St John’s Diamond Creek Talks

Life Within Limits - A Season for Everything

This sermon by Andrew Bowles on Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 is about the tension between our desire for a perfect life and the reality that we experience seasons of good and bad times. This encourages us to reflect on why God has placed the desire for eternity in our hearts, and how to face reality with joy and thankfulness.

Not In Polite Company - A Biblical Overview of Sex

The second talk in our Not In Polite Company series. This week, Kirk talks about sex, and specifically what the Bible has to say about some of the messages we're recieved from our culture in Melbourne, Australia.
CONTENT WARNING: Talks about sex. 

Life Within Limits - Living the Dream?

All of us pursue our dreams of 'the good life', including our vision of the place of success and prosperity in giving meaning to our lives. Ecclesiastes reminds us that even if we achieve everything we ever hope for, it can still fall short of our expectations. The meaning of life is to be found somewhere else. Andrew Bowles considers Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 & 17-23.

Life Within Limits - Under the Sun

What is the meaning of life? Is there any at all? The book of Ecclesiastes challenges us to face the limits of our knowledge about what life is all about and how to live it. Tim Johnson begins by looking at the claim of the 'Teacher' that life is like a cloud of smoke that seems substantial but which we are unable to grasp. Ecclesiastes 1:1-14.

Not In Polite Company - Who Would Jesus Vote For?

A week before the Australian Federal Election 2016, Kirk takes a look at a Christian perspective on politics. How do you choose a political party to support? Being a Christian means committing every part of your life to Jesus, and voting is most certainly included in that. 

Faith in Action - Pray at all Times

Tim Johnson concludes our 'Faith in Action' series on James by looking at 5:12-20, and the ways in which James encourages Christians to be faithful in prayer and hope in God's action.

Faith in Action - Materialism

In this sermon on James 4:13-5:11, Andrew Bowles considers James's words on the futility of trusting in our own plans and our financial security.

Faith in Action - Whose Friend?

In this sermon on James 4:1-12, Kirk Mackenzie considers the issue of how Christians can avoid friendship with 'the world', and have a positive attitude to engaging with our culture.

Faith in Action - Wisdom from Above

What does it mean to be truly wise? In James 3:13-18, James compares the wisdom that comes from God with the usual wisdom of the world.

Pentecost - The Promised Holy Spirit

As we celebrate Pentecost this year, Tim Johnson investigates the progression that we can see in the Bible, as God promises his people that they will receive a full experience of his Holy Spirit, a promise that was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost after Jesus ascended to heaven. Our Bible passages are Numbers 11:24-30 and Acts 2:1-4.