Merri Creek Anglican

Christian faith requires the discipline of Jesus. But we don't always want to accept that because we would rather think of God as being there to make us feel good. When suffering and trials come our way, Hebrews 12 says that this is God disciplining us as a loving father. Listen and see why this is a good thing.

Guest speaker Hannah Craven unpacks Hebrews 11 and focuses in on Rahab the unlikely woman in this cloud of witnesses.

This sermon explores the concluding chapter of the book of Ruth. Here we will see how the whole book is a kind of a mini-version of the whole story of the Bible. It tells of the main character's progression from death to life.

Often the cheesy romance genre depicts a passive woman and an active man (think Mills and Boon or the more recent Twilight vampire series). But the ancient Hebrew story of Ruth, shows (in chapter three), an active woman and an active man. Hear about how Ruth and Boaz get together, but also how their romance is a kind of picture of the Divine Romance between God and his people.

Boaz showed great kindness to Ruth and Naomi. His actions reflected the kindness God was showing to the two women. This sermon is about God's kindness, and what this means for us.

If God is our father, and we are his children, what is God's parenting style? He's not a helicopter parent, nor is he free-range parent, rather he is the perfect father who provides a secure base from which to set us free and a safe haven to welcome us back – all the while taking a strong interest and care for what we are doing. In this sermon from Ruth 1, Peter talks about Naomi's journey away from the security of God's community in Bethlehem to the foreign people in Moab. After great suffering she returns with her unusually devoted daughter in-law

Hebrews 9 contrasts the perfect and permanent new covenant under Jesus with the temporary old covenant God made with Moses. See why Jesus' atoning sacrifice for sin is superior to the sacrifice made in the tabernacle.

Hebrews 8 continues to build on the implications of Jesus being a priest king like Melchizedek. The point is that now he sits on his throne in his glory in the heavenly sanctuary, and he has an ongoing ministry to the world to give people new hearts, forgive them of their sins, and create in them knowledge with God. This sermon will explore why the new covenant is superior to the old, and what it means for us today to have new hearts.

For most Melbournians, both the title 'King' and 'Priest' are fairly antiquated and irrelevant. There have been so many bad examples of royalty and the institutional church in recent memory that we have become very cynical. However, when you consider both titles in their ideal, if such kings or priests were to exist, we might become very excited. In this sermon Peter preaches about the idea enigmatic king-priest Melchizedek found in Genesis 14, Psalm 110, and Hebrews 7. Why Melchizedek so important? And how is Jesus a king-priest like Melchizedek? What does this mean for us?

Aboriginal Christian Leader Brooke Prentis presents an inspiring challenge to us about how we at Merri Creek can respond as Christians to the need for reconciliation between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people in Australia.

This is one of the most difficult sections of the New Testament. It starts off in a straight forward way, urging the Jewish-Christian readers of this letter, to not be baby Christians but to apply their faith. But then it goes into a warning about the seriousness of falling away. Peter explains how this passage is actually an encouragement.

Since the days of Moses' brother Aaron, Israel's religious life was led by a High Priest. The writer to the Hebrews makes a big argument, that Jesus is the Great High Priest. He is the greats that ever lived. Therefore, we can approach him with confidence. But how can we know that Jesus is really the person for the job as the Great High Priest? How can you know that when you approach Jesus for forgiveness and a new life, that he will be able to fulfil his side of the bargain? Here Peter continues the 2016 Hebrews series to show you why Jesus is the one for the job.

Guest speaker Peter Corney discusses how to practically live out the kind of Christian love that is described in 1 Corinthians 13, in the life of the church.

If you are in Christ, his love for you will change you. In this sermon, Peter explains how this should shape your thinking about yourself, and your relationships with others in the church.

This talk is the first of a three-part series on Christian love and pastoral care. Ephesians 2:1-10 shows us that despite the fact that we were spiritually dead and under the curse of sin, God reached out in his loving grace and made us alive.

Guest speaker, Graham Cole, Dean of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Chicago, spoke at Merri Creek on the occasion of the baptism of his grandson. Graham deals asks us if we really know what 'Christian' means in this age when it has been coopted by so many other political and cultural groups.

Do you use the Bible like a fortune cookie – flicking the pages and then randomly sticking your finger down to see what verse you land on? I hope not. In this sermon, Rob explains how God really guides us with his word.

[Rob Miller] God's Word Brings Life (1 Peter 1:17-25) 26.6.16 by Merri Creek Anglican

Do you come forward at church to receive the bread and wine and know what you are doing? What is the Lord's Supper important? What is this act of worship that Jesus established at the Last Supper? What do Anglicans believe?

In this last of the giving series from 2 Corinthians 8-9, Peter looks at the way Paul wanted the Corinthian church to give Abundantly. In this passage, Paul makes some famous but curious promises about reaping what you sow. What does this mean with regards to financial giving? What is it that we reap? Moreover, why is it so important to become an abundant giver?