NorthernLife Sermons

This is the third sermon in Scott Pilgrim's Mending! series for May Mission Month 2024. Here, Scott explores how we can follow Jesus' example of having a heart broken for the pain of the world, a heart captivated by God's restorative vision for the world, and a heart that welcomes missional collaboration as we work together in God's mission. 

This is the second sermon in Scott Pilgrim's Mending! series for May Mission Month 2024. In this message, Scott explores how Jesus embeds relationship into ministry, and how we can follow His example of relational proximity, partnership and potential.

This is the first sermon in Scott Pilgrim's Mending! series for May Mission Month 2024. Here, he explores the contest of the Spirit and the flesh that Paul highlights in Galatians 5, the way God's Spirit cultivates fruit in us and our need for community as we walk with Jesus.

CS Lewis said "There is no neutral ground in the universe. Every square inch, every split second is claimed by God, and counterclaimed by Satan." In the story of Mark 5:1-20, Jesus lands among foreign people in a foreign place under a foreign power, and takes ground FOR the Kingdom of God FROM the enemy. Yet as the Kingdom of God comes, Jesus is rejected from the area. Why? Because the p...

The story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:35-41 has three stages: 1. The disciples are in charge; 2. The storm is in charge; 3. Jesus is in charge. When we come to realise that Jesus is in charge, we have two options: FEAR or FAITH. This message will encourage you if you are in a stormy season of life that Jesus is in charge, and He is good, so you can have faith. To view the full message, go...

"The Kingdom of God is manifest in hiddenness." In this message, Jonathan Shanks explores this idea from the parables of Jesus in Mark 4:21-34. To view the full message, go to  ⁠https://www.northernlife.org.au/resources/sermons/gospel-of-new-beginnings-e25⁠ .

In the message, Jonathan Shanks unpacks the Parable of the Sower from Mark 4:1-20, highlighting the importance of HEARING in order to bear fruit. To view the full message, go to  ⁠https://www.northernlife.org.au/resources/sermons/gospel-of-new-beginnings-e24.

House rules. What were your house rules in the home you grew up in? What are your house rules now? In tonight's passage, Mark 3:20-35, Jonathan Shanks unpacks three levels of house rules: The house of the KINGDOM OF THIS WORLD; The house of the KINGDOM OF GOD; The house of MY HERITAGE. To view the full message, go to  ⁠https://www.northernlife.org.au/resources/sermons/gospel-of-new-beginnings-...

Mark 3:13-19 records the story of Jesus calling the Twelve. In this message, Jonathan Shanks explores the theme of discipleship and what it is to follow Jesus. As disciples of Jesus, we GO TO JESUS; KNOW JESUS; and SHOW JESUS. To view the full message, go to  ⁠https://www.northernlife.org.au/resources/sermons/gospel-of-new-beginnings-e22.

When Jesus hung on the cross, He said "it is finished." The Gospel is final and complete and yet, for followers of Jesus, there is a sense in which the story is GLORIOUSLY INCOMPLETE. In this Easter Sunday 2024 message, Jonathan Shanks explores the glorious incompleteness about the resurrection of Jesus, encouraging us to step up and play our part in the story. To view the full message,...

In this Easter 2024 message, Benjamin Shanks explores the brutal and gruesome nature of the cross. What is it that makes Good Friday good? In other words, what kind of day is Good Friday? A day of DERISION; A day of DARKNESS; A day of DEATH; Ultimately, the day of DECISION. What makes Good Friday good for us is that it was bad for Jesus. To view the full message, go to  ⁠https://www.northernlife.o...

According to psychiatrist Murray Bowen, as anxiety increases in an emotional system, "triangulation" happens as three roles emerge: PERSECUTOR, VICTIM, and RESCUER. In the story of Jesus' trial before Pilate, recorded in Mark 15:1-20, we see triangulation at play, yet with a surprising twist. To view the full message, go to  ⁠https://www.northernlife.org.au/resources/sermons/gospel-o...

Peter was a guy who learnt a lot through failure. In this message, Jonathan Shanks traces 3 of Peter's failures and the lessons he learnt from them. 1. CHOOSE HUMILITY OVER PRIDE; 2. ABANDON OUTCOMES TO GOD; 3. STAY ALERT AND OF SOBER MIND. To view the full message, go to  ⁠https://www.northernlife.org.au/resources/sermons/gospel-of-new-beginnings-e18.

In tonight's passage, Jesus stands before the Jewish High Court — the Sanhedrin. Even though they find nothing against him, the text says in Mark 14:64, "they all condemned him as worthy of death." Jesus IS worthy of because he is: 1. The sinless Lamb of God; 2. The Son of God; 3. The Son of Man. To view the full message, go to  ⁠https://www.northernlife.org.au/resources/sermons/gosp...

The Garden of Gethsemane was experienced quite differently by Jesus and his disciples. The disciples, on the one hand, fell asleep three times — their spirit was willing, but their flesh was weak. They all fall away into faithlessness. Jesus, on the other hand, experienced the agony of the Cup of God's wrath and separation from the Father, yet made it through Gethsemane in faithfulness. For ev...

In this message, Jonathan Shanks, exploring the Last Supper recorded in Mark 14:12-26, highlights three core aspects of the story: BLOOD, BREAD, and BETRAYAL. To view the full message, go to  ⁠https://www.northernlife.org.au/resources/sermons/gospel-of-new-beginnings-e15.

Mark 14:1-11 records 4 beautiful things. In this 14th message of the Gospel of New Beginnings series, Jonathan Shanks unpacks the nature of worship and surrender to the Lord Jesus. We pray this message encourages you. REMEMBERING GOD'S FAITHFULNESS is a beautiful thing. REALISING GOD'S PRESENCE IN THE PRESENT is a beautiful thing. RELEASING MY ALL FOR HIS ALL is a beautiful thing. RESISTIN...

Money. Wealth. Riches. It's a tricky subject. In this message, Jonathan Shanks explores the wisdom of Scripture in 1 Timothy 6:17-19 on how we handle our finance. We pray this message will challenge you, encourage you, and bless you.

Mark 3:7-12 is a story in which nothing happens; the narrative of Mark is not moved forward in any significant way. It is, however, a "checkpoint," a passage where Mark takes a breather and brings together 4 themes he has and will continue to develop over the course of his gospel. In this message, Benjamin Shanks explores the 4 checkpoints of Mark 3:7-12, inviting us to reflect on where...

Jesus is the Giver of Life. Where the enemy has come to kill, steal, and destroy, the ministry and movement of Jesus is to give life. In this message, Jonathan Shanks preaches on Mark 3:1-6, highlighting the story of a man who STEPPED IN, STOOD UP, REACHED OUT, and RECEIVED LIFE. We are invited to do the same. To view the full message, go to  ⁠https://www.northernlife.org.au/resources/sermons/gosp...

Mark 2:23-27 provides a perfect insight into Jesus' perspective on the interrelationship between rules and relationship. To Jesus' it's not an either-or, but both. We have been given rules FOR relationship. This message from Jonathan Shanks contains a wealth of spiritual formation wisdom, including teaching on a rule of life and helpful spiritual practices for communities. To view the...

When were your glory days? They might have been in the past, at some glorious time years ago. Or they could be still to come in your future. In this message, Benjamin Shanks preaches on Mark 2:18-22, highlighting how the now-and-not-yet Kingdom that Jesus brings makes right now the glory days. To view the full message, go to  ⁠https://www.northernlife.org.au/resources/sermons/gospel-of-new-beginni...

The calling of Levi is a simple story. Jesus sees Levi, Jesus says "follow me," Levi follows. That's it. But there's more happening under the surface of this apparently simple story. In this message, Benjamin Shanks explores the literary, political and religious subsurface of the story of the calling of Levi in Mark 2:13-17. This message will encourage you in what it means to fol...

A "functional saviour" is what you most deeply need to live. Mark 2:1-12 records a story that illustrates the false functional saviours we can have. A man is lowered through the roof down to Jesus to fix what he thinks is his most pressing need (his paralysis), only to have Jesus forgive the man's sins. Jesus knew what the man really needed most of all—a saviour. Confronted with His...

In this message, Senior Pastor Jonathan Shanks kicks off our GO24 vision for 2024 with a message from John 6:1-15 and the story of the feeding of the 5000. THE TEST THE STEP THE THANKS THE BLESSING THE OVERFLOW