Isaiah 43:1-7
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Fear Not
Isaiah 43:1-7 audio (3MB)
One of the things about looking at a prophecy like Isaiah is that it’s a bit like looking at a mountain range. From close in it can look like there’s just one row of mountains in the range, but then if you get up higher, or fly over it in a plane you see that in fact there are rows of mountains one after the other.
When we read Isaiah we can see that it’s addressed immediately to the people of Israel in exile. God is encouraging them not to give up hope. They’re still his people. He still has a plan for their salvation. But when we look at it some more, from the perspective of the New Testament we realise that sometimes the prophecy goes beyond the physical nation of Israel to one who stands in their place as their representative; as the one who represents the whole nation of Israel, to Jesus.
1 John 1:1-4
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- Written by: Rachael Lie
Know What you Believe - by Rachael Lie audio (3MB)
Introduction: I came to Australia in 2001 and have been here for nearly 10 years. One thing I learnt from my Australian friends: they said: there are 3 questions that you should avoid asking: 1. How much do you earn in a year? 2. What political party do you support and 3. What religion do you believe in? Those three questions are sensitive questions to most Australians, especially the one about religion. Before I studied Theology, I was a graduate Bachelor of Commerce. When my neighbour asked me what I was doing and I would say "I'm an accountant." Then they'd respond by saying: “yeah, that's a good, bright and shiny occupation!” But now I've graduated as a theological student, and when my badminton teammates asked me what I was doing and I said "I'm a young adults' minister serving in the church" Their response was a stark contrast to my neighbour's response before; they simply nodded their head with a blank facial expression and quickly moved on to another topic.
O Little Town of Bethlehem
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- Written by: Bill Stewart
Micah 5:2-8 audio (3MB)
"O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight."
These words come from the popular Christmas carol called "O little town of Bethlehem." What are your "hopes and fears" this Christmas? Have you even had time to think about what your "hopes and fears" might be this year? To understand today's reading from the prophet Micah we need to understand the hopes and fears of the people living in Israel about 700 years before the birth of Jesus. What did they fear?
God's Gift of Mercy
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Titus 3:4-8
There’s a certain irony in the timing of the failed Copenhagen climate conference isn’t there? Just a week or so before Christmas but there was little in the way of Christmas spirit in evidence with the leaders of the nations involved in the conference wheeling and dealing to get their own country the best possible deal even if it was at the cost of weaker countries who are most endangered by the effects of climate change.
It seems almost surreal to turn from the news of Copenhagen to the Christmas story, to a message of peace, goodwill among men and women.
Or is it? Do we actually notice the contrast? It’s such a familiar story that it would be easy to overlook the amazing, surprising truth contained in those few words: “11to you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Or these words: “And on earth peace among those whom he favors!” A Saviour; a Lord, who brings peace.
God's Gift to Us
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- Written by: Bill Stewart
Romans 5:12-17
audio (3MB)
In the movie The Matrix everything is an illusion. The promo tells us that although the humans think it is 1999, it is really two centuries later. The lives everyone believes they are living are really just dreams they are having inside virtual reality (the Matrix). Inside the Matrix, we meet computer programmer Thomas Anderson (played by Keanu Reeves), who goes by the hacker name "Neo." A group of people comes to Neo's door, and when Neo gives them a disk with the illegal software they want, the leader says (foreshadowing what is to come), "Hallelujah. You're my savior, man. My own personal Jesus Christ." Neo believes he's living a normal, but slightly troubled life in 1999. By day, he is a computer programmer for a large, generic software company; by night, a hacker, providing the fruits of his labors to other troubled souls. He lives alone, he doesn't sleep, and there's a profound emptiness in his life, but it's something he can't put his finger on - until he is contacted by Trinity. Morpheus has sent Trinity to contact Neo, believing he is The One of prophecy. Morpheus explains it to Neo in this way: "When the Matrix was first built there was a man born inside that had the ability to change what he wanted, to remake the Matrix as he saw fit. It was this man who freed the first of us and taught us the truth. When he died, the Oracle prophesied his return and envisioned that his coming would hail the destruction of the Matrix." Neo is the Chosen One, the savior, and the one who will lead his people to freedom. But in order to do that, he must sacrifice himself, and rise from the dead. Sounds familiar, doesn't it! I want us to keep this is mind as we take a brief look at today's reading from Romans chapter 5.
Phil 1:1-11
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
A Church Alive
Philippians 1:1-11
Paul had some tough times as he traveled around the Mediterranean telling people about Jesus. He faced opposition from various sources: from the Jewish leaders who were worried that he was taking people away from their Jewish worship, from Roman authorities who were concerned that this new religion was causing civil disturbance and even from commercial interests who were bothered that this new found faith might take people away from their superstitions so they’d stop buying the religious mementoes that were on sale everywhere. This particular opposition came to a head in Philippi when Paul and Silas cast out an evil spirit from a female slave; an evil spirit that had enabled her to tell fortunes, at considerable profit to the woman’s owners. As a result Paul & Silas had been thrown into prison and even when they were released were asked to leave town quietly.
Mark 12:28-13:2
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
What are Your Priorities? audio (5MB)
Mark 12:28-13:2
It’s appropriate at an Annual General meeting to spend some time reflecting on where we’re going as a Church. What are our priorities? What do we think is the most important thing we can be doing? In fact it would be good if we asked those questions not just about us as a Church but of us as individuals. Where are you going with your life? What are you aiming for? What are your priorities? There are a few students in the congregation who have finished final exams and are thinking about what the next stage of their life will be. What are your priorities? How are you going to make those important decisions about your life? And what about those who are already well into their life. What is it that shapes your life decisions? How do you decide where to spend your time and money? If you have children, how will you help them make decisions? What will you get them to spend time doing? What things will you encourage them to pursue and what things will you discourage them from?
