Weekly Talks

By Rev Charlie Lacey |  Luke 19: 28-44  Luke 19: 28-44 (NIV) On Palm Sunday, the crowds rightly welcomed Jesus as their King, but when Jesus didn’t live up to their limited and foolish expectations, the atmosphere quickly changed. The people were willing to sing a psalm of praise, but only as long as Jesus was doing what they wanted. 

By Rev Charlie Lacey |  Luke 8: 40-48 Luke 8: 40-48  (NIV) Today we saw how a woman with a serious medical condition encountered Jesus when he was on his way to see the synagogue leader’s very sick daughter. After 12 years of suffering, the woman was healed, just by touching the hem of Jesus’ cloak. Reaching out to Jesus was a simple thing to do, but it made such a huge difference to her life! 

By Rev Charlie Lacey |  Luke 8: 26-39  Luke 8: 26-39  (NIV) In Luke 8, we read about a man who was possessed by an evil spirit, which had completely destroyed his life. His humanity had almost been totally erased, yet Jesus had the power to drive the evil from him and restore his life to him. 

By Rev Charlie Lacey |  Luke 7: 36-50  Luke 7: 36-50  (NIV) In today’s reading someone encountered Jesus whom the Pharisees would have nothing to do with; a woman who was, in all likelihood, a prostitute. Jesus was not ashamed or embarrassed to interact with this woman, nor could Jesus be contaminated by sin. Instead, Jesus gave the disapproving onlookers a lesson in the true nature of sin and for...

By Rev Charlie Lacey |  Luke 7: 11-17  Luke 7: 11-17 (NIV) Today we heard about a widow who encountered Jesus in the middle of her only son’s funeral procession. Jesus brought her son back to life and her grief was turned to joy. This gives us a sneak preview, not only of Jesus’ resurrection, but of the resurrection of all God’s people, when Jesus returns. 

By Rev Charlie Lacey |  Luke 7: 1-10  Luke 7: 1-10  (NIV)  A certain Roman Centurion encountered Jesus’ power, without actually seeing Jesus himself. Interestingly, he’s the only person in the gospels who surprised Jesus with his high level of faith. The Centurion’s example reminds us to approach Jesus with the confidence that he has both the power and the authority to answer our prayers. 

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-21 Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-21 (NIV)  Lent is a time to focus on our spiritual disciplines. It’s like pressing the ‘reset’ button on our relationship with Jesus. But we’re not to be extravagant or showy with our devotion to Christ. The idea of Lent is not to impress people with our piousness, but to devote ourselves to Jesus with integrity, humility and steadfas...

By Rev Charlie Lacey |  Luke 6: 1-11 Luke 6: 1-11 (NIV)  The Pharisees wanted to make sure that nobody did anything that could possibly be construed as work on the Sabbath. To that end, they invented lots of petty and ridiculous rules and regulations. They even thought that they could accuse Jesus of sin if he were to heal someone on the Sabbath. 

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Luke 5:17-26 Luke 5:27-26 (NIV) When we think of the paralysed man, who was lowered down through the roof to Jesus, might assume that his greatest need was for healing, but Jesus saw something even more important than that, the man’s need for forgiveness. God’s forgiveness is the thing that we all need more than anything else. Praise God that, through Jesus, he has made forg...

By Rev Charlie Lacey |  Luke 4: 1-13  Luke 4: 1-13  (NIV) Jesus encountered the devil in the wilderness and the devil tempted him for 40 days. It is helpful to see that Jesus resisted all temptation by turning to the truth revealed in the Bible. 

By Rev Charlie Lacey |  Luke 2: 22-38  Luke 2: 22-38 (NIV) Over the next 12 weeks we’re going to look at 12 life-changing encounters with Jesus from Luke’s Gospel. From these encounters, we’ll learn more about Jesus and what we can expect from our own encounter with him. Today we focussed on two devout and faithful Jews, who were longing to see the arrival of God’s Messiah. Miraculously, they both...

By Rev Charlie Lacey |  Matthew 28:16-20  Matthew 28:16-20  (NIV) This month we've looked at the four priorities of Jesus: Call, Cross, Commandment and Commission.  The Christian life is all about being in relationship with Jesus, in order that we might go out into the world and make disciples, which is what Jesus has commissioned us to do.

By Rev Bev Bell | Mark 12:28-34 Mark 12:28-34 (NIV) This current series of teachings has been focusing on the Priorities of Jesus.  This week we look at the commandments that Jesus believed were the most important.  In response to a question about which commandment was the greatest Jesus said “This is the first commandment, - You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart  and with all your...

By Rev Charlie Lacey |  Mark 8: 27-38  Mark 8: 27-38  (NIV)  For Jesus, the cross was a priority and uppermost in his mind. He knew that he must die and rise again to everlasting life. When the disciples realised that Jesus is the Messiah, he challenged their perceptions of what the Messiah would do. It’s only when we understand what kind of a Messiah Jesus is that we can make his priorities our p...

By Rev Charlie Lacey |  Mark 1: 14-20  Mark 1: 14-20  (NIV) I wonder if you've made a New Year's Resolution? In January, people tend to consider their priorities for the year ahead. As a church, we're starting the year with a four week series all about Jesus’ priorities, with the aim of making his priorities our priorities. Today we looked at Jesus' priority to call people to f...

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Micah 5: 2-5a & Luke 2: 1-20 Micah 5: 2-5a & Luke 2: 1-20 (NIV) We should never view Jesus’ birth as an isolated event, rather, we look beyond the stable to the cross and the empty tomb and to Jesus' promise to return. Christmas is such good news; Jesus is such good news, because in Him our eternal destiny is changed and there is hope for the whole of creation. 

By Rev Charlie Lacey |  Matthew 2: 1-12  Matthew 2: 1-12  (NIV) Most of us find it hard to change our attitudes and behaviours; we get stuck in our ways. The arrival of Jesus precipitated the greatest change humanity has ever known and submitting to his kingship will result in an enormous amount of change at a personal level. Over the past two-thousand years some (like King Herod), have responded...

by Rev Charlie Lacey |  Luke 1: 39-56  Luke 1: 39-56  (NIV) When Mary visited her relative Elizabeth, it was a joyful reunion, not only because both women were pregnant, but because of who their children were destined to be and because of the change that Christ would bring to the world order. 

By James and Louis Waithaka |  Matthew 1: 18-25  Matthew 1: 18-25  (NIV)  When Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant and later when an angel appeared to him in a dream, he must have experienced a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Today we heard from a couple who have themselves been through a rollercoaster ride of emotions to do with the conception, birth and health of their child. The question fo...

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Isaiah 9: 1-7 Isaiah 9: 1-7 (NIV) Christmas without Jesus offers no hope whatsoever. At best it provides a momentary distraction from the gloomy news and the troubles of life. Conversely, Christmas with Jesus offers us a vision of the world that is supremely hopeful. One in which sin, death, evil and darkness are abolished forever. 

By Rev Mick Uptin | Daniel 6 The first 6 chapters of the book of Daniel tell the story of Daniel and his three friends as they seek to remain faithful to God, under the spotlight in pagan Babylon. There is no shortage of people who want to trip them up and bring them down, but the Lord continues to sustain them. 

By Rev Charlie Lacey |  Daniel 5:1-11,13,16-18,20-31 Daniel 5:1-11,13,16-18,20-31 (NIV)   Last week we heard how King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon went mad until he raised his eyes to heaven and acknowledged the one true God of Israel. This week, we’re going to hear how his grandson, King Belshazzar, deliberately mocked God and brought judgement on himself and his kingdom. 

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Daniel 4:1-8,19-34,36-37 Daniel 4:1-8,19-34,36-37 (NIV) We have been created to have a relationship with God.  Without that relationship we are missing an essential part of what it means to be human. King Nebuchadnezzar ignored a warning from God and continued in his prideful ways by refusing to acknowledge Him.  In the end, he lost his mind and literally became like an anim...

by Rev Charlie Lacey | Daniel 3 Daniel 3 (NIV) Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are Jewish exiles in Babylon, who have been promoted to fairly senior positions within the Babylonian  Empire. They walk a fine line between faithfully serving God and diligently serving King Nebuchadnezzar, but there are lines that they are not  prepared to cross, no matter how great pressure to conform. Will we follow...

By Rev Charlie Lacey | Daniel 2:1-23 Daniel 2:1-23 (NIV) We like to feel that we’re in control; that we can handle everything life throws at us. However, we all have considerable weaknesses and limitations. The question is, how do we respond when we face a situation that we don’t have the means or the resources to deal with?