Figtree Anglican Church Podcast

In this sermon, Shane Dirks calls the congregation to begin the new season with renewed trust in God and a clear focus on following Jesus. Drawing on Scripture, the message highlights God’s faithfulness, the assurance believers have in Christ, and the importance of living with purpose and obedience. Shane encourages listeners to reflect on their priorities, to rely on God’s grace rather than self-...

In this week's sermon, Ruth Smith encourages the congregation to reflect on what it means to live faithfully as followers of Jesus in everyday life. Drawing on Scripture, the message explores God’s character, His care for His people, and the way Christian faith shapes relationships, priorities, and responses to life’s challenges. Ruth highlights the importance of trust, obedience, and dependence o...

In this week’s sermon, Peter Lenehan reflects on the significance of Jesus Christ and the implications of His life, death, and resurrection for everyday Christian living. Drawing from Scripture, the message highlights God’s faithfulness, the centrality of Christ in God’s purposes, and the call for believers to respond with trust, obedience, and perseverance. Peter encourages the church to consider...

In this sermon, Shane Dirks encourages the church to reflect on the hope, faith, and assurance found in Jesus Christ. Drawing on Scripture, the message points listeners to God’s faithfulness, the certainty of His promises, and the way Christian hope shapes how believers live in the present. Shane highlights how trusting God’s character anchors believers through uncertainty and calls the church to...

In this sermon, Langdon Stewart explores how Christians can trust God in times of deep suffering and uncertainty, drawing from Job 38–41 and Colossians 1:15–23. By reflecting on God’s response to Job, the message highlights God as creator, sustainer, governor, carer, sovereign, and relational. The sermon then connects these truths to Jesus Christ, showing that the fullness of God revealed in Job i...

In this sermon, Peter Lenehan reflects on the overwhelming greatness and supremacy of Jesus Christ, drawing from Job 38 and Colossians 1:15–23. By contrasting the vastness of creation with human smallness, Peter invites listeners to recover a biblical sense of awe before God. He explains that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the supreme ruler over all creation, the one through whom and for...

In this sermon, Robin Kinstead continues the Thanksgiving for Jesus the Messiah series by focusing on the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) as described in Leviticus 23:15–22, and its fulfilment through the giving of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. He explains how the Feast of Weeks marked the completion of the harvest and was a celebration of God’s provision, generosity, and faithfulness. Robin shows how thi...

In this week's sermon on Leviticus 23:9–14 and 1 Corinthians 15:13–28, Robin Kinstead continues the Thanksgiving for Jesus the Messiah series by teaching on the Feast of First Fruits and its fulfilment in the resurrection of Jesus. He explains how Israel offered their very first sheaf of grain to the Lord as an act of trust, gratitude, and anticipation of the full harvest to come, and shows how th...

In this sermon, Robin Kinstead explores the Feast of Unleavened Bread in Leviticus 23 and its fulfilment in Jesus Christ, connecting Israel’s removal of leaven to the Christian call to holy living. Through Scripture—including 1 Corinthians 5—Robin explains how leaven symbolises sin’s corrupting power and how Jesus, our Passover Lamb, not only died and rose again but was buried so our sin might be...

In this sermon on Leviticus 23:4–5 and Luke 22:7–20, Robin Kinstead continues the Thanksgiving for Jesus the Messiah series by exploring the meaning of Passover and redemption. He traces the original Passover event in Exodus 12, where God rescued Israel from slavery through the blood of a spotless lamb, and shows how this rescue anticipates the greater salvation Jesus accomplishes as the true Pass...

In this opening message from the Thanksgiving for Jesus the Messiah series, Robin Kinstead begins with Leviticus 23:1–3 and Mark 2:23–28, exploring God’s design for Sabbath rest. He explains that the Sabbath is not a burden but a gracious gift from God—an invitation to rest, rejoice, and remember His goodness. Robin traces the rhythm of work and rest from creation to Christ, showing that Jesus is...

In this deeply moving sermon from 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11 and Isaiah 65:17–25, Shane Dirks concludes the Effective Church series by focusing on the theme: The Effective Church Has Hope in Death and Lives in Light of Eternity. Speaking from personal experience and biblical truth, Shane reflects on the grief of losing his son while proclaiming the certain hope found in Christ’s resurrection. He re...

In this sermon from Proverbs 18:24; 22:24–25; 27:17 and John 15:9–17, Ruth Smith explores the question “What does God have to do with my relationships?” She reminds us that we are created by a relational God/Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and that our need for relationships reflects His image in us. Focusing particularly on friendship, Ruth shows from Scripture that true friendship is marked by love...

In this sermon from 1 Thessalonians 4:1–12 and Micah 6:6–8, Langdon Stewart continues the Effective Church series, exploring how followers of Jesus are called to live lives that please God through holiness and brotherly love. He explains that holiness means being set apart for God and continually growing in sanctification — learning self-control and resisting the sexual immorality that damages rel...

In this sermon from Psalm 95, Isaiah 29:13–14, and Romans 12:1–2, Ruth Smith explores what it truly means to worship God. She explains that worship is not limited to singing on Sundays—it is a response of the whole life to the greatness and goodness of God. Drawing from Scripture, Ruth reminds us that every person worships something, but only God is worthy of our highest love and devotion. She emp...

In this sermon from Job 2:1–13 and 1 Thessalonians 2–3, Shane Dirks continues the Effective Church series by exploring what it means to be a church that shows up for one another. He contrasts Paul’s reports on his missionary work and the Thessalonian church, showing their shared alignment in word ministry, demonstrable change, and presence. Shane highlights that the gospel is not just spoken but l...

In this sermon titled What’s God Got to Do with My Mental Health?, Peter Lenehan addresses the complex relationship between faith and mental well-being, drawing from Job 6:14–27 and 2 Corinthians 1:1–11. Acknowledging Australia’s growing mental health crisis, Peter emphasises that while the Bible doesn’t use modern psychological terms, it speaks deeply to human experiences of despair, fear, and an...

In this sermon from Luke 10:25–37, Micah 6:6–8, and James 2:14–26, Peter Lenehan explores the question, “What has God got to do with social justice?” Through the parable of the Good Samaritan, Peter shows that Jesus commands his followers to “go and do likewise” — to act with compassion and mercy toward those in need. Drawing on biblical examples from Leviticus 19, Amos 2, and the early church in...

In this sermon from Acts 17:1–9 and 1 Thessalonians 2:1–20, Robin Kinstead continues the Effective Church series by exploring what it means to be a church that perseveres with jealousy for Jesus. Using Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica as an example, Robin highlights how the gospel both transforms lives and provokes opposition. He contrasts Paul’s pure motives—preaching not to please people but to h...

In this sermon, Forever Family, Robin Kinstead concludes the series on Romans by highlighting Paul’s vision of God’s people as one eternal family united in Christ. Drawing from Romans 15–16, he shows how believers—whether Jew or Gentile, male or female, rich or poor—are brought together by the gospel into God’s “forever family.” Robin emphasizes that this unity is not based on culture, background,...

In this sermon, Robin Kinstead concludes the Devoted series by exploring what it means to have flourishing families centred on Jesus. Drawing from Genesis 1–2 and Ephesians 5, he reflects on how sin fractures families and communities, but also how Christ restores us into God’s forever family. Robin addresses the challenges of fragmentation in society—such as inequality, polarisation, and isolation...

In this sermon from Deuteronomy 6:1–9, Matthew 18:1–6, and Psalm 139, Ruth Smith explores God’s heart for children and the lessons they teach us about faith. She reminds us that children are known and planned by God, treasured as his gift (Psalm 139:13–16; Psalm 127:3), and entrusted to parents and the wider church to be raised in the knowledge and love of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:6–9). Ruth highli...

In this sermon titled Cherished Children, Steve Dinning explores what it means to value children in light of God’s Word. Drawing from Deuteronomy 6:1–9, Matthew 18:1–6, and Matthew 19:13–15, he highlights the biblical call to raise children in the knowledge and love of God, while also learning from their humility and vulnerability. Steve reminds us that true greatness in the kingdom of God is foun...

In this sermon from Mark 15:22–39, Mark 16:1–7, and Ephesians 2:1–10, Ruth Smith unpacks the biggest question anyone can ask: What does God have to do with my life? She explains the reality of sin—that we are all spiritually dead and deserving of God’s judgment—but also the incredible hope of the gospel: that God, in his great love, makes us alive in Christ by grace through faith. Using clear illu...

In this sermon from 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10 and Isaiah 12, Peter Lenehan launches a new series on what makes a church effective. He shows how the Thessalonian believers were known everywhere because the Lord’s message rang out from them, not for their own reputation but for God’s glory. An effective church, Peter explains, has its foundation in God (v.1), engages in work produced by faith, labor pr...