Sermons from Pakenham Lakeside Church

On average, churches in North America spend 2 cents in every dollar of income they receive, on overseas mission. The stats for Australian churches are probably not much different. Churches can easily become cosy, inward looking or consumeristic.  What kind of church will we become? How can we be a community that participates in God's radical, transformative giving to the world? How is that expressed in our budgets and in our acts of service?  This sermon explores these themes to round out the 'Joy of Generosity' series. It was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 22nd may, 2016. The sermon can be used in conjunction with the Prezi zooming visuals found here or the Bible study resources found at this link. Enjoy!

On average, churches in North America spend 2 cents in every dollar of income they receive, on overseas mission. The stats for Australian churches are probably not much different. Churches can easily become cosy, inward looking or consumeristic.  What kind of church will we become? How can we be a community that participates in God's radical, transformative giving to the world? How is that expressed in our budgets and in our acts of service?  This sermon explores these themes to round out the 'Joy of Generosity' series. It was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 22nd may, 2016. The sermon can be used in conjunction with the Prezi zooming visuals found here or the Bible study resources found at this link. Enjoy!

The word for 'grace' in Greek is charis. The word for 'joy' in Greek is chara. Grace and joy are deeply interconnected!  God's is by nature generous and self-giving. When we learn to live with a recognition of all that God has given us, first in common grace - life itself, relationships, time, abilities, provision - we are drawn into joy and thankfulness. This is the basis of Christian generosity - it is responsive - we give because he first gave to us. 2 Corinthians 8 is a remarkable chapter on Christian generosity. It uses the word charis more often than almost any other passage of the NT. But surprisingly, charis means more than only 'God's forgiving grace' - it is also used here for human generosity, for thankfulness, for a practical collection of charity. When we engage with generosity it increases our joy - because it connects us to the nature of our generous, giving, joyful God. This is the first in a three-part sermon on 'The Joy of Generosity.' This sermon was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 24th April, 2016. It can be used with the Prezi zooming visuals found at this link and the Bible study series found at this link. Enjoy!

The word for 'grace' in Greek is charis. The word for 'joy' in Greek is chara. Grace and joy are deeply interconnected!  God's is by nature generous and self-giving. When we learn to live with a recognition of all that God has given us, first in common grace - life itself, relationships, time, abilities, provision - we are drawn into joy and thankfulness. This is the basis of Christian generosity - it is responsive - we give because he first gave to us. 2 Corinthians 8 is a remarkable chapter on Christian generosity. It uses the word charis more often than almost any other passage of the NT. But surprisingly, charis means more than only 'God's forgiving grace' - it is also used here for human generosity, for thankfulness, for a practical collection of charity. When we engage with generosity it increases our joy - because it connects us to the nature of our generous, giving, joyful God. This is the first in a three-part sermon on 'The Joy of Generosity.' This sermon was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 24th April, 2016. It can be used with the Prezi zooming visuals found at this link and the Bible study series found at this link. Enjoy!

Did Jesus really rise from the dead? This is possibly the most important question in history. As Peter Hitchens says, 'The most dangerous idea in history is the belief that Jesus is the Son of God and that he rose from the dead. It changes us all...if we reject it it changes us as well.' This is a historical question - about something that did or did not happen, which can be investigated by exploring the historical evidence. This sermon sets out to briefly survey some of the historical evidence surrounding the events that occurred after Jesus' death. It turns out there are more than two possibiliities -fact or fiction - in answering this vital question. This sermon was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 10th April, 2016.  It can be used in conjunction with thePrezi zooming visuals found at this link. Enjoy!

Did Jesus really rise from the dead? This is possibly the most important question in history. As Peter Hitchens says, 'The most dangerous idea in history is the belief that Jesus is the Son of God and that he rose from the dead. It changes us all...if we reject it it changes us as well.' This is a historical question - about something that did or did not happen, which can be investigated by exploring the historical evidence. This sermon sets out to briefly survey some of the historical evidence surrounding the events that occurred after Jesus' death. It turns out there are more than two possibiliities -fact or fiction - in answering this vital question. This sermon was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 10th April, 2016.  It can be used in conjunction with thePrezi zooming visuals found at this link. Enjoy!

What happens at Easter? New Life begins! This Easter day sermon was preached atPakenham Lakeside Church. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Enjoy the celebration of our saviour's resurrection!

What happens at Easter? New Life begins! This Easter day sermon was preached atPakenham Lakeside Church. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Enjoy the celebration of our saviour's resurrection!

With Jesus' last breath on the cross he cried, 'It is finished!' This is not a whimper of defeat but a cry of triumph. Jesus has accomplished the work his Father has given him to do. The cup of suffering has been drunk. The sins of the world have been forgiven. Humanity has been reconciled to God. This sermon was preached on Good Friday, 2016, at Pakenham Lakeside Church.  May God bless you as you contemplate the death of our saviour and his resurrection.

With Jesus' last breath on the cross he cried, 'It is finished!' This is not a whimper of defeat but a cry of triumph. Jesus has accomplished the work his Father has given him to do. The cup of suffering has been drunk. The sins of the world have been forgiven. Humanity has been reconciled to God. This sermon was preached on Good Friday, 2016, at Pakenham Lakeside Church.  May God bless you as you contemplate the death of our saviour and his resurrection.

Mary of Bethany pours out her greatest treasure at Jesus' feet - an expensive perfume worth a years' wages for a man. This courageous woman is affirmed by Jesus for her act of true worship. What is your treasure? What will you worship - and how? David Foster Wallace said 'we all worship...the only choice we get is what we are going to worship.' This sermon was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 13th March, 2016. It can be used in association with the Prezi zooming visuals found here. Enjoy!

Mary of Bethany pours out her greatest treasure at Jesus' feet - an expensive perfume worth a years' wages for a man. This courageous woman is affirmed by Jesus for her act of true worship. What is your treasure? What will you worship - and how? David Foster Wallace said 'we all worship...the only choice we get is what we are going to worship.' This sermon was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 13th March, 2016. It can be used in association with the Prezi zooming visuals found here. Enjoy!

'Repent or perish': it sounds really harsh. Sounds like bad news. In Luke 13 Jesus pulls no punches. But the other side of the coin is 'Repent AND flourish.'  God is inviting us into LIFE: not just survival, but flourishing, full, fruitful life. Isaiah 55 shows us this flourishing life, and offers us many wonderful promises of God, as it calls us into repentance. This sermon was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church on Sunday 28th February, 2016. It can be used in conjunction with the Prezi zooming visuals found at this link. Enjoy!

The bible says Jesus was tempted in every way, as we are, yet without sin. I don't know about you, but I've never been tempted to turn a stone into bread. So how do Jesus' temptations during his 40 days in the wilderness relate to our own temptations? As we explore Jesus' temptations a bit more deeply, we find that they arise because of problems that are common to all human beings. The problem of provision.  The basic question is - How will I live? Will God provide? The temptation is to believe the lie that God is not good. The problem of power. The basic question is - what will I worship? Is God in control? The temptation is to believe the lie that God is not great - and to take matters into our own hands. The problem of pain. The basic question is - why must I suffer? Does God care? The temptation is to believe the lie that God is not loving. Jesus knows that temptation, and any battle with evil, is not a power encounter but a truth encounter. He stands up against every lie with the truth - the Word of God. And through his overcoming of evil, proves to us the truth of God - that God is good, that God is in control, and that God is loving. This sermon was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church ( www.pakenhamlakesidechurch.org.au )on Sunday 14th February, 2016 (Lent 1). It can be used with thePrezi zooming visuals found at this link.

Do you ever think much about your feet?Are they cute? Ugly? Useful? Isaiah 52 says 'how beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news.' This sermon explores how to have beautiful feet - how to take steps to be people who are involved in God's mission of bringing good news to people. It was preached at Pakenham Lakeside Church by Pastor Nathan Hedt on January 31st, 2016. It can be used together with the Prezi zooming visuals found at this link. Enjoy!