Discipleship 2 - Students of Christ
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
I sat the last exam for my engineering degree in January 1973. I had to sit it in January because I'd failed one of my final exams the previous June. That had nothing to do with the fact that I'd got married three months earlier nor that I'd just started reading Lord of the Rings a few weeks before the exams, nor that the 1972 Lords Ashes Test was being broadcast on the radio late at night just before my exam. All those things may have contributed to my poor performance, but the real reason was that I hadn't studied the subject well enough. When I sat for the post I made sure I studied very hard and as a result I did quite well. But I remember walking out of that exam thinking, "Aah, that's the last exam I'll ever have to do. I don't plan to do any more study ever again!" Well, those were famous last words weren't they? The day I began my job as an engineer, my boss handed me a bundle of manuals to study so I'd understand the way things were done in the Dept of Civil Aviation. Often when I was given something new to do I had to read up on the best ways to do it. In fact anyone who works in a professional field knows that you have to refresh your knowledge constantly if you're going to keep up.
Series: Theme: Discipleship
- Details
- Written by: Chris Appleby
Discipleship
|
Walking with Jesus |
Heb 12:1-3 |
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Students of Christ |
2 Tim 3:10-17 |
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People on a Mission |
Acts 1:1-11 |
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Building the Kingdom |
1 Peter 2:4-10 |
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The Inner life |
Psalm 1 |
Discipleship 1 - walking with Jesus
- Details
- Written by: Bill Stewart
audio (3MB)
As Chris mentioned last Sunday, today we are officially beginning a series of sermons on the theme of "discipleship". Although discipleship seems to have already been the theme for at least two weeks now. Two weeks ago we saw how Jesus called people to be disciples and then directed them to call other disciples to follow him. Last week we were reminded that the call to follow Jesus is one that each of us must answer for ourselves. Today I would like us to do two things: (1) Firstly, to try and understand some of Jesus' difficult sayings about discipleship; and (2) secondly, to share a couple of introductory reflections on discipleship.
In the Australian War Memorial Collection there is a black and white photograph taken here in Melbourne on 15 December 1939. In the foreground four women and two children are standing on a pier with their backs to the camera. In the background a ship is sailing out to sea. One of the women is standing right on the edge of the pier. Her name we are told was Doreen and she lived in Mildura. The departing ship was a troop transport named the Strathallan carrying an advance party of the 6th Division AIF for overseas service in World War II. Mrs Martin and her family were saying farewell to her husband, a signalman named Bernard. [The photo by Edward Cranstone can be viewed at http://cas.awm.gov.au/photograph/000304/01 (public domain)].
Mark1:1-11
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
A Hope Fulfilled, Then and Now audio (6MB)
Mark 1:1-11
It's now just over 15 years since Mulder and Scully first appeared in the series 'The X-Files', asking "Could there be something out there?" Mulder believed that the 'Truth is out there' but Scully wasn't quite sure. Of course, although the questions they were raising echoed those of lots of people, they weren't new questions. People have always wondered about life beyond this material existence. There's too much in our experience that we can't explain without having some sort of supernatural or spiritual explanation. That's why 'The X-Files' seemed to strike a chord with so many people.
The people of John the Baptist's day were asking similar questions, wondering whether God was still with them, or whether he'd ever speak to them again. Today we're going to think about the similarities between Then and Now.
First the Longing, Then and Now then
A Message of Hope, Then and Now and finally
Its Promise, Then and Now
Isaiah 9:2-7
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Light in The Darkness - Christmas 2008 audio
"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness-- on them light has shined." Not many of us today have any real concept of darkness. We probably think of it as dark right now, but in fact we live in a world where even in the dead of night light is everywhere. So much so that we tend to take light for granted. You get up in the middle of the night and your bedside clock is glowing, the streetlights are shining in the window, your neighbours have their lights on. You can see where you're going quite clearly. But it wasn't always the case. I remember when I was growing up, which wasn't that long ago, can I say, we regularly had blackouts: usually during electrical storms. So there was always a supply of candles and matches nearby and a hurricane lamp in the garage to light so you could see again, because when you have a blackout in the middle of a storm it really does get dark. Most of you are old enough to remember those days I think. If you are, do you also remember what a relief it was when the candle was first lit. That tiny light made such a difference didn't it? And when the power came back on it was even better.
Well that's the feeling God is trying to convey, only more so, as Isaiah presents this prophecy of a salvation that will reach to all people. He says God is planning a salvation that will reach to the farthest ends of the earth, a great light to shine on people who live in deep darkness.
Resignation or Abandonment
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- Written by: Garrett Edwards
Matt. 5:13-16;
Rom. 6:8-14 audio (3MB)
Mark 12:28-13:2
Clip - King Arthur, start: 30:55, finish 32:03.
'Abandonment or Resignation', I came across this topic in my devotions one morning and it hit me pretty hard.
The question God confronted me with was this: am I abandoned to Him and His will for me or am I simply resigned to Him, my life unchanged, knowing he's there?
And that's the question I want to ask us today, its a question that I don't want to ask because I know that you can all look at me and know what my answer was...is... And every time I ask myself this question I'm met with disappointment as my answer really doesn't reflect where I know I should be.
Series: 40: Parables of the Kingdom
- Details
- Written by: Chris Appleby
Parables of the Kingdom
|
The Sower |
Matt 13:1-9; 18-23 |
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The Weeds |
Matt 13:24-30;36-43 |
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The Mustard Seed and the Yeast |
Matt 13:31-35 |
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The Treasure & The Pearl & The Net |
Matt 13:44-52 |
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The Unmerciful Servant |
Matt 18:21-35 |
