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- Sermon: The futility of war and the peace of Christ
- Sermon: The God of Israel? The God of the USA? The Father of Jesus Christ is the God of the whole world and all creation.
- Sermon: Jesus’ advantage over Genghis Khan
- Sermon: Was Jesus a violent or a peaceful protester?
- Sermon: It is not going to make us any friends
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Author Archives: Avril Hannah-Jones
Reflection: Genocide and the Crucified God
In Jesus we see the God who is willing to serve, to suffer and die for humanity. As we watch innocents suffer and die, as we feel helpless in the face of evil, the one thing of which we can be certain is that the God revealed in Jesus is suffering and dying with them. They are not alone. Continue reading
Sermon: Mark 10:17-31 and the Challenge of Wealth
Sadly, there is no evidence that there ever was a narrow gate in the walls of Jerusalem known as the Eye of the Needle, and no evidence of this interpretation of the passage until the ninth century. Nor does it help us to change one letter in the Greek word and turn a camel into a rope. This is not a saying about a camel trying to get through a gate or a rope being threaded through a needle. It is a saying about a camel trying to get through the eye of a needle, which is impossible. That is the point. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged eternal life, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:17-31, Poverty, The Little Gate, wealth, Year of Mark
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What does a good life look like? Reflection on James 3:1-12
We can do nothing about the misuse of Christianity in the USA. But here in our small corner of the world, in our small church, we can seek to live lives drawing on the wisdom from above that is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. Continue reading
The Power and Danger of Speech: Insights from James 3:1-12
The lie that Haitian immigrants are eating pets could be seen as funny. That is the way many people have taken it, you can already order t-shirts with Trump’s quote on them, although it is less funny when we think about the anti-immigrant hatred that prompts such lies. A much more dangerous lie, a lie that we know has sparked a fire, is the lie that Hamas beheaded forty Israeli babies on October 7, 2023. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Apostle Paul, Book of Proverbs, Donald Trump, Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiasticus, Gaza, James 3:1-12, Jonathan Swift, language, Letter of James, lies, misinformation, October 7, speech, truth, wisdom, wisdom literature
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The Importance of Faith in Action: Reflection on James 2:1-10, 14-17
In Greco-Roman culture honour was to be given to the rich and powerful. Our culture is the same. We too place praise and reward the rich, while ignoring the poor or blaming them for their poverty. There is a reason that the media recently reported on Gina Rinehart’s opinions about the curriculum taught in Australian schools and it is not because Ms Rinehart has any particular qualifications or expertise in education. Continue reading
Living the Word: Reflection on James 1:17-27
Over the next few weeks James is going to give us lots of advice. Scholars say that in the 108 verses and five chapters of this letter there are at least fifty commands. Some we will find easy; some difficult. I, for instance, am good at sharing what I have with the poor and dreadful at keeping my tongue still. You will have your own strengths and weaknesses. But James is absolutely certain that we can be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive ourselves, because our generous God has given us every perfect gift. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Eusebius, faith and works, good works, James 1:17-27, James the brother of Jesus, Letter of James
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Ephesians 6:10-20: The Armour of God and the Gospel of Peace
It is in its resistance to the forces of evil, its working for peace, its prayer for the community, that the church lives out its calling as the body of Christ. So, put on your military equipment, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Continue reading
Sermon: Ephesians 5:15-20 on being wisely drunk
I seldom sing in church because I cannot sing in tune, and I am afraid of putting the rest of you off. The only worship I have experienced where people have sung joyfully out of tune was at the World Council of Churches’ ecumenical institute in Switzerland. My African colleagues reminded me that the Psalms tell us to make a ‘joyful noise’ to the Lord, (Psalms 66:1, 95:1, 98:4, 100:1) not necessarily a tuneful noise. But, as I said earlier, my heritage is Scottish Presbyterian, not African, and I save singing lustily for the car or the shower. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged apartheid, community, Ephesians 5:15-20, John Wesley, music, Nazi Germany, Saint Augustine, worship, worship service
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Jesus’ Compassionate Ministry: Lessons from Mark 6 and Ephesians 2
While the needs of the world are great, and the church is called to imitate Jesus’ compassion, none of us is Jesus. Not even collectively is the church the Messiah. In today’s scenario, we are the Twelve, not Jesus, and we can take time to rest. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Act2, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6: 30-34 and 53-56, Refreshment, Rest, Uniting Church, uniting church in australia, unity, Year of Mark
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