MBM Rooty Hill / Bible Talks

When we don't like what God has to say, the temptation is to run. Jonah 1 shows us that running from God impacts more than just ourselves, but the God we run from is the same God who pursues us.

We all understand the effects of Adam’s failure. We see them every day in a world marked by sin and death. But Romans 5:12-21 shows us something even greater: Jesus Christ is the Better Adam whose perfect obedience, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection secure eternal life for His people. Discover how and why Christ’s work does not merely undo Adam's damage, but overwhelms it with grace.

When someone comes to trust in Jesus there is the great promise of forgiveness and eternal life. The benefits of being made right with God, however, are not things simply limited to the future, they begin right now. In Romans 5 we have a listing of multiple benefits to those who trust in Jesus. These benefits help us to live life now finding our confidence in God’s love for us.

Having a right standing with God is something to be deeply grateful for. Trusting in Jesus alone and receiving the gracious gift of forgiveness is indeed worth celebrating. As we celebrate, however, it is easy to think in the process that we have actually done something of merit that contributes to our position. In Romans 4, Paul writes to correct this line of thinking by reminding us that our pos...

It is always a relief to hear good news after hearing bad news. In Romans 1:18–3:20, Paul has outlined the bad news of our deserved judgment before a Holy God. There is no amount of good work that we can do to appease God’s judgment and we are in dire straits. In Romans 3:21–31 we finally arrive at the good news. God has done something about our problem. In this passage that we discovered the good...

Everyone stands before God with no excuse, the verdict is guilty. Only when we understand there’s nothing we can do to save ourselves, will we run to the One who can.

One of the most common descriptors people use of themselves or others is the nature of their religion. Of the major religions in the world, there are some similarities but also many differences when it comes to faith. While religion is normally assessed as being personal and a way one encounters the divine, in Romans 2:17–3:8, the Apostle Paul points out three significant short-comings regarding r...

The main thrust of the book of Romans is to provide Paul’s clear explanation of the ‘good news’ which he was proclaiming and hoping to continue to proclaim. In order to provide the good news of the gospel, however, he begins in the first three chapters by providing the ‘bad news’ of our sinfulness. In order to establish just how sweet the gospel is, Paul begins in Romans 1:18–32 by showing how bit...

What is it that causes you to commit to something? Or to have deep convictions? For Paul, it’s nothing other than the good news of Jesus Christ!

When someone builds a structure the first and most important part of the process is the underlying basis, the foundation. In perhaps the most of Paul’s letters to the early Christians, the letter to the Romans, Paul lays the foundation of the Christian Faith. He reveals that the message is one of ‘Good news.’ This good news, or gospel, finds its origin in God, is revealed throughout history in God...

All of us have a time limit for life. Some will live long lives, others short lives, but 100% guarantee all of us have an expiration date, a terminus, a date with death. This is a problem for all of us. No matter how much we strive, no matter our background, our skill set, our income, we all will face the inevitable perishing. It is the context of death that Luke 24:1–12 is set. Just days earlier,...

A Good Friday message from Luke 23:32-43 exploring the repeated call for Jesus to “save himself” and why he chose not to. While others mock and misunderstand, one dying criminal recognises the truth that Jesus stays on the cross not out of weakness but to save others. This sermon invites us to see our need, stop trying to save ourselves, and trust the one who refused to save himself so that we cou...

Jesus didn’t come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Because he has ransomed/redeemed us in full, we are secure in him and no longer need to chase significance. That frees us to stop grasping and start serving.

While many people approached Jesus to test him, one man came to Jesus with a sincere and heart-felt question, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ The desire to live with God in his forever kingdom is something that this man, and most people since him, have wanted clarity on. How does one enter a relationship with God? How can we know with certainty that we will live forever with God in his k...

One of the most difficult yet joyous areas of life is Marriage. Marriage, God’s ordained institution between a man and a woman, can be a wonderful expression and reflection of the very character of God. It speaks of love and sacrifice. As broken people, however, we all contribute to a world whether things don’t always work out the way that we prayed or hoped. Marriage is one such example. As Chris...

What does greatness look like? Jesus’ answer may surprise you.

At the centre of the gospel of Mark we find perhaps the most penetrating question one could be asked. About himself, Jesus asked, ‘Who do you say I am?’ Understanding who Jesus is and why he came is the foundational question for all of life. Jesus is either who he says he is, the powerful Son of God, or he is a charlatan who should be condemned. In this account Jesus reveals who he is, his mission...

When it comes to the person of Jesus of Nazareth there are a plethora of views as to his nature, his work, and his teaching. For many people, Jesus is a great moral teacher, a model to follow. Others find his to be something of a religious philosopher who provokes people to think. Still others accept him to be God in the flesh. In Mark 8, Jesus himself raises the stakes as he reveals not only his...

There are moments in life where we some experience deep desperation. Things happen in life that catch us by surprise and leave us rattled. A health diagnosis, a relationship breakdown, financial and mental health struggles. Often we feel helpless, hopeless, and don’t know where to go. In Mark 7:24–30 we witness the story of a woman in dire circumstances. She is desperate and brings her needs to Je...

It is a good thing to be earnest and sincere. Having these traits, however, doesn’t mean we are right or wise in regard to our desire. We can be sincerely wrong or misinformed. One of the common beliefs of today is that all religions are basically the same and as long as one is sincere then it will be ok. In this passage in Mark 7, however, Jesus confronts the failure of religion and reveals that...

One of the great mistakes some Christians mistake is to overlook the integral role the Holy Spirit plays in the Christian life. The Holy Spirit, God’s abiding presence, equips, empowers, and accompanies his people to serve and know him. In this sermon we explore the identity of the Holy Spirit and his ministry of support, comfort, and teaching in the Christian experience.

Today we ask the question, does prayer change things? And we prayerfully ask God to give us more confidence to pray, help us make practical commitments to pray and guide us to intentionally engage relationally with him.