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Category Archives: Sermons
Reflection: Bad theology is dangerous
‘The mob carried signs and flag declaring ‘Jesus Saves!’ and ‘God, guns & guts made America, let’s keep all three’. Some were participants in the Jericho March, a gathering of Christians to “pray, march, fast, and rally for election integrity.”’ Bad theology can lead people to storm the Capitol Building, trying to overturn the results of a democratic election. Continue reading
Posted in Political Activism, Sermons
Tagged 1 Samuel 3:1-20, Attempted coup, bad theology, Capitol Building, Eli, Hophni, Phinehas, university of Divinity, USA
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Reflection: Chaos and Creation
As Australians watching, we need to celebrate those striving for justice and condemn those fighting to overturn a democratic election. And we need to ensure that in our own country, we do the same; that as part of the Australian community we are on the side of love and justice. Because that is the side of God. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged baptism, Baptism of Jesus, elections, Genesis 1:1-5, John the Baptist, Mark 1:4-11, Martin Luther King, Psalm 29, Raphael Warnock, USA, Year of Mark
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Reflection: The light still shines
Let those of us who can join the shepherds, and glorify and praise God for all we have heard and seen. But to those who are still living in deep darkness, I offer you this small light: the God who loves you is always with you. May you know that you are held in God’s loving embrace, today and always. Amen. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Christmas, covid19, Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-20, nativity, pandemic, Psalm 96
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Reflection: Fighting on God’s Side
It is because we know that God has shown strength with his arm; has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; has brought down the powerful from their thrones; has lifted up the lowly; has filled the hungry with good things; has sent the rich away empty. And so we keep fighting on God’s side. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged asylum seekers, Elizabeth, immigration detention, injustice, Justice, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 1:46-55, Magnificat, Martin Luther King, Mary, refugees
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Reflection: Rejoice!
One hundred and six years earlier Charles Dickens wrote of the reborn Scrooge, who had become ‘as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew,’ that ‘it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge’. Keeping Christmas well does not just mean rejoicing ourselves, as the prophet Isaiah reminds us. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Advent, Advent 3, Gaudete Sunday, Isaiah 61:1-4 8-11, Joy, Psalm 126, Third Isaiah
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Reflection: Called to make peace
Perhaps this year, 2020, is the year when comfortable middle-class Australians like me are most aware that the grass withers and the flowers fade and that we, human beings, are grass. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Advent, Advent 2, Isaiah, Isaiah 40:1-11, Isaiah 85: 1-2 8-13, Mark 1:1-8, Peace
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Reflection: Hope at the End of the World
Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting ChurchAdvent One, 29th of November 2020 Isaiah 64:1-9Mark 13:24-37 Happy New Year! And to those of you here, in the nave, welcome back to worshipping in the church building after months of lockdown. In previous … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Advent, Advent 1, apocalypse, Apocalyptic, eschaton, Isaiah 64:1-9, Mark 13:24-37, second coming
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Reflection: This is what it all comes down to
We human beings have a propensity for selfishness and exploitation. We naturally tend to care most about ourselves and those close to us, and least about those out of our sight. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Christ the King, John Wesley, Last Judgement, Matthew 25:31-46, money, The Reign of Christ, wealth
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Reflection: Being extremists
we, like Jesus, can live lives that are daring and risky and open to change and new possibilities, because we, too, know that God is not the harsh master of the third slave’s fearful imagining Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged eschaton, Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King, Matthew 25:14-30, Parable of the Talents, parables, Parousia
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Reflection: Being wise, not foolish; wheat, not weeds
As I watch the American election and see Christians acting in ways that I think mark them as weeds, goats, or foolish bridesmaids, Matthew reminds me to leave judgement to God. Continue reading
