Tag Archives: Sermon on the Mount
Sermon: Being perfect?
We know a campaign has truly succeeded when those who had nothing to do with it, and even those who condemned it, pretend that they were on the right side all along. The campaign against apartheid in South Africa is a perfect example. Few people nowadays will boast that they opposed boycotts of all-white sporting teams, but, at the time, most people condemned those annoying, unwashed professional protesters interfering with the God-given right of Australians to watch a good game of rugby. Continue reading
Sermon: The sweetness of the law, the saltiness of the prophets
The first antithesis deals with the most basic commandment of the law, the one with which no one, whether Jewish, Christian, of another faith or none, could argue – you shall not murder. Easy. I do not imagine that many preachers spend much time convincing congregation members that committing murder is a bad thing to do, although if any of you are thinking of doing it, please let me know. Continue reading
Sermon: Welcome, James!
We are currently living in what can only be described as ‘interesting times’ and so what I want to talk about tonight is the role that we all have as Christians to be light and salt in a world that seems increasingly dangerous. Continue reading
Sermon: Living out the Sermon on the Mount
The UN Charter says that its aim is to ‘reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small’. But as historian Tom Holland points out: ‘That human beings have rights; that they are born equal; that they are owed sustenance, and shelter and refuge from persecution: these were never self-evident truths.’ They are Christian truths. They are the truths we see in the Sermon on the Mount. Continue reading
Sermon: Calling and character
It is as citizens of the kingdom that Jesus’ disciples will be enabled to live in the way that he will outline in the great block of teaching that we call the Sermon on the Mount, to which we will listen over the next eight weeks. Continue reading
Christmas Day: Making room for Jesus
Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church Christmas Day 2025 Luke 2:1-20 A few weeks ago, I was at a service of Lessons and Carols where I heard a new Christmas Song. This does not often happen to me, at least … Continue reading
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
Sermon: Salt and Light
We often worry that as churches get smaller we can no longer answer God’s call to us, that we can no longer serve God as God desires. But Jesus is calling us to be salt, and a small amount of salt can change the flavour of an entire dish; Jesus is calling us to be light, and one lamp on a lampstand can give light to an entire house. Continue reading
Sermon: The unfashionable virtue of obedience
Of course we cannot be perfect, as our Father in heaven is perfect. But every time we try to be better, every time we could call another Christian, ‘You fool’, or objectify someone by looking at them with lust in our hearts, and yet we don’t – we come closer to being the people God created us to be. Continue reading
Sermon: Rabble Rousing Riff Raff
“Will we be extremists for hate or for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice – or will we be extremists for the cause of justice? ” Continue reading
Rev Doc Geek 