Interior of the Santa Maria Goretti Church, Mormanno, southern Italy, completed in 2021. The New Testament consistently teaches that the church, the “body of Christ,” exists because of the gracious initiative of God. The Father sent the Son into the world to announce the coming of God’s kingdom and to accomplish redemption; the Son sent …
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, “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 …
All Told 