City On A Hill: Melbourne West

Jesus passes a blind man begging in the street and acts mercifully, restoring the man’s sight with his touch and revealing his light.

The disciples encounter a vicious storm as they attempt to sail through the night and Jesus miraculously shows up, walking on water and delivering them to safety.

5000 people are gathered to see Jesus, and with only 5 loaves and 2 fishes to feed everyone Jesus performs a miracle and the crowd are fed in abundance.

Paralysed and unable to walk for the last 38 years, a man is healed by Jesus in Bethesda, breaking the rules of religious authorities on the Sabbath.

The royal official begs Jesus to intervene when his son falls ill, and with a few words Jesus miraculously heals the boy.

Jesus performs his first miracle at the wedding in Cana, turning water into wine, revealing his divine power and initiating his ministry.

Death: we are destined for it, yet many of us rarely think about it. What does wisdom have to say about the final reality, and the life we live before it?

In a world of anger, injustice and oppression, God’s commitment to justice is startling, and he stands as sovereign Judge. Align your life to his purposes for the world through Proverbs.

Riches can do great good, but the love of money can consume and deform us – so how do we train our hearts to what is truly valuable?

Words have the power to make and to mould, to build up and break down – so tune your ear to what God has to say about them in Proverbs.

Our Heavenly Father has created us to live in families, and Proverbs provides wisdom for building and shaping the fundamental unit of our community.

A sermon in the Proverbs series.

A sermon in the Proverbs series.

A sermon in the Proverbs series.

In a world of information and data, knowledge and technique, find wisdom. Find its source, its substance, and its power.

God has promised those in Christ the fullness of his salvation and life. And yet there is a tension between the “already and “not yet” as we experience a broken world. We press on towards holiness, understanding it will take patience and work, all while trusting in God’s transformative power.

Jesus lived an active and engaged ministry as he poured himself out in service to others, but he also took moments to withdraw, pray and be with the Father. Like Jesus, we want to be involved members of our church, and also make space for rest, retreat and renewal with God.

Work is a meaningful part of our purpose and worship - God called Adam and Eve to work and care for His creation. Work must also be balanced with rest, acknowledging our dependence on God and recognising that our worth is not found in what we do, but in who we are as beloved children of God.

A healthy “rule of life” involves finding joy in God and His gifts, while also following Jesus’ example of self-denial. We should live Christ-centred lives of celebration, but also sacrifice, service and self-denial, not for punishment but for healthy detachment from the world for the sake of joy in Christ's presence.

Examination practices and rhythms such as “The Daily Examen”, prayer, fasting and journaling help us cultivate an awareness of God's all-encompassing love. Just as we ask God to search our own hearts through examination, so we ask God to show us other people’s hearts, so we can encourage them in their journey.