For our final foray into Genesis 1-11, we look at the famous 'Tower of Babel' narrative. For just nine verses, there's a lot to be said. Chris introduces the idea of 'turning the gem' as a way to study scripture, looking at three (and a bit) different ways to view this passage. While most of the ideas in this passage are big-picture, human-condition level lessons, there's an emotion driving it all that all of us can relate to...

Remember that story you heard in Sunday school (or that you heard about from the kids you knew who went to Sunday school) where Noah gets all the animals together and goes for a nice boat ride?

Well, the bit the Sunday school renditions of Noah’s Ark leave out is where God wipes out the rest of humanity.

The flood stories in Genesis are deeply troubling, but Mandy comes to the rescue by giving us a whirlwind tour of the literary style and historical context, which helps—at least a bit.

Back in 2022, we decided it'd be a good idea to build a church around Matthew 11:28-30—that passage where Jesus talks about 'rest for your souls'. It turns out this isn't a great way to create energy and momentum. But we're still convinced it's what God has asked us to do.

In this year's vision talk, Chris reminds us of Jesus' invitation to a life of walking alongside him, and how that works out in practice for a church community.

If there’s any story in the Bible that suffers from over-familiarity, Genesis 3 is a strong contender. It’s a deeply strange passage: a talking snake, a tree “of the knowledge of good and evil” (whatever that’s about), and a God who seems to get it wrong—after eating the fruit, the people don’t actually die. And yet, despite all this oddness, we rush to theologise the story. Righteousness. Disobedience. Sin entering the world. Exile from God’s presence. Concepts we often read into the text, rather than out of it. But what if there’s another lens—one that makes this passage make far more sense? Let’s find out.

In 2026, our teaching is going to take us alllll the way through the story of scripture, with each series helping tell the story of creation through to new creation (with a few stops along the way!). Mandy kicks off right at the start of the bible, with a deep dive into the Genesis 1 creation narrative. Through the lens of the Babylonian exile, she explains that this famous story probably doesn't answer the questions we want it to. Instead, in contrast to other Ancient Near-Eastern creation stories, it paints the picture of a good and beautiful God, creating a good and beautiful world, with a good and beautiful humanity at the center...

Each summer, we take an extended pause from our Sunday gatherings to intentionally practice Sabbath together as a community. Rather than simply taking a break or breather, Sabbath is a deeper practice—one that looks back on the story of God’s goodness, looks forward to new creation, and invites us to engage more fully with our own lives in the present.

Our third and final instalment of this year's reflection series was recorded on the road with long time friend of TVC, Ty Soupidis. Ty lives in Gloucester NSW and heads up Church on the Hill — a creative expression of church in its regional setting. In this episode, Chris and Ty talk about practicing Sabbath in our present... are we supposed to practice Sabbath still? What does it look like today? And where do we start?

Each summer, we take an extended pause from our Sunday gatherings to intentionally practice Sabbath together as a community. Rather than simply taking a break or breather, Sabbath is a deeper practice—one that looks back on the story of God’s goodness, looks forward to new creation, and invites us to engage more fully with our own lives in the present.

Toward the end of last year, we recorded three conversations with members of our community as a way to slow down and reflect on this practice together. This week's conversation, with Rian Roux, is a chance to think about the way Sabbath is a foretaste of life in new creation.

Each summer, we take an extended pause from our Sunday gatherings to intentionally practice Sabbath together as a community. Rather than simply taking a break or breather, Sabbath is a deeper practice—one that looks back on the story of God’s goodness, looks forward to new creation, and invites us to engage more fully with our own lives in the present.

Toward the end of last year, we recorded three conversations with members of our community as a way to slow down and reflect on this practice together. The first of these is with the wonderful Andrew Park, who helps us consider how Sabbath roots us in the story of Scripture and in our shared heritage in God.

As we draw our Conversations with Jesus series to a close, and with it 2025, Chris unpacks the final scene in John's gospel. It's got a few peculiar features — why were the disciples (newly commissioned to go and spread the good news to the world) out fishing? Why did Jesus ask Peter if he loved him not once or twice, but three times? And which disciple counted 153 fish while this all happened? It turns out John's author is giving us something absolutely profound...

With only two weeks left of Conversations with Jesus (and church for 2025!), Chris made it his mission to rescue the Apostle Thomas from his 'Doubting Thomas' moniker. Not because he didn't doubt. But because he was willing to put voice to his doubts, and in doing so, got to deliver one of the best punchlines in the whole Gospel of John.