How to turn blame into blessing

Matthew 5:23-24 None of us likes to be blamed for things we did not do or say, especially if we are sure itโ€™s not true. And we donโ€™t like to be blamed for things we did say or do either! This is especially the case when the words or actions have resulted in hurt, or …

Taking the sting out of personal disagreements

A sermon by Rod Benson Matthew 7:1-5 โ€œYou hypocrite! First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brotherโ€™s eye.โ€ Some of us are so familiar with hearing these words of Jesus, recorded in Matthew 7:5, that the shock they presented to his …

The good side of personal conflict

A sermon by Rod Benson 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 At U2 concerts in the early 90s, a regular part of the show featured criticism of George H.W. Bush. In fact, front man Bono used to call the White House in the middle of the concert to try to get a chance to speak to the 41st …

The work of Mission Aviation Fellowship

During World War II, light aircraft were used to unleash unprecedented death and destruction. As the war drew to a close, Christian airforce pilots from Australia, New Zealand, England, America and South Africa all began to have the same thought:ย Why canโ€™t these aircraft now be used to bring life and hope during peace time? From …

The way of transformation

Statue of John Wesley by Paul Raphael Montford, Melbourne, Australia, 1935. A sermon by Rod Benson Psalm 1 When I was growing up in Papua New Guinea I attended a school where religious education was taught every Friday, and I remember a Swiss missionary, Mrs Jungen, who with her husband Erwin had been pioneer missionaries …