MBM Parramatta / Bible Talks

The Jesus plan is to see the good news go to the ends of the earth in the power of God’s Spirit

There are really only two types of people in the world - those who belong to Adam, and those who belong to Jesus. 

Romans 5 outlines how we have peace with God, how we stand in God’s grace and the certain hope we have in Jesus. This is a hope that stands up in the face of suffering and is based on what God’s already done

After telling us how we can be justified by faith, Romans 4 outlines how this amazing free gift is received - by faith.

Romans 3 contains what Leon Morris calls, ‘possibly the most important single paragraph ever written’. In this talk, we see why that’s the case. 

To mark the occasion of the reveal of our new church name, we see how Jesus alone brings the renewal we all need to make us his renewed people.

To the Jew who thinks that simply being a Jew, or simply having the law or circumcision means they will be spared from God’s wrath on the day of judgment, Paul points out that God’s standard is not having the law but keeping the law. God is not impressed by the merely outward appearance of external religion. Jews and Gentiles alike will be found without excuse and guilty on the day of God’s wrath.

So often we try to excuse ourselves from God’s judgment by playing the comparison game saying to ourselves: “At least I’m not as bad as …..”. Romans 2 exposes that heart and says all humanity falls under God’s judgment. 

The world we inhabit will remain mysterious to us if we don’t reckon with the reality of God’s wrath. But we also need to know why God’s wrath is a reality, and the result of God’s wrath in our experience of life. This is what Romans 1:18-32 is all about.

The Gospel is God’s power for salvation because it reveals God’s righteousness. Therefore Christians should not be ashamed of it, by build up each other’s faith in it

Romans opens with a bang. It begins with gospel content before inviting gospel response. In these opening 7 verses, Paul issues both a declaration and an invitation to make Jesus Christ your Lord. 

Mission can have its ups and downs, but we should still speak because God will be with us

An exploration of doubt, evidence, and the resurrection of Jesus, showing why believing in him is the difference between uncertainty about death and the promise of eternal life.

Jesus - in the way only he can - teaches about pride. In doing so he outlines polar opposites when it comes to mission and motives.

To the most significant question (how we can be saved?), Jesus gives the clearest answer (receive the gift of eternal life with child-like dependence). 

God’s way is always the best way. Nowhere else is that tested than when it comes to the topics of Hell and divorce and remarriage. 

Up until this point, the Gospel of Mark has been pointing us towards one thing, and one thing only. Who is this Jesus person? If chapter 8 is the crescendo, this high point of the Gospel – where we’ve finally figured out who Jesus is – the Messiah, the question then becomes: But what does that mean? What does it mean for Jesus to be the Messiah? What does that mean for you sitting here today?

Peter is a classic example of it’s not enough to simply know the right answer to the question: “Who is Jesus?”. More than it being an intellectual activity, claiming Jesus as Messiah involves total and complete life-change. The way of the Messiah, is the way of the Messiah’s people.

People don't reject Jesus because of a lack of evidence. Rather, Jesus reveals our hard heartedness towards him, yet still calls us to follow him. How will you respond?

Us humans can be too clever for ourselves when it comes to approaching God. Jesus here in Mark 7 makes it very easy when issues a blanket invitation to any and all to approach him. Jesus includes the excluded and he touches the untouchable

Jesus takes a mundance topic like the handwashing. And turns it into a deeply profound diagnosis about the true spiritual condition of every human heart. Our problem is not external but internal! 

When Jesus makes an incredible offer to come to him, it comes with an incredible promise of rest attached. In the end Jesus shows us he has a heart unlike any other and offers a trade to good to refuse.

If you want to get prayer right, you need to get Jesus right. Jesus not only invites us to align ourselves with God’s heart. He also invites us to pray about anything and everything. 

In a world of broken leadership and empty promises, where do we find true care and security? In Mark 6 we meet Jesus, the compassionate Shepherd King, who teaches with truth and feeds with abundance. He is the faithful leader our hearts long for—the Lord himself—worthy of our trust and devotion.

The Sunrise After the Long Night

God unveils the details of the who, what, how and when of his promised rescue plan. In the process, we see a model response from Mary - one who takes God at his word, and responds in praise. 

By flagging that the end of all things is near, Peter gives a glimpse of what life can look like in the meantime while we wait. First he outlines how our relationships are to be other-person centred. Then, he describes how Jesus still cares for his church. 

Deep down, we’re all afraid of something. But Peter writes to assure us that in Jesus, we’ve got nothing to fear - even if we get harmed for doing good. 

The call of 1 Peter is to live such good lives to a watching world. This can be displayed in our relationship with authorities, between slaves and masters and with an unbelieving spouse.

Peter challenges us that because we are different thanks to Jesus, we’re to live differently. Specifically, how we hope is different, how we live is different and how we love is different. 

Knowing who you shapes the way you approach life

Putting God first part is a non-negotiable for a follower of Jesus. But we all know it's easier said than done. Haggai helps us hear the importance of this again with clarity and urgency - that God is to be loved first and He’s to be loved best!

Loving others well is difficult. Every day we either fall into old unloving behaviours or we make completely new mistakes in how we treat others. 3 John is God’s call for us to have a love for others that is grounded in the truth, is consistent and is incredibly practical.

For any church the challenge is to love the truth and love others. 2 John wants to say that we can love others by guarding the truth

Throughout the book of Revelation we have been reminded that history is moving to God’s grand purpose. In Rev 21–22 we get the final chapters in God’s big story and it culminates with God ushering in his new creation, heaven. But what is heaven like? Why is it something that should give up hope now? In this passage we will explore what God’s coming kingdom entails and why it is good news.

Revelation 20 contains a warning, an encouragement and a confronting reality. Which book will your name be found in?

With another picture of God’s final judgment, there’s another sobering reality. The call in this picture is to repent!

We are in the midst of a cosmic spiritual battle. Rev 12-14 not only names our enemy, but also prepares us for his tactics. In the end, by knowing our enemy, and being aware of his schemes, there’s a call for patient endurance and being loyal to the Lamb. 

God’s sobering end for this world will be no match for God’s seal and security for his people.

There are two songs that appear in Revelation 4 and 5. One is the hymn of creation, the other the anthem of salvation. Both underline that God is in control.

In Revelation 3, we meet three churches for whom the challenge isn’t so much external, but internal. A challenge to look less and less like the world, and more and more like Jesus.

Jesus could have written to seven nations, seven companies, seven schools. But instead, he chose to address seven churches. In pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of each church, it’s a clear statement: No one loves the church more than Jesus!

Revelation 1 presents an awesome Jesus. He is the who we can respond to in awe, in worship and with great comfort.

Mental Health Seminar

Love Without Limit / John 13:1-17

God’s heart for children can be captured by three words

Extraordinary thankfulness is the appropriate response to extraordinary grace 

We’ve all got the same amount of time on our hands. But in Lev 23, God outlines how that time is to be used to reflect his holiness. Ultimately, Jesus is the one who offers the ultimate rest so we can delight in God. 

As Christians how should we think about this topic? How does God speak about this this topic? Mal explores this topic from the neglected book of Song of Songs as we explore God's wisdom on this important area of life.