St John’s Diamond Creek Talks
Episodes
Monday Oct 01, 2018
The Church On Mission || Baptism & The Spirit || Acts 19:1-10
Monday Oct 01, 2018
Monday Oct 01, 2018
This episode launches our new series, The Church on Mission, following Paul as he travels around Greece and Asia Minor in the first century, commonly referred to as his 3rd Missionary Journey. Kirk gives us an introduction to reading Acts, unpacking how to read this historical account, and how we can learn from history.
This section of Acts speaks about some supernatural occurrences, including speaking in 'tongues', and 'prophesying', which Kirk explains and shows how these things are to be expected as Christians, but not a guaranteed experience, and that these things aren't the defining elements of being a Christian.
Monday Sep 24, 2018
Strangers || PS You Are Loved || Psalm 23
Monday Sep 24, 2018
Monday Sep 24, 2018
We've finished working through the first letter Peter wrote to early Christians in the first century, and this week, Julie brings us a "P.S.", reminding us all that God loves us. Psalm 23 describes God as our Shepherd, and Julie looks at four things we can learn about God from this song.
Following Julie's talk, we hear from three people from our community and how they respond to God's love.
Monday Sep 17, 2018
Strangers || Humility || 1 Peter 5:1-7
Monday Sep 17, 2018
Monday Sep 17, 2018
Finishing off this first-century letter to early Christians, Peter addresses the'elders' of the communities he is writing to; that is, the senior leaders of the church. He gives them three tips for good leadership within the Church, which can be easily translated to any leadership positions. Peter then addresses people in positions of 'followers', under someone else's leadership.
Essentially, Peter says to lead and be led with humility. Kirk explores humility for leaders, and humility for followers in the final talk in our Strangers: Far From Home series.
Monday Sep 10, 2018
Strangers || Eternal Perspective || 1 Peter 4:1-19
Monday Sep 10, 2018
Monday Sep 10, 2018
As Megan delivers her final talk at St John's after filling in during Tim's leave, she shows off her Latin vocabulary and looks at the phrase sub specie aeternitatis, meaning "from the perspective of eternity". Peter uses this section of his letter to first-century Christians to lift our eyes to the reality of eternity - the present reality of suffering can make our lives difficult, but we must live in the light of eternity and things to come.
Peter writes about ways people in the first century lived in the day-to-day, debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, detestable wild living - and while they might not be a part of our day-to-day focus, there are still signs of living for today. If time is short, maximising the amount of pleasure in your life might be making sure you have the best clothes, that your money is secure, that your own personal success is guaranteed. Having the perspective of God, from an eternal point of view, can help us persevere the storm, knowing that there is a connection to eternity.
Monday Sep 03, 2018
Strangers || Suffer for Doing Good || 1 Peter 3:8-22
Monday Sep 03, 2018
Monday Sep 03, 2018
Continuing our look through Peter's letter to first-century Christians, scattered throughout the Roman Empire, Peter addresses a people who are beginning to be persecuted for their faith. Within a few years of this letter being written, Christianity is outlawed throughout the Roman world, and Christians are arrested for their faith.
Sam explores what happens when Christians suffer for doing good, and sees how Peter shows that they are blessed for their suffering, that suffering exercises their hope, and that Christians participate in suffering with Jesus- just as he suffered for us.