St Michael's sermons

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Christian homilies engaging with the Bible, contemporary life and the big issues of our time

St Michael's Kelburn


    • Jun 13, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 24m AVG DURATION
    • 92 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from St Michael's sermons

    John 3.16: "... so loved..."

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2025 23:02


    Continuing our series on John 3.16, Tim unpacks how it is possible for God to love, and how the doctrine of the Trinity seems to be a necessary basis for a loving God.Key texts:1 John 4.7-16Exodus 34.4-7

    John 3.16: For God...

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2025 19:20


    This sermon is the first full sermon in a series on John 3.16. It's one of the most famous verses in the bible, but worth unpacking slowly. This week, Tim asks, who is the God who so loved the world?The key text here is Exodus 3.1-15Tim begins by reading an extract from what's called 'The Memorial' of Blaise Pascal.

    Loyal But Afraid: How Jesus Unlocks Disciples' Hearts (Tim McKenzie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 17:40


    The disciples who gather behind locked doors in John 20 are afraid of the authorities; afraid because of their loyalty to Jesus. Are there parallels with us? Are we loyal to Jesus, but afraid because of Christianity's cultured despisers? If so, how might we let Jesus breathe his Holy Spirit on us this Easter.Texts:John 20.19-23Acts 5.27-32

    Extravagant Love: What Sitting at Jesus' Feet Makes Possible

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 19:07


    In this sermon, Rebecca Packer breaks down the story in John 12.1-9, where Mary anoints Jesus' feet. What becomes possible when we sit at Jesus' feet?Reading:John 12.1-11

    "The Ministry of Reconciliation": Rejoicing when your children beat you at chess

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 20:48


    Reconciliation is a major theme in the New Testament. What does it look like in practice? Jesus' parable of the "prodigal son" helps us work out what we need to do to become reconcilers, rather than clinging to entitlement or resentment. In this sermon, Tim borrows heavily from Henri Nouwen to explore how to live in Gods' love, and how to rejoice when your children beat you at chess.Readings:Luke 15.1-3, 11-32 2 Corinthians 5.16-23

    Listen! Attending to Jesus' uncomfortable words on judgement...

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 13:01


    Lent is hard work, because it asks us to stop distracting ourselves from letting God examine us, inside and out. In this sermon, Matthew explores the idea of God's judgement; why we find it so difficult, and why we need to listen to Jesus' call to repentance.Reading: Luke 13.1-8

    "Herod Wants to Kill You": How Jesus responds to tyrannical rulers, then and now

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 22:40


    In Luke 13.31-35, Jesus gets a tip-off that Herod wants to kill him. This triggers his famous lament over Jerusalem.In this sermon, visiting preacher, Alison Swinfen, walks through that gospel passage, drawing clear parallels between the tyranny of Herod, and the tyranny of those rulers today who want to kill innocent citizens. How does Jesus' response to Herod guide our response to the political violence of our day?

    The Powers: Authenticity, Hypocrisy & Community

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 17:56


    A great drive of contemporary Western culture encourages us to be our "authentic", "our true selves". But is that a desirable goal, for Christians or anyone? On the second Sunday of Advent, when John the Baptist excoriates his audience for their hypocrisy, Matt Packer guides us to ponder what true authenticity looks like...

    The Powers: Work, Overwork, Rest and Sabbath

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 24:47


    At our parish camp earlier in the year, our speaker suggested that the tyranny of overwork is the biggest barrier to Kingdom growth in our parish. Rebecca takes up the challenge by taking us through the challenging territory of resisting the pressure to let work define our lives. On the first Sunday of Advent, she calls us to make commitment to Jesus the very centre of our lives, not a side-hobby Useful scriptures Exodus 5 Ephesians 6

    The Powers: Hope and Despair

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 22:16


    On the Feast of Christ the King, Ginni unpacks the good news from Isaiah 40, bringing us the affirmation that our hope is in what God has done and will do, so that we need not give in to the power of despair. Key Readings Isaiah 40

    The Powers: Intellectualism, Humility and the Fear of the Lord

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 19:44


    One of the biggest powers that holds Western people captive is intellectualism. The intellect is obviously a great gift from God. But what about when it goes wrong? Jessie declares what's important in this sermon in our series on the Powers . Readings: Jeremiah 9.23-26 1 Corinthians 1.18-31 Mark 13.1-8

    The Powers: Individualism & Community

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 23:24


    Westerners live in an epoch and a culture that celebrates powerful personalities and encourages self-assertion. How does this square with a biblical understanding of humans, made in the image of God, and yet called to community? Readings: Psalm 139.1-18 Romans 12.3-8 Matthew 12.46-50

    The Powers: Sex & Superficiality, and a little bit of Wisdom

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 28:55


    Continuing the series on the Powers, Tim picks up the suggestion from parish camp that "superficiality" is one of the key powers of our age, distracting us from deep life in Christ. While pleasure is clearly a God-given gift (after all, "the Son of Man came eating and drinking..."), what goes wrong when it becomes all we live for? And then what happens when unchecked pleasure allies with some of the other powers, like Money and Sex? With some trepidation, Tim closes by offering a defence of the traditional Christian understanding of marriage, recognising that our ideals don't always match reality... Readings: from Job 28.12-15, 20-28 James 3.13-18 Luke 7.31-35

    Money as "a Power": Confronting it with Generosity, Simplicity, & Sharing

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 20:36


    In last week's sermon, Steve talked us through the role of "The Powers" in the letter to the Ephesians. This week, Tim recapitulates that theology by looking at Colossians, and then applying that theology to Money. Can money be redeemed through simple and generous living? Readings: Deuteronomy 8.10-18 Colossians 1.15-20 Luke 16.10-15

    How to Address The Powers: Flee, Fake, Fix, or be Faithful? (Steve Shaw)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 30:08


    Steve Shaw picks up where John Crawshaw left us at church camp. John got us thinking about "The Powers" that Paul introduces in Ephesians. Steve reminds us that These Powers are part of the created order, and that they have a proper place in creation, under Christ, the head. And when we see them out of order in the world around us, our first port of call is not fervent prayer, nor frantic action, but submission to Christ. That submission will then help us in the taking our part in the reordering of creation to which Christ calls us. Readings: Ephesians 1.15-2.10 Ephesians 6.10-18

    Hard Power & Soft Power in Susa and Ngāruawāhia: Civil Servants VI - Esther (Māmari Stephens)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 31:19


    Freshly back from the tangi of Kiingi Tuheitia and the coronation of Kuini Ngā Wai hono o te pō, Māmari Stephens weaves the parallels between the situations of Jews in Exile in Persia under the Emperor Xerxes, and the situation of Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand today. In examining the story of Queen Esther, she ponders how God uses our soft power to work for the good of those who feel the need to hide their identity. Readings: extracts from the Book of Esther Matthew 14.25-31

    Dig In to Where You Live, Dig in to God: Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego (Civil Servants V) (Tim McKenzie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 21:51


    Exile was totally disruptive of the life of God's people. The best and brightest were compelled to work for a foreign regime. But, rather than doing so grumpily, exiles like Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego throw themselves into life in Babylon, in line with Jeremiah's instructions in Jeremiah 29. They dig in to life in Babylon, but they also dig into life with God. And then, when they're asked to cross the line, they know when to say "No". In this sermon, Tim encourages us to do the same; to "dig in" to where God's call takes us,and to "dig in" to God. Readings from Daniel 1, from Daniel 3 Luke 20.20-26

    Doing Your Duty When Your Boss is a Bully: Uriah as Civil Servant (Tim McKenzie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 22:32


    In part 4 of our Civil Servants of Scripture series, Tim looks at some of the officials named in the reign of King David. You can't rule a kingdom without a lot of dedicated officials. But the rot starts at the top. What if power goes to the boss's head, and your boss is the king? Tim talks briefly about Joab, and more extensively, Uriah, to consider the place of officials when power is misused. How does God see this misuse of power? And how should we respond? Readings: 2 Samuel 8.15-18 2 Samuel 11.1-27 Matthew 20.24-28

    Collaboration without Ego: Deborah as Biblical Civil Servant (Rebecca Packer)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024 24:36


    This week, our Civil Servants of Scripture Series looks at Deborah. The story is sometimes seen as an indictment on male leadership, or perhaps as an exaltation of the preferability of female leadership. But what if we see it as an exploration in collaboration and co-operation? How might that help us to approach our work in the world with a spirit of service, calling, and co-operation? Rebecca leads us through these questions - and more - in this sermon! Readings: Judges 4 & 5 Matthew 26.6-13

    'Living the Dream': Civil Servants of the Bible II: Joseph (2) (Matt Packer)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024 21:48


    The story of Joseph is so big, he gets two sermons in this series on Civil Servants of the Bible. This week, Joseph has been installed as effective prime minister of Egypt. Matt outlines for us the qualities of a good servant, including the quality of "anticipation". How does Joseph's faith in God help him to anticipate the nation's needs, and to plan appropriately? And how does his faith help him to break the cycle of scapegoating that dogs the operations of government? Readings: extracts from Genesis 44 & 45 Acts 7.9-15 Luke 15.20-24

    Civil Servants of the Bible: Joseph (1) (Ginni Shaw)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 23:27


    This week's sermon starts a new series on the Civil Servants and Public Officials of the Bible. We live in a civil servant town. All our lives in Wellington are touched by personal connections to the civil service. Many of us work there. Many of us will work there. And even if we don't, all our lives are affected by the policy decisions and executive actions of civil servants. This series asks us how to navigate that life as Christians. How does the Bible help us to think through our multiple allegiances, to our employer, to the State, and above all to God? In this first sermon, Ginni introduces us to Joseph, with the early part of his public career as an official in Potiphar's house. He's confronted early with the complexity of different loyalties. Can he stay true to YHWH, and be a good servant? And what about us? How do we maintain our faith in God when things seem to be falling apart around us in our workplaces? Readings: Genesis 39 Matthew 6.25-34

    Messages from the Mountains VIII: The Mountain of the Ascension (Andrew Burgess)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 35:00


    In the final sermon of this series, Dr Andrew "Burge" Burgess takes us in awe up the Mountain of the Ascension. What does the Ascension teach us about life in the world, about time, and about mission? Readings: Exodus 40.33b-38 Acts 1.1-11 John 14.15-24

    Messages from the Mountains VII: Golgotha (Matthew Bartlett)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 15:19


    The paradoxical climax of Jesus' ministry is his ascent up Mt Golgotha, to the cross. Why is this paradoxical moment so important? Why is it the way to life? Matthew Bartlett explores these questions in this sermon. Towards the end, he references a painting by Ioannis Moskos, which can be found here: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Crucifixion_by_I.Moskos_%281711%29.jpg Readings: Isaiah 53.4-12 2 Corinthians 5.14-the end Luke 23.32-47

    Messsages from the Mountains V: The Sermon on the Mount (Tim McKenzie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 13:13


    The words of Jesus are good! From the vista of the Sermon on the Mount, we can see Jesus' vision for a good society, built on the wholehearted faith of those who open their lives to God. As the floodwaters of our time rise, we're called to remain faithful and generous and committed to others, trusting that God will make that generosity possible. This sermon was a version preached at the 9am service, with a more informal rant about social media and the sermon on the mount preached at the 10.30 all age service. Readings: Matthew 5.1-12 Matthew 7.24-29

    Messages from the Mountains VI: The Mountain of Transfiguration (Sam Jackson)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 19:47


    In this sermon, Sam follows Jesus up the Mountain of Transfiguration. The beautiful truth revealed in this climb is that, in Jesus, God gives us the gift of Godself. Since Jesus has climbed the mountain, it's not all up to us: we have instead the privilege of following him. Readings: Exodus 32.31-34, 33.12-18 Psalm 8 Matthew 17.1-13

    Messages from the Mountains IV: Mt Zion (Tim McKenzie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2024 24:18


    "Zion" is among the most evocative names in Scripture, suggesting the union of heaven and earth in the Jerusalem Temple Mountain. In this sermon, Tim sketches the way "Zion" develops from a nationalistic symbol, via being a symbol of universal hope for the nations, to a place in the heart set aside for the worship of God "in spirit and in truth". Since St Michael's is being called in this season to "deeper worship", what does it mean for us to erect Mt Zion in our hearts? Tim suggests is requires us (i) to keep up the habit of worship, (ii) to be honest, and to confess where we are struggling to surrender to God, (iii) to be wholehearted. Readings: Micah 4.1-5 Psalm 48 (cp. also Psalm 87) Hebrews 12.18-29 John 4.19-25

    Messages for St Michael's from the Mountains III: Mt Sinai (Matthew Packer)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 20:23


    Mt Sinai is one of the most famous mountains of scripture, the mountain where the 10 Commandments are given. In this sermon, Matthew ponders those commandments, and explores the difference between obeying them as a matter of external obedience, and obeying them as a joyous offering from the heart. In the process, he calls us to lives of worship, and gives us a helpful side-helping on mimetic desire. Readings: Exodus 20.1-20 Jeremiah 31.31-34 Luke 22.14-20

    Messages for St Michael's from the Mountains II: Mt Moriah (Tim McKenzie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 21:59


    Mt Moriah is the mountain of sacrifice, the mountain where Abraham shows himself willing to give up everything for God. It's a troubling and mysterious story. In this sermon, Tim asks us to exercise our imagination for what would be possible for St Michael's if we let God have our all. On the way, he gets some help from Soren Kierkegaard, and some from Bishop Justin Duckworth, to ask, "what would it mean for St Michael's to lay everything at God's altar?". What Sacred Cows might need to be sacrificed on the way? Readings: Genesis 22.1-14 Romans 12.1-8 Mark 10.22-31

    Messages for St Michael's from the Mountains I: Mt Carmel & Mt Horeb (Jessie Thornton-Black)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 21:25


    At the Diocesan leadership camp in early 2024, a (sort of) anonymous prophetic message was shared with St Michael's, "Piki Mai!" "come on up [the mountain]". This series responds to that message, by exploring some mountains of scripture, exploring what it might mean for us to come higher up and higher in, in our life together with Jesus. In this opening sermon, Jessie Thornton-Black gets us ready to climb by observing the preparations Elijah takes on the Mountains of Carmel & Horeb/Sinai in 1 Kings 18 & 19. Readings: 1 Kings 18.41-46 1 Kings 19.11-17 Luke 14.25-33

    Believing in Jesus - 1 John 5 (Ginni Shaw)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2024 21:20


    What does it mean to believe in Jesus? In this final part of our post-Easter series on 1 John, Ginni Shaw gives us a beautifully clear statement of what it means to believe in Jesus, and where to go to deepen that belief. the process, she helps revive our faith if it's at risk of going stale. Readings: 1 John 5, especially vv. 1-12 Sermon preached at the 9am service, so the acoustic is a bit different from normal, and there is less heckling...! And there's a reference to Charles Taylor, just for Rayne!

    Jesus & Empire: What was Jesus Doing on Palm Sunday (Professor Chris Marshall)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2024 33:53


    Professor Chris Marshall joins us to unpack the rich symbolism of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

    Grounded and Growing in Love - 1 John 4 (Tim McKenzie)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2024 22:00


    Tim continues our interrupted series on 1 John with some reflections on Chapter 4. Why is it good news that Jesus has come "in the flesh", as a human? How do we dwell in that truth?

    The Good News (Yes!) of the Cross - Bishop Justin

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2024 19:40


    Bishop Justin brings the first of his two-part sermon on the Good News. This week: the good news of the cross.

    Deist, Romantic, Gothic or Jesus Follower? - 1 John 1 & 2 (Tim McKenzie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2024 20:53


    The lectionary sets readings from 1 John for the weeks after Easter. Before this sermon, Tim played the first few minutes of the Bible Project overview of 1 John, and then dives into 3 issues that arose for him from Chapters 1 & 2. - who is this God John is passionate about? - what does it mean to walk in the light? - how do we get into the light?

    Ancient Patterns for Newfangled Times XI: The Law (Rebecca Packer)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2023 24:13


    The Law is a massive theme across the whole bible. How do we understand it, from its place in the Torah's wilderness narratives, right through to Jesus, and Paul's apparent reevaluation of it. These are the questions Rebecca guides us through in this helpful overview of the theme of Law. Readings: Exodus 19.3-6, Ex 20.1-17 Deuteronomy 4.5-14 Galatians 3.23-4.7

    Ancient Patterns for Newfangled Times X: The Exodus (Dr. Philip Fountain)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2023 24:06


    Who is God? One Jewish answer to this question, repeated throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, is: "God is the God who liberated us from slavery in Egypt". In this sermon, Dr Philip Fountain recounts the way that Jewish people recall the Exodus in ritual and story. He reminds us that this story has empowered liberation struggles throughout the world. And he closes by reaffirming that Jesus carries all those memories into the Last Supper, the meal he calls us to share every time we remember him Readings: Psalm 114 | Psalm 136 | Luke 22.14-23 Music after the sermon: 'Let My People Go' by 1814.

    Ancient Patterns for Newfangled Times VI: The Tower of Babel (Matthew Bartlett)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2023 13:59


    Scripture starts in a garden and ends in a city. So what's the problem with building a tower as part of a city, as in the Tower of Babel? In this sermon, Matthew traces all sorts of interesting clues in the Babel story that the people are critiqued for imposing an "anti-pattern" on reality; a pattern that looks attractive, but it ultimately too rigid and imperial for God's purposes. By contrast, the life-giving pattern Scripture describes is more receptive. It involves receiving a name from God, against the life-sucking anti-pattern of seeking to establish a name for ourselves. Scriptures Genesis 11.1-9 Revelation 3.12-13, 21.22-22.2

    Ancient Patterns for Newfangled Times V: Cain, Abel & Mimetic Desire (Matt Packer)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2023 30:16


    For those who heard the Genesis stories as Sunday School kids, it's easy to overlook how profound they are. In this sermon, Matt Packer explores one aspect of the very profound story of Cain & Abel - the role played by imitative desire. Beginning with a summary of the theory of Mimesis, Matt helps us to see that we are by nature creatures who imitate others, often out of jealousy and envy. That sheds helpful light on the killing of Abel, and challenges us each to ponder, "Who am I imitating?" Texts: Genesis 4 John 21.20-23 Matt also references the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgB9p2BA4fw

    Ancient Patterns for Newfangled Times III: The Fall (Jonathan Boston)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2023 29:31


    Mostly, this series takes the scriptures at face value, without asking the historical or scientific questions. This sermon is an exception, as Jonathan Boston takes a theistic evolutionary perspective on the account in Genesis 3. He then asks how a committed Christian should understand the doctrine of the Fall, and how that should shape our life in today's world. Fittingly, the sermon was preached on Hiroshima Day 2023, a day when we remember the tragic ability of humanity to wreak destruction. Texts: Genesis 3 Romans 8.18-27

    Ancient Patterns for Newfangled Times II: Human Vocation in Genesis 2 (Tim McKenzie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2023 23:29


    Tim continues our series on the archetypal stories of the Old Testament with a look at human vocation in Genesis 2. What can we learn from taking seriously the patterns of life in The Garden of Eden for life today? Texts: Genesis 2 John 20.10-18 Note: Tim assumes people have watched the following Bible Project video : https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/priests-of-eden/

    Ancient Patterns for Newfangled Times I: Creation (Matt Bartlett)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2023 17:37


    In a world of perceived chaos and crisis, how do we find meaning and hope? This new series looks to the archetypal narratives of the Old Testament to find the repatterning to which St Paul calls us in Romans 12.1-2. In this opening sermon, Matthew Bartlett explores the rich patterning of Genesis 1, and how it points us to the central place that humanity holds in God's creative intention. How can knowing this place, and living out of it, help us to live in a time when most people feel, as WB Yeats said, that "the centre cannot hold"? Readings Genesis 1; Luke 24.13-27 ; John 1.1-8

    The Church VI: Giving (Sam Jackson)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2023 21:48


    What does God call us to give to the life of the church? And why? In this sermon, Sam exhorts us to see all we have as gift from God, such that it's easier both to give and to receive. And might that not encourage us to give a whole lot more? Readings Numbers 3.40-51 2 Corinthians 8.1-15 John 12.1-8

    Stand, Sit, Kneel and ... Raise Hands? The Church's Worship (The Church V) (Tim McKenzie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2023 24:07


    If worship is about offering our whole lives to God (Romans 12.1-2), what's so special about worship services? Can't we just worship Monday to Friday, and get a sleep-in on Sunday? Readings: Revelation 4 Revelation 5 Mark 12.28-34

    Mega Church, Micro Church and Loving Church (The Church IV) (Tim McKenzie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2023 19:07


    In Episode IV of this series on The Church, Tim goes off lectionary to outline the kind of behaviour Paul expects of Christian communities. If a church is too big to tease the vicar, does it mean it's too big? Readings Romans 12.1-16 Matthew 12:46-50

    Being Church in Aotearoa New Zealand Given te Tiriti: A Sermon for Pouhere Sunday (The Church III) (Alan Cameron)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2023 20:15


    Anglicans in Aotearoa & Polynesia celebrate Te Pouhere Sunday, the Sunday when we remember the unique 3-Tikanga Constitution of our Anglican Church. Alan Cameron today explores what being people of the Treaty of Waitangi might mean for the Christian church here.

    The Encouraging Doctrine of the Trinity (The Church II) (Tim McKenzie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2023 21:49


    The series on The Church continues, with this Trinity Sunday exploration of The Trinity & the Church. How does the doctrine of the Trinity empower and encourage us to live and witness as church? Readings: 2 Corinthians 13.-11-14 Psalm 86.8-13 Matthew 28.16-20

    Pentecost: High Hopes for the Birthday of the Church (The Church I) (Jessie Black)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2023 20:23


    This is the first sermon in a series on The Church, taking its cue from 3 Sundays in the New Zealand lectionary, with 3 bonus sermons on other aspects of Being the Church.. This week, Jessie Black discusses Pentecost as the Birthday of the Church, and probes how to retain hope when our hopes for God to do great things through the church are disappointed. Readings Acts 2.1-21 1 Corinthians 12.3-13 John 20.19-23

    Paul in Athens: Building Bridges through the Arts

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2023 21:59


    Readings for Sixth Sunday of Easter 1 Peter 3.13-22 Acts 17.22-31 John 14.15-21 In this sermon, Rev. Dr. Tim McKenzie follows Paul to Athens, and wonders how his preaching methodology here helps build bridges for the gospel into Athenian culture. Or does it? Tim notes that the people of Athens were a tough crowd; it's one of Paul's least successful preaching gigs in Acts. Might his invocation of Greek poetry and philosophy help us proclaim our faith in secular, 21st C Wellington (supposedly one of the most secular cities in the world)?

    Jesus: the Peaceful Way, the Kindly Truth & the Generous Life (John 14.1-14)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2023 18:23


    Tim preaches from the lectionary readings about Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life, with some reference to the Coronation of Charles III along the way. How do we hold Jesus as the centre, without putting toll gates on the Way, setting exams for the Truth, and rationing out the Way? Acts 7.55-60 John 14.1-14

    Lent Series: 7 Habits of Occasionally Effective Christians (Fasting, with Tim McKenzie)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2023 24:16


    Fasting! The Lenten discipline we all want to avoid, or perhaps reduce to avoiding chocolate. But what is the logic behind this ancient discipline? Tim guides us through fasting in this new series on the 7 Habits of Occasionally Effective Christians... Readings 2 Samuel 12.15-23 Acts 13.1-3 Matthew 6.16-18

    7 Habits of Occasionally Effective Christians: Forgiveness (Rev. Dr. Deborah Wilson)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2023 26:11


    Why do Christians prize forgiveness so highly? Is is even possible, when we've been sorely wronged? What would it mean to forgive others for God's sake? Deborah Wilson expounds the logic - and power - of Christian forgiveness. Readings Matthew 18.21-35

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