In this week's sermon on Leviticus 23:9–14 and 1 Corinthians 15:13–28, Robin Kinstead continues the Thanksgiving for Jesus the Messiah series by teaching on the Feast of First Fruits and its fulfilment in the resurrection of Jesus. He explains how Israel offered their very first sheaf of grain to the Lord as an act of trust, gratitude, and anticipation of the full harvest to come, and shows how this practice points forward to Christ as the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Robin contrasts “first fruits” with the imagery of “FOGO” (waste), urging believers to offer God their best rather than leftovers in their time, talents, resources, and spiritual devotion. He also highlights how Jesus’ resurrection guarantees the future resurrection of His people, shaping how Christians persevere through waiting, suffering, and even death with confidence in God’s promises.

5 Questions to Think About

1. What “first fruits” is God calling you to offer Him—time, talents, treasures, or attitudes—and what might currently be “FOGO” instead?

2. How does the Feast of First Fruits in Leviticus 23 deepen your understanding of Jesus as the first to rise never to die again (1 Corinthians 15:20)?

3. Where do you need to trust God’s promises in seasons of waiting, just as Israel trusted God would bring them into the land?

4. How does Jesus’ resurrection reshape the way you view death, grief, and the hope of seeing loved ones again?

5. What current commitments or habits might need re-ordering in light of the future harvest God has promised?

3 Things to Take Away

1. Jesus is the first fruits of resurrection — His victory over death guarantees the full future harvest of all who belong to Him.

2. First fruits belong to God — Followers of Jesus are called to give Him their best, not their leftovers, in every area of life.

3. Hope sustains perseverance — Because God is a promise-keeper, believers can endure hardship, wait with patience, and live confidently in light of the coming resurrection.

In this sermon, Robin Kinstead explores the Feast of Unleavened Bread in Leviticus 23 and its fulfilment in Jesus Christ, connecting Israel’s removal of leaven to the Christian call to holy living. Through Scripture—including 1 Corinthians 5—Robin explains how leaven symbolises sin’s corrupting power and how Jesus, our Passover Lamb, not only died and rose again but was buried so our sin might be buried with Him. He encourages the church to examine their lives, identify the “leaven” that threatens their spiritual health, and pursue sincere, truth-filled discipleship empowered by the Holy Spirit. The message includes pastoral encouragement, reflection on holiness, and an invitation to respond as God’s redeemed people.

What is the “one thing” in your life—your personal leaven—that is most dangerous to your spiritual health?

How does understanding Jesus’ burial deepen your appreciation of His work in removing and burying your sin?

In what ways can pride, bitterness, or hidden sin subtly “leaven” your relationships within the church?

What practical steps could you take to create space for God to cultivate sincerity and truth in your daily life?

Who can help you walk in holiness—through accountability, prayer, or shared encouragement?

Jesus, our Passover Lamb, has not only died for sin but buried it—calling us to bury our sin with Him.

A little leaven (sin) affects the whole community; holiness is both an individual and shared responsibility.

God provides the Spirit, His Word, and His people to help us continually “spring clean” our lives and grow in sincerity and truth.

In this sermon on Leviticus 23:4–5 and Luke 22:7–20, Robin Kinstead continues the Thanksgiving for Jesus the Messiah series by exploring the meaning of Passover and redemption. He traces the original Passover event in Exodus 12, where God rescued Israel from slavery through the blood of a spotless lamb, and shows how this rescue anticipates the greater salvation Jesus accomplishes as the true Passover Lamb. Robin explains how Jesus fulfills the Passover meal at the Last Supper, establishing the new covenant in His body and blood, and calls the church to remember God’s rescue with gratitude rather than entitlement. He also connects the Passover to the Lord’s Supper and the believer’s ongoing call to repentance, reconciliation, and holy living, reminding us that Jesus is not only the Lamb who was slain but the risen Lamb who reigns and will gather His people to the final feast in the new creation.

5 Questions to Think About:

How does the original Passover in Exodus 12 help you appreciate more deeply Jesus’ sacrifice as the true Passover Lamb?

What does Jesus mean when He says, “Do this in remembrance of me” during the Last Supper (Luke 22:19–20)—and how do you respond to that call?

In what ways might entitlement or forgetfulness lead you to lose sight of God’s rescue and instead diminish your gratitude?

How should examining yourself and pursuing reconciliation (as Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 11:28) shape the way you approach the Lord’s Supper?

What difference does it make in your daily life to remember that Jesus is the Lamb who was slain and the risen Lamb who reigns (Revelation 5:6–10)?

3 Things to Take Away from the Message:

Jesus is our Passover Lamb — He redeems us from sin through His body given and His blood poured out (Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 5:7).

Remembering shapes our hearts — God gives His people feasts and practices like the Lord’s Supper to form gratitude, humility, and dependence rather than entitlement (Leviticus 23:4–5).

Redemption leads to holy living — Because Christ has bought us at great cost, we are called to live reconciled, repentant, and set-apart lives until He returns (1 Corinthians 11:28; Revelation 5:9–10).

In this opening message from the Thanksgiving for Jesus the Messiah series, Robin Kinstead begins with Leviticus 23:1–3 and Mark 2:23–28, exploring God’s design for Sabbath rest. He explains that the Sabbath is not a burden but a gracious gift from God—an invitation to rest, rejoice, and remember His goodness. Robin traces the rhythm of work and rest from creation to Christ, showing that Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath who fulfills its true purpose: to give His people rest from striving and peace with God. He warns against entitlement and self-reliance, reminding us that gratitude is the antidote to both, and encourages believers to see all of life/work, worship, and rest—as acts of thanksgiving. Ultimately, Robin calls the church to trust God enough to stop, to honour Him through balanced rhythms of labour and rest, and to look forward to the eternal rest promised in Christ.

5 Questions to Think About:

3 Things to Take Away from the Message:

In this deeply moving sermon from 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11 and Isaiah 65:17–25, Shane Dirks concludes the Effective Church series by focusing on the theme: The Effective Church Has Hope in Death and Lives in Light of Eternity. Speaking from personal experience and biblical truth, Shane reflects on the grief of losing his son while proclaiming the certain hope found in Christ’s resurrection. He reminds listeners that for believers, death is not the end—it is “falling asleep in Christ” until the day of reunion when Jesus returns. Drawing from Paul’s words, Shane emphasizes that eternal life takes no intermission, that God will unite and renew all things, and that hope ultimately swallows grief, even if it causes “bouts of indigestion” along the way. Through faith in the risen Jesus, Christians can grieve with confidence, live with expectation, and encourage one another with the hope of eternal life in the new creation.

5 Questions to Think About:

3 Things to Take Away from the Message:

In this sermon from Proverbs 18:24; 22:24–25; 27:17 and John 15:9–17, Ruth Smith explores the question “What does God have to do with my relationships?” She reminds us that we are created by a relational God/Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and that our need for relationships reflects His image in us. Focusing particularly on friendship, Ruth shows from Scripture that true friendship is marked by love, reliability, honesty, and sacrifice. Jesus calls His followers friends and models the deepest form of love: laying down His life for others (John 15:13–15). Drawing wisdom from Proverbs, Ruth warns about the influence of the people we spend time with and urges us to choose friends who help us grow in faith and godliness. She also highlights the importance of boundaries, mutual care, and making space for new friendships that reflect God’s love and mission in the world.

5 Questions to Think About:

3 Things to Take Away from the Message:

In this sermon from 1 Thessalonians 4:1–12 and Micah 6:6–8, Langdon Stewart continues the Effective Church series, exploring how followers of Jesus are called to live lives that please God through holiness and brotherly love. He explains that holiness means being set apart for God and continually growing in sanctification — learning self-control and resisting the sexual immorality that damages relationships and dishonours God. Langdon highlights Paul’s countercultural message to the Thessalonian church, urging believers to reject impurity and live distinctly for Christ. He then unpacks Paul’s call to brotherly love (“philadelphia”), showing that the Christian community is a family bound by genuine care and self-giving service. Finally, Langdon challenges listeners to live quietly, work diligently, and avoid relationships or habits that compromise the unity and witness of the church, reminding us that holiness and love are central to an effective and God-pleasing life.

5 Questions to Think About:

3 Things to Take Away from the Message:

In this sermon from Psalm 95, Isaiah 29:13–14, and Romans 12:1–2, Ruth Smith explores what it truly means to worship God. She explains that worship is not limited to singing on Sundays—it is a response of the whole life to the greatness and goodness of God. Drawing from Scripture, Ruth reminds us that every person worships something, but only God is worthy of our highest love and devotion. She emphasises that worship is designed to please God, not us, and that while our worship should never depend on feelings, God graciously uses it to transform our hearts. Using Psalm 13 and Colossians 3:16–17, she shows that worship through song helps us remember truth, express gratitude, and join with the global and heavenly church in declaring God’s glory. Ruth encourages believers to see worship as both an act of obedience and a gift that shapes us into people who live for God’s pleasure.

5 Questions to Think About:

3 Takeaways from the Message:

In this sermon from Job 2:1–13 and 1 Thessalonians 2–3, Shane Dirks continues the Effective Church series by exploring what it means to be a church that shows up for one another. He contrasts Paul’s reports on his missionary work and the Thessalonian church, showing their shared alignment in word ministry, demonstrable change, and presence. Shane highlights that the gospel is not just spoken but lived out in faithful relationships—through encouragement, endurance, and showing up in both mission and community. Drawing parallels to Job’s friends, who initially comforted him through their presence, Shane challenges believers to “show up” for others even when words fall short. Using the incarnation of Jesus as the ultimate example of God showing up for humanity, he urges the church to live out this same love through commitment, fellowship, prayer, and perseverance as we await Christ’s return.

5 Questions to Think About:

3 Things to Take Away from the Message:

In this sermon titled What’s God Got to Do with My Mental Health?, Peter Lenehan addresses the complex relationship between faith and mental well-being, drawing from Job 6:14–27 and 2 Corinthians 1:1–11. Acknowledging Australia’s growing mental health crisis, Peter emphasises that while the Bible doesn’t use modern psychological terms, it speaks deeply to human experiences of despair, fear, and anguish. He highlights the church’s call to a “ministry of listening” — to comfort others as God has comforted us (2 Corinthians 1:3–4) — and challenges believers to offer empathy before advice. Peter also encourages those struggling to seek professional help, share their burdens within trusted community, and hold on to the unchanging hope of the gospel. Above all, he reminds us that God’s presence and compassion meet us even in the darkest valleys, inviting us to trust Him in the midst of suffering.

5 Questions to Think About:

3 Takeaways from the Message: