Inner West Sermons

Pete Greenwood was the guest preacher at Rock City Church Melbourne on Sunday August 8 2021. He preached on 'The Spirit of Peace' from John 14:15-31. Having the Holy Spirit means peace with God, peace in yourself and peace in the world. https://rockcitychurch.melbourne/

Only once does James use the word 'grace' in his letter. So when he does, we better pay attention! Grace for James ushers into the Christian heart a sense of humble awareness of the kind of life we ought to live.

Pete Greenwood helps us consider the two kinds of wisdom - worldly and heavenly - and why the former enslaves and the latter enriches.

In today's sermon from Jon Tran, we are remind of James' famous warning that the tongue can be a powerful and deadly weapon. Christians must clean up their speech, but that means first cleaning up our hearts, because we speak what our hearts are full of. Only God can do this, but what does it take?

Faith without works is dead. Works without faith are empty. But a living faith that flows out into all sorts of good works - that is a wonderful and precious thing! How do we get there? Pete Greenwood takes us through the nuanced wisdom of James to help us catch a vision for having a true faith that truly works.

Our human tendency is to favour those who will benefit us, while discriminating against those who do not. How can we identify, and reverse, this ugly trait? Jon Tran shows us the fierce wisdom of James, which challenges us to show mercy, while also revealing how the Gospel makes that possible.

Pete Greenwood preaches on the place of listening, doing and beholding, which work to bring about Christian maturity as we are led to behold and become more like Jesus.

Jon Tran unpacks the nature of desire - what it is, how sin corrupts and disorders it, and what it means to resist the temptation to desire some things more than God.

What does it mean to 'consider it joy' in the middle of trial? How is that the key to Christian maturity? Pete Greenwood unpacks all this and more as we begin our new series in the book of James.

Campbell Brice finishes the series with perhaps one of the rarest virtues of our age - the fruit of self-control. How can we learn to practice moderation over our impulses?

Pete Greenwood considers the fruit of gentleness which springs out of an inner attitude of humility and self-forgetfulness. Readings: Isaiah 42:1-4; 1 Corinthians 4:6-13

Does our culture have a faithfulness deficit? Is it a fantasy to expect that people are true to their word and say sorry when they let others down? Pete Greenwood considers all this and more as we look at the fruit of faithfulness from the story of David and Jonathan. Readings: 1 Samuel 18:1-4, 20:12-23; 2 Timothy 2:8-13

Campbell Brice explores the rather abstract-sounding idea of 'goodness'. What does it mean to be good and to bring good into the world? Passages: Genesis 1:31-2:1; 3:1-8; Luke 6:43-47

Guest preacher Ven. Canon Heather Patacca gives us an inside look into what biblical kindness is, its grounding in Christ, and what it looks like in everyday life. Passages: Ephesians 2:1-10 and Luke 6:32-36

Jerry Bridges describes impatience as a 'respectable sin' - a sin that is commonplace and yet largely undealt with by most Christians. Pete Greenwood helps us understand why impatience is inexcusable, while patience is essential and beautiful. Passages: Proverbs 19:11; Ephesians 4:1-16

Pete Greenwood talks about the often misunderstood concept of biblical peace. It is far deeper and richer than simply the absence of concept, but something that includes the whole of life being put to rights. Passages: Numbers 6:22-27 ; John 14:25-27; 16:33

Guest preacher Ps Nathan Oliver (The Church Next Door) helps us understand what joy is, how you can get it and how you can maintain it.

Jon Tran preaches on how the Spirit shows us that God is Love, how the Spirit makes us into a people of love, and how the Spirit energises our love. PASSAGES: Philippians 2:5-11 and Galatians 5:1-6, 5:13-26

Pete Greenwood introduces a new series on the fruit of the Spirit. We explore the question, "How can we change?", before seeing the way the Spirit brings about true change and the fruit this change bears in the life of the Christian.

An Easter Sunday message from Pete Greenwood.

A Good Friday message from Jon Tran.

Pete Greenwood explores what it takes to be a faithful witness - someone who stands up for their convictions about Jesus and justice.

As Jesus faces his accusers in a sham court, Jon Tran looks at how we ourselves put Jesus on trial, how he judges us and what kind of judge he is.

Jon Tran looks at the moment of Jesus' betrayal and arrest to help us consider how we might overcome moments of pressure, and resist the temptation towards self-deception, self-preservation and self-worship.

Suffering is a reality for all human beings, and one that remains a deep and disturbing puzzle. But Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane unlocks for us the secret to not only facing up to suffering, but enduring it. Pete Greenwood helps us consider this important truth.