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Tag Archives: Year of Matthew
Combined Pentecost Service with Koonung Heights
today’s gospel story tells us that we have been commissioned by Jesus to publicly meddle. This often takes courage. There are always going to be people who, when Christians speak out for love and justice, will sneer and accuse us of being filled with the new wine of wowserism, do-gooding, or wokeness. We have seen how the current President of the United States, for instance, has responded to the Pope speaking up for peace. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Acts 2:1-21, bravery, breath, Christianity, combined service, commissioned, courage, faith, Holy Spirit, Jesus, John 20:19-23, KHUC, Koonung Heights Uniting, mission, Pentecost, Year of Matthew
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Sermon: Why persecution does not work on Christians
Posted in Sermons
Tagged 1 Peter 4:12-14 and 5:6-11, Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, Bible, Christian persecution, Christianity, Easter 7, Ecumenical Patriarch, ecumenism, faith, Fourth Crusade, god, Jesus, John 17:1-11, Persecution of Christians, Pope Leo, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Year of Matthew
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Sermon: The futility of war and the peace of Christ
Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church Easter 4, 26 April 2026 1 Peter 2:19-25 John 10:1-10 ‘When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but he entrusted himself to the one who … Continue reading
Sermon: The God of Israel? The God of the USA? The Father of Jesus Christ is the God of the whole world and all creation.
We do know that Jesus’ interpretation to them of the things that had been written about himself in all the scriptures would show them that he was the one to redeem Israel, but in another way entirely. Jesus was not merely ‘a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,’ although he was that. He is the Messiah who suffers and enters his glory. The crucifixion was not a tragic mistake, but a sign of God’s love. God’s power is not shown in violence against the nations; in the crucifixion God does not redeem Israel alone but the whole creation. Continue reading
Sermon: Jesus’ advantage over Genghis Khan
We are followers of Jesus Christ, not Genghis Khan, and we know that evil can never finally and fully defeat good, no matter what temporary victories it may seem to win. So let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing, for the Lord is living, death has lost its sting! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Continue reading
Sermon: Was Jesus a violent or a peaceful protester?
The role of those buying and selling in the temple was necessary and natural. Worshippers needed to change money with the head of the Roman emperor on it for money without it to make offerings; the poor and lepers and women needed to buy doves to be sacrificed. More than that, the entire economy of Jerusalem depended on pilgrims coming to the temple at festivals and spending their money in the city. Modern politicians know that nothing can get the people offside faster than a cost-of-living crisis; that it is always ‘the economy, stupid,’ to quote Bill Clinton’s campaign. Jesus is challenging the religious and economic status quo. Within the week, those who found the status quo comfortable fought back. Continue reading
Posted in Political Activism, Sermons
Tagged Bible, Canon Eric James, Christianity, faith, ICCPR, Jesus, law, Palm Sunday, Palm Sunday March for Refugees, political protest, protest, protests, Year of Matthew
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Sermon: Pearls before swine?
Brendan Byrne puts it this way, ‘only a person who has come to genuine self-knowledge and appreciation of his or her own weakness is qualified to set about fraternal correction’. We must remember that with the judgement we make we will be judged, and the measure we give will be the measure we get, so our judgements must be truthful, loving, and without self-righteousness. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Bible, Christianity, faith, god, Jesus, judgement, judgment, kingdom of heaven, Leviticus 19:9-18, Matthew 7:1-12, pearls before swine, prayer, Sermon on the Mount, Year of Matthew
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Sermon: Birds of the air and lilies of the field
I believe that God sends us angels, messengers of love, if our eyes are open to them. I have heard from members of this congregation of the times when they have needed to be reminded of the power of love that is at the core of the universe, reminded that the world is full of well-meaning people who are willing to help others, and the love and care they have needed have materialised. One of my greatest joys as a minister is when someone tells me that I have been that angel for them, when God has used me in all my frailty and faultiness to reveal love. I am sure that if you think about it, there have been times when you received the word or the sign or the care that you desperately needed at that moment. I am also sure that there have been times when God has used you to give that word or that sign or that care to someone else. We are not alone in this universe. Our lives are entwined with one another, and it is God who weaves us together. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged hunger, Julian of Norwich, Leviticus 26:3-13, love, Matthew 6:16-34, providence, Sermon on the Mount, Year of Matthew
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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
Posted in Political Activism, Sermons
Tagged civil disobedience, Deuteronomy 24:1-4, Erica Chenoweth, Leviticus 19:17-18 24:17-21, Maria J. Stephens, Matthew 5:27-48, non-violent resistance, Pace e Bene, protests, Sermon on the Mount, The Brick Bible, Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict, Year of Matthew
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Rev Doc Geek 