Oakleigh Anglican Church — Acts - The Spirit of Jesus continuing God's Mission

When the going gets tough, the tough get going

Sun, 17 May 2015 00:00:00 +1000

How do we keep on going, in season and out? — How do we keep on going, in season and out?

Sun, 24 May 2015 00:00:00 +1000

How deep is your love?

Sun, 31 May 2015 00:00:00 +1000

Is your love limited? by lack of knowledge? by Stubbornness? by pretence and falsehood, or by thinking its a formula?

No the love of God must be about a prersonal relationship.

Antagonism to Christianity today - what causes it?

Sun, 07 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +1000

How do we care for one another?

Sun, 14 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +1000

What makes a Christian Leader?

Sun, 21 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +1000

When churched and non-churched Christians meet!

Sun, 28 Jun 2015 00:00:00 +1000

Why did Jesus leave us?

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +1100

Why did Jesus die for us? Sharon explains.

The coming of the Spirit

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +1000

Sharon clarifies that wanting something, and promise keeping are not the same thing – God’s promises are kept, but not everything we want we get. This passage has caused such dissention and argument regards the way God fulfils his promised Holy Spirit in our lives, and the answer is that when we assume a particular form or framework, we limit God. The reality is God will keep his promise in a myriad of ways & experiences, because we are all unique, and we all need to be equipped for the role he would have for us to do. As a result, we should go back to the process written on the banner from last week – Stop and know who God is, Wait for the promise of his Spirit, daily asking for his presence in our lives, Go in do the variety of things God has equipped us to participate in, in giving us himself.

The experience of the Holy Spirit

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +1000

The passage is about the experience of the Holy Spirit, in the lives of the disciples, both then and now. The Holy Spirit gave the disciples great love for one another, so that they looked after one another’s needs with generous hearts. Peter saw the gift of the Holy Spirit as more precious than silver or gold, and through its power, in the name of Jesus, healed a lame man, who then praised God. We are called to be generous to one another and to be willing to step out in faith and use the gift of the Spirit for the work God calls us to, and Jesus has equipped us for in the giving of the Spirit. Again, we reflect on the process written on the banner – Stop and know who God is, Wait for the promise of his Spirit, daily asking for his presence in our lives, Go in do the variety of things God has equipped us to participate in, in giving us himself.

Conflict, a reality of life in the Spirit

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +1000

Sharon discusses how conflict, although ever-present, can be used for growth.

The cost of hypocrisy

Sun, 05 May 2013 00:00:00 +1000

How do we get insight?

Sun, 19 May 2013 00:00:00 +1000

Alasdair looks at the story of Stephen, who understood Jesus as the key to understanding his history, and God in his life. We must be careful not to become set in our ways, so that we are stubborn and not willing to hear what God says to us, which was the situation for those who stoned Stephen.

Breaking down the racial barriers

Sun, 26 May 2013 00:00:00 +1000

God is not far from any of us

Sun, 26 May 2013 00:00:00 +1000

The passage is reminding us that God is not far from any of us. There three three thoughts here:

God is never far from anyone who truly seeks after his presence, and there are no obstacles that God puts up, only human beings limit access to God.
Secondly, Jesus is the key to understanding God, and understanding his word, and we should be helping people to make the link, when it is clear that they are seeking.
Lastly, the Holy Spirit is the one who prepares the way and equips us, the situation, and the people who are seeking. All we have to do is be obedient.

God's makeover of Saul

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +1000

The passage is the story of the conversion of Saul. Can people change? Yes, but it takes the power and presence of God to make the change possible and lasting. What we require is a will to change, and to align ourselves with the will of God.

God’s makeover of Peter

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +1000

The passage is the story of the Peter and Cornelius, and what God did to change Peter’s understanding of who is acceptable.

Conversion - The job of the Holy Spirit

Sun, 30 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +1000

The passage is the story of the Peter and Cornelius, continuing with Peter’s speech to the gathering about the acceptability of all who come to God in faith.

Spiritual Jealousy

Sun, 04 May 2014 00:00:00 +1000

Leap of Faith

Sun, 25 May 2014 00:00:00 +1000

Coping with Change

Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +1000

X-Files - the truth is out there

Sun, 08 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +1000

Supernatural experience - Not always God

Sun, 15 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +1000

Paul and Silas confront a spirit indwelling a slave girl, and this causes trouble for them with the owners, and then the mob who are stirred up about it. We face evil in the world all the time, and as followers of Jesus, we are challenged, like Paul & Silas to confront evil when and where we find it, even when it causes trouble for us. This is part of what it means to take up our cross and follow Christ.

In God's name we go

Sun, 22 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +1000

The story continues with Paul & Silas in prison, and an earthquake, and fear of the jailer, but Paul stops him from killing himself as they stay where they are. This then is the final thing that makes the jailer want to know about the God they worship, and as he is told, he and his household are baptized. Great story that reminds us that God works his will and his way in the most difficult of situations, and we should trust him.

Truth unchangeable

Sun, 29 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +1000