Sermon Podcasts at St Thomas' Moonee Ponds

Robert

Gospel reading and sermon from St Thomas' Moonee Ponds each week.

  1. 3d ago

    Disagreements are an unexpected engine of church growth.

    What if the disagreements apart are actually the raw materials God wants to use to build it up? Most leaders avoid conflict, but conflict is an inevitable part of church growth. Scripture gives us a radical alternative way to view this situation.. In this episode, we dissect Proverbs 6:16-19—where God lists the seven things He detests, culminating in the sin of sowing discord—and contrast it with Jesus' step-by-step reconciliation process in Matthew 18:10-20. We move beyond just "being nice" to a practical, confrontational, redemptive strategy that: Turns passive consumers into mature, reproducing disciples.Creates a magnetic witness in a "cancel-culture" world that is starving for authentic love.Unlocks the power of unified corporate prayer.Stops the "leaky bucket" by pursuing offended members before they walk out the door.Builds a leadership pipeline that replicates health, not toxicity.If you are ready to be part of a church that actually thrives under pressure and can work through things without cancelling eash other—this conversation is for you and an introduction to our church. Key Scriptures: Proverbs 6:16-19, Matthew 18:10-20

  2. Sep 1

    The Boy Who Dared to Rise - A testimony.

    Share this if you know someone who wants to rise from their situation. This song is my real life. Every word is true, and I make myself vulnerable to make sure that one person knows they are not destined to be the circumstances they came from. I wrote it from the scars of a childhood filled with beatings, fear, and silence. But that broken boy grew up. By God's grace, I broke the cycle. I became a husband, a father, and a man who chose love over pain. This is my original composition. My testimony. I'm not sharing for pity—I'm sharing because someone out there needs to know: you are not what was done to you. Healing is real. Christ met me in my rubble, and He can meet you too. Now, as Vicar of St Thomas Moonee Ponds, I'm reminded daily of the power we have to bring healing to the most unexpected places—sometimes in a conversation, sometimes in a song, sometimes in simply showing up and saying, "I see you, I was you and you matter." Please share this with someone carrying invisible scars. A text, a story, a link—you might be the hand that helps them rise. In the love of Christ, we can all stand. 🙏 Share. Heal. Rise.

  3. Aug 30

    The Cost and the Crown: Rediscovering the Cross-Shaped Mission

    What if the greatest threat to the church isn't opposition from the world—but our own desire to stay comfortable? In this episode, we explore Matthew 16:21–28 and the paradox at the heart of the Christian life: if you try to save your life, you'll lose it. But if you lose it for Jesus, you'll find it. We unpack what it really means to "take up your cross," why the church has drifted from the cross in its pursuit of comfort and relevance, and how we can return to a gospel-driven, cross-shaped mission. The gospel is distinctive. It cannot be woven together with the ways of the world. And each way of living excludes the other. Key Scripture: Matthew 16:21–28 Blessings,  Rev. Rob.

  4. Aug 23

    The perils of living a comfortable life

    We love having God neatly labeled, safely categorized, and comfortably predictable. But Jesus refuses to stay in our boxes. In this episode, we step into Matthew 16:13–20—where Jesus asks the question that shatters our spiritual comfort zones. The crowd had Him figured out (Elijah, Jeremiah, a prophet—safe, static, past-tense). Peter risked a divine revelation: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." But even that glorious confession isn't the finish line. The "rock" isn't a monument to sit on—it's a movement to join. The "keys" aren't a security blanket; they require daily, uncomfortable listening to heaven. And sometimes, the deepest trust is found in the silence He commands. Press play if you're ready to stop worshipping your blueprints and start growing in the wild, risky trust of the living Son of God.

  5. Aug 16

    The Crumbs That Change Everything: Jesus, the Canaanite Woman, and Radical Inclusion

    A Canaanite woman—ethnic enemy, religious outsider, and a mother at the end of her rope—does something the religious insiders couldn't do. She teaches the Master. Her wit, her humility, and her audacious faith crack open the door for the entire Gentile world. In this episode, we sit in the dust of Tyre and Sidon and let this woman's voice rewrite our theology of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We explore why reaching the marginalized isn't a side-project of the Kingdom—it is the primary way God expands our hearts and corrects our narrow vision. IN THIS EPISODE, WE UNPACK: 🚶 Border-Crossing Over Open Doors – Why Jesus physically walked into enemy territory, and why we cannot wait for the marginalized to come to us. Why we need to continue to be looking for opportunities within our parish to speak the marginalised.🧩 Intersectionality in the Text – How this text speaks into our relationship with our First Nation people🍞 Belonging Over Assimilation – We look at the passage from Acts 8:26 40 as a passage that speaks to a moment with someone in the bible who is non-binary (the Eunic) is ministered to by Philip and is baptised.🔄 The Mission Expands – Rev. Rob shares a testimony of his encounter with a same-sex attracted couple about worship and coming to the communion table within our parish.WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR: If you've ever felt like you don't belong in church—too broken, too different, too much—this is for you.If you've ever been the "insider" protecting a comfortable, homogenous religion—this is for you too.If you're ready to stop handing out crumbs from a distance and start sitting at the same table—click the link and hit play.

  6. Aug 9

    Preparing the soil how the next generation hears the word Part 2

    You've survived the distractions. You've weathered the emotional crashes. But now comes the real battle—the slow, subtle choke of everyday anxiety and the relentless pressure to prove your worth. In this concluding installment of our intergenerational series, we tackle the final two soils in Jesus' Parable of the Sower. If Part 1 was the diagnosis of what's stealing the Word, Part 2 is the prognosis—and the hope. In Part 2, we dig into: 🌿 The Thorny Ground (Vs. 7, 22) – We confront the "silent killers" of faith: the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth. For today's teens and young adults, this isn't just about money—it's about hustle culture, the pressure to build a flawless resume, existential dread about the future, and the comparison trap of social media. We explore how these thorns don't just distract—they choke the soul, leaving our young people feeling guilty for resting and anxious about praying. 🌳 The Good Soil (Vs. 8, 23) – Finally, the hope we've been waiting for. This generation craves authenticity above all else, and that is precisely what the Good Soil requires. We discuss what it really means to hear, understand, and bear fruit in a digital age. This isn't about perfection—it's about deep roots, intergenerational connection, and the kind of resilience that produces 30, 60, and 100-fold fruit even when life is hard. Jesus didn't shame the bad soil. He explained it realistically so that we—the Church—could act as the Farmer's helpers. This episode will leave you with three practical, actionable steps to help the next generation put down deep roots in a shallow world. Whether you are a parent, a grandparent, a youth leader, or a young adult struggling to find solid ground—this message is for you. Key Scriptures Referenced: Matthew 13:7-9, 22-23, 2 Timothy 3:1-6

  7. Aug 9

    Sinking, Swimming and the hand that catches you

    Spoiler alert: You are going to fail. You are going to have anxious thoughts. You are going to doubt. And guess what? Jesus is not surprised, and He is not stepping back. In our latest podcast episode, we break down Matthew 14—the storm, the boat, and the moment Peter realized he couldn't do it alone - and we apply it the concerns the youth have.. We get real about: ✅ Anxiety, worry and anger being signposts. ✅ The fear that keeps us stuck in the boat. ✅ The shocking grace of Jesus when we mess up when we are out of the boat. His power isn't just for the "perfect Christians." It's for the sinkers. It's for the strugglers. It's for you. 🎧 Link in bio / Click to listen now! This week, speak to a youth you know and remind then that they don't need to row through this week alone.

  8. Aug 2

    Wade In, Don’t Just Watch

    “Where the river flows, everything will live.” (Ezekiel 47:9) Water in the desert isn't a luxury—it is survival. In Ezekiel’s vision, God sends a life-giving river straight from the Temple into the most stagnant, salty, dead place on earth. And where it flows, swarms of life appear, trees bear fruit, and even the leaves bring healing. This Sunday, we are asking a bold question: Are we observing the water, or are we getting in it? If you are visiting, we aren't asking you to swim the whole river today—just take one step. One small act of discipleship. One prayer group. One hour of service. One conversation of forgiveness. If you have been walking with Jesus for years, we are asking you to go deeper—from your ankles, to your knees, to your waist, and finally into the deep current where you simply trust the flow. Listen to the podcast from Sunday as we step off the banks and into the healing stream. Your Dead Sea is about to become fresh.

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Gospel reading and sermon from St Thomas' Moonee Ponds each week.

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