Sometimes in movies, TV shows or cartoons, a character in a story will have a sudden realization, idea or inspiration. These moments can often be represented by a lightbulb appearing over the character’s head. The lightbulb indicates that the character has worked something out, come up with a new solution to a problem, or realised... Continue Reading →
Unpacking Christmas (Titus 2:11-14)
Over the Christmas season, people from all around the world will share in the joy of giving and receiving gifts. I’m sure that everyone is looking forward to gathering around the Christmas tree over the next few days to give the presents they have bought or made for family and friends, and to receive the... Continue Reading →
The Church: Christ’s Body (Colossians 1:15-28)
This Sunday St Peter’s is celebrating the 125th anniversary of their church building. For one hundred and twenty-five years God’s people have gathered in that place to hear the good news of Jesus, to welcome people into the family of God through baptism, and to receive the body and blood of our crucified and risen... Continue Reading →
A Determined Face (Luke 9:51-62)
Most of us probably know what it’s like to have something we need to do, but we haven’t been able to do for some reason. Maybe we need to mow the lawn, weed the garden, fold the washing or clean the windows. For younger people, it might be that we have an assessment piece to... Continue Reading →
The Spirit of Truth (John 14:8-17,25-27)
Most of us would have done a True or False test at some stage in our lives. These tests are simple: we are presented with a statement and asked to say if it is true or not. For example, we would say that “3x3=9” is mathematically true. The statement that European settlement in South Australia... Continue Reading →
Peter & Saul (John 21:1-19; Acts 9:1-20)
Do you know what it’s like to see someone for the first time after you’ve had a fight, or they’ve said hurtful things either to you or about you? I hope you’ve never been in that situation, but if you have, you’ll probably know how difficult it can be. Do you ignore what’s happened and... Continue Reading →
Unveiled (2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2)
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 →
Missional Listening (Luke 5:1-11)
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 →
Back to Basics (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)
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 →
Sent (Mark 6:1-13)
Earlier this year people from our congregation at Gnadenfrei partnered with others along Seppeltsfield Road to be part of Clean Up Australia Day. Teams of people spent a Sunday afternoon walking along the roads around Marananga picking up rubbish that they found lying on the side of the road and disposing of it. How much... Continue Reading →