How do we manage holiness and forgiveness? In Jesus’ day that was the business of the Jerusalem Temple. On Palm Sunday we looked at how Jesus began his Jerusalem ministry by disrupting life and business at the Temple in its business of being a holy place and providing forgiveness. In this message we see the Temple as representative of religion and Jesus’…
After 800 years or so of trying it seemed the covenant relationship between the Lord God and his people Israel was over. At this deep point God commits to upgrading his covenant commitment to his people and advertises that Covenant 2.0 will come. Are you living in Covenant 2.0? This is what Jesus established and…
On the 3rd Sunday in Lent Francis considered the disciple’s response to the Commands of God set out in the 10 Commandments. Why might we obey them? Are all responses satisfactory or might there be a right and a wrong way to comply?
This week Francis continued looking at Baptism to build understanding. He considered it in relation to koinonia-fellowship before linking it to communion. The message: Baptism marks, signs and seals one in the koinonia-fellowship of Christ’s church and communion feeds and sustains one in the koinonia-fellowship.
On the first Sunday in Lent Francis considered baptism. Why did Jesus institute a baptism for all disciples? How was this unique? How is this different from all the reasons leading people to seek baptism for their children today? What is wise baptismal practice for parents wanting to raise their children as disciples?
This sermon continues following Jesus’ launch of his Kingdom Gospel ministry in Mark’s Gospel. It opens up a kingdom perspective on why Jesus does what he does and from there considers how we may join him in that.
In the second of three messages learning from Jesus’ declaration of the Kingdom in Mark’s Gospel, Francis seeks to learn from the first Kingdom incident arising from where Jesus went to Sabbath Day worship. In Mark’s Gospel the confrontation between Kingdoms breaks out early and this has much to teach us. Read on if you…
After weeks of Christmas and Epiphany we finally hear Jesus speak. In one sentence he brings the Gospel of God that he bears as the Son of God. This is considered as Jesus being ‘The Way’ we are called to be and live to realise God’s Kingdom Come.
Isaiah prophesied that God’s purpose was to shine on his people so that they might glow for all peoples as pilot-guides or representatives of God’s saving work in the deepening darkness. That is the frame through which Matthew tells the story of the Magi and the economy he calls his people to flow in. This…
In the midst of a hot dispute with people countering his gospel Paul outlines the shape and purpose of the gospel in cultural/legal terms of redemption and adoption to describe God’s purpose of bringing his children to maturity as heirs of what he has prepared for all in Christ. Christmas is central to this as Christ is born so we might be…