Conveniently Paul's sign-off to the Romans in Ch 16 holds a number of the themes I wanted to leave in the minds of those at MVC as I close my time with this amazing crew of faithful people.

John Baptist

Dec 15th, 2014 26m 4s

Perhaps the clearest indicator of the cryptic nature of John's 'preparation' and Jesus' arrival on the scene is the fact that the very people who were looking for the Messiah ostensibly missed it all together.World shaking change agent flies u

Preparing the Way

Dec 8th, 2014 29m 17s

'Preparation' has a long history in the scriptures. Change occurs incrementally and slowly until the critical tipping point when we notice the more significant shift. John Baptist functions almost as a type of agent provocateur!

Apocalypse

Dec 1st, 2014 31m 47s

We fear apocalypse because the familiar is shaken beyond recognition. But the joy of apocalypse is the uncovering of the true reality... and it is that the Kingdom of God is prevailing.

Judgement and the false narrative.

Nov 24th, 2014 25m 46s

The chilling part of the story of the sheep and the goats is the complete lack of awareness that both groups had regarding what they were being judged on. Have we fallen for our own propaganda?

Parable of the Talents

Nov 16th, 2014 16m 45s

Not the theological underpinning for global capitalism... rather the reality of how we enter more fully into life... or avoid that!

10 Young Women

Nov 10th, 2014 21m 27s

This story functions as a diagnostic indicating that it is our actions that reveal our values/faith and expose the pretence of our supposed beliefs.

The violence of not knowing what you know

Oct 5th, 2014 27m 24s

This folksy little story of Jesus' confronts us with the reality of our violence in hiding unpalatable stuff we already know away from our consciousness...

Vineyard and the workers

Sep 21st, 2014 57m 23s

How do we value people? What is fair? Why does Jesus mess with our systems so dramatically when he tells his little stories?

Faith and Conscience

Sep 16th, 2014 16m 59s

What does weak faith look like?What about strong faith?How do we know?Does it actually matter?

Others

Sep 8th, 2014 33m 46s

Jesus' comments about discipline and prayer in Matt 18 assume the relational networks of which we are part. What does healthy discipline look like? How do we 'agree' in prayer?

Overcome evil

Sep 1st, 2014 32m 45s

The first step to overcoming evil with Good is to see the evil that we seek to overcome. The first place to look is our own life - the main place over which we have jurisdiction and can effectively deliver change.

Living Sacrifice

Aug 25th, 2014 22m 39s

A living sacrifice is kinda grotesque if you think about it for a moment. What does Paul mean when he calls his readers to offer themselves in this manner. Maybe we have misconstrued the nature of sacrifice altogether?! This is the beginning of

Appreciating our adoption

Aug 7th, 2014 19m 9s

It is easy to misconstrue the nature of relationship with God...

Intimacy of the spirit

Jul 27th, 2014 22m 32s

When it comes to being intimate we have to come to terms with our vulnerability. The spirit comes alongside in our weakness and holds us when we cannot make sense...

Psalm 139 - Intimacy... Fear of intimacy... and love

Jul 21st, 2014 30m 47s

Good psalm. Good material for getting to know one another...

A new way

Jul 13th, 2014 36m 7s

That which the law could not achieve (weakened as it was by the flesh) Christ Jesus has brought about. So do I have a part in this or is it more akin to being German and 'winning the world cup'? (most Germans actually had nothing to do with the

I do that which I do not want to

Jul 7th, 2014 34m

Romans 7 has engendered a lot of discussion over the centuries. Was Paul speaking about his life before meeting the resurrected Jesus? Is this not a universal human experience (whether Christian or not)? What causes the disconnect that Paul nam

Kingdom Rewards

Jun 29th, 2014 38m 56s

Are we coterminous with Jesus?!What reward do the prophets and the Righteous get anyway?!And what is the current going rate for a cup of cold water on the Kingdom exchange?!Some of these questions may be asked (but not necessarily answered)

The Great Commission

Jun 15th, 2014 35m 40s

Otherwise referred to as the 'Great Omission' when used by some as the great evangelical guilt trip. Yet in this brief passage there is enormous awareness of, and grace toward, our frailty as believers and Jesus' clarion call to live in respons

A Strange Glory - John 17:1-11

Jun 1st, 2014 38m

Jesus' so-called 'High Priestly Prayer' sounds lofty and removed from normal daily life. It can be a bit confusing with references to this person being in that person and lots of 'oneness' going on. Yet, it is not as high-falooting as it may f

The Way, the Truth and the Life

May 18th, 2014 32m 2s

Another of John's Gospel 'I am' sayings. In my view this is a rich saying that has barely been explored. What I really love about this section of discourse is that it reveals just how prepared Jesus is in regard to his followers. Jesus certainl

The Gate

May 11th, 2014 31m 24s

When Jesus designates himself as the access point of the Kingdom was he really just claiming to have the access code to hand out to his friends? What if 'believing in Jesus' and 'following Jesus' means more than we have popularly imagined.Who

Resurrection Dawns slowly...

May 5th, 2014 30m 26s

The disciples on the road to Emmaus were at the first stage of the massive revelation of all that it meant that Jesus had lived, been crucified and risen. Their world would not be the same again!

Risen in Christ - Colossians 3:1-4

Apr 20th, 2014 30m 44s

What does it mean to be 'risen in Christ'? When we seek the 'things above' what are we talking about? Are these code words for events long past and behaviours that are now irrelevant?There is nothing more relevant for today...