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Category Archives: Sermons
Reflection: At sea in a storm
Reflection for Western Heights Uniting Church August 9, 2020 Matthew 14:22-33 The church has from its very beginning been considered metaphorically to be a boat. This is unsurprising when we consider that Jesus’ first followers were fishermen and that the … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Apostle Peter, boats, covid19, Fear, Matthew 14:22-33, Saint Augustine, sea, ships
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Reflection: Wrestling with God
Reflection for Western Heights Uniting Church 2nd of August, 2020 Genesis 32:22-31 I am writing this reflection on the day when the Victorian government announced that more than 723 Victorians had tested positive for Covid19, the highest daily count since … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Genesis 32:22-31, wrestling with God, Apostle Paul, Jurgen Moltmann, Jacob
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Reflection: Comfort during Covid19
Contrary to the theology of the wackier fringe churches we do not believe that our faith will keep us safe from the Covid19 dangers faced by others, any more than their faith in God protected Jesus or Paul from execution by the Romans. Continue reading
Reflection: The children of God
We are not just children of God; we are co-heirs with Christ. Everything that is his is ours. We could not be more important or have a higher status in the world than this. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Apostle Paul, creation, Letter to the Romans, new creation, prosperity gospel, Romans 8:12-25, suffering
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Reflection: THIS is who we are
when we make mistakes, when the evil we do not want is what we do, we are still, always, no matter what, God’s children Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Apostle Paul, Brene Brown, identity, Letter to the Romans, love, Romans 8:1-11, Year of Matthew
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Sermon: We are not what we do
If we keep the difference between shame and guilt in mind as we read today’s Bible passage, we can see that Paul is talking about guilt, about his behaviour, about his own actions, not about his identity. Continue reading
Reflection: We are good enough
We are the beloved children of God, made in the image of God, those for whom Jesus demonstrated his love by dying for us – of course we are always enough! Continue reading
Reflection: Choosing the Gospel
Reflection for Western Heights 21st of June, 2020 Matthew 10:24-39 and Refugee Week I have to confess that the Gospel according to Matthew is my least favourite. (For those interested, my ranking of the canonical gospels is Luke, John, Mark, … Continue reading
Posted in Political Activism, Sermons
Tagged #LoveMakesAWay, Matthew 10:24-39, Refugee Week, Year of Matthew
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Reflection: The Trinity (why it’s a very cool doctrine)
the doctrine of the Trinity reminds us that God is in God’s very self a community of love. And since we are made in God’s image we too are made to exist in community Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Dorothy L. Sayers, Jurgen Moltmann, The Crucified God, trinity, Trinity Sundey
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Reflection: Pentecost demands Reconciliation
History reminds us that, sadly, when the church preached the gospel here in Australia it was often the furthest thing from ‘good news’. It was accompanied with racism, violence, and dispossession. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Acts 2:1-21, Bringing Them Home, Covenant, Pentecost, reconciliation, Reconciliation Week
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