Philip Burns

Rev Philip Burns is the minister of Bendigo Presbyterian Church.

‘The silence, the suffering and the substitution of Jesus’ (Mark 15:1-15)

Philip

There’s no doubt that the death of Jesus was one of the world’s greatest events for all the wrong reasons. Not only was He inncocent of all charges laid against Him and not only did the situation show itself to be one fuelled by anger and hatred, it was also true that it was possibly the greatest injustice ever handed out to a man. It’s telling that when the Son of God appeared on earth, mankind rejected Him and put Him on the cross. But that’s not the whole story and in Mark 15:1-15, the other side of the coin is made clear. Jesus went through with all this in obedience to God’s plan and in the madness of it all, we can trace the love and mercy of God.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Man Of Sorrows, Lamb Of God
00:50 Introduction
01:07 Prayer
Song: Jesus Thank You
04:52 Bible reading: Mark 14:53-62
Song: How Deep The Father’s Love
07:45 Bible reading: Mark 15:1-15
09:26 Sermon: Mark 15:1-15
Song: Man Of Sorrows
32:27 Closing

‘Meet the ‘more excellent way’ for the church at Corinth'(1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

AudioAndrew

There’s something about love that means that thousands of songs are written about it and everyone seems to want it! In 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, the Apostle Paul speaks about love quite extensively in a well-known text that has been used at many a wedding, but what he has to say really applies in the first instance to the church at Corinth, who had forgotten that the grace of love is better than any spiritual gift. And what he wrote was really for the church to put into practise – in loving each other – and loving in the way that Jesus loved the church, by laying down His life for her. Ultimately, our lack of love or lovelessness, is because we have moved far away from the cross – where we learn what love really is.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: 10,000 Reasons
00:14 Introduction
00:36 Prayer
05:35 Bible reading: Ephesians 4:17-5:2
Song: Behold our God
08:18 Mission Spot
Song: Jerusalem
11:46 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
13:55 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Song: When I Survey
34:57 Closing

‘Meet the metaphor to describe the church at Corinth (part 2)’ (1 Corinthians 12:14-31)

Philip

There’s no doubt that the human body is a wonderful invention. The fact that we can move, breathe, talk, eat sleep, is so often taken for granted. So much has to happen for everything to work together. If the church is the ‘body of Christ’ as 1 Corinthians 12:14-31 indicates, then it’s likely that the same holds true. Every part of the body not only has its own place but its own purpose and function. And every part of the body, each individual in the body is linked to the One who is the Head of the body for His purposes. That’s the wonder of being part of ‘the Church’, which exists for His glory and not that of the individual parts!

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: All My Days
00:15 Introduction
00:41 Prayer
07:16 Bible reading: Romans 12:1-13
Song: Only A Holy God
09:09 Mission Spot
Song: Jesus Paid It All
12:32 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 12:14-31
14:42 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 12:14-31
Song: Church of God
37:14 Closing

‘Meet the metaphor used to describe the Church at Corinth (part 1)’ (1 Corinthians 12:1-13)

AudioPhilip

The Church. What is it? Some say a building. This is true, but only one aspect of the answer. The idea of the Church being a ‘body’ is found in the New Testament, especially in 1 Corinthians 12:1-13. The church is made up of individuals, all saved by grace, and all united to the one Head (Jesus) who brings us together and makes us part of His body. It’s this that unites us and this unity should be evident to the whole world throughout all generations as witness to the the one truth, ‘Jesus is Lord’.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: The Power of the Cross
00:13 Introduction
00:39 Prayer
05:39 Bible reading: Ephesians 4:1-16
Song: There is a Redeemer
07:14 Mission Spot
10:55 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-13
Song: Nothing can I Boast
13:03 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 12:1-13
Song: The Church’s One Foundation
36:48 Closing

‘Meet the cultural issue in the church at Corinth’ (1 Corinthians 11:2-16)

AudioPhilip

There’s little doubt that 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 is a difficult text that over the years has been interpreted and applied in many ways. But, as difficult as it is to grasp at first glance, the text must be and is there for a good reason. It seems there was a fair bit of confusion in Corinth about gender roles (is anything new?) and this seems to be at the heart of Paul’s words – which apply to us today in the realm of what you have in your heart, rather than what you do or don’t wear on your head.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: All Creatures of Our God
00:14 Introduction
00:40 Prayer
06:22 Bible reading: Genesis 2:4-25
Song: By Faith
09:24 Mission Spot
12:57 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16
Song: Before the Throne
14:48 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16
Song: May the Mind of Christ
36:40 Closing

‘Understanding covenant baptism’ (Acts 2:39)

AudioAndrew

The Christian Church has been long divided over whether or not the children of Christians should receive the sacrament of baptism or not. As a Presbyterian Church we believe they should, and that the covenant promises of God to Abraham still stand. While this is an important aspect of what we believe, it is still not the gospel and not worth breaking faith over. Even so, God’s promise of salvation is to ‘you and your children’ (Acts 2:39)

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Come People of the Risen King
00:14 Introduction
00:40 Prayer
05:28 Bible reading: Genesis 17:1-26
10:20 Mission Spot
Song: He Will Hold Me Fast
13:34 Bible reading: Acts 2:14-41
Song: O Lord my Rock
18:17 Sermon: Understanding covenant baptism (Acts 2)
Song: Marvellous Grace
41:27 Closing

‘Journeying on to the city of the great King’ (Psalms 132, 133, 134)

AudioAndrew

Psalms 132,133 and 134 are three psalms that are linked by a common theme of being part of the ‘songs of ascent’ that were sung by the people of Israel going up to Jerusalem. Psalm 132 highlights that the city of Jerusalem was the city where God’s King lived. Psalm 133 celebrates the unity of the people of God in that city, and Psalm 134’s focus is upon the worship of God’s Name that happened there by day and night. Heaven will be all this and more for God’s people upon a ‘pilgrim journey’ to that heavenly city. (First preached March 2013)

‘The truth that speaks for itself’ (3 John 1-15)

AudioPhilip

Apart from the need for balance in the Christian life (the message of 2 John), we also need authenticity. Jesus spoke of this in the Sermon on the Mount, reminding us that ‘no good tree bears bad fruit’ and that ‘by  their fruits you will know them’. John’s third letter, known to us as 3 John, also calls us to be authentic in our witness for Christ as in unfolds John’s assessment of the example of three men in the local church: Gaius, Diotrephes and Demetries, whose witness and example for Christ, both good and bad, were noted by the Apostle John and recorded for us that we also might know and imitate (or avoid) their conduct.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Come Praise and Glorify
00:17 Introduction
00:36 Prayer
Song: Meekness and Majesty
05:53 Bible reading: 1 John 3:1-10
Song: O Lord my Rock
07:28 Bible reading: 3 John 1-15
09:16 Sermon: 3 John 1-15
Song: O for a Closer Walk with God
30:39 Closing

‘The ultimate in balancing acts’ (2 John 1-13)

AudioPhilip

In this short series called ‘Postcards from the past’ we come across this short letter of John the Apostle in which the writer urges his readers towards balance. Losing your balance can have terrible consequences in life and this is true also in the spiritual life. Sometimes, even sincere believers can go to extremes and get caught up in something that doesn’t help them grow in grace. So John speaks in his letter we know as 2 John, of truth and love, of teachability and discernment, of having an open and closed door, so that his readers (including us) might grow in Christ-likeness and service.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: All Creatures of Our God
00:19 Introduction
00:37 Prayer
Song: By Faith
06:04 Bible reading: 1 John 2:18-29
Song: There is a Redeemer
08:04 Bible reading: 2 John 1-13
09:54 Sermon: 2 John 1-13
Song: May the Mind of Christ
31:30 Closing

‘First responders to the news of the birth of Jesus’ (Luke 2:18-20)

AudioPhilip

The Christmas story is an old story. Over 2,000 years old. And given that each year we hear about it and sing about it, the danger we face is that ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ and that we lose the impact of the story. Maybe one way of recovering that impact is to consider the response of the people who were there at the time. These people would include those mentioned in Luke 2:18-20, those who heard the testimony of the shepherds (verse 18), Mary herself (verse 19) and the shepherds themselves (verse 20). Luke gives attention to each of these three group and by noting well their responses we might be able to sort through and answer the question, ‘What is your reponse to the news of the birth of Jesus?”