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Previous Messages Following is an archive of our previous Sunday messages. If you can't find what you are looking for, please contact the Parish office 02 66213200 or email us at angparlis@exemail.com.au. MARKS OF DISCIPLESHIP - Heb 13:1-8, 15-16 - 29/8/2010“Marks of Discipleship” by Rev Alan Shaw 29th Aug 2010 Heb 13:1-8, 15-16 >>2> NCLS research shows that the number of Australians who identify as practising Christians attending church at least once a month has been declining since the 1950s. Anglicans in particular are a threatened species according to statistics. ? So how do WE go about being positive faithful ...more TEST THE SPIRIT - 1 John 4:1-6 - 22/8/2010 SERMON NOTES Test The Spirit by Rev Alan Shaw 22nd August 2010 1 John 4:1-6 Intro: >>>> We’ve been jumping around a bit in our teaching sermons at night church over the past few weeks. >>2> Last week we looked at Hebrews – the Honour Roll of OT Superheroes who were household names to the Jews of Jesus’ time. >>3> Before that we looked at Luke’s gospel &...more WE CAN ALL BE SUPERHEROES - Heb 11:29 - 12:2 - 15/8/2010 Sunday 15/8/2010 night church 7pm WE CAN ALL BE SUPERHEROES Heb 11:29-12:2 15/8/2010 Rev Alan Shaw >>2> ! Our culture loves superheroes. Have a look at this..... [play flash video clip ‘SUPERHEROES’] ! We love superheroes! They are a part of our culture. Look at the comics - movies - books - toys - merchandise. ...more HOW MUCH TO GIVE? Stewardship 3 - Isa 1:1, 10-20 Heb 11:1-3,8-16 Lk 12:32-40 - 8/8/2010 HOW MUCH TO GIVE? Stewardship 3 by Rev Alan Shaw 8/8/2010 Isa 1:1, 10-20 Heb 11:1-3,8-16 Lk 12:32-40 As our Bulletin front cover article states: this Sunday marks the THIRD week in a series of teaching sermons on the sensitive topic of giving – the last time was 2003. >>2> Another word for giving = stewardship = which has a much broader meaning = ‘the...more HOW TO GIVE Stewardship 2 - Isa 1:1, 10-20 Heb 11:1-3,8-16 Lk 12:13-21 - 1/8/2010 Stewardship Week 2 - HOW TO GIVE by Rev Alan Shaw 1/8/2010 Isa 1:1, 10-20 Heb 11:1-3,8-16 Lk 12:13-21 “What makes you better than anyone else? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?” [1Cor 4:7] As our Bulletin front cover article states: this Sunday marks the...more WHY GIVE? Stewardship 1 - Lk 19: 11-27 - 25/7/2010 Why Give? by Rev Alan Shaw 25/7/10 Lk 19:11-27 As our Bulletin front cover article states: today marks the beginning of a 4 week series of teaching sermons on giving. We do this every so often in our parish – the last time was about 6 years ago. It’s important that we understand this touchy topic as faithful Anglicans attempting to remain viable in...more THE MOST IMPORTANT THING [FOR GROWNUPS] - Luke 10:38-42, Amos 8:1-12 - 18/7/2010 The Most Important Thing (for Grown ups) by Rev Alan Shaw 11/7/2010 >>2-3> ? How many of us here this morning have had a horde of hungry visitors arrive unexpectedly at the door? Even if they are good friends it suddenly places upon us a burden of hospitality that may not necessarily be convenient. We might find ourselves rushing off to Wo...more THE MOST IMPORTANT THING [FOR KIDS] - Luke 10:38-42 - 18/7/2010 THE MOST IMPORTANT THING [FOR KIDS] by Rev Alan Shaw 18/7/2010 THEME: Keeping focussed on what’s really important in life. OBJECTS: MacDonald's meal bag, napkin, cup of flat Coke, lid, straw, container of cold fries, burger wrap >>2>> ? Do you ever get hungry during church? Sometimes I get so hungry that I just don't think I ca...more BEAR ONE ANOTHERS BURDENS - Galatians 6:1-18 - 4/7/2010 Bear One Another’s Burdens Gal 6:1-18 by Rev Mark Harris 4/7/2010 In 1995 at Coffs Harbour my nephew Matthew, who was 2 years younger than me was stabbed in the stomach, in front of his wife Wendy and 2 young children. The ambulance was called, as well as his mum (who is my sister) and his step dad. On the way to the hospital he died. This was a t...more SACRIFICIAL LOVE - 1 JOHN 3:11-24 - 4/7/2010 SACRIFICIAL LOVE by Rev Alan Shaw StA’s 7pm Sun 4/7/10 11 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12We must not be like Cain [see Gen 4:1-26] who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13Do not be astonished, brothers and sis...more FREEDOM IN CHRIST - Gal 5,1-15 - 27/6/2010 Galatians 5:1-15 Freedom in Christ by Rev Mark Harris Sunday 27/6/2010 Our kids used to have two budgies, Bertie and Bluey Strangely enough they lived in a cage. But why was that? Well it was partly so they wouldn’t fly off, And partly for their own protection! You see, we also have a cat! Our cat would sit ...more DECLARE HOW MUCH GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU! - Luke 8:26-39 - 20/6/2010 by Rev Mark Harris I’m sure most of you can ride a bike! Can you remember when you were being taught? I can remember teaching my sons, And one of the rules is: if there’s something you DON’T want to hit, Don’t keep looking at it! Look where you want to go! The number of times a child hit a light pole in the park, Or ...more WALKING IN THE LIGHT#3 - 1 John 2:12-27, - 20/6/2010 Walking In The Light 3 by Rev Alan Shaw StA’s 7pm Sun 20/6/10 1 John 2:12-27 (NIV) 12 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear chil...more WALKING IN THE LIGHT#2 - 1 John 2:1-11 - 13/6/2010 BY MARK HARRIS 7PM St A's 13/6/10 Last week we saw that God is light, And that we must walk in the light, just as he is in the light. 1**In the trilogy Lord of the rings, The wizard Gandalf represents the light. But there was a white wizard called Saruman. 2**He claimed his titles were “Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-Maker, Sarum...more FORGIVENESS: EASY TO SAY, HARD TO DO - Luke 7:36-8:3, Gal 2:15-21 - 13/6/2010 Forgiveness: Easy to say, hard to do’ by Rev Alan Shaw Luke 7:36-8:3 , Gal 2:15-21 13/6/2010 Sources: http://www.ucc.org/worship/samuel/june-13-2010-eleventh-1.html >>1>TITLE> It's common in the church to hear the phrase, "We're all sinners." !! Strictly speaking it’s correct - this is a basic truth of the gospel message. But in my experience t...more WALKING IN THE LIGHT#1 - 1 John 1:1-10 - 6/6/2010 1John1: 1-10 6/6/2010 Walking in the light 1 MARK HARRIS 7PM ST A’S I can remember when I was growing up having to go to the outside toilet. We didn’t get one inside the house until I was about 15. I can remember the fear, when as a 10 year old, I had to go to the toilet at night, when we had a blackout. Walking in the d...more RUNNING FROM GOD - Jonah 4:1-11 - 30/5/2010 Sun 30/5/10 StA’s 7pm by Rev Alan Shaw Intro: Illustr. Some of us can remember a 60s TV series called THE FUGITIVE. It was so popular - a movie based on the TV series was released in 1993 – with a new TV series screened in 2000. The plot centred on a man on the run from the law after escaping from custody en route to prison where he faced the death penalty for the murder ...more PRAYER OF JONAH - Jonah 2 - 16/5/2010 Jonah's Prayer by Rev Mark Harris 16/5/2010 Jonah 2 Everyone has a fishing or sea story. I have one I’ll never forget. As a teenager I was holidaying on the central Coast, My brother and I wanted to do some fishing. So we went to the beach, up on to a rock ledge, The ocean was about 4 or 5 metres below the ledge, And you...more A LIFE WORTHY#2 - Eph 5:15-33 - 28/3/2010 By Mark Harris 28/3/10 St A’s 7pm As we live each day, we have rules in place that helps society to work. When the traffic light says red, we stop, and on green we go. Organisations have bosses, because they have the responsibility to organise how things are to function. If we had none of these different roles and responsibilities, society would collapse. ...more CHRISTIAN MATURITY - Eph 4:25-5:14 - 21/3/2010 Night Church St A's 7pm 21/3/10 By Rev Mark Harris I know some of you have recently seen the Lord of the Rings movies, In the ‘Two Towers’ there’s this huge battle at Helmsdeep Between the forces of darkness-Sauron & the orcs- & the forces of light-men & elves. The men & elves appear to be losing the battle against the darkness. BUT...more EXTRAVAGANT LOVE - John 12:1-8 - 21/3/2010 "EXTRAVAGANT LOVE" John 12:1-8 By Rev Alan Shaw "Then Judas….said 'Why was this ointment not sold for 300 denarii and the money given to the poor?'" (Jn 12:5) ?How many of us here this morning have a sneaking suspicion that we might have said the same thing as Judas had we been there at that dinner party? Mary took costly perfume apparently worth about ...more THE ONLY PRIZE - Phil 3:3-14 - 21/3/2010 9.30am Junior Church 21/3/2010 By Rev Alan Shaw INTRO At first glance, this passage from Philippians looks like Paul the Apostle is boasting about his achievements. But actually he’s doing the opposite - showing that human achievements & credentials - no matter how impressive - can’t earn salvation – can’t earn the gift of eternal life – you can’t work or buy your way to heaven –...more LOST SON - Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 - 14/3/2010 “Lost Son” Rev Mark Harris 14/3/10 What makes you happy and fills you with joy? Perhaps the birth of a baby, or a child’s birthday party? Or seeing a child or grandchild achieve something great? Perhaps it’s a good report from your doctor. Or achieving a goal you never thought you could Well the main idea from today’s gospel passage has to ...more A LIFE WORTHY #1: MATURITY - Ephesians 4:1-24 - 14/3/2010 Eph 4:1-24 by Rev Alan Shaw 14/3/10 We’re gathered here tonight to share some of God’s Word that will help us to be inspired & stay strongly in Christ in our everyday lives. I hope to help you to get some meaning from the passage chosen for tonight so that we can affirm [acknowledge & express inwardly at least our commitment to] our relationship with our Lord Jesus & our relationships with...more STRENGTHENED BY HIS SPIRIT#2 - Eph 4:1-24 - 14/3/2010 ‘Strengthened By His Spirit #2’ Rev Alan Shaw 14/3/2010 7pm We’re gathered here tonight to share some of God’s Word that will help us to be inspired & stay strongly in Christ in our everyday lives. I hope to help you to get some meaning from the passage chosen for tonight so that we can affirm [acknowledge & express inwardly at least our commitment to] our relationship with our Lo...more MATURITY OF FAITH - Ephesians 4:1-24 - 14/3/2010 INTRO We’re gathered here tonight to share some of God’s Word that will help us to be inspired & stay strongly in Christ in our everyday lives. I hope to help you to get some meaning from the passage chosen for tonight so that we can affirm [acknowledge & express inwardly at least our commitment to] our relationship with our Lord Jesus & our relationships with each other as members of his body. <...more STRENGTHENED BY HIS SPIRIT#1 - Ephesians 3:1-21 - 7/3/2010 Strenthened By His Spirit by Rev Alan Shaw 7/3/10 Eph 3:1-21 TONIGHT we’re continuing our focus on the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus. LAST WEEK we looked at how it’s important to remember WHO we really ARE – WHO we USED to be before we became reconciled with God through Christ. Through Christ’s work on the cross we are no longer a...more GOING TO THE DEEP - Isa6:1-8, 1Cor15:1-11, Lk5:1-11 - 7/2/2010 ‘Going To The Deep’ by Rev. Alan Shaw 7/2/2010 Epiphany 5 Yr C Isa6:1-8, 1Cor15:1-11, Lk5:1-11 [PRAY: Loving Lord, may the words of my lips & the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in your sight. In Jesus Name. Amen] This week’s readings feature 3 reluctant heroes who hear & eventually accept the call of God on their lives. Each of them takes on the ...more WHAT IS LOVE? - 1Cor13:1-13 - 31/1/2010 What Is Love? 1Cor13:1-13 by Rev. Alan Shaw 31/1/10 Here we are about to hit the annual wedding season. This beautiful & historic church has always been a favourite venue for wedding ceremonies. The most popular piece of Scripture read at weddings is today’s NT passage from 1 Cor 13:1-13. It’s a classic piece of wisdom from the Apostle Paul on the topic of LOVE – original...more Epiphany 3 Yr C - Lk 4:14-21, 1Cor12:12-31, Neh 8:1-3,5-6,8-10 - 24/1/2010 Epiphany 3 Lk 4:14-21, 1Cor12:12-31, Neh 8:1-3,5-6,8-10 24/1/2010 Rev Mark Harris The visiting preacher was really getting the congregation moving. Near the end of his sermon he said “this church has really got to walk!” - to which someone in the back yelled, "let her walk preacher!" The preacher then said “if this church is going to go, it's got to get up and ru...more JESUS: MIRACLE WORKER - John 2:1-11 - 17/1/2010 Jesus: The Miracle Worker – Children’s Sermon (John 2:1-11) Epiphany 2, Yr.C by Rev. Alan Shaw Theme: Jesus performs miracles -- not magic tricks. Scripture: ‘This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.’ John 2:11 (NIV) [Enter dramatically dres...more BAPTISM OF OUR LORD - Lk 3:15-22, Acts 8:14-17, Isa 43: 1-7 - 10/1/2010 Epiphany 1 Lk 3:15-22, Acts 8:14-17, Isa 43: 1-7 Baptism of Our Lord 10/1/2010 Rev Mark Harris Doesn’t time fly? It seems like only the other day that Jesus was in a manger! Now he’s become a grown man of some thirty or so years and once more he’s down south - only this time he’s come seeking baptism from Cousin John. He’s what? Yes, he i...more JOY -ADVENT3 - Zeph3:14-20, Phil4:4-7, Lk3:7-18 - 13/12/2009 JOY [Advent3] 13/12/2009 Rev. Mark Harris Zeph3:14-20, Phil4:4-7, Lk3:7-18 What makes you happy? Playing your favourite sport? Buying a new outfit? Gardening? Spending time with family & friends? Giving presents at Christmas? Getting presents at Christmas? One of the things that makes me happy is restoring old cars, especially Toranas!, although I do have an old HR...more ADVENT 2 - Mal 3:1-4, Phil 1:1-11, Lk 3:1-6 - 6/12/2009 Advent2 by Rev Mark Harris Mal 3:1-4,Phil 1:1-11,Lk 3:1-6 Let’s start with a joke....When Ted died & went to Heaven, he was met at the pearly gates by St Peter. St Peter told Ted he needed 100 points to make it thru the pearly gates. ‘Tell me all the good things you’ve done, & I’ll give you points based on your deeds. When you get to 100, I’ll swing open th...more EUCHARISTIC PEOPLE - Mk 10:17-31 - 11/10/2009 Mk 10:17-31 11/10/09 by Robert Ireland What must I do to inherit eternal life? I wonder if you have ever asked that question. I wonder too, has anyone has ever asked you that question? What would you say, if for example, one of your family asked you that question? What would we understand them to mean? Would you give then tips on how to get to heaven? Is that what the rich young...more IS JESUS CHRIST SHOPPING - Mk 10:17-31, Heb 4:12-16 - 11/10/2009 Mk 10:17-31, Heb 4:12-16 11/10/09 by Alan Shaw Have you ever noticed how when you’re standing at the counter paying for petrol or pharmaceuticals there’s no room to put down your bag to find your purse – counter top crammed with boxes of cheap bitsy items you wouldn’t normally buy but because they are staring at you, all shiny or filled with sugar, you think, ‘Oh, I really should ...more LOVE AND MARRIAGE - Mark 10:2-16 - 4/10/2009 LOVE & MARRIAGE Mark 10:2-16 by Rev Alan Shaw This time of the year is traditionally known as ‘wedding season’ . Our historic church is a popular venue for couples choosing to make this commitment. But statistics show that Christian & civil marriages are becoming less popular each year. And while most couples enter marriage with the intention to go the distance - statistics reveal...more LEARNING GOD’S WAYS - Mark 9:38-50 - 29/9/2009 Mk 9:38-50 29/9/09 by ROBERT IRELAND We have just heard the Gospel for today. But did you notice it contained a bit of bad news? Did you notice that the disciples get a bad report by Mark? In fact, they keep getting bad reports by Mark throughout his Gospel. It seems to be one of his themes to point out how ignorant, dull, insensitive, self-seeking, fearful and disloyal they can b...more BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY - Luke 19:1-10 - 16/9/2009 BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY by Rev Alan Shaw 16/9/2009 Today we’ve joined most Anglican Churches across Australia in observing BTCS as a way to encourage those who may have fallen away from the church over the years to reconnect. We believe we have something special here & we want to share it with others. This idea of connecting & reconnecting isn’t new. In the field of...more FAITH IN ACTION by Alan Shaw - James 2:1-17, Mark 7:24-37 - 6/9/2009 Theme: God’s generosity and love is bigger than our best selves. Faith without action is dead. Father’s Day is a time we traditionally honour the role of loving fathers and father figures in our lives. We must acknowledge that not everyone has fond memories of childhood – for some their father may have been absent, or abusive – anything but ideal. But we are also reminded that eve...more BROKEN HEARTS - Mark 7:1-8,14-23 - 30/8/2009 Sermon Notes Pentecost 13 Mark 7:1-8, 14-23 BY REV. ROBERT IRELAND Thank you for the opportunity to be with you this morning. I have read the history of St Andrew’s and was amazed at how much the Parish has achieved for Lismore down the decades. From St Andrew’s Swimming Team of 1949, to St Andrew’s Tennis Club of 1953, to the 3rd Lismore St Andrew’s Scout Group of 1956, to St And...more GRACE - CHEAP OR COSTLY? - Jn 6:35, 41-51 Eph 4:25-5:2 - 9/8/2009 GRACE - CHEAP OR COSTLY? by Rev Alan Shaw 9/8/2009 It’s interesting how much of this week’s New Testament Epistle is concerned with talk. The Apostle Paul is believed to be writing to the church at Ephesus – possibly other churches as well - & being very clear about the sorts of destructive behaviours that are unhelpful in a Christian community. He says: Don’t lie...more DRAWING OF THE FATHER - John 6:44 - 9/8/2009 DRAWING OF THE FATHER by Rev Alan Shaw 9/8/2009 “No one can come to me unless they are drawn by the Father who sent me, and I will raise them up on that last day.” [John 6:44] When God draws us, the issue of will comes in at once. Will I react on the revelation that God gives me, or not? Will I resist him or not? How can I be certain that it is indeed God,...more THE LITTLE BOY & HIS LUNCH - John 6: 1-13 - 26/7/2009 THE LITTLE BOY & HIS LUNCH by Rev Alan Shaw Have you ever been on the receiving end of a child’s wisdom? A few years ago I was sitting on the bed watching one of our grand-daughters brush her hair in the mirror. With the inquisitiveness of a normal 6 year old, she paused brushing and asked: “Grandpa, did God make you?” “Yes, God made me and THAT was a miracle.” I ...more DEMANDING CROWDS - Mark 6: 30-34 - 19/7/2009 DEMANDING CROWDS by Rev Alan Shaw 19/7/2009 Today we have Mark’s account of events leading up to the well-known Miracle of the Loaves & Fishes – sometimes called ‘Feeding of the 5000’. Our set lectionary actually leaves out this spectacular event – AND the story of Jesus Walking on the Water - & instead focuses on the crowds that were following Jesus & his team wh...more FLASHBACK - Mark 6: 14-29 - 12/7/2009 FLASHBACK by Rev Alan Shaw 12/7/2009 Have you ever watched a movie where they use flash-back – or flash-forward - Where it suddenly flips into the past or future to tell part of the story – then flips back to present time to continue? That’s what happens in our gospel today. Mark is telling us about how John the Baptist is about to meet his death by losing his head – then suddenl...more DESPERATE FOR CHRIST? - Mark 5: 21-43 - 28/6/2009 DESPERATE FOR CHRIST? by Rev Alan Shaw 28/6/2009 It’s amazing how passionate we become about our prayer life when we’re desperate: • if someone close to us – family - becomes seriously ill – or faces a serious life challenge • or a close friend – someone we really care about • OR if WE are the ones suddenly faced with such things – if it’s US who have just ...more GROWING SEED & MUSTARD PARABLES - Mark 4: 26-32 - 14/6/2009 GROWING SEED & MUSTARD PARABLES by Rev Alan Shaw 14/6/2009 In our Gospel reading today we hear two very similar parables. The parable of the growing seed (Mark 4:26-29) is found only in the Gospel according to Mark. It speaks of the Kingdom of God, which is the Reign of God. It speaks of the helplessness of humankind – the farmer cannot make the seed grow. It will grow, the farme...more MATURITY THROUGH COMMUNITY - Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:1-8 - 10/5/2009 MATURITY THROUGH COMMUNITY by Rev Alan Shaw 10/5/2009 Some of you know of my affection for quality red wine. Recently I bumped into an old friend of Italian heritage. One of his skills is wine-making – his home-made grappa is legendary amongst members of a local service organisation. He told me that one of the characteristics of grapevines is that they only bear fruit on canes/sh...more PEACE BE WITH YOU - Lk24:36-49, Acts 3: 12-20, 1 Jn 2:15-17, 3:1-6 - 26/4/2009 PEACE BE WITH YOU by Rev Alan Shaw 26/4/2009 Anyone who attended yesterday’s ANZAC remembrance ceremonies in Lismore would have been struck by the size of the crowds. Those marching & those who lined the streets applauding - they get bigger each year as a new generation of Australians embraces the ANZAC story of sacrifice in the name of peace. As a descendant of an ANZAC & other ...more RELUCTANT WARRIORS - John 20:19-30 - 19/4/2009 RELUCTANT WARRIORS by Rev Alan Shaw 19/4/2009 The Gospel of John begins the account of life after Jesus with the words: [Jn 20:19] ‘On the evening of the first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews….’ The church of our Lord Jesus began over 2000 years ago with a group of frightened friends in a first floor ro...more PASSING ON THE LOVE - John 3: 14-21, Numbers 21: 4-9 - 22/3/2009 PASSING ON THE LOVE by Rev Alan Shaw 22/3/2009 Our Gospel passage this week contains what is perhaps the best-known verse in the whole Bible = John 3:16. 16"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Children memorize it in Sunday school, the Gideons place this verse on the front page of the...more TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY SERMON - Matthew 17: 1-9, Mark 9: 6-9 - 22/2/2009 TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY SERMON by Rev Alan Shaw 22/2/2009 Since the beginning of recorded history – mountains have held a strange fascination. They seem to have always been important in the spiritual life of people regardless of faith or culture. The Transfiguration on the mountain (some argue this was Mt Hebron, others Mt Tabor) must have been one of the most exciting events in t...more USING THE STRENGTH OF GOD - 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39 - 8/2/2009 USING THE STRENGTH OF GOD by Rev Alan Shaw 8/2/2009 According to a recent poll around 90% of Australians say they pray. Before I had a living relationship with Jesus I prayed 2 different kinds of prayers. 1. There was the prayer taught to me as a child – “God bless mummy & daddy & my little brother & my little sister & my grandma who is really old & sick....more DIFFERENT PRIORITIES - Mark 1: 14-20, Jonah 3: 1-10 - 25/1/2009 DIFFERENT PRIORITIES by Rev Alan Shaw 25/1/2009 ?Have you ever made plans – invested much time and effort and $$ in planning and preparing for something? You looked forward to it with much anticipation and had to change your plans at the last moment due to unexpected or unforeseen circumstances? Our readings this morning are about several characters who had to fac...more SHREWD SELFISHNESS - Mark 1: 11-20 - 25/1/2009 SHREWD SELFISHNESS by Rev Alan Shaw 25/1/2009 Have you ever been seduced by shrewd selfishness? Jesus calls us to a sacrificial life as his faithful followers. Yet our motivation for serving others is not always pure and selfless, despite our best intentions. If we are honest, there are times when we regard service as a duty rather than a joyful offering. Mark’s a...more COME AND SEE! - John 1: 43-51 - 1/1/2009 COME AND SEE! by Rev Alan Shaw 1/1/2009 Some of you may know that I had a VERY DIFFERENT life before I became an ordained priest. A large slice of my life was spent living a lifestyle that some refer to as ALTERNATIVE. It’s not a very accurate term – but is often associated with those we call HIPPIES. The Far North Coast has become a haven for New Age people – th...more PARABLE OF THE THREE TOOLBOXES - Matthew 25: 14-30 - 16/11/2008 PARABLE OF THE THREE TOOLBOXES by Rev Alan Shaw 16/11/2008 Theme: God has given each of us "tools" to use in His kingdom. Through our 3 set readings today is the theme of God’s faithfulness despite our sinful & fickle nature. Our NT readings encourage us to remain faithful to God as we patiently await Christ’s return. Matthew’s account of the Parable of th...more LESS TALK MORE ACTION - Matthew 21: 23-32, Philippians 2: 1-13 - 28/9/2008 LESS TALK MORE ACTION by Rev Alan Shaw 28/9/2008 When I was in Junior High School I had a music teacher - a tall well-built impeccably-dressed man with a thick German accent - fearsome temper – tiny moustache – and hair tightly combed down with hair product to resemble another well-known German political leader who achieved infamy during WW2. This teacher was ruthless with any st...more HOW DO WE FORGIVE? - Matthew 18: 21-35 - 14/9/2008 LESS TALK MORE ACTION by Rev Alan Shaw 14/9/2008 Perhaps it’s no accident that we have the theme of forgiveness before us again (as we did last Sunday) in Matthew’s Gospel reading falling in the same week of the SEVENTH anniversary of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in New York. Just 7 years ago this week we watched the TV news in horror and disbelief as the Twin T...more COSTLY GRACE - WHAT IS IT? - Romans 12: 9-21, Matthew 16: 21-28 - 31/8/2008 COSTLY GRACE - WHAT IS IT? by Rev Alan Shaw 31/8/2008 What is expected of us as Christians? Do we need more rules to live the life Christ wants us to? Or do we simply need to be reminded of who we are in Christ? What is our response to God’s grace? To being loved unconditionally by God? OPEN: Oh Dear!! Last week we heard Paul going on about followers of ...more LIVING SACRIFICES & SPIRITUAL GIFTS - Romans 12: 1-8 - 24/8/2008 LIVING SACRIFICES & SPIRITUAL GIFTS by Rev Alan Shaw 24/8/2008 “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice – holy and acceptable to God – which is your spiritual worship. Don’t be conformed to the ways of the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Rom 12: 1-2). ?What does Paul mean by offering our 'bodies as a living sacrifice'? As readers...more BURIED TREASURE - Matthew 13: 44-52, Romans 8: 26-28, 35-39 - 27/7/2008 BURIED TREASURE by Rev Alan Shaw 27/7/2008 Our Gospel reading today is again from Matthew chapter 13 which is filled with parables attempting to teach us about the nature of the kingdom of heaven. Last week we heard the parable of the wheat & the weeds – images familiar to Jesus’ first century farming audience. Today Jesus is talking about buried treasure & expens...more MASTER GARDENER - Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 - 20/7/2008 MASTER GARDENER by Rev Alan Shaw 20/7/2008 This week we continue with a section of Matthew’s Gospel theologians call The Third Discourse – where Matthew has grouped a number of Jesus’ powerful parables that attempt to explain the nature of the Kingdom of God. We know parables are everyday stories with spiritual meanings – often with layers of deeper meanings that ...more HEARTBREAKER - HEART MENDER - Matthew 9: 9-13, 18-26 - 8/6/2008 HEARTBREAKER - HEART MENDER by Rev Alan Shaw 8/6/2008 Right through our readings set for today flow the themes of the great blessings that come to those who put their trust in God’s power – who exhibit a child-like faith - whilst acknowledging their own inadequacy. In Gen 12 we find Abram the 75-yr-old idol-worshipper (Joshua 24:2) who turns his back on everything...more WHY COME TO CHURCH? - Matt 7: 15-29 - 1/6/2008 WHY COME TO CHURCH by Rev Alan Shaw 1/6/2010 Why do we come to church? What are we doing here? Carefully summarise your reasons for being here... • Last Sunday night at 6.30 a few of us sat here, in the church, in the dark, discussed that and similar questions. • We gently challenged each other to articulate our reasons for coming to church, our expectati...more DO NOT WORRY - BE HAPPY - Matt 6: 22-34, Isa 49:8-16 - 25/5/2008 THEME: Worldly ambition vs. Christian security 25/5/2010 by Rev Alan Shaw If I was to summarise today’s Gospel in just 4 WORDS – they would be DON’T WORRY - BE HAPPY. This passage from Matthew’s Gospel is from the extraordinary writings we know as the Sermon on the Mount – which is a collection of wise sayings considered to be the heart of Jesus’ teaching...more WE ARE ONE IN THE SPIRIT - Acts 2: 1-21 - 11/5/2008 WE ARE ONE IN THE SPIRIT - 11/5/2010 Acts 2:1-21 Rev Alan Shaw Today we celebrate the Feast of PENTECOST when God’s gift of the Holy Spirit descended on the fledgling disciples like tongues of fire. The Acts reading describes the dramatic out-pouring of God’s Spirit upon his chosen disciples who faced the daunting challenge of continuing Jesus’ mission and estab...more PENTECOST 2010 - Acts 2: 1-21; 1 Cor 12: 1-13 - 11/5/2008 PENTECOST 2010 - Rev Alan Shaw 11/5/2010 Some of us are old enough to remember the first STAR WARS movie that took the world by surprise in 1977. Unknown director George Lucas started a phenomenon that has since captured the imagination of several generations. STAR WARS – including all the sequels/prequels - has become one the highest-grossing movies of all time. more ELDERSHIP - Vivian Hoskins - 1 Peter 5 - 4/5/2008 ELDERSHIP - Vivian Hoskins 4/5/2008 Today, I would like to talk to you about Eldership • Eldership! That role, position or quality that causes us to become an Elder in the church • The term “elder” is far less commonly used within the Anglican communion than in many other denominations…. • In the Old Testament an elder was one who had authority in the ch...more BEING HOLY - I Peter 2:13-25 - 6/4/2008 BEING HOLY - Rev Alan Shaw 6/4/2008 We often hear the expression: holy church. Or: that we are to be a holy people. Or that we are to live holy lives. • In today’s NT reading Peter states emphatically: • Just as God who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” • But what does it mean to be “holy”? ...more |
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