St Paul's Box Hill Podcasts

Continuing our series on the Arena of Healing, this week we examine the next two of the beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. Today we look at peacemakers, and those who are persecuted. [Organ/Choir Epiphany 7]

We continue with part 3 of our series on the Beatitudes, Jesus' most famous sermon, on how we can find healing, and extend that healing to others. Today we focus on being Forgiving and on having Pure Motives. [Organ/Choir - Epiphany 6]

Today we look at the next two Beatitudes from the most famous sermon of Jesus, The Sermon on the Mount. Jesus blessed the meek, and those who hunger for righteousness. The meek are teachable (those willing to admit they do not know it all), and when you hunger for righteousness, you are prepared to act. Come and learn, and be prepared to follow. [Organ - Epiphany 5]

Do you know anyone who doesn't need any kind of healing? Perhaps the words of Jesus might seem irrelevant to such a person, because Jesus said he came to seek and save the lost, and to minister to those who need help. Today we begin a four week series called The Arena of Healing, to learn about and receive heallng.

Do you like maths? God seems to. But what kind? Listen how the Gospels sum up God’s way of doing maths, and learn to do the same. [Organ - Epiphany 3]

When John's disciples asked Jesus where he was staying, his reply was "Come and see". In a similar way, Jesus invites us to abide with him, grow into relationship with him, and then invite others, too, to come and see. Guest preacher today is Pastor Brett Kennett. [Organ - Epiphany 2]

The baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by his cousin John was a radical challenge to the temple system of his day. And yet it was needed to "fulfil all righteousness". Immediately afterwards, we see Christ cast out into the wilderness for 40 days of hell on earth. In our own lives, we can learn from this same rhythm of River and Wilderness. Lay reader today is Peter Westhorp. [Organ - Baptism of Jesus]

The wise men from the east followed what little, distant light they had been given. Hospital chaplain Sue Westhorp explores how this can shape our own faith response. [Instrumental - Epiphany]

So this is Christmas, and what has God done? Another year older, perhaps? We finish the year and our Advent preparation by looking at how beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news. God bless one and all to receive and carry this message even further! [Organ/Choir - Christmas Day]

Each year, the Christmas story remains the same. But don't become jaded, for there is only one gift, exactly one, that is truly needed. [Organ/Choir - Christmas Eve]

Where or what gives you the greatest joy? Does this ever change? Psalm 122:1, says we are to “rejoice” with those who go to the house of the Lord. What does that mean? How can we find a place or joy that doesn’t change? [Organ/Choir - Advent 4]

How's your peace with God? Peace with others? How about yourself? Peace on earth, how do we get that? These are all issues the Bible addresses, and God wants to help us with. [Organ/Choir - Advent 3]

Dr David Anderson, a guest of Grow Ministries in Australia, preached this morning on unity on God's mountain, and the consequent call on every Christian to reach out to the world. [Organ/Choir - Advent 2]

Have you ever been mountain climbing? Maybe facing a few mountains of your own? Today we begin our Advent journey of mountain climbing, based on the words of Isaiah 2:3, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord.” Come, join us in the adventure. [Organ/Choir - Advent 1]

Having accepted a call to another parish in South Australia, retiring senior pastor Andrew Brook finds many parallels between Paul's letter to the church at Colossae and his own reflections on almost a decade of service at St Paul's. [Organ/Choir - Christ the King - Last Sunday of the Church Year]

Travelling towards the Cross, Jesus spoke about the end times, trying to direct his disciples to a life beyond even the most imposing things that this world can offer. Jesus' words about false teachers also serve to warn us again today not to be distracted, placing our faith anywhere else but in Jesus himself. These can be difficult times to be a Christian, more so in other countries than here. We need to stay fixed on Christ who has come to bring the fullness of life. [Organ/Choir - Pentecost 26]

Are you a saint? Maybe yes, maybe no. What does it mean? What is the meaning of life? All saints should know. And what lies ahead? These are big questions addressed today. [Organ/Choir - All Saints Sunday]

Fifty years is a good age for retrospection, and this is the 50th anniversary of the formationn of a single Lutheran Church of Australia. It is also Reformation Sunday, going back to the roots of Lutheranism when a junior professor of theology pinned 95 debating points on the academic noticeboard for discussion. (Five hundred years later, the Lutheran and Catholic churches are slowly moving back from conflict to communion.) What was all the fuss about? The very heart of the Gospel. [Organ/Choir - Reformation]

How would you summarise the Christian life? Does “strength to strength” come to mind? Maybe not, but that is how the Good News of Jesus should come across to us. Today we look more closely at Psalm 84:7 to discover how this kind of life might be possible. (This address followed a performance of Bach's cantata BWV 113 "Lord Jesus Christ, O highest good".) [Organ/Choir - Pentecost 23]

We all struggle in life. We get anxious about the future. We wrestle with God and we want to know his will. God allows us to struggle with him, because he wants to guide our path. As Jacob wrestled with God, God blessed Jacob so that he can bring his blessing to others. God calls us to trust him, even in our weakness. He is in control. [Organ/Choir - Pentecost 22]