Weekly preaching audio from Anchor Church Sydney. In Community. On Mission. For Jesus.
How do we become people who love others without favouritism? James 2:1-13 invites us to consider this question
What is the mark of a genuine faith? How can you tell if you really know Jesus? James says that the one who has true faith listens and obeys, but the one who doesn't is like someone who looks into a mirror and forgets what he looks like.... Hear from James how to be one who hears, listens, and obeys.
Our Lead Pastor Matt Sparks kicks off a new series in the book of James called Horses, Fire & Ships. In this message he unpacks James' counter-cultural wisdom for seasons of trial and temptation. Will the challenges we face in life make us bitter or better?
Why do we long for more than this life? Why does death feel like an intruder? This Easter message explores how the resurrection of Jesus answers our deepest desires—with a hope that's alive, a home that lasts, and a reason to keep going through our trials.1 Pet 1:3, 4, 6.
How do we become people who are devoted to prayer? We consider the pattern of Jesus' prayer life and the pattern of the early church and how this should inform the way we devote ourselves to prayer today.
Our future reality directly informs our present perspective. James Wong gives us two glimpses of the future of the church from the book of Revelation; before explaining how that ought to shape our perspective and mindset in this life.
Sermon Description for Podcast: What happens when the church loses her sense of purpose and role in the world? We are called to be a worshipping, counter-cultural community that both declares and demonstrates the love of God in the world.Exod 19:5-6, Is 2:2-3, Is 56:7, 1 Pet 2:9, Matt 5:14-16, Tit 2:9-10, John 20:21
What makes a church healthy? What are the foundations and makers of a Spirit-filled, Gospel-centered community? Pastor James Wong unpacks a description of the early church for us to aspire to from Acts 2:42-47.
The Lord's Supper is more than a ritual—it's a profound encounter with Christ. In this sermon, Matt Sparks explores how communion is a moment of remembrance, proclamation, participation, anticipation, and sustenance. In it he unpacks the rich meaning of this sacred meal and its power to shape our faith, identity, and community.
In part two of our series called (re)discovering church, we're considering the question 'why do I need the church?'
Matt Sparks opens a new series called Rediscovering Church, in it we (re)discover the biblical nature of the church as the people of God, called to follow Jesus, worship him and serve him as heralds of the good news.
A rule of life is a set of intentional rhythms and relationships that form us into the image of Christ, by becoming people who love God and others in increasing measure. This teaching explores how to build your own rule of life.
Fishing off the other side of the boat is part 3 of our 2025 vision series.
Still Setting the Sail is part 2 of our 2025 vision series. Our Lead Pastor Matt Sparks, calls on our church to be a people of prayer because we have a Father who hears, a God who is able, we know our need, and we're hungry for more. The church moves forward on its knees. Ps 116:1-2, Eph 3:20-21, Ps 127:1, Hab 3:1-2
Our Lead Pastor Matt Sparks casts vision for the year ahead, calling us to draw near to God with renewed devotion. Preaching from James 4:8, he challenges us to pursue deeper intimacy with God, knowing that as we seek Him, He meets us with His transforming presence.
We all know what it's like to hunger; not only physically but also more deeply. Every man and woman alive knows what it's like to experience a deep 'hunger' of the soul, which we all seek to satisfy with various pursuits, people and pleasures. What is the solution to this hungering? Where can true and lasting satisfaction be found? This is precisely the question Jesus addresses in the miracle of feeding the multitudes in Mark 6.
How are we made clean in the sight of God? Discover how Jesus healing a man with leprosy points us to the spiritual cleansing that we all need. Mark 1:40 - 45
Life is full of disappointment. Where can we find a hope that will not disappoint? The true story of Christmas reminds us that real hope is found in the birth of our saviour Jesus.
In a culture of instant gratification and immediacy, how do we learn to wait with hope for our Saviour this Advent season?
Where can hope be found this holiday season? Our world would tell us to put our hope in all that this season brings; but the problem with that, is that it's highly dependent on our personal circumstances. The Christian faith offers a better, truer, more trustworthy hope that doesn't change based on how our lives are going. This is what participating in Advent is all about.
Celebration Sunday is an annual marker for us to pause, remember what God has done! 1 Samuel 7:12, 7-9
the world is yet to see what God can do with a people who are fully consecrated to Him.
Do you know God wants to use your prayers? God wants to use our prayers to bring about revival and His kingdom purposes here in Sydney… the question is: are we even praying?
How do we become present to God's presence in our midst? Psalm 24
Listen to the second sermon from our 'Set the Sail' series to hear about what it means for us to build altars today.
G. Campbell Morgan said that “we cannot organize revival, but we can set our sails to catch the wind from Heaven when God chooses to blow upon His people once again.” Listen to the first sermon from our 'Set the Sail' series to hear about our need to return to the Lord as the starting place for revival.
How do we live a life that is rich toward God in a culture that is concerned with accumulating riches on earth? Luke 12:13-34
A message on Paul's final instructions and exhortations from 1 Corinthians 16 by James Wong.
How do we come to possess resurrection hope? 1 Corinthians 15:29-58
What things are most important for a vibrant faith? 1 corinthians 15:1-11
In our worship gatherings all our words should do three things: 1) makes sense, 2) strengthen the believer and, 3) convict the unbeliever.
Diversity should not mean disunity. God has intentionally arranged the gifts for the good of the body! We need each other!
The church is Corinth had all the gifts, but lacked in character and holiness. We probably have the opposite problem; we have character and holiness but are lacking in the manifestation of the Spirit, as demonstrated by the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. What are the gifts of the Spirit and why has He given them?
How do we learn from the mistakes at Corinth and remember the centrality of Jesus in the Lord's Supper?
How do we ensure the gospel is passed down to the next generation? Deuteronomy 6:6-9
In a world of gender confusion, what does it mean to be men and women gathered in worship? 1 Cor 11:2-3, 4-6, 7-12, 13-16, Gal 3:28
Bible Reading (Translation): 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 NIV Paul indicates that our behaviour should not be dictated by what we may consider to be our rights or what freedoms we may have, but by that which will benefit (ourselves and especially) others and will make for individual Christians who are stronger in their faith and commitment to Christ and a Christian community which is stronger in its unified reflection of the lordship of Jesus Christ.
Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-22
We have a low commitment version of Christianity that is out of sync with Paul's vision of apprenticeship to Jesus. This is a call to break up with comfortable, low-cost, faith and embrace the reward & joys sacrificial commitment to the kingdom of God.
Knowledge puffs up but love builds up. In this chapter Paul deals with the issue of the Corinthians conduct regarding food sacrifices to idols, and exhorts them to prioritise loving regard for their siblings in Christ over and above the exercise of their individual liberties and freedoms.
All around us we find advice about how to handle our romantic relationships; and much of the advice is bad. In 1 Corinthians 7, the Apostle Paul shows us God's intentions for marriage, sex, singleness, divorce and dating.
Our futures determine how we move in the present. This week Arnaldo, Lead Pastor at Anchor South West brings the word from 1 Corinthians 6:1-11. The witness of the church is at stake when we don't learn how to fight well as brothers and sisters in Christ. Listen in as we explore the reality that "our eschatological reality, which is based on our past redemption, should shape our present relationships."
God has done and we believe will continue to do immeasurably more than all we ask for imagine! Today we give God all the glory he deserves for all he's done in the last 10 years!
In a culture of promiscuity the body of Christ is called to holiness as we to honour God with our bodies.
In the previous chapters Paul has rebuked the Corinthians for dividing over which human leaders they follow and evaluating them according to worldly measures. In chapter four he explains how Christian leaders should be 'rightly' regarded; as well as what it means to follow them in the 'foolish' way of the cross.
In a culture and church that feels more divided than ever, what does it look like for us to be one unified body under Christ?
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