A sermon by Rod Benson What is the purpose of the church? What is its reason for being? Paul says in Ephesians 3:10-11, “[God’s] intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that …
Praying when church is boring
A sermon by Rod Benson Matthew 6:9-13 What do you do when church is boring? What do you do when participating in worship with others no longer satisfies? There are times when each of us grows bored or dissatisfied with the way things are. We may yearn for the good old days, and those old …
Things worth fighting for
A sermon by Rod Benson American poet and novelist Charles Bukowski once said, “People are strange: They are constantly angered by trivial things, but on a major matter like totally wasting their lives, they hardly seem to notice.” We might, in our weaker moments, be tempted to criticize the Apostle Paul for several apparent faults …
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 …
Living counter-culturally in the world
A sermon by Rod Benson, Perth, 21 September 2014 Matthew 3:1-3; 4:12-13, 17-19 Then Jesus took his disciples up a mountain and, gathering them unto himself, he taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are …