Tag Archives: suffering
Reflection: Genocide and the Crucified God
In Jesus we see the God who is willing to serve, to suffer and die for humanity. As we watch innocents suffer and die, as we feel helpless in the face of evil, the one thing of which we can be certain is that the God revealed in Jesus is suffering and dying with them. They are not alone. Continue reading
Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church Advent One, 3rd of December 2023 Isaiah 64:1-9 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:24-37 Happy New Year! Today, the first Sunday of Advent, the church is beginning both a new church year and a time … Continue reading
Sermon: Why I’m a fan of the Apostle Paul
In today’s short passage we have been told that we are all children of God and heirs of Christ; that suffering does not separate us from God, and most certainly is not a punishment from God; and that the non-human creation is just as important to the Creator as the human creation, and will one day ‘obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God’ together with us. Paul may sometimes have descended into the sexism of the society that surrounded him, and told women to be silent in church (1 Corinthians 14:34) but I am still a huge fan. Continue reading
Sermon: Faithful complaint
Job complains and accuses God of wrongdoing, but he does that because he believes in a God of justice. Job does not believe in a God who is indifferent to human suffering. If he did, there would be no reason for him to demand a confrontation with God 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
Sermon Against the Prosperity Gospel
Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, neither success nor failure, wealth nor poverty, health nor sickness, happiness nor despair. Continue reading
Sermon: Don’t accept injustice (Part 3)
The Book of Job is absolutely anti-prosperity gospel. The good are not always rewarded; the bad are not always punished. When people suffer and cry out to God our best response is not to defend God and tell them that God has a plan. Continue reading
Sermon: Don’t accept injustice (Part 2)
Job complains and accuses God of wrongdoing, but he does that because he believes in a God of justice. Continue reading
Sermon: Don’t accept injustice!
The other point I want to make is that Job’s wife is a hero. Continue reading
Sermon: Merited and unmerited suffering
History shows us too many times when Christians have utterly failed to do good. Let’s never add to that history by doing evil. Continue reading
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