Richmond Baptist Church

God leads His people in His way by various means in the Old Testament. Jesus contrasts Himself to anything before Him that people might think leads to the Father, claiming to be the only way, as well as the full revelation of who God is. How do we respond to this claim to uniqueness, particularly in our diverse and complex world where there are many competing claims?

Jesus is life, and the giver of new life. What does this mean for us as we trust and follow Him, particularly in the face of the reality of death?

The leaders of God’s people in the Old Testament are often called to be like shepherds, tending and caring for those they lead. God is also worshiped as the shepherd. Jesus applies this image to Himself, as the one who comes to gather, defend, and care for God’s sheep. How do we follow Jesus as our good shepherd today, particularly when ideas of leadership are so different?

God’s people could not easily enter his presence. The gates, courts, and curtains of the temple reminded Israel of the holiness of the God who dwelt in their midst, and there were various sacrifices needed to enter through them into His presence. Jesus claims that He is the gate or door through which we enter into God’s family. What does this mean for us and our world today, particularly as people...

God Himself provided light for the people of Israel to follow him. He also called them to be a light to the Gentiles, or the rest of the world. Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness of the world, calling us to both follow and reflect His light. What does it mean for us to know Jesus’ light, particularly when we look at the darkness of our world?

God provided the Israelites manna in the desert to sustain them, literally bread for them to live. After miraculously providing bread for people to eat, Jesus reveals to His disciples that He is the true bread that gives and sustains life. As the Israelites trusted and received daily manna from God, what does it look like for us to trust and receive Jesus as our true bread, especially as those who...

When the Jews hear Jesus say “I am”, they pick up stones to kill him for blasphemy, for they recognise His claim to divinity. The name God chose to reveal to His people: YHWH, I AM WHO I AM. What does it mean that God has revealed this as His name, and how does John connect this to Jesus to reveal who He is? What does it mean for us as we follow Jesus?

In our youth-led gathering Jed reminds us of how God often uses unexpected people in unexpected ways to bring about the Kingdom. We are challenged to consider what this means for how God looks to use us in our world today. Are we following the example of the unexpected King? Are we looking out for the unexpected?

We consider the everyday elements of the resurrection story and what we can learn from how King Jesus revealed Himself to His followers. What can we learn from the risen Christ in the everyday and ordinary?

While Lent is most commonly associated in people’s minds with fasting, the two are complementary rather than opposites. Throughout the Bible and Christian tradition, the people of God have gathered to share in his goodness by feasting together. Jesus was known for sharing meals with all kinds of people. What does the practice of feasting look like in our time, place and cultural context? How can w...

In the Christian tradition, Lent has often been a time to intentionally pray for others. What does intercessory prayer for our world, our enemies, and the needs of our community look like for us in this season as we prepare to remember Christ's once and for all intercession for us at Easter?

Almsgiving is the practice of generosity and particularly charity for those in greatest need. In many Christian traditions, Lent is a season to intentionally practice this spiritual discipline by giving to the poor or performing acts of charity. What does this look like for us in our time, place and context as we prepare to remember Christ's ultimate gift to us at Easter?

To whom do we confess our sin? Is confession simply a practice to leave us feeling condemned and guilty? Confession of our brokenness, transgressions and mortality is an essential practice for Kingdom people and helps us to anticipate Easter. We consider what it looks like to live in rhythms of confession

We consider the conclusion of Ecclesiastes and what it can teach us about finding joy in the everyday. We ask what it is to fear, trust and obey God and why we can find hope despite our mortality and the world's apparent meaninglessness.

We journey with the author of Ecclesiastes as they consider what it means to be mortal, to recognise that we all face death and chaos. However, we also serve the King who brings ultimate peace and order

We journey with the author of Ecclesiastes as they consider what it means to be surrounded by complexity and how to approach difficult times. We are reminded that we are not alone in our wrestle.

As two men seek to process the events of Jesus crucifixion and what to make of his ministry, he joins them on the road. Unrecognised, he walks them through what his life and ministry meant and how they relate to the scriptures. He opens their eyes to the reality of who he is as he breaks bread with them. We are reminded that it is King Jesus - his life, death, and resurrection - that restores the...

As Jesus is travelling, a blind beggar calls out to King Jesus asking for mercy. While the crowd seeks to have the man silenced, Jesus does indeed have mercy on him. Jesus brings the man close so he can interact with him and tells him that it is his faith that has healed him. The crowd who sought to silence the man end up praising God because of Jesus’ interaction with him. Amid a crowd and noise,...

On the road, Jesus discusses the sacrifice involved in following him. The call to be a disciple of the king is an all-encompassing one that subverts cultural expectations. What does this mean for us as disciples of the King today?

Isaiah prophesises that God will come to and comfort his people, bringing the good news of his presence, like a shepherd who will lead, care for, and tenderly love his people. Jesus fulfils this presence in his life and teaching as the Good Shepherd, and in his sacrificial death on our behalf. When he returns, he will again gather us as his own to be fully loved by him forever.

Isaiah prophesises about the renewal of all creation, with flourishing life even in the desert, and the restoration of all kinds of disabilities and diseases, leading to great joy and delight. Jesus fulfils this in his life and ministry, healing and miracles. When he returns, there will be great rejoicing in this restoration and renewal forever.

Isaiah prophesises about the renewal of the city of Jerusalem, where God’s people will live in peace, trusting the LORD and walking in his ways. Jesus fulfils this in his teaching and living out of God’s law and in bringing peace between God and humanity in his death. When he returns, he will establish peace once and for all forever.

Isaiah prophesises about a descendant of David who will bring fruitfulness out of barrenness by the power of God’s Spirit. There is great hope in the promises that he will bring justice and righteousness, reconciliation to all creation, and the knowledge of the LORD to the whole earth. Jesus fulfils this in his baptism and ministry, and he will ultimately fulfil this when he returns to set all thi...

We serve a creative God and are invited into co-creativity with him. Co-creation isn't an obligation but an open invitation that is extended to us. How can we imagine creative approaches to work, ministry and vocation?

Work has often been where the sacred-secular divide has been most evident. Work loses its meaning if it is seen as totally devoid of the sacred. However, God’s vision of work involves communion with God, where alienation is no longer our curse but instead restoring our work’s sacred status. We therefore realise that our primary goal in life isn’t traditional understandings of success but to be fai...