Merri Creek Anglican

Hebrews 8 continues to build on the implications of Jesus being a priest king like Melchizedek. The point is that now he sits on his throne in his glory in the heavenly sanctuary, and he has an ongoing ministry to the world to give people new hearts, forgive them of their sins, and create in them knowledge with God. This sermon will explore why the new covenant is superior to the old, and what it means for us today to have new hearts.

For most Melbournians, both the title 'King' and 'Priest' are fairly antiquated and irrelevant. There have been so many bad examples of royalty and the institutional church in recent memory that we have become very cynical. However, when you consider both titles in their ideal, if such kings or priests were to exist, we might become very excited. In this sermon Peter preaches about the idea enigmatic king-priest Melchizedek found in Genesis 14, Psalm 110, and Hebrews 7. Why Melchizedek so important? And how is Jesus a king-priest like Melchizedek? What does this mean for us?

Aboriginal Christian Leader Brooke Prentis presents an inspiring challenge to us about how we at Merri Creek can respond as Christians to the need for reconciliation between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people in Australia.

This is one of the most difficult sections of the New Testament. It starts off in a straight forward way, urging the Jewish-Christian readers of this letter, to not be baby Christians but to apply their faith. But then it goes into a warning about the seriousness of falling away. Peter explains how this passage is actually an encouragement.

Since the days of Moses' brother Aaron, Israel's religious life was led by a High Priest. The writer to the Hebrews makes a big argument, that Jesus is the Great High Priest. He is the greats that ever lived. Therefore, we can approach him with confidence. But how can we know that Jesus is really the person for the job as the Great High Priest? How can you know that when you approach Jesus for forgiveness and a new life, that he will be able to fulfil his side of the bargain? Here Peter continues the 2016 Hebrews series to show you why Jesus is the one for the job.

Guest speaker Peter Corney discusses how to practically live out the kind of Christian love that is described in 1 Corinthians 13, in the life of the church.

If you are in Christ, his love for you will change you. In this sermon, Peter explains how this should shape your thinking about yourself, and your relationships with others in the church.

This talk is the first of a three-part series on Christian love and pastoral care. Ephesians 2:1-10 shows us that despite the fact that we were spiritually dead and under the curse of sin, God reached out in his loving grace and made us alive.

Guest speaker, Graham Cole, Dean of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Chicago, spoke at Merri Creek on the occasion of the baptism of his grandson. Graham deals asks us if we really know what 'Christian' means in this age when it has been coopted by so many other political and cultural groups.

Do you use the Bible like a fortune cookie – flicking the pages and then randomly sticking your finger down to see what verse you land on? I hope not. In this sermon, Rob explains how God really guides us with his word.

[Rob Miller] God's Word Brings Life (1 Peter 1:17-25) 26.6.16 by Merri Creek Anglican

Do you come forward at church to receive the bread and wine and know what you are doing? What is the Lord's Supper important? What is this act of worship that Jesus established at the Last Supper? What do Anglicans believe?

In this last of the giving series from 2 Corinthians 8-9, Peter looks at the way Paul wanted the Corinthian church to give Abundantly. In this passage, Paul makes some famous but curious promises about reaping what you sow. What does this mean with regards to financial giving? What is it that we reap? Moreover, why is it so important to become an abundant giver?

It's one thing to be excited about giving your money away, but Paul shows here that you also ned to be organised, doing it voluntarily, and have some accountability structures. Why is this important? It's all about protecting the reputation of the church, and bringing glory to God.

Paul encourages the church in Corinth to follow through with their good intentions and give sacrificially to the suffering poor church in Judea. Out of this section the letter, Paul discusses a series of important discipleship principles such as sacrifice as the true currency in the Kingdom of God (rather than actual dollar value), and financial equity in society.

Living the Christian life and lasting the distance is really hard. But God doesn't leave us on his own. Hebrews 4:12-13 tells us that God has given us his living and active word to help us.

Peter continues from last week to bring part two of the sermon Working to stop Working. The focus is on what it means to be a Sabbath People. How to we have the freedom of spirit that the disciples demonstrated in Luke 6:1-11? How do we move on from thinking of Sabbath as a once a week idea to a lifestyle choice?

The writer to the Hebrews says to make every effort to enter into God's Sabbath Rest – in other words, we have to work to stop working for our salvation. In this sermon, Peter explains the Sabbath Rest, and the danger that some might not enter that rest. What practical steps can we make then, to ensure we do enter that rest?

In this sermon, Bishop Genieve Blackwell offers some encouragement to the congregation - and newly confirmees, that God sent the Holy Spirit to help us in our walk as disciples.

This sermon looks at the warning in Hebrews against rebellion against God. The Israelites did not trust God and so God responded by not letting that generation enter the Promised Land. Christians need to learn from the mistakes of our Jewish ancestors. Distrust of God comes from sin and a hard heart. The strong recommendation in Hebrews 3 is to encourage each other in faith.