Alison Talks Faith

Justice, humbleness, bodies ... and rainbow cake! Reflecting on Hosea 6:6-8 with The Village Church, Mount Eliza, 25 May 2025.

Resurrection life is elusive and disruptive—and changes everything. Reflecting on Luke 24 with Westgate Baptist Community Church, Year C Easter Day, 20 April 2025 

In the face of oppression, Jesus tightens our focus and grounds us. Reflecting on Luke 13:1-9 with Brunswick Baptist Church, Lent 3 Year C, 23 March 2025.

Jesus' resistance to evil lies in knowing himself beloved. Reflecting on Luke 4:1-13 with Westgate Baptist Community Church, Lent 1 Year C, 9 March 202.

Is baptism a ticket out of this world, or a plunge further into it? Reflecting on Luke 3:15-22 with Coburg Uniting Church, 12 January 2025.

Love in a troubled world: what does it look like? And what does it not? Reflecting on Isaiah 42:1-9 and Philippians 2:5-11, West Preston Baptist Church, 15 December 2024.

God's word comes to the one who relinquishes privilege and works for justice. Shared with Westgate Baptist on 8 December 2024, reflecting on Luke 3:1-6

Military violence never ends, but Jesus' way leads to a true and lasting peace. Shared with Coburg Uniting Church on 24 November 2024, reflecting on John 18:33-37 (Christ the King).

In a nation struggling with the legacies of Christendom, the widow's gift offers a way forward. Shared with Rosanna Baptist on 10 November 2024, reflecting on Mark 12:38-13:2.

Suffering is indiscriminate, but so is joy. A personal story, a bit of commentary, and some invitations. Shared with Coburg Uniting on 13 October 2024.

An invitation to connect with the earth. Shared with Rosanna Baptist on 6 October 2024, reflecting on Genesis 18:1-15.

Church isn't about living a sheltered or peaceful life, nor is it about ignoring or erasing the differences in the room. A reflection shared with Brunswick Baptist Church on 22 September 2024.

An Anangu-Pitjantjatjara-Yankunytjatjara story collides with a Hebrew Psalm flowing through a Cornishwoman who was born in the colony and learned about the APY story at art galleries built on Wurundjeri land. Paintings, stories, animations and interviews from a major exhibition here. Senior Law Women and AṈANGU Dancers from the APY Lands slowly unfold the story here with gentle good humour Wirangu women Susie Betts and cultural knowledge keeper Veda Betts tell a third version here, linking it to stories told around the world Explore, learn, be fed, enjoy ... and share the story!

A friend encouraged me to re-preach an oldie on the Syro-Phoenician woman. But you can never quite do the same thing twice. So here's the oldie, updated to reflect recent news events and some fresh weirdness in my life. Given to Coburg Uniting Church Sunday 8 September 2024.

Revelation can be read to judge and exclude ... but what if it's not like that? A reflection by Alison Sampson on Revelation 6:1-8:1 given to the Vietnamese Evangelical Church of Australia (English speaking congregation) on 28 July 2024 © Alison Sampson 2024.

The dance of the liturgy heals and transforms us: but to receive its gifts, we must participate. A reflection given to Westgate Baptist Community Church on 14 July 2024.

Where does God live? Does God live at church? A reflection for Canterbury Baptist, who are soon to move out of their building for an extended period of time. 

When Satan casts out Satan, he grows stronger: but with Christ we can unmask and bind him. A reflection on Mark 3:20-35 given to Westgate Baptist Community Church on 9 June 2024.  A cheerfully terrible recording for those who will listen anyway - the builders next door continue, and my sound fades every time they get busy with a sander.

What you worship changes everything.

Fear is immobilising, but Jesus' peace offers a way forward. A terrible recording masking out two helicopters, next door's angle grinder, leaf blowers and teens ... which is  the daily backdrop to life in the big smoke!

Jesus' ‘triumphal' entry into Jerusalem is a parody, a raspberry, a fart.

Rejected by the worshipping community, blind Bartimaeus is commended for his faith.

A final word to Sanctuary, which closed on 26 November 2023.

Maybe God isn't an angry absentee landlord. Maybe the wicked, lazy, worthless bloke is Christ. A retelling of the parable of the talents, and the last post here for the foreseeable. This podcast was made primarily for Sanctuary folk, and Sanctuary finishes up on 26 November 2023. More details at sanctuarybaptist.org.

We will find Christ among foolish bridesmaids and other outcasts, laughing in boundless joy.

Integrity, love and service are the hallmarks of legitimate authority.

Love is not a warm smooshy feeling, but a decision, an action, and an orientation.

Happiness is fragile, temporary. But even in the depths of anguish, we can know joy.

In God's economy, there is no private ownership, only stewardship.

Who causes suffering when we fail to forgive?

Turning towards one another inevitably leads to conflict, and that means work.

The God of freedom calls us to shape the future through our collective choices.

The story of exodus points to the joy-filled possibilities of civil disobedience.

In his encounter with the Canaanite woman, Jesus repeats then repents of Joshua's policy of no mercy.

Sometimes, you have to fight for a blessing; and sometimes, it'll cost you.

As we live through the hottest weeks on record, an ancient letter offers counsel and courage.

God meets us in liminal spaces, when all our defences are down.

The usual interpretation of the binding of Isaac is that God requires us to sacrifice everything, even, if asked, our own children. But could a contextual awareness reveal a more life-giving reading?

In the face of sin, death and the injustice of empire, we are called to practice resurrection. A reflection on Romans, quoting also Wendell Berry's poem, Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front. 

The story of Abram points to a more just settlement, paving the way to Voice and Treaty.

We here at Sanctuary used to gather 'all together in one place.' So what happened? And what comes next?

If you want to encounter the Risen Christ, don't gaze into heaven. Just look around!

A community founded on Christ will be humble, hospitable and loving.

Followers of Jesus engage in four devotional practices, which lead to full and flourishing life.

Through stranger, scripture and a meal shared, all things are made new: even us!

Jesus' entry into Jerusalem resembles a pride parade, and our guy is a clown.

Only a people divorced from Spirit, self and land, indeed, only a culture of dry bones, could engage in colonial violence. Yet even for them, there is hope.

To encounter Jesus is to invite change.

‘Since you're the son of God,' says the devilish examiner in Matthew's story, ‘turn these stones to bread.' Use your power for your own ends. Whip up a miracle, and feed yourself ... https://sanctuarybaptist.org/

Jesus sets out a path of nonviolent resistance to state sanctioned domination and abuse.

Jesus' new community calls for self-awareness, self-regulation and love.