St John’s Diamond Creek Talks

I am in Christ || Who Am I? || Romans 8:1-17

Through this series, we've seen how we as humans are made in God's image, how we're whole people with thoughts, emotions and a conscience, but also how there is a brokenness about humanity, and regardless of our race, nationality, age and gender, we are slaves to sin. This week, Tim looks at what the bible means when it says we are "in Christ", free from condemnation. What difference does it make to our identity to be a follower of Jesus, to identify as a Christian?

I am a Free Person || Who Am I? || John 8:31-36

I've got to break free, I've got to break free! - Queen, I Want To Break Free
'Cause I need freedom now and I need to know how, to live my life as it's meant to be - Mumford and Sons, The Cave
So what is freedom? What does it mean to break free? Is freedom just the ability to make our own decisions without hindrance? What about when those decisions impact the freedom of others?
Jesus said by following his teachings, we will be his disciples, and know the truth - the truth that will set us free. Isn't that limiting to follow someone else's teaching - how can that set us free?

I am a Fallen Person || Who Am I? || Genesis 3

Are humans basically good, or basically bad? In the opening chapters of the bible, we see God create humanity, and proclaim them to be "very good", and yet just two chapters later, we see Adam and Eve fall into temptation and eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Tempation continues to follow humanity, and in this episode, Tim explores the three elements of tempation: Doubting the goodness of God, doubting the trustworthiness of God, and putting ourselves in the place of God.  

I am a Whole Person || Who Am I? || Psalm 84

There is more to a person than just the physical impulses. Science would say that you and your personality, your memories, your decisions, are nothing more than electrical signals in your brain, reacting with nerve cells and molecules. The bible though, commonly refers to body, soul and spirit.
What do these spiritual elements mean for us as whole people though? What does the bible mean when it talks about our soul and our spirit? Come along with Tim as we investigate.  

I am Made in God's Image || Who Am I? || Genesis 1:26-31

What sets humanity apart from the animals? God made humans and animals; he gave them life. But humanity is importantly said to be made in the image of God. What does that mean? Can we find the image of God in the differences between humans and animals? Or in the relationships we have with each other and with God? Or perhaps the fact that we were placed by God to rule over his creation?
Tim investigates these ideas and more in this episode.

I am a Created Person || Who Am I? || Genesis 2:4-7

This week begins a new series, running through the next 10 weeks, asking the questions "Who Am I?". Throughout this series, we'll be looking at passages from the entire story of the Bible, beginning this week with creation in Genesis.
Fundamentally, what can be said of every human, and everything in the universe? That God created them. In this episode, Tim explores humanity in the light of being creatures, known by God, created for a purpose.

Summer Stories || Biblical Storytelling

Throughout January, the talks at St John's have taken a different format to usual, meaning they haven't been appropriate for the format of a podcast. In this episode, Andy and Tim chat about what the teaching has been in January, and will catch you up on the biblical storytelling that's been happening.
The six questions used in the storytelling method are:
What do you like about this story?
What questions might people have about it?
What do we learn about people?
What do we learn about God/Jesus?
What do you need to do in response to this story?
Who can you tell this story to this week?
The podcast will resume its weekly format in February.

Why We Need Christmas || We Need Mercy || Malachi 3:16-4:6

The end of the prophecy of Malachi is downright brutal. The end of the final sentence: "..or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” Wowsers. 
Fortunately for us; we can turn the page into the New Testament, and see the next part of God's plan, the coming of Jesus to bring us mercy and forgiveness.

Why We Need Christmas || We Need Justice || Malachi 2:17-3:15

You don't have to look far in our world to see injustice. The plight of refugees being held in indefinite detention, or the impact of climate change on developing nations and the failure of wealthier nations to respond in a timely manner, or something else. 
We need Christmas because God, through Jesus, brought and is bringing justice to His world.

Why We Need Christmas || We Don't Love Others || Malachi 2:1-16

The book of Malachi, the last book of the Bible before Jesus was born, is pretty harsh towards Church leaders of ancient Israel. Julie brings us this second talk in our Why We Need Christmas series, showing how following Jesus is about focusing on him, and making small decisions which bring you closer to him, and not about a single big moment. Likewise, falling away from Jesus is often about small decisions to do the 'easy' thing, slowly moving further and further from Jesus, until you look back and realise it'd be too hard to get back.
What decisions are you making this week to move slowly towards Jesus?