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A synopsis of the sermon and sermon text.

6th Nov 2016 – ‘His incomparably great power for us who believe’ (Ephesians 1:19)

By Pastor Matt Bishop | Dec 16, 2016 | Comments Off on 6th Nov 2016 – ‘His incomparably great power for us who believe’ (Ephesians 1:19)

Today we celebrate All Saints Day. As part of this our children have been invited to wear superhero costumes. That might not seem very churchy. But apart from some fun, there is a point to it (of course!), which we’ll talk about in the children’s address. For now though, all Christians can be grateful for…

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30th Oct 2016 – What’s in a church birthday

By Pastor Matt Bishop | Dec 16, 2016 | Comments Off on 30th Oct 2016 – What’s in a church birthday

What’s in a church birthday? ‘…so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to the others’ – Romans 12:5. Today we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA). Many of you, or at least your parents, grew up in churches overseas that are much older….

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23rd Oct 2016 – Tough times and sorrow

By Pastor Matt Bishop | Dec 16, 2016 | Comments Off on 23rd Oct 2016 – Tough times and sorrow

Suffering this side of eternity abounds…. and for many reasons. Many of you have had first hand life-changing times of suffering. (Mind you, joy also abounds – although we seem to find it hard to look for and realise). Where is God in suffering? Today we hear a first hand account from St Paul. Christ…

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16th Oct 2016 – What’s the season?

By Pastor Matt Bishop | Dec 16, 2016 | Comments Off on 16th Oct 2016 – What’s the season?

There was some evidence earlier this week that we had finally sprung into spring. Indeed, that summer was just around the corner too. But what season is it in God’s kingdom? One for preaching the word, or not? According to our epistle lesson and sermon text today, it is always God’s season for preaching the…

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2nd Oct 2016 – Mulberry trees on the move: Faith, Christ and the Holy Spirit’s provision

By Pastor Matt Bishop | Dec 16, 2016 | Comments Off on 2nd Oct 2016 – Mulberry trees on the move: Faith, Christ and the Holy Spirit’s provision

Can a Mulberry tree really get up and plant itself into the sea (Luke 17:6)? Today we’ll take a look at this saying of Jesus, including as it relates to what Paul says about faith in 2 Timothy 2:1-13. There Christ and his saving work for us is front and centre in God’s gift of…

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25th Sept 2016 – Trust in God

By Pastor Matt Bishop | Dec 16, 2016 | Comments Off on 25th Sept 2016 – Trust in God

Consistent with the readings in this part of the three year Bible reading cycle, this week the epistle (1 Timothy 6:6-19) and Gospel (Luke 16:19-31- The story of the rich man and Lazarus) concern themselves in a large way with money and possessions… especially a right posture toward God and them, where we realise God…

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18th Sept 2016 – Service for the World

By Pastor Matt Bishop | Dec 16, 2016 | Comments Off on 18th Sept 2016 – Service for the World

When it comes to worship (Divine Service) Lutherans focus mainly on how God serves us: restoring us to Him through the forgiveness of sins, building our faith and equipping the church for service to the world. Yet as the priesthood of believers (the church – 1 Peter 2:9), a part of our worship is nevertheless…

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11th Sept 2016 – God never gives up

By Pastor Matt Bishop | Nov 6, 2016 | Comments Off on 11th Sept 2016 – God never gives up

Ever lost something so important that finding it again made you throw a huge party? Today we hear of two parables in Luke 15:1-10 that demonstrate how persistently God comes looking for his lost and how much heaven rejoices when they are found. The wandering sheep that leaves the 99. The coin that can’t be…

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4th Sept 2016 – A personal appeal to Philemon

By Pastor Matt Bishop | Nov 6, 2016 | Comments Off on 4th Sept 2016 – A personal appeal to Philemon

Many of us will be familiar with the first commandment that simply says: “You shall have no other gods”. Many of us will also be familiar with how subtly the other gods of our lives at first present, then before we know it, in effect takeover. Idolatry is the chief topic of our Old Testament…

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21st Aug 2016 – The Lord calls Jeremiah

By Pastor Matt Bishop | Nov 6, 2016 | Comments Off on 21st Aug 2016 – The Lord calls Jeremiah

Jeremiah was a young man when the Lord called him to be a prophet to the kingdom of Judah (and ‘the nations’ – Jer 1:5) in the 40 years before Judah’s exile to Babylon in 587 BC. He was worried about what he would say, offering up the excuse of his youth (Jer 1:6). Humanly,…

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