BCUC Sunday Sermons & More

Dear friends of BCUCHow often in the last six months have you thought about baptism?Has the topic been part of your prayers? Do you have a passion to see and be part of the journey of more people being baptised? Do you consider what you are doing right now—even reading this message—as part of you “living out your baptism”?Jesus invited his disciples at the end of Matthew’s Gospel to go and make disciples of all nations, “baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” He clearly links discipleship with baptism and places it as one of the key defining features of his new movement, which would later be called Christianity. The apostle Paul later wrote to the churches and helped unpack what baptism means. In Romans 6 he writes about being baptised (immersed) into Jesus’ death and then into his resurrection life. We become dead to the power of sin and then have a new life of freedom that is alive with God. That’s pretty amazing when you stop and think about it.Wonderfully, some people can actually give a time and date to when the Holy Spirit, at their baptism, changed their personality for good in a way that others immediately noticed. They were different people either side of the waters of baptism. There are many who try hard to imagine a difference but can’t really pinpoint very much. Don’t let that diminish the importance of your baptism! For those reading this who have been baptised, the question is not just what changed for you in baptism, but what is still changing right now as you live out your baptism?For those who haven’t been baptised, the question is—what’s stopping you? Please get in contact with our ministry team. There may be some who would like to consider renewing or reaffirming their baptism, especially those who were baptised as an infant. Please get in contact with our ministry team.I take Jesus’ invitation to baptism in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit seriously and often pray for many more baptisms here at BCUC and around the world. I invite you to pray with me in this important adventure.Your brother in Christ,Benji

Dear friends of BCUCImagine being invited to a party and, as soon as all the guests have arrive, the host stands up and makes a speech telling everyone to leave. You might think, “But I just got here!” This may be a little like how the disciples felt when Jesus told them to “go and make disciples of all nations”. The Christian life is actually a rhythm like the tides, coming together and going out together. It’s a pretty direct and straightforward invitation: “Go, make disciples”. In fact, it’s the type of short, pithy statement that many churches have adopted as their mission or vision “disciples who make disciples”.It’s quite amazing that Jesus entrusts this critical task to a group of people who had only recently doubted, denied knowing him, run away at his most critical moment and often seemed not to quite get it when it came to his teaching. Yet, with prayer, the authority of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit, they do it. It seems that the task of disciple-making is not just for professional Christians, but for the whole church… including you and me.This Sunday, we invite you to explore the why, how, who, and what of that glorious task of disciple-making.Your brother in Christ,Benji

When you think of security, what comes to mind? Cameras around your home? Financial stability? A child clutching a security blanket? Or perhaps it’s a feeling of peace, comfort, being held in a loving embrace.As we continue our series exploring how Jesus invites us into something new, this week we consider His invitation into security. In Matthew 28:18, Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” We can rest in the assurance that nothing is outside His control. Paul echoes this in Romans 8:38–39, reminding us that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Jesus, who holds all authority, knows you, chooses you, and calls you by name. In Him, we find a security that frees us from fear.This Sunday, we’ll explore not only receiving that security, but embodying it. How might we become a church where people feel safe to ask questions, be honest, and belong, even before they believe?The world offers temporary safety, but in Jesus we find lasting security and a calling to offer that same security to others.Blessings,Kaitlyn

Our Easter weekend services commenced on Thursday evening in an olive grove with Jesus’ arrest, progressed to the sombre remembrance of his crucifixion on Good Friday and today the joy of the Resurrection. Our Lenten theme of “Jesus Cares” also reaches its climax as Jesus demonstrates how he cares for us. He provides an example of how to care by showing his love for his disciples. At the Last Supper he knew that he was to be betrayed but showed his humility by washing their feet, even sharing a morsel of food with Judas which was usually a sign of friendship and then in the olive garden when he sought their company showing understanding of their weakness in falling asleep. This shows us today the importance of standing by others who need us, selflessly and with understanding and even like Jesus on occasion sacrificially. Then, Jesus showed how much he cared for us by obeying God, following the will of God and having faith in Him even though the immediate outcome seemed grim, a painful death on the cross. When he explored in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and discerned that there was no other way to achieve saving mankind than Him dying for us, he cared enough for us to accept God’s will. The message for us this Easter is to not despair that our world seems in chaos and evil people appear to hold the ascendancy, because Jesus showed us that God is always in control, and that we must have faith and discern the role he wants us to play even though we often cannot see beyond immediate consequences.Ian Olver

In the coming series, we will be looking closely at Matthew 28: 16 – 20. This passage is often referred to as the ‘Great Commission’. It can equally be thought of as the ‘Great Invitation’. We will be prefacing each message in the series with “Jesus invites …. “.I have been asked to focus on “Jesus invites worship”. We see a number of times in the scriptures that people’s response to Jesus, either personally or His actions, was to worship Him.  At his birth, healing the man born blinds, calming storms, Peter’s confession, at His crucifixion, after His resurrection and then at His ascension. People can’t seem to help it.And He did not stop them.  So, do you think He’s worthy? I believe He is worthy as He is part of the Godhead. But Jesus really invites us to worship the Father. It is the Father who wants His children to commune with Him. Jesus calls us to “pray to the Father, in the name of the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit”. Through faith we can have access to the Creator of the universe. And being the Creator of the universe, He know what is best for us. And the best for us is to know and be known by our Heavenly Father. The best way to do this is to engage in true worship of Him. In truth and in spirit.The Westminster catechism says: man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. In commanding us to glorify him, God is inviting us to enjoy him.Are you willing to worship and enjoy God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit?Your brother in Christ,Craig Waldock

Our Easter weekend services commenced on Thursday evening in an olive grove with Jesus’ arrest, progresses to the sombre remembrance of his crucifixion on Good Friday and then the joy of the Resurrection on Sunday. Our Lenten theme of “Jesus Cares” also reaches its climax as Jesus demonstrates how he cares for us. He provides an example of how to care by showing his love for his disciples. At the Last Supper he knew that he was to be betrayed but showed his humility by washing their feet, even sharing a morsel of food with Judas which was usually a sign of friendship and then in the olive garden when he sought their company showing understanding of their weakness in falling asleep. This shows us today the importance of standing by others who need us, selflessly and with understanding and even like Jesus on occasion sacrificially. Then, Jesus showed how much he cared for us by obeying God, following the will of God and having faith in Him even though the immediate outcome seemed grim, a painful death on the cross. When he explored in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and discerned that there was no other way to achieve saving mankind than Him dying for us, he cared enough for us to accept God’s will. The message for us this Easter is to not despair that our world seems in chaos and evil people appear to hold the ascendancy, because Jesus showed us that God is always in control, and that we must have faith and discern the role he wants us to play even though we often cannot see beyond immediate consequences.Ian Olver

Dear friends of BCUC,Jesus riding into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey, with crowds waving palm branches, spreading their coats and shouting, “Hosanna in the highest!” It sounds like Palm Sunday is upon us! Next to Christmas and Easter, it’s probably one of the most well-known stories in the Bible. This year, I want to explore what this story says about how Jesus cares.In Matthew’s Gospel, we’re told that this event happened “to fulfil the prophecy that said, ‘Tell the people of Jerusalem, “Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey”’” (Matt 21:4–5a). Until this moment, Jesus had been more of a hidden king—a king disguised as a carpenter-prophet from the rough north. In this moment, Jesus is claiming his crown, the authority as the Messiah sent by God to lead his people.By standing up with bold clarity, he paints a target on his back and front. By the end of the week, that target will be hit with deadly precision. In the interim, Jesus shows us what type of humble king he is. He is a king who cares for his people to the point of sacrificing his very life.Today, we still need humble leaders who are willing to stand up despite the cost, and who care deeply enough to do the Father’s will rather than their own. Jesus cares enough to be our King—do we care enough to stand up too?Your Brother in ChristBenji

Have you noticed the sea of orange around the place this week?This week we celebrate Harmony Week. The Harmony Week initiative is to acknowledge and foster a sense of belonging in Australia, celebrating our differences and diversity in our beautiful country. And isn’t it a nice feeling to feel like we belong to something beyond ourselves?This Sunday, we will be exploring how Jesus cares about everyone. In Acts 15:1-21, we see the early church wrestling with an important question: Who belongs in God’s family? Luckily, this question gets answered quickly. V.11 says, “we believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”What good news! Jesus cares about everyone, despite where they’ve come from or what they look like. Jesus cares about the salvation of all people by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.James continues from Peter’s observations in v.19 by saying “and so my judgement is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.”If Jesus cares so deeply for everyone, how can we reflect that same heart here at BCUC? How can we help our community experience that sense of belonging, grace, and welcome?The big question for us this week is: How can we be intentional “Jesus Cares” people?Blessings,Kaitlyn

Fearing God is not about being scared of God but it means being in reverent awe of God which results in paying the appropriate respect and honour to God and so we will be happy to faithfully obey God. If we live like that, we need not be frightened by anything (that could paralyse with fear of simply make us miserable). That is a powerful message, and it comes from Psalm 112. This forms a pair with Psalm 111 which praises God for God’s character and marvellous works. Psalm 112 describes the blessing and happiness of those who mirror God’s nature. Those who do this may well receive both material and spiritual blessings. Further our families will benefit from the example of our life and commending to our children the protection of God. If we cannot impact on our family, we have less chance of impacting the community. Our lives will also be a blessing to the church congregation, since the Bible shows that we are not meant to be isolated believers but a worshipping community. This is not saying that a Godly character protects us from life’s pain or guarantees health, wealth or success. These are not part of the new covenant where in Jesus Christ we have every blessing that we will need. Even under the first covenant the Psalm itself mentions dark times, receiving bad news and being opposed by enemies. What happens when we are faced with adverse circumstances? Believers with a confident heart and clear conscience know that God is in control and they have to wait for the light. This is an important message for our current world where we can become despondent about the dark times in our community and the poor behaviour of many world leaders. What can we do? The Godly, themselves are a witness in the darkness and can be a source of light. Furthermore, the wicked who have seen these lights and yet opposed them will have no excuse when they face God’s judgement. Ian Olver

What an occasion!This Sunday we are commissioning two new elders, Ben Price and Helen Waldoc, as well as praying for the rest of our eldership team and giving thanks for the many different leaders who are part of what makes BCUC. The church has always been led by those who are called by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Right back from the first chapters of Acts, we see the church appointing people to lead.The discipline of leadership is not unique to the church. There have been leaders throughout human history; it seems that whenever groups of people come together, leadership emerges — both good and bad. One of the unique contributions Christianity has brought to leadership is the value of humility (see John Dickson’s book Humilitas). Paul expresses this most clearly in his letter to the Philippians when he challenges believers to have the same mindset as Jesus, who “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8).As we reflect on church leadership, let us also reflect on the value of Christian humility. It may sound counter-intuitive, but to discover humility requires a good deal of self-confidence — or at least security in your identity as a child of God — something I like to call confident humility. C. S. Lewis is well quoted as saying, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less.” Humility is an attitude that can help unlock not just world-shaping leadership, but transformed relationships with yourself, others, and God.Come along or tune in this Sunday as we explore this wonderful Christian value and give thanks for, and support to, the many leaders of BCUC.Other readings:Philippians 2:1–111 Corinthians 1:18–311 Peter 5:1–6Your brother in Christ,Benji

Dear friends of BCUC,There’s been a lot happening in the world lately. As I write this, it is an official Day of Mourning for the victims of the Bondi shootings. There is great concern, and much commentary, about whether we are living through the collapse of the current rules-based world order. It seems that today’s Western society is becoming even more polarised, to the point of violence. We need to rediscover the art of having loving disagreement.Then we have the annual, and often confused, observance of Australia Day. The Uniting Church Assembly asks churches to remember the Sunday prior as a Day of Mourning, to stand in solidarity with Australia’s First Peoples whose pain is real. Are we to see 26 January through the lens of celebration—giving thanks for the many blessings we have in contemporary Australia—or through the lens of colonial invasion and the ongoing oppression of First Peoples? As a follower of Jesus, my heart is predisposed to find joy and give thanks in all circumstances, while also seeking justice and compassion for those who are oppressed and hurting.It’s also the last weekend before children return to school, which brings its own mix of emotions and preparations.Through all that is going on, I find the closing words of the second letter of Peter helpful. He is writing in the context of Jesus’ second coming and the day of the Lord, when the heavens will be set on fire and the elements will melt away. How are we to live until then? Peter draws us back to living out of our values, focusing not so much on the wider problems of the world, but on how we behave in the here and now: “Make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.” And finally, “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).This Sunday, despite all that is happening in the world, I’d like us to focus on what it means to “grow in grace.” That certainly sounds like something I’d like to do—and it might even change the world along the way.See you Sunday.Your brother in Christ,Benji

Dear friends of BCUC,Happy New Year to you all, and welcome to the wonderful blank page of 2026, ready for God’s Holy Spirit to work amongst us.If your life were a musical or a song, what type of song would you be singing?Would it be a sad song, a love song, or a song of triumph and joy?If you could describe the type of song your life sang in 2025, what would it be? Is it possible that the song you sang wasn’t the same as the song others heard?As we begin 2026, I wonder what sort of song you want your life to be singing this year.Mother Teresa of Calcutta is quoted as saying, “Life is a song—sing it.”The book of Psalms contains 150 songs. This Sunday, we will examine Psalm 40, which joyfully exclaims that the Lord has “given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.”What new song will you sing?We may have songs of lament, praise, hope, despair, love, joy, justice, or cries for sympathy. My hope is that this year, no matter what may happen, people will hear my life sing a song of praise to our God. I’m sure I won’t get it right all the time—my rhythm will be off, and the tune of my life will sometimes clash with a melody of praise. However, by the wonderful grace of God found in the work of Jesus, I pray that the great conductor of the universe will correct me and bring me back in to join the chorus once again.What about you?I look forward to seeing you all soon.Your brother in Christ,

The effect of sin in our world is pervasive and deadly, hardening our hearts towards God and numbing us to the concerns of others. Failure to recognise the corrosive damage sin inflicts on our minds and in our world leaves us unable to interpret much of what goes on within and around us. We will be looking at the book of Esther and the decisions of King Xerxes, ruler of the enormous Persian empire, to see how they illustrate this for us. What does this mean for us? Thankfully, God delights to redeem all that sin has corrupted if we choose to turn to him. We are encouraged by Paul in his letter to the Romans not to be conformed to the pattern of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. It is in the light of God’s word and under the influence of the Holy Spirit that God is able to renew us, he does not act without our consent. It is imperative that we recognise our need for renewal in order to be the salt and light that we have been commanded to be for the world around us, pointing to our Father the source of hope for the world.

Happy New Year!The Christmas season celebrating the birth of Jesus - Emmanuel, God with us is coming to a close with Epiphany.  The date for Epiphany is 6 January, but this will be our focus in worship on Sunday.We celebrate the day Jesus was revealed as the king of the world by the magi’s visit to the Christ child.  According to the gospel of Matthew, sages from the East came to Jerusalem seeking the child.  They had observed a new star rising and followed it to find the newborn king of the Jews. An ‘Epiphany’ is a revealing, appearing or manifesting of something or someone.  We sometimes use the phrase, ‘I had an epiphany’, to express something we have suddenly understood or a great idea that has come to us.What is God revealing to you this Epiphany?  How are we as church revealing the light and love of Jesus to others? BlessingsRev. Sue Page

Revelation and indeed the whole bible finishes at Chapter 21 and 22 with a vision of a new heaven and new earth. God says in a loud voice from the throne that tears, sorrow, death, pain and crying will be “gone forever”. Then we see this glorious picture of what the holy city, the new Jerusalem will look like. I remember when our oldest son Jake was about to be born, people kept telling Nicole and me that “when kids come, everything changes”. Aside from a bit of lack of sleep, I couldn’t see then how EVERYTHING would change. Surely not! Besides no-one could explain to me exactly how everything would change. Then when Jake was born… everything changed. New life and a new family, the old life BC (before children) had passed away. It was wonderful and new and it was very different. In some ways I see these chapters about the life to come a bit like trying to explain to my BC self, just how different everything will be. I could try but I wouldn’t really understand until I got there. As with much of the other chapters of Revelation there are layers and layers of imagery and symbolism and wonderful connections to the rest of scripture. It’s like all the loose threads of ideas in the bible from the previous 65 books finally come together to make a truly glorious picture. You finally realise that the main story of the bible that began in Genesis and has been played out through every book since is unchanged, there is remarkable consistency, despite the constant change in author. “I will be their God, and they will be my people”. It’s about God dwelling with us, loving us, wanting to be close. It has always been about relationship not religion. In the end there is a beautiful picture of this finally happening, God with us.As we get to the end of Revelation, I wonder what new things have you learnt about God, about Jesus (remember this is the revelation of Jesus the Messiah) about the world and yourself? What has God been saying to you? Why not spend some time in reflection thinking about these questions.I look forward to seeing you this Sunday, we will have Holy Communion also.Your brother in Christ,Benji

Dear friends of BCUC,  The wisdom of ِEcclesiates says “There is a time for a war and a time for peace” On Tuesday 11th November people paused for a minutes silence to remember the time when the guns of World War 1 stopped firing over Europe after 4 years of conflict caused 40 million casualties. Revelation chapters 17-20 is about the final battle. It's a description of the final battles between the Messiah and Satan which eventually ends with Satan being defeated for all time. This is a great source of hope for us. If we are faithful to Christ we can achieve life with the eternal God. It does not mean that we cannot be tempted by evil, so we should be vigilant. It does mean that Satan cannot overpower us if we remain true to Christ who wins the battle over evil for all time.  We should not be put off by the imagery in Revelation since much of it comes from the Old Testament and would be familiar to the Jews, but what we must take from it is our great source of hope though Christ that we can gain eternal life. We look forward to you joining us this Sunday and afterwards for the AGM. Your brothers in ChristIan Olver and Benji Callen

Cultures throughout the world have long traditions of some form of Harvest Thanksgiving festival from the Moon Festival in China, Chuseok in Korea, Pongal in South India, Thanksgiving in the US, and even Pentecost in Jesus time. There’s much celebration and grateful thanks when the first harvest comes in and then when the final fruits are brought into the storehouses to prepare for a long winter. It means survival, the hope of being fed and not going hungry, life into the future is possible. I noticed living in the Eyre Peninsula that when the harvest is good (and the grain prices are too), spirits are high and lifted up.Throughout the bible the image of great and final harvest has been used as a metaphor for the final “Day of the Lord”. Jesus talked about this final day of judgment when the harvest would come, the grain kept while the separated chaff is burnt. In the second half of Revelation Chapter 14 we see this metaphor of the Day of the Lord coming like 2 harvests. One of grain and the other grapes that are then pressed into blood in the winepress of wrath. This echoes the same message of the prophet Joel Chapter 3: 13-14Swing the sickle,    for the harvest is ripe.Come, trample the grapes,    for the winepress is full    and the vats overflow—so great is their wickedness!”Multitudes, multitudes    in the valley of decision!For the day of the Lord is near    in the valley of decision.We are then left in the “valley of decision”. God is slow to judge and will give us every opportunity. To follow Jesus in our actions and beliefs or to ignore God and go our own way. As Jesus said the harvest is plentiful and cause of festival celebrations throughout the world. When the harvest comes people celebrate at the promise of life.Your brother in ChristBenji

Again, we see a piece full of signs and symbols. There is a pregnant woman who is about to give birth to a child who will rule all the nations with an iron sceptre. That child is Jesus. The woman, however, rather than representing Mary represents the chosen people, the Church, from which the lineage of Jesus comes. The next image is Satan. In the Old Testament Satan is part of the complement of heaven. Satan means ‘adversary’ and for example when Satan states that Job is faithful to God only because he has had such a good life, Satan is sent by God to earth to challenge Job and make him suffer. However since then Satan has changed and through pride wants to challenge God. Satan is now depicted as a 7 headed dragon, with complete power over a Kingdom of chaos opposed to God. He goes to earth to destroy the child, but Jesus is snatched back to heaven, and the mother is transported by God to the desert for safety. Satan pursues the Messiah to heaven but the archangel Michael, who is the defender of mankind, defeats Satan and banishes him from heaven forever.Satan returns to earth full of vengeance to punish the child by attacking the mother, the church. He does this by delegating to 2 entities represented by beasts. The first, the beast of the sea, is the Roman Empire and all it offers. The second, the beast of the land, is the requirement for Romans to declare Ceasar as Lord once each year under pain of death. However, if Christians remain faithful to Jesus, even if the consequence is martyrdom, then they cannot be harmed because Satan has been defeated by Jesus on the cross.What does it mean for the church today? The adversary has been defeated by Jesus on the cross for all time and we need no longer fear being challenged by the accuser as long as we remain true to Christ. Or as Charles Wesley so elegantly put it, “No condemnation now I dread, Jesus and all in Him is mine”.(Revelation 12-14) Ian Olver

Dear friends of BCUC,Aside from trying to understand all the rich and, at times, overwhelming imagery and symbolism of the book of Revelation, I am discovering two key perspectives that help unlock its meaning. The first, which I have spoken about before, is that the opening sentence announces this as the revelation of Jesus Christ the King. The second is to see this message through the lens of the persecuted church. It’s only then that the message becomes grounded, and the context more concrete.Revelation is a vision given to a persecuted church, for a persecuted church. This setting helps us gain a better perspective on some of the more difficult passages of Revelation, such as the seven trumpets in chapters 8–11. I can’t draw on my own life experience to understand this fully — my life does not begin to comprehend the depths of losing an entire village, all possessions, and close family members simply because of prayer to Jesus. Yet videos and testimonies from groups such as Barnabas Aid help us connect more deeply (for example, those from Nigeria). The women who shared their stories at our church on Thursday from Iraq and India also gave us a powerful glimpse.I am thankful that we at BCUC have been supporting Barnabas Aid and the persecuted church through the work of the Pantry, particularly in Laos. I am also thankful that at BCUC we have Christians from many nations whom I consider friends. When I hear about the persecution faced by people in their home countries, it becomes a little more personal.When I listen to witnesses from these countries, I’m amazed by their response to such personal suffering. I never hear words of vengeance or pleas for God to destroy their oppressors. Occasionally, I hear prayers of thanks for blessings in their lives — such as a tent to live in — or prayers for release and freedom. But more often, I hear prayers for endurance, for opportunities to continue sharing the Gospel, and for their persecutors to come to know the love, grace, and forgiveness found in Jesus.In Revelation chapter 11, which N.T. Wright describes as “the most puzzling part of all” of “the most puzzling book of all,” we see two witnesses who are killed for their faith and then given resurrection life. It is the witness of that new life that brings repentance to others. We can be puzzled and challenged by these chapters of Revelation, and we can also be challenged by the witness of persecuted believers who have stood firm in their faith, yet still preach love, forgiveness, and the mercy of Jesus in the midst of violent oppression.The church — both today and throughout history — does not win the battle by having bigger or more violent weapons than the enemy, but by bearing faithful witness to the Gospel of the Lamb who was slain for us all.I look forward to exploring these challenging passages together,Benji

Have you ever called a company or business or government agency and been put on hold for so long with a soothing repeat message saying “your call is important to us” interspersed with nondescript mind numbing music. Then 90 minutes later when the repetitive sequence of sounds change to something like “Hello, this is ____ how may I help you?”, you stumble around, a bit lost, quickly trying to gather your thoughts and remember why on earth you called in the first place and even ask yourself… what’s my name again?. I wonder if sometimes life can seem a bit like that.  An endless loop of monotony that has numbed the senses too deeply to notice.Along comes Jesus and says: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” John 14:6. A promise of direction, the cut through of actual, real, pure truth and life that is more than simply default living. And how do we break the loop and get through to the purpose of the phone call that is our lives? It seems that Jesus is saying he is the only way. What do you think?This Sunday at BCUC is anything but monotonous and default living. Come along Sunday and be part of the abundant life of Jesus. We start at 9:30am in the car park with the grand opening of the new Hub area. We then move to the 10.00am worship service for some dance lessons with Freestyle Dance ministry, join in prayer and thanksgiving at the baptism of Ivory Ofoedu, we worship together looking more deeply at this passage from John 14 while the younger people (and the young at heart) have a dance workshop at the new Hub area, then we finish with games, activities, BBQ fellowship and more. All you need to do is send out the invite and bring someone along! What a day to be alive.Grace and peace in Christ,Benji

Dear friends of BCUC,A very familiar quote from Jesus is from the end of chapter 3 of Revelation: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” This comes after a challenge to the churches to repent and turn to Jesus.I find this one of the great captivating pictures of the Christian life. The image of a door to our lives, Jesus standing outside, knocking, calling, waiting for us to listen and respond. Then the wonderful joy of him coming into our lives to share a meal together.  I wonder what Jesus would see if we showed him around our house or life?The book of Revelation then switches from this image to another doorway at the start of chapter 4: “After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in Heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.'"Now that Jesus has shared food together in our place he invites us back to his. Two doors to two very different places. The vision we are given when John, the writer of Revelation, walks through that door into the Throne room of the Almighty God, Lord of all, Holy and glorious is beyond breathtaking and enough to dazzle even the darkest cynic. It’s a place we can read in chapter 4 and 5 of Revelation. It makes Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory seem like a broom cupboard. It is that place we are going to explore this Sunday. We will look at the lion and the lamb, the 24 elders, the four angels, the throne and more.N. T. Wright quotes a friend who calls it “One of the two most wonderful chapter in the bible”. I encourage you to read them and even unto 7. To dwell in them. To soak in the imagery. Once you do that you can’t help be transformed. I invite you to walk through the door.Look forward to worshipping with you Sunday,Benji

This week we start a 7- part series on Revelation.John, banished to the Island of Patmos for preaching about Jesus, had revealed to him, by Jesus, God’s view of what must soon take place on earth and in heaven. The Jews referred to the present time where they were under Roman rule and had lost hope that mankind could change their fate.  Only God could intervene to establish His Kingdom. In a series of visions John is shown the apocalyptic destruction of the present age giving way to the new world where the Jews would return to Jerusalem and peace would reign. In the end God defeats the forces of evil and thereby restores our hope that we can dwell with Him for eternity.Given such a great news story of hope, why do people shy away from Revelation? It is often because the visions and symbols and code seem bizarre and frightening, and they can be difficult to interpret. However, it was quite common in the Old Testament to use visions of strange creatures such as are found in Daniel and the Jews would have been familiar with the multiple references to the Old Testament. Also, writing in code can be necessary if you are under the rule of tyrants.  One example is the use of the number 7 which appears 55 times. Seven stands for something which is complete or perfect. For example, if you have read the 7 scrolls you have read everything from beginning to end. John speaks of the 7-fold Spirit which is the one complete Spirit through which we connect with God and Jesus.What we will concentrate upon this week is the letters to the 7 churches. Again, 7 signifies that the letters are for all churches both then and today. John passes on to them praise and criticism but also shows what they need to do to get back on track. Two churches received no criticisms because they were keeping God’s Word despite attacks from society around them and from false prophets. Others were criticised for losing their love for each other or were compromising their values to fit with society or had become lukewarm or even lifeless in their worship.Each letter ends with “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches” This means our church and us as individuals. Ian Olver

This Sunday we have the privilege of having YAV’s premier award winning female voice choir Aurora helping us with worship. It promises to be a time of musical beauty that will lift our hearts to God. We will sing songs that have been prayers of the church that God in his infinite grace keeps answering. We see answered prayers throughout the book of Acts also, all the way through to the last sentence. In the final chapter of Acts we continue to follow the journey of Paul and his friends. He finally arrives in Rome after a seafaring journey worthy of a book by itself. He is met by others and then teaches freely and boldly under house arrest at Rome for two years and then… the bible starts a new book with Paul’s letter to the Romans. Perhaps you were like me and kept turning the pages back and forth wondering if there were pages missing? Did Paul get to confront Cesar? Did the church grow in Rome? Did Paul get to go to Spain like he said he wanted? What happened to the church in Jerusalem? What about the rest of the disciples? Where’s Peter? Where’s Mary? What about the country I was born in? Why isn’t that mentioned? How is the Holy Spirit active after that? Why have a long chapter detailing a ships journey from the Middle East to Italy but not give details we really want to hear?Today’s movie industry is all about the franchise. If it is popular the first time then let's keep making movies in that world until it stops making money. We are tempted to want the trilogy of Luke/Acts and then the fourth and fifth instalments. Yet it’s not there. The message of the Good News has gone to the capital of the largest pagan empire the world had seen. The next chapters belong to you and me. Right here in Adelaide or wherever you are reading this. The very same Holy Spirit that worked in Acts lives and works in us, the mission is the same, the blueprint of what to do is in Acts. Let’s get on with making the sequel!Your Brother in ChristBenji

Everyone has storms in their lives at some time or other.  It seems part of being human.  Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.” Perhaps you feel like you’re in the middle of a storm right now.At first reading, Acts 27 looks like simply a factual account of getting Paul from A to B, and what happened along the way.  But if you dig a little deeper, you can find some clues as to what enabled Paul to survive through all the storms in his life – and there were plenty.In Paul’s own words, “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move.  I have been in danger from rivers, …from bandits, …from my own countrymen, …from Gentiles; in danger in the city, …in the country, …at sea, and from false brothers.  I have laboured and toiled and often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked…”                                  What was it that enabled Paul to keep bouncing back, ready for more, and willing to endure anything for the sake of the gospel?   Lesser men would have given up long before, keeping a low profile for their own safety.There are some hidden treasures in chapter 27 that show how Paul weathered this particular storm, and how they can help us in our storms.  Strangely, they all start with P, and no, prayer isn’t one of them, although it could have been.But perhaps the last word needs to go to Peter, in another watery story, where Peter learns the hard way how to keep his head above water, and how to stop the waves from overwhelming him (Luke 14:27-31).When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you (Isaiah 43:2).Colette Williams

In the film Dead Poets Society, the teacher John Keating famously says: “Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.” Today we might say “YOLO” or “live every day like it’s your last.” The phrase goes back to the Roman poet Horace: “Seize the day, put very little trust in tomorrow.”Some people live by this, but I prefer Jesus’ promise: “I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly.” Carpe diem can drift toward recklessness, while abundant life is generous, full, and eternal.Paul picks up this theme: “Make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5), especially in conversations about the gospel. In Acts 26, after two years in prison at Caesarea, Paul finally speaks in his defence. He doesn’t complain or condemn. Instead, he shares his testimony and urges people to repent, believe, and turn to God. He makes the most of the moment—not for himself, but for Christ.How well do we do the same?This Sunday we’ll hear from Lauren about sharing the joy of Jesus with university students, and about the work of Operation Christmas Child. I look forward to seeing you then.Your brother in Christ,Benji

I’m sure we all know people who would put themselves in the category of “not Christian” or at least tick the “no religion” box on the census. I wonder—based on their relationship with you—how do you think they would describe the Christian faith? Maybe they would say something like being kind and loving to others; they might add forgiveness. Would they say something about the Bible being important, prayer, and being busy on lots of church committees? Would they mention God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit? Would they be able to tell you what the Gospel is, from your perspective?When I conduct funerals, I sometimes have family members who aren’t of the Christian faith but want to honour their mum or dad’s wishes. In those moments, I sometimes get a window into what they have observed or understood to be Christianity.In Acts 25, the apostle Paul finds himself still in chains. He’s been talking with the Roman governor Festus, who is trying to get to the bottom of what exactly Paul is being accused of and why the local Jewish leaders want him dead. At one point, Festus gives us an insight into what a Roman outsider thinks is the summary of the Christian faith: “something about their [Jewish] religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is alive” (Acts 25:19). This is like a crystallised version of the Gospel as Festus understands it: a dead man named Jesus who Christians insist is alive.Do you think that’s accurate? What would you want to add or change? How would you help Festus understand more—or do you think that’s enough to capture the essence of the Christian faith?I recently saw an edited video of a Victorian parliamentary debate on the introduction of new vilification laws, where it was clear that one MP did not have enough understanding of Christianity to be able to say even what Festus did. They clearly didn’t know who Jesus was or that Christians insist he is alive today. It seems we still have much work to do when it comes to sharing even a basic understanding of the Gospel.This Sunday we have a wonderfully full service: celebrating Father’s Day, exploring Acts 25 and the Gospel, and finishing with a reaffirmation of the baptism of Andrew Lee.Oh, and by the way… if you’re a father and get asked by your family what you want to do this Sunday, why not say: “I’d love it if we could all go to church as a family.”Your brother in Christ,Benji

We all love to make plans. We plan dinner. We plan holidays. We plan future career paths. We plan our future lives when we get married. Sometimes these plans don’t go where we expect. We burn our dinner, the weather isn’t right for our holiday, we don’t get on with our work mates. Let’s not even get started on things that can change when we get married and life together begins. Things always change and we always have to change our plans. It is how we react to these changes that will direct our lives. When things don’t go to plan, we can get frustrated, stressed and even lose hope.Paul had a plan of visiting Jerusalem for a short time to deliver some donation and give some offerings before continuing on to Rome. He soon found himself under arrest and being dragged before the governor, and the only place this was looking like going was jail. Paul could have reacted in may ways but he decided to continue to trust in the Lord, to trust he was going where he was meant to be. He wasn’t going to let the Jewish leaders rain on his mission to spread the good news. He didn’t run, he didn’t hide, he continued to share the word, even in court that would lead him to the start of 2 years in prison.Ben Randal

Dear friends of BCUCI wonder when have you needed courage? Reflecting on this during the week I think there are two main reasons. One is courage to face something new in the future which right now seems big and scary. The other is to continue onwards when the current circumstances seem hopeless and fill you with despair. One is courage when in a place of comfort heading towards an unknown place of challenge, the other is courage that brings comfort when in a place of challenge.Jesus says the words “have courage” six times and the disciples say it once. It’s the greek word tharseó: Take courage, be of good cheer, be confident and comes from a word that literally means “radiate warm confidence”. He says it to those who are sick, blind, lame and when talking about his death. He then gives this message to the apostle Paul in Acts 23:11 who has been arrested in Jerusalem and has crowds of people wanting to get rid of him because of the Good News he shares about Jesus. Jesus says “have courage” not just as words of comfort in a time of struggle but to spur him on to share the Good News in Rome.What do you need, to hear the words from Jesus “have courage” for today? Is God calling you to something challenging that scares you a bit, maybe you’re having a rough time and need these words of comfort?  May Jesus speak to you today.I look forward to seeing you this Sunday and I am particularly excited about membership Sunday as we welcome new members to BCUC.Your brother in Christ,Benji

Dear friends of BCUC,Over the last decade, 'identity politics' has shaped how people see themselves and others. Some say the more marginalised the identity, the more weight it should have. Others fear it comes at the expense of more common identities.In Acts 22, while being arrested the apostle Paul shifts between multiple authentic identities - Jew, Roman, Pharisee, citizen of Tarsus - not to gain pity or power, but to connect with as many people as possible for the sake of the Gospel.He is living out what he writes to the new church in Corinth that he helped start a few chapters earlier: “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel.”  1 Corinthians 9:22–23Our truest identity is in Christ, yet God can use every part of who we are to reach others with His love. The question is—how are you using your unique identity to help others know Him?Your brother in ChristBenji

Megan, Bryan and Benji talk about BCUC for the third exciting instalment of BCUC Talks! Jokes, faith, heavenly slices and more... Enjoy our podcast.

We continue following Paul’s journey. He has decided to return to Jerusalem despite the pleas of the local congregations and prophesies that he would be arrested and could be killed. Paul believed that he was preaching the word of Jesus and His will be done, so he set out, mainly by sea, to return to Jerusalem. Although the local Elders were pleased with how many people had been converted, they were concerned that the Asian Jews believed that Paul was encouraging Jews who lived with the Gentiles to abandon the laws of Moses. This was not accurate. He was teaching a new understanding of God which Jesus came to reveal and he also preached to the Gentiles who had no background of Jewish tradition. The Elders encouraged Paul to prove that the reports were inaccurate by sponsoring and joining with men who were going through the purification rituals. Paul did this, but it must had been particularly galling since his emphasis was preaching about a personal relationship with God through Jesus, taking precedence over the traditional rituals. Paul understood that his mission of growing the church was best served by accomodating, not alienating, those who held to traditional practices and did not immediately align with Paul’s views. I think that there is a great message here for our Uniting church and for individuals who will only accommodate congregations who align with their views of liturgy, music, preaching styles and they put that ahead of the unity in having a heart for Christ. Unfortunately, Paul was lynched anyway but saved from being killed by the Roman garrison. Even in this he saw a chance to preach his message and asked to address the crowd. With a wave of his hand the crowd fell silent. This is remarkable. A rabble fell silent. Surely this is a miracle which shows that when Paul was delivering God’s message, God did not abandon him but enabled him to do so. This is a powerful message to us; even in the toughest of situations God is with us. - Ian Olver

Dear friends of BCUC,What do you think the parting words of a church’s founding minister might be to its eldership?  Would they be words of encouragement to continue building upon the great foundations that had already been laid - or a chance to say what they really think about the church? That’s what we find in Acts 20:17–38, as Paul speaks to the elders of the new church in Ephesus.As I read it, I noticed the repetition of three key words beginning with ‘T’: testify, tears, and truth. Paul is always compelled - above everything else, including his own life - to testify, to bear witness to the Good News of the grace of God through Jesus, in both words and actions.How compelled are we?Paul and the elders shed many tears together. This highlights something about the unique nature of church: it’s personal, passionate, emotional, and relational - built on mutual love. That’s what can make today’s necessary emphasis on codes of ethics, insurance, compliance, and other business-like terms feel at odds with the idea of church as a close family. And yet, Paul and the elders wept together. Today, we are challenged to be both professional in our conduct and deeply relational - to the point of tears. I’m so glad we have the help of the Holy Spirit.How emotional and passionate are you about the work of the church?Finally: truth. Paul is concerned that the elders might stray from the truth and be swayed by false teachers after he leaves. This was a common concern in the early church.How concerned with ‘truth’ are we today?The idea of creeds - statements that crystallise the truth of the church’s teaching - has gone in and out of fashion in modern times. But what is the ‘truth’ that Paul was so concerned about? Is it the same as what we might call the ‘core truth’ today?I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.Also, thank you to those who have spent time during July in prayer and fasting for BCUC. Please let me or any of the elders know if God has given you something worth sharing -even if you’re not sure. It’s amazing how the Spirit brings different parts together to bring clarity. We will be discussing these things at the elders’ meeting this Tuesday night.Yours in Christ,Benji

Sometimes, I miss important things when I’m reading my Bible. In chapter 19 verse 20 we see Luke, the author of Acts, remind us that something really important is happening. But if you ‘blink’ you miss his reminder of his key theme: “So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.” Six times in his book (in 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20, and 28:31), Luke tells us that the word of the Lord “continued to increase” or words similar to that.We’ve been focusing on the Book of Acts in our worship and our group life. It’s been exciting to study the growth of the church as new Christians shared their faith and key leaders boldly proclaimed the good news about Jesus and his love for all.This Sunday our worship focus will be ‘Build the Kingdom’. Throughout Acts, Luke gives us accounts of how this is done by Christians making new Christians. On Sunday, we’ll be concentrating on 2 key elements of this process:The influence of the Holy Spirit andThe bold proclamation of the GospelThe Holy Spirit is still active in building the Kingdom of God, of working in the lives of people bringing them to life-giving faith in Jesus. In 2023 at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, a spiritual revival began with a spontaneous continuation of worship and prayer following a regularly scheduled chapel service on February 8th. Students stayed in Hughes Auditorium after the service and were joined by others, leading to a 16-day event that drew national and international attention. The revival was characterised by various expressions of faith, including spontaneous worship, prayer, repentance, and expressions of joy and unity.  News of the revival spread rapidly, drawing attention from media outlets, religious leaders, and individuals seeking spiritual renewal. The revival was additionally significant because of its spread on social media, particularly among Generation Z, the most irreligious generation in US history.Many of us are aware of the presence and influence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Often, people share with me their stories of something ‘miraculous’ that has happened to them or their friends or family. Often, they acknowledge that it must have been the Holy Spirit working in that ‘miraculous’ situation because they can find no other explanation for it.I encourage you to not only look for the action of the Spirit around you day by day but to share your joy as such experiences grow you stronger in your faith. And give thanks to Jesus who strengthened his disciples in his last days with them by promising that he would send the Holy Spirit to enable them to do even greater things than he did.The Holy Spirit is at work at BCUC helping us to Build the Kingdom. Can you not see it?  Together in Jesus,Rob

This was the video shown at Kettle club Sunday at BCUC Sunday 20th July 2025 as the all ages message. Enjoy and be inspired.6 Steps on How to make a church a church (based on chapter 18 acts)1. People not building2. DE-DIY 3. Finances 4. Location 5. Resilience 6. Maintenance

I wonder what does it take to build a church?Choose a location: to reach the most people choose a large city full of trade and travellers passing through. Like Singapore or Dubai or if it’s 52AD you might choose Corinth. Corinth was one of the largest cities, very Roman, with a hugely popular athletic Games, and not one but two busy ports on either side of the city with boats being cleverly transported across from one side to the other.Choose the best team: not the best most charismatic speakers but rather people who listen to Jesus and follow God, can teach the Good News correctly, that know how to encourage, live and love others with integrity, are happy to pay their own way, can make friends and develop more team players and have resilience. For Corinth this was Paul, his fellow tent makers and business partners Priscilla and Aquilla alongside his long-travelled companions Silas and Timothy.Recognise God is at work: For Paul and his team they received a message from God when one night the Lord appeared to Paul in a vision “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” (Acts 18:9-10).Be committed and resilient: Paul and his companions constantly had a barrage of negative voices and rejection yet it didn’t seem to stop them. In fact, a few years later, once the church in Corinth was established Paul writes back to them explaining himself and his secret of resilience being integrity in how you live.2 Corinthians 6: 3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. 4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. 6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, [c] and by our sincere love. 7 We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defence. 8 We serve God whether people honour us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 9 We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. 11 Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. I wonder could these same principles apply to you as you are part of Gods mission wherever God has placed you: family, neighbourhood, workplace, school or university?This Sunday is Kettle Club Sunday. We have had nearly 40 kids over the week coming to the school holiday program learning about Paul and his friend's journey with Jesus growing the church! This includes the story of how the church was planted in Corinth (Acts 18). The journey is 3 chapters long in our bibles, barely 6 pages, yet covers 3 years and 4500km! Come along and support the kids this Sunday as they retell the story to us and share what God has been teaching us at Kettle club. Worship together as we raise children of God. Note that the ‘livestream’ (actually, a special pre-recorded message just for this Sunday) will still be available but will not be a live video of the service.

Paul was one of the great travellers in the bible. Across 3 journeys he travelled at least 4500ks by foot and by sea. Whilst his route looks like a modern-day Mediterranean cruise….it wasn’t. Paul faced constant danger on many fronts but maintained his laser-focussed goal to spread the gospel, to share Gods message of the risen Jesus for all. Through it all he remained focussed on and driven by the risen Jesus’ words in Acts 1: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”In Thessalonica Paul spent 3 sabbaths in the synagogue explaining and reasoning, and he did enjoy some success. But some Jews became jealous of this and when they couldn’t find Paul, they rented a mob in the marketplace to start a riot, and they arrested his host, Jason. Meanwhile Paul’s supporters spirited him off to Berea under cover of darkness.Again, in Berea Paul taught in the synagogue and many believed. But not just through great teaching. The Bereans employed a study habit to examining scriptures daily and deeply to see if what was taught was true. This searching, examination, deep questioning and open mindedness to finding the truth is sometimes called “The Berean Way”.But again, jealous Jews got wind of the new Berean converts and travelled a great distance to cause more trouble in Berea, and Paul was again rescued by his supporters and sent to the coast and shipped to Athens.What truths do we learn from Thessalonica and Berea? Fortunately, we learn that some will receive the risen Jesus as the Messiah. However, we also learn that people can be threatened by that message, they can become jealous, take part in ugly behaviour, seek out scapegoats. Responses range from being fearful to being openly antagonistic and violent, continuing a pattern we have seen all through Acts. In Acts 4 Peter was opposed. In Acts 7 it was Stephen’s turn. In Acts 12 James was opposed, and now in Acts 17 Paul is opposed.As we finish Acts 17 Paul is now in Athens, the greatest university town in the known world, and there is a change in how Luke records and how Paul preaches. It makes sense. In verse 21 we read, “All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking and listening to the latest ideas.” Here are a people who are at least more open to listening to new ideas, and they honour Paul by inviting him to speak at their highest council, the Areopagus. And now we hear orator Paul, the Paul we are more used to in his great letters to the Corinthians and the Ephesians. The Paul who can speak so beautifully and eloquently and intellectually and personally about God.Paul delivers Sunday’s reading, often called “the speech of the unknown God.” This is said to be a masterclass in communication, but it’s also a masterclass in the nature of God.As you prepare for next Sunday, I encourage you to read Acts 17.Blessings,Jenny Olver

Dear friends of BCUCA common question when having polite conversation with strangers is “what do you do?”  I will often use this as a chance to share the gospel: “I’m a molecular biologist who has since become a Minister in the Uniting Church.” That usually gets people intrigued and asking questions. I realised that in my seven and half years of being at Burnside City Uniting Church I have not spoken much about my own call to ministry. The reading this Sunday gives me that opportunity. I am reminded of my own call to ministry when I read the first part of Acts 16. A young man called Timothy is noticed by the congregation at Lystra and the apostle Paul takes him under his wing to learn the ropes of mission and ministry. Being at Malvern Uniting Church and then at Elm Hall Drive Methodist in the United Kingdom, I was noticed by their church communities and then returning to Malvern Uniting I was blessed to be shown the ropes of ministry and mission by the Rev. Dr. Phil Carr and Rev. Dr. Jonathan Davies. When I needed to seek the endorsement of my application to ministry by the Church Council, I remember distinctly one of the elders reading a devotion from 1 Timothy about the character of a church leader. Ancient instruction from Paul to Timothy about how to lead in his new placement in Ephesus. What a standard to live up to!I hope that you might find something encouraging and helpful in my story and call, and that maybe you can consider or affirm your own call to ministry and mission for the Kingdom of God, wherever and whatever that may be.Your brother in Christ,Benji

Dear friends of BCUC,WARNING: Controversy and conflict within the church! Does that sentence make you want to run away and hide? How can a church that is meant to be all about loving God and each other have controversy and conflict? A simple answer is that God chose to make the church out of passionate, opinionated, thinking humans and not ants. It is why Jesus laboured so long in teaching his disciples how to forgive one another. The early church has had many, many, many controversies and indeed conflicts in its 2000 year history, and I am certain it will have more in the future. Yet unlike many other institutions, businesses, or even civilisations, it remains a strong force for Jesus today. I think that is testament to the very real power of the Holy Spirit. Both controversy and conflict are seen in this week’s chapter of Acts 15. We examined a few years ago the Peacemaker series (remember Barry the Bird) where we learnt to view conflict as an opportunity for discipleship and putting into practice the teachings of Jesus. Paul and Barnabas sadly split up after a very heated argument at the end of this chapter. Controversy has often been used as tool to help grow the churches understanding about the Christian faith. Acts 15 introduces a controversy about how much do new Christians need to follow the Old Testament Jewish law to be really saved? Other historical controversies have included: whether to accept back Christians who deserted their faith in times of persecution, are we saved by works or faith alone, what’s our position on divorce, do we keep a strict Sunday rest, women in ministry, the use of instruments in church, and more recently same gender marriage. It’s hard, it’s emotional, it can be hurtful, and we want to avoid it. Yet it can be incredibly important and often sharpens our focus on what it really means to live under the grace and truth of God. We need to walk into it with the love of Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Let us see what lessons we can learn from chapter 15 for the church today. I’m sure it will lead to some very interesting lunchtime conversations to share over our Hospitality Sunday.A note for those wanting the translation for the service. Over the three week trial period the use of this has been small. If you have an opinion or want to see it continue into the future, please let us know.Thanks and God bless,Benji

Megan, Bryan and Benji talk about BCUC for the second exciting instalment of BCUC Talks! Jokes, faith, heavenly slices and more... Enjoy our podcast.

Dear friends of BCUCI wonder—do you have someone in your life that you would say has been a partner in the gospel? I mean, if you consider something you do now or have done, that you would see as your 'ministry', whether in the church or outside it, a calling from the Holy Spirit that you have acted upon, is there someone who has joined you on that journey? That person may have changed along the way. It could be a partner or a family member, a friend or a colleague.The latter half of the book of Acts largely follows three missionary journeys of Paul and his companions. On the first journey, we read that the Holy Spirit sent Barnabas and Paul. Jesus had a habit of sending disciples out in pairs into villages to minister and to spread the Good news about Jesus and the Kingdom of God. The whole story of the formation of the early church rarely involves a person acting alone. Christianity was never meant to be done solo. The work of the Holy Spirit is communal, shared, and not intended for lone rangers in ministry.Yet, for many years in Australian society, there has been a sense that religion is a 'private thing'. This was partly an attitude to avoid unnecessary sectarian conflict and an attempt to 'respect religious freedom'. Yet to hide and keep private that which is foundational is both suppressive and out of step with the work of the Holy Spirit.Like it or not, God calls Christians, new and old, to work out their God-given calling and to do their 'good works' in partnership with others, as part of the family of God. Like the song they sing at Manchester United football matches: “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” The people may change depending on the destination. Paul journeyed with many different people. Who might you have with you now? Who might God be calling you to join tomorrow? As they did at the beginning of Acts chapter 13, why not pray and fast about it?I look forward to unpacking some of Acts chapter 13 with you this Sunday.Your brother in ChristBenji

Dear friends of BCUCI wonder—do you have someone in your life that you would say has been a partner in the gospel? I mean, if you consider something you do now or have done, that you would see as your 'ministry', whether in the church or outside it, a calling from the Holy Spirit that you have acted upon, is there someone who has joined you on that journey? That person may have changed along the way. It could be a partner or a family member, a friend or a colleague.The latter half of the book of Acts largely follows three missionary journeys of Paul and his companions. On the first journey, we read that the Holy Spirit sent Barnabas and Paul. Jesus had a habit of sending disciples out in pairs into villages to minister and to spread the Good news about Jesus and the Kingdom of God. The whole story of the formation of the early church rarely involves a person acting alone. Christianity was never meant to be done solo. The work of the Holy Spirit is communal, shared, and not intended for lone rangers in ministry.Yet, for many years in Australian society, there has been a sense that religion is a 'private thing'. This was partly an attitude to avoid unnecessary sectarian conflict and an attempt to 'respect religious freedom'. Yet to hide and keep private that which is foundational is both suppressive and out of step with the work of the Holy Spirit.Like it or not, God calls Christians, new and old, to work out their God-given calling and to do their 'good works' in partnership with others, as part of the family of God. Like the song they sing at Manchester United football matches: “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” The people may change depending on the destination. Paul journeyed with many different people. Who might you have with you now? Who might God be calling you to join tomorrow? As they did at the beginning of Acts chapter 13, why not pray and fast about it?I look forward to unpacking some of Acts chapter 13 with you this Sunday.Your brother in ChristBenji

Dear friends of BCUC“In the last days, God says,    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy,    your young men will see visions,    your old men will dream dreams.Even on my servants, both men and women,    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,    and they will prophesy.”    Acts 2:17-18It’s Pentecost Sunday. A wonderful celebration known to be the birth of the church. I love the inclusive nature of the work of the Holy Spirit as declared in this quote from the prophet Joel. Prophesy, vision, dreams will be gifted to all, no matter their gender, social status or age. As a scientist I appreciate just how alike all humans are from a genetic point of view. We share roughly 90 percent of our DNA with mice, dogs, cattle, and elephants. Whereas any two human beings are 99.9 percent identical in their DNA. Craig Venter who was nearing the completion of the human genome project in 2001 commented that with regard to DNA “we are all essentially identical twins.” It’s wonderful to have so much variation between individuals, their stories, character, gifts and graces. It’s also  nice to know we’re all basically the same. So, when it comes to the Holy Spirit coming to the whole room of 120 people and the gifts of the spirit being for everyone, I love it!Some reading this passage will be really familiar with the passages of Acts 2. This Sunday we’re going to explore further one of the consequences of the Holy Spirit mentioned in this prophecy… “they will prophesy”. What does prophesy mean, and does it happen still today?I’m also really looking forward to testing out some new technology this Sunday, it’s a church translation program called “OneAccord”. Some of us will be trialling whether the service (and particularly the sermon) can be translated live into both Korean and Mandarin. I hope it works well. If it does, we have the option of including multiple other languages. Please speak with us if there is a language you wish us to consider. It’s quite poetic that the message of Acts will be proclaimed in at least 3 languages at Pentecost. If you are not sure what I mean and want to find out, read Acts 2.Look forward to seeing you soon.Benji

God is doing a new thing.  Sing to the Lord a new song.These are themes consistent throughout the whole biblical story. It’s wonderful news if you’re in desperate need for change and it’s very disturbing for those who find change hard, no matter if it’s good or better. Maybe your like me and invest yourself deeply into wherever, whoever and whatever God plants you in. I don’t think it’s that bad a quality to have. It’s when God does something new and changes things without you realising that life becomes unsettling. As we work through the Book of Acts I want us to dwell on the end of chapter 11. It’s the moment when the church in Antioch began to blossom. It became a very significant church community. Sending missionaries throughout the Roman Empire, assisting other churches and was even the place where the name “Christian” was first used. The centre of God's work through the Holy Spirit had shifted from Jerusalem to Antioch. It was the third largest Roman city and now its ruins are buried under the modern city of Antakya on the border of Turkey and Syria. From the story of Antioch we learn that God’s work in the world was on the move. Things were changing fast. For the rest of the Book of Acts we now hear less about the disciples that followed Jesus around in Judea, less about Peter and less about the church in Jerusalem. We learn more about this new church, the missionaries they send out and their journeys. God is on the move. Are we excited about the movement of God today or do we long for the old days? Can we sing a new song to the Lord or perhaps we might be inclined to feel like a disciple who longs for the songs we use to sing when Jesus was still walking the earth? A favourite saying that Rev. Ashley Davis is from a minister who would finish his services with the words: “Let the Peace of God Disturb You Today”. Your brother in Christ, Benji

Dear friends of BCUC,Yesterday the Christian world celebrated Ascension Day, the day we remember when Jesus went back into heaven, having completed his assignment here on earth.It would be interesting to watch that group of believers as, with hearts thudding in their chest, they slowly climbed the Mount of Olives, knowing that they would have Jesus’ physical presence with them for just a little while longer.  What would be their thoughts, their longings, their regrets, as they came to the end of three unimaginable years with the Saviour of the world?  What would be their grief as they clung to each other in mutual need?Yet there was victory in that moment, because Jesus had done what he came to do – to destroy the devil’s work.  (1 John 3:8)And there was hope, too, as they awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit with constant prayer.We have interrupted a series on the Acts of the Apostles to look more closely at the ascension of Jesus.  Yet not really, because there is a definite link between Jesus’ ascension, and the things that the apostles were able to do, through the Holy Spirit, as recorded in the Book of Acts.

Join Megan, Bryan and Benji as we talk about what’s happened and what’s happening at BCUC (Burnside City Uniting Church) in a seriously light-hearted way. With such exciting segments as BCUC chats highlights, Funky flashbacks, Future favourites, Megan’s Big question, Who’s that?, Brian sings your favourite song, the monthly slice of heaven and “Did you notice this notice?”. Be inspired, entertained and more connected to God, each other and the village community that is BCUC.

Dear friends of BCUC,Have you ever seen a glacier?I remember going to Fox Glacier in New Zealand as a kid—a slow-moving, powerful force that changes landscapes, creating beautiful fjords and valleys over centuries. It’s a place where pure, frigid, blue glacial waters flow out. A massive bulk of centuries of snowfall and ice, both awe-inspiring and intimidating.It moves with dynamic power—sometimes retreating, sometimes steadily working its way down the mountain range to fall into the ocean. I think glaciers can be a great image for the work of the Holy Spirit: powerful, awesome, life-giving, world-changing.Imagine yourself standing in front of a glacier with a battery-powered hairdryer, saying, “Stop right there!” Pretty ineffectual. That’s the kind of statement Peter makes about the movement of the Holy Spirit when it fell on the Gentiles (non-Jews) in chapter 11 of the book of Acts: “Who was I to stand in God’s way?” (verse 17).If it weren’t for the events in chapters 10 and 11 of Acts, the movement of Jesus might have remained a sect within Judaism. It’s what happens here—the vision Peter received and the defence he gave to the early church—that led to the wonderful conclusion in Acts 11:18:“When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, ‘We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.’”I’m so personally thankful that Peter couldn’t stop the glacier of the Holy Spirit—because I have so much to benefit. And so do you! Nothing less than “the repenting of sins and the receiving of eternal life.” Thanks be to God.Come this Sunday to hear more about this world-altering story from Acts.Your brother in Christ,Benji

Dear friends of BCUC,Happy Mother’s Day to all our mothers.  Today is a day when we stop and reflect on our mothers, past and present. It was only when I became a mother, that I really appreciated all my mother had done for me.  With hindsight I realise how hard she worked – and how lazy I was!!  She had a servant heart that amazes me now as I think back on what she did, not only for her family but the community.  She volunteered at several places and seemed to spend a lot of time cooking one thing or another.  My mother would never have said she had any gifts, but she did – she had the gift of service and of making people welcome in her home. Today’s reading from Acts 9: 36-43 is about another wonderful woman, a woman who used her gift of sewing to build and support the community.  Her love for Jesus led her to serve her community and when she died people deeply mourned her passing.  Peter was called and through the power of prayer and the grace of God the Father, Tabitha is raised from the dead and returned to the community who loved her.  God gives us all gifts to use; may we use them to glorify His kingdom. BlessingsMerle

Dear friends of BCUC,Have you ever lost a child or grandchild in a crowd or while out on a walk? Or perhaps you've been lost yourself? That feeling of dread and panic—flushed with the need for action yet pale with fear—all at the same time. Then, hopefully, comes the overwhelming relief and joy of being reunited: the tears, the hugs, the elation. That sudden and dramatic reversal of emotion is beautifully captured in Psalm 30:“Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning”(Psalm 30:5).Praise God—the hope and promise of mourning turned into joyful dancing is a gift from Him to us all.This Sunday, we are privileged to host a visit from the Moderator of the Uniting Church in South Australia, Rev. Peter Morel. He recently visited South Korea with a group of young adults, including our own Meghan Letcher. He will be preaching from the theme of his Moderator term: "Seriously Joyful." He’ll unpack this theme using John 15:10–11:“Just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”At BCUC, one of our core values is "Spreading Joy." Psalm 30 is a fantastic, emotionally rich hymn of joy. It’s often called the “Resurrection Psalm” because it so clearly speaks of new life—of resurrection that comes at sunrise after a long, dark night of weeping. I encourage you to read and reflect on this psalm in your own Bible. Maybe even underline the parts that speak to you right now. How might you share what God is saying to you with others today?Please come along this Sunday to make the Moderator feel welcome—and get excited! We’ll also be hosting a Welcome Day Lunch after the service for another wonderful group of people that God has sent to be part of our community.Your brother in Christ,Benji.

Dear Friends of BCUCThanks so much for helping to make Easter weekend at BCUC so fabulous. The gospel was preached in so many wonderful ways—beyond just words.So Easter happened… then what?Ever wanted to know the story of how the Church grew? Jesus appeared to a small group of people, and now, 2,000 years later, about 2.4 billion people claim to be Christian. Disciples can be found in every corner of the globe, all part of a massive worldwide movement that continues to shape society and history. How does that happen? Reading the book of Acts is a good way to start finding answers.This Sunday, we’ll look more deeply into the great vision that begins with Abraham, continues through Acts, and culminates in Revelation—that all the nations will praise the Lord. We see glimpses of this in our church today.Do we still have a missionary mindset? John Wesley famously declared over 200 years ago, “The world is my parish.” Do we still share this attitude? When we look at the statistics around the world showing how many people call themselves Christian, does it inspire us to action—or just pass us by?Come along and tune in for the start of the next part of the journey.Your brother in Christ,Benji

Dear Friends of BCUC,It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And no, it’s not Christmas—though I do enjoy that time too. It’s Easter, or better yet, the time of year we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.Ever since I took Jesus seriously in my life, I’ve been compelled to worship God with all my heart, alongside the worldwide congregation—especially through the services offered with my own tribe of fellow saints and sinners. To journey through the story together, from the Last Supper on Thursday night, the bleak and strangely cathartic emotions of Good Friday, the waiting weirdness of Saturday, and the abundant life and joy of Resurrection Sunday. My heart sings in worship as I turn toward the events of Jesus’ life, place myself in the story once again, and become ever so grateful—full to bursting with praise.I realise this weekend falls during the school holidays, with ANZAC Day very close. Many people in Australia will be camping or on holiday with their families. If that’s you, I pray you travel safely, have a wonderful rest, and spend time reflecting and worshipping Jesus. Please try to find a way to tune into the worship services online, or later via the podcast. Read the Bible story of Jesus’ last days out loud, spend some time in quiet listening prayer as you watch the sunrise, or maybe go and watch one of the two promising movies out this Easter that tell the wondrous story of the Christ who died for you.May the joy of the disciples who ate with Jesus after the resurrection be with us all this weekend.Your brother in Christ,Benji