The Whitehouse Church Podcast

Faith isn’t knowing exactly what is going to happen. Faith is trusting the person who is telling you to jump. It is knowing their voice even though you can’t see them and trusting that they will catch you. A leap of faith may look like blind faith, but it is based on a foundation of trust. It may seem foolish but really it is wisdom to follow a trustworthy voice.

Today at the Whitehouse Church we had a chat about love languages - what they are (and what they aren't), and how they can help us to build healthy and fulfilling relationships.

I wish I had better words to describe what it means for me to say "I’m  progressive". But right now, I simply don’t. I just want to serve Jesus,  not tradition, and I believe that all people deserve to be treated with  respect, and to be seen as image bearers of God.

Ancient creeds like the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed have been used to define orthodoxy since the 4th century CE. When I say that I am a Christian who holds orthodox beliefs, it is against these statements that I measure my theology.

Today we had Chevelle Hibberd sharing with us! "It’s humbling to remember that people who’ve spent their lives pondering the mysteries of God, whose minds and thoughts can go a million miles faster and higher and deeper than most, whose faith in God is unshakeable and profound, could still fall into the trap of shoehorning — and even augmenting — Scripture in order have it fit their finite underst...

The Parable of the Ten Minas is not what it seems. In our western culture we are accustomed to glorifying the rich noble and demonising the 'lazy servant'. But what if that isn't the point of this story at all? Despite his fear, the third servant lays the offense of the master at his feet. “You take what you don’t deserve, and you reap a harvest from other people’s labour.” This servant is the tru...

Jesus' message was scandalous to the religious, treasonous to the empire, and utterly captivating to the poor, disenfranchised, forgotten, broken, and ignored. The message of Jesus was, and is, beautiful. So beautiful that it’s guaranteed to threaten the status-quo and make all who believe a target for the world’s scorn.

Each year around this time we ask people to prayerfully consider their financial commitment to the Whitehouse Church. We are a pretty small community and we do our best to keep our overhead costs to a bare minimum, so our budget is very modest at about $5000 a month.  During the next couple weeks we are hoping you will fill out our online pledge form indicating how much you expect to give dur...

Hey friends, I'm still having some audio issues when recording. So if you notice it is a bit choppy please accept my apology. I'm pretty sure I have figured out the problem now so hopefully it'll be all fixed for next week. "To be connected to the vine is to be connected to one another. And we must do that with love and grace, forgiveness and compassion, and we must bear with one another as we wor...

Hey there! Sadly there was an issue with the recording today and the sound isn't as good as normal. Sorry about that. :(

He came so that we who were poor might become rich. How does that happen? Most of you are familiar with the term guilt-by-association. That means if I hang around with someone who has committed a crime, I may be considered guilty as well because of my close relationship with them. Turn that concept around and you’ve got the gospel. It is grace-by-association. All the grace of God is available to m...

What does being a good neighbour look like to Jesus? Washing feet, serving widows and orphans, standing in front of those who accuse and disarming them, befriending the isolated, touching the untouchable, dismantling structures that dehumanise people, promoting the welfare and societal value and equality of disenfranchised people groups including women and minorities, weeping with those who mourn,...

Today we had our very own wonderful Chevelle Hibberd share with us. "A  faith community that doesn’t embrace doubt with understanding and trust  in God’s wisdom isn’t interested in growth but in control. I can’t  emphasise enough how important it is that we continue to extend grace  and tenacious love to one another. This is the primary reason I decided   to put my ro...

Nicodemus was steeped in religious tradition that was generations old. His entire life was dedicated to honouring God’s rules but instead of bringing him freedom these rules had become a stumbling block to him. No amount of law keeping, scholarship, tithing, or tradition had allowed him to see the kingdom of God. And then this self-appointed Galilean Rabbi turned up and God was with him. All the c...

When Jesus talks about little ones he isn’t just talking about children,  he is talking about the people in our society who are little in the  eyes of the world. Those who have little influence, little power, little  money, little prospects, little opportunity, little honour, and few  advocates.

Sometimes awful things happen, and they are simply that, awful. They aren't a test. The world we live in is broken and the consequence of generations of sin and selfish choices is that our existence is riddled with pain and suffering that grieves both us and God. That is why God is going to reconcile all things to himself in Christ. That is why the beatitudes say God will bless those who hunger, m...

When people attempt to sanctify their politics, businesses, and ambitions with the name of Jesus they violate his name far more deeply than simply cursing as a cultural reflex. When Jesus teaches them to pray, “father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come”, he is also making a prophetic declaration!

The church is a community defined by love, not a creedal statement. It is not held together by a set of principles or dogged tolerance but rather by a deep experience of belonging. Accepting the invitation to be a member of God’s household means accepting an invitation to a shared life of redemptive love and a willingness to sacrifice for one another.

Saint Ignatius of Loyola was a 16th century priest who co-founded and led the religious order called the Society of Jesus, or simply the Jesuits. In 1548 St Ignatius wrote Spiritual Exercises, a simple set of meditations, prayers, and other practices. Perhaps the most well known of these exercises is the 'Daily Examen'. This practice helps to build intimacy and trust in God. It helps us to slow do...

Even with all the evidence pointing to Jesus’ true identity, John was nervous. He was in prison, captive to a man who would ultimately have him executed. And in that dark place he is asking himself, “Is it possible that I am wrong? Is it possible that Jesus isn’t really the one who is to come? Have I given my life to proclaim a gospel that isn’t even true?” Have you ever felt like that?

If you can’t identify any area of change or growth in your theology or practice during the last season of your life, I would politely suggest that what you have is not unyielding faith, but more likely hardheartedness. If we are being transformed by a renewing of our minds and if we are working out our salvation daily it will be reflected in changes to our character and thinking.

Forgiveness doesn't mean we must allow people to continually hurt us or that we must continue relationships with people who have hurt us.

Jesus begins his parable by saying there was a man that planted a vineyard. This is a little bit like saying, “A woman named Karen went into a store.” Now, we know what’s going on here… you’re already picturing a certain type of woman and a certain type of behaviour before I have explained anything! And so it is with Jesus in this parable. His audience all knows that the vineyard is a picture of I...

Rather than saying ‘Don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to you,’ Jesus taught, ‘Do unto others as you want them to do unto you.’ In a world that generally says you can do whatever you want so long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, Jesus goes further by teaching his disciples to actively initiate actions that will benefit others. In this way Jesus’ teaching is unique.

One of the few small blessings of the season we are in right now is that the world has actually started to redefine greatness. Right now, people are not impressed with billionaires, tyrants, celebrities, and sports stars. In this time of global grief, we are looking to the doctors, nurses, researchers, supermarket workers, delivery drivers, and garbage collectors, and recognising them as great.