St Paul's Box Hill Podcasts

Today is All Saints Day. We remember with gratitude the live of all those in whose footsteps we walk, especially those who showed us the face of God in their lives and actions. And we hear what the apostle John received as a vision for the churches, and what message this still carries for us today. (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/ZNxbwKMFWuY) [Prerecorded music - All Saints]

Reformation Day commemorates the rediscovery that salvation is a free gift. The Scriptures teach that we are saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ, not by works or self-righteousness. (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/6vTktZkQw8U) [Prerecorded music - Reformation]

Paul encourages the congregation at Thessalonica to continue to be imitators of Christ and of Christian leaders, so that they may continue to becomes examples for others. It's no different for us today. We are also called to imitate Christ, and the people he gives to us as Christian leaders, mentors, and coaches, so that we can become examples for others. This is intergenerational Christian living. (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/1XKIKtsk2Ao) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 20]

In story after story, Jesus invited people to turn away from their self-obsession and enter the kingdom of God. But the leaders of his day preferred to put Jesus to death rather than let go of their prejudices and positions. Are there ways that we also cling on to our own ideas of worth? (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/ePpX4KcRQZ4) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 19]

God cares for all of his people, despite our unfaithfulness. He gives us many chances to be fruitful in our lives and in our relationship with him - and invests so much in us that he sent his one any only Son, Jesus, to rescue us. (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/UXZeMKOsp70) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 18]

"What Is Obedience?" Jesus' parable of the two sons tells us that discipleship is more than mere lip service. It means selflessly doing the Father's will, with the emphasis on action. (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/3iUL9n9JzHM) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 17]

"In Christ, all are equal. Is that fair, God?" God's grace and forgiveness are unlimited, and are extended to everyone - even the most 'undeserving'. He doesn't abide by our rules of fairness, but looks with equal favour on everyone. (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/qrWTpsLDax0) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 16]

'Sorry seems to be the hardest word.' Maybe. But forgiving others also seems difficult. Our world doesn't model this well. As Christians, we have the perfect model in Jesus. He models this by his life of forgiving. In him, we can learn and grow in a life of forgiving. (Blessed are the Peacemakers part 5 of 5) (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/6w624RWCQ_0) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 15]

It seems so normal in our world to blame others. This often happens in conflict situations. Jesus calls us to search our own actions, words, thoughts, and hearts to see if there is a 'log in our own eye'. The Seven A's of Apologising/Confessing can help us work through conflict in a healthy way. (Blessed are the Peacemakers part 4 of 5) (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/gaCf8-Rq46g) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 14]

The way that we deal with conflict can in itself bring glory to God, sharing his love with our neighbours. (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/Q6TqfrnL32E) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 12]

We’re all made differently. Our personalities and make up are different. How do you respond to conflict? Sometimes our responses are very different. God has a way of working with conflict which he shows and gives in the life, death, and resurrection new life of Christ. (Blessed are the Peacemakers part 2 of 5) (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/8jdw2yYFtLU) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 12]

Christians are God’s new creation in Christ. God newly creates us through the forgiveness of sins won by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. How do we respond to conflict? As God’s new creation we can grow in being ambassadors of reconciliation. (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/MaQTSV-GrvA) (YouTube clip referred to in the sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqqKEgrPhHo) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 11]

We all know that 'sinking feeling' in life. Peter experiences it when he takes his focus from Jesus to his own strength and fear. But Jesus doesn't abandon Peter, nor any of us. Immediately, Jesus reaches out to save. (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/EihmvC8w5jQ) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 10]

There are times in life that we feel overwhelmed, over-tired, under-prepared for difficult situations. We are like the disciples who were faced with feeding a huge crowd and who say “Lord, send them away”. Jesus wonderfully equips us with what we have as disciples, and says, “You go and feed them.” (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/SBnoykO3HDo) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 9]

Jesus' stories gave a new picture of the Kingdom of God: not a military conquest, but an invaluable treasure offered in love to each of us. Accepting God's gift gives us confidence to share it with others. (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/VPpUlqw_2Qo) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 8]

A new life brings joy and expectation, even in these difficult days. The wonderful imagery of today's psalm reminds us that, even when times are hard, God's gracious love holds us. We are not alone. (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/l0pG-cLUoCY) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 7]

Jesus' simple story (a parable) about a sower really speaks about our hearts as we hear the word, the good news of the Gospel. And now it is our turn to continue spreading that seed, that good news - even though the conditions of the human heart are pretty much unchanged. (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/KgV6vFFDFUM) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 6]

Sometimes it seems that its one step forward and two steps back during this COVID-19 time of restriction. We humans know what it is to carry heavy burdens of many varieties. The apostle Paul knew the impossible burden of sin and proclaimed, “What a wretched person I am!” To people who carry burdens and who are weary comes Jesus, with an invitation to come to him to find rest and to learn from him. Jesus comes to you and me, bringing this same invitation. When we are carrying a heavy load, he says “Lean on me”. (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/tly_kbOklk4) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 5]

Jesus made a surprising statement about welcoming. Anyone, he said, who welcomes a disciple of Jesus is also welcoming Jesus himself; and in doing so, welcomes God the Father. As disciples, we are carriers of blessing. Let's explore what this means. (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/tLhdmCTqN3Q) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 4]

In every generation, we need to stand strong for our faith. 490 years ago, it was lay theologians who set out the Augsburg Confession, accepted by princes gathered in the Diet of Worms. Ten years ago, it was minority Christians in Malaysia campaigning to free up shipments of Bibles in their own language. Now we need to stand against the evils of racism, and the abuse of God's Word. We must show how love comes to life. (YouTube video of the service including this sermon: https://youtu.be/4v80roLQf-s) [Prerecorded music - Pentecost 3]