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Category Archives: Sermons
Sermon: Righteous Anger
This week many people, particularly women, have expressed anger. Before condemning this anger, or dismissing those who are demanding change from Australian institutions as a ‘mob’, let us remember today’s gospel story and Jesus’ outrageous, zealous, righteous anger in the Temple. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged anger, John 2:13-22, Lent, Lent 3, Politics, rape, sexual abuse, sexual assault
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Sermon: Nothing will make God give up on us
Whenever we feel at our most alone, we can have faith that God is with us, because Jesus entered the wilderness ahead of us. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged creation, creation story, Creator, Flood, Genesis 9:8-17, Lent, Lent 1, love, Mark 1:9-15, noah, Temptation
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Sermon: Living in the face of death
I am almost sure that this was not what the writer of the books of Kings intended, but for me today’s story is a parable about love in the face of death. When everything tells us to turn back, not to take the hard journey of love, if we have the courage to continue to love we see a revelation of God. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged 2 Kings 2:1-12, covid19, death, Elijah, Elisha, Mark 9:2-9, Transfiguration
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Sermon: Putting one foot in front of the other
Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church 7th of February 2021 Isaiah 40:21-31 Psalm 147 Mark 1:29-39 We woke up on Thursday morning to a new case of community transmission in Victoria. The covid19 journey is truly a wild rollercoaster of … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Babylonian Exile, C. S. Lewis, covid19, Freedom, healing, Isaiah 40:21-31, Mark 1:29-39, patience
3 Comments
Sermon: Freedom, love, covid19 … and Margaret Court
Commentators from outside Melbourne were appalled that we were willing to follow such draconian rules and accused us of having Stockholm Syndrome. It was not Stockholm Syndrome. It was love. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Apostle Paul, covid19, Freedom, love, Margaret Court, Mark 1:21-28, religious freedom
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Sermon: When God is a comedian
There aren’t many books of the Bible that are laugh-out-loud funny, but the Book of Jonah is one of them. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Book of Jonah, Comedy, Day of Mourning, God's Universalism, Prophet Jonah
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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
1 Comment
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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