A sermon by Rod Benson 1 Timothy 2:8-15 The thing about pendulums is that they swing back and forth. The pendulum of business psychology and self-improvement appears to be swinging away from emphases like passion, competence and commitment, and toward qualities such as character, virtue and human values. A new book by David Brooks, The …
Sex, marriage and social change
A sermon by Rod Benson It’s fair to say that, around the world, marriage is in a mess. Many couples today cohabit for years before marrying, or never marry. Married people divorce, as I have done, and some go on to remarry. Same sex couples want to marry each other, and there is strong political …
Experiencing God’s mercy and grace
A sermon by Rod Benson 1 Timothy 1:12-19 They can put a man on the moon, but they can’t make solar cars. Or cure acne. Or invent the self-sorting sock drawer. Or make me lose weight by eating all the donuts. Or find a word that rhymes with orange. Or drive a road tunnel through …
The purpose of Christian preaching
A sermon by Rod Benson 1 Timothy 1:1-7 Some years ago in Brisbane, I shared a taxi with an Indian businessman. As the car pulled away from the kerb we introduced ourselves, and I said I was a pastor. He looked at me with a puzzled expression, unfamiliar with the term. Searching for a synonym, …
Stop the boat!
Matthew 8:18-22 When things are going well, life gives you crowds. Early in Jesus’ public ministry, crowds often accompanied him – out of curiosity, out of boredom, out of intrigue, out of a real thirst for knowledge or spirituality or change (e.g. Mt 5:1; 7:28; 8:1, 18). But as they discovered what it meant to …
