Sermon Archive
Welcome to our sermon archive, we hope you enjoy reading through our past sermons and if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us.
Testing, testing.
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Listen to Jesus
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I’m Called – You are Called
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The Spirit-led mission
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Repent, and believe in the Good News!
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Come and See – mission then, mission now.
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Baptised and Sent
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Whose image do you bear?
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Paul’s passion for Christ
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Conversations
St John shares many conversations involving Jesus and others on his journey to the cross. These conversations are so full of insights that one can read them over and over and keep discovering new things about our Saviour. One of these fascinating conversations is found in John chapter 4 – Jesus and the woman of… Read more
From Darkness to Light
Nicodemus visits Jesus at night – in the darkness – to check out this “teacher” whose amazing actions have come to his attention. As a religious leader, Nicodemus is also unhappy with some of this “teacher’s” actions and words. They are disturbing the religious establishment. It is quite a journey for Nicodemus, who eventually comes… Read more
Why we are the way we are
From Martin Luther’s introduction to Paul’s letter to the Romans “This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian’s while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily… Read more
The Veil is Removed
Surrounded by your glory What will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus? Or in awe of you be still? This is how the band MercyMe imagine being in the presence of the glory of God. But there’s a reaction to God’s glory which they’ve missed: falling to the ground in terror. It’s… Read more
Growing as God’s Community
What do you think of when you think of your community? Is it where you live, your school, a sports club or music group, or a group of colleagues? Are these communities different to our church community – or should they be? Often in our society, we think about community in terms of what we… Read more
God Revealed
There’s a difference between knowing information about someone, and actually knowing them. Many of us know a lot of information about famous figures, but we don’t really know what they’re like because we’ve never met them. It can be the same with God. We could have lots of information about God without ever knowing who… Read more
God chose what is foolish
This morning we’re taking some time to celebrate our “service in the world.” We’ll bring the year ahead before God and pray for one another’s various roles in life: in our work (paid and unpaid), in our families (as parents, grandparents, children, husbands, wives), as retirees, students, or wherever God has called us. At first… Read more
Australia Day
“The marking of 26 January is an important date in Australia’s history and has changed over time: starting as a celebration for emancipated convicts and evolving into what is now a celebration of Australia that reflects the nation’s diverse people. Australia Day continues to be hugely popular, with 3 in 4 Australians believing it has… Read more
Community is a Living Body
St Paul talks about the Church, the community of the faithful, as a body where there are many parts. As in the human body these parts are connected and in a way belong to each other. We belong in a community and we belong to each other. This is God’s creation. God calls us into… Read more
Starting Off Well
A new year is often the possibility of a fresh start. New resolutions, perhaps even the chance to reinvent ourselves. We can leave all our baggage and disappointment in the past – or at least we can tell ourselves that. A new year can also bring new challenges, and perhaps our resolutions are to equip… Read more
Christmas short changed?
God comes where he is least expected. Not to a great city like Rome or Athens. Not to Jerusalem or even the temple, but to a provincial backwater town in occupied Palestine. God comes where he is least expected. God disrupts the planned lives of a young Jewish couple about to embark on married life… Read more
Come and Worship
God comes where he is least expected. Not to a great city like Rome or Athens. Not to Jerusalem or even the temple, but to a provincial backwater town in occupied Palestine. God comes where he is least expected. God disrupts the planned lives of a young Jewish couple about to embark on married life… Read more
God really with us
God comes where he is least expected. Not to a great city like Rome or Athens. Not to Jerusalem or even the temple, but to a provincial backwater town in occupied Palestine. God comes where he is least expected. God disrupts the planned lives of a young Jewish couple about to embark on married life… Read more
“Are you the one or shall we look for another?”
John the Baptist is not the only one to ask this question. In one way or another, this is the question that arises for all people of faith, in this life. Yes, Jesus is the One! And this is the Good News in which we rejoice and which we seek to share in deed and… Read more
The cross is more than just a symbol
The Cross is the ‘symbol’ of Christianity. We see it outside and inside our church buildings. People often wear a crucifix around their necks to show that they are Christian. You may have one somewhere in your house. The Cross of Christ is well known in the world. Hollywood movies about Christ’s Crucifixion have been made. His suffering… Read more
An Opportunity to Testify
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus seems to be tearing every hope away from his listeners (and us!) The Jewish Temple, the symbol of God’s presence with the Jewish nation will be destroyed. Global peace is not imminent – instead nation will continue to rise up against nation, and there will be wars and insurrections. There… Read more
Children of God, Children of the Resurrection
As a child of God, you are a member of his family. Yes! You are a brother or sister of Jesus. Isn’t that amazing? The creator of the Universe is your brother. Surely this must give you an incredible sense of belonging that cannot be taken away from you. This fact must give you a… Read more
From chains to freedom: He set me free
The word ‘mission’ has been secularized. Not only churches but government bodies like Centrelink have mission statements. You see, everyone has a mission. What is the mission of your church? What is the mission of your life? Do you have a clearly defined mission you pursue, a guiding star that directs your path every day?… Read more
“God have mercy on me, a sinner”
In the gospel reading, Jesus addresses a parable: ‘To some who were confident of their own (!) righteousness and looked down on everyone else.’ The Pharisee is confident of his visible righteous. He looks at the sinners around him. The tax collector standing afar beats his breast and declares ‘God, have mercy on me, a… Read more
Who will grant us justice?
The readings for today create the impression that if we do our part, God will bless us. We have a sense of ‘persevere and God will bless you’ in these texts. In the Old Testament reading Jacob persevered in the struggle and received a blessing. In the Epistle reading Timothy is instructed to ‘continue’ and… Read more
Fideism verses true faith
The gospel reading for today, Luke 17:1-5, 6-10 addresses a temptation that all Christians face: fideism. Fideism is ‘faith in faith’, in other words the attempt to measure one’s faith. The disciples are stuck in fideism: ‘Lord increase OUR faith.’ Fideism causes inflated faith (‘I’m so faithful and pious’) or deflated faith (‘I have no… Read more
Trusting God’s character
In today’s passage from Exodus, we witness an extraordinary exchange between God and Moses. When God decides he is going to destroy Israel for worshiping a golden calf, Moses appeals to God on behalf of the people, and as one of them, he reminds God of the promises which he has made to Israel, and… Read more
Last Words
Muhammad in his last sermon on Mt Arafat, forbade his followers to shed the blood of each other. Of his enemies he said, “I descended by Allah with the sword in my hand and my wealth will come from the shadow of my sword. And the one who will disagree with me will be humiliated… Read more
Being a Sending Church
Immanuel Woden Valley Lutheran Church is a sending church of the LCA. This means we are focused on the mission of Christ to go into the world and tell people the good news. Being a church focused on the mission of Christ may leave some people wondering how they can participate. The reading from Hebrews… Read more
What do you see?
When a crippled woman who was bent over terribly, came into the synagogue, Luke’s Gospel chapter 13 records, that “Jesus saw her, …..”. When you see a stranger, what do you see? When you see someone out of the ordinary what do you perceive? Do you see a person in the way? Do you see… Read more
Faith is found in strange places
God faith works faith in unlikely people and in unlikely places. Do we really believe the previous statement? How often do we think that God only works amongst the saintly? Christians are very good at localising faith. We often have this sense that faith can only be here in a building on a Sunday. Those… Read more
Where is your Treasure?
As children we dream of finding treasure. We dig in our back yard or we search on the beach. We search with friends and we search alone. Often just to be disappointed. Jesus tells us in Luke 12:34 that we all have treasure. It is where ever our heart is. By this Jesus means it… Read more
Christ is all and is in all
Lord, in between my first breath and my last— before you call me home— you give me time. Time to work hard, time to pray well, time to play and time to give; time to be with friends, time to love and be loved. When my hours are spent, please let me hear you say… Read more
What are you praying for?
If someone came to you and asked; teach me how to pray. What would you answer? Maybe you would say something like, “Just start speaking to God; tell him what’s on your mind; ask him for what you need; tell him about what is happening in your life.” On one occasion, Jesus disciples came to… Read more
Jesus Has Authority
Like a relay baton, each generation of believers since the apostles themselves have been given the same commission by Christ, you and I included. And it really is a great commission. The Great Commission is there because “all authority” has been given to Jesus Christ, and in His authority, He gives that commission to His… Read more
The Good Samaritan
Jesus parables or stories are very powerful messages. We listen to the story and then find we are soon involved too. A man comes to Jesus with the aim of ensuring that his eternal future is secure. (We certainly all desire to do the same!) Jesus refers him to the law. Love God totally and… Read more
Tough Trust
Mission Today Here at Immanuel we have been on the “Sending Church” journey for over four years. We have been delighted to see new mission communities formed. We have been thrilled to have Jacob Traeger take up the role of Mission Facilitator and Church Planting Leader. Many times we have prayed for responsive people who… Read more
Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem, to the cross
Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem, to the cross, and he asks his followers, us, to journey with him. But, this is to be no ordinary amble through the countryside. We are asked to leave everything and everyone, and to set our faces also on the road to Jerusalem, to the cross. Like James and… Read more
Imagine a world undivided
When we are received by God (enacted in our Baptism) we are brought, by Christ into His family and given a new way of seeing, (seeing as Christ sees). Not a world divided by race, religion, gender, not them and us but unity in diversity that reflects the very nature of the Triune God. Pastor… Read more
The Trinity – A Mystery of Faith
In John 14, Jesus asked Philip, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?” It is a difficult to grasp that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are seen in each other. The Catechism of the Catholic Church declares: “The mystery of the Most Holy… Read more
The Breath of Life
The first creation story informs us that God is the Spirit who hovers over his creation (Genesis 1). Also, the Spirit is not mute, he speaks. The Hebrew word for Spirit is ruach (trans. breath or wind). So when God speaks he breathes or blows. The Israelites experienced the wind in their geographical location as… Read more
Belonging to God
Belonging to God As human beings, we were created to live in relationship; in relationship with God and with each other. In the Genesis creation story God says, “it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a partner.” Often though, we act as though we would rather be alone…. Read more
One person can make a world of difference!
Acts is the account of how the early church grew and multiplied by the power of the Spirit. In Chapter 16, Paul is in the middle of modern day Turkey. He travels through Galatia – as it was known then – turns west and ends up at Troas on the coast. That night Paul has… Read more
Oh for a miracle!
Oh for a miracle! In Acts 9 it is recorded that a female follower of Jesus, who is known for helping the poor, gets sick and dies. Peter the apostle is called and is shown the room where her body lies in state. Peter asks the mourners to leave the room. He gets down on… Read more
A Chosen Instrument
A few years after Jesus was crucified and raised, one of the most enthusiastic opponents of his followers was a man named Saul. He “breathed threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (9:1). Saul’s purpose was to keep God’s people pure and holy and bring this ‘heresy’ to an end. But God had… Read more
“I am the Lord your God you shall have no other gods beside me”
“I am the Lord your God you shall have no other gods beside me” What does this mean? We are to fear, love and trust in God above everything else. (Luther’s Small Catechism.) In the story of Thomas, called the twin, we hear him declare his faith when his fear, grief and loss, are ended… Read more
Jesus: The God Solution
Jesus: The God Solution There are many problems in the world. Climate change, wars, inequality, and poverty to name the top four. There are many solutions offered to solve these problems. Marxism says that changing the systems will do it. Liberalism says if we encourage the individual to solve his own problems, then the world… Read more
Why did Jesus enter Jerusalem?
Palm Sunday This week we celebrate Jesus coming into Jerusalem. Why did he come, what was his purpose? Many times we simply answer, “Well he came to give his life as a ransom for many and to save us from our sins.” So that is it? But why did he save us from our sins?… Read more
Extraordinary Love, Extraordinary Gift
Extraordinary Love Extraordinary Gift A person who loves much, gives much. This is evident in our Gospel reading for this week. Mary had come to love and honour Jesus. She wanted to express this great love, so she took the most expensive perfume she had and came and wiped Jesus feet with it. The fragrance… Read more
Knowing the Father
This week we hear the story of two young men trying to find themselves in the world. One of them is desperate to be independent – he’s afraid he might miss out on the meaning of life, he wants to travel, to see new things, have new experiences. His older brother stays at home with… Read more
The Fruits of Repentance
Today we have a gospel reading about atrocities, judgement and repentance, but also the good news of God’s patience and kindness. We begin with those troubling questions about why bad things happen to some people but not others. This question, no doubt, has been asked many times this week, in the light of the massacre… Read more
“Do not be afraid,… I am your shield” Gen.15:1
Keeping Faith There are many promises throughout scripture where God says he will bless you and prosper you. But what happens when you wait and nothing seems to happen. This is the way it was for Abraham. God promised him he would become a great nation and make him a blessing to the world. A… Read more
First Fruits
In OT times, after the people had received the land, they were instructed to bring their first fruits to the temple. First fruits are the first peaches or the first oranges of a crop or the first of anything which is grown or produced. This practice had numerous reasons. The first was to remind the… Read more
Reflecting Christ
On February 19th this year there was a “super moon”. Super moons occur when the moon in its orbit is slightly closer to the earth than usual. On these nights the moon looks bigger and brighter. It really dominates the sky, and you can almost read a book using the light of the moon. It… Read more
Oikos – Household of God
Oikos – Household of God We are quite familiar with the word church. We know what it means. But if we were to ask others what they mean by church, and how they feel about the word, we would find a whole range of meanings and emotions, from positive to negative. The Royal Commission into… Read more
Blessings and Woes
Blessings and Woes (Luke 6: 17-26) Our gospel reading this week may be hard for people in the developed world to hear. Jesus stands in a “level” place, ie., down in the messiness of life, where the poor, the hungry, and the suffering people subsist, and speaks words of comfort to them. For those, however,… Read more
What does it mean to follow Jesus?
What does it mean to follow Jesus? (Luke 5:1-11) When we think about following Jesus sometimes it feels like there’s just more things that Jesus wants us to do. We can feel like Simon: when Jesus asks him to take his boat out to the deep water and let his nets down, he says “we’ve… Read more
The call of Jeremiah becomes our call
The Call of Jeremiah becomes Our Call Since God has given you life and has claimed you as His own, He has a plan for you and work for you to do. What has God got in mind for you? Pastor Terry Unger
Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing
TODAY! Today we hear Jesus’ first sermon: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Today, Jesus brings good news to the poor: today Jesus proclaims release for the captives; today Jesus promises that the blind will see and oppressed peoples will go free. Today. Not yesterday, not sometime in the future, but today…. Read more
Jesus’ answer to a vital question
Jesus’ Answer to a Vital Question The question we are focussing on today, is the question that arises in the gospel reading when Jesus challenged the leaders of the Jews after the feeding of the five thousand to look towards eternal food rather than more earthly food that perishes. The leaders in the crowd then… Read more
Mary’s Song
This sermon may sound slightly disjointed (sentence by sentence), as we had a Korean translator today who has a much softer voice than Pastor Robert. This was due to the fact that we had two baptisms today. A baby and her grandmother. Grandmother speaks no English, and has come to know Jesus as her Saviour… Read more
Waypoints on the Journey
Lay Reader: Fred Gollasch
Inside Light, Outside Light
Lay Reader: Helen Middelmann, Source: https://www.lca.org.au/worship/cowadmin/?p=494
