Sermons
Year A – Palm Sunday – Built on the rock
5 April 2020
Hasn’t life changed? If we go back just a couple months ago life was never better. I had just arrived back from my 2 week cruise and excited that we had rebooked our next cruise. Coffee shops and wine bars were filled with people celebrating life with not a problem in the world. But then… Read more
Year A – 5th Sunday in Lent – The world’s worst brings out God’s best
29 March 2020
Lazarus is one of the best known stories in the Bible. Even those who are not familiar with him know something about the story. That Lazarus died and rose from the dead. But that is not the extent of what Jesus is trying to teach us. Do you remember the account of Jesus healing the… Read more
Year A – 4th Sunday in Lent – The Lord is my Shepherd – I shall not want
22 March 2020
So how are you coping with all that’s going on? Have you started to panic wondering if you have enough food? Do you panic when you arrive at the supermarket and see all the empty shelves? Did you ever think that this could happen in Australia? Someone said to me during the week, the bushfires… Read more
Year A-3rd Sunday in Lent – Relational Evangelism
15 March 2020
Last Sunday we heard Jesus teaching Nicodemus a lesson on God’s love. It ended with the well-known text – John 3:16 – God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. That was a teaching about God’s… Read more
Year A – 2nd Sunday in Lent – Do not fear
8 March 2020
Today’s Gospel reading introduces a character who doesn’t seem to appear much in the bible but is an important person to understand. John tells us that Nicodemus is a Pharisee, a leader among the Jews. But unlike the other Pharisees and leaders he actually supports Jesus. But because he supports Jesus he has to come… Read more
Year A – Midweek Lenten Address – Theme: The Bending Low of the Son of God
4 March 2020
“Sticks and stone may break my bones but names will never hurt me.” Do you remember that saying? I asked my year 10 students if they had heard it before, and most hadn’t. Apparently, it’s no longer a part of the collective memory of our culture. Which is probably just as well, because we all… Read more
Year A – 1st Sunday in Lent – Resisting temptation
1 March 2020
On our recent cruise we had a magician to entertain us. Before the show he came up to me and asked if I would mind if he called me up on stage. Having got to the show over an hour before it started and sitting 3 rows from the front I think he knew that… Read more
Year A – Ash Wednesday – His blood be on us
26 February 2020
Having just returned home from a cruise on the Princess cruise ship I have been watching with great interest and also relief what is happening in China with the Coronavirus and the passengers stuck on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. When cruising there is great emphasis on hygiene to prevent spreading of disease particular gastric… Read more
Year A – The Transfiguration – Listen to him
23 February 2020
Having recently returned home from a cruise in January I can’t help feeling for the 4000 people who were quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. The rooms are extraordinarily small – much smaller than a motel room. The expectation of a cruise is that you’ll spend most of your time on deck… Read more
Year A – 6th Sunday after Epiphany – Reconcilable differences
16 February 2020
There are some tough teachings in the Bible but none would be as challenging as the one Jesus has placed before us today. Jesus says: if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; Anger is all around us these days. There seems to be so much to get… Read more
Year A – 5th Sunday after Epiphany – Salting the earth
9 February 2020
Do you ever get frustrated when you buy fresh produce from the supermarket and in a couple days it’s already looking like it’s ready to be thrown out? Bananas, for us, is a big one. They look nice and yellow and firm in the supermarket so you buy a bunch of them and then, not… Read more
Year A – 4th Sunday after Epiphany – Simply blessed
2 February 2020
Sometimes the solution to a problem is so simple that we often overlook it because, it can’t be that simple. In fact a Franciscan monk, William of Occam from the 13th Century stated that the simplest solution is most likely the right one. It became known as Occam’s Razor where all the non-essential parts were… Read more
Year A – 3rd Sunday after Epiphany – New beginnings (Lay Reading)
26 January 2020
Today is January 26th and we are just over three weeks into 2020. Did you make any resolutions this year? If you did, how are they holding up? New Year’s resolutions can be big or small. Do any of these sound familiar? This year, I will eat less, drink less, exercise more. This year, I… Read more
Year A – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany – Receiving the call from Jesus (Lay Reading)
19 January 2020
Today’s theme that can be found in all four of our readings is the theme of being called. The readings from Isaiah and from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians both begin with words about being called, about being set apart by God. Isaiah says: The Lord called me before I was born, while I… Read more
Year A – The Baptism of Jesus – The First Step (Lay Reading)
12 January 2020
We don’t think about it much, but for most of us, one thing that brings us to church on Sunday is the fact that we are baptized. Some of us were baptized without being given any choice in the matter. Despite the seeming cries of disapproval at the baptismal font that we sometimes hear the… Read more
Year A – The Epiphany – God’s Epiphany Mission to the Nations
5 January 2020
You often hear about difficulties growing up as a middle child. As a middle child myself I can affirm that at times it wasn’t easy. When my older brother bullied me and I complained, my parents said to not be so sensitive and to get on with my brother. When I used to get into… Read more
Year A – 1st Sunday after Christmas – God’s gift of love (don’t waste it)
29 December 2019
The gifts have been received and opened; The recycling bin is filled with gift wrapping that once made an ordinary gift seem extra special. Our family and friends have come and returned home. All that is to come as a reminder of Christmas is the Credit Card statement. Soon we will start counting down again… Read more
Christmas Day Sermon 2019 – Truth is God’s true power.
24 December 2019
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. What I found is special about Christmas is that everything God said would happen happened. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them…. Read more
Christmas Eve 2019– Christmas removing fear
24 December 2019
Even though I have heard the Christmas story many many times, as I’m sure you have – I do wonder what it would be like to have heard it for the very first time – or in fact have lived in the very first Christmas. If you’ve ever arrived at a motel and find that… Read more
Year A – Advent 4 – What on earth were you thinking God?
22 December 2019
Do you ever question God and what he’s doing in your life? What are you doing God? Sometimes it’s really hard to understand why God does things the way he does. It’s interesting as you reflect back on your life and things that you didn’t understand then have somehow contributed to the way your life… Read more
Year A – Advent 3 – Jesus is the one we are waiting for
15 December 2019
In the lead up to an election we hear lots of promises about what this leader will do for us if we elect them. And more often than not when the elected party forms Government we will hear reasons why they can’t immediately fulfil their promises. One previous Prime Minister from some years ago made… Read more
Year A- Advent 2 – Wilderness spirituality
8 December 2019
John the Baptist is always an interesting character. It’s easy to focus just on the message that he came to proclaim – Repent. But there’s more to John the Baptist other than his sharp tongue that will soon get him arrested and put to death. There is more to John the Baptist than his clothing… Read more
Year A – 1st Sunday in Advent – It’s getting close now.
1 December 2019
Having turned 60 a few weeks ago I got asked quite regularly – “how do you feel”? Do you feel older? And I reply by saying – truth be told, I don’t feel any different today than I felt yesterday. And when I think of it, yesterday I didn’t feel any different to the day… Read more
Year C – Christ the King – Last Sunday of the Church Year – Fully human, fully divine, fully saved
24 November 2019
The church’s teaching about Jesus is that he is fully human and fully God. He is not half human and half God. So, mathematically it doesn’t add up as he is 100% human and 100% God – at the same time. Throughout his life in the bible we see examples of both his humanity and… Read more
Year C 23rd Sunday After Pentecost – Better than Fig Leaves
15 November 2019
It would be fair to say that most people believe that we live in uncertain times. Whether it be through financial insecurity, unemployment, fears of a recession. Even the housing market which has always been a safe investment in bricks and mortar is quite unstable. And in these days it’s not just the financial aspects… Read more
Year C All Saints Day – Life, but not as we know it.
10 November 2019
Today we acknowledge All Saints Day and a day of remembrance for those who have given of their lives to defend our nation. It is a day when we give thanks to God for their lives but even more than that we give thanks for the hope of the resurrection which enables us to… Read more
Year C – Reformation Sunday
25 October 2019
Ask anyone to describe “the church” and you’ll get a variety of answers. But, no doubt, top of the list would be – those do-gooders who keep telling us how bad we are – those “righteous know it all” who are living in the past and complain every time we try to move into the… Read more
Year C – 19th Sunday after Pentecost – Persistent in prayer
20 October 2019
Last week saw a week of disruptions in the city, including other states around Australia, and in fact around the world to demand what they call “climate justice”. Despite the disruptions that it caused to many people going to work or going home from work we are a society that respects people’s right to protest… Read more
Year C – Sunday after Pentecost – Unity through suffering
13 October 2019
Border Security is a major political divide in many countries. Whether it’s the wall being built on the border of the USA and Mexico – or the sending of those deemed to be “illegal immigrants to detention centres or being deported. We have even had disputes with our near neighbour New Zealand over the sending… Read more
Year C – 17th Sunday after Pentecost – Increase our faith?
5 October 2019
It’s an interesting request from the apostles to Jesus today – Increase our faith. I wonder why they made that request. Were they having doubts? Were they going through some sort of crisis? I know I’ve heard well-meaning Christians tell a sick person that if they had enough faith that God would heal them. How… Read more
Creation Sunday- God’s gift through pets
5 October 2019
There is an old saying that says – Dog spelt backwards is still man’s best friend. Often a person will get asked – are you a dog person or a cat person. Because they are different. In fact it is often said – you own a dog but a cat owns you. They have different… Read more
Year C-16th Sunday after Pentecost-Reversal of Fortunes
29 September 2019
Earlier this year I was sitting in Swan Street Richmond waiting for a friend on our way to watch the football. While I was waiting a young man came up to me with a collection tin and asked if I would like to donate some money. There was no organisation on the tin – he… Read more
Year C 15th Sunday after Pentecost – One mediator
22 September 2019
I listened to an interview with Australian swimmer Susie O’Niell. She was affectionately known as Madam Butterfly as she dominated the pool with her butterfly swim style. Leading up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics she was the champion of the 200m butterfly. She held the world record and was about to swim in front of… Read more
Year C: 14th Sunday after Pentecost – Lost and found
15 September 2019
I read an interesting article a while ago about parents who forget their child in the back seat of their car and go off shopping or come home and forget their child is still in the car. As we know that can have tragic consequences particularly in summer. I was staggered when it was suggested… Read more
Year C 13th Sunday after Pentecost – Moulded by God
8 September 2019
With Father’s Day last week no doubt many fathers received home-made gifts from their children. Whether it was macaroni glued to paper with some sparkles on it or maybe something a little bit more complex – no father goes through and analyses it to point out errors. You didn’t spell Father correctly – your drawing… Read more
Year C 12th Sunday after Pentecost – The best seat in the house
1 September 2019
We probably don’t realise how much status is held by seating. The AFL finals begin this week and already there has been outrage over seating. Geelong wants a home final but their ground doesn’t seat enough to cater for the huge crowds. The Gabba in Queensland holds 42,000 and there are 3 times that amount… Read more
Year C 11th Sunday after Pentecost – 6570 days of suffering
25 August 2019
6570 days. That’s how many days the woman in our Gospel reading had been afflicted by her condition. For 6570 days this woman could not stand up straight but was stooped over. 6570 days of suffering with no indication life would ever be different for her. Would it have made any difference to the woman… Read more
Year C 9th Sunday after Pentecost – Faith in the unseen
11 August 2019
The book of Hebrews is an interesting book in the New Testament. It is masterly written but we don’t know who wrote the Letter to the Hebrews. Initial thoughts were that it might have been Paul but scholars believe this was so it would get into the New Testament. It seems to be written to… Read more
Year C- 8th Sunday after Pentecost – Using our abundance
4 August 2019
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce stirred up the media this week when he said that he was struggling financially to support his families even though he earns well over $200,000 per year. You can imagine there was not much support or sympathy for him. In explaining himself he said that what he was trying to say… Read more
Year C-7th Sunday after Pentecost – Lord, teach us to pray.
28 July 2019
In our Gospel reading today we have Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer which Jesus gave to his disciples to teach them how to pray. It’s a little bit different to Matthew’s version which is a fuller account and which we have come to know as we pray the Lord’s Prayer. I thought perhaps we… Read more
YEar C – 6th Sunday after Pentecost – Sibling rivalry
21 July 2019
Sibling rivalry. Is this what we are seeing in our Gospel reading between Mary and Martha or is it something deeper? Jesus has come to the home of Mary and Martha and both sisters see a different emphasis of what needs to happen. It reminds me of a similar situation which involved Mary in John’s… Read more
Year C- 5th Sunday after Pentecost – Go and do likewise
14 July 2019
There are some fairly tough parts in the bible but for me there is none tougher than today’s Gospel reading when Jesus says – “Go and do likewise”. It reminds me of the old saying – “do as I say not as I do”. It’s so easy to know what the right thing is to… Read more
Year C-4th Sunday after Pentecost-The harvest is plentiful – but so is rejection
4 July 2019
I have to admit that I struggle a bit with our Gospel reading in trying to understand it. Jesus says to the 72 disciples that he is sending out – “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few; The way that many in the church are feeling today is that the harvest is getting… Read more
Year C-3rd Sunday after Pentecost-Following Jesus, at what cost?
30 June 2019
Have you ever signed up for something and it’s turned out to be something different to what you expected? Or have you ever committed yourself to something and not realised just how much effort it was going to be? Did you know that nearly two billion dollars a year on gym memberships is wasted in… Read more
Year C-Pentecost 2nd Sunday after Pentecost-Strength for Ministry in silence
21 June 2019
Have you ever woken up in the morning and thought – I just want to go back to sleep. Do I have to get up? As we move into the depths of winter it is very easy to feel that way. And as the nights get dark and cold if you’re on a committee it’s… Read more
Year C-Trinity Sunday-Persevering in suffering
14 June 2019
Last Monday we celebrated the Queen’s Birthday and along with it came the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Among them, as usual, was a list of sporting and entertainment celebrities. Along with the naming of the award recipients came the usual criticisms of why ordinary Australians who give of their lives are not rewarded. They actually are… Read more
Year C – Pentecost Sunday – Your legal advocate
7 June 2019
A few years ago I was thinking to myself that maybe it’s time I thought about having a will prepared. For a long time I kept hearing that it’s never too early to start thinking of things like wills and powers of attorney. But I thought to myself I might try and do it on… Read more
Year C Ascension – Our Jerusalem
2 June 2019
Today we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. For 40 days after Jesus rose from the grave on Easter Sunday he walked the earth to establish eye witnesses so the world would be convinced that the resurrection was a real event and not a fairy tale as it is often described in our secular… Read more
Year C Easter 6 – Spiritual disruptions
26 May 2019
While travelling along the freeway recently I found myself in the wrong lane. I saw my exit getting closer and closer. I just needed someone to realise I had my blinker on and slow down to let me in. It was just there but I couldn’t get a break to let me in. And at… Read more
Year C 5th Sunday of Easter-Do not hinder God
17 May 2019
With all the scandals in the church these days why are you still coming to church? With all the negative press about Christians these days why are you still a Christian? With all the other things you could be doing with your time and money why do you come to church? With all the scientific… Read more
Year C Easter 4 -More than a number
10 May 2019
I was watching a TV show the other night and a person when about to die says – “well, I guess my number is up”. How often are you identified with a number? At the bank you have account numbers, PIN numbers and credit card numbers with expiry dates and security number on the back… Read more
Year C Easter 3 – When you least expect it, expect it
5 May 2019
When you least expect it, expect it. It’s a saying that inspires hope into a hopeless situation. When you least expect it, expect it. It’s a saying that inspires us to never give up hope. For Christians it has often seen God acting in his timing rather than ours. Like Abraham and Sarah. Promised a… Read more
Year C Easter 2-Obeying God’s authority rather than human authority
28 April 2019
The sporting world has been divided in recent times regarding the punishment dished out on Rugby League player Israel Folau. In case you missed it, Folau posted a quote from the bible that offended some people because he said unless they repented of their sin that they would end up in hell. Irrespective of whether… Read more
Sermon Easter Sunday – Who believes this nonsense? (Main Service 9am)
21 April 2019
Before I have my tea at night I like to watch the News headlines to see what’s been happening in the world. If I’m home in time I like to watch the Channel 10 news. But because I don’t like to miss the start of the news as I turn it on a couple minutes… Read more
Yeac C Easter – Believing is seeing (Easter Sunrise Service)
21 April 2019
Seeing is believing – or is it Believing is seeing. In this case at the tomb of Jesus it is definitely Believing is Seeing. Mary has come to the tomb to prepare Jesus’ body for proper burial. She arrives and doesn’t “see” Jesus body so she doesn’t know what to believe has happened. Seeing doesn’t… Read more
Year C Good Friday – Our empathetic Saviour
19 April 2019
When tragedy strikes it’s interesting to see the different responses from our leaders. When the terrorist attack happened in Christchurch last month, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern came out with obvious grief and hurt in her voice and demeanour. It was similar some years back during the Queensland floods when the Premier at the time, Anna… Read more
Year C Maundy Thursday – Loving by example
18 April 2019
Children are really good at watching their parents and imitating them. So as parents we always need to be careful about what we say and do around young impressionable children so we teach them right. When you see a child misbehave or use swear words in public you actually look at the parents and blame… Read more
Ephiphany 7
24 February 2019
People in society today like to do things that make them stand out in the crowd. They might do it by the clothes they wear. They might do it by the hairstyle they wear. A lot of people in recent times have done it by having tattoos or piercings. Many do it because they want… Read more
Year C Epiphany 5
10 February 2019
I’m not sure how you feel about it – and maybe it’s just my age showing – but I get really annoyed when I hear our Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, referred to as ScoMo. To me it seems like a lack of respect for the office he carries. Even when he is being interviewed and… Read more
Year C – 2nd Sunday after Epiphany – God the gift giver
20 January 2019
Well Christmas is well and truly over both officially and unofficially. It was over officially 2 weeks ago on Epiphany Sunday – the 12th day of Christmas. But I suspect that for many people Christmas was well and truly over unofficially on Boxing Day, the 2nd Day of Christmas. Christmas seems to be a time… Read more
Year C – First Sunday in Advent – True Hope
2 December 2018
Hope is a funny word. It’s one of those words that depending on the context it could mean the opposite of what was intended. Like the VCE student who “hopes” to get a good result in their exams – there is a degree of uncertainty not knowing what the result is going to be. Or… Read more
A God who “is”
25 November 2018
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. This is a very powerful statement by Jesus exercising his complete authority in the world. And Jesus always speaks in such definitive words. I am THE Alpha and THE Omega (the first… Read more
Year B 26th Sunday after Pentecost – The Day is approaching
18 November 2018
The last census revealed what we all knew without the numbers being officially collected. The numbers in church are declining. We didn’t need to see what people responded in the census we just needed to look around us and see the numbers that used to be here just aren’t here anymore. There are a variety… Read more
No line in the sand
9 September 2018
Once again Melbourne is gripped in racial tensions after a violent brawl in Collingwood in the early hours of last week. The racial profiling identified the main perpetrators as African and Islanders. It comes on the back of another wild brawl a few weeks earlier in Taylors Hill with similar racial profiling. The Letters to… Read more
7th Sunday after Pentecost– Healing despite suffering (year B)
8 July 2018
Last Sunday Channel 7 aired a program featuring a Melbourne man Charlie Goldsmith. Charlie claims to have the gift of healing that he has been using for over 18 years which he kept very private. It wasn’t until after his first hospital study, completed in 2013 by doctors, interestingly, at the New York University Lutheran… Read more
Pentecost 6 – The Ministry of Interruptions (Year B)
1 July 2018
You know the drill. It’s 6pm – you’re busy starting dinner or perhaps you’ve just sat down to dinner and the phone rings. Should I answer it or let it go through to the answering machine? What if it’s an emergency? So you get up – there’s a pause – a couple clicks – and… Read more
5th Sunday after Pentecost-Safe passage through the storm (Year B )
24 June 2018
The nation was shocked last week at the brutal attack and death of a young Melbourne comedian walking through a park in Carlton on her way home from the city. The nation was shocked she was just 900 metres from home. But whether she was 900 metres or 900 feet from home the tragic circumstances… Read more
4th Sunday after Pentecost-Sown in darkness (Year B)
17 June 2018
Every day I do things that I have no idea how they work. I have no idea how my car works; I just put my key in the ignition and turn it on. Put it in to gear – press the accelerator to speed up and press the brake to slow down. I have no… Read more
3rd Sunday after Pentecost-United we stand, divided we fall (Year B)
10 June 2018
In the story book Aesop’s Fables there is a story called – The Four Oxen and the Lion: A Lion used to prowl about a field where Four Oxen gathered. Many times the lion tried to attack them; but whenever he came near they turned their tails to one another, so whichever way he approached… Read more
2nd Sunday after Pentecost– The Sabbath – work, rest and play (Year B)
3 June 2018
One of my favourite chocolate bars is the Mars Bar. When I was growing up their slogan was “A Mars a day helps you work rest and play”. I found that more enticing to having an apple that had the slogan “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Regardless of the health differences, the… Read more
Holy Trinity/Thankgsgiving
27 May 2018
From an early age we are taught to say “please” and “thankyou”. We might hold something out before a child and say – “what do you say” and we wait until they say “please”. And as soon as we then give it to them the next question comes – “now what do you say” –… Read more
Pentecost (Year B)- Our Advocate
20 May 2018
I enjoy watching American Crime drama – shows like Law and Order, Bones, Major Crimes and others. And one of the things that I’m always intrigued with is what they call the Miranda Rights and if they are not said at the alleged criminals arrest then any evidence or testimony gathered from them is inadmissible… Read more
Ascension (year B) – still with us.
13 May 2018
Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first human to journey into outer space in 1961. While he was so high up in the sky he is quoted as saying “I looked and looked and looked but I didn’t see God. The Ascension is often misunderstood as Jesus going up into heaven as if it is… Read more
6th Sunday of Easter (Year B)-Friends of Christ
6 May 2018
I have a bible that I received some years ago that has a page at the back for me to date and sign to indicate the day I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal saviour. It sounds honourable and perhaps you’ve done that before. I’m not criticising the intention but, for me, it changes the… Read more
Easter 2 (Year B) – Not living in fear
8 April 2018
Our first reading from Acts seems so different to our Gospel reading from John. Both give an account of Jesus’ disciples gathered together after his death and resurrection – but what a difference there is in their character. In Acts we read: With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the… Read more
Easter Sunday (Year B)
1 April 2018
Do you know what the 10 greatest fears are: FEAR OF FLYING FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING FEAR OF HEIGHTS FEAR OF THE DARK FEAR OF INTIMACY FEAR OF DEATH FEAR OF FAILURE FEAR OF REJECTION FEAR OF SPIDERS FEAR OF COMMITMENT I was rather surprised to see that fear of spiders was so low down… Read more
Easter Sunday Dawn Service-Our Lives Rebooted (Year B)
1 April 2018
Every now and then as I’m working on my computer it begins to slow down and get really sluggish. Things take longer to process – programs take longer to open. And I realise that what I need to do is turn it off and turn it back on again to refresh it. Sometimes our lives… Read more
Good Friday: It is finished (Year B)
30 March 2018
We wonder why Jesus ministry had to end this way. Why was it necessary for Jesus to die? They are very reasonable questions, but they are not questions that we would ask if we truly understand what Jesus promised. Take St Peter for example. Jesus prophesied that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many… Read more
Maundy Thursday (Year B)
29 March 2018
Betrayal seems to be so common place these days in the public sphere. In politics we have seen Prime Ministers betrayed by their parties ousting them for someone more popular. In relationships we’ve seen families betrayed such as our former Deputy Prime Minister betraying his wife and family. In the celebrity world we have seen… Read more
Palm Sunday- My rights (Year B)
25 March 2018
The greater good is a common expression which indicates that you are doing something that most likely will not benefit you but many people. Palm Sunday is an example of Jesus choosing the greater good rather than his own good. On Palm Sunday we celebrate what is called Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. But this… Read more
4th Sunday in Lent- God’s Masterpieces (Year B)
11 March 2018
I asked a year 12 student recently what their plans were for next year when they finish High School. It was like I had asked them to prove the existence of God or to explain the meaning of life. They had that look in their eyes that screamed – I have no idea what I’m… Read more
3rd Sunday in Lent-How foolish! (Year B)
4 March 2018
There are several Bible verses that I would call my favourite. Today’s reading includes one of those: Paul wrote, “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles,” Paul knew that there was an offensive side to the Christian message to those who didn’t understand – or as he called… Read more
Follow the leader
25 February 2018
One of the features of Australian politics over the past 10 years has been the instability of leadership. In the past 10 or so years we have had the deposing of the Rudd, Gillard, Rudd Government of the Labor Party and the Abbott Turnbull deposing in the Liberal Party. In recent times we have seen… Read more
Jesus predicts Peter’s denial
21 February 2018
As a parent I would always try to give a word of encouragement to my children before a big event. Whether it was a sporting event or before an exam at school – I would give a word of encouragement. “You’re going to do well” – “I have complete trust in you” – Just do… Read more
Hating sin, loving the sinner
18 February 2018
The story of Noah’s ark is a favourite among many people, particularly young children. It is a story that is best known for the images of all the different animals lining up, two by two, to enter the ark to escape the coming flood. It’s a story that brings out pictures of joyful scenes, happy… Read more
Faith in low times
11 February 2018
High and low experiences are part of everyday life. When a couple gets married they vow to love each other “in sickness and in health – for better and for worse – for richer and for poorer. It acknowledges that even in marriage there can be the highs and lows; so too in the life… Read more
True healing
4 February 2018
One of the things that I miss about my first Parish in Minyip, a rural country town in the Wimmera, is going out at night and just looking up at the night sky. Away from the city lights you could see so much more than in metro areas. If you looked long enough you would… Read more
True Authority
28 January 2018
American Artist Andy Warhol once said: “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes”, It’s where we get the saying “15 minutes of fame”. Today it seems that fame is not that uncommon with Social Media enabling people to post videos and pictures of themselves to be seen around the world by anyone…. Read more
Our merciful God
21 January 2018
Today’s Old Testament reading only gives us part of the story of Jonah’s call. If we didn’t know the whole story of Jonah we might believe that Jonah is an exemplary servant of God who responds instantly to God’s call like Andrew, Peter, James and John in our Gospel reading. God gave Jonah instructions to… Read more
Speak Lord your servant is listening
14 January 2018
We often hear comments that we live in godless times. We have this image that our country was once considered a Christian country but we are slowly watching the census figures heading to below 50% of the population. But as we look at our Old Testament reading we find that periods of darkness in relation… Read more
Finding Jesus
7 January 2018
Christmas is well and truly over for most people. Most have taken down their Christmas trees and are finishing off leftover ham and mince pies. (Ringwood) Our Christmas Tree is still up as officially Christmas season continues till Epiphany, January 6th, the original date of Christmas until the 4th Century. Many have returned to work…. Read more
Waiting for our Saviour
31 December 2017
The year ended in similar way to how it began. In January a driver used his car to drive through the streets of Melbourne killing 6 and injuring many more. In December a driver used his car to drive through the streets of Melbourne injuring almost 20 people. Throughout the year there have been many… Read more
Looking again to the manger
25 December 2017
I wonder what would have happened if Jesus were born in today’s world. In all our busyness would we have responded like the Shepherds and said: Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place. So they went with haste. Would we have been too busy? Would we want to… Read more
Our gift wrapped Saviour
24 December 2017
Christmas is a very exciting time for adults and children – for everyone. It’s a highlight of the year and part of the excitement is the giving and receiving of gifts. But it’s getting harder and harder to think of gifts to give. It seems these days that our friends and family have everything they… Read more
Expect the unexpected.
20 December 2017
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in… Read more
Peeling back the layers of Christmas
17 December 2017
I was getting my car serviced during the week and I overheard a couple of the staff chatting at the coffee machine. One said to the other – “so, are you ready for the silly-season”. You’ve probably heard similar references to Christmas including those such as – I can’t wait for Christmas to be over… Read more
Winners and Losers
10 December 2017
We live in a society that seems to be more and more categorised into winners and losers. The recent postal survey on Same Sex Marriage is a classic example. It didn’t solve the issue or bring about a consensus on the matter – it simply created winners and losers. And so we keep hearing the… Read more
Waiting and watching.
3 December 2017
We look again to God with anxious eyes this Advent. With all the difficulties in the world sometimes we can feel so inadequate in trying to make the world a better place. What difference do we make in the world? Sometimes the world’s problems seem so big that it’s like “David and Goliath” – but… Read more
Love comes to life
26 November 2017
Have you ever invited someone to church and they responded that if they ever entered a church the walls would come crashing down? Usually they say that because they believe that their way of life is more than God or the church can tolerate. In the world people have often thought the same believing the… Read more
We are family
5 November 2017
There is a saying – blood is thicker than water. It is said to indicate that when it comes to loyalties family comes first. Families in the Lutheran Church has always been important too. You may have one or more family tree books so you can trace your genealogy and work out who that 2nd… Read more
In God’s Image
22 October 2017
I love it when a baby is born and there is a scramble to identify family images in the child. Whose nose does he have? Whose eyes does she have? And as the child grows it’s interesting to watch certain mannerisms that begin to develop from both sides of the family. As parents it’s lovely… Read more
The invitation
15 October 2017
Having been involved in the preparation for our daughter Grace’s wedding earlier this year this reading today took on a new meaning for me. Usually people only see the end result of months, maybe years, of preparation that goes into the big day. Making sure everything is just right so that the day is perfect… Read more
Stewards of God’s vineyard
8 October 2017
Often when watching Current Affairs on TV you’ll see a story about a tenant of a rented property who has trashed the house and left it in a disgusting mess owing on rent. They are terrible stories of disrespect for another person’s property and a lack of appreciation for another person’s generosity towards them. In… Read more
By what authority?
1 October 2017
There is not much doubt that the church has little to no authority in today’s modern world. In Luther’s time the church was very powerful. The Pope was a person with great authority not only in the church but also in the world. Luther actually challenged the worldly power of the church when he taught… Read more
Is God Unfair?
24 September 2017
Sometimes life just isn’t fair? It’s one of the hard realities we learn early on. You can learn it in kindergarten when that child won’t share with you. You can learn it in primary school when the other children won’t play with you or you’re not invited to a birthday party. You can learn it… Read more
Forgive us our sins
17 September 2017
On the first Tuesday of every month many Australians nervously await the announcement from the Reserve Bank regarding what they are doing about interest rates. Our nation’s debt is so high that even a small rise of .25% will send many mortgages into default and households with huge credit card debts into arrears. The latest… Read more
Christian Conflict Resolution
10 September 2017
Jesus deals with a very sensitive topic today – the topic of conflict within the church. Conflict doesn’t have to be a negative experience in the church or in any form of relationship. Rather it can be an opportunity to delve deeper into a relationship. Jesus provides advice for resolving conflicts among church members which… Read more
FATHER’S DAY AND THE GIFT OF OUR FATHERS
4 September 2017
Today is Father’s Day, and given that fathers and fatherhood are in crisis in our modern western culture today, I thought I’d go “off script” so to speak, and talk a little about why fathers matter, and the unique blessings fathers provide for their families. In so doing please understand that I am not criticising… Read more
Jesus, Son of God – what does this mean?
27 August 2017
Getting into places is getting more difficult these days. At the footy you have to go through bag searches and body scans which takes such a long time. If you drive there you have even more difficulty with all the bollards that have been placed around areas to prevent the latest terrorist attacks of driving… Read more
God’s “un-fairness”
20 August 2017
Today’s encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman from the region of Tyre and Sidon is often misread and even misunderstood. People are often left scratching their heads wondering about Jesus’ treatment of this woman pleading for Jesus to heal her daughter. They often ask why Jesus denies her request at first. But as I… Read more
The Deafening Silence of God.
13 August 2017
People often ask me how I became a Christian and then later on becoming a pastor. They seem a little disappointed with my answer thinking I had this huge mountain top experience or where God appeared to me in a vision to convert me and then tell me to become a pastor. Becoming a Christian;… Read more
How did he do that?
6 August 2017
I was watching the TV show – America’s Got Talent a couple of weeks ago and they had a magician as one of their acts. They chained him up and put handcuffs on him and then placed him inside a wooden box in a hole that had been previous dug. The men outside the hole… Read more
Kingdom Parables
30 July 2017
Jesus today continues his teaching in Parables and gives us 5 ways to imagine the Kingdom of Heaven: Like a mustard seed; like yeast in flour; like treasure hidden in a field; like a priceless pearl; and like a net that catches all kinds of fish. These are not just a repeat of each other… Read more
Evil mixed with good
23 July 2017
‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ That is a question that has been asked of God since the beginning of time. ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ As we hear the creation story… Read more
Generous or irresponsible Sower?
16 July 2017
When I found out that my first Parish was going to be a country town in the Wimmera called Minyip I was contacted by the chairman to see if my family and I would like to come up for a weekend to be shown around the town where I would be the Pastor. The chairman… Read more
Regretting our actions
9 July 2017
The news this week has been dominated with violence in sport where people have reacted in ways that they say was not to cause hurt but it did. It began with Richmond footballer Bachar Houli who knocked out a player when he got frustrated with him grabbing onto him. The next week Melbourne footballer Tom… Read more
The Welcoming Community
2 July 2017
Traditionally many houses have at their front door a mat for visitors to wipe their feet on. Invariably there is written on the mat “welcome”. Hence we get the term “Welcome Mat”. But then, just next to the doorbell is a different message to visitors arriving. It is a sign that says “Do Not Knock”…. Read more
Dealing with sin through Baptism
25 June 2017
The story of Isaac and Ishmael is an interesting story. God had promised Abraham a son with his wife Sarah from which would become a great nation – so numerous that no one could count them – like sand on a beach or the stars in the sky. The problem is that Abraham is nearing… Read more
God’s Mission
18 June 2017
Although last year’s census has not yet released the results for religious beliefs – it is expected that there will be a drastic decline in the number of people who identify as Christian. Part of this view is because the option of “no religion” was placed at the top of the list of options. Perhaps… Read more
Saving the best till last
11 June 2017
There is a saying that you “leave the best till last”. Sometimes it can be misused to cover up an oversight like when you’re thanking a group of people and realise you’ve missed someone and add them in later telling them “I was leaving the best till last”. Often when eating dinner I might use… Read more
God’s gift to us
4 June 2017
Every year in our household birthdays and Christmas are becoming harder and harder to find a gift to give. As children grow older and no longer scream for the latest toy that all their friends have it’s hard to find a personal gift. In this day and age with credit cards we find that people… Read more
Ascension Sunday
28 May 2017
Another week and another terrorist attack. This latest one being a bomb exploded at a concert intended for young people. The intention was to cause maximum harm to quite vulnerable children including an 8 year old there with her mother and sister to watch the concert. Over 20 dead and many more injured. The following… Read more
Confirmation Sunday
28 May 2017
I was watching the news a couple weeks ago where an item came up that in one way made me laugh but in another way made me sad. It spoke about a cyclist Luka Pibernik from Slovenia riding in the Giro D’Italia cycling race who threw his arms up in victory when he crossed the… Read more
The Unknown God made known
21 May 2017
When people find out that I am a Pastor I come across so many people who tell me that they aren’t Christian but they are spiritual people. Sometimes they even say they don’t believe in God but are spiritual. I think by spiritual they probably mean similar to what Paul encountered today when he visited… Read more
Jesus is the Way
14 May 2017
There’s a knock at the door. You open the door and there is a nicely groomed couple perhaps with a young child with them. They greet you with a smile and you suspect what it’s about. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are there to share with you about their faith. I admire their commitment and courage to… Read more
Jesus our Gate
7 May 2017
I’m always intrigued about the image used for our relationship with God that focuses on sheep and shepherd. Whereas there are some endearing pictures of Jesus the Good Shepherd carrying the lost sheep home on his shoulders the reality is that sheep are not that glamorous as an image. Sheep are considered as dumb animals…. Read more
Recognising Jesus by faith.
30 April 2017
Have you ever stopped to think about how amazing God’s creation is? I find the colours and variety in nature amazing. God could have created a world full of bland experiences but chose to have colour and beauty imbedded in his creation. God could have chosen one type of fish, one type of bird, one… Read more
Eternal Life – not a scam
16 April 2017
Rarely a day goes by when I don’t receive an email trying to lure me into a scam. They range from Lotteries that I have won that I did not enter. Or beautiful Russian women that somehow got my email address and tell me how much they want to meet me. Then there are the… Read more
Seeing by believing
16 April 2017
The resurrection cab be a confusing story and apparently was equally confusing for those who were present at the time. Mary Magdalene, whose life had been transformed by Jesus, came to the tomb early in the morning. Despite what Jesus may have said about rising from the dead, it is clear that Mary had come… Read more
Destined to die – destined for eternal life.
14 April 2017
At our community meal a few weeks ago I was chatting with one of our guest who was enjoying his cup of coffee after his meal. We have lots of chats about politics, religion and sport – the 3 topics that you say you shouldn’t talk about. As he was sipping his coffee I made… Read more
True Evangelism
13 April 2017
Evangelism is a word that is on the tips of the tongues of all churches. Churches are feeling the pressure of declining memberships and are looking at ways to attract new members. There are many reasons why people no longer feel that church is part of their life. People are too busy for church. Church… Read more
Quick Change
9 April 2017
There is a saying that if you don’t like Melbourne weather, just wait half an hour and it will change. I’ve found myself these past few weeks starting off the day with jumper and heater – only to be ripping them off before midday and putting the air conditioning on and then getting home and… Read more
Jesus, the final Word.
2 April 2017
Today’s gospel reading is again a very long reading but at the heart of message is the question or statement made by both Mary and Martha and also the crowd to Jesus. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. When Mary came where Jesus was and… Read more
Big isn’t always better
26 March 2017
On the front page of the Knox Leader newspaper there was an article which really interested me. And its opening paragraph read: RELIGION is booming in Knox with people flocking to weekend services and the city’s biggest churches looking at major expansion plans to cope with demand. Knox’s CityLife Church is creating a new $11… Read more
Is the Lord among us or not?
19 March 2017
What do you expect when you come along to church? Do you expect to come away feeling like you’ve just had the most amazing experience ever being blessed by being in the presence of God? Do you feel like you’ve had that mountain top experience like Peter, James and John when Jesus appeared before them… Read more
The journey of faith
12 March 2017
Our Bible reading today includes one of the most well-known bible verses – John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. It is often referred to as the Gospel in a nutshell. It contains… Read more
Living with temptation
5 March 2017
It is interesting that immediately after such an important moment of Jesus’ life – God’s public announcement at Jesus’ baptism – this is my Son whom I love – that he then faced a major upheaval in his life. God’s Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness for 40 days where he was tempted by… Read more
Listen to HIM.
26 February 2017
Over the past few weeks we have heard Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It has had some challenging commands like turning the other cheek and loving your enemy. We heard that being angry breaks the command “do not murder”. They were hard and challenging. Now we hear one more command directly from God himself. And… Read more
Hidden greatness
19 February 2017
My father and I often have quite interesting discussions on politics and world news. My father comes from a Middle Eastern background so his solution to crime is quite simplistic. If they steal something – cut off their hands. They won’t steal again. That sort of logic is rife in our society and not just… Read more
Keeping the Spirit of the Law
12 February 2017
Sometimes I find the 10 commandments very easy. After all, I’ve never murdered anyone. I love my parents. I have been faithful in my marriage. I don’t bear false witness against my neighbour. I have never coveted my neighbour’s house or my neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or… Read more
Pass the salt please
5 February 2017
When I read the bible reading for today the first thing I did was googled “can salt lose its saltiness. Apart from the bible reading I’ve never heard of it before – and apparently no one else had either. According to the responses that I read it was said – salt simply can’t lose its… Read more
True Greatness from God
29 January 2017
The phrase which we heard over and over again during the American Presidential campaign by Donald Trump and in his inauguration speech was “make America great”. And he said that the way he was going to do that was by “putting Americans first”. Making America Great – Putting Americans First. Basically he is saying that… Read more
An uneasy call
22 January 2017
230 years ago a fleet of 11 ships was sent from England to Australia to establish a penal colony for the sending of prisoners. On January 26th this week we remember that occasion as we commemorate Australia Day. Just 50 years later Lutherans in Prussia would set sail to Australia to avoid becoming prisoners in… Read more
What will 2016 be remembered for?
1 January 2017
What will 2016 be remembered for? For many it will be one of the worst years of terrorist attacks. It’s estimated around 1500 have been killed and 3500 injured in terrorist attacks around the world. Or perhaps it will be remembered for the celebrity deaths such as Carrie Fischer and her mother Debbie Reynolds, singers… Read more
True God and True Human
18 December 2016
On the surface it seems that Joseph has 2 choices. He can abide by the Law of Moses and hand over Mary to be judged with the likely result being Mary is stoned to death for adultery. Maybe this is why Jesus has so much compassion for the woman caught in adultery during his mission… Read more
Should we expect another?
11 December 2016
Have you ever bought something you’ve seen advertised and then been disappointed once you’ve gotten it home? Over the years I’ve fallen for a few items on TV shopping. As I’m pounding my way on the cross-trainer at the gym there is an ad on the TV above me showing people standing on a vibrating… Read more
The God of all hope
4 December 2016
Of all the qualities that Paul could have assigned to God it’s interesting that he refers to God as a God of hope. We live in a world where hope is sought after so badly in so many ways because people want to be sure about their future. Knowing that their future is secure gives… Read more
Hope for Christians
13 November 2016
Sometimes you get a bible reading where it’s really hard to say “this is the Gospel of the Lord – praise to you O Christ”. Today’s Gospel reading appears to be one of them. Jesus speaks about terrible times ahead for the world but then says that Christians will not only be part of the… Read more
God of the opposites
6 November 2016
In the Superman comics there is a planet called Bizarro World. It is a world where everything is the opposite of planet earth. Instead of being a round planet it is a cube. Instead of loving beauty they praise ugliness. As I read the Gospel today it seems to me that Jesus is describing Bizarro… Read more
50 years of Unity
30 October 2016
Quite often when I attend a Lutheran function I have to explain how a person with a surname like mine ended up, not just in the Lutheran Church but as a Pastor of the Lutheran Church. Surnames are an important heritage of the Lutheran Church because it identifies you with a particular family line that… Read more
Being made right before God
23 October 2016
Is the Pharisee’s prayer that bad? On the surface he sounds like a good and righteous man who does more than most. He observes the evils of the world around him and doesn’t get involved. He gives thanks to God that he is not like the rest of humanity: greedy dishonest, adulterous….” He is a… Read more
Nagging God with prayer
16 October 2016
If you’re a parent then the chances are you’ve experienced the supermarket meltdown where your child has had a tantrum because they really want that chocolate that the supermarket has strategically placed at the checkout. Or if you’re not a parent then perhaps you’ve seen a struggling parent with their child. You’ve carefully avoided the… Read more
Jesus brings justice
2 October 2016
A new and controversial law was passed in Victoria this week. People who drop their pants to show their backside in public face up to six months in jail with new laws introduced to ban the cheeky practice known as “mooning”. First-time offenders face up to two months in jail while repeat offenders could spend… Read more
Reversal of fortunes
25 September 2016
Once again we have a story that seems to be about money. One could easily be led to believe from this parable that the poor go to heaven and the rich go to hell. But the rich man wasn’t judged because he was rich and neither was the poor man rewarded because he was poor…. Read more
Pentecost 18
18 September 2016
One cannot help but call the manager in our parable today a rogue. Firstly he has mismanaged his master’s accounts. How, we don’t know. But then, when his mismanagement is discovered and he is sacked, he uses his master’s accounts to provide for his own future. When he is found out you would think that… Read more
Even worst of sinners are forgiven
11 September 2016
September 11 always brings back haunting memories of the day we woke to hear about the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre. It’s been 15 years since it happened but to many it is like it only happened yesterday. To date we still feel the effects. The heightened security. You go to the football… Read more
A love hate relationship
4 September 2016
Have you ever been caught out by an unexpected cost? Have you ever bought a cheap printer for your computer only to find that when the ink runs out the replacement costs more than the price you paid for the printer? Or have you ever bought something cheap off the internet only to find it… Read more
The seat of honour
28 August 2016
The Olympics are over and now the fallout has begun. Australia won 29 medals in Rio, at a cost of $11,434,910 per medal. People are now starting to ask questions demanding answers and accountability and whose fault for our lack of success. We expected better. We ended up 10th we expected 5th and many are… Read more
