St John's Canberra Talks

What has God been doing in your life—especially when your life feels like it's not going so well? ... Rev'd Dave, with a detour via Jacob's gnarly lifestyle ...

Dr Cathy Evans is a Christian mental health practitioner. She gives some great insights into mental health, its challenges, and what it all might mean to Christians.

What to so when you're filled with rage? unclear on your identity? unaware of your blindspots? (Rev'd Dr Andrew)

You live in it—in all its thoughts, feelings, desires. What does it take, to live in it well? (Rev'd Dr Andrew)

What if I'm just not very good at faith? Who will help me? (Rev'd Dr Andrew) The band mentioned was Four80East.

Is there no limit to what God might ask of us? This ancient story has troubled readers for centuries – but maybe we have been noticing the wrong things. (Rev’d Dave)

Living between God's promises and tomorrow's unknowns. Rev'd Dave

There's a 'spiritual equation' everyone often thinks is true, and another one. Which one do you buy into? (Rev'd Dr Andrew) ... and NOTE that the Psalm referenced the end SHOULD have been Psalm 73 (not 72).

Faith is not some high-risk venture. It's about going straight—with Someone merciful and kind doing the straightening. (Dr Winifred Lamb)

Dr Harold Koch reflects on God's generous love: for Abraham, for Matthew, and for you. (Genesis 12:1-9; Matthew 9: 9-13)

A mountaintop experience leads us into a journey of endless mystery, love and mission. (Rev'd Dave)

A sermon preached by Rev'd David McLennan at the induction of Rev'd Andrew Robinson of Good Shepherd Anglican Parish (Curtin, ACT).

Rev'd David Campbell, formerly of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, confronts us with a force that cannot be contained (Acts 2:1-21)

If Jesus is Lord of all, what power can we access? (Rev'd Dave McLennan)

Rev'd Andrew's launch of Sabbath Gospel: A New Narrative of Time, Rest, and the Work of the Church, by Amy Erickson and Gregory Wagenfuhr. Get it here.

What's the path forward, out of one of Jesus' harshest utterances? (Rev'd Dr Andrew.) Try out the Sacred Space app, mentioned in the sermon.

Rev'd Dave looks at the complex relationship we have with authority—and some 'lusts' you don't expect.

Rev'd Andrew looks at why we find it so hard to believe in lostness; but why you might; and what 'found' looks like.

Rev'd Dave looks at why it is that Christ comes in and out of our awareness, and what that means about Him.

Thomas had a rubbish week. How was yours. (Rev'd Dr Andrew)

Can we get back to being 'civil'? Rev'd Andrew's talk to the 'intellect' program at St Martin's College, Charles Sturt University, Wagga. For slides and other resources, go to https://tinyurl.com/intellect-civility .

Four big clues about something world-shattering ... (Rev'd Dave)

What are we going to need today, after hearing about humanity? (Rev'd Dr Andrew)

I've been misunderstood, you know. You should get to know me, and what I thought about this oddball, Jesus. (Rev'd Dave)

Jesus enters Jerusalem in triumph, and then dies with his dreams in ruins. Or does he? How do we make sense of the contradictions in the final week of Jesus' ministry? And how can this help us face life complexities? (Rev'd Dave)

Rev'd Andrew looks at the mechanistic naturalist, and the Blue Oasis, theories of being human; and how wind and Spirit and breath go much, much deeper into who you are.

Rev'd Andrew looks at how you and I might become a light on the dark things hidden in plain sight ...

Dr Harold offers us a new lifelong project, to do with what we see.

Rev'd Andrew talks about what theological education is, what put him there, why he likes it--and why you should do some too!

Dr Winifred points to what we've missed and haven't seen, after Jesus met a man who was blind.

Rev'd Dave responds to some of the conceits surrounding our power to 'master' ourselves, with the gospel's different and revolutionary approach.

What, exactly, was Jesus' living water? And how, exactly, did he turn her life around? And what are our longings for a partner really saying to us? (Rev'd Dr Andrew)

'Faith.' Not the same as manifesting. Not a hobby, like collecting model trains. Something intensely relational. And relationships mean taking a risk. (Rev'd Dave)

Megan, Andrew, and Dave have a go at questions sent by text and from the floor.

Now that a VAD regime is upon us, how might we respond to it? (Megan Best)Slides and other resources at tinyurl.com/SJ-LitD.

What vision of the end of life is worth loving more than the VAD vision? (Andrew Cameron)Slides and other resources at ⁠tinyurl.com/SJ-LitD⁠.

What is VAD and euthanasia? What is not euthanasia? How will it affect our existing practices of end of life care? (Megan Best) Slides and other resources at ⁠tinyurl.com/SJ-LitD⁠.

Why are we having this conference called 'Light in the Darkness'? (Dave McLennan)Other resources at ⁠tinyurl.com/SJ-LitD⁠.

Temptation slithers in sneakily. It relies on desire. What to do, when our desire for what's very good, goes very bad? To whom shall we look? (Rev'd Dave)

We make plans for a lot of things. Why not for the rest of your (eternal) life? (Rev'd Murrary)

When we're in a dark place, we're desperate for a spot of light. But where do you look? (Rev'd Dr Andrew)

Being 'salt' and 'light' sometimes has a bad outcome, and sometimes a good outcome. How much does that matter? (And why are 'values' a bit rubbish?) (Rev'd Dave)

What ways forward does Jesus gives for lives that are really, really hard? (Rev'd Dr Andrew)

Rev'd Dave looks at all the kinds of darkness Christ came to change.

'Seeing'. You can see just what's in front of you. Or what's coming. Or what was behind. Or, a whole lot more. (Rev'd Dave)

Rev'd Andrew on a speech that changed everything, for Cornelius, and the world.

Rev'd Andrew on the surprising continuation of God's Epiphany to the world ...

The Massacre of the Innocents, straight after Christ's birth, shows how suffering is 'baked in'. But Rev'd Andrew shows how 'Rachel's weeping' might actually hint at some hope.

How do you end the darkness? (Rev'd Dr Andrew)

Rev'd Dave on how the Virgin Birth of Christ give us hope and meaning--and exposes the worldview that you're trusting in.