In Sermons: showing 1-15 of 170

A Talent For The Ridiculous! Series

Contributed by David Smith on Apr 30, 2012

We’ve reached a familiar story in the book of Matthew – the parable of the talents.

It’s a parable I’ve known since my youth - one I am quite familiar with – and having been in this parish almost 21 years now, it’s one that I am reaching for the 7th time even since I’ve been here, which is why it is all the more astounding that I’ve never ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Why I’m Not A Hospital Chaplain

Contributed by David Smith on Mar 9, 2012

My colleague, Father Elias, began his sermon on the Sunday I was in hospital by saying.

My colleague, Father Elias, began his sermon on the Sunday I was in hospital by saying, “I think if it had appeared in the paper that a priest had threatened to beat up a fellow patient in a Sydney Hospital, the most common response would have been, ‘I didn’t know Dave was in hospital!’” I’ve ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

I Do Not Box As One Punching The Air!

Contributed by David Smith on Mar 2, 2012

Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. 25Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.

Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. 25Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. 26So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

“before I Was A Muslim I Was A Christian”

Contributed by David Smith on Feb 28, 2012

I had the privilege last Friday night of being back amongst my friends at the Imam Husain Islamic Centre where we met to grieve the death of the father of my dear friend, Sheikh Mansour Leghaei.

I had the privilege last Friday night of being back amongst my friends at the Imam Husain Islamic Centre where we met to grieve the death of the father of my dear friend, Sheikh Mansour Leghaei. And it was good to be back amongst those lovely people, and it was good to a part of the live Skype ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Another Miracle (Mark 1:29-39)

Contributed by David Smith on Feb 5, 2012

After they left the synagogue, they went directly to the house of Simon and Andrew, along with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed, sick with a fever, so they promptly told Jesus about her. He went up to her, took her by the hand, a

In fact, the whole city gathered at the door. He healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. However, he wouldn’t allow the demons to speak because they knew who he was. In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went to a deserted place and ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit Series

Contributed by David Smith on Feb 4, 2011

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they wil

We have as our Gospel reading this morning what is certainly one of the best known and best loved portions of the Bible. Along with 'The Lord is my Shepherd' and 'For God so love the world ...', these verses from the beginning of Matthew Chapter 5 must be amongst the most frequently quoted words ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Jesus' Best Joke? Series

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 2, 2010

Luke chapter 18: "Jesus told them another joke", we are told, "and He told this one to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and looked down on others." Did you hear the one about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector who wandered into the

Now I know I’m being a little free with my translation here. I know most translations say that Jesus told them a 'parable' rather than a 'joke', but I'm not the first person to suggest that 'joke' is actually a very good translation. # Did you here the one about the frog and the scorpion who were ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Joy Of Repetition! Series

Contributed by David Smith on Nov 2, 2010

..."In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himsel

Those who have visited Israel (and probably most of those who haven't) will have heard of the "Wailing Wall", which is part of the ancient city of Old Jerusalem, and located at the foot of the western side of the Temple Mount. This section of wall is the only surviving remnant of the ancient Temple ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:2-5

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Just Do It! Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 10, 2010

..."Will any one of you who has a servant ploughing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'? Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat an

I have not always been an Anglican! In my late teens - in the days following my rather dramatic conversion experience - I found myself gravitating naturally towards the more charismatic end of the church. Maybe it was because it was more youthful and energetic. Maybe it was because I felt at home ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Failure Of The Resurrection! Series

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 10, 2010

There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the

I don't know how many of you were at this year's annual 'Smith Lecture', but it was a good night - highly stimulating and intellectually challenging - and afterwards Ange and I got into a discussion over dinner where she made the comment that the older she got the more impressed she was at how ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

A 9/11 Sermon

Contributed by David Smith on Sep 28, 2010

Today is September 12th here in Sydney, which means that in the USA it is September 11th - around 4.30pm in the afternoon if you live on the West Coast and 7.30pm if you live on the East Coast, and somewhere in between those times if you live somewhere in

And you'll have to excuse me from departing from my normal format of simply focusing on one of our scheduled readings for today, as you'll have to forgive me for focusing on the anniversary of an event that took place nine years ago on the other side of the world and hence, some might suppose, had ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 32:9-14

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Life Without Rules

Contributed by David Smith on Aug 14, 2010

Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-ab

I’m struggling with Colossians this week - not with the ancient people of Colossae of course but with St Paul’s letter to the Colossians, and not with the whole letter either but with one word in one verse that really has me bamboozled: Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Jesus And The Starship Enterprise Series

Contributed by David Smith on Jul 22, 2010

And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs ...

Are you a Star Trek fan? Don't be embarrassed. I'm not going to make fun of you. Admittedly, I am not a Star Trek fan and, yes, I do recognise that Star Trek has a fan-base made up almost entirely of computer nerds and guys who really should have stopped reading comics by now BUT my mate Scottie ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:26-39

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Circumcision And Other Cutting Edge Issues Series

Contributed by David Smith on Jul 22, 2010

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcisio

Cicero's first rule of public speaking was, "render your audience benevolent". We preachers tend to follow that rule by opening our sermons with a joke. But what do you do when the passage you're preaching on includes a statement from St Paul such as the one we find in Galatians 5:12: "I wish that ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 5:1-12

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Be Tempted! Series

Contributed by David Smith on Mar 3, 2010

"And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him,

And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." And Jesus ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican