In 2015, Caitlyn Jenner was named Woman of the Year, paving the way for the transgender movement to become mainstream. Since then, gender non-conformity has become one of the defining issues of our age. But what is transgender and how might we respond to this transgender moment as Christians, in love? In this talk, we unpack terms like gender dysphoria, transitioning, and gender nonconformity. We explain why we need to respond with love and kindness to transgender people. We also challenge trans affirming culture and its unexpected impact on children, explaining the need for tough love.

Together Church Hobart

Understanding Transgender

Men like cars and are good at reading maps. Women are domestic and enjoy cooking. Really? In our culture, there are competing visions for what it means to be a man and a woman. Some are helpful, but many are not. In this talk, Daniel Sih outlines the biblical vision for male and female. He challenges gender stereotypes, as well as gender fluid ideologies, offering a way forward to become whole-heartedness as men and women in a deeply confused culture. Note: this sermon was re-recorded because of technical errors when recording the original talk.

What Is Gender?

According to scripture, marriage is the lifelong covenant between a man and woman, voluntarily entered into for life, to the exclusion of all else. In this sermon, Michael Wood talks about the gold standard of marriage, what it means and how it connects with our faith. He also touches on singleness as a gift from God, representing another gold standard of oneness with God.

The Standard Of Marriage

Human sexuality is wonderful, complex and personal, but what is the purpose of sex? Does God have an opinion about how we use our bodies? How is the physical act of having sex connected with our emotional and spiritual selves? What does the bible have to say about soul ties? And how might we resist sexual immorality? In this talk, Daniel Sih outlines two false beliefs that have impacted church and culture, providing a positive vision for how we might embrace a biblical view of sex.

What Is Sex?

Freedom is one of our most important values in Australia. But what is freedom and what does it look like to be truly free? In this talk, Daniel Sih explains the challenges of defining freedom through popular culture. He examines the biblical imagination of personal freedom and demonstrates how freedom requires logical limits in the areas of health, money and sexuality.

What Is Freedom?

"Don’t throw your pearls to pigs. They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you." What is that all about? In this talk, Julia Verdouw continues our Longing for Love series by discussing what it means to love sacrificially with agape love. How does the way we view people shape our ability to love like Jesus? Who are the pigs? And what might we need to do about it? Download presenter slides here.

Pigs, Pearls and People

This two-part teaching was recorded for a Together Network Global Gathering in May. Hope Group leaders meet every 6-weeks to discuss questions about mission, discipleship and evangelism.  In this podcast, Daniel Sih talks about how to progress friendly conversations, to meaningful conversations, to spiritual conversation, to gospel conversations. He also discusses how to recognise a Person of Peace. 

Friendship Evangelism Part 2

This two-part teaching was recorded for a Together Network Global Gathering in May. Hope Group leaders meet every 6-weeks to discuss questions about mission, discipleship and evangelism.  In this podcast, Daniel Sih talks about how to build predictable patterns in our lives to connect with unchurched people.

Friendship Evangelism Part 1

The Beatles once suggested that "all you need is love." But what IS love? In this talk, Michael Wood explains the importance of defining love by something other than itself. He outlines four different Greek concepts for love, which are Storge (family affection), Philia (friendship), Eros (romantic) and Agape (divine love).

What Is Love?

All of us need love. Love is one of our highest emotions. We search for love in many places, even if there is confusion about how to live out our most intimate relationships. This talk introduces a new series called ‘Longing for Love,’ exploring the bible’s perspectives on sex, sexuality and gender. We outline a framework for the series and explore the importance of beginning with the revelation; ‘God IS love.’

Longing For Love

It can be hard to live in a culture that does not believe in God, particularly when we experience pressure to conform. In this talk, Daniel Sih shares two stories from the book of Daniel, to help us live faithfully as a remnant in exile. This talk also summarises the series as a whole.

A Hopeful Remnant

Michael Wood continues our series on “Eyes That See” by exploring the pattern of worship and idolatry seen in the Older Testament. What made a good king? What made a bad king? And how do these biblical lessons shape our capacity to love a ‘jealous’ God in our day and age?

The 'gods' Of Our Age

Monotheism is typically defined as “the belief and doctrine that there is only one God.” But there’s a problem. This is not how the writers of the Old and New Testaments understood the 'oneness' of God.In this talk, Daniel Sih explores the nature of the spiritual realm as it relates to biblical culture, and secular culture. What does it mean for YHWH to be King of kings, Lord of lords, and God of gods? How do we orientate our lives around one God in today's world.

Just One

To be human is to love -- to connect deeply with someone or something greater than ourselves. Love is important. Love motivates us to help others.  Love compels us to worship.In this talk (in a series, Eyes That See) Daniel Sih introduces the concept of worship and idolatry as expressions of love. What do I love so much that it defines me? What do I orientate my life around when no one is watching? What is the functional master of my heart? When we discover these things, we discover who or what we worship.

Idols of the Heart

CS Lewis once wrote: "It's funny how day by day nothing ever changes, and yet when we look back, everything is different." In this talk, Jamie Bester explains that discipleship happens in the everyday normality of our lives. Unpacking Deuteronomy 6: 1-12, he shares how ordinary people, doing ordinary things, can transform lives through the extra-ordinary love of God. 

Everyday Discipleship

Sermon podcasts from Together Church in Hobart, Tasmania.

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Together Church Hobart

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