The power of repentance

A sermon by Rod Benson Jonah 3:1-10 No sooner have Jonah’s wrinkled, fishy hands gripped the coarse sand of a Jewish beach, than he hears the now familiar voice of God once more. It is the same message, the same words – a message previously disregarded, presenting a challenge previously disobeyed: “Go to the great …

Salvation belongs to the Lord

A sermon by Rod Benson Jonah 2:1-10 Are you feeling tired this morning? Weary? Stretched? Are you carrying heavy burdens of responsibility, or injustice, or pain, or uncertainty? Is your soul in need of rest this morning? Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take …

I believe in miracles!

A sermon by Rod Benson When I typed the title of today’s sermon into an internet search engine, the first link that appeared was the Hot Chocolate song, “You sexy thing,” which played as the recessional for our wedding in January (2017). The first line goes, “I believe in miracles.” “Yes, I do!” (as I …

Man overboard!

A sermon by Rod Benson Jonah 1:4-16 Can you imagine what it must feel like to be “on the run”? Countless novels and movies celebrate the terror – and the glamour – of being on the run from the law, or from the lawless. How much more terrifying, unnerving and depressing it must have been …

Man on the run

A sermon by Rod Benson When we face a course of action that is possible, or even compelling, but at the same time unpalatable or undesirable for personal reasons – cost, taste, reputation, or such like – we tend to react and step back, and hope the moment will pass. Or we reinterpret the situation, trying …