20250406 6PMp JB Spiritual Forgetfulness

Are we forgetful?  Do we forget what God has done for us in Christ?

5 points

The antidote to spiritual forgetfulness is to be reminded of our privileged status, of our adoption into God’s family. 

Speaker: John Batten.

20250323 6PMp RI Romans 6 – More Really Good News

Dead & Free from the Penalty of sin.  Free from the Dominion of sin.

And now alive in Jesus

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In Romans, Paul talks about sin … and he also talks about grace.

He talks about sin increasing, and about grace also abounding.

In our experience, do we see a gradual change from sin toward grace?  … otherwise called sanctification?

Here Paul sees it from a different perspective not just of our experience, but of our viewpoint:

He says: ‘Count yourself  “dead to sin” and “alive to Christ … alive to grace” ‘

The grace that flowed to change my heart, also flowed to change my identity.

Grace is not the reason to continue in sin, Grace is the reason to live a new life… Dead to sin, but alive to grace in Christ Jesus. 

The :metaphor of baptism” is not just washing away of sin, but also being baptised into Christ’s death,  and rising with him in new life.  Pardoned sinners, but more than pardoned sinners ..

In the symbolism of slavery .. We may choose the old way of the old master, or we may choose the new way of freedom, of a new master.  We can choose to be slaves to righteousness, and reap holiness as a result. 

Speaker: Ron Irving.

20250316  as 6PMp CD Romans 5 Really Good News

Justified, by faith.

It’s a scary thing if your hope is in politics or in technology, or in industry, or in institutions etc…

Our culture is creating ambient anxiety. We live in world where optimism is being replaced by anxiety. We are worried about many aspects of our society and lives. But we have Romans 5 – really good news.

Romans zooms out to give us the really big picture so that we can understand our place in the picture.  The story of humanity – the first man sinned, and death came into the world. 

Until there came another man, who did not sin, but died for our sins.  And also defeated sin and death. 

Paul wants us all to understand this bigger story. There are many implications of this bigger picture.

For example, reconciliation with God. Purpose in suffering leading to perseverance and character.  Confidence in God’s Love.  No need to fear Death.  And a Hope that will not disappoint.

Speaker: Chris Donald.

Continuing our sermon Series on the Book of Romans. 

This sermon considers Paul's argument on who would be judged righteous whether Jew or not, circumcised or not, (even Christian or not), based upon what they have done and even on how they judge others. It uses an analogy of how "coloured dye can penetrate and get into chalk" to point out that sin really does get in! And it points to the Really Good News of what Jesus has done.

Speaker: Ron Irving.

20250126 6PMp CD

Speaker: Chris Donald.

Using tools the wrong way, leads to broken tools.   

So, “What is our purpose?  What are you here for?”

Christopher Morley wrote: “There is only one success: To spend your life in your own way,”

Sums up our culture: just about self

The Bible explains our purpose – created in the image of God, but fallen through sin, redeemed through Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

Living for Jesus helps us reach our full potential.

Paul’s life is for Jesus.  He has co-workers, who also live for Jesus. 

We were made for living for Jesus.  This will affect our big decisions, but also our small decisions.