Jesus' resurrection is like the clutch of Christianity. A car without a clutch is useless; the gospel without the resurrection is useless and can't save. We might understand the importance of the resurrection, but how - like a clutch - does it grab us and drive us forward each day? As Jesus appears to His disciples, we see how His resurrection connects to life through providing certainty about salvation, about Scripture and about our mission. 

Peter's denial painfully illustrates how confidence placed in ourselves leads us down a dangerous path. Yet, grace flows to Peters like us. Jesus turns and looks at Peter in redeeming love. He then turned and went to the cross to pay for Peter's sin. It is in looking to Christ that we are freed from a misplaced confidence in ourselves and know the joy of His love which is greater than all our sins.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see Jesus preparing to drink what we couldn't drink - the cup of God's wrath. He is also the One who remains vigilant, watchful and awake while the disciples fell asleep. This account reminds us that Jesus bore the wrath we deserved and keeps watch over our souls. 

Elders not only need a desire for the office and godly character, they must be able to teach and to lead. It is through the teaching of God's Word that we grow as believers. It's also through teaching that those who don't know the gospel encounter the risen Jesus. Thus, an elder has to instruct sound doctrine and refute those who contradict it. Leadership is important because without it we stumble and lose our way. Thus, an elder is called to steward, serve and shepherd God's people.

One of the many gifts Jesus gave to His church when He ascended into heaven was elders (Eph. 4:11-12). Elders are both 'inwardly' called by God and 'outwardly' called by the congregation. In this first sermon on the eldership, we looked at the first two qualifications for elders: desire and character.

Jesus is faced with two lost causes: a woman suffering 12 years from an incurable disease and a 12 year old girl that dies. Yet, nothing is too hopeless for Jesus. In the healing of the woman and the resurrection of the little girl, we're reminded of the supreme confidence found in entrusting ourselves to Jesus - even when our lives fall apart.

Instead of shepherds, wise men and mangers, John begins his account of Jesus’ life differently. We’re taken back into eternity past to see the Word - someone who never had a beginning, who is with God, who is God! This Word is the Son of God who became flesh and dwelt amongst us. In unwrapping the greatest gift ever given, we’re reminded that the glory of God, the grace of God and God Himself is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ.

December exposes immediate, seasonal needs: a present for Kris Kringle, a key ingredient for the family BBQ - even just a car park! The ‘silly season’ also exposes much deeper needs: war rages, suffering continue, death separates. The good news of Christmas, however, is that Jesus is the answer to our greatest needs. In Isaiah 9:1-7 we see that Jesus is the Light in our darkness, the Saviour who rescues us from our sin and the King who alone can bring us true joy and ultimate peace.

Luther said about the Reformation, "I did nothing; the Word did everything." In 1 Peter 1:22-2:3 we're reminded of the power of God's Word in birthing us and growing us.

In an account reminiscent of Humpty Dumpty, the false god Dagon is exposed before the true and living God. Our idolatry, too, is revealed before God's holiness. We're called to find refuge in the Lord Jesus who rescues us from the coming wrath. 

Jesus describes His return like bridesmaids waiting for the groom to arrive at the reception. This parable - a simple story that illustrates a spiritual truth - teaches us to expect a period of waiting, expect Jesus' return to be sudden and to expect some to be shocked.

When tragedy strikes personally or nationally, we desperately need a foothold for our faith. In 1 Kings 14, we see that in the midst of His judgement, He is both just and merciful. This ultimately points us to Jesus through whom God brought salvation through judgement and displayed His justice and mercy. Thus, we are assured in the most horrific tragedies God still accomplishes His good purposes.

The opening chapters of the Bible provide the context for what we celebrate at Christmas. Here, God's big story to save sinners through Jesus begins. We meet the villains - Satan and a humanity that had rebelled against God. We hear the curses - suffering, death and judgement. We rejoice in the hero - God preaches the gospel in Genesis 3:15 that a hero would come to undo the curse and reconcile men and women to God. It's because of this that we can rejoice with the angels who announce in Luke 2 that in the birth of Jesus a Saviour had been born.

If you knew that you may not have the opportunity to see someone again, what would you say to them? Paul finds himself in this position after spending three years with the church at Ephesus. In saying goodbye to the Ephesian elders, he urges them to remember three things: hold fast to the gospel, guard the gospel and live the gospel. (This sermon was delivered on the occasion of an MPC family moving interstate.)

The evidence of Jesus' resurrection is radical, but verified. However, the women's response was to flee and stay in frightened silence. What is exposed is the importance of not just receiving evidence, but embracing the One to whom the evidence points: the risen Lord Jesus.

As the sky turns dark in the middle of the day, Jesus cries from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This cry reveals Jesus' great agony in bearing God's wrath for sinners. Thus, this cry shows us that Jesus is forsaken for our sin. Having paid our penalty, we can be reconciled to God and be assured of His presence in our suffering.

2 Corinthians 2:12-17 unpacks how to approach 2022 through looking at the apostle Paul's ministry and gospel principles. These principles can be summarised under 3 R's. First, rejoice that Christ suffers no setbacks and always leads us in triumphal procession. Second, reflect on how you are spreading the aroma of Christ. Third, resolve to speak Christ to those who are perishing and to those who are being saved.

In this passage, three groups of people are searching for Jesus. However, each search for Him for different reasons. Herod seeks to destroy, the religious leaders seek to ignore and the wise men seek to worship. Matthew calls us to respond as the wise men did: bow in submission before Jesus as our shepherd King.

In this passage, the danger of materialism is exposed. Jesus tells us in Luke 12:13-21 that life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions. Instead, we're reminded that Christ gave up His riches in order to rescue us from our sin. Our lasting treasure is Christ and it is this truth that enables us to give up the fruitless pursuit of the things of this world.

The Reformation concerned the issue of assurance: how can I be sure that I'm in the right with God? The wonderful truth of Romans 3:21-26 is that we're justified not by our own works, but through the imputed righteousness of Christ. Paul explains in this passage that in Christ righteousness is provided, redemption purchased and justice served.