Alex Bainton
God is on the Throne
There’s an expression, “The big picture”. We might say of someone, ‘he is a big picture person’, or ‘she’s got a big picture of this’. In other words, he/she’s got a big view of things. A C.E.O might have a big picture; a P.M. or Premier might have a big picture. This morning let’s try and get a big picture, a big view of God. In the bible reading for today from The Revelation, ch 4, we hear these words: “At once I was in the Spirit, and lo a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne! Read more
There’s an expression, “The big picture”. We might say of someone, ‘he is a big picture person’, or ‘she’s got a big picture of this’. In other words, he/she’s got a big view of things. A C.E.O might have a big picture; a P.M. or Premier might have a big picture. This morning let’s try and get a big picture, a big view of God. In the bible reading for today from The Revelation, ch 4, we hear these words: “At once I was in the Spirit, and lo a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne! Read more
I go to prepare a place.
Heart trouble is a common problem, perhaps indicated by the number of by-pass and stent operations. But there’s another type of heart trouble too - the sort of heart trouble that we hear about in today’s reading in John. Jesus said to his disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” And so, his disciples had troubled hearts. Troubled hearts are hearts that are not at peace, hearts that are anxious or agitated. Read more
Heart trouble is a common problem, perhaps indicated by the number of by-pass and stent operations. But there’s another type of heart trouble too - the sort of heart trouble that we hear about in today’s reading in John. Jesus said to his disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” And so, his disciples had troubled hearts. Troubled hearts are hearts that are not at peace, hearts that are anxious or agitated. Read more
A well known Text
Some Bible texts are well-known and liked by many Christians. This may be because they go to the heart of the Christian faith, encourage us, and express profound truths simply. Maybe one such text is given to us in today’s bible reading. I’m referring of course to John 3:l6. Let me requote it, using the King James translation, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Read more
Some Bible texts are well-known and liked by many Christians. This may be because they go to the heart of the Christian faith, encourage us, and express profound truths simply. Maybe one such text is given to us in today’s bible reading. I’m referring of course to John 3:l6. Let me requote it, using the King James translation, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Read more
The Transfiguration
The Transfiguration of Jesus I don’t know whether you have ever climbed a high mountain or had a ‘mountain top’ experience? I once climbed up St Mary’s Peak at Wilpena Pound with our son Tim, and we enjoyed a breath-taking view of the Pound and Flinders’ Ranges. And last month when Cheryl and I were at the Flinders for a few days we climbed up to ‘Alison’s Saddle’ at Rawnsley Park Station and had a great view of the valley and distant ranges and Rawnsley Bluff. Read more
The Transfiguration of Jesus I don’t know whether you have ever climbed a high mountain or had a ‘mountain top’ experience? I once climbed up St Mary’s Peak at Wilpena Pound with our son Tim, and we enjoyed a breath-taking view of the Pound and Flinders’ Ranges. And last month when Cheryl and I were at the Flinders for a few days we climbed up to ‘Alison’s Saddle’ at Rawnsley Park Station and had a great view of the valley and distant ranges and Rawnsley Bluff. Read more
“A true saying”
There are some old sayings which are memorable. Three that come to mind are: ‘make hay while the sunshines’, ‘a stitch in time saves nine’, ‘look after the pennies, and the pounds will look after themselves.’ In today’s reading from Paul’s letter to Timothy, we hear of another memorable saying, and in this case Paul says it “is sure and worthy of full acceptance”, or as another translation puts it, “a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance,” or as J. Read more
There are some old sayings which are memorable. Three that come to mind are: ‘make hay while the sunshines’, ‘a stitch in time saves nine’, ‘look after the pennies, and the pounds will look after themselves.’ In today’s reading from Paul’s letter to Timothy, we hear of another memorable saying, and in this case Paul says it “is sure and worthy of full acceptance”, or as another translation puts it, “a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance,” or as J. Read more
The Raising of Lazarus
Perhaps you have heard someone say something like, ‘when a person dies he or she only lives on in other’s memories, or in their achievements’? But is that all we can say? Not according to Jesus, as we heard in today’s reading from John. Jesus says “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Read more
Perhaps you have heard someone say something like, ‘when a person dies he or she only lives on in other’s memories, or in their achievements’? But is that all we can say? Not according to Jesus, as we heard in today’s reading from John. Jesus says “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Read more
Stilling the Storm
When Cheryl and I drive into Victor from our home in Encounter Bay we often like to drive along the sea front to look at the sea. Sometimes I’ll say to Cheryl, ‘it would be a good crossing today’ - meaning the sea is nice and calm if you were on the ferry from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island. At other times, I’ll say ‘I wouldn’t like to be on the ferry today;’ meaning ‘its rough! Read more
When Cheryl and I drive into Victor from our home in Encounter Bay we often like to drive along the sea front to look at the sea. Sometimes I’ll say to Cheryl, ‘it would be a good crossing today’ - meaning the sea is nice and calm if you were on the ferry from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island. At other times, I’ll say ‘I wouldn’t like to be on the ferry today;’ meaning ‘its rough! Read more
Jesus our High Priest
Sometimes there can be a ‘falling out’ or breakdown in a relationship between two people, or between 2 groups, and someone is needed to bring the two together into harmony and to restore the relationship. We might call such a person a ‘mediator’ or a ‘go-between’, or an ‘intermediary’. In the Jewish religion such a person was called a ‘priest’ or ‘high priest’ In the Bible reading for today from the letter to the Hebrews we hear how Jesus Christ is the high priest we all need; and so this morning I’d like to think with you about Jesus being our high priest. Read more
Sometimes there can be a ‘falling out’ or breakdown in a relationship between two people, or between 2 groups, and someone is needed to bring the two together into harmony and to restore the relationship. We might call such a person a ‘mediator’ or a ‘go-between’, or an ‘intermediary’. In the Jewish religion such a person was called a ‘priest’ or ‘high priest’ In the Bible reading for today from the letter to the Hebrews we hear how Jesus Christ is the high priest we all need; and so this morning I’d like to think with you about Jesus being our high priest. Read more
Psalm 23: God our Shepherd
Perhaps you have a photo album at home, with some of your favourite pictures in it. Well, the bible is a bit like a photo album containing ‘pictures’ of God. Perhaps one of the favourite pictures of God given to us in the bible is that of ‘God our Shepherd’. That’s what I’d like to look at with you this morning, we will use psalm 23 for this purpose. In Bible days psalms were often sung to stringed instruments in public and private worship. Read more
Perhaps you have a photo album at home, with some of your favourite pictures in it. Well, the bible is a bit like a photo album containing ‘pictures’ of God. Perhaps one of the favourite pictures of God given to us in the bible is that of ‘God our Shepherd’. That’s what I’d like to look at with you this morning, we will use psalm 23 for this purpose. In Bible days psalms were often sung to stringed instruments in public and private worship. Read more
The healing of the blind man
The Healing of the blind man. John 9: 1-41 2nd August, 2020 There’s a hymn, ‘Amazing Grace’ that has a line in it - ‘I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.’ ‘was blind but now I see’ could summarise the story we have just heard from John. ‘was blind but now I see’ in the hymn means spiritually blind but now my eyes have been opened and I now believe in the Lord Jesus as my Saviour. Read more
The Healing of the blind man. John 9: 1-41 2nd August, 2020 There’s a hymn, ‘Amazing Grace’ that has a line in it - ‘I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.’ ‘was blind but now I see’ could summarise the story we have just heard from John. ‘was blind but now I see’ in the hymn means spiritually blind but now my eyes have been opened and I now believe in the Lord Jesus as my Saviour. Read more