Lutheran - St. Paul's Sydney Podcast

This week in our Gospel reading, Mark 9:30-37, we hear how Jesus asked His disciples what they were arguing about on the road, but they kept quiet because they had argued about who was the greatest.
 
Jesus doesn't rebuke them for wanting to be great. Instead, He explains to them exactly what it means to be great - "Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all."
 
The greatest doesn't just sit at the table with the high and mighty, though to truly be the servant of all, they would indeed minister to those with worldly power, whose souls need care as much as anyone else's.
 
Rather, the greatest is the one who welcomes little children in the name of Jesus, caring for the smallest and most vulnerable among us.
 
What gifts of service has God given you that make you truly great, in the way He wants you to be?

Today's sermon was written and presented by Anthony Fawcett.
 
 

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This week in our Gospel reading, Mark 8:27-38, we hear how St Peter was the first disciple to acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah.
 
 But others around Jesus thought He was John the Baptist, or Elijah, or one of the prophets.
 
 Some people today might say that Jesus is a "good teacher," but not that He is the Messiah or the Son of the Living God.
 
 Who do you say that Jesus is?

Written and presented by Rene' van den Tol
 
 

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This week in our Gospel reading, Mark 7:24-37,  we hear how a Gentile woman came to Jesus and asked Him to help her daughter, who was possessed by an impure spirit.
 
 Jesus told her to first let the children eat all they want, that it isn't right to give the children's bread to dogs, but she told Him that even the dogs eat the children's crumbs.
 
 And what are the "crumbs" of Jesus? What small part of the bread of life doesn't contain the fullness of life within it? Even the tiniest crumb, the faith the size of a mustard seed, was enough for Jesus to tell the woman that her daughter was healed.
 
 Has there ever been a time in your life when only a tiny crumb was all you had to sustain your faith?
 
 Was that tiny crumb enough to get you through the night?

Today's message was written and presented by Dr. Bruce Arnold.
 
 

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This week in our Gospel reading, John 1:1-14 , we hear how Jesus is the true light come into the world, who has given us the right to become children of God.

As children of God, we are guided by our heavenly Father, and nurtured by Christ's church, so that we may reach the full height of our faith and be conformed to the image of the only begotten Son of God.

Just as trees bear fruit with seed according to their kinds, the fruit of the Holy Spirit who conceived Jesus Christ can only bring forth the image of God in us, and bring us into right relationship with the Father and the Son.
 
What fruit of the Holy Spirit do you see in yourself as a child of God?
The Message was Presented by Pr. Nathan Hedt. 
 

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This week in our Gospel reading, John 6:56-69 we hear Jesus speaking with His disciples, knowing from the beginning who would believe and who would betray Him.

St Peter, also known as Simon Peter, was the first disciple to acknowledge that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, and at this confession of faith, Jesus declared that Simon, son of Jonah, would be known from then on as Peter.

But St Peter is also the man who Jesus knew would deny him three times before His crucifixion -- the disciple who wept bitterly once he heard the rooster crow.
 
How does the pain of knowing you've done wrong lead to the healing grace of repentance and forgiveness?
 
How do you trust that Jesus knows you will believe, even though He also knows you will stumble along the way?
 
Todays message was presented by Pastor Havard Osland from the Sydney Norweigan Church.

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This week in our Gospel reading, John 6:51-58, we hear how whoever feeds on the flesh of Christ will live forever.
 
When we come to Holy Communion, we are the Church, the Body of Christ, come to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. That which we receive nurtures who we are and who we are becoming, as we grow to be conformed to the image of the Son of God.
 
How does knowing that you are a part of Christ's Body shape your perspective on receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion?
 
Today's message was presented by Bishop Richard Schwedes.
 

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This week in our Gospel reading, John 6:35, 41-51 we hear how Jesus is the living bread that came down from heaven.
 
The word 'eucharist' that we use for Holy Communion comes from a Greek word that means gratitude or thanksgiving.
 
How do you express your gratitude to God in response to Him giving us the gift of His Body and Blood, so that we may have eternal life?
 
 Today's message was Prepared and presented by Rene van den Toll

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This week in our Gospel reading, John 6:24-35 , we hear how Jesus is the true Bread of Life, come down from heaven.
 
We're all familiar with bread, whether fresh baked or days old and turning hard, but that's the bread of earth, kneaded together by human hands and destined to perish and return to the dust.
 
But Jesus, the true Bread of Life, sustains us both in this world and into our heavenly home, and in Him we have the food that endures to eternal life.
 
The bread we eat on earth feeds our bodies so we continue to grow and have energy throughout the day.
 
How do you see the growth in your soul and the vitality of hope that comes from your faith in Jesus?

Today's message was written and presented by Dr. Wendy Mayer.
 
 

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This week in our Gospel reading Mark 6:30-34; 53-56, we hear how Jesus brought His disciples to a solitary place to rest. But when a crowd followed them there, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
 
How does the love of Jesus draw people to you?
 
How do you find rest in Him when you need a quiet place, but the people around you are still in need of His love?
 
Today's message was written and presented by Pastor Lassi Pappiner of    The Southern Cross Finnish Church Sydney.

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This week in our Gospel reading,  Mark 6:14-29 we hear how King Herod originally protected John the Baptist even though his wife was angry that he called their marriage unlawful, because he believed him to be a righteous and holy man.
 
 But after making an oath to his wife's daughter, he had John executed to protect his own reputation in front of his dinner guests.
 
 Even today in our own lives, there are times when defending the righteous may make people dislike us. 
 
 How does your faith comfort you when you're in these situations?
  

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