Merri Creek Anglican

Having remembered Jesus Christ’ resurrection, Flyck Clift looks at what the resurrected life looks like for Christians today. In understanding our position in relation to God and knowing the benefits of such a position we are free to explore a life of good works. Through good works we realise the fullness of our resurrected lives as God intended through Christ.

This Easter, in the climate of grief over the continuing revelation of abuses against women, we are reminded by Patrick Senn of God's wisdom displayed in Jesus’ resurrection. At the resurrection God shows his love for women, and through women to everyone, by making them the heralds of his extraordinary news.: Jesus has been raised to new life. and has overcome the power of evil. Jesus' resurrection stands in history, not as a quick fix to our problems, but as the source of our lasting hope in this life and for life to come.

This Good Friday, 2021, Beck Miller encourages us to think of the story of Jesus Christ’s death - not as a tragedy but as a great love story, which we are each invited to step into.

Peter preaches on one of the trickier passages of 1 Corinthians looking at excommunication and how the church is to respond to immorality among its members. Does the church respond to immorality within it by excommunicating immoral Christians, just like when a child is sent to ‘time-out’? Peter discusses how the church is to pursue holiness, and points to Jesus Christ's excommunication on our behalf.

In this sermon Peter asks two important questions: Who is watching your behaviour, and Whose virtue are you signalling? When people look at you do they see a virtuous life which imitates the cross-shaped life of Christ? 1 Corinthians tells us that we learn to imitate Christ by imitating the apostles who live out gospel power through imitating Christ in humility and self-sacrifice.

Today, in the 1 Corinthian series, Peter continues to teach about true Christian spirituality as presented by the apostle Paul. Here, Paul is using the example of good ministry leaders to encourage the church towards maturity. Just as good ministry leaders will be servants, will build using imperishable materials, and will have Jesus as their judge, so too will the mature Christian seek to follow Jesus' example as servant leader.

Continuing the 1 Corinthians series, Peter talks about how to be wise, how to be spiritual, how to be smart. If we are to learn something from the Corinthians it is that, instead of getting ahead of ourselves, we should build our spiritual practices on the one true God. It is in God that authentic wisdom, spirituality and spiritual knowledge are found, and these are generously given by God to those who humbly accept ity.

In this sermon Peter sets out to persuade us to pursue God’s wisdom rather than worldly wisdom. This persuasion comes in the form of an invitation to foolishness: to accept a foolish message, to live a foolish life, and to listen to a foolish teacher. The benefit of doing so is that as we stand in awe of God’s wisdom – displayed in Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection – we are choosing life and goodness and the love of God.

Peter introduces us to a new sermon series in 1 Corinthians. In this letter to a messed up church we are told that God’s grace, while not cheap, is not dependent on our behaviour but on our relationship to Jesus Christ. Through Jesus God’s grace is available to messed up churches and messed up individuals. No matter how we struggle in life God is powerful to work in our lives.

In continuing the sermon series on the kingdom parables Tom French explains how a gift can be free & still have a cost. The Kingdom of Heaven is free for all but this does not mean that gaining the kingdom is without cost to us. In these parables Jesus asks us: do we recognize the value of his kingdom, the cost of following him, and the joy of gaining Christ as our brother?

[Peter Carolane] Kingdom Parables: The Mustard Seed & the Yeast (Matt 13:21-25) 17.01.21 by Merri Creek Anglican

In this sermon, Flyck Clift looks at how the fiery judgment presented in the parable of the Weeds is truly encouraging, both for people inside and outside the church. Absolute judgment at the end of the ages testifies to God’s patience & justice, encourages us to be non-judgmental now, calls people to the anti-evil act of bearing good fruit, and offers assurance that Jesus is the perfectly worthy & loving judge.

Beck Miller kicks off 2021 & a sermon series on the Kingdom parables with the parable of the Sower. The kingdom parables invite us to examine our hearts in order to see how our agenda aligns with God’s agenda. Beck reminds us that God’s way of sowing into the kingdom is to scatter wide, knowing that not all seed will grow to fruit. & Even with apparent good growth, society requires the word and grace of Jesus Christ for true & lasting transformation to occur.

In this advent sermon Peter continues looking at joy in the Christian life. Looking at Mary’s song in Luke we learn that joy comes through knowing that God has saved us from the consequences of our own hurtful actions through the forgiveness brought by Jesus. Reflecting on God’s marvelous acts leads to rejoicing in our Creator and Savior.

In this first sermon in this new series on joy, Flyck looks at how life with God enables a unique experience of joy. Life with God gives us a unique understanding of where joy can be found through securing our identity in Christ, connecting us humbly to community, and through giving us clear perspective on where meaning, beauty and goodness in life can be found.

In this sermon Peter looks at discipleship, encouraging us to give our best to Jesus. Peter looks at two extremes, the selfless devotion of one woman and self-righteousness and religious selfishness, and challenges us to think about how extravagant our devotion to Jesus is, and also to consider how we respond to the extravagant devotion shown by others.

Beck Miller preaches about the phenomenal sign in John 11 - the raising of Lazarus - & about letting Jesus be the hero of our story. Is Jesus heroic? Well, he is powerful to give life, he is compassionate - weeping with Mary even though he can see the good he is going to do - and he acts even though it leads to his own persecution and death. Do you think these are heroic qualities?

Peter looks at a very familiar image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In particular, Peter looks at the mission of the good shepherd to die, to defeat death and to create the church. Such a mission makes the good shepherd beautiful and noble and promotes confidence to listen to his voice.

In this sermon Flyck Clift looks at the works of God displayed in a blind man who receives sight. This account from John 9 shows that God's works are inclusive, empowering, truth-telling, worship-inspiring, and centred on Jesus Christ.

Tom French relaunches our epic John series, looking at the truth that will set us free. As Tom looks at the idea of truth that sets us free he asks a crucial question: Will we allow who Jesus is to inform who we are or will we let our view of ourselves define who we think Jesus is?