City South Presbyterian

When we read New Testament letters we are reading other people's mail. They are very human pieces of correspondence. How do we see the difference between 'bring me my coat' and other parts of Paul's letters to Timothy? Could the 'human' parts of the letters be the key to understanding them and applying them to our situation?

How do we read the Old Testament as those who read it after Jesus, and especially as gentiles? Should we read the David and Goliath story identifying as David, or those who lined up behind Goliath who faced God's anointed king while cosplaying as a Serpent?

The Bible is literarily true; not simply 'literally true' — and its authors use conventions like genre not just to give texts meaning but so that they fulfil a purpose. We test this framework out on some apocalyptic texts.

We can treat the Bible like it's 2D words on a page, where our job is to pull the text apart and comprehend its meaning; or like it is in 4D; where it pulls us into a way of seeing and living in the world as those who are brought face to face with Jesus in his glory.

God's words are given to us through ancient people speaking and writing ancient languages that are translated (and interpreted) into English. They are true in timeless ways as they reveal the glory of Jesus to us and invite us to be transformed into his image and likeness. Remembering that they are ancient and entering the world 'of the text' — seeing how words are used throughout the...

The Bible is fully human, and fully divine and fulfilled in Jesus.

The Scriptures’re God-breathed — inspired — and they do speak to us — but, like Jesus, they are 'fully divine, and fully human' — incarnate in and through human authors and human processes for human audiences 'at various times', fulfilled in Jesus. We read the Bible best when we remember this humanity, as well as this divinity.

All Scripture is God Breathed — and is 'inspired' in order to breath life into God's people. We read the Bible according to its design when we read it as 'living and active' in order to become living and active humans inspired by God's Spirit.

We are vulnerable and honest about our own sin and brokenness, living and speaking the truth to one another in love, and welcoming to those not yet trusting Jesus.

Prayer is an expression of our new position — we are raised and seated with Jesus and have access to the Father in heaven as 'beloved' — the Lord's prayer answered. And prayer is a way we learn to live in this position and be those who want God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. So, as we gather we pray.

WWJD? Philippians 2 tells those of us who find life in the cross and who look forward to God exalting us with Jesus to 'have the same mindset' as Jesus and specifically, Jesus crucified.

Jesus ends the enmity between humans and God by ending the enmity between God's offspring and the serpent's with a crushing victory. This victory is won at the cross.

At the crucifixion Jesus is crowned and enthroned; revealing the nature of his kingdom. Due to some technical issues the Bible Reading and first two minutes of this sermon are not part of the recording.

This week we were joined by Dr Jonathan Cornford from Manna Gum to think through the way the church is a new economic community, and practical ways of holding material life in common because of our common life by God's Spirit.

The Bible tells a story, beginning with Cain, of innocent blood poured into the earth by violent empires crying out for justice; and of lifeblood given to cleanse or atone. The cross brings these two threads together.

In John's Gospel, Jesus is introduced as the "lamb who takes away the sin of the world" and his death is presented with links to the Binding of Isaac and to the Passover. Here we explore how Jesus brings the mosaic of lamb images in the Old Testament together to invite us to feast on him and be saved as God provides a lamb for us.

At the Cross Jesus is experiencing the 'sign of Jonah' going into the belly of the earth; and functioning like both goats on the day of atonement — heading into exile — where we are — to defeat the monsters who hold us — sin, death, curse and Satan — and bring us home to God.

At the Cross the Son turns his face to the Father — who does not turn his face away — as the Triune God turns towards us. At the Cross Jesus, the Image of God, reveals the nature of the Father as we are invited to be reconciled to God.

The author of life planned for the cross to be the pivotal moment in human history; orchestrating events in a way that should produce awe and wonder in us, and that invites us to have the author of life write the cross into our stories.

We are revisiting our mission to be a church who are "a meeting place between Jesus and the world. We want to be a community living in God’s presence and so carrying his presence to the world. We long to see our city and world transformed by Jesus as his good news changes both sinful individual lives and unjust systems." And our vision to be a community who "meets together as a tast...

We are revisiting our mission to be a church who are "a meeting place between Jesus and the world. We want to be a community living in God’s presence and so carrying his presence to the world. We long to see our city and world transformed by Jesus as his good news changes both sinful individual lives and unjust systems." And our vision to be a community who "meets the living, Triune...

We are revisiting our mission, to be "a meeting place between Jesus and the world. We want to be a community living in God’spresence and so carrying his presence to the world. We long to see our city and world transformed by Jesus as his good news changes both sinful individual lives and unjust systems." And our vision to "a community who Meets Jesus in his word, with each other, to...

God's people are called out of violent empires who live for pride and use violence to accumulate wealth— to join those who mourn — and to become a kingdom of priests who follow the lamb who was slain who gathers a people of every tribe, tongue, and nation around the throne of heaven.

Nathan and Caitlin explore how Paul's self-presentation as a suffering fool echoes the Old Testament prophets and serves as a model for us.

Paul compares his example — he embodies the message of the cross — with the super apostles to demolish their false Gospel.