Archive: 2011

New Series: King’s Cross

Posted: 16 September 2011 / Mark 1:1-15

This Sunday we are beginning a new series on Mark’s gospel called ‘King’s Cross’. This is the title of a new book by Tim Keller, which would be good to read alongside the sermon series, but it also reflects what the gospel of Mark is about. Mark presents Jesus’ life in two symmetrical acts:

Act 1 relates to his identity as King over all things (Mark...

What God is Doing

Posted: 09 September 2011 / Titus 1:1-4

Nick Cave wrote a song which is realistic about the grit of life:

In heaven His throne is made of gold,
Where the ark of His testament is stowed,
A throne from which I'm told all history does unfold,
Down here it's made of wood and wire,
And my body is on fire,
And God is never far away.

Nick Cave is dealing with the fact that there is a sense...

The Claim of Jesus

Posted: 02 September 2011

C.S. Lewis famously said:

A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice.

This Sunday we are looking at Jesus' most devilish, most insane, or most...

“God… why do innocent people suffer?”

Posted: 19 August 2011

This Sunday we come to the question which some have called the ‘Achilles' heal’ of the Christianity: “Why do innocent people suffer?” Whilst other faiths provide an answer, and often a complete one, the Bible leaves this question unanswered and a mystery. How can this be so? Does this make the Christianity less credible than other faiths? And if the God of...

Official Opening update

Posted: 11 August 2011

Last Sunday we had a great afternoon celebrating God's goodness with heaps of people, a great band and good food with drinks.

Over 140 people came along and we ran out of seats. Many of the guests were family and friends, some who don't normally go to church. Other guests came from getting our postcards in their letterboxes or from local cafes. Some people found...

Reflection on Matthew 8

Posted: 11 August 2011 / Matthew 8

Mike W. reflects on Matthew 8:

I heard somewhere that faith is trusting in something out of our control. We do this all the time, whether it be in our purchasing habits, in our jobs or even in forming our opinions on science, culture and politics. However what I think is most telling is our faith in relationships. We observe certain characteristics in...

Christianity Explored Course (August 2011)

Posted: 01 August 2011

In mid August we are starting Christianity Explored which is a free 7-week course that gives you time and space to think about the big questions of life and to explore the life of the person at the heart of the Christian faith – Jesus Christ. You won’t be asked to pray, sing or read aloud, and you can ask any questions you like. Or, if you prefer, you can...

The Message of Mission

Posted: 29 July 2011 / Jonah 4

Jonathan Swift once famously said:

We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.

That line could sum up the problem in the life of Jonah.  His hatred ate away at the walls of his soul. Nowhere is that more clear than in Jonah 4 (this Sunday). In this chapter, he prays:

Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it...

Homeless Persons’ Week

Posted: 27 July 2011 / Philippians 4:19

Next week is National Homeless Persons' Week. A couple of churches in Surry Hills are getting together on Wednesday 3rd August, 2-3pm, to hold a service for those who sleep rough.

Please come and join us and pray for those who sleep rough that God would supply every need of theirs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

...

Reflection on Genesis 21-22

Posted: 25 July 2011 / Genesis 21-22

Michael reflects on Genesis 21-22:

There is some crazy stuff in the Old Testament and this is certainly the case in Genesis 21 and 22. We have a nonagenarian (90-99 year old) becoming a mother for the first time, Abraham a dad for the first time at 100 not out, wells springing up out of nowhere in the desert and perhaps one of the more shocking parts of...