Sermon Notes

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A Journey for Nic deciding What really Matters
Date : 19.12.2010
Speaker : Vic Heyward
Nicodemus seeks Jesus' out at night away from the crowds and title and role as a leading Pharisee. So it is at night when things slow down and the deeper questions come to the surface. We could call this his defining moment as he grapples with what he hears from this young revolutionary Rabbi. Of all the Biblical characters I think he provides us with his own insights for Advent and the faith journey.


Baptism Sunday Date : 5.12.2010 Speaker : Harley Kitchen Notes to come


Mission Date : 28.11.2010 Speaker : Peter & Prue Smith Notes to come

Responsibility of the Church
Date : 14.11.2010
Speaker : Bryce McDowell
Text : Galatians 5: 19-26
God wants to restore all of creation. He wants to restore our relationship to creation, our relationship to others, and our relationship to him. We are quite aware that our world is full of fractured and broken relationships. So, we must find what is at the heart of relationships and let what we find be our foundation. Trust is the key to any relationship, and is the foundation. And ultimately what you put your trust in will dictate what your relationships will look like.

Accepting Acceptance
Date : 7.11.2010
Speaker : Matt Cutler
Matt looked at the deeply transformative experience of being accepted and it’s vital place in the make up of community. However, he also attempted to explore the challenge and cost of accepting in the way Jesus did – unconditionally.

Two or Three questions for further reflection/study
· How good am I at offering true acceptance – in an unconditional and Christ-like way?
· What are some of my barriers that prevent true acceptance?
· In what ways can I offer better acceptance...

Choosing to Fit
Date : 31.10.2010
Speaker : Ruth Kitchen
Four events or situations in the earthly life of Jesus are explored, as we looked at Jesus as He made life choices. Discussed were Jesus as a 12 year-old staying behind in Jerusalem, Jesus as a 30 year-old leaving his home to commence His ministry, Jesus and His encounter with the Samaritan woman and Jesus as He faced the Cross. In all these situations, are found many challenges as to how we choose to live.

Where Do I Belong
Date : 24.10.2010
Speaker : Richard Galbraith
Text : Daniel 1:1-17
What Matters Series
Richard begins the ‘What Matters?’ section on ‘Community’ and asks the question, “Where do I belong?” It’s a big question that most of us ask ourselves from time to time. Most of us need to belong to someone, to some place. Richard looks at the story of Daniel, a young man who was uprooted from his home, faith community, country and culture. What mattered most to this man of faith? Where, and to whom, did he really belong?

Relief and Recovery
Date : 17.10.2010
Speaker : Rob Williams
" Never become so academic as to ignore/delete the extra-ordinary", were some key words that Rev Rob Williams spoke at T.L.C., as he shared his experience of Chronic Depression and an associated debilitating illness. "As I look back, I realise that I had been living with depression for a lot longer than I thought" Rob said. He spoke about the trauma of finding some relief and recovery, and though still not totally past his illness, he was able to point to some of the things that have helped him...


Vic Heyward Date : 10.10.2010 Notes to come


Jim Stallard Date : 03.10.2010 Notes to come

Brokenness
Date : 27.09.10
Speaker: Vic Heyward
Text: Job 3: 1 - 10

We are presently journeying through our theme "What Matters" and the present sub heading is "When Nothing Matters". We begin with a general overview of Job's story. He is God's golden hair boy and the devil reckons he's overrated so the testing begins. The book of Job is a monumental piece of literature of ancient and arguably modern time. It really does have something to say to all of us.

During the message we have an interview with Rick & Jenni Leitner, they have had a really tough year and they have personally experienced what it means to discuss our theme "What Matters".

Richard Galbraith
Sunday, 19.09.2010
Notes to come

Paul & Barnabas Separate
Date: Sunday 12.09.10
Speaking: Vic Heyward
Text Acts 15: 36 - 41

These 2 gentlemen (blokes) Paul & Barnabas have a blue, argument; they had opposing views so much so they weren’t reconcilable.

Barnabas was ready to give John Mark another chance. Paul was not. Who was right? Or were both of them wrong? It clearly became uncomfortable, awkward.

How do we respond when we have apposing points of view with those who are meant to be on the same page as us?

At the end of listening to this message:

1. In hindsight reflecting on the disagreements you've had in the past, how much of the pain, anxiety, was about our own stuff — insecurities and not about the issue at hand?

2. What is God saying to you about this text as you re read?

3. Create a quiet safe space reflect on those difficult and challenging disagreements, think about the good in other, those you feel tension with, ask the Holy Spirit to heal the hurt and help you reframe you view of them (seek healing).

"What matters in making and maintaining relationships"
Date: 29.08.2010
Speaking: Harley and Ruth Kitchen in dialogue
Reading: Luke 10:38-42

Accepting ourselves and others just as we are - vital first step.
Belonging - we need intimacy which is built on commitment, trust and openness (Nothing to prove, nothing to fear, nothing to hide)
Communicating - the lifeblood of a relationship. In the reading Mary sees Jesus' need to share the emotional burdens he's carrying.- time needs to be carved out of our busy lives for "talking and listening with a view to understanding". If differences, frustrations arise, take the problem from "between us" to "in front of us" so we can work on it together - and with the Lord's inspiration.

Title and notes to come
Date: 22.08.2010

Rob Coller

Potters Wheel
Date: 15.08.10
Speaker: Vic Heyward
Text: Jeremiah 18: 1 - 10

Today we refer to Jeremiah's experience and consequent message received at the hands of the Potter in his workshop.

Two great truths emerge for Jeremiah:

1. God has authority, and power, to form and fashion kingdoms and nations as he pleases. For Jeremiah its up to God not his people! As this would equate to the clay telling the potter what shape what form, what vessel they want to be.
2. There are some reference points, guidelines that Jeremiah gives us. He points us to justice and goodness. God will look for openness, honesty, and accountability about there, (our) sin. The sincere conversion from the evil of sin gives hope from the consequence of sin, for the individual, for families, (in this setting) nations.
We explore the theme of "What Matters" and the formational stuff in our lives, Jeremiah's experience constantly point us to new possibilities regardless of the difficult circumstance and stuff that happens, moulding, shaping, changing are key words that come to mine as we look at this text.

Today's message includes a conversation with Vicki Cameron who knows all to well what it means to live with physical and traumatic experiences. Yet she has been able to find God afresh, expereince Christ anew within her challengers. A powerful journey and story, we hear from Vicki "What really Matters" for her through all she has been through.

What Matters – Finding God in the Midst
Date: 8th August 2010
Speaker: Richard Galbraith

As we embark on the ‘What Matters’ series, Richard discusses finding God in the midst of our lives. Do we find God or does God find us? Two things that really matter are to know that we are not alone, and to hear God’s voice. Richard shares stories of Christians living under persecution and how they found God. And he looks back to the days of the great prophet Elijah, who lived at a time when God’s people were under great threat. Elijah’s experience of finding God in the cave on Mount Horeb has much to say about the things that really matter.

Sunday, 1 August 2010

Matt Cutler

Title and notes to come

Sunday, 25 July 2010
Rikk E. Watts - Professor, New Testament - Regent College
Sermon notes to come.

Bio on Rikk at Regent College www.regent-college.edu/about_regent/faculty/watts_rikk.html

The Good Shepherd
Date: 04.07.10
Speaker: Vic Heyward
Text: John 10: 11 - 18, Acts 4: 8 - 12, Psalm 118: 1, 8 - 9, 21 - 29, 1 John 3: 1 - 2

As we commission 3 new Elders today we take a look at the challenges that go with the role of servant leadership. The image of "The Good Shepherd" is very powerful and has always been apart of Jews understanding of their relationship with God. Jesus builds on this image as he contrasts himself to the Pharisees as the God's appointed Shepherd and the Pharisees clearly were the hired hands who had failed the people of Israel.

Questions/Reflections

- From our discussion today what do we understand about servant leadership?
- Reflect on the way Jesus exhibits servant leadership.
- When do we exhibit servent leadership in our lives?

Today is the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary time
Date: 27.06.10
Speaker: Domenique Godfrey (Meyrick)
Theme: Faith
Title: The Parable of the Two Sons
Text: Matthew 21:28-31 (NIV)

This response to the parable of the two sons looks at what faith means in ordinary times. It acknowledges that, like the first son, we do not always want to do the father’s will, but that we are asked to show fidelity none-the-less. The parable is directed towards the Pharisees, who fail to believe. Because it is Jesus who speaks the parable, its reproach and its call to fidelity can be understood as being grounded in love. An awareness of this love, and a commitment to living out of it, provides the foundation of our fidelity.

Great Church Fights
Date 20.06.10

Message Andy Callow

Text Revelations 7: 13 - 17

Leslie Flynn tells the story of a father who was in his study reading, and he heard a commotion outside of his window. It was his daughter who was playing with her friends. And it got louder and it got louder and more heated and more argumentative, until finally he could restrain himself no longer. He pushed the window open and said “Stop it. Honey, what’s wrong?” And after the reprimand she responded quickly, “But Daddy, we were just playing church”

We teach children that the Church is not the building but the people.

But it is more, much more, than any local faith community – and perhaps, even then our perspective is too small.

- Questions/Reflections

*Asking God to give you a love for His Church

*Repenting / turning away from judgementalism, let go of past grievances / church damage

*Forgive …. As you have been forgiven

The person of the Holy Spirit
Date: 13.06.10
Speaker: Harley Kitchen

Title: The Holy Spirit
Text: Acts 2: 29-33, 38+39

Jesus brought a completely new understanding of the Holy Spirit to us – calling it a “he” – and promising He would come to live within and among us. And He sure did!

Questions/Reflections

Strength and giftedness for Christian living and work, in loving relationship with God - I’m very glad of it….I mean “Him”...

Global Focus
Date: 16.05.10
Theme: Global Focus
Title: N/A
Message: Peter & Prue Smith
Text: 1 Thessalonians 1: 5

Summary:
In 1 Thessalonians 1: 5 “Our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake”

Words – The message of hope for salvation
Power, the Holy Spirit & Deep Conviction – The Holy Spirit has promised to work and will do so.
Deeds – Provide an authentic example of love in action

Interview with: Brett and Karen Prasser, Tajikistan and Afghan refugee advocates, Melbourne

Global Communion Prayer:
Today we share communion with 2 billion other Christians around the world. This includes 1 billion Catholics, 500 million Protestants and 225 million Orthodox believers.

We share communion with the 80% of these Christians who do not live in the West, and the 50% who do not have white skin.

We share communion with the 500 million who are being persecuted for their Christian faith – and with the 171,000 who are martyred each year for being Christians.

We share communion with the 28% of people in church in Australia this very day who were not born in Australia, and with the further 38% whose parents were not born here. We share communion with the indigenous peoples of our land who love and serve You.

We share communion with a world of diversity, colour, beauty and unity of belief in Jesus Christ – just the way you made it. We also share with a world of suffering, pain and rejection of Jesus Christ – whom we are called to reach out to.

We share communion with each other; with our talents and our failures; with our love and with our struggles; with our pasts and with our futures. We share this feast, just as our Lord commanded, until He comes again.

The Spirit of the Church
Date: 23.05.10
Message: By Matt Cutler
Theme: Pentecost
Title: The Spirit of the Church
Text: Acts 2:42-47 (NRSV)

Summary:
Matt shared his view and experience of the Holy Spirit - as an animating force that opens us to Christ and that draws us into connection with each other, with the needs of our world and with ourselves. It is this Spirit of God that opens our eyes!

Questions/reflection Questions:
What is your view of the Holy Spirit?
What are some struggles or difficulties you have with this topic?
In what ways have you experienced a shift in sight - your eyes being opened to something, to someone, to a need, to beauty, to the present moment?
Acts 2.42-47 = What stands out to you from this text, and what might the Spirit be challenging you to be more open to currently?

Global Focus
Date: 09.05.10
Theme: Global Focus
Title: Worldview
Message: Peter & Prue Smith
Text: N/A

Summary:
Different cultures around the world, and even sub-cultures within our own country have different worldviews that underlie the way we behave. Questions like, “What is reality?”, “What is human?”, “What is truth?”, What is society?”, What is time?”, and “What defines good and bad?” are underneath the way we think both consciously and subconsciously. We often deride behaviours in other cultures because we don’t understand the worldview assumptions behind it. Once we more carefully study how other people think, we find that there are often very valid views behind what might otherwise be perplexing behaviours and there are often important lessons we can learn. It is essential that we learn to understand and respect the cultural assumptions of other people if we are to communicate God’s love with compassion, respect and effectiveness.
Interview with: Peter and Robyn Brice – Phnom Phen, Cambodia and Laeila Burke, Thailand

Text for August 23rd - Luke 8 26-39

Questions:

What are our demons:

What are the voices we encounter, that derail a sense of home or belonging?
What voices drive us towards isolation – away from community?
What, in us, (be it our attitudes or behaviors), drive us towards places of death ... instead of places of life?
What are the voices which don’t let us acknowledge that we are loved – that we belong? The voices of contradiction in us.
Which voices keep us under guard ... and bound? (as the Demoniac's chains did in the passage)

Why is it so hard to name our demons?
Why is it important or helpful to do so?
Can you think of demons you have named and 'befriended' - that no longer have the same power of you?

What are our pigs:

What are your greatest barriers to reaching out to the fringes – to the places of mess, diversity, difference – to the other?
In what ways has diversity been a gift to you?
Those whom you struggle to love the most ... how might they be a gift to your own conversion? What might they teach you about yourselves, and about love?
What have been some places of 'mutual conversion' - places where you have both openly offered love, and found tremendous growth in the process?
Think about places, programs or people you could actively seek to love and listen to, which might extend your love, extend the kingdom of God, and break open your heart.

Pigs and Demons - Luke 8:26-39

Matt attempted to use this interesting story to explore two key questions for reflection: what might be our demons - the voices within us which drag us towards death and not life. And what are our pigs - the things which become barriers to us working with God in brining about healing and restoration.

The transcript in case people want it.