Learning to follow Jesus in 21st Century Australia
In a few messages this year I have explored the point of view that the heart of the Christian message is Jesus’ new command to his disciples: to love one another the way that he has loved us (John 13:34). St Paul tells us that the only thing that counts in the Christian life is... Continue Reading →
I remember a conversation I had years ago with someone who didn’t believe that God exists. We were standing in a school carpark and this person at one point in the conversation looked around him with his arms wide open and said, “Where is he? I can’t see him. Show me God so I can... Continue Reading →
A couple of weeks ago we talked about the heart of the Christian message being love: trusting God’s love for us in Jesus and loving others the way Jesus loved us. One way the Bible describes this love is 1 Corinthians 13. We talked about growing in our capacity to love others in 1 Corinthians... Continue Reading →
How well do you receive advice from others? Sometimes we can find it hard to receive advice. We might think that we know what we’re doing, or that we want to work out problems or challenges by ourselves. However, when we are facing a problem we’ve never confronted before, when the challenge seems too overwhelming,... Continue Reading →
Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell stories of conversations Jesus had with people about the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-28). Jesus quoted the Old Testament when he said that the greatest command is to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5), and to love our... Continue Reading →
I have two pot plants in my office. They are from each of the two groups of young people I’ve had the pleasure of leading through Confirmation in the time I’ve served the Greenock Parish. Each year we buy small plants from a nursery and re-pot them in one of our Confirmation sessions. I then... Continue Reading →
When people are expecting a child, they often plan for the baby to be born in a birthing suite at a hospital. These maternity wards are clean and sterile where every care is taken for the safe delivery of the child. Experienced medical professionals are present in case there is an emergency of some kind,... Continue Reading →
At this time of year, a lot of people are invited to meals or Christmas celebrations with families or friends. We can often bring something to eat or drink to share with others when we get together. For example, we might like to bring a platter of the Barossa’s best meats and cheeses, a delicious... Continue Reading →
In a few weeks we will be celebrating Christmas. One thing most people look forward to at this time of year is the exchanging of gifts. While our society can fall into an unhealthy consumerism when it comes to giving and receiving gifts, it’s important for us to remember that gifts can convey a deep... Continue Reading →
How far would you go to keep a promise? We all make promises to people at some stage or another in our lives. Some of those promises can be relatively minor, such as saying that we will pick up something from the shops, take the rubbish out, or be somewhere at a particular time. Some... Continue Reading →
Pastor Eugene Online 