MBM Blacktown / Bible Talks

The Gospel reveals both God’s righteousness in Christ, but also why we needed it. Paul lays out here the harsh reality of our wickedness and where it comes from; a suppression of the truth of God’s existence. Yet, even in the face of this truth, the hope of salvation is still held out in the gospel.

The Gospel is God’s power for salvation for all people. It drives everything the apostle Paul does. It prompts his prayers, it drives his plans, and it overflows into his proclamation.

The relevance of Paul's Gospel message is wholly dependent on and determined by the reality of who Jesus Christ is. Paul claims that he is both a human descendant of David, according to God’s promises, and, by His resurrection, declared to be the Holy Son of God. It’s faith in this Jesus that brings about eternal change in our lives.

Two men go to the temple to pray, but only one comes back right with God. Jesus’ story tells us why.

Jesus deliberately turns cultural expectations upside down by taking the role of a servant and washing his disciples’ feet. Knowing his authority and his coming suffering, Jesus chooses humility, demonstrating that true greatness is found not in status or power but in self-giving love. Through this intimate and uncomfortable act, he teaches that those who follow him are called to serve others willingly and in practical ways, making humble service the defining mark of authentic discipleship.

If Jesus rose from the dead, if the tomb was empty, then our hope in Him is absolutely certain. He has loved us, forgiven our sins, secured us for eternity, and sharing his message is worthwhile.

All the people watching Jesus being crucified hurled insults at him, saying, “Save yourself”. The truth is, he could have, but he didn’t. He stayed there for us, because we couldn’t save ourselves.

The world crowns powerful people with money, status, how much you own, how much you are worth, but God crowned Jesus the king with a crown of thorns. And yet through that cross, Jesus displayed the greatest power the universe has ever seen — the power of sacrificial love that saves sinners. Because in the kingdom of God: The greatest person in the room is not the one being served. It’s the one serving.

Receiving eternal life is releasing and receiving Jesus.

Jesus responds to the Pharisee’s faulty view of marriage in God’s kingdom with God’s ideal and expectation. Marriage models Jesus’ faithful commitment to his people.

God’s heart beats for those who are in need. In Mark 9, Jesus helps his disciples understand that being like God is losing yourself to serve the least among them, just like Jesus did for us.

In life there are many voices that we listen to. Our ears are filled with podcasts, music, netflix, news, and politics. In the midst of all the noise it is hard to hear the voice of God speaking to us. In this section of Mark, Jesus takes a few of disciples away and in the midst of a busy season of ministry he reveals to them his glory. In this midst of this transfiguration his disciples are spoken to by God himself who instructs about Jesus, ‘Listen to Him.’ In this message, we explore who Jesus is and why it is that God wants us to listen to Jesus.

Jesus wants his disciples, and all those who will follow him to see the call clearly. The way of the Christ is the way of the cross, and so too the way of the Christian is the way of the Christ.

It’s possible to know just enough about Jesus to feel confident and still miss him entirely. In Mark 8:1-21, Jesus patiently confronts both hardened unbelief and partial understanding, urging us to move from shallow sight to a deep, life shaping clarity about his identity and mission.

Jesus meets two different groups of people who demonstrate for us what it looks like to approach God with genuine humility, understanding who we are in light of who He is.

Unlike what many of can think, that our greatest problems are external. Jesus clearly describes where our greatest problems come from - the heart!

Disciples of Jesus are driven by the reality of Jesus’ resurrection and commission to give all we’ve got to help others come to find life in Him.

Paul is defending the physical bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead by drawing from the promises and prophesies of the Old Testament Scriptures and convincing circumstantial evidence from recorded history. He also teaches that the Gospel is mediated on the basis of God’s grace alone as even a person like him who persecuted the church is saved by it. The Gospel once received through grace should permeate all areas of the believer’s life.

Today, as we seek to answer the question, "Does prayer change things?", we are going to do that by asking and answering three further questions:

As we look to a new year, with the opportunities to get ahead and make this year better than the last, there will be no moving forward unless we build our lives upon the solid foundation of God, which the Lord’s Supper helps us do.

The birth of a King, as you have never seen or heard before...

Have you had an experience so transcendent that it leaves you profoundly content that there is nothing more in this world you could possibly want? Simeon had this experience when he laid eyes on the baby Jesus. We can also have this experience as we behold Jesus, our salvation.

Zachariah had faith in God's promise, and this brought joy to his community. In Luke chapter 1, we also see Mary's apprehension and fear eased by Elizabeth, who shares her joy in God's faithfulness and love.

Mary shows us what it looks like to wait on God well, trusting His promises.

The Christian life is patterned on Jesus’ own suffering before glory. Just as Jesus was persecuted, his followers will be too. But God has given us helps to persevere in the face of opposition.

Christ’s suffering causes us to live for God’s will, not our own.

God calls us to submit to authorities as citizens, servants and spouses, to display his glory.

Living as a dual citizen of God’s kingdom and the kingdom of the world can sometimes feel like tension as we live in this world while waiting for the world to come. As chosen exiles, we can feel we don’t quite fit, which can affect how we see ourselves. In this part of 1 Peter, God provides a reminder of our new identity in Jesus. This assures who we are and enables us to remain stable in an unstable world.

God saves and transforms his people. He takes us as we are, but loves us too much to leave us there, he wants to make us just like Jesus.

When the immediate situation for God’s people seems dim and hopeless, God encourages and inspires them to keep working, knowing He is doing something far bigger than they can see. We too can keep serving God, in the midst of trouble and trial, because in Jesus, He is doing much more than we can see or imagine.

God calls His people to reconsider what they’re investing in, and to invest in His purposes.

It’s not despite, but in the midst of our suffering that God grows us, strengthens us and turns us to hope in eternity through Jesus’ work on our behalf.

When God saves us, he saves us into a family: the church. But in such a diverse community of people, what is it that unites us together?

Revelation closes with a picture of the new creation. God’s people secure in God’s presence. No fear, no pain, no more death.

Revelation 17-20 paints a picture of the destruction of a world turned against God. The call for God’s people in the midst of that torrent is to get out of it! All evil will come under a final judgement before God, but God’s people, those who hold onto Jesus to the end, will be spared.

Revelation 15-16 shows us the serious but righteous judgments of God on those who continue to rebel against his rule. How should believers respond to such harsh punishment? By giving praise, honour and glory to the only one who saves.

Revelation 12-14 portrays the spiritual event behind Jesus’ death and resurrection and the spiritual persecution that followed for the church until the end of time. During that time, some are marked by the beast, while others are sealed for God.

During his earthly ministry Jesus experienced regular and difficult opposition. Rather than presenting an easy life, Jesus spoke of discipleship being difficult. Rejection and opposition was something that his followers should expect. But being rejected and opposed is difficult and often taxing. Nobody likes to be on the outer. While experiencing opposition it is easy to feel discouraged and confused. In Revelation 11 we have words of encouragement and direction given to us on how we might respond when met with serious gospel opposition.

As the seals are broken and the Lamb’s decree is revealed, we see the surprising unfolding of history. Things will get worse before they get better, but the urgency of gospel work is all the more important.

When Jesus comes back, will you be ready? He gives a stern warning to the church of Sardis who have the appearance of life but are spiritually dead that he is coming back life a thief. But those who trust in him will have true life!

Our reason for existing as a church is to make Jesus known. We will only be as effective at doing this, as our own love for Jesus keeps burning brightly. 

John’s introduction to the revelation Jesus gave him regarding what must soon take place. 

Nate explores three questions: 1. What freedom does Jesus offer? 2. What is the alternative to the freedom Jesus offers? and 3. How do you find this freedom?

God has made each believer part of his body, valued and dependent on all the others, to display his glory and goodness. 

In a world of turmoil and tension, God has given us a way to know and experience peace, through Christ. 

As Leviticus comes to a close, God sets forth great promises for obedience, along with great judgements for disobedience. Will Israel heed God’s word, or disregard it?

God gave his people sacred events through their calendar year - rhythms to remember His generosity and provision for them. Jesus now offers us ultimate rest in his grace and provision, but how do we enjoy what he’s offered to the full extent? 

God made a way for His people’s lingering sins and impurities to be dealt with so that God would remain among them and continue in fellowship with them. 

God set laws for Israel to understand not only their immoral state before him, but their unacceptable, unsatisfactory bodily state before him, which was a reminder of their sin. They were reminded of their continual death, and unworthiness, and therefore their need for atonement. In Jesus we are now cleansed and made holy, able to be used in our broken state for God’s glory.