Vision Church Podcast | Christian Church in Canberra

Steve & Ros Lazar | Psalm 133:1-3; Matthew 5:13-16; Isaiah 60:1-2 — Jesus calls His followers to be ‘the salt of the earth’ and ‘the light of the world’. This does not require us to drum something up from within ourselves, but rather to let the flavouring and life of Jesus’ way flow from our lives to those around us. Whether to Mozambique or your neighbour next door, let your life be salt and...

Andrew Baker | John 15:1-8,16; Revelation 2:2-4 — Crying out for God to move powerfully in situations is good and right, but when prayer becomes solely about transactions and outcomes, we reduce God to a means for our own end. First and foremost, prayer is an invitation to unity; an act of abiding with the God who calls us to intimate relationship with Him. Effective intercession must start with t...

Adam Ritchard | Matthew 5:6, 6:5-18; Joel 2:12-13 — Fasting is a largely neglected spiritual practice in the modern church. But, alongside prayer, this unseen discipline is a key means through which God’s power is enabled in our lives. Fasting redirects our hunger, deepens our devotion, exposes our sin, and releases the work of the Holy Spirit. As we enter a season of prayer and fasting, may God r...

Adam Ritchard | Luke 11:1-13 — Jesus was devoted to prayer, so much so that His disciples specifically asked Him to teach them how to pray for themselves. Jesus’ response emphasises that prayer is not an optional extra - it is a priority. We are to come before God in simplicity and sincerity; with tenacity and audacity; and with consistency and persistency. Lord, would you teach us to pray.

Andrew Baker | Ephesians 6:10-20 — Paul’s concluding remarks to the Ephesians remind us that prayer is not an optional extra or a last resort. Prayer is a critical part of the armour that we as God’s people need to stand firm against the powers of darkness. Far beyond duty, prayer is our priority and joy; a constant invitation to commune with the God who desires to bring His Kingdom near upon the...

Andrew Baker | Ephesians 4:1-16 — Growing in love as the Body of Christ cannot and will not happen in isolation. As Paul urges the Ephesians, this love is forged in the context of a community without spectators or consumers: a group of real, different, broken people, willing to put aside individual preference for the unifying truth of Jesus.

Andrew Baker | Ephesians 3:14-20 — To grow as God intends, Paul’s desire for the Ephesian church and us as believers is to be grounded in and filled with the fullness of God’s love. We cannot achieve this by striving or trying harder, but rather by learning to receive, with open hands.

Joshua Rowe | Ephesians 1:19-20, 2:13,19-22; Hosea 2:19-23, 4:13, 5:14; 1 Corinthians 1:18 — If we as God’s people are to be built together effectively, none other than Christ must be our collective goal and foundation. As we behold Him rightly, may we submit to the kingship of Jesus the Lion, and receive the sacrificial mercy of Jesus the Lamb. Hear from guest speaker, Joshua Rowe.

Andrew Baker | Ephesians 2:19-22 — As we begin 2026, Paul’s message to the Ephesians calls us to be a church of God’s presence. We have been brought in as His people not just to hold good services and run effective programs, but to be built together into a place where He - the Living God - would dwell.

Andrew Baker | Matthew 2:1-6,11; Acts 17:26-28; Proverbs 9:10 — Matthew’s inclusion of the wise men narrative assures us that Jesus’ coming is not just for those with great knowledge or of a certain genealogy. It is for those who practice true wisdom: looking upward rather than inward; seeking and following Him; and overflowing with worship.

Andrew Baker | Isaiah 35:1-10; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Revelation 5:10, 21:3; 1 Peter 2:9; Romans 8:22 — The OT Prophets bear witness to a future in which all brokenness is healed, all creation is restored, and in which God will dwell forevermore with His beloved children. Our blessed hope is the Messiah who has come and who is coming again; who through love will make all things new.

Andrew Baker | Hosea 1:2-9, 2:14-20,23; Genesis 2:18-23; Ephesians 5:32; Deuteronomy 6:4-5 — The Old Testament prophecies point to a Messiah who would not only come to rule and reign, but to restore mankind back to the very purpose for which God created them - a relationship of communion and covenantal love.

Andrew Baker | Acts 2:4-12, 15:5,11-18; Isaiah 11:10, 49:6, 45:20-25; Zechariah 2:10-11; Jeremiah 16:19-21; Galatians 3:8-9,16,26-29; Genesis 11:1-4,8-9; Joshua 24:2; Deuteronomy 32:8-9; Psalm 82:1,6-8; Luke 4:17,22,24-27; John 11:49-52 — Across the breadth of prophetic scripture, we consistently see that God’s plan was for a Messiah who would come to redeem and reconcile all nations - not just on...

Andrew Baker | Psalm 105:5 — As we look back on the highs and lows of the past year, may we do more than just ‘recall’ what God has done. Rather, may our hearts be recalibrated as we call to mind the faithfulness of our covenant-making, promise-keeping God.

Andrew Baker | Isaiah 9:2-5, 14:12-15, 24:21, 34:4; Ephesians 6:12; Ezekiel 28:12-17; Daniel 7:13-14,27, 10:12-21; Psalm 82:1; Jeremiah 10:11; Jude 1:6; 2 Peter 2:4; Acts 2:32-36; Romans 8:19-21; Colossians 2:13-15 — Throughout the Prophetic scriptures we see vivid descriptions of evil spiritual forces which oppose God, rebelling against His purposes and influencing earthly events. But alongside t...

Adam Ritchard | 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; 2 Peter 3:1; Ephesians 3:18-19; Romans 12:1-2; Luke 9:23-25 — As humans we are prone to distraction and forgetfulness - we need reminders to stay on track. Paul’s message to the Corinthian church is a reminder to all believers: Christ’s restorative work on the Cross compels us to live as Christ’s ambassadors, doing all that we do with Him as our master and Hi...

Adam Ritchard | Psalm 23:3, 51:12, 85:1-7, 126:1; Genesis 50:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Joel 2:25; John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:10; Acts 3:19-21; Revelation 21:5; Job 42:1-6,10 — Throughout scripture we see a God who restores and revives - in the midst of specific situations as well as the brokenness of humanity at large. While we wait in the tension between our life’s circumstances and this unchanging trut...

Andrew Baker | Isaiah 9:2-7, 46:9-10, 53:4-6; Psalm 22:1,16, 110:1,4; Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 5:5-6 — Hundreds of Old Testament prophecies point to the New Covenant’s fulfilment through a Messiah - one who would come to reign and restore. But instead of sending a conquering oppressor, God came Himself; stooping low in human flesh to surrender His life in self-giving love.

Andrew Baker | Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:19-20; Deuteronomy 60:6; Isaiah 53:5-6 — Throughout the Old Testament Prophetic Books, we see God continually calling His people back to covenant relationship with Himself. But, knowing they would continue to rebel, God declared the promise of a new everlasting covenant: freedom from iniquity; forgiveness of sins; and a new heart.

Andrew Baker | Job 42:5; Matthew 26:30; Proverbs 1:7, 9:10; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Song of Songs 2:16, 6:3, 7:10 — The Bible is not just a historical narrative about God and humankind. In the 'wisdom literature’ books of Job, Proverbs, Psalms, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs, we see that God speaks directly into the depths of our human experience and the restless longing within each and every soul.

Adam Ritchard | Revelation 2:1-7; Luke 7:36-50, 10:38-42 — In John’s Revelation, the Church at Ephesus was commended by Jesus for their hard work, patient endurance, hate of evil, and sound doctrine. And yet they had abandoned their first love - the love of Jesus. How do we heed this warning and keep ‘the main thing’ the main thing; letting all that we do flow from loving Jesus as our highest prio...

Adam Ritchard | 2 Peter 1:8, 3:14-18; Philippians 1:6; Titus 2:11-14; Romans 6:1-2; Psalm 92:12-15; Luke 4:16; Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 4:15 — To conclude his second letter, Peter instructs his readers to ‘grow’ in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. As in nature, genuine spiritual growth requires hard work, careful attention, and lots of perseverance. But as followers of Jesus this growth is ess...

Adam Ritchard | Matthew 9:35-38; Isaiah 6:1,8, 59:1; Genesis 18:14; John 4:35; James 5:16; 2 Chronicles 7:14 — Jesus saw the great ‘lostness’ of humanity as an opportunity; a plentiful harvest ripe for the picking. As we consider how God’s Great Story is still unfolding today, may we respond to this same opportunity as He did: with expectant faith, deep compassion, earnest prayer, and urgent actio...

Andrew Baker | Esther 1:10-12, 2:5-9,17,21-23, 3:5-7, 4:13-16, 5:1-5, 6:1-2, 7:1-7, 8:5,11, 9:15-17; Luke 1:1-4; Ephesians 2:10 — Can God’s promises still be fulfilled even when none shall call on His name? The book of Esther reminds us that God is not limited by borders or time or rulers or human faithlessness. He is sovereign over all, unfolding His purposes and plan through everyday ordinary mo...

Andrew Baker | Ezra 1:1-4, 3:10-13, 7:1-6, 9:1-2, 10:7-11; Nehemiah 1:1-4, 2:17-18, 6:15-16, 13:6-11,17-25,31 — King Cyrus rebuilt the temple; Ezra enforced the law of Moses; and Nehemiah repaired the city wall. But ultimately none of these external acts could truly change the hearts of God’s people. As we see the brokenness of the world all around us, may we not fight external battles with reveng...