St Michael's talks & sermons

Death is all around us. We often pretend otherwise, but the fact is, it's coming to us all. Since the dawn of time, people have tried to cheat death, whether through magic, diet, or (increasingly) technology. Would the life gained through these means be eternal life? Or is Jesus promising something different? Not surprisingly, Matthew here outlines that life with Jesus, eternal life, is not th...

At the business end of John 3.16, John tells us that those who put their trust in Jesus will "not perish". What, then, will happen to them? That's what soteriology, the doctrine of salvation, is all about. Looking at Ephesians 1, Tim outlines some of the benefits of salvation as Paul describes them for the Corinthians. But what of those who don't put their trust in Jesus? Tim finishes with some br...

In this sermon, Ginni Shaw continues our series on John 3.16, exploring what it means to "believe in Jesus", by means of 3 vignettes in Acts 16, where three very different people come to live by means of their trust in him. Key reading Acts 16.11-34

Steve Shaw continues our series on John 3.16. What is this world that God loves? How does it sit in relation to God's providence, love and care? Readings:Proverbs 8.22-31 Romans 8.18-28 John 1.1-14

Continuing our series on John 3.16, Tim unpacks how it is possible for God to love, and how the doctrine of the Trinity seems to be a necessary basis for a loving God. Key texts: 1 John 4.7-16 Exodus 34.4-7

This sermon is the first full sermon in a series on John 3.16. It's one of the most famous verses in the bible, but worth unpacking slowly. This week, Tim asks, who is the God who so loved the world? The key text here is Exodus 3.1-15 Tim begins by reading an extract from what's called 'The Memorial' of Blaise Pascal.

The disciples who gather behind locked doors in John 20 are afraid of the authorities; afraid because of their loyalty to Jesus. Are there parallels with us? Are we loyal to Jesus, but afraid because of Christianity's cultured despisers? If so, how might we let Jesus breathe his Holy Spirit on us this Easter. Texts: John 20.19-23 Acts 5.27-32

In this sermon, Rebecca Packer breaks down the story in John 12.1-9, where Mary anoints Jesus' feet. What becomes possible when we sit at Jesus' feet? Reading: John 12.1-11

Reconciliation is a major theme in the New Testament. What does it look like in practice? Jesus' parable of the "prodigal son" helps us work out what we need to do to become reconcilers, rather than clinging to entitlement or resentment. In this sermon, Tim borrows heavily from Henri Nouwen to explore how to live in Gods' love, and how to rejoice when your children beat you at chess. Readings: Luk...

Lent is hard work, because it asks us to stop distracting ourselves from letting God examine us, inside and out. In this sermon, Matthew explores the idea of God's judgement; why we find it so difficult, and why we need to listen to Jesus' call to repentance. Reading: Luke 13.1-8

In Luke 13.31-35, Jesus gets a tip-off that Herod wants to kill him. This triggers his famous lament over Jerusalem. In this sermon, visiting preacher, Alison Swinfen, walks through that gospel passage, drawing clear parallels between the tyranny of Herod, and the tyranny of those rulers today who want to kill innocent citizens. How does Jesus' response to Herod guide our response to the political...

A great drive of contemporary Western culture encourages us to be our "authentic", "our true selves". But is that a desirable goal, for Christians or anyone? On the second Sunday of Advent, when John the Baptist excoriates his audience for their hypocrisy, Matt Packer guides us to ponder what true authenticity looks like...

At our parish camp earlier in the year, our speaker suggested that the tyranny of overwork is the biggest barrier to Kingdom growth in our parish. Rebecca takes up the challenge by taking us through the challenging territory of resisting the pressure to let work define our lives. On the first Sunday of Advent, she calls us to make commitment to Jesus the very centre of our lives, not a side-hobby...

On the Feast of Christ the King, Ginni unpacks the good news from Isaiah 40, bringing us the affirmation that our hope is in what God has done and will do, so that we need not give in to the power of despair. Key Readings Isaiah 40

One of the biggest powers that holds Western people captive is intellectualism. The intellect is obviously a great gift from God. But what about when it goes wrong? Jessie declares what's important in this sermon in our series on the Powers . Readings: Jeremiah 9.23-26 1 Corinthians 1.18-31 Mark 13.1-8

Westerners live in an epoch and a culture that celebrates powerful personalities and encourages self-assertion. How does this square with a biblical understanding of humans, made in the image of God, and yet called to community? Readings: Psalm 139.1-18 Romans 12.3-8 Matthew 12.46-50

Continuing the series on the Powers, Tim picks up the suggestion from parish camp that "superficiality" is one of the key powers of our age, distracting us from deep life in Christ. While pleasure is clearly a God-given gift (after all, "the Son of Man came eating and drinking..."), what goes wrong when it becomes all we live for? And then what happens when unchecked pleasure allies with some of t...

In last week's sermon, Steve talked us through the role of "The Powers" in the letter to the Ephesians. This week, Tim recapitulates that theology by looking at Colossians, and then applying that theology to Money. Can money be redeemed through simple and generous living? Readings: Deuteronomy 8.10-18 Colossians 1.15-20 Luke 16.10-15

Steve Shaw picks up where John Crawshaw left us at church camp. John got us thinking about "The Powers" that Paul introduces in Ephesians. Steve reminds us that These Powers are part of the created order, and that they have a proper place in creation, under Christ, the head. And when we see them out of order in the world around us, our first port of call is not fervent prayer, nor frantic action,...

Freshly back from the tangi of Kiingi Tuheitia and the coronation of Kuini Ngā Wai hono i te pō, Māmari Stephens weaves the parallels between the situations of Jews in Exile in Persia under the Emperor Xerxes, and the situation of Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand today. In examining the story of Queen Esther, she ponders how God uses our soft power to work for the good of those who feel the need to h...

Exile was totally disruptive of the life of God's people. The best and brightest were compelled to work for a foreign regime. But, rather than doing so grumpily, exiles like Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego throw themselves into life in Babylon, in line with Jeremiah's instructions in Jeremiah 29. They dig in to life in Babylon, but they also dig into life with God. And then, when they'...

In part 4 of our Civil Servants of Scripture series, Tim looks at some of the officials named in the reign of King David. You can't rule a kingdom without a lot of dedicated officials. But the rot starts at the top. What if power goes to the boss's head, and your boss is the king? Tim talks briefly about Joab, and more extensively, Uriah, to consider the place of officials when power is mi...

This week, our Civil Servants of Scripture Series looks at Deborah. The story is sometimes seen as an indictment on male leadership, or perhaps as an exaltation of the preferability of female leadership. But what if we see it as an exploration in collaboration and co-operation? How might that help us to approach our work in the world with a spirit of service, calling, and co-operation? Rebecca lea...

The story of Joseph is so big, he gets two sermons in this series on Civil Servants of the Bible. This week, Joseph has been installed as effective prime minister of Egypt. Matt outlines for us the qualities of a good servant, including the quality of "anticipation". How does Joseph's faith in God help him to anticipate the nation's needs, and to plan appropriately? And how does...

This week's sermon starts a new series on the Civil Servants and Public Officials of the Bible. We live in a civil servant town. All our lives in Wellington are touched by personal connections to the civil service. Many of us work there. Many of us will work there. And even if we don't, all our lives are affected by the policy decisions and executive actions of civil servants. This series...