Dr John Frederick: An Introduction

Episode 1 of our Chapel Podcast series “Fruit of the spirit”. This week we will hear an introduction to the fruits, presented by our Lecturer in New Testament & Greek, Dr John Frederick.

Dr Jamie Smith: Love

Episode 2 of our Chapel Podcast series “Fruit of the spirit”. This week’s fruit is Love, presented by Dr Jamie Smith.

Paul Jones: Mark 1:1-3

In the first sermon in this series on the Gospel of Mark, Dr Paul Jones highlights Mark’s particular strategy for unveiling Jesus’ identity as the physical embodiment of Yahweh, the God Israel (Mark 1:1-3). Needless to say, the implications of Mark’s claim are enormous!

Nigel Rogers: Mark 2

In this week’s Chapel series on the Gospel of Mark, Rev Nigel Rogers explores the authority and power of Jesus and the impact this has on our lives.

Dr Victoria Lorrimar: Mark 4:10-12

Dr Victoria Lorrimar preaches on Mark 4:10-12 and the way Jesus’ parables function like secrets, hiding and revealing the kingdom of God.

Dr Paul Jones: Mark 5:1-20

In this sermon Dr Paul Jones shares a sobering word (Mark 5:1-20) about how far Jesus is willing to go in order to interfere in our lives, and rid of us inner demons.

Dr John Frederick: Mark 6:14-29

Mark 6:14-29 details the execution of John the Baptist by King Herod. The text invites us to consider how Herod through his cowardice, faithlessness and political posturing shows that, paradoxically, the “powerful” political leader has less staying power than the beheaded prophet.

Join us in considering how the Gospel invites us to be faithful fools who follow the crucified King Jesus rather than faithless cultural-chameleons who follow the coward King Herod.

Victoria Lorrimar: Mark 7

In this week’s Chapel sermon Dr Victoria Lorrimar takes a look at Jesus’ exchange with the Syrophoenician woman in Mark 7.

“Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”

How do we make sense of this tricky remark?

Simon Gomersall: Mark 8:22-36

In this sermon Simon Gomersall reflects on Mark 8:22-36, a passage that contains the most important question anyone can ever consider.

Simon Gomersall: Mark 11:27-12:17

Continuing the series in Mark’s gospel, this week Simon Gomersall reflects on Mark 11:27-12:17, exploring the question of Jesus’ authority which profoundly challenged the religious and political assumption of his day.

Mike Hands: Mark 14:3-9

Today the college was pleased to welcome as Chapel speaker Mike Hands, Pastor of the New Life Brisbane church plant, reflecting on Mark 14:3-9, with challenging and encouraging words unpacking the nature of, and motives behind, our worship of God.

Today’s gospel reading invites us to reflect on that fact that when we don’t think much on the corrupting power of sin and the destructive power of death, we won’t make much of the cross and resurrection of Jesus. Conversely if we only see the beauty, by “amusing ourselves to death”, we become distracted from the realities of sin and brokenness in our midst. The gospel call us to view the world not as it is in its present brokenness, or in its partial beauty, but as it will be in its future blessedness.

In this way, we rejoice in the beauty that is already here but we are given eyes to see the eternal weight of glory and beauty that is our inheritance—now in the present and forevermore—in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul Jones: Exodus 4:24-26

In the first sermon of our new Chapel series, “Preaching Tough Texts”, Paul Jones hints at what listeners can expect in the coming weeks and draws a life-giving message from one of the most perplexing passages in the Old Testament (Exodus 4:24-26).

Simon Gomersall: Acts 4:32-5:11

In this sermon Simon Gomersall wrestles with the New Testament story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 4:32-5:11), reframing the account to explore the nature of God’s “severe mercy”.

Rev Nigel Rogers: Revelation 17

Rev Nigel Rogers delves into the fantastically apocalyptic domain of Revelation. This exploration into Revelation 17 reminds us of the glory, majesty, power and authority of God, and challenges the way we place worth in things that promise everything and deliver nothing.

Rev Dr Neil Pembroke: Romans 7:14-25

In this sermon Rev Dr Neil Pembroke explores Romans 7:14-25. Neil gives an answer to psychoanalyst Carl Jung’s question: is spiritual perfectionism the driver of the inner conflict that Paul describes?

Dr Paul Jones: 2 Samuel 24

In this sermon on 2 Samuel 24, Dr Paul Jones explores an unusual narrative in which God prompts King David to do something that he then punishes him for. Ultimately, this perplexing final chapter in the Book of Samuel points us to Jesus, whose sacrifice is the last word on divine mercy.

Victoria Lorrimar: Genesis 16

Today’s sermon is on Genesis 16, the use of Sarai’s slave Hagar to provide a surrogate heir. In the era of #metoo and “The Handmaid’s Tale”, Hagar’s story makes for challenging reading, and leaves us with unresolved tensions. Hagar’s experience of “the God who sees”, however, reminds us that God is on the side of the vulnerable and the powerless, those who are otherwise invisible.

Victoria Lorrimar: 2 Samuel 13:1-22

Sometimes the way we have traditionally understood and interpreted a text from the Bible is what makes it a “tough text”. This week we look at 2 Samuel 13:1-22, and how we might resist reading Tamar’s story as incidental to those of her male relatives, instead recognising and amplifying her voice of protest.

John Frederick: 2 Corinthians: 5-6

In this sermon John Frederick deals with 2 Corinthians: 5-6, and shows how the apostle Paul envisions the church to be a community that embodies the suffering love of God.

Basing his argument on the Old Testament text of Isaiah 49, this New Testament text shows that affliction is not a waste, it is as way—the transformative way of the cross for the sake of others, and suffering is not futile; it is formative. Join us and learn how the afflicted church is the authentic church. Learn what it means to be disciples and leaders who embody the love of Christ and thereby participate in the very triune life of God.

Dr John Frederick: 2 Peter 3

Dr John Frederick unpacks 2 Peter 3 and argues that Peter’s language about fire is not a reference to the literal destruction of the earth by God but about the exposure of our works on the last day for judgment.

Join us as we discover how God’s holy love and justice is a consuming fire that reveals the hidden depths of our hearts and invites us to pursue another kind of fire: the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit as it conforms us into the image of Jesus Christ, in both our confession of faith and transformation of character.

Rev Dr Neil Pembroke: Jeremiah 15:10-21

Neil Pembroke addresses Jeremiah’s dangerous complaint and lament to God, calling him deceitful. Wow! Should we really be talking to God like that?

Rev Nigel Rogers: Judges 19

This week Rev Nigel Rogers looks at the confronting text of the Levite and the Concubine in Judges 19. This tough text takes us into the life of Israel as it spirals out of control.

Dr John Frederick: Ephesians 1:1-14

Dr John Frederick: Ephesians 1:15-23

Simon Gomersall: Ephesians 2:1-10

Simon Gomersall: Ephesians 2:11-22

In this week’s sermon Simon Gomersall, Lecturer in Historical and Contemporary Mission at Trinity College Queensland explores how the gospel addresses the profound differences that divide the human race.

Dr Paul Jones: Ephesians 3:1-13

This week Dr Paul Jones shares from Ephesians 3:1-13, exploring how even the Apostle Paul got distracted by the wonder of the gospel.

Dr John Frederick: Ephesians 3

This week New Testament Lecturer Dr John Frederick unpacks the teaching of Ephesians 3 in which—paradoxically—the scriptures teach that the way to spiritual fulfilment is not through acquiring anything but through relinquishing everything for the sake of God and neighbour.

Paul Jones: Ephesians 4:17-32

Do you live with a clear understanding of who you are?

In this sermon Paul Jones explores a principle undergirding Ephesians 4:17-32—that identity determines activity—and challenges us to ‘learn Christ’ by trusting in the gospel’s claim on our lives.

Ephesians 5:1-21

In this sermon Rev Melissa Lipsett explores Ephesians 5:1-21 and takes us on a journey of discovery as to who we are authentically called to be in Christ.

Rev Nigel Rogers: Ephesians 5:21-33

In this sermon Rev Nigel Rogers explores Ephesians 5:21-33 and suggests that the most important issue for the Uniting Church is not marriage but something else entirely.

Rev Nigel Rogers: Ephesians 6:1-9

In this sermon Rev Nigel Rogers explores Ephesians 6:1-9 and draws out the importance of the ekklesia in supporting and encouraging parents and children.

Kamina Wust: Ephesians in 6:10-24

This week guest speaker, Kamina Wust, unpacks Paul’s final instructions to the Ephesians in 6:10-24: to be strong in the face of spiritual opposition, by persevering in their daily Christian lives as an act of spiritual warfare until they share in Christ’s final victory.

Simon Gomersall: 1 Samuel 1:1-18

Simon Gomersall kicks off a new series in Semester 2 of 2018, where the Trinity faculty and a number of guests will unpack key passages from the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel. In this podcast, Simon explores 1 Samuel 1:1-18 which highlights the surprising action of God in surprising people and places.

Paul Jones: 1 Samuel 3

Paul Jones preaches from 1 Samuel 3 on the earliest days of Samuel’s prophetic ministry, highlighting God’s persistent call upon our lives to bring light and hope against the threat of darkness.

Rev Nigel Rogers: 1 Samuel 8-13

Leaders lead people. A leader moves people toward a desired future. However, in this pursuit of leadership a salient question is who leads the leader? In this sermon Rev Nigel Rogers explores the influences prevailing upon Saul’s leadership and how, in this narrative from 1 Samuel 8-13, God’s grace prevails upon God’s leadership of Israel.

Victoria Lorrimar: 1 Samuel 14-15

What happens when we confuse the act and form of worship with the object of our worship? Comparing the responses of Jonathan and Saul to military threat in 1 Samuel 14-15 helps us to understand what true obedience looks like.

Simon Gomersall: 1 Samuel 18:1-16

Speaking on 1 Samuel 18:1-16, Simon Gomersall contrasts the destructive power of envy with the redeeming power of obedient love.

As the tension between David and Saul reaches fever pitch we find the two in a confrontation amidst the wilderness in En-gedi. In this encounter David spares Saul’s life, giving a clear example of what God’s grace and power looks like.

Paul Jones: 1 Samuel 25

In this sermon Paul Jones examines two very different characters in 1 Samuel 25—husband and wife—​and how the same principles of characterisation apply to us who endeavour to reflect God’s image in the world.

There are very few things more difficult in life than loving your enemies. In this weeks sermon Rev Melissa Lipsett unpacks the way in which David not only spares Saul’s life once again but demonstrates a love for his enemy that foreshadows the command of Jesus for all humanity to do likewise.

Everyone has felt the sting of failure at some point. In this sermon John Frederick explores how God draws us out of our collusion with failure into a faith-filled and faithful life in Christ.

Simon Gomersall: An Easter reflection (2020)

Simon Gomersall shared this Easter reflection at Toowong Uniting Church, drawing on insight from the church’s history to make sense of our current circumstances.

Dr Victoria Lorrimar: What does it mean to be human and created in God’s image? (2020)

With incredible advances in bio and medical technology, where do we draw the line with how we “enhance” ourselves? What will we be able to do to and with the human body by 2030 … and should we?

Dr Paul Jones: Scriptural Discernment (2019)

Trinity College Queensland Principal Dr Paul Jones speaks at Newlife Brisbane about Scriptural Discernment.

Dr Victoria Lorrimar: Being Surprised by God (2019)

Dr Victoria Lorrimar was invited to preach at Toowong Uniting Church in June 2019. Looking at lessons for the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-22), Victoria asks, “Can we still be surprised by the magnitude of God’s salvation?”

Dr John Frederick: Colossians 3 (2018)

Sometimes two people can be viewing the exact same scene or reading the exact same text and end up coming away with completely different understandings. This can occur as a result of a confusing or difficult biblical text, or when we are unaware of some of the central underlying theological and grammatical elements of a text. In this sermon, Dr John Frederic shows how Colossians 3 is not aimed at the individual sanctification of believers as salvation solo-projects. Rather, the text invites us to reimagine our own path to holy living as one which is necessarily communal.