Vision Church Podcast | Christian Church in Canberra

Andrew Baker | Matthew 5:1-4; Luke 15:7 — In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus describes that those who mourn are blessed. While we’d all prefer a life with only beauty and joy, mourning is central to the Christian life. As we mourn the reality of brokenness in the world around us and deep inside every human heart, we see our great need for a saviour like Jesus: the One whose mission and delight is to reach down to comfort and redeem those in the dust.

Andrew Baker | Matthew 5:1-3; 4:17, 23; 11:2-5; 12:22-25; Mark 1:14; Genesis 1; Leviticus 8; Exodus 25:8; John 1:14; 2:13-22; 14:23; Colossians 2:13-15; Psalm 2:1-4; 24 — Jesus’ first beatitude describes that it is the poor in spirit who are blessed to receive the kingdom of heaven. But what exactly does Jesus mean when he refers to this kingdom? And how are we to respond that we might be blessed to receive it?

Andrew Baker | Matthew 5:1-16; John 3:17 — As we seek to live the ‘Jesus Way’, what does it look like to engage with the cultural influences that surround us? In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs us to be ‘salt and light’; a preserving and illuminating influence present in the very midst of the world, for its benefit and flourishing. For God did not come to condemn the world, but rather do His greatest work in the very midst of the world’s greatest need.

Adam Ritchard | John 17:13-19; Romans 12:2; Matthew 5:13-16 — Living this earthly life can be painful and disheartening; something that we Christians just ‘grit our teeth’ through while waiting for Heaven. But, Jesus specifically prayed that we would not be taken out of the world. Instead, we are to live remembering who we are and whose we are; set apart and sent on mission into the world. We are to live the Jesus Way.

Andrew Baker | Hebrews 13:1-25 — While the author concludes his letter by addressing a range of topics, the book of Hebrews makes one central proclamation and defining declaration: Jesus. He is not a precursor or a side-point. He alone is the fulfilment of God’s promises. He alone is the foundation. He alone is the centre, the source, the substance, and the sufficiency of our lives. It’s all about Jesus.

Andrew Baker | Hebrews 12:18-29, 10:23-25; Romans 12:1; Mark 14:1-9 — The Book of Hebrews is all about illuminating the majesty and superiority of Christ. But the author’s intent is not simply to provide us with information. Rather, this theological understanding of Christ ought to grab a hold of us both personally and corporately, producing a response of awe-filled wonder and passionate worship.

Kathryn Hartley | Hebrews 12:11-17, 25; Matthew 22:35-40; Ephesians 4:1-3; Deuteronomy 29:18-19 — While the race of faith is no doubt an endurance event, the writer to the Hebrews exhorts his readers to ‘sprint’ after peace with one another and holiness before God. As we put off our hard-hearted pride and rely on God’s enabling grace, these ‘sprints’ bring us back to the very core of why we’re running in the first place: to love God and love people.

Andrew Baker | Hebrews 12:3-13; Jude 24; Ephesians 1:3-6; 2 Peter 1:3 — As we run the race of faith we can experience dejection and weakness. But this is not how we have been called to run. Instead, through the discipline (training up) of our perfect Heavenly Father who has created and purposed us as His beloved children, we may put off the ‘drooping hands’ and ‘weak knees’ to run with endurance the race that He has marked out for us.

Vision Church | Isaiah 58:6-11; John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 9:22; Luke 18:18-30, 19:1; 1 John 4:19 — Last month, Vision Church sent a team to connect with and support long-term missionaries Steve and Ros Lazar serving in Mozambique. Hear stories & testimonies from Kathryn and the team, and a sermon from Kit, all flowing from their time in and around Zimpeto Children’s Centre. Where we give our whole lives to God, His love flows through us to accomplish the impossible.

Adam Ritchard | Hebrews 12:1-3; 1 Corinthians 9:24-26; John 6:68-70; 1 Peter 2:21-23; Philippians 3:8 — Our life of faith is not a ‘fun run’ with no value or no consequence. Rather, it is a race to be run with passion and endurance, in which our sights are fixed firmly on our example and our prize - Jesus Christ himself.