Episodes
-
Wisdom for life - An introduction to the book of Proverbs
Proverbs is a difficult book, full of contradictions, puzzles and straightforward no-brainers. How should a Christian treat this ancient collection of wisdom? Does it have any value for us in the distant 21st Century, almost three millenia removed from its origins? Join us as we introduce our…
more -
Christmas Eve 2022
At Christmas we remember the time when God came to dwell with us in the person of Jesus Christ. But did you know God still comes to dwell with us, indeed, in us? Join us as we reflect on encounters with God in both recent and ancient history, and how we, too, may encounter the creator of the...
-
Everlasting Joy - Advent 4
Joy is a major theme in both the Old and New Testaments, so both Judaism and Christianity are faiths full of joy. But what exactly is joy? Where does it come from? What suppresses it? How does it work today, in my day-to-day life in 21st Century Australia? Join us as we tackle these questions.
-
The love of the Father - Advent 3
What is love? Do the poets of our age (song writers) have its measure? Is it more than a feeling? Do we get to define it? What does it have to do with Christmas? For millenia the Judeo-Christian tradition has held that God is a god of love. But what does that mean? And what does it mean for our...
-
A promise of Peace - Advent 2
Peace. We all yearn for peace. A refuge from the anxiety of everyday life, from conflict and competition, from danger and loss. But are we prepared to accept the preconditions of peace? Can we stomach the sacrifices we must make? Do we even understand what those things are? Join us as we explore...
-
Light Dawning - Hope - Advent 1
A powerful, northern neighbour mouths threats against us. Our economy is faltering. Our government seems determined to please people rather than be responsible. We all just wish it would go away and we could shop in peace. Who are we? Are we modern Australia, or ancient Israel? Or perhaps we are...
-
Reaching out-the Christian values of inclusion & diversity
Why does Christianity continue to grow? What are the values that drive its culture-spanning history? How does it transform cultures and people into better versions of themselves, rather than forcing the one culture on everyone? The values of inclusion and diversity, which lie at the heart of...
-
Giving - A Generous Heart
A church practice that has spread widely outside the church into our culture is giving. But giving is not just about submitting your 10% or whatever; like all church practices it reflects something much deeper than the surface practice. Join Graham as he explores where Christian giving comes…
more -
Bible Study-God's multitool
God's word is an incredible gift. But do we really understand what it is, how it fits into our lives, how it transforms us? Join us as we explore what studying the Bible can do.
-
Prayer
Prayer is one of the most difficult practices for most Christians. What is it for? How does it work? Why is it necessary? Join Graham as he unpacks this tricky discipline and explores our questions and struggles with prayer. The video clip shown is from 1:55 in this YouTube clip from The Chosen:...
-
Baptism - What lies beneath?
What is baptism? What does it mean? Why is it important? And why does it involve dunking people in water? We explore the deep roots of this ancient practice and discover why it is both so meaningful and so joyous.
-
Communion - The Lord's Supper - Eucharist
One of the most distinctive practices of the Christian church for the last two thousand years is the practice of communion, also known as the Lord's supper or the eucharist. What does this strange practice mean? Why is it so enduring? How can we properly practice it in the 21st century? Join…
more -
Serving Together-The way of the Lamb
The idea of service as a high calling is unique to Christianity. Jesus showed us by example how a leader must be servant of all. We have a choice: the way of the Dragon, which exploits strength and power to achieve control and dominance, or the way of the Lamb, which recognises that God's power…
more -
Eating Together-A shared grace
Eating together is an important feature of almost all cultures. But what makes it so important to share food with others? Is it the same for Christians, or does it have even more significance? Join us as we look at why eating together is so important, and how we can do it better.
-
Singing Together as the Church
One of the unusual aspects of a Christian worship gathering, from the perspective of modern Australian culture, is that we burst into communal song at regular intervals. Why do we do this? How does this help us worship God or commune together? Join us as we explore the rich subject of music in...
-
Meeting together: God's support system
There are few things that are both more foundational to our experience as Christians and more difficult to maintain than the act of meeting together with other Christians. Even in a society where Christianity is not met with active persecution, meeting together requires substantial effort. Is it...
-
Reaching the final age
Have we reached a final age for Christianity, a post-Christian age? Or have we never been in a Christian age at all? The last verses of Acts reveal a startling reality about how Christianity interacts with the surrounding cultures which just might turn our ideas about our nation and its history…
more -
Acts 19 - Darkness and light mix as well as oil and water
In Acts 19, we find Paul wrestling with the pushback that comes when Christianity has started transforming a culture. Faith in Jesus has consequences that are felt throughout the culture, and those who reject Jesus will not respond kindly to the impacts on their lives. In our world, we won't find...
-
The Essence of Faith
In Acts 10 the essence of the new Christian faith is revealed to the apostle Peter. This revelation has shaken our world down to the present day. What did Peter discover? How has it transformed our lives? Join us as we explore this pivotal event in history.
-
Radical Transformation
In Acts 9 we hear of Paul's radical transformation from persecutor to proselytizer. What effected this transformation? Is this power available in our lives?
-
Choose to know and listen to God
In the second half of Acts 8 we find Philip listening to the Holy Spirit and so encountering a true seeker for God. How do Philip and the Ethiopian relate to God? Are there other types of people? And what type of person are we? Join Graham as he explores the different ways we can walk with or…
more -
Buying God
In Acts 8, the church grows beyond its cradle of Judaism. In Samaria a famous sorcerer, Simon, is wooed by the power of the Holy Spirit, but his response is disastrous. What did Simon get wrong, and what can we learn from it?
-
Bullies and boldness
The followers of Jesus have been confronted by bullies since the very beginnings of the church. But why? And how should we respond? Join us as we explore Acts 4, the first encounter between bullies and boldness for the church.
-
God's Power Creates Salvation Opportunities
Here is a testimony from Lupcho, known to many as Louie, of his extraordinary experience of surviving a massive cardiac arrest and extended coma and his spiritual encounters during that. As Graham explains in his following sermon, this sort of experience is miraculous, but not unique. In Acts 3…
more -
A New Thing
God is a God who delights in doing new things. Even with broken, old people, God can do new things. Be refreshed and encouraged as Pastor Dave brings this message from Isaiah.
-
The mission of the church
In the book of Acts, Paul follows up his account of Jesus' ministry with an account of how the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus' disciples to change the world. But what exactly was the power the Spirit granted, how was it used to such dramatic effect, and is this still something available to us today?...
-
A godless society
The final part of the book of Judges reveals a society that has completely lost its way. Though Israel was supposed to be ruled by God, they ended up with no rules, every individual and tribe out for themselves, indulging in whatever they felt like. Such anarchy only sounds like fun if you're not...
-
New Beginnings
Ruth accompanied a despairing Naomi home to Bethlehem out of a strong bond of loyalty. She did not expect anything from the move. Yet she gained a protector and a son, and even a place in the ancestry of the savior of the world! What pleasant surprises have we had in our own new beginnings?
-
Cultural Engagement: What it is and why it matters
At Pentecost, the first sign visible to people outside that upper room was the sound of the disciples speaking in their own languages. God's purposes have never been limited to a select few, although he has always selected a few to serve him. But his goal has always been to reach the whole world....
-
Behind the Story of Samson: God's Weapon
Samson seems like a super-hero. With his super-strength he is almost invulnerable, and single-handedly kills thousands. And yet his story is one of constant frustration and failure. Samson's strength is not his own, for he was called to a purpose: ridding Israel of the Philistines. So even when…
more -
The Day of Pentecost - Connecting the Old and New to Understand the Present
What is the meaning behind Pentecost? Why did God wait until this day to send the Holy Spirit? Who is the Holy Spirit, anyway? Join us as we explore the history of Pentecost, and how it impacts us today.
-
Behind the story of Jephthah: When life is cheap
When Gilead, Eastern Israel, became desparate, they sought help from the bandit Jephthah to lead them in the battle against their enemies. In return, he would be their ruler. But does great skill in battle make for a great leader? Join us as we discover the tragic consequences of promoting bad...
-
Behind the story of Gideon: a heart above God's
In Judges 6-9 we read the account of Gideon. One of the most famous scenes from this account is Gideon's fleece as he sought reassurance from God. But is this really something we should be emulating, or is their something rotten underneath the cute story? Join us as we explore the ancient…
more -
Killed by a tent peg -- A message for today???
In Judges we meet the characters Deborah, a prophetess, and Barak, called to lead Israel's army. But the story of these people and those around them, doesn't work out quite how we might expect it. What can we learn from Deborah and Barak? How is our God at work in this violent history, and how…
more -
Behind the story of Ehud: God's assassin
After God led Israel into the promised land of Canaan and conquered the inhabitants, what happened to the people? Did they go from strength to strength, or did they fall back into temptation and chaos? The book of Judges tells us what happens when God gives his people good things, but not good...
-
A Holy Life
What does it mean to be "holy?" Why is it such a big deal that God is holy, and how and why are we supposed to be holy? In a world that doesn't understand holiness because it doesn't care about it, it is more and more important that we, as followers of Jesus, do understand it. Join Graham as he...
-
Love never fails
Love never fails. That is how the apostle Paul ends his description of love in 1 Corinthians 13. But why does love never fail, and how does it make a difference that it never fails? It turns out that love's infallibility is a key aspect of love that underpins the universe. To find out how, have a...
-
The resurrection in our lives
Two thousand years ago a man was crucified, and then on the third day he rose up and left his tomb. What does this have to do with us today? In a word so different from, and yet so similar to, the world of the first century, what possible impact can the empty tomb have on our lives? Christians…
more -
Love never stops supporting, never loses faith
Love always supports, is always loyal. How much do we yearn for that sort of love? The Good News that we share as followers of Christ is that this sort of love is not only given to us, it is given to us to share! Join us to explore what it means to be always supportive and loyal.
-
Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing but with truth
Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing because love understands the nature of human beings. That is also why it rejoices with the truth. But what exactly is the nature of human beings, and why does that make love work this way?
-
Love and injury
In 1 Corinthians 13:5 the apostle Paul tells the members of the church in Corinth that love is not easily angered and does not keep a record of wrongs. Given the many ways Paul could have described love, why does he include these in his short list in 1 Corinthians 13? Join Graham as he explores…
more -
Love is not arrogant, rude, or self-seeking
In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul gives a list of ways to describe love. The seventh item in that list is key--he says that love is not self-seeking. But if love is not interested in furthering its own interests, but rather the interests of others, how can we love that way? Isn't it dangerous? The…
more -
Love is not envious or boastful
1 Cor 13 describes what love is and is not. Everyone loves this passage, because it sounds so beautiful and everyone wants to be loved this way. However, the passage describes love so that we may better demonstrate it, not receive it! And meeting this incredible standard is not easy. But before…
more -
Patient and kind
In his first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul explains the key place of love in Christian life. Nothing is more important! But love is not just an abstract concept for Paul. Nor is it a culturally relative concept--one that changes with the changes mores of society. Love is grounded in...
-
Bringing light to friends and family
When Jesus told us to live in the world, but not become a part of it, how did he mean for us to relate to our family? And what about friends? Should we even have non-Christian friends? Can we both love God above all else and also be a light to the little part of the world we live in: our friends...
-
Renew's Values—Foundations & Values
Renew's values are Biblical Discipleship, Gracious Community, and Light to the World. Where do these values come from, what do they mean, and how do we live them out? Join Malcolm as he explores our foundations and their consequences.
-
Finding Contentment
Paul talks about finding contentment in all circumstances. But how does he find this, and what does he mean by it? And, is this accessible to us, too? Join Dave as he shares this incredible message of hope.
-
Engaging in the world of politics
When Jesus tells us to live in the world, but not to be of it, what does he mean when it comes to politics and government? Especially for those of us today who live in a democratic country, where participation in government is a civic duty? Join Graham as he threads the needle on this complex...
-
In the world of work
In our modern world, one of the places we spend our most waking hours is at work. As Christians, then, it is critical that we understand how to be in the workplace, but not "of" the workplace. What is that should distinguish us, so that we can be salt and light, brightening and sustaining our...
About this show
Sermons by Renew Discipleship Gold Coast
Hosted by
Renew Discipleship Gold Coast
Categories