Saint Davids Anglican Church - Sermons

1. What stood out for you from what Josh and Debs shared?2. Share your own experiences of being a part of kingdom opportunities or unexpected hospitality that you haven't looked for. 3. Josh talked about  'lived faith' as a way he has recognized Christ coming to him. Share your own experiences of Christ coming to you through missional engagement.  4. Both Josh and Debs had prophetic words given to them many years ago that they now recognize are coming to pass. Have there been prophetic words spoken over you that you feel you have not yet seen their fulfilment? Are there steps you could take to see those more fully realised?5. What opportunities have you seen in your own street/neighbourhood that could be explored?  Is there a next step you could take? 

Read Luke 24:13-35Then speak out the following phrases for everyone to reflect/meditate silently on them. Allow a minute for reflection between each phrase.That very dayWe were hoping that he was going to redeem Israel!“Don’t you see? This is what had to happen”“Stay with us”, they saidHe took the bread and gave thanksThen the eyes of both of them were opened and they recognized him“Don’t you remember how our hearts were burning inside us” Share any thoughts that came to mind as you were reflecting on these phrases. Questions for reflection and discussion:1.        Was there anything in particular that impacted you while listening to Wayne’s reflection last week? Anything you found disturbing or disagreed with?2.        When Cleopas and Mary first encountered the resurrected Jesus they were dealing with their own shattered hopes. In one sense, they had put their hopes in the wrong thing (i.e. thinking redemption would come through the Messiah getting rid of their suffering - kicking the Romans out - rather than God redeeming them through their suffering). Can you identify the main hopes you have for your life and future? In what ways might your growing recognition of who Jesus is and what he wants for you, be different to any of these hopes?3.        Can you recall any occasion during a meal, or communion, or some act of hospitality (either received or given) where you encountered Jesus in a way that was significant or changed you?4.        What role does the Bible play in your current faith journey, in helping you see Jesus and his kingdom more clearly? 

A message from Martin Robinson for Easter 2026

Questions for reflection:- What particularly stood out to you from the talk? Why?- What would you identify as key elements of Jesus' "third way" of engaging in issues of politics/power?- When have you experienced/participated in Jesus' "third way" of exercising power / doing politics? What made it different?- Can you think of a situation in your life (family/relationships/work/community/nation etc) where Jesus might be inviting you to join Him to get involved according to His "third way" of power/politics? What might that look like?

1. Read the passage aloud together. Which words, phrases, or situations in the story stand out for you? 2. At the beginning of the passage, Jesus challenges the disciples on their explanation for the blind man’s condition. He tells them that the important thing to focus on is not why this has come about, but what he (Jesus) is doing. When have you been challenged to think differently about the world as a response to what you see Jesus doing?3. The man who is healed in this story comes to believe in Jesus, but this appears to be a process. Reflect on your own journey to faith and/or how you have experienced faith over the years. How has your understanding of Jesus changed or grown over time? 4. Uncertainty does not appear to be a barrier to belief in this story – the blind man is uncertain but still moves toward Jesus, and Jesus towards him. What might this suggest about the relationship between uncertainty and belief, or faith and doubt? How might this be helpful for our own periods of uncertainty or doubt? 5.“Belief” in this story appears to be about a relationship that grows between the man and Jesus. When Jesus asks “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” he is asking whether the man has confidence in him as Saviour and judge. When the man responds “Lord, I believe!” he is placing his trust in Jesus, and laying his life open.  How does this align with or differ from how you have tended to think about “belief”? Is it helpful to think of belief as relational? 6. Jesus initiates this relationship with the man he heals, and Jesus sees the relationship through (e.g. at the end of the story, Jesus comes to find him). How does this resonate with your experience of faith in Jesus? How might you open yourself further to Jesus’ agency? 7. Read the passage aloud once again. Where are you in the story, or which part of the story is about you today?

John 3 tells the story of Nicodemus, curiously visiting Jesus in the night to talk to him. Is there anyone in your life who has a curiosity to know more about Jesus? What kinds of things could you share with them to help their understanding of who Jesus is?When speaking to Nicodemus, Jesus tells him, “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but spirit gives birth to spirit.” What are some of the ways you have noticed the work of the Spirit in your life in the past month?When he speaks with Nicodemus, Jesus says “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” What do you think it means to compare the Holy Spirit with the wind? What might this mean for our own relationship with God?In Romans 4, Paul makes it clear to us that we are justified by faith, not works. However, there are certainly things we can do that make us more aware of God’s presence and gifts in our life. Is there anything you do that you find helpful for connecting with God that you could share with others in your home group?   

Scripture:  Matthew 6.19-34What stands out to you from this passage in relation to money and resources?What does this passage say about who God is, and God's attitude to money and resources?If we (genuinely) trust that God is a self-giving, generous God, what does that mean for us and the way we live?Matthew 10.8b says, in the Message version: "You have been treated generously, so live generously."  (NIV has: Freely you have received; freely give.) If we are shaped by Jesus' life we will live lives of generosity and giving. What does that look like? How might that work in practice?What are pressures in our lives which work against generosity and giving?How does "giving to the church" fit in to this?(If we are the church, what does it mean to give to the church? How does giving for "funding the institution" fit? And what about giving for the mission of the church?)If we accept that to be a follower of Jesus is to have an orientation to and a practice of generosity and giving, how do we decide what and how much to give: money, other material resources, time, skills, etc. What about for people who are struggling financially? What about for those who have abundant financial and material resources?(For self reflection? sharing?) Is there anything that needs to change in relation to your orientation to and practice of generosity and giving? A helpful resource: Chapters from Wayne Kirkland's book Just Money, Ch.9 "Giving" & Ch. 20 "Generosity"

1. What stood out for you from the talk?2. Of the three areas covered in Micah's challenge (working for justice, being compassionate and merciful, walking intimately with God in prayer), which one do you feel the most encouraged about in your life currently? Which one would you like to work on developing further this year? 3. How do you outwork your commitment to justice and mercy currently? 4. What areas of injustice make you most angry or upset? How could you creatively weave that passion into your life without adding more to your load? 5. How do you think St David's is going as a good treaty partner? What gaps do you see currently that we could realistically fill? 6. What might a next step look like for you in your journey in response to Ali's message?

Martin leads us through a final reflection for the year and Alison shares all the things we have been involved in and celebrating those who got us there. And of course.. the ever important, parishioner of the year!

Jonny shares the big and small of Jesus' glory.

Nic shares some thoughts to help us engage with the moments where we encounter Jesus' anger as well as that of our own.

After Brie shares about her experience of her deep passion and the worlds great need in Palestine; Craig shares on the relentless pursuit God makes for genuine relationship with us.

16/8/25

1. Where in your life do you find yourself living like the two sons?2. What about Jesus story of God challenges your story of God?3. Where might God be calling you to come home to the party? 4. What do you need to accept the call?

Questions for reflection:1. Which of the two aspects of Jesus' nature have you tended to downplay - his 100% humanity, or his 100% deity? 2. What was one thing you found helpful from Wayne's reflection?3. If you can, share how you have been struggling or coming to terms with mystery being part of your faith journey.4. Read Philippians 2:5-11 and share something from this poem/hymn that particularly impacts you. 

Questions for reflection:What do you find beautiful about Jesus? What moves your heart about Him? Are there any particular Gospel passages that stand out for you with special meaning over the years that have captivated your heart?Are there any moments in your life where God has become very personal to you? Where your walk with God has moved from head to heart?

Looking at Acts 10:1-291.     God reveals His will to humans through prayer.2.     We often need to change so that others might experience the wonder of Jesus. 3.     The Spirit inspires a radical Good News response in the face of the world’s lies.For the sake of Jesus, can we recommit ourselves to: 1.    Being so connected with Jesus in prayer that we are receptive to His loving direction and correction, which leads to transformation for the sake of others. 2.    A deeper conversion to Jesus’ call to reach new people, in new places and new ways with the love of Jesus.  3.    To Be Good News wherever we are - we may need a deeper conversion to living out and holding relentlessly to the Hope of Jesus as foretaste of the coming Kingdom. 

What’s in my heart (in other words, what do I feel passionately about) concerning God’s purposes through me? (This might be related to my neighbourhood, paid or voluntary work, a national or global issue etc.)Who are the people in this faith community that I am sharing this with?( Do they know what’s percolating away in me?)How am I/how are we, making space so that the Spirit can prompt me/us to move in a new direction?(By this, I mean, what are the habits or practices in my life that might help me/us to hear the Spirit’s voice?)

1. What stood out to you from Alison's talk? 2. Read the quote. What is your reaction to it? 'We were a small Christian community. We were not powerful, we were not resourced. We would focus on expressing the truths and hopes of the kingdom message Jesus preached…. The gathered Christian community was first and foremost a missional group, called together to work as anti-terror cells in our n/hood. Over many meals and midweek gatherings, we plotted ways to challenge the brokenness and celebrate the beauty of our neighbourhood.'Discuss how you think your group expresses the kingdom message of Jesus in your location. Where do you think you, as a group or individually, are being invited to push the boat out into deeper water? What could one 'next step' be? 3. Reflect on the questions from the end of the talk. 1.     Do I have an awe of God?2. Are there things I feel I need to repent of? 3. Am I willing to let go of things that get in the way of me saying 'yes' to the call to greater faithfulness to the gospel? 

Questions for reflection:1.      Sit with John 14:23·      What does being ‘home’ mean to you?·      What does it mean to you to consider God making ‘home’ within you personally, and within us as a community? Does that change anything for you? 2.      Sit with Romans 8:11, 22-23, 26-27 & Matt 5:4 & 6.·      The Spirit making home within us also brings an ache for the completion of God’s healing and renewal of our world. These are experiences of the Spirit “groaning” within us.·      How can we enable these “groans” within us to lead us to prayer?·      What else does this raise for you?

Alison Robinson shares a reflection on Pentecost after we hear encouraging testimonies of God at work in peoples lives.

Reconciliation, Revitalisation and Anticipation.Questions for reflection:- Which of these feel the most relevant for you today?- Where do you need to pray for God to work?- What are you going to do about it?

Reflection questions:What does it mean in practice for me/us that Jesus has risen from the dead and that as I/we trust him, that resurrection power works in my life/our lives, and we are enabled to participate with Him in his work of God's kingdom coming fully on earth as in heaven?Though there is no "be careful" in the Bible, are there places in my life where I choose caution and self-protection over trusting myself to Jesus and going where he leads me?1 Corinthians 15.58 says:  "Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain." What does it mean for me to "excel in the work of the Lord"? Am I able to trust Jesus that my work in the Lord is not wasted?

Reflection Questions:What is the outcome of God's saving work in Jesus? What is God achieving and what is the part God intends for us in that?How (if at all) is Jesus' announcing of the coming of God's kingdom related to his death on the cross? What might this mean for our living now?John states that In Jesus' death and actually in Jesus' person, God broke the power of Sin from "inside" human nature? This means that those who belong to Christ no longer need to live under the domination of satan, sin and death. How might this "work" in the way we live as followers of Jesus?

Questions for reflection:1. Some theologians believe God’s hands are tied in the relation to the events of the world unless we pray. How might this change our attitude to prayer if this was true or untrue?  2. Recognising that the spiritual powers want to block prayer – because of its effectiveness - can revolutionise the way we pray. How does this affect your thinking and practice? 3. Read Eph 1:19-23, 2:6 and 6:10-12 – how do these verses shift how you view our world, our struggles, the spiritual authority in our calling?

Reflection Questions for home groups.1. Was there anything that particularly impacted you from Wayne’s reflection?2. Was there anything he said that raised a question or caused you distress? 3. If you can, give some thought to what might be involved in following Jesus’ example and ‘giving your life away’ in your present circumstances?4. Can you think of an example of where, in your journey following Jesus, you have already experienced a measure of ‘true joy, true peace, true life’ as a result of ‘dying to yourself’?5. Reflect on the idea that to follow Jesus will involve suffering. 

You may like to begin by reading Psalm 51, John 8.31-361. What stood out to you from this talk? What questions did it raise for you?2. Scripture often describes sin as a "breaking of trust with God". When we do not trust God and when we resist our fundamental dependency on God, we look to ourselves and the things  around us for security, control and a sense of identity. In what ways does this picture of the human condition fit your experience?3. Sonya described sin as "something we are in, not just something we do". How might this understanding of sin inform our prayer/repentance?4. Psalm 51 speaks of God's unfailing love and endless compassion, and it assumes God desires our restoration. When have you experienced God working to restore you, or working to bring you into a fuller relationship with himself? 5. When have you experienced confession and repentance as liberating, or the beginning of something new? Reflection to finish: What might God be saying to you today? How might you respond?

1/3/2025