St John’s Diamond Creek Talks
Episodes
Tuesday May 29, 2018
Joy In Your Life || Humility || Philippians 2:1-11
Tuesday May 29, 2018
Tuesday May 29, 2018
UPDATED: Apologies, as we originally used the wrong audio for this episode. Call it a lesson in humility.
Continuing our series through Paul's letter to the Church in Philippi, Tim explores what Paul says about humility. Paul makes it clear that if you're a Christian, you've received love and acceptance through Jesus, before you've done anything at all. Our reaction to that, though, our response to God for uniting himself with us, it to be united with others. If it's true that we're loved by God, we should be loving others. If we have the Spirit of God within us, we should be united with others through that same Spirit.
In response to Jesus, we necessarily need to live differently.
Monday May 21, 2018
Joy In Your Life || All about Jesus || Philippians 1:12-30
Monday May 21, 2018
Monday May 21, 2018
Do you have a mate (or maybe yourself), who is fully devoted to something? Do they use every spare moment to work on their cricket skills? Are they like a sheepdog, focused on herding the flock?
Paul, the author of this letter to the church in Philippi, was fully devoted to persecuting Christians, throwing them in jail, and giving them a hard time. That was until he had an encounter with Jesus, and turned his devotion to the spreading of the good news of Jesus. Paul laid his life bare for Jesus, willing to give up his freedom (he's writing this letter from prison), and willing to give up his reputation - Paul says that he'd be happy for people to be preaching the Gospel even if they do it in a way that brings Paul harm; as long as they are preaching the good news of Jesus!
What are you willing to give up for Jesus? Would you let yourself be lowered down to bring Jesus up in glory?
Monday May 14, 2018
Joy In Your Life || Partners in the Gospel || Philippians 1:1-11
Monday May 14, 2018
Monday May 14, 2018
When you think about Christians, how would you describe them? Would you think that they're judgmental? Bigot? Do-gooder? Paul, in the first century, wrote a letter to a new church in Philippi, saying that believers should be characterised by the joy in their lives. Throughout the book of Philippians, Paul uses the word joyful, or rejoice, over and over again.
Paul says that we can find joy in 'partnership' in the Gospel. He finds joy in the fact that both he and those in Philippi are on the same team, sharing the good news of Jesus. Tim Johnson looks at some of our mission partners, and how we can be finding joy in those partnerships.
Monday May 07, 2018
Come and See: Lost and Far Away
Monday May 07, 2018
Monday May 07, 2018
When Julie was 17 years old, she lived in a Buhdist temple in Thailand. She learnt of compassion, and elements of Buhdism, as well as the power of positive thinking, and even dabbling in palm reading.
Julie's outward picture looks pretty good: a successful career, a dynamic social life, Julie saw the world as her stomping ground, and was stomping proudly. Though her life on the surface seemed positive and strong, living in China for a time threw a number of challenges at her, and she found all those positive things she had relied on brought no relief or support. Julie found her support in a Christian family, and the way that they lived out their faith, to love God and to love others. She was stunned that they not only believed that, but lived it out!
Christianity is about more than being a good person though- it's about a relationship with the God that loves you!