Up and Down

Jesus teaches and lives a counter narrative in his culture. Mary his mother sings about this, before Jesus is born; that the poor, the lowly, will be lifted up, and the mighty and the rich brought low. Jesus enacted this narrative in the meals he was invited to, and the ones that he organised, or… Read more

Washing Jesus

The word ‘baptism’ means washing with water. It has come to mean a very special washing, with the use of God’s name connected with the name of the person being baptised. Paul writes that being baptised means to be buried with Jesus in his death and lifted up to new life through Jesus’ resurrection. Baptism… Read more

Baptised, fed, called to serve.

What a marvellous Sunday. Calvin Aartsen-Traeger being baptised. 5 young people and their families celebrating first communion. And thanking God for so much volunteering that happens and through our Immanuel community. The Holy Spirit is powerfully at work, just like the early days after Pentecost. In the Men’s Bible Zoom we talked about a surge… Read more

Getting stretched

We have heard a lot about Peter in our preaching through the early part of Acts; bold Peter at Pentecost; bold Peter before the authorities telling them that he would not follow their command not to preach about Jesus. And now bold Peter needs a stretch; to take the Gospel of Jesus out and beyond… Read more

One Greater Than the Temple is Here (Acts 7)

On the evening of 24 March, 1980, Oscar Romero, the Catholic Archbishop of San Salvador was assassinated. Archbishop Romero had been an increasingly outspoken figure against landowners leaving people to die in their pursuit of profit, and the violence endemic in a country which had been plunged into civil war. Archbishop Romero reminds me of… Read more

Stephen – Deacon / Witness

Stephen is best known for being the first Christian martyr, put to death because of his faith in and witness to Jesus. But firstly he was selected as one of seven deacons, to help with the care of widows. The early Christians had a strong caring focus for those who were marginalised. This was the… Read more

Bold missional prayer

In the Acts reading we have really the first prayer recorded of the early Christian movement, and it is a bold missional prayer. It recounts some of the recent history of what God has done through Jesus, fulfilling the plan to bring salvation to the whole world. And then; “Grant to your servants to speak… Read more

The Oikos of Jesus

Today we gather to celebrate being an oikos of Jesus, his Immanuel household. (By the way, Immanuel is a great name for an oikos, being a descriptive name of Jesus, meaning, God with us.) We gather to farewell and bless people who are leaving our oikos, blessing them for the next part of their life… Read more

Clear Bold Witness to Jesus – Then and Now.

Through the early part of Acts, we have a number of Peter’s mini-sermons.  Last Sunday we had Peter’s words about Jesus after the man who was paralysed has his movement restored.  And today we have what Peter says to the religious leaders, who had imprisoned him and John overnight.  Again Peter gives clear testimony about Jesus, about both crucifixion and resurrection, and Jesus’ presence through the Holy Spirit bringing health and salvation.

After centuries of Christian church history, and a lot of baggage, clear witness about Jesus is still very much needed in our time.  What do you think is central in witnessing about Jesus now? 

It’s still Jesus crucified and risen, alive,  in the midst of life, especially in suffering.   Jesus is truly the cornerstone, the gracious Author of Life.  We can learn a lot from Peter about keeping Jesus at the centre. 

Acts of the Apostles? Acts of Jesus.

Part two of Luke’s Gospel account is called the Acts of the Apostles. But really it would be better named The Acts of Jesus. We see this in the scripture for this Sunday, where Peter and John encounter a paralysed man in the temple. Peter is clear that it is in Jesus’ name and with… Read more