PODCAST · religion
MustardSeed Talks
by David Gore
These talks were given as part of MustardSeed Uniting Church Ultimo's weekly Sunday café gatherings...
Episodes
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Extra•ordinary! (David Gore • Luke 2:1-14)
God becomes present in time and space and amongst humanity. The divine presence in the form of a baby - a universal symbol of dependence and vulnerability. The paradox of the Nativity is that the baby in the manger has the potential to draw from human hearts the very divine love of which the...
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How can this be?! (David Gore • Luke 1:26-38)
An angel visits a young woman and brings her news she would have barely understood and even more… struggled to accept. Mary did not see herself as anyone special. As far as the usual indicators go, Mary was not anyone special. It was somewhat incongruous to her that she had been considered a...
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A way for all (David Gore • Isaiah 40:1-11)
Isaiah’s anticipation of Messiah is the clearest picture of God coming among the people offered by any of the Hebrew prophets. In this particular vision (Isaiah 40:1-11), Isaiah sees a new way opening for the people of God. Not just the people of God… but for all people everywhere! This new way…
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God comes among us (David Gore • Isaiah 64:1-9)
Isaiah’s vision (Isa 64:1-9) of God making an actual appearance on earth has prescient hints of apocalypse. The heavens torn asunder. Mountains quaking! The advent of Jesus birth might (at first) seem far less earth shattering. In actual fact, Jesus’ arrival does mark the moment in human history...
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The Sheep and the Goats (David Gore • Matt 25:31-46)
When Jesus tells his story of welcome and judgement (aka the sheep and the goats) it is sensible for him to make use of the popular concepts of God’s acceptance and rejection that existed in the minds of his audience. We would be foolish to get caught up with the evocative imagery of eternal fire...
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Parable of the Talents (David Gore • Matthew 25:14-30)
When Jesus tell his folksy little stories, he is not seeking to entertain his audience. He always wants to provoke something within them. In today’s story about the servants given responsibility with their master’s assets, it seems Jesus wants his audience to reflect on the way they engage in the...
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The Ten Bridesmaids (David Gore • Matthew 5:1-13)
Jesus tells a story of a familiar cultural event in the life of any community (in this case, a wedding) and turns it into an all-of-life lesson. He does so by retaining all the familiar elements of a wedding event story, and then popping in a couple of details that were truly shocking to his…
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Values to live by (David Gore • Matthew 23:1-12)
The Pharisees were supposed to guide the people of God in the way they should live in response to the grace of God. As is the way of people, they got more caught up with performing for the gaze of the community than living from gratitude for the grace of God. Religious leaders have an inordinate...
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A New Economy (David Gore • Matthew 20:1-16)
Jesus frequently challenges the customary way of seeing things. In his story about the workers (Matt 20:1-16), it at first seems like the workers that got hired last end up with the better deal. But is it so simple as that? All the workers get a fair day’s pay. All the workers get what they need…
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Forgiveness (David Gore • Matthew 18:21-35)
Many people wrestle with the area of forgiveness… particularly if the wrong suffered has been deeply traumatic and issued in ongoing suffering emotionally and/or physically. Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 18:21-35 does not seek to address all the dynamics of the process of forgiveness. Jesus is…
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Mutual Accountability (David Gore • Mat 18:15-20)
Most of the time we like to keep to our own business and have others keep to their own. We generally neither welcome the involvement of others into our personal lives, nor do we seek to get too involved in anyone else’s. In a culture such as this, how do we understand Jesus’ teaching about mutual...
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The Scandal of Grace (David Gore • Matt 16:21-28)
Jesus does not rebuke those trapped by their own destructive behaviours. He rebukes those who would trap others with their unfounded and misguided confidence about what is right or true. Peter does not realise what he is doing when he seeks to ‘correct’ Jesus’ understanding of his destiny. Peter...
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Walking on water (David Gore • Matt 14:22-33)
Walking on the water has (in popular thought) become almost synonymous with being divine (how else could a person walk on water, right?!). For those who have responded to Jesus invitation to come to him, it becomes obvious that following Jesus shares many of the dynamics of walking on water. As...
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Heart of abundance (David Gore • Matt 14:13-21)
When Jesus directed his disciples to feed the crowds by the water, he was not simply wanting to attend to their immediate need for a meal. He was offering them the opportunity to taste the richness of kingdom life. As the disciples and the people offered what they had and shared it freely among…
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Nothing can separate us from the love of God (David Gore • Romans 8:26-39)
Paul encountered many challenges in his following of Jesus. Just one of these would be enough to stop many of us in our tracks. Paul was so enamoured of God's grace, he could not help but keep going despite the challenges. The fact that nothing can separate us from the love of God clearly does…
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Forgiveness, Gratitude and Call (Adrian Sukumar-White)
When Zaccheus comes hoping to see Jesus, the enthusiasm Zac shows for catching a glimpse of Jesus is subsequently matched by the enthusiastic response Zac shows to having met Jesus. We get a sense that Zaccheus is so grateful to Jesus for the acceptance that has been shown, that Zac would hold...
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The Sower and the Seeds (Ian Olver • Mat 13:1-23)
When it comes to the impact of the message of God's kingdom, there are a number of factors that are to be taken into consideration. Crucial among these is the receptivity of the one hearing the message. When a person receives this message appropriately it never fails to be fruitful and to have a...
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The thing I hate I end up doing ( Catherine • Rom 7:15-25)
People are complex, are they (we) not?! At times we do stuff for reasons we can not fathom ourselves. Sometimes we even find ourselves inexplicably drawn to doing the exact opposite of the thing we tell ourselves we want to be doing. Paul was no stranger to the conundrums of his humanity. He did...
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Groundbreaking Faith (David Gore • Genesis 22:1-14)
In the time of Abraham, there was nothing remarkable about a father going up a mount to sacrifice his first born. Archeological research indicates the religious practice of infant sacrifice was virtually universal in that day. The remarkable part of this story is that Abraham does NOT sacrifice...
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The Great Reversal (David Gore • Matt 10:24-39)
The truth is not always comfortable. In the passage from Matthew’s gospel (10:24-39) we look at today, Jesus unashamedly addresses a number of challenges that will confront the faithful disciple. What are we to expect as we seek to live as followers of Jesus? If Jesus’ coming does not bring peace...
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The Great Commission (David Gore • Matt 28:16-20
The disciples met with the risen Jesus at a prearranged location to find out ‘what next?’ Matthew’s gospel tells us that some worshipped Jesus and some doubted him. This detail not only adds to the authenticity of the account, but it also helps us identify with the disciples. Jesus, for his part,...
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Rivers of Living Water (David Gore • John 7:36-39)
Looking for what you need but do not have in yourself (being thirsty) and hoping Jesus can offer you that which you need (coming to Jesus) appear to be prerequisites for receiving the life-giving rivers of living water of which Jesus speaks. Water sustains life. It refreshes. It allows new things...
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Waiting (David Gore • Acts 1:6-14)
Often, the waiting is the hardest part of any given process. It can make us feel helpless, perhaps even impotent… at the mercy of the passing of time. The disciples had just begun to come to terms with the possibility that Jesus may have risen, when he is gone again. His parting words do not...
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The Advocate (David Gore - John 14:15-21)
Jesus promises to send us another advocate… the Spirit of Truth. This advocate (in addition to Jesus - who advocates for us at God’s right hand - Rom 8:34) defends us against accusations from within us! Truth is often paradoxical in nature. People are generally both more guilty and more innocent...
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The Way, the Truth and the Life (David Gore - John 14:15-21)
Jesus’ pronouncement, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” has sometimes been regarded as controversial on account of its apparent exclusivity. After all, surely there are other ways, more truth and different lives?! Some evangelists have used this same saying as a key part of their pitch to…
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Dynamic Church (David Gore - Acts 2:42-47)
The early church in Jerusalem experienced an unprecedented explosion of good will. Good will among its members and hangers-on, and good will with all the people in the community. This was no accident. There were core values and core activities that provided the fertile context for the rich...
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Hold Everything! (David Gore - Luke 24:13-35)
In the grief and strangeness of the aftermath of Jesus' death and disappearance/resurrection, two of his followers struggling to make sense of the recent events, depart the scene of the drama to get on with their lives. On the road they meet a man who recasts the meaning of all that has occurred....
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Wholesome Doubt (Adrian Sukumar-White)
Thomas initially misses the opportunity to come face to face with the Risen-Crucified Jesus. His doubt is both natural and understandable. Adrian help us understand the growth-full purpose of doubt, and how we can support one another through the various challenges and transitions of faith we will...
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Flesh and Spirit (David Gore - Romans 8:5-11)
In his letters to various churches, St Paul makes use of the categories of 'Flesh' and 'Spirit, representing two competing approaches to engaging life. 'Flesh' does not mean simply our physical bodies. It means the system of values, desires and priorities that dominate our decision making when...
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The Lord is my Shepherd (David Gore - Psalm 23)
There is a good deal of comfort in the words of Psalm 23. The notion of someone who has our best interests at heart is genuinely wonderful. A companion who will not just accompany us, but lead us in the best path, has the potential to guide us away from a great deal of unnecessary hardship and...
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Hope that does not disappoint (Ian Avery - Romans 5:1-5)
One of the fundamental requirements for life is hope. Without hope, we would not get up again after the inevitable first stumble. When we are younger, we are nurtured by the hope of those who care for us. As we go on in life, hope is something that grows (in varying degrees) within us. St Paul...
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The Faith of Abraham (David Gore - Romans 4:1-17)
In some traditions theologians invent a chasm between what God was doing in the stories of the Hebrew scriptures and the stories of the gospels and epistles. The notion of ‘old testament’ and ‘new testament’ are a (ummm) testament to this invented chasm. In reality, there is a continuity and a…
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Grace of the One (David Gore - Romans 5:12-19)
We see all kinds of types of people around these days. The hipsters with the big beards (did we reach peak beard yet?) are just one of the more recent expression of the ages old practice of people following each other. When I was younger the punks were pretty big for a while. There were also…
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Nations in Uproar (David Gore - Psalm 2)
Some themes in history appear to be repeated over and over as generations pass and the cultural memory fades. Hard learned lessons apparently need to be hard learned yet again. So, the psalmist's words about the upheaval of nations, conspiring rulers and the loosing of the bonds of civil…
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Turn the other cheek (Adrian Sukumar-White - Matt 5:38-48)
Jesus taught some very challenging things. This week’s Gospel reading (Matt 5:38-48) is certainly among the more challenging and disconcerting aspects of Jesus’ teaching. In a world where it is common for people to want to push back at each other when they feel pushed around (it was in Jesus’ day...
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Maturity (David Gore - 1 Cor 3:1-9)
Just as in natural life, there are stages of development and maturity in our faith and discipleship. Just as in natural life, we can identify the indicators of these developments and a person's maturity in their faith and discipleship. We are well served by learning and being able to recognise…
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Only Christ... Crucified (David Gore - 1 Cor 2:1-12)
Paul is very deliberate and strategic as he goes about sharing the gospel. But his strategy is quite unusual. Rather than relying on tried and true methodologies of communication and influence, Paul proceeds from his weakness. In this way, Paul knows that people will not be being won over by his...
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Wisdom and Power (David Gore - 1 Cor 1:18-31)
In recent days the wisdom of the wise seems to be failing. Those who we once assumed to be ‘in the know’ appear to have known less than we thought. Even when we know everything that we think we can know, there remains an inscrutability about the human heart that eludes the processes of our…
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Foolishness OR power of God? (David Gore - 1 Cor 1:10-18)
Paul's assertion (1 Cor 1:18) that the word of the cross is at the same time both foolishness AND power of God (depending on who is hearing it), highlights how different are the way of the world and the way of the kingdom. The world's interest in power (control) and the kingdom's interest in...
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Fear, Violence and Salvation (David Gore - Matt 2:13-23)
In this text we hear about the period just after Jesus’ birth (as recorded in Matthew’s gospel). It is a story of genocide and disruption, the likes of which most of us will never experience (thankfully)! The nature of the violence reported here is not new and it is not old. In fact, it has been...
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Not what we were expecting (David Gore -Psalm 97)
People have all manner of expectations regarding the nature of God. There is a sense of mystery associated with God - God is beyond our understanding. We assume God will act according to righteousness - God is just. Generations have known it is a fearful thing to be found the enemy of God - God…
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The Big Picture (Ian Avery - Matt 1:18-25)
Write your goals in ink and your plans in pencil! God is well able to work all circumstances for good - even those things that are so far beyond what we could have possibly anticipated.
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You are Unique (Catherine - Matt 11:2-11)
The pressure to conform has probably always been a feature of human experience. Our need to fit in with social groups means that we are very attuned to being the people we believe we are supposed to be in order to be accepted by the group. God sees through our best efforts to be someone we are…
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More than just more of the same (David Gore - Mat 3:1-12)
Most of us have grown up in a culture that, while rejecting much of the religious structure, has yet been transformed and is still deeply informed by the figure of Jesus. We do not realise how different everything was before the revelation of Christ and its transforming leaven entered the…
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The Kingdom Comes (David Gore - Isa 2:1-5)
We live in a time of empty political promises and impotent opposition with no compelling alternative. Unfettered self-interest, and the politico-economic system it has given rise to, tends to blame victims and punish the vulnerable. This is nothing new in our world. Into this jaded world, Isaiah...
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New Heavens and New Earth (David Gore - Isa 65:17-25)
Can you imagine a life in which the assumptions you have always operated with no longer apply? A world where oppressive mechanisms have become so weakened that they no longer squash people. Where the tried and true approaches of using force to achieve security likewise no longer work. A world…
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This Changes Everything (David Gore - Luke 19:1-10)
Zaccheus’ interaction with Jesus is surely one of the more comical episodes in the Bible. A short, yet fully matured, man clambering up a tree for a sneak peak and then everyone’s attention being directed at him in his elevated vantage point. What begins as an opportunity for ridicule and further...
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Wisdom and Prayer (Ian Avery - 1 Tim 2:1-7)
Every person prays. It is as natural as breathing! It is the cry that comes from our heart when we know not what else to do or say or think. The good news is that God promises to hear and respond. A promise worthy of your confidence!
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Transforming Grace (David Gore - 1Tim 1:12-17)
When Paul writes to Timothy about the grace he has discovered in Christ, he writes as one keenly aware of the impact this grace has had on his life. Paul's life was completely transformed by his encounter with Christ. His previous understanding of faithfulness was exposed as oppression. His…
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Jesus the Extremist (David Gore - Luke 14:25-33)
To whom we give our allegiance is very important. It shapes the way we behave. It reveals what we truly value. And our real allegiances are often only made known when push comes to shove! This week's gospel reading has Jesus challenging our most basic (even primal) allegiances - family! Jesus...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
These talks were given as part of MustardSeed Uniting Church Ultimo's weekly Sunday café gatherings...
HOSTED BY
David Gore
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How many episodes does MustardSeed Talks have?
MustardSeed Talks currently has 98 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is MustardSeed Talks about?
These talks were given as part of MustardSeed Uniting Church Ultimo's weekly Sunday café gatherings...
How often does MustardSeed Talks release new episodes?
MustardSeed Talks has 98 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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Who hosts MustardSeed Talks?
MustardSeed Talks is created and hosted by David Gore.
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