Episodes
Sunday Apr 25, 2021
Open Ears (Audio)
Sunday Apr 25, 2021
Sunday Apr 25, 2021
Has someone ever said to you: “You’re just not listening to me!” What was their tone of voice? What moved them to say that? How did you respond?
To be heard and understood is one of the greatest gifts we can receive; and one of the greatest gifts we can give. It is how we empathise and care for one another. The power of listening helps us know that we are not alone. It brings people closer together. It brings restoration to broken hearts and hurting souls.
The best book I’ve ever read on listening is by Adam S. McHugh: The Listening Life – Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction, (IVP: 2015). Like a treasure chest, this book is full of gems for everyone who seeks to become a better listener and carer to others. Here are a few of them:
‘…how would our relationships change, and how would we change, if we approached every situation with the intention of listening first? What if we approached our relationship with God as listeners? What if we view our relationship with nature as one of listening? What if we approached our relationships using our ears rather than our mouths?’ (p.10)
‘Hearing is an act of the senses, but listening is an act of the will. In listening you centre not only your ears but also your mind, heart and posture on someone or something other than yourself.’ (p.16)
‘The true listeners are those who stay, who crowd around Jesus and ask the interpretation of the parable. This is the kind of listeners God desires: those who pursue and seek and relentlessly question. They sit with Jesus’ words like an old friend that you know yet don’t really know, chewing and digesting, continuing to seek greater clarity and depth of understanding.’ (p.17)
‘The sort of people we become is, in large part, determined by the voices that we choose to listen to. Truly, we do not have a choice of listening versus not listening. We all obey certain voices, and thus the question is not “Will I listen?” but “Which voices will I listen to?” (p.21)
Jesus says: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” (John 10:14 NIV) And: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27 NIV)
Over the last two Sundays, our themes have been Open Door and Open Eyes. This Sunday we will consider: Open Ears. It’s a privilege to come together to listen to the words of Jesus, to discuss what that means for us, and to help each other to live them out!
Pr Rolly Stahl
Sunday Apr 25, 2021
Open Ears (Video)
Sunday Apr 25, 2021
Sunday Apr 25, 2021
Has someone ever said to you: “You’re just not listening to me!” What was their tone of voice? What moved them to say that? How did you respond?
To be heard and understood is one of the greatest gifts we can receive; and one of the greatest gifts we can give. It is how we empathise and care for one another. The power of listening helps us know that we are not alone. It brings people closer together. It brings restoration to broken hearts and hurting souls.
The best book I’ve ever read on listening is by Adam S. McHugh: The Listening Life – Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction, (IVP: 2015). Like a treasure chest, this book is full of gems for everyone who seeks to become a better listener and carer to others. Here are a few of them:
‘…how would our relationships change, and how would we change, if we approached every situation with the intention of listening first? What if we approached our relationship with God as listeners? What if we view our relationship with nature as one of listening? What if we approached our relationships using our ears rather than our mouths?’ (p.10)
‘Hearing is an act of the senses, but listening is an act of the will. In listening you centre not only your ears but also your mind, heart and posture on someone or something other than yourself.’ (p.16)
‘The true listeners are those who stay, who crowd around Jesus and ask the interpretation of the parable. This is the kind of listeners God desires: those who pursue and seek and relentlessly question. They sit with Jesus’ words like an old friend that you know yet don’t really know, chewing and digesting, continuing to seek greater clarity and depth of understanding.’ (p.17)
‘The sort of people we become is, in large part, determined by the voices that we choose to listen to. Truly, we do not have a choice of listening versus not listening. We all obey certain voices, and thus the question is not “Will I listen?” but “Which voices will I listen to?” (p.21)
Jesus says: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” (John 10:14 NIV) And: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27 NIV)
Over the last two Sundays, our themes have been Open Door and Open Eyes. This Sunday we will consider: Open Ears. It’s a privilege to come together to listen to the words of Jesus, to discuss what that means for us, and to help each other to live them out!
Pr Rolly Stahl
Sunday Apr 18, 2021
Open Eyes (Video)
Sunday Apr 18, 2021
Sunday Apr 18, 2021
"Open Eyes", a message by Pastor Rolly Stahl on 18 April 2021.
Jump into the New Testament and we find multiple post-resurrection appearances of Jesus – to hundreds of people. Have you ever wondered: “Why didn’t the resurrected Jesus appear to those who brought about his death?” We’d like to see Jesus vindicate himself to those who rejected him.
When Peter shares the Good News of Jesus with Cornelius and his household, he gives us a reason why Jesus did NOT appear to all:
“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen – by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:39-43 NIV).
The risen Jesus only appeared to those chosen by God to be his witnesses.
Today's Bible reading -Luke 24:13-48.
When Jesus came alongside the two chaps on the road to Emmaus, they could not see who he was – until their eyes were opened. Yet what a difference it made! They immediately returned to Jerusalem to share their testimony – and Jesus shows up again!
Sunday Apr 18, 2021
Open Eyes (Audio)
Sunday Apr 18, 2021
Sunday Apr 18, 2021
"Open Eyes", a message by Pastor Rolly Stahl on 18 April 2021.
Jump into the New Testament and we find multiple post-resurrection appearances of Jesus – to hundreds of people. Have you ever wondered: “Why didn’t the resurrected Jesus appear to those who brought about his death?” We’d like to see Jesus vindicate himself to those who rejected him.
When Peter shares the Good News of Jesus with Cornelius and his household, he gives us a reason why Jesus did NOT appear to all:
“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen – by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:39-43 NIV).
The risen Jesus only appeared to those chosen by God to be his witnesses.
Today's Bible reading -Luke 24:13-48.
When Jesus came alongside the two chaps on the road to Emmaus, they could not see who he was – until their eyes were opened. Yet what a difference it made! They immediately returned to Jerusalem to share their testimony – and Jesus shows up again!
Sunday Apr 11, 2021
Open Door (Audio)
Sunday Apr 11, 2021
Sunday Apr 11, 2021
"Open Door", a message by Pastor Rolly Stahl on 11 April 2021.
An open door means we have access at any time.
After Jesus had risen the disciples are in hiding – for fear of the Jews. Having the wind knocked out of their sails, they don’t know what to do, or where to turn. But then Jesus drops in!
Just as the tomb could not keep Jesus in, the locked doors could not keep Jesus out! There is no barrier or door that can keep Jesus from his people. He has opened the way for us to heaven; and his heart remains open to us!
For the remaining Sundays of April, our worship series is Open. This Sunday’s theme: Open Door. Come along. Taste and see that the Lord is good!
Title photo by Artem Beliaikin from Pexels.
Sunday Apr 11, 2021
Open Door (Video)
Sunday Apr 11, 2021
Sunday Apr 11, 2021
"Open Door", a message by Pastor Rolly Stahl on 11 April 2021.
An open door means we have access at any time.
After Jesus had risen the disciples are in hiding – for fear of the Jews. Having the wind knocked out of their sails, they don’t know what to do, or where to turn. But then Jesus drops in!
Just as the tomb could not keep Jesus in, the locked doors could not keep Jesus out! There is no barrier or door that can keep Jesus from his people. He has opened the way for us to heaven; and his heart remains open to us!
For the remaining Sundays of April, our worship series is Open. This Sunday’s theme: Open Door. Come along. Taste and see that the Lord is good!
Title photo by Artem Beliaikin from Pexels.
Sunday Apr 04, 2021
Deathless - He is risen! (Video)
Sunday Apr 04, 2021
Sunday Apr 04, 2021
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Text for the day is Mark 16:1-8.
We believe that Jesus Christ, our Lord, died for our sins, that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. We believe that we were buried with Christ by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead, we too might walk in newness of life.We believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and that we have eternal life through him.
The cross, the cup and the empty tomb. Three short presentations by Pr Rolly, Georgie and Pr Reid.
Sunday Apr 04, 2021
Deathless - He is risen! (Audio)
Sunday Apr 04, 2021
Sunday Apr 04, 2021
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Text for the day is Mark 16:1-8.
We believe that Jesus Christ, our Lord, died for our sins, that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. We believe that we were buried with Christ by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead, we too might walk in newness of life.We believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and that we have eternal life through him.
The cross, the cup and the empty tomb. Three short presentations by Pr Rolly, Georgie and Pr Reid.
Friday Apr 02, 2021
DauntLESS (audio)
Friday Apr 02, 2021
Friday Apr 02, 2021
DauntLESS: a Good Friday audio message from Pastor Reid Matthias.
Jesus was many things to many people. In today's message we consider the epitaphs that different people might have applied to Jesus on Good Friday. Despite what everyone might have thought about him, Jesus was undaunted - he fufliled the purpose for which he came. What epitaph would you write for Jesus? What epitaph would God the Father write for Jesus his son?
Friday Apr 02, 2021
DauntlLESS (Video)
Friday Apr 02, 2021
Friday Apr 02, 2021
DauntLESS: a Good Friday video message from Pastor Reid Matthias.
Jesus was many things to many people. In today's message we consider the epitaphs that different people might have applied to Jesus on Good Friday. Despite what everyone might have thought about him, Jesus was undaunted - he fufliled the purpose for which he came. What epitaph would you write for Jesus? What epitaph would God the Father write for Jesus his son?