John Hebenton's Podcast

John talks about the good shepherd tradition, and how the gospel writers and John in particular apply that to Jesus. This gives rise to 3 questions what voices compete for our attentionhow do we take time hear and respond voice good shepherd? in what ways do others see God the good shepherd at work in us?Notes for this sermon can be found here

John explores what the stories of the re-call of Peter and the call of Paul, offer us as we seek to live out Jesus' resurrection today 

What difference does Easter make for you in how you live your life? Does it make any difference at all?For me Easter is not so much about getting into heaven as it is an affirmation by God of all Jesus said and did; is a statement of God’s utter and profound commitment to this world and all who live in it; and an invitation to live in anticipation of completion of that.Importantly, Easter is not the end of the story in John, it is one step – life and ministry of Jesus; denial and betrayal, crucifixion, resurrection and appearance to Mary, ascension and return, resurrection appearance to other disciples, giving of Spirit to those disciples… the story goes on. So what next for us?The notes for this sermon can be found here

John used Chapter 32 in Brian McLaren's "We Make the Road by Walking" (Hodder and Stoughton, London, 2014) - Peace March Palm Sunday, to invite people into the story of Palm Sunday. There are a couple of monor changes in his text.John finishes with some of the questions Brian asks at the end of his chapter1.   Engage. What one thought or idea from today’s lesson especially intrigued, provoked, disturbed, challenged, encouraged, warmed, warned, helped or surprised you?2.    Activate: This week, look for moments when you, like Jesus, can see with grief that people are choosing a way of conflict or violence instead of peace. Allow yourself to feel the sadness without vilifying anyone.3.     Meditate: Hold the phrase ‘a house of prayer for all people’ together with the phrase ‘my Father’s house'. See what thoughts and emotions arise within you, and express them in prayer.

John explores some of the threads and echoes in this important story-          in every gospel in some form so tells something of “way”-          relationship with Luke 15 – scandalous love-          fragrance of death vs fragrance of life?-          echoes of Cana – giving Jesus courage to do what needs to be done-          poor are with us always – Deuteronomy 15The notes for this sermon can be found here

John has a conversation  about how the names we apply to stories like “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” both help us understand it and blind us to what is happening in the story using a number of titles given this story.He finishes by asking "No matter what title/s we apply to this story, how do we finish it in our lives?"Notes on this sermon can be found at <https://colourfuldreamer.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-lost-family-by-any-other-name.html>

John  uses “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life” by Mark Manson to explore repentance as re-visioning. He asks- What values do we use to ascribe success in our lives and what do we need to let go of?-  As we approach the parish AGM what values do we use to ascribe success in this parish and what do we need to repent of? - What new ways of seeing success might we be invited into?The notes for this sermon can be found here

In light of the appalling events in Christchurch, John looks at the various versions of the covenant between Abram and God where the people of God are blessed to be a blessing. But what happens when we simply want to be blessed, special, better than others? What happens when we forget about being a blessing? Christchurch happens. To help us think about how we might respond, John explores Jesus' commitment to hope expressed in his determination for follow his call to Jerusalem. What did/does Jerusalem represent then and now? How does all this help us recognise “our true being which brims over into true words and deeds”? How are we determinedly committed to hope in light of Christchurch?The notes for this sermon can be found here

John was asked to talk at the ecumenical Ash Wednesday service about a Franciscan approach to Lent. He describes being Franciscan as being called to walk in the footsteps of St.’s Francis and Clare of Assisi as they walked in footsteps of ChristUsing the life of Francis Johns offers several themes which help us ask questions of the nature of God and ourselves as we walk towards Good Friday and the cross

John describes the story of Jesus in the wilderness as a story of a test of identity that asks who is Jesus as “son of God”? What kind of son of God will he be? Like the Roman Emperor, Adam, David? All carry the title “son of God”.We too are beloved children of God. How do we understand that and how is that identify tested?John then offers some thoughts on how to approach lent in light of all this from a Franciscan perspective based on the Ash Wednesday homily.The notes for this sermon can be found here

John begins by reminding people that we read Luke through Luke 4 and the Magnificat. This week’s reading is the third set of wisdom sayings on how to live no in anticipation of that day when God’s will is done on earth as in heaven – what we pray for every time we pray the Lords prayer. He then leads a Lectio Divina process to help people prayerfully hear what Christ the Word might be saying to them in this passage’s message – finishing with “What is Christ the Word inviting me to this Lent”The notes for this sermon can be found here 

John uses the stories of St. Francis of Assisi and his friend Tapu, who died this week, to explore how Luke 6:27-38 is a description of both how we live in response to realising that we are wrapped in love and where to look for the unfolding reign of God

John explores Luke’s important but rarely read in the lectionary version of the Beatitudes asking, - why is it on a plain and not on a Mount; - and what might Luke have thought “blessed” meant compared to what we too easily think it meant. In light of all that, where do I fit with all of this – I think I am numbered in the group being “woed” and warned.

Following on from the two lectures on the Battle of Gate Pā, the Anglican Parish of Gate Pā was very fortunate to have the Rev Dr David Williams FRSNZ give this talk on the Treaty of Waitangi.Last year David was elected a Fellow of the Academy of the Royal Society Te Apārangi in recognition of his research, scholarship and the advancement of knowledge in the areas of constitutional law, colonial legal history and the Treaty of Waitangi. In this talk he describes both his own journey in understanding the Treaty, and the changes in how it has been understood by both "crown agencies" and other historians. He looked at why the Treaty came about, what happened during the days around Feb. 6th 1840, how the Treaty came to be signed by iwi around New Zealand, and how it was understood by the British Government at the time and the years following.In essence he suggests that when we look at how "sovereignty" was understood in that time, the English and Te Reo Maori texts say the same thing. That is

My plan was to explore how people respond to the call of God using the stories of Luke and Isaiah, suggesting that they are not as straightforward as we often read them. What are some other biblical stories about call that might give us hope – Jeremiah, Amos, Jonah? I also talk about how, when we ask “What are we called to?”, we often answer with "working for Christ". In Luke Peter is called to let go of everything he knows about fishing and to fish anyway. He becomes the means by which Jesus catches fish. We are called to join in work of Spirit of Risen Jesus bringing in reign of God.

Exploring what is love using Paul's letter to the Corinthians; and who to love using the story of Jesus in Nazareth in Luke 4. It is all pretty challenging if we are honest. Who do we struggle to love and why?

John talks about how Luke 4: 14-21 is Jesus owning for himself everything he has been taught up to this point.It is how Jesus understood himself - how he answered: whose am I? who am I? and what is mine to do?  It is the way we are to interpret everything else that is in LukeWhat does that look like for us today? Where do we see this happening? What would it look like for this to be fulfilled today?

John starts with some fun facts about John's gospel, and asks why has John started with this story? He retells the story as a story of abundant grace among people who only had an abundance of poverty  and then ask -          Where we have tasted, seen, felt, heard, touched this kind of abundant grace? -          How do we live in this grace?

How does Marys song help us understand and live out God’s relentlessly faithful and dangerous love

John  uses “The Book of Joy - Lasting Happiness in a Changing World”, by the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams to explore the nature of joy. He suggests that joy is not happiness. Unlike happiness joy is a gift. It is planted deep down and there are things we can do to help nurture our joy. He uses the research done Sonja Lyubomirsky to explore 3 ways to be joyful.John the Baptist shows us how to live lives of joy, unbound for that which takes us away from joy – when we live generously and compassionately. How might we practically live generously and compassionately this Christmas?