Weekly Talks

by Charlie Lacey | Matthew 28: 1-15 Matthew 28: 1-15 (NIV) Today is the most important day of the year for Christians.  The day of Jesus’ resurrection; a day of tremendous joy, hope and celebration.  The resurrection of Jesus is the linchpin of Christianity.  In 1 Cor. 15, the Apostle Paul writes: ‘If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.’  But Jesus has been r...

By Charlie Lacey | Isaiah 53:1-7;Matthew 26:57-58 and 26:63b-67, 27: 11-31, 33-44, 45-52a, 54, 57-60 Isaiah 53:1-7;Matthew 26:57-58 and 26:63b-67, 27: 11-31, 33-44, 45-52a, 54, 57-60 (NIV) The American missionary, Samuel Zwemer said this: “There is no mystery in heaven or earth so great as this - a suffering Deity, an almighty Saviour nailed to a Cross.” Not only is Jesus’ crucifixion a hard thing...

By Peter Jongkuch | Matthew 26: 17-56 Matthew 26: 17-56 (NIV)  

By Charlie Lacey | Matthew 26: 1-16  Matthew 26: 1-16  (NIV) Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem by an excited crowd, full of praise and adoration, but when Jesus didn’t fulfil their agenda, that is to say, when he didn’t confront the Roman occupiers, the atmosphere turned sour.  In today’s reading, we saw a sharp contrast between those who hated Jesus and those who treasured him.

By Charlie Lacey | Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus told us to be ready for his return.  In other words, we are to live as faithful servants of Christ, knowing that he could come back at any moment.  Jesus made it clear that when he does return there will only be two categories of people, those who belong to him (the sheep) and those who do not (the goats).  The sheep will be characterised by love, compassi...

By Fiona Martin | Matthew 24:45-25:30  Matthew 24:45-25:30  (NIV) Last week we heard that Jesus commanded us to be ready for his return at the end of the age - and we concluded that being ready means being a faithful servant of Christ.  Jesus told three parables that contrast two different kinds of servant: those who do what their master commands and those who do the opposite.

By Charlie Lacey | Matthew 24:29-44 Matthew 24:29-44 (NIV) Nobody knows when Jesus will return – but, as we saw last week, the signs are already there to be seen.  Jesus could come back at any time.  The question is, are we ready?  If Jesus were to come back tomorrow, would he find us faithfully serving Him and prioritising His kingdom?

By Charlie Lacey | Matthew 24:1-14  Matthew 24:1-14  (NIV) Jesus spoke to his disciples about two future events – one in the near future and the other in the distant future.  The first happened in AD70 and the second we are still waiting for.  Jesus promised to return and when he does, it will be the end of time and history as we know it.  God’s people will live with Him forever in a renewed and r...

By Charlie Lacey | Matthew 24: 15-27 Matthew 24: 15-27 (NIV)

By Charlie Lacey |  Psalm 51:1-17 ; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10 ; Mark 1:14-15  Psalm 51:1-17 ; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10 ; Mark 1:14-15  (NIV)

By Charlie Lacey | Matthew 22:1-14 Matthew 22:1-14 (NIV) When challenged by the Jewish religious leaders, Jesus told three parables that exposed their inaction, disloyalty and hypocrisy.  Today we looked at the third of those parables which was directed towards those same religious leaders – but also towards the nation as a whole.  In general terms, the Jews failed to recognise their Messiah and r...

By Charlie Lacey | Psalm 118:15-29 & Matthew 21:23-46 Psalm 118:15-29 & Matthew 21:23-46  (NIV) Continuing with our series titled ‘The King in Jerusalem’; last week we saw how Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem as King.  This week we observed the mounting opposition and hostility towards Jesus from the religious authorities - and we heard Jesus’ response to them.  The fact is, they were bli...

By Charlie Lacey | Matthew 21:1-17 Matthew 21:1-17 (NIV) We started a new series today, called ‘The King in Jerusalem’.  Over the coming weeks, we’ll be following the events in Matthew’s Gospel, from Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem – all the way through to his death and resurrection at Easter.  When Jesus entered Jerusalem the crowds welcomed him as a King, but Jesus wasn’t the kind of king...

By Charlie Lacey | Psalm 145 Psalm 145 (NIV) Things have been a little different since Queensland opened its borders. With Covid cases skyrocketing, many people are feeling nervous and unsettled.  This is a difficult time, but God is still in control – and he continues to bless us in all kinds of ways.  Today we lifted our gaze and changed the atmosphere as we gave God thanks for the amazing thing...

By Trevor Adams | Revelation 21:1-8, Revelation 22:1-5 Revelation 21:1-8, Revelation 22:1-5 (NIV) Revelation? Nooooo!! was my instant thought-reaction when told the Bible passage we're using. I was encouragingly surprised when I read many experts were aware of the same fear over the years. However, this time I learnt an amazing thing.  Instead of what I had swallowed over the years from REVEL...

By Fiona Martin | Jeremiah 31: 31-33 & Mark 14: 12-26 Jeremiah 31: 31-33 & Mark 14: 12-26 (NIV) The rejection of God by Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 breaks the harmonious relationships between God and humans, between humans themselves and between humans and creation. But God has a plan to restore these broken relationships. He will pay the price and redeem humankind and the world.

By Charlie Lacey |  Genesis 3 Genesis 3 (NIV) After the creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2 everything looked promising and hopeful, but within a few pages we find Adam and Eve hiding from God.  Clearly something had gone badly wrong!  Genesis 3 helps us to understand all that is wrong with the world – and that's important because if we don’t recognise the nature of the problem, we’ll never...

By Charlie Lacey | Genesis 1: 1 – 2: 3 Genesis 1: 1 – 2: 3 (NIV) We started a new series today called, ‘God’s Story’ – looking at the overarching narrative of the Bible; everything from Creation and Fall to Redemption and New Creation.  This January we’re going to be building a framework and then everything else we look at this year will fit into that framework

By Erika Williams | Matthew 2: 1-12 Matthew 2: 1-12 (NIV) In Matthew’s Gospel we see two very different responses to Jesus’ birth; the Magi who came to worship him and Herod, who wanted to kill him.  In Australia today we also observe two very different responses to Jesus.  There are those who love him and those who hate him or are indifferent towards him. 

By Charlie Lacey | Luke 2: 1-20 Luke 2: 1-20 (NIV) On the night Jesus was born, angels appeared to a group of Shepherds in the hills above Bethlehem and announced the most joyful news that the world has ever heard.  A Saviour has been born!  Since that day, so much has pointed to the fact that these events are true and that Jesus came into the world to bring us back into a right relationship with...

By Charlie Lacey | Revelation 7: 9-17 Revelation 7: 9-17 (NIV) Just over 2000 years ago Jesus was born in a stable, a very humble beginning – and he was visited by shepherds and Magi, who bowed down before him.  How many millions (or billions) of people have bowed the knee to Jesus since then?  The Church consists of everyone who has ever followed Jesus and everyone who ever will.

By Charlie Lacey |  Revelation 4: 1-11  Revelation 4: 1-11 (NIV) Advent is a season when we look forward to celebrating Jesus’ birth – but we also look forward to his second coming.  The book of Revelation tells us what Jesus’ return actually means for the whole of creation. 

By Charlie Lacey |  Revelation 1: 9-19 Revelation 1: 9-19 (NIV) Advent is a season when we look back to the birth of Jesus – but also forward to the day when he returns in glory to judge the living and the dead.  To get a complete picture of Jesus, we need to hold the image of a baby lying in a manger, together with the image of Jesus returning in power and majesty.  The gospels give us the former...

By Charlie Lacey | Ruth 3:1-18 Ruth 3:1-18 (NIV) Ruth is a wonderful book to be studying in conjunction with baptism (we baptised baby Gerard today), because it reminds us that God is at work in our lives even when we can’t see it and long before we know it.  Gerard didn't understand what was happening, but we know that God is working in his life -and we know that God is working to bring his...

By Charlie Lacey | Ruth 2: 1-18 Ruth 2: 1-18 (NIV) Last week we left Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, in a very vulnerable and desperate situation.  Two poor widows, recently returned to Naomi’s home town of Bethlehem, with no adequate means of supporting themselves.  They seek refuge in the Lord, who provides for them in remarkable ways.  God’s power is displayed, not through miracles, but thro...