Ever found yourself wondering, “What do people think of me?” You’re not alone, Petrea starts there, sharing a few laughs from a staff retreat before turning our gaze to the big question of identity. Through Romans 5, she explores how our stories often centre on suffering, but Paul’s famous progression, suffering to endurance, endurance to character, character to hope, isn’t an invitation to glorify pain or stay stuck in it. Instead, it’s a path that leads us to a confident hope in God’s glory, where Jesus, not our hardships, gets the final say on who we are.

Petrea challenges the way we sometimes let our suffering, sin, or diagnosis become our name tag. She reminds us that the gospel isn’t about surviving or self-improvement but about being made new, justified, and beloved in Christ. Paul’s message is clear: while our stories might include pain, they don’t get to define us. Christian hope isn’t just wishing for better days—it’s the assurance that, no matter what, we belong to Jesus.

**Outline of the Message:**

- Opening stories on identity and self-perception

**Bible Verses Mentioned:**  

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We dive into the heart of Paul’s letter to the Romans, a church wrestling with disunity, identity, and old patterns of shame and division. Aimee starts with a quick recap, then zooms in on Romans 5 and Paul’s big “therefore”: since we’ve been justified by faith, we have peace with God. She explains how suffering, rather than knocking us down, can grow perseverance, character, and hope, and how this hope isn’t wishful thinking but rooted in the love of God poured out through the Holy Spirit.

The message draws a powerful contrast between Adam’s legacy of sin and death, and Jesus’ gift of grace, righteousness, and new life. Listeners are invited to stop living in the “old Adam” way and step confidently into the new life Christ offers. There’s practical application for anyone feeling stuck in old habits or division: lift your eyes to Jesus, receive the gift of reconciliation, and live out your identity as part of God’s unified, hope-filled family.

**Outline of the Message:**

- Recap of Romans and the context of Paul’s letter

- Justification by faith and peace with God (Romans 5:1-11)

- The role of suffering in producing hope

- The contrast: Adam’s family vs. Jesus’ family (Romans 5:12-21)

- Living as a new humanity, unity, hope, and practical steps

- Invitation to respond to the gift of grace

**Bible Verses Mentioned:**

- Romans 5

- Romans 1, 4, 6

- Acts 9:15-16, 10, 15, 19-21

- Genesis (Abraham’s story)

- Micah 6:8

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Settle in for a message that’s as honest as it is hope-filled. Chris starts by acknowledging that, in a world obsessed with identity, whether it’s ethnicity, ambition, personality, or tribe, we often get tangled up in trying to prove who we are. Drawing from the story of Abraham and Paul’s argument in Romans 4, Chris shows that ticking the right boxes, doing the right rituals, or having the right background isn’t what makes you right with God.

Instead, Abraham’s story is one of simple trust: he believed God’s promise, and that faith (not his performance) was credited to him as righteousness. Chris brings this home by pointing out the temptation to lean on our own achievements or labels, only to find they leave us empty. The message explores how Jesus is the ultimate answer, through his death and resurrection, belonging to God is now open to all, and our truest identity is found in being part of his family by faith.

**Outline:**

- The cultural obsession with identity and belonging  

- Paul’s argument in Romans 4: Abraham’s faith versus works  

- Circumcision and the law, signs but not the substance  

- How Jesus fulfils God’s promise and opens the door for all  

- The invitation to drop the striving and trust Christ  

- Finding rest and belonging in God’s family

**Bible Verses Mentioned:**  

Romans 4:1–25, Romans 4:25, Romans 1, Romans 2–3, Genesis 15:1–6, Genesis 17:1–14, Psalm 32:1–5, Hebrews 11

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Pastor Jo Leutton unpacks Paul’s argument to the Roman church, where spiritual lineage trumps family background, and faith, not religious performance, opens the door to God's promises. We journey through Abraham’s call, covenant, and the radical idea that his faith was “counted as righteousness” long before any religious signs or laws came into play. Along the way, there’s a look at why Paul keeps bringing up circumcision (don’t worry, it’s not as awkward as it sounds), what it means to belong to God’s family, and how trusting God in the middle of life’s impossibilities is the real game-changer. The message ends with a call to anchor ourselves in God’s faithfulness, step into the family of faith, and let hope rise again, no matter what our story looks like.

**Outline of the Message:**

- Introduction: Family trees, belonging, and the “special” trap

- Abraham’s story: Called by God, covenant, and the promise

- Faith vs. works: Why lineage and law don’t make us right with God

- The sign of circumcision and what really matters

- The invitation: Trusting God, joining the family, and living by faith

- Encouragement for the weary and hope for the hopeless

- Ministry time: Responding to God’s presence and promises

**Bible Verses Mentioned:**  

Romans 4, Romans 3, Genesis 12:1, Genesis 15, Genesis 17, Genesis 18, Genesis 22, Hebrews 11:1, Romans 4:1-12, Romans 4:13, Romans 4:24-25

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Pastor Sam kicks off by looking at the tensions in the early church, Jewish and Gentile believers wrestling with what it means to belong in God’s family. Paul isn’t pulling any punches; he reminds us that nobody gets a spiritual head start, and everyone enters through the same doorway, grace. The message takes us through the pitfalls of judging others, the dangers of spiritual superiority, and how these attitudes can quietly divide community. But it’s not all doom and gloom! Paul’s “but now” moment in Romans 3:21-31 is the game-changer, pointing us to the hope found in Jesus, the great redeemer who levels the playing field for all. We’re reminded that God’s kindness leads us to repentance, and that true transformation comes from the inside out. The challenge? To be a community marked not by cliques or comparison, but by the radical unity and grace that Jesus offers.

**Message Outline:**

- Setting the scene: Church division and Paul’s purpose

- The dangers of judgment and spiritual superiority

- God’s impartiality and grace for all

- Circumcision, law, and the shift from outward signs to inward transformation

- “But now”: The hope of justification by faith (Romans 3:21-31)

- Living out unity, humility, and grace as God’s people

**Bible Verses Mentioned:**  

Romans 2, Romans 3, Romans 1, Romans 2:1-11, Romans 3:21-31, Romans 3:10-18, Romans 3:23, Romans 15

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Petrea sets the scene by reminding us that Paul isn’t out to shame anyone, he’s out to level the playing field. Whether you’ve been in church for decades or you’re just tuning in, the message hammers home that none of us can earn our way to God by ticking religious boxes or living squeaky-clean lives. Instead, Paul uses Old Testament scriptures like a legal prosecutor, making it clear: every part of us, from our hearts to our feet, needs redemption. The good news? God’s righteousness is revealed not in rules but in the person of Jesus. Petrea reminds us that faith, not heritage or good behaviour, is what brings us into right relationship with God. The message closes with a call to unity, humility, and a fresh encounter with Jesus, because the church isn’t about showing off our own goodness, but pointing each other back to the Saviour.

**Message Outline:**

- Introduction: Paul’s audience and purpose in Romans 3

- The great equaliser: Sin’s universal reach

- Conviction vs. shame, why Paul’s honesty is good news

- Old Testament evidence: Paul’s “prosecutor” moment

- The beautiful “but now”: God’s righteousness revealed in Jesus

- Justification, redemption, and atonement explained

- Faith over works: What truly makes us right with God?

- Practical challenge: Is your life pointing people to Jesus?

- Call to unity and a grace-filled community

**Bible Verses Mentioned:**  

Romans 3, Romans 3:1-20, Romans 3:21-31, Romans 3:23, Romans 3:9-18, Romans 3:19-20, Romans 3:1-8, Romans 3:27-28, Romans 1:16, Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Isaiah 59:7-8, Psalm 5:9, Psalm 140:3, Psalm 10:7, Isaiah 48:22, Galatians

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Set around a dinner table in Bethany, where Lazarus, freshly raised from the dead, sits among friends, Zeke explores the radical, counter-cultural act of Mary pouring out her costly perfume on Jesus. But it’s not just about dollars and cents; it’s about laying down our future, reputation, and identity at the feet of Christ. Zeke dives deep into the cultural and personal costs behind Mary’s offering, reminding us that true worship often divides opinion and is sometimes misunderstood, even by those closest to us. With a few laughs along the way (and a cheeky “girl-math” analogy), Zeke invites us to stop calculating the cost and start seeing the worth of Jesus. If you’ve ever wondered whether Jesus asks too much, or if you’ve been holding back, this message is for you.

**Outline of the Message:**

- Setting the scene: dinner at Bethany, Lazarus raised from the dead

- The cost of Mary’s perfume: more than money, it’s her future and identity

- Breaking cultural norms: worship that’s bold, vulnerable, and public

- Judas’ objection and Jesus’ defence of Mary’s act

- The difference between calculated faith and surrendered worship

- The call to give Jesus everything—without holding back

- Practical invitation to respond in wholehearted worship

**Bible Verses Mentioned**

- John 12:1–8

- Mark 14:6–9

- Other various references

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Set in the heart of Paul’s letter to the Romans, this week’s message explores what it looks like to live a God-centred life and how quickly things go pear-shaped when our desires take the wheel. Aimee dives into the history of the Roman church, highlighting the tensions between returning Jews and Gentiles, and how Paul’s challenge to unity is just as relevant today as it was in 55 AD. With bowerbirds, toothpaste caps, and a healthy dose of honesty, she draws out how even our best relationships can wobble when we seek ultimate fulfilment in each other instead of God.

We look at how shame and secret-keeping, keep us stuck, while Jesus invites us into the light, offering grace for every mess up. Relationships get tricky when we expect people to be what only God can be for us, a theme woven through everything from marriage to friendships. The message doesn’t skirt around tough topics, including sexuality, judgement, and the call to extend grace, not condemnation. Communion reminds us that, despite our shortcomings, Jesus’ righteousness covers us all.

**Message Outline:**

- Introduction: Bowerbirds and building good nests  

- Romans 1: Church division and the problem of disordered worship  

- The dangers of shame and the invitation to grace  

- God’s design for relationships and where it all goes wrong  

- Unity, judgement, and the levelling ground at the cross  

- Communion: Receiving grace and extending it to others  

- Practical encouragement to re-align our hearts and relationships

**Bible Verses Mentioned:**  

Romans 1, Romans 3:23, Romans 1:16, Romans 2, John 15:5, 1 Corinthians 12:12–14, Matthew 6:33, Luke 17:20–21, Psalm 25:21, Proverbs 11:3, Philippians 2:1–4

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Ever wondered what happens when you mix ancient debates about circumcision, a fair bit of Jewish-Gentile tension, and a generous dose of Aussie candour? Sam’s message walks us through Paul’s letter to the Romans, zeroing in on how easy it is to slip into judging others while missing what God is doing in our own hearts. With a blend of humour and humility, Sam invites us to see that God’s judgement is real, but never separated from grace and kindness.

He reminds us that, in Christ, the playing field is level, no one is spiritually superior, and everyone is invited into God’s family. Sam also reflects on how the early church wrestled with unity, culture clashes, and what it means to truly reflect God’s love. Ultimately, we’re encouraged to trade in our pride for humility and to let God do the judging while we focus on extending kindness, seeking unity, and living out radical obedience.

**Outline of the Message:**

- Paul’s challenge to both Jews and Gentiles about judgement

- The shift from external rule-keeping to inward, Spirit-led transformation

- God’s impartial judgement and the call to humility

- The radical inclusivity of God’s family

- The role of kindness in repentance and restoration

**Bible Verses Mentioned:**  

Romans 2, Isaiah 49:6, Romans 3:16, Romans 15, Galatians 2

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We begin with a warm welcome to the series, “To Rome With Love,” and a quick look at why Romans has captured the hearts (and brains) of Christians for centuries. Jo sets the scene by exploring Paul’s background, the church in Rome, and the cultural tensions between Jewish and Gentile believers. The message highlights the big idea: the Gospel is good news for everyone, revealing God’s righteousness and inviting us into restored relationship with Him.

Jo takes us on a journey through Paul’s opening words, showing how the letter isn’t just an ancient document, it’s for us, even if it wasn’t written to us. We hear about the fallout of humanity’s fruitless exchange, trading the worship of the Creator for created things, and Paul’s sweeping list of all-too-familiar human failings. But we’re reminded that the solution isn’t finger-pointing; it’s recognising our own need for Jesus, who alone can put things right. The message closes with a call to self-reflection, unity, and a fresh embrace of the Good News.

**Outline of the Message:**

- Introduction to Romans and its context

- Paul’s transformation and purpose for writing

- The divided church in Rome: Jewish and Gentile Christians

- The Gospel: Jesus at the centre, good news for all

- Humanity’s brokenness and the universal need for grace

- The invitation to return to right worship and relationship with God

- Communion: remembering Jesus’ sacrifice

- Three reflections to take into the week

**Bible Verses Mentioned:**

Romans 1, Genesis 1–3, Genesis 12, Psalm 25:21, Matthew 18:15–16, John 15:5, Acts 2:42–47, Matthew 6:33, Luke 17:20–21

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