Sermon Notes

The Good Shepherd
Date: 04.07.10
Theme: N/A
Title: The Good Shepherd
Message: Vic Heyward
Text: John 10: 11 - 18, Acts 4: 8 - 12, Psalm 118: 1, 8 - 9, 21 - 29, 1 John 3: 1 - 2

Summary:

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
Message: Domenique Godfrey (Meyrick)
Theme: Faith
Title: The Parable of the Two Sons
Text: Matthew 21:28-31 (NIV)

Summary:
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

Theme N/A

Title Great Church Fights

Text Revelations 7: 13 - 17

Summary:

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
Message: Harley Kitchen

Theme:   The person of the Holy Spirit
Title:    The Holy Spirit
Text:   Acts 2: 29-33, 38+39

Summary:

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”...

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: 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.

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.