Tag Archives: Lent 3

Sermon: The Ten Words

And if we struggle to believe that in God’s sight we are ‘precious and lovely’, then be assured: the day will come when ‘we shall really understand what [God] means in these sweet words where he says, “All shall be well, and you shall see for yourself that all manner of things shall be well.”’ Continue reading

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Sermon: A woman at a well

Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church Third Sunday of Lent, 12th of March 2023 John 4:5-42 Today’s story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well is one of my favourite stories in the entire Bible, with one of … Continue reading

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Sermon: Don’t blame the victim

Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting ChurchThird Sunday of Lent, 20th of March, 2020 Isaiah 55:1-9Luke 13:1-9 Humans have a dreadful tendency, in our need to make sense of life, to blame victims. We tend to see it when a woman … Continue reading

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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

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Sermon: Who is welcome? Foreigners and women

Why is the story read this way? Because if this is not the story of a mincing and coy harlot who is trying to distract Jesus from her sins, then what we have here is a story of Jesus seriously engaging with a foreign woman who asks a theological question. Continue reading

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Sermon: When bad things happen

We live in a world in which, sadly, bad things do happen to good people. Continue reading

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Sermon: Absolutely Appropriate Anger

At the very least, when young people facing the injustice of the world express anger at that injustice, even in language we much more mature people find intemperate, we could attack the injustice and not them. Continue reading

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Sermon: Contra prosperity gospel

Our repentance will not always be pleasant. Sometimes it may be profoundly unpleasant and even a bit smelly. Continue reading

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Sermon: A hen in a world of foxes

… we live in a world full of foxes, and sometimes we desire more protection than a mother hen can offer. Continue reading

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