Conveniently Paul's sign-off to the Romans in Ch 16 holds a number of the themes I wanted to leave in the minds of those at MVC as I close my time with this amazing crew of faithful people.

Perhaps the clearest indicator of the cryptic nature of John's 'preparation' and Jesus' arrival on the scene is the fact that the very people who were looking for the Messiah ostensibly missed it all together. World shaking change agent flies under the radar. We have much to learn.

'Preparation' has a long history in the scriptures. Change occurs incrementally and slowly until the critical tipping point when we notice the more significant shift. John Baptist functions almost as a type of agent provocateur!

We fear apocalypse because the familiar is shaken beyond recognition. But the joy of apocalypse is the uncovering of the true reality... and it is that the Kingdom of God is prevailing.

The chilling part of the story of the sheep and the goats is the complete lack of awareness that both groups had regarding what they were being judged on. Have we fallen for our own propaganda?

Not the theological underpinning for global capitalism... rather the reality of how we enter more fully into life... or avoid that!

This story functions as a diagnostic indicating that it is our actions that reveal our values/faith and expose the pretence of our supposed beliefs.

This folksy little story of Jesus' confronts us with the reality of our violence in hiding unpalatable stuff we already know away from our consciousness...

How do we value people? What is fair? Why does Jesus mess with our systems so dramatically when he tells his little stories?

What does weak faith look like? What about strong faith? How do we know? Does it actually matter?

Jesus' comments about discipline and prayer in Matt 18 assume the relational networks of which we are part. What does healthy discipline look like? How do we 'agree' in prayer?

The first step to overcoming evil with Good is to see the evil that we seek to overcome. The first place to look is our own life - the main place over which we have jurisdiction and can effectively deliver change.

A living sacrifice is kinda grotesque if you think about it for a moment. What does Paul mean when he calls his readers to offer themselves in this manner. Maybe we have misconstrued the nature of sacrifice altogether?! This is the beginning of a series of talks that will seek to offer an alternate view...

It is easy to misconstrue the nature of relationship with God...

When it comes to being intimate we have to come to terms with our vulnerability. The spirit comes alongside in our weakness and holds us when we cannot make sense...

Good psalm. Good material for getting to know one another...

That which the law could not achieve (weakened as it was by the flesh) Christ Jesus has brought about. So do I have a part in this or is it more akin to being German and 'winning the world cup'? (most Germans actually had nothing to do with their team's win! No offence intended just stating the fact).

Romans 7 has engendered a lot of discussion over the centuries. Was Paul speaking about his life before meeting the resurrected Jesus? Is this not a universal human experience (whether Christian or not)? What causes the disconnect that Paul names as 'another law' that is at work in his body? WARNING: This is perhaps the deepest and most challenging talk I have worked on.

Are we coterminous with Jesus?! What reward do the prophets and the Righteous get anyway?! And what is the current going rate for a cup of cold water on the Kingdom exchange?! Some of these questions may be asked (but not necessarily answered) in this talk...

Otherwise referred to as the 'Great Omission' when used by some as the great evangelical guilt trip. Yet in this brief passage there is enormous awareness of, and grace toward, our frailty as believers and Jesus' clarion call to live in response to his authority in all of life.

Jesus' so-called 'High Priestly Prayer' sounds lofty and removed from normal daily life. It can be a bit confusing with references to this person being in that person and lots of 'oneness' going on. Yet, it is not as high-falooting as it may first sound. It is a prayer about where life is...

Another of John's Gospel 'I am' sayings. In my view this is a rich saying that has barely been explored. What I really love about this section of discourse is that it reveals just how prepared Jesus is in regard to his followers. Jesus certainly seemed to know Peter better than Peter knew himself.

When Jesus designates himself as the access point of the Kingdom was he really just claiming to have the access code to hand out to his friends? What if 'believing in Jesus' and 'following Jesus' means more than we have popularly imagined. Who is the role model for your desires? (With gratitude to René Girard)

The disciples on the road to Emmaus were at the first stage of the massive revelation of all that it meant that Jesus had lived, been crucified and risen. Their world would not be the same again!

What does it mean to be 'risen in Christ'? When we seek the 'things above' what are we talking about? Are these code words for events long past and behaviours that are now irrelevant? There is nothing more relevant for today...

It is all too easy to breeze past these stories of the Patriarch's with preconceived ideas about who they were and what they were like. Abram - freekin' amazing faith!

Who would have thought temptation could be so exciting? Hang on.... that doesn't sound right?!

Welcome to the twilight zone. Glowing figures and conversing with ghosts! What on earth is this transfiguration passage meant to be about?!

Jesus penchant for addressing matters of the heart finds extreme expression in this passage recorded in Matthew's gospel. Straightforward and confronting. Simple but not easy. Jesus calls us into the true life of authenticity and out of the half-life of our character roles.

I used to think the bits about salt and light were commandments in style. I now see they are statements of fact. Jesus helping us appreciate our identity, role and function as his followers. Then the bit about Jesus' approach to the Law and the Prophets clarifies how it sometimes appears as though Jesus was breaking the Law (but not abolishing it) and all the while getting to the heart of its intent.

What happens when the system of worship has become so toxic it actually produces the polar opposite of what was intended? Ask Micah...

The is perhaps one of the most subversive worship songs in the psalter. Not only is there talk of a 'new song'... but also sacrifices and offerings are exposed as NOT desired by God! And just to add insult to injury this psalmist wants to sing his new song in the great congregation (presumably as they offer their sacrifices and offerings?!) That's some kind of faith!

The Servant of God goes about the work of the kingdom in a manner that is by no means familiar to us in our culture. In fact, it would be easy to consider the Servant's strategy to be profoundly flawed and all but hopeless (in worldly terms). But the Servant is not crushed. The Servant does the work of the kingdom because the kingdom is through and through the Servant - not as a part of the Servant but as integral to the Servant. And then there is the matter of 'New things'... Interesting idea for a church that has made it its business to be one of the most conservatising forces in our community today. New things? No thanks... we're happy with the old wine most of the time (yuk!).

Too often 'religion' is simply an endorsement of the dominant culture. When Jesus enters the frame, there is disruption at every turn... starting with his birth. If we want salvation we must embrace disruption.

10 Lepers get healed and only one returns to that Jesus! This is a stunning example of not have the capacity to appreciate what one has.

This has to be one of Jesus' most controversial and misunderstood yarns. Here's another take for you to consider...

Jesus deliberately provokes a debate about the meaning of the Sabbath and thereby exposes the hypocrisy of his opponents. He's not shy!

A collection of sayings in Luke's Gospel around the theme of being ready for the master's return. They offer a call/challenge to enter fully into life now!

A very confronting word for our time and culture!

Jesus seems to try quite hard to put people off following him. He knows how challenging the journey is and he wants any tempted to follow to wise up to what they are getting themselves into...