St Paul's Box Hill Podcast

Jesus meets Mary and Martha in their grief over Lazarus, sharing their sorrow before raising him from the dead. The story reveals a compassionate God who enters human suffering and calls people into community. Christ, the resurrection and the life, brings hope beyond death and invites believers to help one another live a resurrected life. [Lent 5]

Is Gods grace and love and life for all people? Or is it just for a few very select people? Today we hear of a woman in need who looks to Jesus for grace and life. But she doesnt have the right upbringing, so does she belong? The disciples of Jesus dont think so. They put up barriers and ask Jesus to send her away, but because of her persistence in faith, Jesus commends her for her faith and shares his amazing grace. We too are like this woman. In faith we look to Jesus, but are we also like the disciples who put up barriers to others? [Pentecost 16]

How do you deal with anger, yours and others'? How does God call us to deal with anger? Today we explore what God says in Ephesians 4 about this, and how God has given us his Son, Jesus Christ, to deal with anger in a healthy and God pleasing way. [Pentecost 12]

The Mizo people of the Indian state of Mizoram are not wealthy people by some standards. However, they have a most spiritually rich story of Gods blessing in their lives and their Christian Church by their giving in response to Gods amazing generosity for them. All families give a handful of rice each meal for the work of the gospel. Today we hear the rich blessings of their story and ask, How much can we give as God has first given us? [Pentecost 11]

Because of sin in our lives, we and all people face a sentence of death from God. But God loves all people so much that he gave his Son Jesus, who though truly God, took our sin onto himself to pay the price and redeem us from Gods punishment. Christ became a poor slave so that we might become rich with Gods grace. How will we respond with our wealth? [Pentecost 10]

Christ has set us free by giving himself for us on the cross as a sacrificial gift. We too can serve others freely with the same mind as Christ. Today we explore how we can serve in our church, in our family and close relationships, and in our society and world. How can we serve and give as Christ has first given himself for us? [Pentecost 9]

God is generous in gifting us with his good gifts. How faithful are we as his managers of his gifts of grace and the specific spiritual gifts he gives us? Today we explore this, and begin to learn what our spiritual gifts are. [Pentecost 8]

Today we explore growing up with Jesus in his hometown. Familiarity led some to box Jesus in with their expectations, hindering their ability to see him for who he truly was. Yet, despite rejection, Jesuss healing power revealed Gods limitless grace, challenging us to break free from the confines we impose on our faith.[Pentecost 7]

Today we hear of twoencounters that reveal Jesus' power over death, offering hope beyond human limitations. Jairus, a synagogue elder, seeks Jesus' help for his dying daughter. Despite societal expectations, he risks all. Meanwhile, a woman, shunned for her illness, finds healing through touching Jesus' cloak. [Pentecost 6]

The Bible tells us that Gods Sprit is the breath of life bringing people to faith in Jesus. Todays gospel reading, though, tells of disciples in a boat with Jesus facing a terrible storm of wind and waves. Where is Jesus when you need him? Is he absent? Does he care? Sometimes we wonder these things when the storms of life hit us. Jesus has authority over the storms and the things which cause us fear. The Spirit is our advocate who breathes on us Gods life and calls us to Jesus, who calms the storms and brings us safely to shore. [Pentecost 5]