In Sermons: showing 1-15 of 486

Surviving The Education System Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Mar 11, 2017

Daniel knows that God is in control. This chapter reminds us that no matter where we are, even in the darkest place, God is still in control. God cares and God wants us to live faithfully to him. Will we have the courage to stand up like Daniel does?

(Sermon by Rev George Hemmings) There’s lots to be excited by in the book of Daniel. Daring stories of young men standing up to mad kings. Fiery furnaces, strange dreams of statues and trees, men turning into beasts, hands appearing out of nowhere writing on walls, let alone Daniel being ...read more

Scripture: Daniel 1:1-21

Denomination: Anglican

Last Things Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Mar 11, 2017

John's gospel ends, leaving us reassured in our faith, so we can pray for leaders at all levels in church – that they humbly serve their flocks, and we can all re-fix our eyes on Jesus in love, and follow him, relieved of distracting comparisons.

Sermon by Rev Ruth Newmarch You know how in some movies, the music tells you the end has come, but sometimes the ending has been so dramatic, that you are still taking it in...the implications and emotions are swirling around the audience. Then credits start to roll, but the director has added in ...read more

Scripture: John 21:1-25

Denomination: Anglican

Christ Is Risen Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Mar 11, 2017

John wants us to believe. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”’ (John 11) The question is do you believe?

Sermon by Rev George Hemmings Before I begin this morning, there’s a little tradition that goes with Easter Sunday called the Easter Acclamation, or the Paschal greeting. Basically one person says ‘Christ is Risen,’ and then the response is, ‘He is Risen indeed!’ Given some of us might be a bit ...read more

Scripture: John 20:1-31

Denomination: Anglican

Good Friday Meditation 2014 Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Mar 11, 2017

Four Episodes from John's account of the Passion, including four sonnets by Malcolm Guite - Jesus is Condemned to Death; Jesus is stripped of his garments; Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross; Jesus is laid in the tomb.

[All Sonnets are from "Sounding the Seasons ; seventy Sonnets for the Christian Year", by Malcolm Guite, Canterbury Press 2012. Used with permission - https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/tag/good-friday/] 1. Jesus is Condemned to Death - Sonnet 1 John 18:19-24; John 18:28-38 The ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

The Prayer Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 5, 2017

Jesus' prayer affirms his obedience to the Father; the father's glorification; the revelation of God in Jesus Christ; the choosing of the disciples; their unity; and the promise that their final destiny is to share in the glory of the Father

The Prayer of Jesus audio (5MB) John 17:1-26 The moment of Jesus arrest, trial and execution is fast approaching. Jesus has finished his teaching of the disciples. The hour has come. His work on earth is complete. So complete in fact that he can say with confidence at the end of ch16: "33Take ...read more

Scripture: John 17:1-26

Denomination: Anglican

Hope For The Future Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 5, 2017

Jesus gives his disciples hope. A sure, certain promise for the future. He’s telling them that their pain will turn to joy.

Sermon by Rev George Hemmings I wonder how you felt last night as you were winding your clocks back? As you contemplated how great an extra hour of sleep would be. After I’d adjusted the clock on the oven, and the microwave, after Sarah fixed the clock-radio by our bed, as we thought about ...read more

Scripture: John 16:16-33

Denomination: Anglican

Opposition And The Work Of The Spirit Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 5, 2017

It's Jesus' final evening with his disciples, empty dishes are on the table, feet have been washed, and one of them has gone. But two things have kept recurring in Jesus' conversation. He's leaving. And they must remain connected to the Holy Spirit.

Sermon by Rev Ruth Newmarch After the happiness of Steph and Nic's wedding yesterday, its hard to hear about suffering for our faith. But if you think about it, hardship is mentioned even in the wedding service, 'for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health...'. In today's passage, it is ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

The Vine And The Branches Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 5, 2017

We’re called not as servants, but as friends of Christ to bear much fruit to the glory of God. To do that we’ll need to be firmly grafted into the life of Christ and the life of his Church; we’ll need to be committed to obeying him in everything we do.

Today is the first anniversary of the opening of St Thomas’. A lot’s happened in the last year hasn’t it? We’ve had a number of people join us. We’ve seen lots of new programs starting up, taking advantage of these great facilities. It makes you feel good to be part of ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-17

Denomination: Anglican

The Promise Of The Spirit Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 5, 2017

The Holy Spirit is given to all who love Jesus Christ, to empower us for his work, to teach us all things, and to give us a real and lasting peace in the knowledge that Jesus has overcome the world.

It seems to me that there are 2 issues that Christians face today that Jesus addresses here in this passage. The first is the question as to how we’re rating as a Christian. That is are we good enough for God to be happy with us? Are we good enough that God would listen to our prayers? How ...read more

Scripture: John 14:15-31

Denomination: Anglican

The Source Of True Comfort Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 5, 2017

Jesus preparies the disciples for his imminent departure. The final betrayal has begun and the Cross is inevitable. ll that remains is to prepare the disciples for what’s coming.

Sermon by Rev George Hemmings Sarah & I have learnt that we need to give our boys Micah and Joshua plenty of warning before we leave somewhere, especially if they’re having a good time. If we try to just say, ‘OK, it’s time to go,’ without any warning, they’re ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

True Leadership Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 5, 2017

Jesus is a true leader. He’s got followers. He’s got a great vision of the future. He knows his hour has come, the hour for the Son of Man to be glorified. And Jesus is forward thinking

Sermon by Rev George Hemmings I wonder what you think a leader looks like? We asked that question at the CLAY small group on Friday night. Actually we asked people to draw a typical leader, and their qualities, and this is what we got. I wonder how that matches up to your ideas of a leader? I ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-30

Denomination: Anglican

The Time Has Come Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 5, 2017

Turning to Christ involves repenting of sins, rejecting selfish living and all that is unjust, renouncing Satan and all evil. It’s living every day as a disciple of Christ, loving God with our whole heart, and our neighbour as our self, until life's end.

Sermon by Rev George Hemmings ‘1, 2, 4, 7, 9, Here we come.’ That’s how my sons, Micah and Joshua, like to count down when we play hide and seek. There’s usually not much time to get ready! Actually every time they count down differently. One moment they’re ...read more

Scripture: John 12:20-50

Denomination: Anglican

The Anointed King Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 5, 2017

Mary gave up a lot to show her love for Jesus. It can be costly to be a disciple. To come before God the Father without fear, with our sins removed wiped clean to live forever in his presence far outweighs anything we might give up out of our love for him

We were discussing in our staff meeting this week the question of how you decide what to leave in your will, and to whom, when you die. As I was thinking about that I wondered how many of us have ever sat down and thought about what our priorities are in life; and when we come to write a will, to ...read more

Scripture: John 12:1-19

Denomination: Anglican

The Raising Of Lazarus Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jan 29, 2017

Jesus is the resurrection and the life because he’ll pass through death to life as the first fruits of the resurrection from the dead. Those who die in him will rise in him. Those who believe in him, even though they die, will live and will never die.

How are you at reading the signs? I don’t mean street signs or advertising signs, I mean the signs of God’s kingdom? Over the last few months we’ve been looking at how John draws out sign after sign from Jesus’ life; signs of who Jesus is and signs of what he came to do; ...read more

Scripture: John 11:1-45

Denomination: Anglican

Jesus The Good Shepherd Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Jan 23, 2017

Jesus says he is the good shepherd, the one who’s come to lay his life down for the sheep.

Sermon by the Rev George Hemmings I wonder how close you’ve ever come to a sheep? Is it only the lamb chops that you ate yesterday on Australia day? Or have you seen one in a painting or on TV? Maybe you’ve touched one at a petting zoo, or a children’s farm? What kind of ...read more

Scripture: John 10:1-42

Denomination: Anglican