Series: Meet Jesus

Date: 6 October 2024

Preacher: Zach Conway

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This sermon explores the concept of kingship in the Bible, focusing on Israel's request for a king in 1 Samuel 8 and how it relates to our need for Jesus as the perfect king. God's provisions for a righteous king are contrasted with the people's desire for a king like other nations, ultimately pointing to Jesus Christ as fulfilling God's promise and the ideal ruler for our lives.

Outline:

1/ GOD’S PROVISIONS FOR A KING

Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 1 Samuel 8:18-20; Judges 8:23

2/ PEOPLE’S PREFERRED KING

1 Samuel 8:6, 11-18; 2 Samuel 7:12-14

3/ OUR PERFECT KING

Matthew 1:1; Luke 22:42

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Our dream is to be a city of refuge within the city of Brisbane, where many people have found refuge, security, and hope in Christ.

Find out more about our church: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.christrefuge.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Series: The End of Futility

Date: 29 September 2024

Preacher: Rev Dave Miers

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In our exploration of Ecclesiastes, we've uncovered profound truths about life's seeming futility and the path to finding meaning. The book's repeated refrain of 'vanity' or 'meaningless' isn't the final word. Instead, we're called to rejoice in life, remember our Creator, and revere the Judge. These three 'R's' remind us that while life under the sun may feel transient, our actions echo in eternity. The vivid imagery of aging in Ecclesiastes 12 is a poignant reminder to seek God early before the 'evil days' come. This message carries particular weight for young people, urging them to build a foundation of faith in their youth. Ultimately, Ecclesiastes points us to Jesus, the One Shepherd, who offers true meaning and eternal life beyond the temporary nature of our earthly existence.

Sermon Outline:

1/ REJOICE IN LIFE

Ecclesiastes 11:7-10

2/ REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR

Ecclesiastes 12:1-8

3/ REVERE THE JUDGE

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

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Our dream is to be a city of refuge within the city of Brisbane, where many people have found refuge, security, and hope in Christ.

Find out more about our church: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.christrefuge.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Series: The End of Futility

Date: 22 September 2024

Preacher: Rev Dave Miers

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This sermon explores the tension between the futility of life described in Ecclesiastes and the hope of feasting with God. It examines how the book of Ecclesiastes was used in ancient Israel's Feast of Tabernacles to anchor joy in reality. The sermon then traces the theme of feasting throughout Scripture, from Eden to Jesus' ministry, culminating in the promise of the marriage supper of the Lamb. It emphasises that even in times of futility, believers can find joy in God's gifts and hope in the ultimate feast to come.

Sermon Outline:

THE PLACE OF ECCLESIASTES IN THE LIFE OF ISRAEL

WHAT DOES FEASTING HAVE TO DO WITH FUTILITY?

1/ AN INVITATION TO FEAST WITH GOD

Ecclesiastes 2:24, 3:13, 5:18, 8:15; 9:7

2/ FEASTING IN A TIME OF FUTILITY

Romans 8

3/ INVITED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB

Revelation 19

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Our dream is to be a city of refuge within the city of Brisbane, where many people have found refuge, security, and hope in Christ.

Find out more about our church: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.christrefuge.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Series: Meet Jesus

Date: 15 Stepember 2024

Preacher: Rev Dave Miers

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This sermon explores the reality of Satan and evil, focusing on Jesus' encounter with the devil in the wilderness. It emphasises Christ's victory over temptation by relying on God's Word and obeying the Father's will. The sermon parallels Jesus' temptation and the broader narrative of salvation, highlighting Jesus as the true and better Adam and Israel. It underscores the necessity of the cross in God's plan of redemption and encourages believers to trust in Christ's finished work while continuing to fight against sin, the world, and the devil.

Outline:

1/ A REAL ENCOUNTER WITH A REAL ENEMY

Luke 4:1-2

2/ A REAL VICTORY FROM A REAL CHAMPION

Luke 4:3-12

3/ A REAL HELP IN OUR REAL TEMPTATIONS

Luke 4:13; Hebrews 4:14-16

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Our dream is to be a city of refuge within the city of Brisbane, where many people have found refuge, security, and hope in Christ.

Find out more about our church: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.christrefuge.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Series: Meet Jesus

Date: 8 Stepember 2024

Preacher: Pastor Will Ross (Liberti Church Mermaid Beach)

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We were honoured to have Pastor Will Ross from Liberti Church Mermaid Beach deliver an insightful sermon in our "Meet Jesus" mini-series. Centred on the remarkable encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus in John's Gospel, Pastor Will unpacks the necessity and meaning of being 'born again' to enter the Kingdom of God. He explains that this spiritual rebirth is a work of God, brought about by trusting in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own spiritual rebirth and recognise signs of transformation, such as practising righteousness, ending sinful behaviour, and walking in love, especially towards other Christians. Pastor Will also emphasises that entering the Kingdom of God is not achieved through our own efforts but through faith in Jesus Christ. Open your Bibles, follow along, and be encouraged to step out of darkness and into the light through this enlightening message about the Gospel's transformative power.

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Our dream is to be a city of refuge within the city of Brisbane, where many people have found refuge, security, and hope in Christ.

Find out more about our church: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.christrefuge.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Series: The End of Futility

Date: 1 September 2024

Preacher: Rev Dave Miers

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Our culture's focus on wellness highlights the pursuit of physical, mental, and spiritual health, yet often leaves us feeling unfulfilled. Ecclesiastes provides wisdom, emphasising that while wellness and wisdom are valuable, they have limitations, especially in the face of life's fleeting nature and the inevitability of death. The sermon draws on these themes to point to the ultimate hope in Jesus, who has defeated death and offers eternal life. We're encouraged to live wisely, embracing life's gifts with contentment, companionship, and courage, while looking forward to the victory over death found in Christ.

Sermon Outline:

1/ THE LIMITATIONS OF WISDOM

Ecclesiastes 6:10-12; 7:1-19; 1:16-18

2/ THE REALITY OF DEATH

Ecclesiastes 9:1-12; 7:2-4

3/ THE CONSOLATIONS OF LIFE

Ecclesiastes 9:7-10;

1 Corinthians 10:31

4/ THE DEATH OF DEATH

Ecclesiastes 7:29, 20;

John 20;

1 Corinthians 15

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Our dream is to be a city of refuge within the city of Brisbane, where many people have found refuge, security, and hope in Christ.

Find out more about our church: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.christrefuge.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Series: The End of Futility

Date: 25 August 2024

Preacher: Rev Dave Miers

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In this sermon, we delved into Ecclesiastes 5 and 6, examining the dangers of wealth and the futility of placing our hope in money. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes exposes the reality of economic injustice, the dissatisfaction that wealth brings, and the truth that the more money we have, the more problems we encounter. Despite the allure of wealth, it ultimately slips through our fingers, leaving us empty-handed. Yet, amid this bleak picture, there is hope. We are called to move from greed to gratitude, finding joy in God's good gifts without placing our ultimate trust in them. The sermon concludes with a challenge to invest in eternity, using our resources not for self-gain but for the glory of God and the good of others. In a world obsessed with affluence, we are reminded that true contentment and lasting treasure are found in Christ alone.

Sermon Outline:

1/ THE REALITY OF ECONOMIC INJUSTICE

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

2/ THE DISSATISFACTION OF WEALTH

Ecclesiastes 5:10; 6:9

3/ THE MORE MONEY, THE MORE PROBLEMS

Ecclesiastes 5:11-12

4/ THE DEATH OF A PORTFOLIO

Ecclesiastes 5:13-17; 6:1-2

5/ THE JOURNEY FROM GREED TO GRATITUDE

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

6/ THE INVESTMENT IN ETERNITY

Luke 16:1-13

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Our dream is to be a city of refuge within the city of Brisbane, where many people have found refuge, security, and hope in Christ.

Find out more about our church: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.christrefuge.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Series: Meet Jesus

Date: 18 August 2024

Preacher: Zach Conway

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This sermon delves into one of the most profound encounters in the Bible, where Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well in John chapter 4. Through this narrative, the deep and transformative truth is revealed: despite our sins and the shame that often accompanies them, we are fully known and fully loved by Jesus. We are challenged to confront the ways we hide our true selves—both from others and from God—out of fear of rejection. Instead of living in shame, we are invited to embrace the acceptance, forgiveness, and eternal life that Jesus freely offers. This message serves as a powerful reminder that no matter our past, Jesus knows us completely and loves us unconditionally, offering us living water that satisfies our deepest spiritual thirst.

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Our dream is to be a city of refuge within the city of Brisbane, where many people have found refuge, security, and hope in Christ.

Find out more about our church: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.christrefuge.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Series: The End of Futility

Date: 11 August 2024

Preacher: Rev Dave Miers

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In this exploration of Ecclesiastes 5, we're challenged to consider how we approach God and practice our faith. The key message is that human-centred religion, focused on our own efforts and merits, is ultimately futile. Instead, we're called to embrace a God-centered approach, recognising our place as creatures before the Creator. The passage reminds us to 'guard our steps' when approaching God, emphasising reverence, listening, and obedience over empty words or unfulfilled vows. This wisdom echoes throughout Scripture, from Moses removing his sandals before the burning bush to Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. We're reminded that true wisdom lies not in religious performance, but in humbly acknowledging our need for God's mercy. This shift from self-reliance to God-reliance is at the heart of the gospel, offering us a new way to approach the divine - not through our own righteousness, but through the finished work of Christ.

Sermon Outline:

1/ LEAVE YOUR SHOES AT THE DOOR

Ecclesiastes 5:1

2/ THE FOLLY OF HUMAN-CENTRED RELIGION Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

3/ THE WISDOM OF GOD-CENTRED RELIGION

Ecclesiastes 5:1, 2, 6, 7

WHERE IS YOUR CONFIDENCE?

Luke 18:9-14

Hebrews 10:19-23

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Our dream is to be a city of refuge within the city of Brisbane, where many people have found refuge, security, and hope in Christ.

Find out more about our church: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.christrefuge.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Series: The End of Futility

Date: 4 August 2024

Preacher: Rev Dave Miers

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In this powerful exploration of injustice, we're reminded that the world's brokenness is not just a distant reality, but often hits close to home. Through the wisdom of Ecclesiastes, we confront the harsh truth that wickedness, suffering, and poverty are pervasive 'under the sun.' Yet, this sobering view isn't meant to leave us in despair. Instead, it points us towards a greater hope found in God's justice and mercy. We're challenged to consider our own role in perpetuating injustice and recognise our need for divine intervention. The cross of Jesus emerges as the ultimate answer to our cry for justice - a place where God's perfect justice and boundless mercy meet. This message invites us to find comfort in Christ's understanding of our pain and to look forward to the day when He will 'wipe away every tear.'

Sermon Outline:

1/ DON’T BE SURPRISED BY INJUSTICE

Ecclesiastes 1:15

Ecclesiastes 3:16

Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

Ecclesiastes 7:15-18

Ecclesiastes 8:14

2/ WHY DOESN’T SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING?!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

3/ WE ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM

Ecclesiastes 7:29, 7:20

4/ GOD HAS DONE SOMETHING!

Mark 15:33-34

Revelation 21:3-4

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Our dream is to be a city of refuge within the city of Brisbane, where many people have found refuge, security, and hope in Christ.

Find out more about our church: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.christrefuge.co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email [email protected]