Sermon Podcasts at St Thomas' Moonee Ponds

Archbishop Ric at St Thomas' 5pm service 26th April 2026

We all know what it’s like to walk away. From a grief too heavy to carry. From a prayer that went unanswered. From a hope that shattered.

But many of us are also walking away from church—quietly, painfully, and for real reasons. Hypocrisy. Judgment. Hurt from a leader. A gospel that felt false. The problem of evil that no one could explain. Or simply being too busy, too fine, or too tired to keep showing up.

In this episode, we open Luke 24—the road to Emmaus—and discover something surprising: Jesus doesn’t wait for you to turn around. He joins you on the road away.

We explore:

• Why walking away doesn’t mean you’ve outrun God
• How to name the real reasons you left (without shame)
• Why the communion meal—the breaking of bread—is the exact place where eyes open
• How the table speaks directly to every wound: hypocrisy, doubt, irrelevance, hurt, false teaching, and more
• What it means to return to worship with a burning heart—not because the church got perfect, but because you are changed

Whether you’re still in the pews, standing at a distance, or haven’t set foot in a church in years—this episode is for you. No guilt. No pressure. Just bread, honesty, and the risen Christ on your road.

Listen in. And let your heart burn again.

Are your children carrying fears you can’t see? Are you, as a parent, feeling locked in by anxiety, pressure, or uncertainty about the future?

In this episode, we open up the familiar story of the disciples hiding behind locked doors after Jesus’ death – and discover how the risen Christ still walks through the locked rooms of our families today.

We talk honestly about the pressures on our children: school stress, friendship struggles, anxiety about the world, and the weight of feeling “not good enough.” And we ask: How can we parent differently when everything feels unsettling?

You’ll hear:

• Why the resurrection doesn’t just comfort us – it sends us out of hiding.
• How Psalm 16:8 (“He is at my right hand; I shall not be shaken”) becomes a simple, powerful prayer for kids and parents alike.
• Practical, gentle ways to help your child name their fears and invite Jesus into their “locked room.”
• Why your peace as a parent is the greatest gift you can give your anxious child.

This isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about knowing the One who stands at your right hand – and your child’s.

For every parent, grandparent, or carer who has ever felt stuck behind a locked door of worry: this episode is for you.

He walked alone so you would never be alone. On Good Friday, Jesus bore the curse God swore to carry in Genesis 15. On Easter Sunday, He steps out of the tomb as the first fruit—the guarantee that the whole harvest is coming. Discover why the empty tomb means you can stop striving and start living. Discover how you can be part of the emerging harvest.

In Genesis 15:4-16, God alone passed between the pieces, taking the curse upon Himself. In Matthew’s passion, Jesus walked the same solitary road—bearing our sin, crying forsaken, and rising as the first fruit of a new creation. Listen and rest in the God who did it all.

What do a woman freed from seven demons, the wife of a high-ranking government official, and a group of everyday women have in common? They bankrolled the ministry of Jesus.

In this episode, we dive into Luke 8:1–3 and uncover a powerful, often overlooked truth: healed people help people. The women who followed Jesus didn’t just receive healing—they turned their gratitude into generosity. They gave out of their own “means” to fuel the mission of the Gospel, becoming silent partners in every miracle, every sermon, and every life changed.

But this isn’t just ancient history. It’s a blueprint for us today.

If you’ve been touched by the grace of God, you’re invited to be more than a spectator. Join us as we explore what it means to be a cheerful giver, why generosity is the natural response to grace, and how your own “means”—no matter how small—can partner with God’s work in the world.

Whether you’re wrestling with what it means to give, or you’re ready to discover the joy of partnering in the mission, this conversation is for you.

Key Scriptures: Luke 8:1–3, 2 Corinthians 9:6–8
Theme: Generosity, healing, partnership, cheerful giving

🎧 Tune in and discover why the most joyful givers are always the ones who’ve been healed the most.

What happens when everything you thought you knew is turned upside down?

A man born blind. A miracle made of mud and spit. A confrontation with religious power. And a healing that nobody asked for—but everyone needed.

This is the story of John chapter 9.

But it's more than just an ancient miracle. It's a map for anyone standing in the middle of a transition. A new job. A broken relationship. A faith that no longer fits. A season you didn't choose but cannot escape.

In this episode, we explore what happens when God gives us new sight—and why that new sight never fits into our old lives. We'll uncover the three first fruits of spiritual vision: Clarity that ends the guessing game, Confidence that stands when questioned, and Connection that draws us closer to the Source than ever before.

And we'll ask the hard question: When the new wine comes, are you still holding onto the old wineskin?

If you've ever felt like your world is shifting beneath your feet, this episode is for you.

Blessings,

Rev. Rob.

We are busier than ever, but are we truly present? In a world addicted to distraction, the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well offers a radical alternative.

In this episode, we explore John 4:5-42 and discover that our God is not a distant deity—He is a God of time and space who enters our dusty roads and sits at our wells. We unpack what it really means to steward our time, how vulnerable presence can tear down walls, and the three "first fruits" that appear when we learn to simply show up for others.

If you've ever felt too busy to pause, too rushed to notice, or too exhausted to love well—this episode is for you.

Have a listen to discover:

• Why time and presence is a gift to us from God.
• The difference between managing time and stewarding it
• What happens when we finally leave our "water jars" behind

What if we want to help people have a spiritual breaktrhough, but haven't had one ourselves?

That was Nicodemus. Teacher of Israel. Expert in Scripture. Respected leader. And completely clueless about the one thing that mattered most.

In this episode, we sit down with the nighttime conversation that changed everything. We tackle the questions no one wants to ask:

• Why do we pour into others while neglecting our own souls?
• What does it mean to be "born again" anyway?
• How do we steward relationships with people who are still in the dark?
• And what does "first fruits" have to do with any of this?

If you've been serving, leading, teaching, or parenting on fumes—if your tank is empty but you keep trying to fill everyone else's—pull up a chair. This conversation is for you.

 Is Your Comfort Killing Your Calling? 🛑

The devil doesn't always look like he is coming to destroy you. Sometimes, he comes to “comfort” you.

In this week's episode, we're looking at the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4 and the three traps outlined in 1 John 2. Today we reflected on the hard questions:

• When does self-care become the lust of the flesh?
• When does chasing a spiritual experience become the lust of the eyes?
• When does pursuing success become the pride of life?

We live in a world that prioritises feelings over faithfulness, and the spectacular over substance. But Jesus shows us a different way. He faced the tempter, stood on the Word, and now offers us not just sympathy, but solidarity.

We also tackle a practical application that might surprise you: how giving your first fruits is helping you with gather the Holy Spirits power in the spiritual warfare you face.

If you're ready to stop being tossed around by your emotions and start walking in your God-given identity, hit play when the site loads up.