25 01 19 - Making New Wine The Whitehouse Church podcast

23:20

In a world that generally says you can do whatever you want so long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, Jesus goes further by teaching his disciples to actively initiate actions that will benefit others. In this way Jesus’ teaching is unique. The love of God is an active love. This is a key distinction between simply being a good person and being like Christ. It is relatively simple to lead a life that does not hurt others but leading a life of love and mercy towards others is much greater.…

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25 02 16 - Blessed are the Poor 23:45

il y a environ 13 jours23:45

23:45

The gospels make no secret of Jesus’ concern for the least and the little. His compassion for the outcasts, pariahs and unpopular; his disposition towards the socially unimportant, those deemed sinners, the poor, sick and excluded. The Scriptures labour over Jesus’ love for these people, recording at length the stories where he interacts with the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery, the woman who had a bleeding disease, and the myriad crowds, children, beggars and broken that were drawn toward him.…

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25 02 02 - Anabapt~ish 31:12

il y a environ 27 jours31:12

31:12

The Anabaptists refused violence, promoted local faith communities, rejected the excesses of wealth and cared for the poor, maintained the distinctiveness of the kingdom of God from the kingdoms of the world, and recognised the centrality of Jesus’ ethical teaching and practices for the faithful. I am not an Anabaptist in a strict sense as I have not historic or genealogical connection to the movement. But I am deeply inspired by the Anabaptist integrity to forsake power and peacefully follow the example of Jesus. I am proudly NeoAnabapt ~ish.…

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25 01 26 - Good News for the Wrong People 18:30

il y a 5 weeks18:30

18:30

Jesus proclaimed the prophetic message of Isaiah at his own inauguration, just as the prophets of our day bravely rebuke those in power, calling for grace and love rather than judgment and wrath. The kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed was so scandalously gracious the Jews responded with violence. Jesus’ good news was for all the people they hated, all the wrong people. They wanted him to die for offending them. Their understanding of the Scriptures highlighted vengeance and not grace, dogma rather than mercy.…

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25 01 19 - Making New Wine 24:15

il y a 6 weeks24:15

24:15

Oddly the miracle at the Wedding of Cana wasn’t a healing, it was keeping the party going. Jesus revealed his glory by turning water into wine. Food and drink and joyful celebration are central to the expression of Christian faith. This year let’s eat more, drink more, and celebrate more!

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24 11 24 - God With Us 21:22

il y a 14 weeks21:22

21:22

He isn’t avoiding us; he isn’t disgusted by us. He isn’t enraged or vengeful. He wants to be near us. All the way from precreation glory in heaven he has pursued us. As a babe born in a manger, he has pursued us. Through a sinless life and unto a cross in our place he has pursued us. And out of the grave he has pursued us. Not God above us. God with us!…

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24 11 17 - Giving Birth 17:36

il y a 15 weeks17:36

17:36

When the birth pains begin. Do not be afraid. Even though everything around you looks out of control, even though there will be horrors and haters and hell on earth; know that it is not without an end. A struggle is underway, but the birth of a new kingdom is a certainty. Jesus’ ministry was defined by his promise that God’s space and our space would one day overlap again. The kingdom of God is near.…

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24 11 10 - To Tithe or Not to Tithe 28:40

il y a 16 weeks28:40

28:40

Jesus is appalled how the teachers of the law flaunt their wealth whilst devouring the houses of the widows. The use of manipulation to cajole and bully people to give, specially those with so little, is an affront to God.

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24 11 03 - When Everything is on Fire 13:53

il y a 17 weeks13:53

13:53

When we face challenges and everything seems to be on fire… what do we grab on the way out the door? Do we grab love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Do we grab onto one another with hope and compassion and cheer? In times of stress, tragedy, confusion, doubt, anxiety, or worry, do we love God and love our neighbour?…

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24 10 27 - Blind Bartimaeus 13:39

il y a 18 weeks13:39

13:39

Blind Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak and all that it represented to follow Jesus. He is the exemplar of faithfulness where the rich young ruler was the antithesis. May we all have the courage of this blind beggar who could see who Jesus truly was.

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24 10 13 - The Rich Young Ruler 27:49

il y a 20 weeks27:49

27:49

The rich young ruler gained his identity, security and comfort from his wealth. When Jesus told the rich young ruler he must lay down his wealth it was not an accusation of greed, it was a challenge to his identity and his source of power, comfort and security.

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24 09 29 - The Mega Ones 24:05

il y a 22 weeks24:05

24:05

Acting against injustice, slavery, oppression, poverty, and the systems that perpetuate a worldview of in and out or us versus them are essential to following Jesus. It is beholden on us as followers of Jesus to ensure we do not cause the little ones of our society to trip and fall, but rather we should be lifting them up.…

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24 09 22 - Stand Behind Me Satan 26:01

il y a 23 weeks26:01

26:01

Have you even failed a test that you thought you were going to ace? That’s what happened to Peter in Caesarea Philippi. He was expecting a high distinction and instead he got rebuked in front of everyone. In my view, this is amongst the most scathing rebukes that Jesus makes in his entire ministry. Imagine being Peter having his worldview blown apart in this conversation and then being called Satan by the Messiah!…

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24 09 01 - The Tradition of the Elders 21:33

il y a 26 weeks21:33

21:33

Ritual and tradition that help us to transform our hearts can be incredibly beautiful, but tradition that only serves to make us feel morally superior and set apart is not beautiful.

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24 08 18 - Psalm 111 17:52

il y a 28 weeks17:52

17:52

Consider the nature of the gods in the ancient near eastern world. The gods were fickle and often amoral. They didn’t care for good behaviour or righteousness at all. In contrast, the Hebrew God “Yahweh” was a radically different type of deity. Not only was Yahweh morally upright, he wanted his people to be righteous also. And through the righteousness of his people Yahweh intended to reach the world. When Yahweh’s people thwarted justice and undermined righteousness, they violated the very nature of their identity and covenant with God.…

The Whitehouse Church Podcast

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24 08 11 - Redeemed People 24:49

il y a 29 weeks24:49

24:49

The people of God should be known for their kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. They should be known as people that turn away from their anger and bitterness, seeking to make peace and forgiving one another. This is our witness in the world to a kingdom that is yet to fully come. We have the privilege to live in the hope of a renewed world.…

The Whitehouse Church Podcast

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24 08 04 - Psalm 51 30:23

il y a 30 weeks30:23

30:23

This psalm expresses the grief and repentance of king David following his adultery with Bathsheba. It is a model and a warning for us as we approach repentance and forgiveness.

The Whitehouse Church Podcast

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24 07 28 - Psalm 14 23:01

il y a 31 weeks23:01

23:01

The 'fool' of Psalm 14 is not an atheist, but rather they think that God is absent. In their arrogance the fool consumes the poor and cannot perceive that God is present with the righteous.

The Whitehouse Church Podcast

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24 07 21 - Seeking Solitude 26:00

il y a 32 weeks26:00

26:00

Mark paints Jesus as the fulfillment of kingship. Jesus is the true shepherd of Israel, greater than Moses or David, certainly greater than Herod. And this king is not living lavishly in a palace away from the suffering and hunger of his people. This king is in the midst of his people, healing them and meeting their needs physically and spiritually.…

The Whitehouse Church Podcast

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24 06 30 - Psalm 130 15:14

il y a 35 weeks15:14

15:14

It is common when reading the psalms to identify with the psalmist and take on their prayer as our own. Whilst I know I live a life of great comfort and privilege; the depths are still a place that we can all understand. The depths of grief or disappointment, the depths of regret or shame, the depths of sickness or pain, the depths of frustration or disillusionment, the depths of anger and rage. Whether our depths are shaped by sorrow, disgust, anger, or some other heartfelt lament, it is not hard to see ourselves in the place of this psalmist.…

The Whitehouse Church Podcast

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24 06 23 - The Wind and the Waves 20:47

il y a 36 weeks20:47

20:47

The emotion of this scene is something Mark’s audience would have understood. A strong wind was blowing in their world. The times and seasons were violent and uncertain, and the waters looked like they were only going to get rougher.

The Whitehouse Church Podcast

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24 06 16 - A Mustard Seed 21:57

il y a 36 weeks21:57

21:57

The obvious story here is not hard to perceive, the kingdom of God is like the seed that grows secretly under the earth and then at the appointed time it springs forth into view. But a like a seed that first grows under the soil, there is more going on in this parable.

The Whitehouse Church Podcast

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24 05 26 - A Humble Man 35:52

il y a 40 weeks35:52

35:52

When people talk about coming to faith, they often remark about leaving the world, or leaving behind a life of sin. But Nicodemus had already built his life around being set apart and avoiding sin. To be born again is not simply about sinning less, it is about living more beautifully as the Spirit transforms us. It is about being made new daily.…

The Whitehouse Church Podcast

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24 05 19 - Our Father in Heaven 26:32

il y a 41 weeks26:32

26:32

When teaching his disciples how to pray Jesus reveals a lot about the identity and nature of his father. In this simple prayer we are given a model rather than a mantra, with a lot of subtext going on behind the scenes that would have been much more obvious to a first century audience.

The Whitehouse Church Podcast

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24 05 05 - Finding Meaning 16:33

il y a 43 weeks16:33

16:33

Ecclesiastes teaches me to grasp continually for the gifts of joy that God offers. To eat, drink, celebrate, and love despite how fleetingly each of these experiences can seem. It makes me appreciate the beautiful and delightful breath-like moments of each day.

The Whitehouse Church Podcast

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24 04 07 - Psalms of New Orientation 32:10

il y a 47 weeks32:10

32:10

The psalms of new orientation are a herald of hope beckoning us beyond grief, anguish, and anger into a surprising realisation of God’s power, presence, and faithfulness.

The Whitehouse Church Podcast

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24 03 31 - Easter Sunday - A Child Friendly Message 8:48

il y a 48 weeks8:48

8:48

Christ is risen. He is risen indeed! The images and story used in this video and podcast are from "The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name" written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by Jago.

The Whitehouse Church Podcast

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24 03 29 - Good Friday - A Child Friendly Message 8:53

il y a 48 weeks8:53

8:53

On Good Friday we remember how the people in charge tried to make Jesus be quiet. We remember how they were so upset by his message of love and forgiveness that they killed him. We remember how they thought their violence was more powerful than his love. And we remember how Jesus forgave his enemies, and how Jesus also forgives us.…

The Whitehouse Church Podcast

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24 03 24 - Palm Sunday 28:47

il y a 49 weeks28:47

28:47

Sadly, like the first century Jews, many modern Christians are awaiting a warlord. They are waiting for a triumphant Jesus to ride in on a warhorse soaked in blood and seeking vengeance. But the Hebrew Scriptures don’t just give us a warrior Messiah, they also give us a picture of a suffering servant that Jesus perfectly embodies and fulfils.…

The Whitehouse Church Podcast

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24 03 10 - Psalm 29 20:27

il y a 51 weeks20:27