Disciples Church Sermons

Christian ministry requires several things: teaching the truths of the Gospel about Jesus, handling difficult people who oppose these truths, and following Jesus in your own life so that you are living what you are proclaiming. These are the hard yards of ministry, and Paul instruct Timothy to work hard at it.

Jesus commissioned His Church to make disciples, yet most churches in Australia are declining in numbers or growing by only small increments. Could it be that we've lost an emphasis on discipleship? Paul tells Timothy that you not only have to preach the Gospel, but you have to teach it as well.

Have you ever been reluctant to share your faith with someone, or even to be known as a Christian? At the beginning of his second letter to Timothy, Paul urges his younger colleague to trust in the Lord by not being ashamed of telling others about Jesus, even if it risks suffering and persecution.

Jesus said, "Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be." 1 Timothy 6 speaks to the rich and to the poor about their attitude to money. Ultimately, our attitude to money reflects the attitude of our hearts.

How should church leaders - the Elders - be treated? When they do well, and when they don't? The integrity with which we deal with the Elder leaders of churches will have a direct impact on the cause of the Gospel. So, Paul commands Timothy to guard the gospel with integrity by choosing godly leaders and ensuring they are encouraged to live Gospel-centered lives.

If we're following Jesus, this should effect how we treat people and how we care for people, particularly those most vulnerable. In this passage from Paul's first Letter to Timothy, he gives instruction for how to treat people of different ages, and he also gives a challenging command for families to take care of relatives who are in physical need.

The Gospel loses its effectiveness when those preaching and teaching it are not also living it. Paul instructed Timothy to lead by example - to live the Gospel - and be an encouragement to the Church. Like physical training, growing in our spiritual walk takes commitment, dedication and personal discipline, but the rewards are a blessing in this life, and also the life to come.

NB: There was a technical difficulty in the recording of this sermon at our gathering, so this talk by Pastor Greg Gardiner was recorded afterwards.

How should we do things when we gather together for worship? Chapter 2 of Paul's first letter to Timothy addresses issues such as praying together, how women should dress, and who should teach. Pastor Anthony Sligar unpacks this sometimes controversial chapter of God's Word and helps us understand God's vision for corporate worship.

If the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is not at the centre of your understanding of the Gospel, then it's a false gospel. Church leaders need to protect their congregations from false teachers - they must shepherd the flock by removing the wolves who don't understand the Gospel and seek to lead people astray with their false teaching.

In this final sermon of the Faith Foundations series we find that living a life transformed by the Gospel drives us to boast only in Jesus.

When you become a Christian you are accepted by God on the basis of what Jesus has done for you in His life, death and resurrection. But it doesn't mean you become a perfect person instantly. Over time, as you identify and repent of sins, and as your knowledge of God's Word grows, you more and more reflect God's love and holiness in your life. Romans 14 encourages mature Christians to help new Chr...

We Australians are a pretty cynical bunch, especially when it comes to governments. We love to criticise politicians and complain about government rules and regulations. Romans 13 challenges us to transform our thinking about governing authorities. Instead of cynicism, we should be grateful for government, and we should submit to its laws and regulations... but it's not a call to blind obedience.

So... now that Paul has covered the key aspects of Christian belief (in the first 11 chapters of Romans), he now moves on to key aspects of how you should live as a Christian. This involves transforming our behaviour by renewing how we think, so that our thinking reflects biblical truths.

This sermon is about discipleship. Pastor Dave Cunningham from Christ Community Church Brisbane encourages the Core Group of Disciples Church Springfield to embrace one-to-one discipleship as a means of developing mature and equipped believers.

Does the Christian Gospel mean that Israel has lost its special relationship with God? In this sermon from Romans 11, Pastor Greg Gardiner explains that the answer to that question depends on what you mean by Israel - "ethnic" Israel or "spiritual" Israel? Like Gentiles, the Gospel is effective for the salvation of Jews, but (again, also like Gentiles) not all Jews will be saved. The fact that any...

This Bible passage is not really about how physically attractive your feet might be! Its a reference to an old saying that a person who brings you a message of good news has "beautiful feet." In other words, when someone brings you news of something good, you are usually grateful to the person for sharing it. Seems odd, then, that many Christians feel awkward about sharing the Good News of the Gos...

So, do we choose God, or does God choose us? Often, the Bible refers to God's people as His chosen ones, yet it seems unfair that God would choose some and not others. This sermon is part 2 of a 2 part examination of Romans 9, and in particular, the doctrine of predestination. We recommend watching Part 1 first!

Question, do we choose God, or does God choose us? Often, the Bible refers to God's people as His chosen ones, yet it seems unfair that God would choose some and not others. This sermon is part 1 of a 2 part examination of Romans 9, and in particular, the doctrine of predestination.

This is sermon 3 of a four part series on how four key attributes of God should mean we live out the Gospel in trust, confidence, obedience and joy. This sermon reminds us that God is Good, therefore we don't have to look elsewhere to be satisfied.

Sermon 1 of a four part series on how four key attributes of God should mean we live out the Gospel in trust, confidence, obedience and joy. This sermon reminds us that the Bible declares that God is Great, therefore we can rest in His control of all things.

When God gave Jesus to be the means of our salvation, He gave His most precious possession. This act of God's love demands us to see His love, not by our life circumstances, but as God's demonstration that He will withhold nothing, not even His own Son, for our redemption.

As Christians, we are not immune from the pain and suffering of living in this fallen (sinful) world. Through faith in the cross work of Christ, we are immune from the eternal consequences of sin. Getting some perspective on the suffering and pain we may endure in life is achieved by keeping focus on the glory we will share with Christ in eternity

In Romans chapters 7 and 8, Paul contrasts a life controlled by the sinful nature with a life controlled by the Holy Spirit. The Christian life should display ongoing transformation and change.

When a person becomes a Christian it means that there should be some changes in their life. Romans 6 teaches us that instead of being slaves to sin, a Christian should become a slave to righteousness. This is sanctification, and it involves our choosing to live as God wants us to live - following Jesus.