BCUC Sunday Sermons & More

Burnside City Uniting Church
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BCUC is a community of people of all ages and all stages of faith that God has called from all over the world to prayerfully listen to God, learn the love of Jesus, encourage each other as friends and spread the joy of the Holy Spirit. Celebrating worship together each Sunday at 10 am is important to us, like recharging your phone each night, but much better. We love welcoming new people. As we aim to follow the ways and words of Jesus, we strive to raise children of God because we believe there is nothing better than fully knowing the life-giving identity Jesus gifts us.

  1. 1d ago

    Leadership Greenhouses - Bearing Fruit: 12 July 2026

    Dear friends of BCUC,   What does it mean to be fruitful in having a leadership greenhouse? There's probably a lot about that statement that doesn't initially make sense. Let's break it down: Leadership. Whether we like it or not, the church - and before that, the nation of Israel—thrived or faltered depending on its leadership. At times I've wanted to be part of a utopian Christian community where everyone has equal power and influence, and we are all led by the Spirit rather than by people or governance structures. Everyone is blessed to be a blessing to others, we all live in peace, and the community grows. The more I see of life, however, the more I realise this is dreamland and not based in reality. In fact, the very first thing God said about humans after creating them was about leadership. Genesis 1:26 reads, ‘God said, “Now we will make humans, and they will be like us. We will let them rule the fish, the birds and all other living creature”’ (CEV). Let them rule—or govern, or have dominion. It's about humanity being entrusted with God's loving rule over creation. I realise now the question isn't whether a group of people like the church needs leadership, but whether its leadership is Christ-like (servant-hearted, humble and wise, like the Good Shepherd) or like the world's (selfish, prideful and foolish, like the thief). Churches will always need good, Christ-like leaders to be raised up generation after generation. Greenhouse. This is about a whole church providing the right kind of environment for good, Christ-like leadership to be nurtured and thrive—not simply for the sake of the church itself, but because it wants to see people grow in their discipleship and become a blessing to the wider world. Providing this environment is the work of the whole church community, not just a few people. Fruitful. A fruitful leader is one who exercises their gifts of servant-hearted leadership and sees communities thrive and grow. The image we are leaning into this Sunday is that of a great tree in the middle of the garden that becomes a home for many birds of the air - a kingdom that began with a mustard seed (Mark 4:30–34). Getting back to the original question: Do you want to see Christian communities that are thriving, growing, providing a home and shelter for the lost and wandering? Do you want to be part of a community that nurtures good, servant-hearted leaders to serve in many of our community spaces, such as hospitals, government, schools, families, law firms, businesses, and more?   If the answer is yes, then there's a good chance you're wanting the same thing as me - a church community that acts like a leadership greenhouse, producing fruitful leaders.   Hope to see you Sunday at worship. Benji

    32 min

  2. Jul 5

    Leadership Greenhouses : Budding Leaders - 5 July 2026

    This week, we're exploring the sapling stage of the greenhouse, or what we might call the "budding leader." Saplings are incredibly fragile. As they grow, they depend on water, sunlight and the right environment. Without the care they need, they struggle to thrive. In discipleship and leadership, this is the stage where intentional investment matters. As a church, how are we caring for the saplings, the budding leaders among us? Are we encouraging them, mentoring them and giving them opportunities to serve and use their gifts? When we think about budding leaders, we often picture children, teenagers and young adults. But the budding leader might be you too. Pastor Steven Furtick once said, "If you're not dead, God's not done." That quote has always stayed with me. How often do we think, "Someone else can do that," or, "I don't have anything valuable to offer"? The truth is, God is always inviting us into something. That may be stepping into a leadership role within the church, or it may be opening the door for someone else, encouraging them, investing in them and helping them grow in their relationship with Jesus. My hope is this series sparks fresh thinking about what leadership could look like for you and for us as a church. If you have questions about leadership or would like to discern whether God might be calling you into a leadership role, please reach out to Benji or me. We'd love to pray with you and discern that journey together. Kaitlyn Phillips

    29 min

  3. Jul 5

    Leadership Greenhouses : Budding Leaders - 5 July 2026

    This week, we're exploring the sapling stage of the greenhouse, or what we might call the "budding leader." Saplings are incredibly fragile. As they grow, they depend on water, sunlight and the right environment. Without the care they need, they struggle to thrive. In discipleship and leadership, this is the stage where intentional investment matters. As a church, how are we caring for the saplings, the budding leaders among us? Are we encouraging them, mentoring them and giving them opportunities to serve and use their gifts? When we think about budding leaders, we often picture children, teenagers and young adults. But the budding leader might be you too. Pastor Steven Furtick once said, "If you're not dead, God's not done." That quote has always stayed with me. How often do we think, "Someone else can do that," or, "I don't have anything valuable to offer"? The truth is, God is always inviting us into something. That may be stepping into a leadership role within the church, or it may be opening the door for someone else, encouraging them, investing in them and helping them grow in their relationship with Jesus. My hope is this series sparks fresh thinking about what leadership could look like for you and for us as a church. If you have questions about leadership or would like to discern whether God might be calling you into a leadership role, please reach out to Benji or me. We'd love to pray with you and discern that journey together. Kaitlyn Phillips

    29 min

  4. Jun 28

    Leadership Greenhouses - 28 June 2026

    This Sunday, we begin a new three-week sermon series called Leadership Greenhouses. While the title might sound like a series just for church leaders, it's actually a series about discipleship, growth, and raising children of God. Using three parables from Mark's Gospel, we'll explore how Jesus creates environments where faith can grow and flourish. Just as a greenhouse provides the right conditions for plants to thrive, healthy discipleship requires purposeful nurturing. Before fruit appears above the surface, important work is happening beneath it. The soil must be prepared, seeds must be planted, and growth must be nurtured. Together, we'll discover what it looks like to prepare the soil of our hearts, plant seeds of faith in the lives of others, and participate in God's work of growing disciples who grow disciples. Whether you've been following Jesus for decades or are simply exploring faith, this series will encourage you to consider how God wants to grow you and use you in His Kingdom. Kaitlyn Phillips

    23 min

  5. Jun 21

    Christ First - 21 June 2026

    This can be a confronting reading. Jesus is preparing his disciples for their mission and the opposition that they will face. They should expect what happened to their teacher to happen to them. However, he wants to stress loyalty and courage and emphasise that trust in God is greater than any fear of people. The Jews needed that message particularly when Jerusalem had been destroyed and they found themselves in exile.    We may be called to sacrifice for Christ but when Christianity costs we are closer to the Fellowship of Christ and their sufferings and therefore the power of the resurrection becomes greater for us. The consequences of being disobedient to God’s will are far worse than any punishment for mankind.   Then there is the controversial statement “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” For us at a time where there have been 2 major conflicts in the Ukraine and the Middle East with an appalling lack of respect for the value of individual human lives by leaders and World War three only just being  averted for now by the common sense of the non-combatants refusing to become involved in the fighting, this is confronting. But this was a language that the Christians and Jews of the time would understand. The Jews believed that on the Day of the Lord God would break into history and cause disruption and the most challenging example is where family members turn against each other because of choosing God. Jesus is saying that His coming is the Day of the Lord (not a single day but a time period) and probably the worst scenario is when we must choose between Him and our closest ties on earth. It is due to a merciful God than most people do not have to face such an extreme choice. Nor do people in our society have to risk their lives. However, the point is clear. If you try to hoard your life, to preserve it, you will lose it; if you spend your life in obeying Jesus’ commands and serving others, then your life will be enriched.   Ian Olver Matthew 10: 24-39

    22 min

  6. Jun 14

    Mission is for me - 14 June 2026

    Psalm 67:2 sings, “May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere.” When you read the big picture of the whole Bible, from Genesis through to Revelation, one of the themes you will notice is that the nation of Israel, the descendants of Abraham, were blessed by God to be a blessing to everyone else. At times they remembered this; many times they kept the blessing to themselves. Jesus came to release that blessing once and for all. As the entire world gathers around screens to cheer on their teams in the World Cup, we see in Psalm 67 a much smaller group of people gathered together to cheer on a future when the whole world will sing for joy—not because a round ball went into a net, but because: “ ... you govern the nations with justice and guide the people of the whole world.” (Psalm 67:4) The ongoing work of mission in today’s church continues singing that same song of Psalm 67. We are all part of it. The apostle Paul was part of it too and reflected on his motives and strategy in Romans 15:16–22. If you were to write to a church community you had never met, describing the mission work, motivations, and strategies you have been involved with during your lifetime, what would you say? This Sunday we will hear from a number of different people and gain a bigger picture of what BCUC is involved in when it comes to mission. You might hear your own story, discover places to get involved, or notice gaps that God is calling you to step up and fill. Your brother in Christ, Benji

    27 min

  7. Jun 7

    Mission in our community - 7 June 2026

    What does it look like to do local mission? In 1 Thessalonians we see a church with an incredible story - a complete turnaround from serving idols to worshipping the true and living God. The gospel went deep into this church, transforming them from the inside out. As this church lived out authentic gospel shaped community, the good news rang out from them to others all around their region, and many more people came to know the true and living God as well. This church can help be an example to show us what it looks like to live out authentic gospel shaped community, that overflows so that the gospel flows out into our local community, even into those parts of our local community that not all of us can go out to ourselves (like our university campuses!). Lauren Hansen

    33 min

  8. May 31

    Mission - 31 May 2026

    Dear friends of BCUC, Anyone who has watched the cult classic film The Blues Brothers would know that the movies is about Jake and Elwood Blues who are “on a mission from God” to get the band back together and raise money for a church orphanage. Church mission is a word used by many people and can sometimes seem to mean almost everything the church does or very specifically, making new converts.  What then is mission?  I like to define it using our church’s motto ‘raising Children of God’ or discipleship. The wider Uniting Church has been drawn to the message of ‘reconciliation’ since its formation, drawing heavily from the words of the apostle Paul to the church in Corinth: "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself…. and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us"  (2 Corinthians 5:19). Reconciliation is the work of peacemaking, those that were friends, became enemies and are now reconciled into friendship once more. Our wider church’s mission, therefore, is making peace between God and others, between people and each other, and with all creation. Over the next three weeks we are going to explore ‘mission’: what is it, how can we participate in it locally and globally? I hope we will all learn much and be inspired into everyday action.  Your brother in Christ Benji

    24 min
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About

BCUC is a community of people of all ages and all stages of faith that God has called from all over the world to prayerfully listen to God, learn the love of Jesus, encourage each other as friends and spread the joy of the Holy Spirit. Celebrating worship together each Sunday at 10 am is important to us, like recharging your phone each night, but much better. We love welcoming new people. As we aim to follow the ways and words of Jesus, we strive to raise children of God because we believe there is nothing better than fully knowing the life-giving identity Jesus gifts us.

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  • Creator
    Burnside City Uniting Church
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    72
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Burnside City Uniting Church
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    BCUC Sunday Sermons & More