John Hebenton's Podcast

This is John's sermon from the 9th July. In it John explores Paul’s letter to the Romans by looking at the summary in Romans 1: 16-17. Using this he teases out what the God’s righteousness looks like, what faith looks like and what the Gospel of God might be. In response he invites people to reflect on what stories define their lives, and how the gospel of God might change all that for them.

John offers an introduction to St. Paul, the radical, and the letter attributed to him by way of preparing to spend the next few weeks looking at Paul's great letter to the churches in Rome

John invites people to explore what harvest festival is about, both in terms of giving thanks, acknowledging God's generosity, and at Matariki, linking it with climate change and land and water degradation. John then invites people to reflect on what it is the are giving thanks for, and to be inspired to generously offer more of themselves

Bishop Andrew joined us for Trinity Sunday and to confirm two of our people. Here is his very short sermon

John explores the symbolism around the telling of Pentecost and what that offers us in our understanding and living of the Pentecost storyJohn teaches that the Spirit is the one to be trusted – not understood. When we trust and live the Spirit then we find life, then Spirit of Jesus offers life through us.– what do we trust the Spirit to do? -do we recognise the extraordinary acts of the spirit in...

John explores some of the dangers with the Ascension, but goes on to suggest that it offers us the other side of the incarnation. He invites those listening to pray the gift of ascension, "God is us, us in God."

The gift of the Spirit is that the glory of God resides in each one of us, that all may be drawn into the way of God – the way of compassion, generosity, justice and love. John invites people to reflect on this awesome gift, and awesome responsibility.

John wonders what do Jesus words in John 14:1-14 offered to the disciples in depths of grief and impending hopelessness offer us? It is Easter – what is that aboutwhat might Jesus being “the way, the truth and life” mean for us in this seasonwhat does it mean to be a people who live the way the truth and the life

John explores what abundant life is for us, and in light of the healing of the blind man and Jesus use of the Good Shepherd Tradition

Using the story of Jesus and the two disciples on their walk to Emmaus, John asks what are our stories of the Battle of Gate Pa or WWI/WWII etc?, and where is resurrection in these stories, or where do we see resurrection in light of these stories?

A poetic reflection on the Easter story. Where have we seen the Lord? How are we resurrected now?

John offers some thoughts on what shapes his approach to preaching, and why he is not preaching this Palm Sunday. He then offers another way of engaging with this story with some questions

What is this whole Jesus dying for our sins thing about? John uses the story of the raising of Lazarus and the work of NT Wright to suggest that it is not about appeasing an angry God and getting into heaven. Resurrection is about now, not just the future. And it is about the renewal of this creation, not heaven. It is linked with repentance. So what does resurrection look like?

John suggests that this gospel reading (John 9) needs to be read with the rest of John. In light of that, lets wonder where we stand in this story. What does it mean for us to have placed in our eyes the light of Christ?-what would we see differently-who would we see differently-how would we live differently

John compares Nicodemus, part of the in-group and yet unable to get it, with the unnamed Samaritan women, not even part of the out-group, who gets it enough to be a “reaper”. In what ways are we reapers?

Wendy helps us explore the first story of Nicodemus in John 4, and reminds us that in God we are met by love

Jesus spent 40 days determining what it meant to be “Son of God” and how he would live that out – what values he would live out, how others would see him, what his legacy would be. He invites us this lent to do the same – what does it mean for us to be “Sons and Daughters of God – followers of Jesus the Beloved”?

What do we live for? What is it all about? What distracts us from being perfect? What would our parish and diocesan reports look like if they were all about how we live out God's compassion, generosity, justice and love?

John explores Matthew 5:48 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – what does it mean to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect? He talks about how this is not about being flawless but about living the Sermon on the Mount and suggests that this provides our agenda for Lent

For AAW Sunday, Wendy Showan uses the film "The Kings Speech" to explore the nature of our voice

John explores Candlemas and the next part of the Sermon of the Mount using work done by NT Wright looking at righteousness as being image bearers.

Bonnie Hebenton uses the wonder of seeds to epxlore the story of the call of the first disciples, and invites us, like them, to think of ourselves as seeds created to spread the kingdom of God

A reflection on Christmas used at our midnight service.

John surveys the Christmas story in Matthew and Luke, looks at why they are so different, and explores the use of Isaiah 7 - “God with us” by Matthew– what did it mean and what does it mean for us. This week our theme is love. During this week I invite you to take time at the end of each day to give thanks for ways God with us has both brought love into your day; and through you brought love into...

John talks about how Isaiah is important, and we need to hear him on his terms so that we can hear what Jesus was on about. We need to stop layering Christianity all over him and silencing his voice. During this week you are invited to take time at the end of each day to give thanks for ways God has both brought joy into your day; and through you brought joy into the lives of others.; and to refle...