5 " But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." On the cross, the holy wrath of God that should have fallen on us fell instead on Jesus.

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Hebrews 9:22 " In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness". God's justice required a payment for sin, and that payment was blood—life itself. Jesus gave His life as the payment for our sins.

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The wonder of the gospel is captured in 2 Corinthians 5:21: "God made him who had no sin to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." This is the great exchange—our sin was credited to Jesus, and His righteousness is credited to us. He took our guilt and gave us His perfection.

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Part 3: The Choice - Father or Judge

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Every person who has ever lived will face one of two eternal realities. But here's what many Christians get wrong when sharing the gospel: This isn't simply about going to heaven versus going to hell, or being with God versus being without God. Scripture reveals that everyone will face God eternally—the question is how they will face Him.

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Why Father or Judge?

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The Bible makes clear that God is omnipresent—present everywhere, including in judgment. David wrote: Psalm 139:7-8 "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there". The depths is interpreted as Sheol/the grave/hell. So even in hell, people face God's wrath: Revelation 14:10-11 " 9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.  And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”

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Scripture reveals that the Father has delegated all judgment to the Son. Jesus Himself declared: John 5:22 'Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son.' This means that when people face God as Judge, they are specifically facing Jesus Christ - the very One who could have been their Savior - now serving as their Judge.

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The difference isn't God's presence or absence—it's the nature of that eternal relationship. Every person will stand before God forever, but they will experience Him either as their loving heavenly Father or as a Judge without an advocate.

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Facing God as Judge without Jesus as advocate

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For those who reject Jesus Christ, they will face God in His role as Judge with Jesus as an advocate. This is a terrifying prospect that Scripture describes in sobering terms:

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2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might

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John 3:36 " 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them." Notice that last phrase—God's wrath "remains" on them. It doesn't come upon them at judgment; it's already there and simply continues forever.

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Hebrews 10:31"It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God". The hands that created us, that sustain us, that could embrace us as Father—those same hands become instruments of perfect justice for those who reject His offer of mercy.

 

Knowing God as Father

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But for those who receive Jesus Christ by faith, they will know God eternally as their loving heavenly Father. This is the relationship every human heart was designed for:

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John 1:12-13 " 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God". Through faith in Jesus, we become God's adopted children with all the rights and privileges that relationship includes.

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Jesus promised His disciples: John 14:2-3 " 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.". This is intimate, personal, family language—a Father preparing home for His children.

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1 John 3:1-2 "3 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[a] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.".

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This is the choice: Judge without an advocate or Father. Justice or mercy. Condemnation or adoption. Wrath or love. Everyone will face God eternally—but how they face Him depends on their response to Jesus Christ.

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When sharing this message, you may hear questions like "Why do people have to go to hell?" or "What about those who never heard the gospel?" Remember that God perfectly balances justice with mercy—He has provided the way of escape through Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Hell isn't God being cruel, it's God being just while offering mercy. And while we trust God's perfect justice for all situations, our calling is clear: share the gospel with those who can hear it. We need to stay focused on the main issue: their need for a Savior and God's provision in Jesus Christ. 

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Going Forward Together

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Church, we have the privilege of sharing the most important message in the world. Unlike the rich man in Luke 16 who could only plead for someone to warn his brothers, we can still be those messengers.

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Acts 4:12 " Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.". We have the incredible privilege of sharing Jesus, the only solution to humanity's greatest need.

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As we go this week, let's pray for those we know who need to hear this message. Jesus said, John 4:35 "35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest". Be ready for natural conversations when they arise, and trust that God will use your faithful witness in His perfect timing.

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Whether you're planting seeds, doing bible studies or baptisms or hospitality, God is at work through your faithfulness. Remember that the jobs are often split up even for the disciples. 1 Corinthians 3:6 "6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow."

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Jesus gave us our commission: Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

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2 Corinthians 5:20 "20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. Let's go help people discover they can know God as Father, rather than as a Judge without an advocate. 

24 AUGUST 2025

Then And Now

I wanted to picture Jesus as being invariably loving and gentle. I cringed at the strong words he directed at his First Century audience.

 

Were his audience a foolish, obstinate people? What if they were people like myself? Worse yet, what if their faith was even more dedicated and earnest than mine? The stern words Jesus spoke not only challenged the Jews of his time, but us as well.

 

Jesus’ first listeners struggled with sin, faith, and the difficulties of life as we do today. Suddenly, Jesus’ stern words became an enormous challenge, calling me to a righteousness far beyond what I had imagined.

17 AUGUST 2025

Sardis: The Self-Deceived Church

Self-deception is a major problem, to varying degrees, in our society. It is how we subtly convince ourselves that when we’re doing something wrong, it’s actually right. We do this through blame, minimisation, denial, and a whole bunch of other self-justifying tricks of the mind that leave us feeling vindicated — but also leave us feeling stuck, unhappy, trapped, angry, and hopeless. But what happens when self-deception goes beyond the individual? This is a super tricky problem to address because if you are self-deceived, your subconscious is going to do everything it can to stay there. You can’t see the real problem, and you don’t even want to see it.

 

In Revelation Chapter 2 and 3, Jesus addresses seven churches. Jesus understands the state of each church and addresses them individually with praise, corrections, potential consequences for ignoring him, and promises for those who listen. These seven churches are meant to be representative churches. As Darell Johnson states in his commentary, ‘It turns out that the seven churches of Asia embody every major issue with which the church has struggled in every age in every cultural setting.’ And so, as we read these letters, we’re meant to consider what these letters have to say to us. Today we get to the fifth of the seven letters, and the one that I find most frightening.

10 AUGUST 2025

Being & Becoming

Today, we’re looking at one verse of Scripture. It’s a verse that contains within it a whole world of theology that has massive implications for our walk as disciples; for how we view and treat one another; and for how we view and treat ourselves. This verse is found in Hebrews Chapter Ten.

 

A lot is unknown about the letter to the Hebrews. Famously, we don’t know who wrote it, and we don’t know precisely to whom it was written. What we do know is the writer had a first-hand relationship with the Apostles, anchoring the letter in the teachings of Jesus’ disciples. We also know the writer assumes their audience has a thorough knowledge of the Hebrew Bible. At the time, this was most likely Jewish Christians, which is where the letter gets its name.

 

Hebrews is a deeply theological letter with one aim: to elevate Jesus as superior to anything and anyone. The writer achieves this by comparing and contrasting Jesus with key people and events in Israel’s history, and in Chapter Ten this takes the form of the High Priest and the Sacrificial System.

 

By coming to terms with Jesus’ superiority over these two things, we will discover how Discipleship entails both ‘Being’ and ‘Becoming’.

27 JULY 2025

Going Beyond the Surface

One of the many challenges that faces us as modern day disciples of Jesus is this: that we live in a headline culture, a culture obsessed with big words and fast news. A world were the most powerful man on the planet does more diplomacy through his Twitter account, or his Truth Social account, than through actual politics. The society around us is hyper focused on the immediate present, while we serve a God who goes so far beyond the surface. But we as disciples of Jesus serve a God who isn’t that interested about what your headline is, he’s much more interested in your story: Who you are.

 

Jesus spoke countless times about having a relationship with God that goes beyond the surface, one where we truly know who the Father is and where he truly knows us for who we are. Being disciples of Jesus means committing our whole lives to living out his example in everything that we do. One example of this teaching is found in John Chapter Six, which will be our focus of our study of Scripture this morning.

20 JULY 2025

Being the Bad Guys

Everyone loves the classical story or movie of good guys vs. bad guys. But what happens when the good guys are perceived as the bad guys? Stephen McAlpine, who is a Perth pastor, states that Christians are now perceived in our society as the ‘bad guys’ in his book, 'Being the Bad Guys.' Culture has not only rejected the Gospel, but the gospel we share is often seen as bad or even dangerous. We live in a time that overlooks spiritual realities and is increasingly hostile to once-accepted beliefs.

 

British author Douglas Murray, who is gay and an atheist, notes that our major narratives have been collapsing for over 25 years. We have a new religion focused on individual freedom and the celebration of personal authenticity, no matter the cost. It is a religion that runs counter to the gospel of Jesus. But if you stand against this religion, you will be viewed as not only wrong but dangerous. The Gospel, as we all know, is the most inspiring, liberating and hope filled news ever, yet in a society that increasingly sees Christians as the ‘bad guys,’ this can present major problems in our families, workplaces and schools.

 

So, what do we do when we are viewed as the bad guy? What do we do when our adherence to Jesus causes people to view us as ignorant, intolerant, even hateful? How should we respond when pressured to support agendas that conflict with our commitment to Jesus? This is not an entirely new situation. This seems to be the situation that Christians in Thyatira faced too in Revelation 2:18-29.

13 JULY 2025

The Three Approaches to Sinful Hearts

Good morning church its great to be worshiping with you. I want to focus on parts of Romans where Paul talks about sin and grace and then look at the different ways Jesus responded based upon people's three hearts and how we can consider that in our walks with Jesus and our discipleship.

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As we continue our focus on discipleship this year, I want to address a dangerous assumption that has crept into many churches: the belief that love means always responding the same way to everyone, regardless of their heart.

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Many believe that being "Christ-like" means being endlessly accepting, never confrontational, always affirming. The result? We offer the same response to everyone - broken sinners, proud rebels, and struggling believers all get identical treatment. Some have made their approach automatic rather than discerning.

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But this one-size-fits-all approach may not be the best way. Jesus himself modelled completely different approaches depending on the heart of the person he encountered. God's grace is freely available to all, but our ministry approach must be discerning. True love refuses to enable sin - it discerns what each heart actually needs to respond to God's grace.

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Picture this scenario: A teenage son comes home late reeking of alcohol, with the family car scratched and dented. His parents confront him - he was drinking, driving recklessly, and could have killed someone. After a long, tearful conversation, his father says, "Son, I forgive you. I love you unconditionally. There will be consequences, but our relationship is restored."

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The next weekend, the same thing happens. And the weekend after that. When the parents try to address it, the son shrugs and says, "You said you forgive me no matter what. Isn't that what grace means? That I can do whatever I want and you'll always forgive me?"

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That son has completely misunderstood his father's grace. Tragically, many confuse tolerance of sin with love even within churches. Research shows 65% of churchgoing millennials believe good people automatically go to heaven. This reveals a lack of understanding about sin, just because you have done good elsewhere doesn’t mean a fair judge like God wouldn’t punish you for breaking the law. The only way we get off is someone else has taken the punishment for sin for us, that is Jesus and that is grace. That is why salvation comes through faith in Jesus, repentance, and baptism and going on that journey trying our best to follow his commands (ie not to sin). 

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When we automatically ignore sin and offer the same response to every situation, we may prevent the very repentance that leads to true spiritual growth.

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I. Understanding What We're Saved From

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Before we can understand why continuing in sin is contrary to our new nature, we must first have knowledge of God and what we've been saved from. Romans 1:18 says: 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,”

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Notice that Paul doesn't start Romans by explaining God's grace in detail - he starts with God's wrath. Why? Because we cannot understand grace until we understand what we need to be saved from.

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Romans 3:23: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

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Romans 7:7 shows how the law revealed Paul's sin: 7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”[a]

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Before Paul understood God's law, he thought he was righteous. But the law acted like a mirror, showing him his true condition.

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Without understanding sin's magnitude, people think they don't need Jesus' grace. A 2000 person US survey conducted by OnePoll and commissioned by Behold Retreats, a wellness company found 75% believe they're fundamentally good people. I think many people don’t understand that deluding ourselves that we are good people is not enough to go to heaven, Jesus is the only way.  Acts 4:12: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

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If people don’t understand God, don’t understand Sin, don’t understand the punishment for Sin is eternal death. It is no wonder they may not seek out Jesus and his Grace. Many think that doing enough good works is enough to go to heaven, but as Christians we know that Jesus alone is the way.

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Understanding the magnitude of our sin isn't the enemy of discipleship - repentance, which is acknowledging our sin and wanting to change, is one of the foundations of discipleship. Why would someone want grace if they don't think they've done wrong by sinning? You cannot grow spiritually if you don't understand what you've been saved from and earnestly want the grace of Jesus.

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Paul addresses in Romans 6:1-2 the opposite problem which is a Christian abusing that grace 6 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

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Paul has just finished explaining God's incredible grace. He's shown that we're justified by faith alone, that grace covers all our sin, that where sin abounds, grace abounds much more. So naturally, someone might ask: "If grace covers everything, why not sin more?"

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Paul's response is immediate and emphatic: "Certainly not!" The Greek here is me genoito - the strongest possible negative in the Greek language. It means "May it never be! Absolutely not! Perish the thought!"

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But why does Paul respond so strongly? Because we love God through obedience. Mark 12:30-31 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[a] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] There is no commandment greater than these.”  John 14:15: "If you love me, keep my commands."

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Would you want to keep sinning against someone you should love the most, which is God? Of course not, even if he does provide grace.

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II. Jesus' Three Approaches: Discerning Hearts for Effective Discipleship

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This foundation of understanding sin leads us to Jesus' methodology for discipleship. Christ modelled three distinct approaches based on the heart condition of the person: grace for those broken by their sin, confrontational truth for the proud who deny their sin, and restorative discipline for believers caught in sin. Understanding which approach to use is crucial to not tolerate sin while still showing love and grace.

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Here's the crucial pattern we see throughout Jesus' ministry: He dealt with different types of people using completely different approaches. I think understanding this pattern is helpful for effective discipleship and evangelism today.

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A. Grace for the Broken (Those Who Know They're Sinners)

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In Jesus' parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), a young man demanded his inheritance early - essentially saying "I wish you were dead, father" - left home, wasted everything on wild living, and ended up feeding pigs, the lowest job imaginable for a Jewish person. This parable was told to Pharisees and teachers who criticized Jesus for eating with tax collectors and sinners, showing God's heart for the lost versus the religious elite's judgmental attitude.

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When he finally came to his senses, he knew exactly what he was - a rebellious sinner who had wasted his father's inheritance. He prepared his speech: "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."

 

But remember the father's response: He ran to meet him, kissed him, put the best robe on him, and threw a celebration. Grace, restoration, and joy - immediate and overwhelming.

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This is exactly how Jesus treated known sinners:

  • The woman caught in adultery: "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

  • The woman at the well: Despite her five marriages and current immoral relationship, Jesus offered her living water but he did first point out she had no husband.

  • The tax collector Zacchaeus: Jesus invited Himself to his house despite everyone knowing he was corrupt.

  • The sinful woman who washed Jesus' feet: He defended her against the Pharisees' criticism.

 

Notice Jesus' approach: He was incredibly gracious and gentle. He met them where they were. He offered immediate hope, transformation and love. These people knew they were lost, and Jesus responded with overwhelming grace.

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B. Truth for the Proud (Those Who Believe they will go to Heaven without following Jesus/ Implicitly don’t think They're Sinners)

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The older brother in the prodigal son parable represents the second type of heart - those who think their good behavior makes them righteous. He had stayed home, worked hard, followed the rules. When he heard the celebration for his returning brother, he was angry. He told his father: "These many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your commandment, yet you never gave me a young goat."

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Notice what's missing from his speech - any mention of love for his father. It's all about his works, his obedience, his service. He thought his behavior made him self-righteous, but his heart was cold and proud. The father had to come out and plead with him to celebrate his brother's repentance and return. The parable ends with the older brother still outside, refusing to join the celebration.

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This is exactly how Jesus dealt with conceited self-righteous sinners:

  • The Pharisees: Jesus called them "whitewashed tombs" and "snakes" (Matthew 23:27 & 33).

  • Luke 18:18-30 The rich young ruler: Jesus exposed his idol of wealth and watched him walk away sadly.

 

In Matthew 11:20-24, Jesus was harder on Jewish cities than Gentile ones because their religious privilege made their rejection more culpable: "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes."

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Notice Jesus' approach here: He was confrontational and challenging. He exposed their conceited self-righteousness. He made them uncomfortable with hard truths. These people thought they were already right with God, so Jesus had to break through their conceited self rightousness first.

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C. Discipline for Believers Who Sin

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Jesus gives us clear instructions for implementing this approach with believers who are caught in sin. In Matthew 18:15-17, He provides the process: 15 “If your brother or sister[a] sins,[b] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[c] 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

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This process assumes the person is a believer but provides a pathway for restoration through progressive accountability. It's neither the immediate grace shown to broken sinners nor the confrontational approach to the self-righteous - it's restorative discipline within the church.

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Paul echoes this in Galatians 6:1: 6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

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The goal is always restoration, but it requires a process that takes sin seriously while maintaining hope for repentance.

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Applying This Discernment in Our Daily Lives

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Discipleship is dependent on identifying whether someone is broken and repentant, proud and those who believes they will go to heaven without following jesus, or a Christian caught in sin. This determines which of Christ's three approaches we should use. Without this discernment, we either enable sin through tolerance or wound struggling believers through inappropriate confrontation.

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I've seen your hearts for evangelism through efforts like Seek and Share, and it encourages me. Yet I sense there's even more the Lord wants to do through us. There is a lot of need for Jesus in Sydney. He's inviting us to share not just in His mission, but in His joy when the lost are found."

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We shouldn’t think that the great commission is only for evangelists, deacons or elders. Jesus Himself modeled active pursuit of the lost. In Luke 15, He tells of a shepherd who had 100 sheep, but when one went missing, he left the 99 to search for the one that was lost. When he found it, he rejoiced more over that one sheep than over the 99 that never strayed.

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Notice something crucial: the shepherd didn't wait for the sheep to find its way back. He actively went searching. This is Jesus' heart for the lost - He seeks them out. If Jesus celebrated finding one lost sheep more than the 99 safe ones, shouldn't we have that same heart for the lost around us?

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The Great Commission wasn't given to professional evangelists - it was given to every believer. Learning to discern hearts matters because we're potentially participating in someone's rescue from eternal judgment.

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Remember, sanctification is a process, not an event. Be patient with yourself and others, but never give up the fight against sin.

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Conclusion

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Just as the teenager misunderstood his father's forgiveness, many today misunderstand God's grace. True grace doesn't enable sin - it empowers holiness.

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Understanding our sin is the foundation of discipleship. Jesus modeled different approaches for different heart conditions. Grace transforms us from sin rather than tolerating it.

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Romans 6:11 says: 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Each day, we must consciously choose to present our bodies as instruments of righteousness. When tempted to sin, we ask ourselves Paul's question: "How can I, who died to this sin, live in it any longer?"

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We need to discern which approach each person needs. For the broken who know they're struggling, we offer grace and support. For the proud who think they're fine without jesus, we lovingly challenge them to see their need for genuine conversion. For believers caught in sin, we follow the Matthew 18 process of progressive discipline aimed at restoration.

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Let's be a church that loves too much to tolerate sin, and believes too much in God's power to give up on sinners.

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Matthew 28:19-20 commands us: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

6 JULY 2025

Acknowledging God

In your daily life, how many times do you acknowledge God? From the time you rise in the morning to the time you return to your bed at night, have you felt the continued presence of God?

 

God might be invisible, but his presence is palpable.

 

A few hundred years before Jesus’ time, Jews began to pay close attention to the words Moses spoke on the edge of the Promised Land: When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you (Deuteronomy 8:10). He then went on to warn the people that when their silver and gold multiplied, they would be tempted to forget the LORD’s great gift, thinking their own efforts had produced their prosperity.

 

In order to heed the warning, the Jewish people developed a tradition of offering short prayers throughout the day from the time they awoke until the moment they fell asleep; to remind themselves of God all day long by saying short prayers of blessing.

29 JUNE 2025

When Self Sufficiency Fails

Often in life, we take it upon ourselves to try and overcome adversity. When life throws troubles our way, whether through health or in work or within families, there can be a temptation for us to rely on our own might and strength to find solutions, or to work our own way out. But there comes a time where just like in the Greek story of Sisyphus, we in our own might may try to overcome, but its only through the grace of the Lord that we are able to find salvation.

 

I find that as I get older and more mature in my Christian walk, being a disciple of Jesus is more about sitting at his feet, learning from his wisdom and developing a deeper reliance on his grace more than anything else.

 

This morning we shall look at a passage from the book of 2nd Kings where we see a man who was seen as the mightiest, strongest, most fierce man in all the land, but he found himself in a situation that he couldn’t rely on being self sufficient to get himself out of, and it was only through the grace of the Lord that he is able to be saved.

22 JUNE 2025

Knowing Jesus & Loving Others

The first four verses of 1st John are incredibly encouraging. They inspire faith and confidence in Jesus.

 

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

 

John, who was with Jesus for his whole ministry from baptism to ascension, is saying we can be sure we know Jesus. Then he urges us to obey Jesus and to love others. He repeats this message - you know Jesus, follow him, love others - in every chapter of the letter.

 

Now there is a good foundation to understanding the essence of Discipleship.

15 JUNE 2025

Pergamum: The Compromising Church

You probably know that cities have names that capture the essence of what they are. Adelaide is the ‘City of Churches;’ Sydney, the ‘Harbour City;’ Canberra, the ‘Bush Capital City;’ Melbourne, the ‘City of Literature;’ Perth, the ‘City of Light;’ Brisbane, the ‘River City,’ Hobart, the ‘City of Hoppers;’ Darwin, the ‘Gateway to Asia.’ Jesus says in his letter to the church in Pergamum, the Christians there may well be described as living in the ‘City of Satan.’

 

Pergamum was a large city, and was the capital city of the Roman province of Asia. Pergamum was famous for religion, as the centre of worship for at least four of the most important pagan cults of the day. Upon entering the city there was a gigantic altar of Zeus erected on a huge platform some 245 metres above the city. Pergamum was also the centre for the worship of Athene and Dionysus, but mostly the worship of Asclepios, often referred to as ‘Savior’ in Greek mythology, and thought to have been the very first physician. But beyond this was the fact that Pergamum was the acknowledged centre in Asia Minor for the imperial cult of Caesar.

 

Were it not for the fact that ‘greater’ is he who is in us ‘than he who is in the world’ (1 John 4:4b), it would be frightening to hear that Pergamum is ‘where Satan dwells’ (verse 13). Although this may simply be synonymous with ‘Satan’s throne,’ it’s possible that this is another way of saying that evil was present in Pergamum in a particularly powerful and concentrated way. Could it be that Satan had in some sense made Pergamum the focus of his earthly base of operation?

8 JUNE 2025

Everyday Discipleship

In Matthew 5: 13-16, Jesus declares that we are salt and light in the world — including our workplaces, which have become challenging mission fields. Jesus commands every believer in Luke 9:23: " Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

 

As salt, we preserve biblical truth and create spiritual thirst through our character. Paul instructs us in Colossians 4:6: " Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." As Christ's ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), we represent heaven's kingdom on earth.

 

First Peter 3:15 commands us to " always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." The word " answer" here is " apologia" —a reasoned defence.

 

Jesus provides our model for handling hostile questions. He asked questions to reframe conversations (Matthew 22:19-21), took time to think before responding (John 8:6-8), and knew when silence was the most powerful response (Matthew 27:14). The question isn't whether challenging conversations will come—they will. The question is: Will you be ready when they do?

1 JUNE 2025

Discipleship 101

In Matthew Chapter Ten, Jesus sends the Twelve Apostles on a tough assignment. This is just three chapters after the Sermon on the Mount, and he instructs them to to preach the coming Kingdom to the Jews. A few verses from that chapter make it clear:

 

These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

 

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

 

We can learn some valuable lessons in discipleship from this chapter. Discipleship is first and foremost representing Jesus. It is a powerful endeavour, we need to travel light, hang with the faithful, seek the interested, move on when we encounter the haters. We need to be wise and gentle; and when the going gets tough, stand up for Jesus.

25 MAY 2025

Pleasing God

No one begins the day thinking about how they might displease God. One the contrary, most people I know face the dawn with high hopes of pleasing Him. In our minds, we establish a game plan that will include a good attitude, and a day of wholesome activities. We prepare ourselves for possible temptations and trials by praying to God.

 

Perhaps it will help us this week to focus in on a specific target. Rather than praying in general terms ‘Lord, help me to please you’, it may be more beneficial to name the seven specific areas where we may need help. The list of seven is inspired by Solomon and is called ‘Abominations to our Lord’.

 

Our lesson comes from Proverbs 6: 16-19.

18 MAY 2025

Why God Still Works Through Fools Like Samson

Growing up in the church, I was captured by stories of David slaying Goliath, Gideon defeating the Midianites, and especially Samson taking out 1,000 Philistines practically barehanded. While I loved the daring of those figures, I was also taught to be careful about the temptations of great champions: David’s moral failure and desperate attempts to cover it up, Gideon’s late-in-life slip into creating an idol and snare for his family, and the dramatic and colorful life of Samson and his sensational self-destruction.

 

So, shouldn’t we appreciate Samson because of his faith, not denigrate him because of his flaws? Samson’s faith stands as an example for us today. Also, Samson ought to give us great confidence. God includes him as an example of faith despite his flaws. If God does that with Samson, will He not do that for me and you?

 

We are a lot like Samson. We stumble, bumble, and fall. We sin, sometimes grievously. But it is not a particular moment in our life that we isolate. It is the totality of our lives of faith. We may fall, but because of our faith we keep pressing toward the mark.

 

See, it’s not how we start, but where we end. It is not about the journey, but the destination.

11 MAY 2025

Spurring On To Faithfulness

In today’s culture, we often have too much to think about before encouraging faith to those around us. We are distracted by pleasantries, the busyness of our lives, and socially acceptable conversation topics. How often should Christians be encouraging one another to stay faithful?

 

Young Christians can feel nervous because they still have lots to learn about faith and don't know how to put their struggle into words. Older Christians are better at hiding their insecurities and the troubles that are affecting their faith. We know that God is good to us and we are beyond blessed to be in this safe country. We will have good times in this life. But the reality is everyone is struggling in some way and with varying levels.

 

Our faith is being shaken, tested, and even corrupted by misinformation, by temptation, and the pain of this fallen world. All Christians need their faith to be encouraged regularly. Through study of God's word, through life experiences that God gives us and through strong Christian family relationships (Church), our faith can grow stronger. By knowing this we must put effort into spurring our fellow Christians to review their faith journey.

 

So what are some ways of doing this effectively? Let us talk about it this morning.

4 MAY 2025

Following God

The Old Testament is filled with stories of God trying to gently lead people towards safety or a certain outcome, only for them to do the opposite and choose what they think is the right path. From King Saul continuing to disobey God to the point where God regrets making him king, to Jonah disobeying God’s instruction to go to Nineveh because of his own self righteousness, throughout the Old Testament people choose their own path instead of the one laid out by God.

 

The Christian life is also one of choices; of choosing to follow Jesus in all that we do, regardless of where he calls us from. We all come to a relationship with the Father with our own culture and baggage, but ultimately it's our choice to continue to follow Jesus.

 

This morning we're going to look at an example of where God tries to rescue a family from the worst possible situation imaginable, only for one of the family members to choose a different path.

27 APRIL 2025

Seeking First God's Kingdom

Jesus teaches us to " seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33) as our guiding principle. God's Kingdom is His eternal rule (Psalm 145:13), made present through Jesus (Mark 1:15), transforming lives through the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17), and coming in fullness when Christ returns (1 Corinthians 15:24).

 

Seeking God's Kingdom means submission through prayer—" your kingdom come, your will be done" (Matthew 6:10)—valuing it above all possessions (Matthew 13:44), and living Kingdom values by acknowledging our poverty of spirit (Matthew 5:3), childlike faith (Matthew 18:3), and bearing " fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23).

 

This call demands complete reorientation of our priorities. Examine your life this week by asking: " What area am I reluctant to fully submit to God's reign? " and " How might my daily routines change to put God's kingdom first? " Take one concrete step to better align your resources with kingdom priorities, remembering Jesus' warning about commitment (Luke 9:62) and that this journey flows from God's grace (Ephesians 2:8).

20 APRIL 2025

Smyrna: the Persecuted Church

The persecution of believers has a long, savage, and bloody history in our world. The current numbers are overwhelming & staggering. It is estimated that over 380 million believers face significant persecution and discrimination for their faith, according to Open Doors. One in seven believers around the world are persecuted worldwide, one in five in Africa and two in five in Asia. Last year, almost 4,500 believers were killed for their faith. Almost 8,000 churches and Christian properties were attacked. Nearly 4,800 believers were detained.

 

Because it’s hard to get our mind around numbers, sometimes we need to hear stories, stories like the following: Amila, a single mother in Sri Lanka, who is determined to follow Jesus and raise her daughters to know him. When she became a Christian, her husband left them and she moved in with her mother and sister to have help with childcare. She faces hostility and mistreatment from her family, as well as relentless pressure to return to her previous faith. Or a 19-year-old girl in Uganda, whose father burned her with a hot flat iron and hot water because she had put her faith in Christ.

 

The numbers are staggering, and the stories are difficult to process. What would keep these 380 million believers faithful to Christ in the face of suffering? What will keep us faithful to Christ if we’re ever exposed to similar forms of suffering? Jesus’ message to the church in Smyrna in Revelation 2 is going to help prepare us to face this kind of suffering.

13 APRIL 2025

The Heart of Discipleship

Today, we’re thinking through one of Jesus’ most provocative parables. It’s found at a moment in the Gospel narrative that’s fraught with tension, confusion, provocation and frustration. By the time Jesus tells this parable, the message about the kingdom of heaven has become controversial at best, and dangerous at worst. And it won’t be long until the consequences of this message are brought to bear on Jesus himself.

 

I’d like for us to consider this parable this morning because I think it has something valuable to teach us about Discipleship, our theme for 2025. It offers us a word of caution about the heart we have for discipleship.

 

Jesus is less concerned about each individual step we take as disciples, and more concerned about the heart that guides each of our steps. And what I hope we’ll discover this morning is the heart behind our discipleship can be wrong, even when our steps are right.

6 APRIL 2025

Teacher to Teacher

It’s hard to overstate the Jewish love of religious study over the ages. They’ve long been known as ‘the people of the book’ for their frequency and fondness for study. What to many of us sounds like an onerous burden sounds to them as if they are uncovering the very thoughts of God.

 

In Matthew Chapter Eleven, John the Baptist – who was imprisoned – had his disciples deliver a pointed question to Jesus: ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? ’ Jesus responds by noting the astonishing events that had taken place before their eyes and what they had heard: ‘The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor’.

 

In this discussion, a deeper discussion is going on between the teachers. We will look at the deeper meaning this morning.

30 MARCH 2025

Partnership in Christ

The briefest letter authored by Paul is addressed to his beloved friend and fellow believer, Philemon.

 

According to biblical scholars, the original text comprises just 335 words. This letter, like those written to Timothy and Titus, is directed to an individual. Despite its brevity and singular chapter, Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit while imprisoned, crafted this personal correspondence, which contains significant insights that remain relevant and beneficial for the disciples or followers of Jesus Christ.

 

In our sermon this morning, we will explore a crucial aspect highlighted by Paul in his letter, which is often overlooked: the partnership we share in the work of Christ.

23 MARCH 2025

Discipleship

Doing what Jesus commanded is not about earning one’s salvation, but about discipleship.

 

Salvation is a free gift, but discipleship is a life-long journey of dedicating ourselves to become more like Christ.

 

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus was called ‘Teacher’ and ‘Rabbi’ by those around him, and members of the early church universally called themselves ‘disciples’. They were mathitis (Greek for ‘student’), followers of the Way that Jesus had taught.

 

When Jesus called his disciples to ‘follow me’, they were to follow in his literal footsteps. They followed as he taught, healed and performed miracles throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria. This morning, we will commence our study of Discipleship for 2025.

16 MARCH 2025

Dear Loveless Church at Ephesus

I don’t know if I have a favourite church in the Bible, but if I did, it would probably be the church in Ephesus. Let me tell you what I like about it.

 

Here’s what we know about the church in Ephesus. Ephesus was the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire. When John wrote Revelation, the population would have been about 225,000. It was an urban centre, a world-class city. It was a major financial centre, & home to the Pan-Ionian games. It had a temple to the goddess Artemis, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It had an amphitheatre that could hold about 25,000 people. It was a centre of business, politics, and religion.

 

That's the city, but what about the church? The church was founded by the apostle Paul (Acts 18:19). His coworkers Priscilla and Aquila helped the church grow. It was such an important church that Paul returned and spent another two-and-a-half years there (Acts 19:1-10). Paul spent more time there than in any other church. I would have really liked this church! And out of all the churches, it’s this one that Jesus addresses first in Revelation Chapter Two.

23 FEBRUARY 2025

Prophetic Fulfilment

The opening chapters of Luke’s Gospel account of the life of Jesus are filled with wonder at the announcement of the coming of Jesus. From the time Gabriel is speaking to Zechariah about the birth of his son, John, to Gabriel’s revelation six months later to Mary that she will conceive a Son.

 

John will be filled with the Holy Spirit and turn many to their God, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.

 

Jesus is revealed to be the Son of the Most High, and that God will give him the throne of his father, David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom will have no end.

 

These stories fulfil so many of the words of the Prophets. Let’s mediate on these together this morning.

16 FEBRUARY 2025

Well Dressed Christians

Clothes say a lot about a person. Mark Twain said, ‘Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.’ 'Dress for success’ is still common advice that is widely considered. The fact is most of us give a substantial amount of attention to what we wear and what is in style.

 

However, there is a major problem. Styles change and they change quickly. They also vary from culture to culture. What is viewed as acceptable and even attractive in one is seen as offensive and in poor taste in another.

 

I love paisley. It has been around for two-thousand years. The design hit its peak during the 60s and 70s, when psychedelic art and fashion was all the rage. The popularity of paisley in fashion slowly declined following the 70s, until a short-lived comeback in the 1990s thanks to the music of Oasis and Kula Shaker. Then, it declined. Now, it is on the rise once more.

 

But, here is the good news that we have for us in Christ; devoted Christ followers. What was in style in the first century is still in style in the twenty-first century. In fact, it is in style anyplace and anytime. Our text this morning is Colossians 3:12-17.

9 FEBRUARY 2025

We All Have a Part to Play

Off the back of the congregational meeting last week, and ahead of the next one next week, I sense that there is an appetite to change things up a bit, which is a good thing. There’s an appetite to do more with the time we have together, to do more to spread the word in our community here in the east of Sydney, and to grow the Lord’s kingdom further. It can be so easy for us to punch in and then punch out on a Sunday, to see each other like passing ships in the night, so the desire to do more, to learn more about God’s word through a Bible class is a good thing. Sometimes when we do the same thing, week in week out, it can easy to fall into the trap of just going through the motions.

 

So I want to use the sermon this morning to try and channel that desire. To really focus our hearts and minds on the countless opportunities that we all have as individuals and as a community to help grow and develop the church.

 

As we’ll read and study this morning, Paul has much to say about this in Romans, 1st Corinthians and Ephesians.

15 DECEMBER 2024

Unto Us A Child is Born

It’s that time again where we wonder ‘Where did the year go? ’ Now, in the month of December, we feel the pressure of tying up loose ends from work, scrambling for those last minute presents and beginning food preparations and seasonal decorations leading up to December 25.

 

In the midst of all this commercial mania it’s easy to lose sight of the Christmas spirit. We know Jesus wasn’t born on the 25th December but it does provide an opportunity to take time out to reflect on the significance of what occurred so many years ago. God became flesh and dwelt among us.

 

Perhaps what is more significant is the fact that only two of the four Gospels record the infant narratives of Jesus. By contrast, all four Gospels record the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour. Herein resides the power of the Gospel. While we celebrate the birth of a baby, we are also reminded this particular baby was born to die. As the prophet Isaiah so adequately expressed it, “a lamb led to the slaughter,” (Isaiah 53:7) that “will justify the many.” (Isaiah 53:11)

 

In Matthew 2:1-12 the author doesn't appear to be interested in the birth of Jesus at all, for he only mentions the event in a passing statement. “Now after the birth of Jesus.” (Matthew 2:1) The emphasis shifts to the Magi, King Herod and the Scribes and their response to the good news. Today we will examine the responses of the aforementioned to the Messiah and show how this little baby really can justify the many.

8 DECEMBER 2024

What is Going on in the World?

What’s really going on in the world? Well, that really depends on where you get your news.

 

I follow an account on social media called ‘All Sides.’ The tagline is, ‘Tired of media bias? Expose yourself to different perspectives.’ It covers news stories, & then gives examples of how the left, right, & centre cover those stories. It’s fascinating to see the same news stories, the same events, covered in very different ways depending on the perspective of the one reporting the news. The result is that when you ask someone about what’s going on in the world, it will really depend on the sources they’re listening to that inform their interpretation of what is happening in the world.

 

The book of Revelation is unique in so many ways. It is the only book in the New Testament where the writer is told to write at the direct command of the Lord who appears to him (1:10-11, 19). It was written at the end of the first century when the church faced persecution from without, and compromise from within. It was written by the last living apostle, the apostle John, who also gave us a gospel and three letters that bear his name in our Bible. Three times in the twenty-two chapters, at strategic moments, three great visions of the exalted Christ take the stage. Some even believe Revelation was written as a three-act or seven-act play patterned after the Greek theatre.

1 DECEMBER 2024

Restore Him

In the opening verse of Chapter 12, the Hebrew writer acknowledges the witnesses he mentions in Chapter 11, and states that they now surround us. With this in mind, the writer goes on to say ‘let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.’

 

There can be no doubt that sin inhibits us and waylays our faith.

 

When such an instance occurs to someone in the faith, in the letter to the Galatians, Paul address the subject of how to restore such a person who is caught in sin. In Chapter 6, Paul seeks to answer the question: What should a Christian’s attitude and action be toward another believer who has indulged his sinful nature and is caught entangled in it? The answer, according to Paul, is to ‘restore him’. This should be our primary concern and goal.

 

Let us not be too quick to judge, condemn and isolate the sinner, but rather gently restore them to the path of faith and fellowship with us.

24 NOVEMBER 2024

Two Paths Forward

Over the past nine months, I have led us in what has turned out to be a seven-part series through the most famous sermon in history. The sermon is Jesus’ kingdom manifesto — a constitution that governs and guides the people who are part of the kingdom of heaven.

 

It begins in Matthew Chapter 5, where Jesus fulfils the laws of the Torah; laws about Murder, Adultery, Divorce, Oath Making, Retaliation, and Enemy Love. It’s a chapter about how we treat one another.

 

Then, in Chapter 6, Jesus warns against hypocrisy, teaches us how to pray, and challenges the trust we place in our money and possessions. There’s lessons about generosity, fasting, and anxiety. It’s a chapter about what we really value, and who we really trust.

 

And finally in Chapter 7, Jesus teaches about judgement, generosity, and the famous Golden Rule. It’s a chapter about relational conflict, and how we deal with people who wrong us.

 

Although I plan to return to the Sermon on the Mount next year, as my final sermon for 2024 I thought I would conclude this year’s series by listening to the way that Jesus ends his sermon — with an invitation to consider two different paths forward.

17 NOVEMBER 2024

Trusting God in Trying Times

Many of you are familiar with the phrase ‘Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire.’ If you are a fan of J.R.R Tolkien's ‘The Hobbit,’ you may well recall that this saying is the title of the sixth chapter (it’s also quoted in the first movie). But its origin goes way back to an Italian author Laurentius Abstemius, who wrote a collection of 100 fables called ‘The Hecatomythium’, during the 1490s. Shortly after him, an anonymous author penned one of Aesop’s fables, called ‘Worse and Worse’ where we read that, ‘The fish jump 'out of the frying-pan, into the fire.’’

 

That is David’s situation in Psalm 56. Psalm 56:4 asks, ‘What can flesh do to me? ’ Actually, a lot, according to David. They can twist your words. They can plot and conspire against you. They can lurk and wait for a chance to pounce and destroy. The list of things that people can do to you is almost endless.

 

Some of the biggest problems we will ever face come from what other people can do to us. I’m not saying this will happen all the time. But it will probably happen sometime in our lives, and it will hurt, and you will have to figure out what to do.

10 NOVEMBER 2024

Living Through Anxiety

If there’s something that I think that we can all probably relate to its that there comes times in life, especially if you’re walking with the Lord, where something significant happens, but it’s not necessarily something you had planned for, nor something you had foreseen to happen. During these times, it can be easy to stop and look around and ask “Lord what is happening? What is going on, where are you taking me? ” What is Jesus doing in our lives day to day, it can be hard to tell sometimes, especially during the difficult moments. I’ll be honest with you, most of the time I don’t specifically know. Nevertheless, as Christians we remember that Jesus told his disciples to follow him, he never told them where they were going.

 

This morning we’ll be looking at a story from the Old Testament where Jacob, whilst on the run from his brother trying to kill him, finds himself in a place not even worth mentioning. Jacob has absolutely nothing with him, so much so that he needs to use a stone as a pillow to sleep. However, it’s through this experience that Jacob learns that the Lord is with him every step of the way, even in his most challenging circumstance.

 

As Christians, the beauty of following the Lord every single day is that it allows us to let today’s troubles be sufficient for today, whatever those troubles may be. As Christ said on the Sermon on the Mount, ‘Dont worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own.’

3 NOVEMBER 2024

The Great Colossian Heresy

The church of Colossae was located 193 kilometres east of Ephesus in the Lycus Valley along the Lycus River and a major trading route connecting east and west passed through it. As a result of its location Colossae was exposed to many practices and beliefs from various parts of the known world, hence scholars called this the Great Colossian Heresy.

 

In the world today there are no fewer than ten thousand religions and of those ten thousand religions, eighty five percent of all people identify with at least one of them. The largest religions are: Christianity; Islam; Buddhism; Hinduism; Taoism; Judaism and Sikhism. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of a religion is “a personal set or institutionalised system of religious attitudes, beliefs and attitudes.” Essentially, religion is mankind’s attempt to reach God. By contrast, the Bible portrays a God who has reached down to mankind. These are very different approaches. The former is saying I want to get to God by making up a system (works) approach whereas the Bible presents a God who has already made himself available (grace).

 

Our text this morning is Colossians 2:16-23. Here Paul will warn these young Christians to keep their focus on Jesus and not be persuaded by other religious practices that were taking religion to the extreme. This morning we will examine three such religious practices that were confronting the church, namely: legalism; mysticism and aestheticism, and examine how Paul will help guide their focus back to Jesus.

27 OCTOBER 2024

Condemnation & Discernment

The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of Jesus’ most famous and memorable teachings, faithfully compiled, preserved and presented by the disciple Matthew. The sermon is Jesus’ kingdom manifesto — a constitution that governs and guides the people who are part of the kingdom of heaven.

 

The passage that we’re looking at today comes at the very beginning of Matthew Chapter Seven, the third and final chapter of this famous sermon. In Chapter Seven, Jesus’ teachings are about conflict in relationships. What do we do when someone wrongs us? Or, when we wrong someone else? What’s the course of action to take when we see someone doing the wrong thing? And the chapter begins with the lesson we’re looking at today — Jesus’ perspective on what it means for us to judge.

13 OCTOBER 2024

What Kind of King is Jesus?

We read in Luke Chapter 19 the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey to much fanfare and adulation. For the crowds around him, they threw their garments on the ground along with palm branches crying out, “Hosanna to the Son of David!" " Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" " Hosanna in the highest!" . They were welcoming in the promised king who would overthrow their Roman captors and establish a great Jewish kingdom. However, little did these crowds know that the man that they welcomed with such exaltation would be the same man that they would cry out for execution only a few days later. Simply because Jesus was not the heroic king that they thought he would be.

 

Grant touched on the point last week of not allowing our present circumstances sway us in our faith, not letting the environment around us dictate our relationship with Jesus. Reading a story like the one found in Luke Chapter 19 poses questions to us: who do we think Jesus is, and do we think that he is acting in our lives the way that we think he should act? Do our lives around us impact how we view Jesus’ timing and actions in our own lives?

 

Jesus rode into Jerusalem with such a lively welcome, only to weep over the city and say that their enemies would destroy them, not leaving one stone on another, because they did not recognise the timing of God’s coming to them. They completely missed that God was creating a kingdom in front of their very eyes. What sort of king do you think Jesus is? Can we miss what he does in our lives because he doesn’t do the sort of things that we think he ought to be doing? That’s what we’ll be exploring this morning.

6 OCTOBER 2024

The Price of Redemption

During one Christmas school holiday, a young boy decided to build a model boat. He put so much love into this boat, meticulously hand making the little sails, rails, painting it blue and white and making it seaworthy. When the job was completed he held it and joyfully said, “I made you, you’re mine!” Early the next morning the boy took his boat down to Lake Macquarie. When he arrived he attached some string to the stern and gently guided it out onto the water. It wasn’t long before the weather changed and a strong gust of wind broke the string attached to the vessel and he watched his boat sail away until it disappeared.

 

A few months later the boy was walking past a shop and noticed a boat that looked conspicuously like his. Upon closer inspection he realised it was. He walked into the shop, pointed to the boat and said to the shopkeeper, “Excuse me sir, that’s mine, I made it!” The shopkeeper replied, “Son, you did a really good job, but it’s mine now and if you want it you have to pay for it.” The little boy walked out of the shop disheartened but quickly came up with a plan. He got a job delivering newspapers in his local neighbourhood. By the end of summer he had made enough money to buy the boat. He walked into the store, laid down the cash, took the boat and said, “Now you’re twice mine.”

 

This allegory represents the idea of redemption, the theme we will be exploring this 15.

29 SEPTEMBER 2024

Finding Grace in Suffering

It's a sad but true statement: God allows bad things to happen to good people. For many, this is a difficult concept to grasp in the midst of a suffering world. Moreover, we know life delivers positive and negative experiences to all people.

 

However, we see in Scripture time and time again how God can take a hopeless situation and makes something positive out of it. Consider Joseph, David, Daniel. This is also true of the Apostle Paul, a man who gave his life to Christ to further the Gospel and in so doing experienced something so negative he entreated the Lord three times to remove it. In 2 Corinthians 12:7 Paul identified it as a thorn in the side.

 

Today we will see how God took that negative experience in Paul’s life and turned it into a positive using one of God’s most powerful tools, grace.

22 SEPTEMBER 2024

Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

In the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35), Jesus reveals the profound nature of God's forgiveness and our call to extend that same mercy to others. The story tells of a king who forgives his servant an impossibly large debt, only for that same servant to refuse forgiveness for a much smaller debt owed to him by a fellow servant. Consequently, the king rescinds his forgiveness and severely punishes the unmerciful servant. This parable illustrates how God's forgiveness, like the king's initial cancellation of debt, is extravagant and complete, setting the standard for our own practice of forgiveness.

 

The parable challenges us to recognise the magnitude of God's forgiveness in our lives and to extend that same grace to others, even when it seems difficult. It teaches that since God has forgiven us an immeasurable debt through Christ, we are obligated to extend mercy to those who wrong us, no matter how grievous their offence may seem. We are reminded that forgiveness is not optional for believers, but a fundamental expectation of the Christian life. This divine mercy compels us to reflect on our own attitudes and actions, calling us to be agents of forgiveness in our daily interactions.

8 SEPTEMBER 2024

Good Eyes & Bad Eyes

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says in Matthew Chapter Six:

 

‘The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!’

 

Over the years, these mysterious lines have invited all kinds of speculation. We can crack this cryptic saying about the eye by hearing it within its Hebrew context, and grasping the figures of speech Jesus was employing.

 

 

25 AUGUST 2024

Scarcity & Abundance

The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of Jesus’ most famous and memorable teachings, faithfully compiled, preserved and presented by the disciple Matthew. The sermon is Jesus’ kingdom manifesto — a constitution that governs and guides the people who are part of the kingdom of heaven.

 

The passage that we’re looking at today comes from Matthew Chapter Six. It comes at the very end of the chapter and follows a triad of teachings in which Jesus addresses the topic of money and possessions: storing up treasures on earth and in heaven, the eye being the lamp of the body, and serving two masters. Each teaching is a different way of exploring the dichotomy that is often present between God on the one hand, and material wealth on the other.

 

Today’s passage follows on from those three teachings. These are some of the most encouraging words that Jesus has ever spoken. They have brought comfort and reassurance to so many in times of stress and anxiety. They are so powerful and prescient that I often get tingles down my spine and tear up whenever I read them. And by considering Jesus’ perspective in these words, we’ll learn two things about anxiety and peace in the kingdom of God.

 

 

18 AUGUST 2024

God's Cure for Loneliness & Vulnerability 

Do you ever feel lonely? An estimated that 1 in 3 Australians reported an episode of loneliness, with 40% of these people experiencing more than one episode, pre-COVID. Even though we are connected in every imaginable way electronically, research tells us people are lonelier today than in 1984, that is, before the Internet.

 

Loneliness is particularly prevalent among the elderly. One study in Britain discovered that half a million people over the age of 60 go for an entire week not talking to anyone. That same study revealed that a million people over the age of 50 only talk with someone every five or six days. The research is clear. A lot of people struggle with loneliness, but it is rampant among the elderly.

 

Paul taught Timothy about the importance of pursuing godliness in his life. In addition, he taught Timothy about the hard work of ministry. This morning, as we enter the later third of 1 Timothy, Paul was teaching Timothy about the importance of relationships and how we treat one another in the church. While the church may look like just another group, the relationships that we have with one another are fundamentally different.

 

 

11 AUGUST 2024

RUNNING THE ETERNAL RACE

Recent events at the Paris Olympics, including the Last Supper parody, images of the the white rider (Revelation 6:2), remind us that " ...our struggle is not against flesh rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).

 

golden calf (Exodus 32), and and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the

 

Rather than focus on these affronts, we must " fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).

 

As such, we should focus on four principles for maintaining faith during challenging times:

 

1. Running the Race of Faith: Pursuing Christ-likeness with perseverance (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

 

2. Standing Firm: Putting on the full armor of God to withstand opposition (Ephesians 6:13-17).

 

3. Loving Enemies: Responding to mockery with Christ-like love (Matthew 5:44).

 

4. Being a Light: Reflecting Christ's light in a troubled world (Matthew 5:16).

 

As followers of Jesus, we are called to stand firm in grace and love while extending compassion to a world in need.

 

 

4 AUGUST 2024

Heavenly Treasure

The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of Jesus’ most famous compiled, preserved and presented by the disciple Matthew. The — a constitution that governs and guides the people who are part

 

and memorable teachings, faithfully sermon is Jesus’ kingdom manifesto of the kingdom of heaven.

 

Today we’re looking at a truly iconic lesson from Jesus in Matthew Chapter Six. During my last sermon, we looked at the beginning of this chapter, where Jesus addresses the importance of avoiding hypocrisy in the religious practices of generosity, prayer and fasting. Now, Jesus turns his attention to our things; our money and our possessions.

 

In Jesus’ mind, how we relate to our money and possessions tells the truth about what we really value. And by exploring this teaching from Jesus this morning, we’ll discover two things about the meaning of ultimate value in the kingdom of heaven.

 

 

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