To Know Christ. To Serve Christ. To Proclaim Christ.

REFLECTION: Matthew 13:44-58 “The Cost of the Kingdom” How good are you at recognizing a bargain? Are you able to recognize a true treasure when you see it? And what would you be prepared to give up in order to get hold of that treasure? Jesus tells us in today’s readings that receiving the kingdom of heaven is the like discovering the greatest treasure you can imagine, and you should go all out for it. In this cluster of three parables, The Hidden Treasure, The Pearl of grea

REFLECTION: FOR THE HARVEST: ARCHBISHOP RIC THORPE This week, the clergy from across the whole Diocese have gathered at St Paul's Cathedral for the 3 yearly Diocesan Clergy Conference led by Archbishop Ric Thorpe. In this conference he has presented the Diocesan Strategy which he has called "For the Harvest". This Sunday's sermon will be a video of Archbishop Ric Thorpe preaching on Matthew 9:35-38 and presenting to all the Anglican Churches across Melbourne this vision he ha

REFLECTION: Matthew 13:1-23 “The Purpose of the Parables” Why will one person reject the gospel, and another person believe the gospel? To explain a bit more why some believe and some don’t, and what the factors are that drive people to not believe, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower. He also teaches his disciples quoting Isaiah to show how some hearts are hardened to God, but others seek him. Jesus’ use of parables to teach highlights this difference as it is those who hea

REFLECTION: Matthew 11:15-30 - Are you listening to Jesus? Many people hear Jesus’ words, but to truly listen means responding in faith. In today's Gospel reading, Jesus warns against rejecting him, and invites us to come to him, where we find true rest. Hymns: TIS 585 I heard the voice of Jesus say Jesus strong and kind TIS 588 In heavenly love abiding TIS 589 Jesus calls us o’er the tumult WEDNESDAY GROWTH GROUP This Wednesday we will be continuing a new series of studies o

REFLECTION: Romans 6:12-23 “Do not let sin win!” The problem with the gospel of grace is that it is unfair. There are many good people who spend their lives doing very good things for others, who at the last day, will not attain salvation, while other evildoers, because they have believed the gospel of Jesus Christ at the last hour, will inherit eternal life. It seems like there isn’t much incentive to live a righteous life at all if good deeds seem to go unrewarded and sin s

REFLECTION: Romans 6:1-11 “Dead to Sin but Alive to Christ” If salvation is given to us by God’s grace and received through faith and good works can never save us, why bother with good works? And if God’s grace is made even greater by our lack of righteousness, then if we sin even more, wouldn’t that make God’s grace even greater? These were some of the arguments Paul tries to refute in Romans as he presents the gospel of grace to his readers. How would you respond to such ar

REFLECTION: John 14:15-21The love at the heart of the universe. St Augustine famously wrote of God: “You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.” We spend our lives searching for happiness, purpose and peace, yet the deepest longing of the human heart will only be satisfied by loving God. In John 14:15–21, Jesus calls his followers to a life of love: “If you love me, keep my commands.” This is not a burden but an invitation t

REFLECTION: Romans 4:13-25 “Justified by Grace through Faith” Have you ever had a major falling out with someone you loved and trusted? It can be very difficult to manage. The trust that was once there seems to have gone out the window. Nasty things are said. Regrettable things are done. A distance is formed between you. How can you overcome this distance? Who should make the first move? Sometimes attempts at reconciliation are just squashed because the hurt is too great. The

REFLECTION: Matthew 28:16-20 “In the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Spirit” On this Trinity Sunday we have a look at the great commission given by Jesus for the disciples to make disciples of all nations and to baptise them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We are reminded that our God comes to us in three persons who all work together in a perfect unity. We are also reminded that we as disciples of Jesus, also share in this

REFLECTION: Acts 2:1-21 “The coming of the Holy Spirit” Pentecost Sunday is one of the most important celebrations of our church calendar. It is a celebration of the birth of the church, as God’s Holy Spirit was poured out over the believers gathered in Jerusalem during the Pentecost celebration. But is the Holy Spirit’s coming that important? Would it matter to us if the Holy Spirit hadn’t come? Wouldn’t we still be saved? Is there anything that the Spirit brings that we rea

REFLECTION: 1 Peter 5 “Instructions on Shepherding” Whose fault is it when things go terribly wrong in the church? Is it due to a lack of good leadership from the pastor? It could be. Is it due to a high level of disobedience and rebelliousness in the congregation? It could be. Peter addresses the Elders and shepherds of the church regarding the great responsibility they have and the charge they have received from the chief shepherd. And he also addresses the younger members

REFLECTION: 1 Peter 3:8-22 “Our Christian Witness” When people are wondering whether Jesus could be their saviour or their help, they look firstly at us to see what a difference following Jesus makes in our lives. People will judge Christian faith based on the lifestyle, actions and behaviours that we exhibit. Our everyday decisions in life might be what might bring someone to follow Jesus, or to turn them away. Peter urges his readers to be faithful in their witness as th

REFLECTION: 1 Peter 2:11-25 “Living as God’s people in the World” What does it mean in our daily living to live as God’s holy people in the world? It means turning from some things that we shouldn‘t do that dishonour God. It means learning submission and obedience to Christ our King. It will often involve being misunderstood and persecuted and we may suffer for following Christ. But it also means living with the living hope of Salvation, knowing that Christ himself bore our s

REFLECTION: 1 Peter 2:1-10 “Living as God’s Own People” Following Christ is like a new beginning, a re-birth, a starting again from scratch. What we were before is all changed. We are a new creation in Christ! Once we were in darkness, now we walk in the light of God. Once we were distant from God. Now we are his people. God has called us into his family and this require a big change in us. As He himself is holy, so he calls us also to be holy. This is what we saw last week i

REFLECTION: 1 Peter 1:13-25 ‘Be Holy, because I am Holy’ Today’s reading continues our readings through 1 Peter. Last week we learned that we have a ‘living hope’, which is truly great news. This hope is so wonderful that ‘even angels long to look into it’. But this week, we see that Peter wrote a big ‘Therefore!’ in his letter. Though the great hope that he writes about is given to us freely and lovingly through Jesus Christ, it is not without consequences. Peter seems to b

REFLECTION: PETER 1:1-12 “A LIVING HOPE” What is your hope in life based on? Some people are just hopeful about humanity. They believe in in the inherent goodness and ability of humanity. We might call this humanism. It is a hope based on human nature. Others have a lot of confidence or hope in their own personal ability to get out of any problem. We might call this human pride. Peter reminds the Christians spread across the empire in his first letter that we have a living ho

REFLECTION: Matthew 28:1-10 “Earth Shaking News” Every once in a while, something happens that is truly newsworthy and impacts the lives of everyone. At the moment, it would be the War in Iran and the ensuing fuel crisis that has prices rising at an alarming rate. The greatest news ever announced happened at the first Easter with the resurrection of Jesus. It is impossible to exaggerate just how important Jesus’ resurrection was and is. His resurrection signals the end of the

REFLECTION: Matthew 26:36-46 “Your will be done” As we come to the end of lent and enter into Holy Week, how have we fared in our struggle to live holy and Godly lives? Jesus was tempted those 40 days in the desert, and yet his greatest temptation would come in the Garden of Gethsemane. Would he go God’s way to the cross, or would he go the way of the flesh and seek the easy way out and go his own way. In today’s reading we get insight into the struggle, and also some clues o

REFLECTION: Jesus the resurrection and the Life Death is a sad and difficult part of life. In today’s gospel reading we see Jesus reveal his glory, power and compassion when he himself is confronted with the death of a close friend HYMNS TIS 28 God is our strength and refuge. Jesus, strong and kind. TIS 233 I will sing the wondrous story TIS 569 Guide me, O thou great redeemer MAUNDAY THURSDAY DINNER ON 2ND APRIL We will be celebrating Maundy Thursday with our LAMB DINNER, at

REFLECTION: This week we move to John chapter 9 and the healing of the blind man. There are other miracles that Jesus did, recorded in previous chapters such as the feeding of 5000+ people, the only miracle recorded in all four gospels. However, this healing in chapter 9 is truly remarkable and has much to teach us. There are two kinds of blindness on display in account that we will explore. Hymns TIS 134 Praise my soul the King of Heaven MP 1214 O Lord you lead me TIS 584 Ju