Episodes
Sunday Dec 26, 2021
Joy in Blessing the Poor (Audio)
Sunday Dec 26, 2021
Sunday Dec 26, 2021
This is the sixth and final message in our series "Surprised by Joy", by pastor Rolly Stahl.
Christmas celebrates God coming down from Heaven to earth in the baby boy Jesus. In Jesus, God has opened his heart and his kingdom to us. In Jesus, we have God's favour so that we can bless others. In this message on Boxing Day, we explore the joy in blessing the poor.
Sunday Dec 26, 2021
Joy in Blessing the Poor (Video)
Sunday Dec 26, 2021
Sunday Dec 26, 2021
This is the sixth and final message in our series "Surprised by Joy", by pastor Rolly Stahl.
Christmas celebrates God coming down from Heaven to earth in the baby boy Jesus. In Jesus, God has opened his heart and his kingdom to us. In Jesus, we have God's favour so that we can bless others. In this message on Boxing Day, we explore the joy in blessing the poor.
Saturday Dec 25, 2021
Sharing in the Joy of Angels (Audio)
Saturday Dec 25, 2021
Saturday Dec 25, 2021
Joy to the world! The Lord is come:
Let earth receive her king.
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing.
There is joy in knowing that we are loved and treasured by our Heavenly Father. In spite of human indifference and rebellion towards our Creator, God has never given up on his restorations plans for his creation – including us humans who have been created in the image of God.
Over thousands of years, God promised a Deliverer from the curse of sin, a descendant of Abraham who would bring blessing to the nations, a son of David who would establish an everlasting kingdom, the Messiah through whom God would redeem the world. The Lord’s ancient promises are – and will be – fulfilled in Jesus.
At the birth of his Infant Majesty, God’s holy angels sang for joy in heaven; and people rejoiced here on earth. As we remember Jesus’ birth, we celebrate the love of God for us in sending his Son to save us and make us his forever.
Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope! (Romans 15:13 MSG)
Pastor Rolly Stahl
Saturday Dec 25, 2021
Sharing in the Joy of Angels (Video)
Saturday Dec 25, 2021
Saturday Dec 25, 2021
Joy to the world! The Lord is come:
Let earth receive her king.
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing.
There is joy in knowing that we are loved and treasured by our Heavenly Father. In spite of human indifference and rebellion towards our Creator, God has never given up on his restorations plans for his creation – including us humans who have been created in the image of God.
Over thousands of years, God promised a Deliverer from the curse of sin, a descendant of Abraham who would bring blessing to the nations, a son of David who would establish an everlasting kingdom, the Messiah through whom God would redeem the world. The Lord’s ancient promises are – and will be – fulfilled in Jesus.
At the birth of his Infant Majesty, God’s holy angels sang for joy in heaven; and people rejoiced here on earth. As we remember Jesus’ birth, we celebrate the love of God for us in sending his Son to save us and make us his forever.
Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope! (Romans 15:13 MSG)
Pastor Rolly Stahl
Friday Dec 24, 2021
Christmas Eve: Joy in the Best Gift of All! (Audio)
Friday Dec 24, 2021
Friday Dec 24, 2021
An audio Christmas message from Pastor Rolly Stahl on 24 December 2021.
Friday Dec 24, 2021
Christmas Eve: Joy in the Best Gift of All! (Video)
Friday Dec 24, 2021
Friday Dec 24, 2021
2021 Christmas Eve readings and narratives, with a message from Pastor Rolly Stahl.
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
A Joy Shared (Audio)
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
“A sorrow shared is a sorrow halved; a joy shared is a joy doubled.”
What do you think – has this been your experience?
I reckon it’s generally true. When you share a burden with someone who shows empathy and concern for your welfare, and perhaps offers to pray with you, you go away feeling a “lighter”. You are no longer carrying that burden on your own.
When you share a joy with another person, then they have an opportunity to rejoice and celebrate with you. There’s not much joy in having a party on your own, is there?
I wonder what have been some of the ‘joy milestones’ in your life:
-
Can you recall an experience of joy as a child?
-
What has been one ‘joy milestone’ in your adult life?
-
What brings you joy in this season of life?
The wonderful thing about joy is that it’s contagious. When we hear some good news, or experience something wonderful, we want to share it with others.
Jesus gives us some examples in Luke 15:
-
When a man finds his lost sheep, ‘he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep’ (Luke 15:5-6 (NIV).
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When a woman finds her lost coin, ‘she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin’ (Luke 15:9 NIV).
-
When a father has his younger son back in his family, he tells the older son: ‘But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found’ (Luke 15:32 NIV).
This Sunday we continue our Advent/Christmas series: Surprised by Joy. After the angel Gabriel visited Mary, she went to visit her relative Elizabeth in Judea – and joy erupts like a fountain in both of them. Sunday’s theme: A Joy Shared.
Come and celebrate the joy of Jesus with your church family.
Shalom!
Pr Rolly Stahl
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
A Joy Shared (Video)
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
Sunday Dec 19, 2021
“A sorrow shared is a sorrow halved; a joy shared is a joy doubled.”
What do you think – has this been your experience?
I reckon it’s generally true. When you share a burden with someone who shows empathy and concern for your welfare, and perhaps offers to pray with you, you go away feeling a “lighter”. You are no longer carrying that burden on your own.
When you share a joy with another person, then they have an opportunity to rejoice and celebrate with you. There’s not much joy in having a party on your own, is there?
I wonder what have been some of the ‘joy milestones’ in your life:
-
Can you recall an experience of joy as a child?
-
What has been one ‘joy milestone’ in your adult life?
-
What brings you joy in this season of life?
The wonderful thing about joy is that it’s contagious. When we hear some good news, or experience something wonderful, we want to share it with others.
Jesus gives us some examples in Luke 15:
-
When a man finds his lost sheep, ‘he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep’ (Luke 15:5-6 (NIV).
-
When a woman finds her lost coin, ‘she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin’ (Luke 15:9 NIV).
-
When a father has his younger son back in his family, he tells the older son: ‘But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found’ (Luke 15:32 NIV).
This Sunday we continue our Advent/Christmas series: Surprised by Joy. After the angel Gabriel visited Mary, she went to visit her relative Elizabeth in Judea – and joy erupts like a fountain in both of them. Sunday’s theme: A Joy Shared.
Come and celebrate the joy of Jesus with your church family.
Shalom!
Pr Rolly Stahl
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Joy in God‘s Favour (Audio)
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
“Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”
Do those words ring a bell? If an angel of the LORD spoke those words to you, would you believe them?
Finding favour with God – isn’t that something we all long for? But sometimes we might wonder whether it’s even possible.
These words are not just addressed to Mary, but to you and me… and to every person you know! The Son Mary carries will bring God’s favour to all! At the cross, her Son will carry all our blame – so we can be forgiven and brought into a right relationship with God. Through his resurrection, we are given a hope and a future in God’s restoration story for his world.
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Joy in God‘s Favour (Video)
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
“Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”
Do those words ring a bell? If an angel of the LORD spoke those words to you, would you believe them?
Finding favour with God – isn’t that something we all long for? But sometimes we might wonder whether it’s even possible.
These words are not just addressed to Mary, but to you and me… and to every person you know! The Son Mary carries will bring God’s favour to all! At the cross, her Son will carry all our blame – so we can be forgiven and brought into a right relationship with God. Through his resurrection, we are given a hope and a future in God’s restoration story for his world.