Our first sermon from 'online church' in the Covid-19 pandemic. A very short bit was cut off the start of the sermon.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He's not just a wonder worker, but the one who brings life out of death, light out of darkness and hope out of despair. His raising of Lazarus points to his identity and the presence of God with us through the darkest of times.

This sermon was preached with Pakenham Lakeside Church's online church on Sunday 29th March, 2020.

In John 4, Jesus speaks with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. She had been practicing social distancing and self isolation - not because of disease but because of shame. But Jesus broke through all the barriers. She came thirsty for physical water - and drank from the source of living water, Jesus himself. Through this she overflowed with living water for others too.

This sermon was preached at the baptism service of two adults, Barry and Charlotte. Through their baptism - and we through ours - they are now filled to overflowing with the living water, the Holy Spirit, flowing from them (and from us) to give life to a thirsty world.

This sermon was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 22nd March, 2020, during the first weeks of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

This is a time of great anxiety and chaos as our world is currently experiencing the outbreak of Covid-19 coronavirus.

In such a time of chaos and anxiety, which voices do you listen to? When tempted to listen to the voices of panic, fear, and anxiety, Jesus speaks words which bring peace and calm. He says that all who come to him will find safety (or be saved). Jesus does not save us from trouble but through trouble, for he has overcome even the power of death, and offers us abundant life.

This sermon was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 15th March 2020.

The difference between light and darkness is the difference between

• Blindness and sight

When Jesus says 'I am the light of the world,' in John chapter 8 and again in John 9, he is bringing people from death to life, from darkness to light, from blindness to sight.

This sermon explores Jesus' saying through an imaginative meditation on the story of the blind man in John chapter 9.

It is part 2 of a Lenten sermon series on the 'I Am' sayings of Jesus as found in the Gospel of John.

It was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 8th March 2020.

Enjoy!

What truly satisfies you?

What food can you really not do without?

When Jesus says 'I am the bread of life,' he is saying that he is the only one who can ultimately satisfy the hungers of the human heart, mind and spirit. He is the one who nourishes and gives life to body, mind and spirit. Jesus engaged in holistic ministry - he fed and healed people's bodies, nourished their minds through his teaching, and gave life to their spirit by bringing them back into relationship with God. And he does the same for us now!

This sermon is part 1 of a Lenten sermon series on the "I am" sayings of Jesus found in the Gospel of John.

You can find some more reflections on these "I am" sayings at Common Grace - a network of Christians passionate about Jesus and about justice.

This sermon was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 1st March 2020.

Enjoy!

'Turn the other cheek' is probably one of Jesus' most quoted sayings. And I would argue it is probably one of the least understood.

Did Jesus really counsel cowardice and non resistance to evil? Or have we misunderstood his words in their cultural context? The teaching of Matthew 5, while far from easy, is a clear call to creative nonviolent resistance to the powers of evil. Not becoming like them through violence, and not letting them get away with it through passive acquiescence. This exemplifies the life of Jesus!

This sermon was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 23rd February 2020.

Enjoy!

Jesus radically interprets the law of God to 'get to the heart.'

In Matthew 5, Jesus gives signposts on the road to life and warnings about the road to death and Gehenna (the rubbish dump of the world).

This sermon was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 16th February 2020.

Many modern stories feature superheroes with a hidden identity.

We both long for - and dread - someone to truly see us and know us. Long for, because we are created for relationship and intimacy. And dread - because if others know who we truly are, we are ashamed or fearful that they may not love us as we truly are.

In John 1 we see unfolded the true identity of Jesus - and also how Jesus himself sees us, knows us, and restores our true identity. 

This sermon was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 19th January 2020.

Enjoy!

Mary is the Advent Person par excellence. The young woman through whom God's promises and plans to send a messiah are being fulfilled, through the miracle and mystery of the incarnation.

This sermon was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 22nd December 2019.

Enjoy!

The second sermon in a series on Advent People. Advent People are ordinary people receiving extraordinaray promises. 

Elizabeth is an ordinary woman who receives the promise to become the mother of John the Baptist, and who was honoured to b visited by Mary, the mother of our Lord.

This sermon was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 8th December 2019. 

Enjoy!