St John’s Diamond Creek Talks

Joy In Your Life || Humility || Philippians 2:1-11

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. 

Joy In Your Life || All about Jesus || Philippians 1:12-30

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?

Joy In Your Life || Partners in the Gospel || Philippians 1:1-11

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.

Come and See: Lost and Far Away

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!

Come and See: Freedom

If you don't have much experience of church, or Jesus, this talk is for you.
Kirk shares some stories about how he came to be standing up talking about Jesus to people, his experiences around Christianity and how he came to follow Jesus.
This episode features a clip from The I.T. Crowd. The I.T. Crowd is ©Channel 4 2006-2013

Sharing Jesus Sneak Peek

For four weeks, starting last week, St John's is hosting author Stephen Abbott, as he leads a course about sharing Jesus in everyday ways. This episode is a snippet of week one of the course, which continues on Wednesdays until May 16th. If your interest has been piqued, you can join the course by registering at http://stjohnsdc.info. Payment can be made for the course's handbook online, or in person at the events.

The Resurrection of Jesus - Fishermen

Jesus' resurrection is real. Jesus' resurrection is miraculous. Jesus' resurrection is about relationship.  
Tim takes a look at John 21:1-14, and the third time the resurrected Jesus appeared to his disciples. In this somewhat ordinary time, the disciples go fishing, and then have breakfast with Jesus. But this simple story shows us somewhat profoundly what the resurrection of Jesus is about. 
If Jesus is really risen from the dead, and if he is really with us now, what would you say to him? Maybe you'd say, "Jesus, I do believe you rose from the dead, and I want to start following you.", or maybe you'd say "Jesus, I don't know if you're real or not, but if you are, show me!", or if you're already a follower of Jesus, you'd ask him for help with something you're struggling with, or you'd thank him for something great in your life.
Jesus is alive. The resurrection isn't about wowing us, but being in relationship with us.

The Resurrection of Jesus - Transformation

After Easter, Jesus hung around for a while. This mini-series follows the Resurrected Jesus as he meets with his disciples and transforms their lives. Sam begins our series looking at how Jesus took the fear of the disciples, and turned it into peace and purpose; how he took their doubts, and turned it into worship, and ultimately took death and turned it into life.
Sam bases this talk on the book of John, in the bible, chapter 20, verses 19-31.

Easter Sunday - By His Wounds We Are Healed

Jesus is risen! Easter Sunday celebrates the new life we have in Jesus; but to get to that new life, Jesus had to be broken. This revelation of the resurrection was first encountered by Mary Magdalene, and Simon Peter. In this talk, Julie looks at the reactions of these two followers of Jesus, and how the resurrection changed their lives.
How has Easter, and the resurrection of Jesus changed your life? Has it? Should it?

Good Friday - The Servant

Superheroes are huge at the moment. 2700 years ago, a prophet named Isaiah wrote about someone who would come and save the world; but unlike Superman, Batman, and the Flash, who are obviously super, Isaiah's hero is named The Servant. This ordinary character doesn't sound impressive, nor like they could save the world. Yet at Easter, we remember this person, this factual person, Jesus. 
The greatest outrage of our nation this year has been focused towards the Australian Cricket Team, and their faults and failings. The players broke the rules, and went against the spirit of the game, and have been harshly criticised by people who themselves, have undoubtedly bent or broken rules to their own benefit. No body does the right thing, all the time. No one! This is why we all need the hero of the Servant, of Jesus. We don't need to earn forgiveness, as God offers it freely through Jesus Christ, and his death on Good Friday.