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.
Renewed Expectations
When you go to God with your joys and your distress, you get invited into Hannah’s song and Mary’s song. God has come: in Jesus we have God’s down-payment on the new creation, the first risen from the dead. We live in the reality of the kingdom which is breaking through. We can be expectant people – people of hope – because our expectation doesn’t rely on what we do or don’t do, but on what God has done and what God will do.
Advent – A time to see Jesus more clearly
Driving in the North American winter requires a snow brush and ice scraper. We had the brush at one end and scraper at the other. When getting to your parked car, sometimes it is just snow that needs to be brushed off the windows and mirrors to be able to see to drive. Other times, when hard ice has formed on the windows, then there is need for a big scratching. Otherwise it is impossible to see.
I think Advent is like a scraper/brush, helping us to see, in this case to see Jesus clearly, to see how important his coming as a baby is, to see that he is the centre of Christmas celebration.
Jesus gets quite hidden in our Aussie culture. How can you help to make him more visible this Advent and Christmas season, so that more can see what a wonderful gift he is?
Christ the King Sunday
In many parts of the world, Lutherans celebrate Christ the King Sunday on the last Sunday of the church year.
This church remembrance started in 1925, by an initiative of the Roman Catholic Pope Pius XI. He hoped that this annual celebration would strengthen Christians as they gave their attention to Jesus being King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Jesus’ style of rule often contrasts strongly with the kings or other leaders of the day, and our day too. Jesus’ rule is gentle and humble, demonstrated by washing feet, and having meals with those considered outcasts. It’s unlikely with these traits that he would be elected to any political office. Yet his authority is over all, including tyrants and dictators.
This knowledge has given Christians courage in many tough times, and given them strength to pray for the political and other leaders. That is our call too. We close the church year with Jesus’ power and direction.
Celebrating All Saints
For about 1300 years, All Saints Day has been celebrated on 1st November. In many countries and cultures people tend the graves of loved ones on this day.
At both our services we remember with picture and name those connected with our church community who have died since last All Saints Day. And we remember those near to us who had gone onto glory. We think of all the heavenly saints cheering on the earthly ones, us, encouraging us to persevere in faith, in mission.
We are thankful for the gift of worship together, of Holy Communion, which links the communion of saints in heaven and on earth.
This Sunday I will be getting you to practice putting the word ‘saint’ in front of your name. We are saints because we are covered by Jesus’ robe of righteousness, called to holy actions for others, and to the praise of God.
Public Theology Series – Freedom! Reformation!
Martin Luther’s nickname was Mr Freedom. His last name sounded a lot like the Greek word for freedom. Luther ‘discovered’ or really ‘rediscovered’ the freedom of the Gospel, the amazing free gift of God’s grace through Jesus.
The Good News of Jesus’ freedom frees people from the power of sin and death, from bondage to all that is old and dead, freeing people to look beyond themselves to the needs of others. The Holy Spirit has led some people freed by Jesus to work for the reform of their society, freeing slaves, those bound by poverty. They have worked tirelessly to change unjust laws, and hearts.
I personally am very moved by the single-minded focus of William Wilberforce in working for the emancipation of slaves. Who are today’s reformers of society? How can we better support them, or be one?
