Series 1 PETER: Hope & Holiness in a Hostile World | Week Two What do you think of when you consider "holiness"? It is true that, within our current cultural context, there exists many misconceptions about what holiness is. Perhaps for some it is associated with being overly restrictive in one's own life choices. For others the mere thought of "being holy" instantly makes you feel guilty about how much you fall short in being holy. Over and against these things, the Apostle Peter reminds us what the pursuit of true holiness is really about, and how the Christian can find genuine joy in the pursuit of it, rather than being weighed down by it. Speaker: Timothy Gray

Willetton Christian Church

Holiness in a Hostile World | 1 Peter 1:13 - 2:3

Hold fast. Stand firm. Expect suffering. Suffer well. Series 1 PETER: Hope & Holiness in a Hostile World | Week One These are the kinds of encouragements we get from Peter’s first letter to the ‘scattered’ Christians of his time. As they faced opposition, relegation and persecution, they were called to persevere in grace, hope and joy. And this message is becoming more and more relevant for us today. The letter could easily have been written to us directly (and 1:10-12 shows us that it is, thanks to the Holy Spirit). We are also a minority. We are also facing hostility. We are also losing credibility and respect in the world. But we are also called to persevere in grace, hope and joy. As we open the series on Sunday, we’ll be reminded of the importance of our identity, our destination and our purpose, as we deal with our challenging situation. Speaker: Dan Kroon

Hope in a Hostile World | 1 Peter 1:1-12

The topic of ‘sickness’ has been all-consuming in our world these past few years. Wherever we turn to on social media, tv, online or in conversation with others it is a topic that is difficult to escape! But for all this focus on physical sickness there is another type of sickness that plights all humanity – namely, sin! This week we’ll be exploring a solemn Bible passage from the book of Jeremiah that reminds us just how deadly this disease of the human heart really is. How does sin affect our heart? What are the consequences of having a sick heart? And how is such a sickness truly cured? These are some of the questions we will be exploring together. Speaker: Timothy Gray

“The Gospel Cure for Sick Hearts” (Jer 17:1-13)

The quest for "peace" is something humanity has certainly pursued throughout all ages, and continues to be something desirable and sort after today. In addition, as we consider our current world climate, it serves as a stark reminder of the need for peace in our world, and that this peace is by no means a guarantee. When it comes to "peace" and the Christian faith, what does the Bible have to say about peace? And how is the peace offered by God the same or different to peace pursued in the world? Furthermore, how do we go about finding this true peace? Speaker: Timothy Gray

'Peace that is out of this World!' (John 14:27-31)

We may think that, as the old saying goes, the only certainties in life are death and taxes. But this morning we will see that the prophet Isaiah wants us to think about another certainty, far greater than any other: God, and the life that he brings us. In this poem, we see how God works today, to raise up the 'weak' and bring down the 'strong', and how he promises to restore the whole world to its rightful place in the future. So, we can with certainty that we will one day enjoy a world of eternal life and joy for us all, through God who saves us. Speaker: Jordan Gommer

Let Us Be Glad and Rejoice! (Isaiah 25)

Throughout Colossians 3 the apostle Paul spells out the implications of the gospel for the various aspects of our lives. First, he looks at how it should transform our personal lives before God, then at how the gospel should transform our relationships as a church community. In 3:18-21 turns to focus on how the gospel should transform our family relationships. By focusing on the marriage relationship and then the parent-child relationship Paul spells out how we are called to fulfil the different roles to which we have been called in a way that honours Christ. As we reflect on these verses we’ll see how counter-cultural God’s plan for the family is, but also how high the calling we have is, and how much we need the grace of Jesus from beginning to end. Speaker: Ben Murphy

The Gospel & The Family (Colossians 3:18‑21)

We believe that creation (and the Creator God) gives us meaning and significance. It defines our identity, our humanity and our purpose. It gives us the blueprint for work, rest, worship, biology, sexuality, love, unity and more. This is what we have seen over the last few weeks. And all of it is realised in our relational and communal nature, as human beings. God has made us to be like him, connected and together. He’s made us to fulfil our purpose as a team. He’s made us to form relationships and families and communities and society in general, so we can thrive and flourish together. This week, we’ll consider how God’s design in gender, relationships, marriage and family, all top off his work in both creation and redemption, and how we can build these connections for the worship of God. Speaker: Dan Kroon

"Relationships & Family" Genesis 2:18-25

Last Sunday we saw how God’s good creation (and the Garden) was a wonderful context for work and rest. Next week we’ll see how it’s a wonderful context for relationships and family. But this week, defining all of it, we see how it’s a place of worship and obedience. Every feature and creature is for the worship, glory and honour of God. And for people made in his image, that’s especially expressed in obedience. Our freedom and flourishing is defined by good boundaries from a good Creator. And one of the exemplary ways we see this in Genesis 2 is the Sabbath Day – a special day of worship and obedience and holy activity Speaker: Dan Kroon

"Worship & Obedience" Genesis 1:2-3,16-17

With the return of the sun, perhaps you’ve found yourself outside just a little bit more than last month – enjoying your garden, or a leisurely walk, or the sunshine in general? And perhaps it harkens back to the original Garden – where God provided humans with purpose (work), harmony and rest. As we move into Genesis 2, this Garden becomes our home – the picture and context in which God’s ordinances are revealed to us. These are an expansion on last week’s message about responsibility and purpose (as God’s image-bearers), and we start with the ordinances of work and rest. Both are gifts from God, both are necessary to the rhythm of our lives, and both are about glorifying God as we fulfil our purpose and find rest in him. Speaker: Dan Kroon

"Work & Rest" Genesis 2:1-15

We saw last week how our identity as humans is found in the nature of God’s image – how our physicality and spirituality reflect God. This week we will see how our identity as humans is found in the purpose of God’s image – how our responsibility reflects and represents God. We are made to be rulers, caretakers and ambassadors in this world, in the likeness of God. That means we steward the rest of creation; forming, ordering and cultivating culture; but we also steward each other; loving, caring and sharing Christ with other image-bearers. It’s part of who we are. It’s our responsibility and function. And it’s our privilege and joy. Speaker: Dan Kroon

"The Rulers of Creation" Part 2 (Genesis 1:26-31)

In our society, the importance of personal identity is matched only by its ambiguity. The more weight we add to it, the more blurry it seems to get. And so, there is no question more significant today than, “Who am I?” And it’s our identity that will be coming up, over and over, in the rest of our creation series. Over the next two weeks, we will zoom in on what it means to be made in God’s image, especially in our spirituality, physicality and responsibility. This Sunday we’ll focus on the first two, considering how both our bodies and our souls are part of God’s image. Both reflect him. Both are originally good. And both determine our identity. Speaker: Dan Kroon

"The Rulers of Creation" Part 1 (Genesis 1:26-31)

While the process and means of creation has sparked many, many debates over the centuries, the one thing we can’t lose sight of is it’s beauty, order and intelligence. Christians might disagree on some of the details, but should never disagree on the origin of this beauty, order and intelligence – which is God himself. In Genesis 1, he has revealed his sovereign act of creation, and he expects a response of faith, humility and awe. And when we adopt such an attitude, we can marvel and wonder at the beautiful pattern of creative forming and filling through the different days of creation. Speaker: Dan Kroon

"The Days of Creation" Genesis 1:2-31

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” No matter what your views are on the origins of the universe, there is no statement as bold or as encompassing as those 10 words above. No matter what religion you believe, ancient or modern, there is no creation account that can be simplified like Genesis 1:1. And as we begin a six-week series on ‘The Beginning’. it’s the simplicity and beauty and meaning of creation that we want to focus on. There is so much to learn about our lives today from those first two chapters of the Bible. And, as always, it begins with God. The God of creation, who creates time, space, light and matter, all by his simple, powerful and authoritative word. He creates everything from nothing and order from chaos, because he is eternal; the Beginning and the End. Speaker: Dan Kroon

"The God of Creation" Genesis 1:1

The book of Jonah is a fantastic story and message for all ages. The relationship and interaction between God and Jonah are a great example of God’s love and patience, as well as mankind’s disobedience and entitlement. We learn the importance of being brought low (even into the guts of a fish), so that we depend on God. We learn about the greatness of God, the hero, who saves sailors and shows mercy to a great city, even while teaching his own how to serve him. And we learn about Jesus, who is the perfect version of Jonah, the ultimate revelation of God’s compassion, and the wonderful reconciliation of the two. Speaker: Dan Kroon

The Major Messages of The Minor Prophet - Jonah

It’s astonishing how a pandemic, and now vaccinations, can cause such anxiety in people! The mental condition of many groups of Aussies is a concern. Medical views are diverging, opinions are polarizing, work reductions are challenging many with financial stress. Yes, you could describe it as a mess! However, it is not so for Christians who have a sovereign God, declaring His rule over creation. Belief in such a God is very relevant today especially. It creates a peace and confidence that “all is well with my soul.” The book of Revelation is a wonderful gift of God to His people, who were enduring significant persecution from both the Jewish world and the Gentile world. It revealed a “higher power” – a Throne above this world with a divine Saviour ruling from it! He is the Lion and the Lamb, who was slain for a complete forgiveness of all our sins, and all creation worships in eternal adoration of this “worthy” One seat on the Throne! Be encouraged!

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Willetton Christian Church

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