Josh Skeat, Regional Officer for Bush Church Aid in Tasmania, asked the question, "How far would you go?". For Jonah, the answer was 'not to Nineveh'. For Jesus, the answer was 'all the way to the cross'. How far will you go with the life-transforming, soul-saving message that Christ offers salvation to sinners?

The wisdom of Proverbs really is 'wisdom for real life', and perhaps nothing is more personal or real to us than our sexual desires. And what does God think about them? Does he care how we satisfy our sexual desires? Is he upset with us for talking about it? Maybe he loves it when we do??? 
Dave unpacks all things beautiful and harmful about the the expression of sexual desire from the wisdom of Proverbs.

"Good" is not just a word that we can use to describe what God is, but a word to describe the true essence of who God is. All goodness springs from the same source, and that source is God. And that's something that is worth remembering!

One of the key themes in the wisdom writings of Proverbs is the that of work. Israelite culture of around 900BC had strong views about working (and not working). But it's fair to say, our Aussie, and Tasmanian, cultures don't necessarily share those same opinions.

Melanie preached from James 2 at Sorell about how love of Jesus for all humanity forbids his followers from showing favouritism.

The book of Proverbs has much wisdom to share on the topic of 'friendship'. Friends, and friendship, are a gift from God. He gave us our social needs and capacities, and he meets those needs with friends. But he also meets those needs with himself. God himself has not only created friendship for us, but offers friendship too us, through his Son and Spirit.

The Christian life is one of truth, freedom, love, joy, hope, peace.... and perseverance. You can't read the Bible and not recognise that, not only are Christians not exempt from the struggles of this life, but often our faith causes them. But Stephen shares how we can be encouraged by the words of the Apostle Paul to stand firm in our faith in the face of suffering and hardship.

What pressure produce in you? Does it produce anxiety, worry, grit, determination, anger? In Philippians 4, Paul encourages the Christians in Philippi to combat their pressure with prayer, and in doing so, they would experience the peace of God.

The gospel of Jesus is good news that anyone can rejoice in! For people like Paul, who had a former life of fame and identity in the Jewish community, for the Philippians who are under pressure to compromise their faith, and for every man, woman, and child on earth who wants to find acceptance and significance in this life. The gospel of grace, through faith, is beautiful, powerful, and free.

Paul has some incredibly weird things to say to the Christians in Philippi. It's a weird letter, given the fact that Paul is under house arrest and the Philippians are being persectued. What makes it so weird? The gospel. Paul has the good news of Jesus not just in his head but pumping through his veins. The weird gospel is working itself out of Paul in weird ways, and so it should with us.