The Trust Fall Lent 2 B 2024
10 Minute Message
Focus Readings Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-38 Trust Fall Have you ever done a trust fall. I can remember right back to my days at youth group and Year 12 when I lived on the South Side of Brisbane. We were introduced to “new games”. They included things like parachutes and earth balls, but they also included trust activities involving blindfolds and placing yourself in the hands of of others. The iconic activity of this sort was the trust fall. A person would stand on a table with their eyes closed and then fall backwards onto a group of colleagues standing in a line....
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By the Mercies of God - A message on Romans 12:1-8
10 Minute Message
Key text: In many of Paul’s letters he begins after a general greetingby dealing with the issues that are causing problems in a church. He then goes on to deal with how we live out our faith in our daily life or ethics. Paul is talking about how we lives which witness or reflect God’s love and how we can serve others. This is exactly what he does in Romans. After his greeting he introduces himself to the church in Rome. Often Paul writes to one of the churches he founded to tell them how to deal with some of the problems or division in them. He didn’t start the church at...
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Go God’s “Love going” Way
10 Minute Message
1. Readings a. First Reading Amos 7: 7 - 8 b. Second Reading Matt. 23:23 c. Third Reading Deut.16: 18 -20 d. Gospel Luke 13:...
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What is the church? Acts 2:42
10 Minute Message
Today I want to speak as briefly as I can on a huge topic. What is the church? These six verses Acts 2:42-27 describe the church, as it was when it first began 2000 years ago and as it shall be through all eternity and as it is now. In one sentence the church is about teaching the Gospel, gathering in genuine community, breaking bread together and worship. From this, flows care and provision for those in need, signs and wonders, and growth. In short the church at its best is the embodiment of the Good Life, and this side of the new creation it is the closest thing to life in all its fullness....
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An Easter art Experience - Stations of the Cross 2023
10 Minute Message
Local Rockhampton artists are combining to tell the story of the first Easter through 15 artworks to be displayed at the South Rockhampton Uniting church in Campbell Street from the 4th to the 8th of April. The artworks including paintings, collages and even a story book will be arranged in order, to tell the story of the first Easter from Thursday night through to Easter Sunday. There will be a booklet with artists reflections on each piece, a reading, and a prayer. Admission is free and visitors can use the booklet to follow the story, reflect and pray or just wander through and...
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Carols on the Lawn - South Rockhampton Unitng Church
10 Minute Message
Christmas is all about restored comminity, making personal, family, social and Spiritual connections. 6pm-8 pm 17th December 2022 at South Rockhampton Uniting Church. 312 Campbell Street (Band starts at 6, Carols at 6.30) Join us, celebrating community and the first Christmas with contemporary Christmas songs and carols. Bring Christmas hats and t-shirst, glowsticks, battery candles, picnic rugs and folding chairs. Some free glow sticks provided. Featuring soloists, U3A Choir and more. Supper to follow. Wet weather venue in the church hall. Message us on Facebook or...
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Jesus carries us accross the line
10 Minute Message
Heb 11:29-12:2 Sermon Jesus Carries us across the line The Story of Derek Redman See Derek Redman was a contender to win a medal in the 400m sprint at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. He had easily made the semi-finals winning both his heats, but in that semi-final 150 metres from the end, his hamstring tore. The Olympic creed is a quotation from the founder of the modern Olympics. It says “The important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part, just as in life, what counts is not the victory but the struggle.” In an act which embodies the Olympic creed,...
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The Experience of God - Trinity Sunday c 2022
10 Minute Message
Key Bible passages: Proverbs 8:1–4, 22-31, Romans 5:1–5, John 16:12–15 The experience of God (Trinity) Today is Trinity Sunday. From our tradition and in our history the church has usually named God as Trinity. God is One but at the same time God is Three - Father, Son & Holy Spirit. Today, I’m going to talk about how God is experienced and how in that experience, as God is revealed to us, we come to know God as three and as one. This understanding of God as Trinity comes from the experience of God by the people of Israel, in the early church, and in our personal...
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Jacob Wrestling with God - A narrative sermon
10 Minute Message
A narrative sermon based on Genesis 32: 25-32 and Matthew 26: 36-46 My name is Jacob. I’m a twin. They say that even when I was in my mother’s womb I struggled with my brother. I came out holding onto his heal so they gave me the name grasper or grabber. The name sort of fits because for the first part of my life that’s just what I was like. I knew that the only way to get ahead in life was to make your own way and your own luck. If a situation presented itself then you should grab it with both hands and never let go. Keep your wits about you and if other people give you a tiny...
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Rebuilding Community Pentecost Day 2022
10 Minute Message
Focus Readings: Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-21; John 14:8-17 In Douglas Adam's Science Fiction series, the Hitch Hikers' Guide to the Galaxy there is a fish called the Babel fish which can be inserted into the ear and which translates whatever is being said in any language instantly to your own. He writes "by effectively removing all barriers to communication between different races and cultures, has caused more and bloodier wars than anything else in the history of creation." - Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy It's meant to be a funny line because often people argue that if...
info_outlineFocus Reading 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK FOR A 3 MINUTE APPLICATION OF THIS SERMON CLICK HERE
When I was a high school English teacher, I shared the Lyrics of the Midnight Oil song - The Forgotten Yearswith my year 11 English class.
As they looked at the lyrics and listened to the song one said to me "Sir, you've made a mistake! This line should read ‘seasons of war and peace', not ‘seasons of war and grace'". But I hadn't made a mistake because Midnight Oil's song was reflecting on the idea that our nation has never been invaded in a major conflict and that it had been two to three generations since we were involved as a whole nation in a large scale war. (This was before September 11 2001)
"Grace" is a Christian word which means God loves us and forgives us even though we don't deserve it. Through most of Christian history not just most Catholics but most Protestants and Orthodox alike all believe that if we ask God will forgive us for whatever we have done wrong. This might sound unfair. And you're right! It is unfair.
We live in a "season of grace". For at least 30 years we have lived in a time of unfair gift.
This time of peace and prosperity has been given to us, especially people my age and younger, even though we done absolutely nothing to deserve it. Others have made sacrifices so we could live in peace and security.
With Remembrance Day on Monday we would do well to make sure the war years and all those who served should not be “forgotten”. They have given us non servicemen, a season of grace, a gift we do not deserve- a gift like that of God in Jesus upon the cross.