A Church in the heart of Wollongong
How can we know God's for us when it looks like God's against us? By faith in our living redeemer.
If I'm sick have I sinned? We learn from Job's friends what not to say to a suffering believer.
If I'm sick have I sinned? We learn from Job's friends what not to say to a suffering believer.
What does faith look like confronted with suffering?
What does faith look like confronted with suffering?
We all want to live a life that makes a difference and leave a legacy that lasts. Work is often a way we do this. There is only 1 type of work that is never in vain: the work of the Lord Jesus.
We all want to live a life that makes a difference and leave a legacy that lasts. Work is often a way we do this. There is only 1 type of work that is never in vain: the work of the Lord Jesus.
Are we meant to do our dream jobs? Or does God have particular jobs he calls us to do?
Are we meant to do our dream jobs? Or does God have particular jobs he calls us to do?
We heard last week that we don't use work as an idol to make our own identity, to amass $$ to consume, or to find our satisfaction and meaning. So why do we work? God gives us 2 radical new reasons to work - to love our new boss, and to love people as we work with them, and through the work we do we do for them. That means we can love God and love people in any work.
We heard last week that we don't use work as an idol to make our own identity, to amass $$ to consume, or to find our satisfaction and meaning. So why do we work? God gives us 2 radical new reasons to work - to love our new boss, and to love people as we work with them, and through the work we do we do for them. That means we can love God and love people in any work.
We do a lot of work and it's a mixed experience for each of us. God designed work for our good but because of our rebellion we work against God and work has also become painful toil. We experience both those realities and need God's help not to whinge about work or to worship work, but to thank God it's Monday and to go work with him.
We do a lot of work and it's a mixed experience for each of us. God designed work for our good but because of our rebellion we work against God and work has also become painful toil. We experience both those realities and need God's help not to whinge about work or to worship work, but to thank God it's Monday and to go work with him.
We do a lot of work and it's a mixed experience for each of us. God designed work for our good but because of our rebellion we work against God and work has also become painful toil. We experience both those realities and need God's help not to whinge about work or to worship work, but to thank God it's Monday and to go work with him.
What if serving Jesus can be energising instead of draining? How to find joy and strength in reaping the harvest Jesus has sown.
What if serving Jesus can be energising instead of draining? How to find joy and strength in reaping the harvest Jesus has sown.
We all want justice - our world is broken and it can seem hopeless. But Jesus is the King who suffers, justifies, and rises again - to bring us hope and a future!
We all want justice - our world is broken and it can seem hopeless. But Jesus is the King who suffers, justifies, and rises again - to bring us hope and a future!
God has written an ancient love song through his prophet Isaiah to help understand what Easter is all about.
God has written an ancient love song through his prophet Isaiah to help understand what Easter is all about.
Our culture is obsessed with romantic relationships. The message is loud and clear: singleness is a problem that needs fixing. To be single is to be waiting, incomplete, unfulfilled. But what if God sees it differently? What if singleness isn't second-best, or a season to just “get through,” but actually a good gift from God?
Our culture is obsessed with romantic relationships. The message is loud and clear: singleness is a problem that needs fixing. To be single is to be waiting, incomplete, unfulfilled. But what if God sees it differently? What if singleness isn't second-best, or a season to just “get through,” but actually a good gift from God?
How do I decide whether to get married or remain single? The gospel radically changes our thinking on marriage and family.
How do I decide whether to get married or remain single? The gospel radically changes our thinking on marriage and family.
Is it wrong to want a change of circumstances? Are some situations in life better than others?
Is it wrong to want a change of circumstances? Are some situations in life better than others?
It is estimated that the average marriage in Australia lasts 12 years with separation before divorce occurring around 8 years. Why is the divorce rate is so high in Australia? What does God have to say about Marriage, Separation and Divorce?
It is estimated that the average marriage in Australia lasts 12 years with separation before divorce occurring around 8 years. Why is the divorce rate is so high in Australia? What does God have to say about Marriage, Separation and Divorce?
Our culture has much to say on singleness, sex and marriage. What does God say?
Our culture has much to say on singleness, sex and marriage. What does God say?
What you do with your body is more than just a personal choice - it's a reflection of who you belong to. In 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Paul challenges us to think about our freedom in Christ, how we're called to honour God with every part of our lives and how true freedom is found when we live for Christ, not ourselves. Who really has control over your life - you or Jesus?
What you do with your body is more than just a personal choice - it's a reflection of who you belong to. In 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Paul challenges us to think about our freedom in Christ, how we're called to honour God with every part of our lives and how true freedom is found when we live for Christ, not ourselves. Who really has control over your life - you or Jesus?
Grow up - is a key part of the message in this part of 1 Corinthians. They have before them situation where Christian brothers are taking each other to court, and for such a trivial matter that should have been very easy for the church to sort out - but they are so immature that they can't even judge the simplest of cases. They are struggling to make right judgements in their immaturity and they need to grow up. Those in Christ should grow to have a mature eternal view point enabling them to easily discern what is right in much smaller earthly matters. The Corinthians are so muddled that they even need reminding of basic things that will keep people out of the kingdom of God. As Paul reminds them, there is a great reminder for us of the grace and generosity of God in his salvation of us which ought to then give us clarity to make right judgements in this world as we wait for Christ to return.
Grow up - is a key part of the message in this part of 1 Corinthians. They have before them situation where Christian brothers are taking each other to court, and for such a trivial matter that should have been very easy for the church to sort out - but they are so immature that they can't even judge the simplest of cases. They are struggling to make right judgements in their immaturity and they need to grow up. Those in Christ should grow to have a mature eternal view point enabling them to easily discern what is right in much smaller earthly matters. The Corinthians are so muddled that they even need reminding of basic things that will keep people out of the kingdom of God. As Paul reminds them, there is a great reminder for us of the grace and generosity of God in his salvation of us which ought to then give us clarity to make right judgements in this world as we wait for Christ to return.
What are we to make of Paul's instruction to remove someone from church when it appears so unloving?
What are we to make of Paul's instruction to remove someone from church when it appears so unloving?
God's vision for His church is maturity. What does that look like?
God's vision for His church is maturity. What does that look like?
Of all the good causes we could be a part of, why the making of disciples of Jesus?
Of all the good causes we could be a part of, why the making of disciples of Jesus?
If God's vision is for a loving community why do I feel so lonely?
If God's vision is for a loving community why do I feel so lonely?
Spend 20 seconds scrolling online and you'll see that our world is full of wars, violence, corruption - and people are just mean! But are these issues caused by just a few bad people or are we all mostly bad? We're going to dig into the fundamentals of human nature and see what God, our creator, has to say about us.
Spend 20 seconds scrolling online and you'll see that our world is full of wars, violence, corruption - and people are just mean! But are these issues caused by just a few bad people or are we all mostly bad? We're going to dig into the fundamentals of human nature and see what God, our creator, has to say about us.
Our origin story determines our purpose & value as humans. There's 2 competing accounts - we're either accidents resulting from the big bang and evolution who have no purpose or value (and so we create our own), or we're designed by a knowable creator who made us & gives us our purpose & value (to know Him & to be known by Him).
Our origin story determines our purpose & value as humans. There's 2 competing accounts - we're either accidents resulting from the big bang and evolution who have no purpose or value (and so we create our own), or we're designed by a knowable creator who made us & gives us our purpose & value (to know Him & to be known by Him).
Paul has a grand view of heaven and is pushing on to get there. What are we to do while we wait for Jesus? We press on too, imitating those who are a little further ahead so we can attain to our glorious resurrection.