Author: Philip

‘The hitch-hiker’s guide to the good life’

AudioPhilip

It is well known that Psalm 1 is the opening psalm in the book of the Psalms, and that in it, a summary of the message of the book of Psalms can be found. But not everyone understands that Psalm 2 complements Psalm 1 and gives us instruction on how to be the ‘blessed man’ (or woman). In this message on both Psalms, PTC final year student, Steve Denness, tells us how.

Message

Outline

• Blessed… the one man (1:1-3)

• Not so… the wicked (1:4-6)

• Rebellious… the peoples (2:1-3)

• Angry… Yahweh (2:4-6)

• Installed… the Son (2:7-9)

• Blessed… the many refugees (2:10-12)

‘The King’s two urgent questions and three vital statements’ (Matthew 16:13-20)

AudioPhilip

There’s no doubt that Matthew 16:13-20 is one of the key texts of the New Testament for so many reasons. In it, we find that Jesus challenged his disciples with two urgent questions and then three follow up statements all of which were designed to bring the 12 to a point where they were put ‘on the spot’ in relation to Jesus’ identity and then also about their own task in the world as the foundation of the church Jesus came to build.

Message

Outline

‘The King speaks out against unbelief and lacking faith’ (Matthew 16:1-12)

AudioPhilip

There are many who presume or assume that Jesus never stood for much, and that he endorsed social developments or changes that we think of! However in Matthew 16:1-12, this is proved to be false. Here, Jesus spoke out strongly both to his disciples about the influence of the Jewish religious leaders, and he also spoke strongly to them! We would do well to hear what he had to say, so that we are well warned and carefully and rightly directed!

Message

Outline

• The Jesus who stands for many causes…
• This Jesus who ‘never criticized anyone’
• After the feeding of the 4,000, Jesus spoke out!
• See in this text that Jesus had to …

  1. Confront the demands of naked unbelief (v.1-4)
  2. Warn the disciples about false teachers (v.5-7)
  3. Reprimand the disciples about lacking faith (v.8-12)

Unbelief – not due to a lack of evidence!
He gets us! Make sure you get Him!

The ‘John Drama’ is coming!

Philip

After 12 months of planning and praying, we’re pleased to announce that the ‘John Drama’ is taking shape!

The ‘John Drama’ is a 90-minute, ‘theatre in the round’ production of the story of Jesus, as told by his close follower, John, as found in the Gospel of John.

Thanks to Wycliffe Bible Translators and Reforming Church, the Drama can be seen at Reforming Church on Saturday October 21 and Sunday October 22 at 7pm both nights. There is no cost involved.

‘The Kingdom’s coach’ (Matthew 5:1-12)

AudioPhilip

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is one of the most amazing sections of the Scriptures. Thought it has been widely misunderstood and misinterpreted, it means one of the longest sections we have of Jesus’ teaching, especially concerning the way the citizens of the Kingdom of God ought to live. Matthew 5:1-12 is no exception, and in this message (preached by Keith Bell), this demand upon us, as His disciples, becomes clear.

Message

Outline

INTRODUCTION
Unedifying approaches
The structure of Matthew
The structure of the
Sermon on the Mount
PROPOSITION
Jesus’ aim for His disciples is that they be fully trained as citizens of the
Kingdom of Heaven.
Let’s see how He sets about accomplishing His aim.
I START THINKING AS CITIZENS OF HEAVEN
II ONLY ONE INSTRUCTOR
III JESUS’ EXPECTATIONS
SO WHAT
CONCLUSION
REFLECTION: How I will respond to this message

‘The King feeds the multitudes (again!)’

AudioPhilip

It’s somewhat of an oddity that Matthew records the feeding of the 4,000 in Matthew 15.29-39 so soon after the feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew 14:13-21. But the two incidents are not the same. Matthew wasn’t confused and wrote down the same incident twice. Each of the ‘feeding miracles’ have their own contexts and particulars, so they were certainly different in his mind and in the mind of Jesus! Even so, it sowrth noting that the two miracles – though essentially the same – have their own purpose in Jesus’ ministry.

Message

Outline

• Didn’t we just cover this text??
• This miracle follows the Canaanite woman’s faith
• Where this miracle takes place…Gentile territory
• See in this text how we are told about …

  1. The wideness of His compassion (v.29-31)
  2. The sureness of His actions (v.32-36)
  3. The satisfaction in His provision (v.37-39)

The physical needs are most felt…
The spiritual needs are more urgent!

‘The King meets an‘outsider’ who became an ‘insider’ (Matthew 15:21-28)

AudioPhilip

It’s interesting to note how matthew has recorded the meeting between Jesus and the woman from Canaan directly after his comments relating to who is ‘clean or unclean’ and who is ‘defiled or undefiled’…because this woman was most certianly ‘unclean’ as well as ‘defiled’ in the eyes of the Pharisees and even in the eyes of the disciples who just wanted to shoo her away. But not Jesus. Even though it appeared that he wasn’t listening to her, he was, and he gave her what she asked for…and more!

Message

Outline

• Jesus in an unusual place meeting an unusual person
• A turning point in Matthew’s gospel
• This woman – a real ‘outsider’
• See how we are told about their conversation …

  1. A discouraging beginning (v.21-24)
  2. A challenging middle (v.25-26)
  3. A satisfying end (v.27-28)

Saving faith in surprising places…
Outsiders are more than welcome…!

What happened at this year’s GAA?

Philip

The GAA (the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Australia) met in Hurstville, Sydney, NSW from September 4-7, with Rev David Burke (NSW) inducted as Moderator-General for the next three years.

The business that comes to and is discussed by the GAA relates to matters that affect the whole church and not just the churches in individual states (which are determined by each State Assembly).

For a good sumarry of this year’s business, please follow this link here to an article on the page of the ‘Australian Presbyterian’ written by Rev Mark Powell (Hobart, TAS). You might find the decisions of interst, especially those surrounding the practise of ‘Welcome to Country’ in relation to regular Presbyterian worship.

‘The King is confronted about laws and traditions’ (Matthew 15:1-20)

AudioPhilip

As soon as Jesus was back in the midst of the Jewish people, the Scribes and Pharisees questioned him about his lack of enforcement of the traditions around hand washing. Rather than explain himself directly, Jesus in turn, responded with questions as to why the Pharisees and Scribes failed to comply with God’s commandments about honouring their parents, so that they might escape the full force of their responsibilities. He also went on to explain that external hand washing (as well as any kind of food) does nothing to deal with the problem of our sinful hearts, reminding them that only a complete transformation from within, from the heart, is what God ultimately requires.

Message

Outline

• From miracles and action to debate
• Hand washing?
• Was Jesus a traditionalist just for the sake of it?
• See how the text tells us about traditions, and …

  1. The confrontation that began (v.1-2)
  2. The critique that followed (v.3-9)
  3. The clarification that resulted (v.10-20)

Traditions and us!
Caring more about the externals than the internals…