The Extras

We've started our new sermon series at St Paul's on the book of Ecclesiastes! Join Candy and Raj as they tackle your questions from our first week of sermon on Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 & 12:9-14.

In Genesis 42-45 we come to the dramatic climax of the Joseph story with its beautiful picture of forgiveness and reconciliation. Join Jack and Peter as they tackle your questions, including: - Joseph sees that God used his suffering for good; does that necessarily mean that our suffering will be for good? - Joseph seems to forgive his brothers after he has been exalted and after his brothers show...

Join Jack and Peter as they keep the dream alive, working through your questions from Genesis 39-41, including: - What does "providence" mean? - Does God still use dreams to reveal the future to people? - What does suffering teach us that the highs of life can't?

We've started a new series at St Paul's looking to finish off the book of Genesis which we've been working our way through since 2018. As we get into Genesis 37-50 to consider God's "Promises and Providence," join Jack and Peter as they tackle your questions about Genesis 37, including: - What were Reuben and Judah's motives in trying to save Joseph from death? - Why did God reveal his plan so sub...

After an epic four years, we come to the end of Paul's epic letter to the Romans! Join Jack and Sam as they reflect on coming to the end of this series and tackle your questions about Romans 16, including: - Can't our secular work and the "work of the Lord" be one and the same thing? - How do we avoid burnout as we work continually for God's kingdom? - How do we hold these truths about Paul valuin...

In this week's Extras, as well as tackling your questions about Mark 2:1-12, Jack also quizzes Raj about what happened at the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia a few weeks ago. Questions include: - Why aren't more people amazed that Jesus knows what the teachers are thinking before they even say it? - Was it Jesus's main priority to heal or to preach? - What does it mean to "start...

Join Jack and Sam as they get stuck into your questions about love, law, and alcohol from Romans 13:8-14, including: - What do I tell my friend who feels like they give so much at church but don't get anything in return? - Do we need to get on with everyone at church? Or is it okay to not really like someone but still strive to love them as a brother or sister? - For the Christian, how do we work...

In this timely episode on the eve of Australia's federal election (God's plan, not ours!), join Jack and Sam as they wrestle through all things government and politics in light of your questions about Romans 13:1-7. Highlights include: How should Christians respond when authorities don't bring good order, but stir up division in society? Is protesting our government's actions a violation of "submi...

Join Jack and Rod on the podcast this week as they work through some fantastic questions on Romans 12:9-21, including: - How is it loving for us to seek to "heap burning coals" on our enemy's head (v. 19)? - How do we sincerely love each other in a large and growing church? - How can we be devoted to others in love if we ourselves are burning out? - What does it look like to overcome evil with goo...

As we kick off the Extras again after the holidays, this term we are working our way through the final section of the book of Romans, chapters 12-16. Join Jack and Sam as they get into your questions about Romans 12:3-8, including: Are Christians really given different "measures" of faith? What is the gift of prophecy and how does that play out in the church today? How do I think about my gifts wi...

Join Jack and Peter as they respond to your questions about Matthew 12, the sign of Jonah, and the wonderful, world-changing events of Easter, including: Were the people of Nineveh saved or not? Where did Jesus's spirit go when he died? Does God still do signs and wonders today? We also got stacks of questions about Raj's "under the hood" presentation, you can see a teaser-trailer for how we will...

This week we wrap up our series on Jonah before the podcast takes a break for a couple of weeks over the school holidays. Join Jack and Peter as we wrestle with questions like: Was it right for Jonah to be angry or not? What does it mean that the people of Nineveh did not know "their right hand from their left"? How do we find the strength to forgive people who wrong us?

Get stuck in to questions on Jonah 3 with Jack and Peter, including: How is it just for Jesus to die for my sins while I get off scot-free? If I know I'm going to keep being a sinner this side of heaven, how can I ever truly repent? How am I meant to repent of sinful thoughts which pop into my mind unbidden?

As we continue our journey into the depths with the book of Jonah, Peter and Jack get into your questions about Jonah chapter 2, including: Is the book of Jonah really history, or should we interpret it as a parable? Is "the place of the dead" the same thing as hell? Jesus said he would be "three days and three nights" in the earth, like Jonah in the fish - but he wasn't? What gives?

As we begin our new series on the Old Testament book of Jonah, join Peter and Jack as they get into your questions on Jonah 1, including: What's the deal with casting lots? Is making vows to God a good thing? How can we be satisfied with God's justice while injustice continues here on earth? Is it ever right to pray for us to pray for troubles to come upon people who don't know Jesus?

Join Jack and Rod as we wrap up a fantastic Vision Month! Questions include: What is the "great tribulation" of Revelation 7? Does longing for the future mean looking forward to death? Should those who are already giving sacrificially be called to give more?

This week we welcome Peter Baker on his Extras debut! Join him and Jack as we get into your questions about Genesis 12 and last Sunday, including: How do you define "blessing"? Why didn't God ask Abraham to stay in his homeland and make that place better? Is technology inevitably a curse?

This week, Raj and Jack respond to your fantastic questions about money, generosity, and giving. Highlights include: If Jesus says your right hand shouldn't know what your left hand is giving, then why are we asking people to indicate what they want to give? Can I still be a Christian if I'm not giving? Where does providing for our family fit in? Is it right for Christians to think about investing...

At the halfway point in our exciting vision month, Jack and Raj get into your questions related to Acts 6, including: - how does helping people in need propel the gospel forward? - how do I grow in passion for the gospel when I'm sapped of energy? - how can we at St Paul's do more to care for the needy?

Tune in as Jack and Raj tackle some of your questions about Jesus' Great Commission and Great Commandments, including: • How do you spell "sacrafically"? 😜 • Are our "hearts" different from our "minds"? • When Jesus tells us to go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them... is he talking about water baptism or spiritual baptism? Spoiler alert: Jack and Raj (respectfully!) disagree, tune...

Welcome back to the Extras for another season! This week, Jack and Raj get stuck into your questions about Matthew 28 and the Great Commission, including: • If Jesus only told the eleven to make disciples, does it really apply to us? • Are we each meant to make disciples individually or together as a team? • Do we need to "go" and make disciples or can we do it in our everyday routine? • How can w...

After the interview on Sunday, Jeff continues to share his story on living with Dystonia and how to keep trusting God amidst suffering

Our new pastor Rod debuts on the Extras with Sam! They answer questions from last week’s sermon on Romans 11, including: Does Romans imply hardening of anyone other than Israel? Doesn’t God getting all the glory seem selfish and self-centred? What is God's limit on how many will be saved? Does this mean that Gentiles (most of us) are lesser to God? Can you elaborate on what might it look like to b...

This week Sam and James tackle your questions from Romans 11:11-24, including: What does ‘greater riches’ mean in Romans 11:12? Was Cain the first case of a ‘hardened heart’ against God? Why was the hardening of Israel’s hearts necessary to spread the word to the Gentiles? How do we fear God? How do we make the Christian life enviable while being real about the struggles of life and faith? And mor...

Jack and Sam get stuck into your questions about Romans 10:14-11:10, including: 1. Do we really need to send people to proclaim the gospel? Can't God bring people to faith another way? 2. How is Paul not taking the Old Testament out of context in Romans 10:18? 3. If God does not harden hearts permanently, is predestination still valid theology? 4. How can we be more bold when sharing the gospel? A...