Readings: Isaiah 55:1–9, 1 Corinthians 10:1–13 & Luke 13:31–35 As I’ve mentioned in a number of previous sermons, we know for a fact that fewer Australians identify themselves as Christians these days than in years gone by. And we also know there is no one single factor that is responsible for this change. But I’m reasonably confident that a strong contributing reason,…
Readings: Genesis 15:1–12, 17–18, Philippians 3:17–4:1 & Luke 13:1–9 Today’s passage from Luke’s Gospel, follows an earlier series of prophetic warnings that Jesus has given to the crowds who have been gathering to hear him speak, while he is journeying toward Jerusalem and the destiny that awaits him there. The essence of those particular warnings, is for people to change their ways…
Readings: Deuteronomy 26:1–11, Romans 10:4–13 & Luke 4:1–15 The institution of Church, and by that I mean all mainstream Christian denominations across the world, was dealt another severe blow recently with the conviction of Roman Catholic Cardinal George Pell, on sexual abuse charges against two young boys. And I have to admit, it’s probably the first time since I’ve been ordained, that…
Readings: Exodus 34:29–35, 2 Corinthians 3:12–4:2 & Luke 9:28–36 Today we commemorate the feast day of the Transfiguration of Jesus; the event which revealed the true identity of Jesus, and which also revealed the glory of God. The gospel story shares a close parallel with the transformation that Moses underwent on Mount Sinai, when he came down from the mountain with the…
Readings: Genesis 45:3–11,15, 1 Corinthians 15:35–50 & Luke 6:27–38 What a strange and disparate collection of readings for this morning! Our first reading, from the Book of Genesis, appears out of nowhere in the Lectionary cycle for this week. Normally we will read a passage from the same book for several consecutive weeks, following a particular story from its beginning to its…
Readings: Jeremiah 17:5–10, 1 Corinthians 15:12–20 & Luke 6:17–26 We see some parallels today between our first reading, from the Book of Jeremiah, and our gospel passage, from the Gospel of Luke. By way of reminder, in the Book of Jeremiah, the prophet was largely writing to the people of Judah and its capital city Jerusalem, to warn them of impending doom…
Readings: Isaiah 6:1–8, 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 & Luke 5:1–11 How appropriate is it that our readings this morning talk of receiving and answering a call from God? Because in one form or another, all of us here this morning, have in fact recently received and answered a call from God, to a new form of ministry of our own. Lynda received a…
Jeremiah 1:4–10, 1 Corinthians 13:1–13 & Luke 4:21–30Today’s gospel passage continues on from last week’s reading. Jesus is in the synagogue of his hometown in Nazareth. And he has just finished reading a section from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. The section that Jesus reads, is basically an announcement by Isaiah, of the ministry that God has called him to carry…
Readings: Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10, 1 Corinthians 12:12–31 & Luke 4:14–21 At my ordination as a priest, during what is known as the ‘Exhortation’, the Archbishop said to myself and the others being ordained with me, “You are to encourage and build up the body of Christ, preaching the word of God”. He also said, “Be a teacher taught by the Lord…
Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 & John 2:1-11 Normally my sermons are based on the readings for the day that are set out in the Lectionary, but I’m not doing that today. Two weeks ago, during our Spiritual Cafe session at North and Eight cafe on Buckley Street, the topic of baptism came up, and I was asked what the difference…