Pastor's Desk
Gospel Partners
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. (Phil 1:3-5, NLT) It has been a wonderful week because of two great conferences that have taken place. The first was “Perth Gospel Partnership” at North Beach Baptist Church and the second was yesterday at Kingsway Christian College being “Perth Men’s Convention”. Read more
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. (Phil 1:3-5, NLT) It has been a wonderful week because of two great conferences that have taken place. The first was “Perth Gospel Partnership” at North Beach Baptist Church and the second was yesterday at Kingsway Christian College being “Perth Men’s Convention”. Read more
Servants of the Church
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing…the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. Read more
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing…the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. Read more
The Just Judge
I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High. (Ps 7:17, NIV) YouTube is a fascinating platform because it exposes you to so many weird and wonderful things around the world. For example, I now know how to divert a tiger shark if it is coming towards me; you simply push its nose in another direction, simple as. Read more
I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High. (Ps 7:17, NIV) YouTube is a fascinating platform because it exposes you to so many weird and wonderful things around the world. For example, I now know how to divert a tiger shark if it is coming towards me; you simply push its nose in another direction, simple as. Read more
“Le Petit Caporal”
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish… (John 10:28, NRSVue) There is a bit of a buzz going around in the movie world right now about Ridley Scott’s new epic “Napoleon”, which will be released later this year in November 2023. Now the buzz about the film isn’t just because it took years to make or that the casting looks phenomenal or that the film score already sounds beautiful, but because Mr Scott is attempting to tell a historically accurate story of one of the world’s most powerful men in cinematic form in just 3 hours. Read more
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish… (John 10:28, NRSVue) There is a bit of a buzz going around in the movie world right now about Ridley Scott’s new epic “Napoleon”, which will be released later this year in November 2023. Now the buzz about the film isn’t just because it took years to make or that the casting looks phenomenal or that the film score already sounds beautiful, but because Mr Scott is attempting to tell a historically accurate story of one of the world’s most powerful men in cinematic form in just 3 hours. Read more
Trust Against All the Odds
Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:36, NIV) Faith is an incredible thing because it is something with real substance in this world but completely unseen at the same time. In fact that is pretty much how the preacher to the Hebrews puts it, saying “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb 12:1, KJV). Read more
Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:36, NIV) Faith is an incredible thing because it is something with real substance in this world but completely unseen at the same time. In fact that is pretty much how the preacher to the Hebrews puts it, saying “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb 12:1, KJV). Read more
Spontaneous Baptism
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptised?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptised him. (Acts 8:36-38, NIV) You might have noticed this morning that there is going to be a baptism in our midst. Read more
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptised?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptised him. (Acts 8:36-38, NIV) You might have noticed this morning that there is going to be a baptism in our midst. Read more
On Eagles’ Wings
“Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.” (Ex 19:4, KJV) The story of the exodus is incredibly horrifying and beautiful at the same time, the themes run parallel. Horrifying in that the story exhibits what happened to the nation (Egypt) and individual (Pharaoh) that set itself up to oppress and bully the children of the living God. Read more
“Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.” (Ex 19:4, KJV) The story of the exodus is incredibly horrifying and beautiful at the same time, the themes run parallel. Horrifying in that the story exhibits what happened to the nation (Egypt) and individual (Pharaoh) that set itself up to oppress and bully the children of the living God. Read more
Captivity Captive
“Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive” (Ps 68:18 c.f. Eph 4:8, KJV) I don’t know if you have been to the Perth Zoo lately, but we boast an array of many incredible animals for people to go and see. However if you have a keen eye you will notice that most of the animals there are the result of being “bred in captivity”, meaning that these wonderful creatures haven’t a clue what freedom really is. Read more
“Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive” (Ps 68:18 c.f. Eph 4:8, KJV) I don’t know if you have been to the Perth Zoo lately, but we boast an array of many incredible animals for people to go and see. However if you have a keen eye you will notice that most of the animals there are the result of being “bred in captivity”, meaning that these wonderful creatures haven’t a clue what freedom really is. Read more
Australia’s Invisible History
Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” (Ps 77:10-12, NIV) I have at times recommended resources that I think that our church would find most useful, usually in the form of podcasts and this week is no different. Read more
Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” (Ps 77:10-12, NIV) I have at times recommended resources that I think that our church would find most useful, usually in the form of podcasts and this week is no different. Read more
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
“And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.” (Rom 4:11, NIV) One thing that I missed about Australia while travelling was the incredibly unique road signs that we have here. They are so unique to this great south land of ours that as soon as you see one you know exactly where in the world you are. Read more
“And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.” (Rom 4:11, NIV) One thing that I missed about Australia while travelling was the incredibly unique road signs that we have here. They are so unique to this great south land of ours that as soon as you see one you know exactly where in the world you are. Read more