The end of history

[This is a transcript of a sermon on Revelation 21:1-6  preached by Rod Benson at Lithgow, Australia, in May 2018] When the Apostle John recorded the fantastic visions we encounter in the Book of Revelation, I believe he fully intended the words and images to be understood by ordinary readers in his own time. There …

The return of the King

[This is a transcript of a sermon on Revelation 19:11-16 preached by Rod Benson at Lithgow, Australia, in May 2018] How will the world end? Will it be by means of a global zombie plague, a catastrophic asteroid collision, nuclear war with China, or the effects of climate change? Fortunately, the last book in the …

What happens when I die?

A sermon by Rod Benson There are two certainties in life: birth and death. We celebrate birth, and while we also celebrate death through carefully crafted eulogies and respectful rituals, a death is usually an occasion for sadness and sympathy, reflection, condolences and hushed voices. Death is inevitable and unavoidable, but it is not a …

Things worth fighting for

A sermon by Rod Benson American poet and novelist Charles Bukowski once said, โ€œPeople are strange: They are constantly angered by trivial things, but on a major matter like totally wasting their lives, they hardly seem to notice.โ€ We might, in our weaker moments, be tempted to criticize the Apostle Paul for several apparent faults …