Sermons

“The character of the leader sets the culture of the team”

Mike guides us through Ezekiel 34, showing God’s heart for his people and his judgement upon the leaders who have abused their position and authority as well as those who make the lives of others harder.

As Mike observes, we all have some area of leadership, and we are all sheep. The challenge for us is what sort of leader will we be, will we consider the ramifications of our actions, will we be shepherds under the true shepherd Jesus Christ?

In our fifth sermon covering Ezekiel, Luke Prentice guides us through Chapter 17.

For Ezekiel, and his listeners, their circumstances and the judgment from God would have been cause of discouragement, but God’s message through Ezekiel is that he is in control, he remembers his promises, he will work things to his ends. Luke helps us to see the clear focus and big vision of God on display in this passage is not only for the original hearers but for us too who despite the many reasons for discouragement we may have.

God commands Ezekiel to act out the message given by the Lord, he is to pack his bags dig through the city wall as if he is entering Exile. Why does God command this? What does an acted out exile mean?

For the those in exile, their hope was in the ongoing survival of Jerusalem, but God wants them to put their hopes in him not a city falling to idolotry.

Today, Ezekiel 12:1-20 can seem to be a distant story for a far off people in a different time but Mike helps his listeners to understand that no matter how disaster can shake us to our core, God remains in control of it all and that perhaps we can learn from this story the importance of turning to the LORD and seeking him first.

Third in our series in Ezekiel, Michael guides us through Ezekiel 11, helping his listeners to understand the context of Ezekiel’s world and our need for God’s judgment and mercy.

For Ezekiel, the desire for God’s judgment is real, but upon seeing it, he also realizes that no one is truly innocent. God’s promise to Ezekiel in verses 19 and 20 looks forward to the work Jesus will do on the cross.

Our second sermon in our series on Ezekiel, focusing on Ezekiel 2:1-3:15.

Old Testament scripture can be difficult to understand and apply to our lives. Luke Prentice equips his listeners to hear these words and make sense of them, sharing some simple tools to help discover the value in Old Testament scripture.

For Ezekiel, the words of lament and mourning from God tasted sweet, and yet he felt bitterness, anger, and distress at God’s calling upon his life. Luke challenges us to consider the ways we can be tempted to curate what bits of God’s word we will share with others.

Will we speak all God’s words unafraid, in a faithful and sensitive way?

Mike kicks off our new series diving into the Old Testament book of Ezekiel.

In a world where many things are liable to keep you up at night, it can be comforting to know that God is aware and not afraid to address the realities of life.

In this first sermon of this series, Mike helps us to step into the context of Ezekiel the prophet and to be in awe of the Lord as he presents himself to the prophet. In the passage today, Ezekiel 1:1-2:5, God shows his people:

• That he is still on the throne, even as their world crumbles.

• That in a world of chaos and evil, he is still glorious

• To a people who have rebelled against him, God is still speaking.

Ezekiel is a book that can be confronting for people, even today, and yet it’s message can still comfort us now.

“…We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.”

In our final sermon on the Nicene Creed, Luke helps us to understand what the final words of the Creed mean. Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and Revelation 21:1-5, Luke helps his listeners to see that the resurrection of the dead is a part of God’s plan and that with it in mind we gain purpose. In revelation we get a taste of the world to come and the hope we can experience now as we look for these events.

What we believe matters, if we believe what the word of the Nicene Creed encapsulate, we will find hope, encouragement and purpose in our lives.

“… We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy universal and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins…”

In our fourth Sermon on the Nicene Creed, Luke Prentice explores what it means for the church to believe in the Holy Spirit.

Understanding who the Holy Spirit is, the Trinity, and the unified universal church is a series of complex elements of faith. Luke, guides us through each of these topics drawing from John 15:26-27 and Ephesians 4:1-6 to expand our awareness and knowledge in this area.

“…For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end…”

In our third sermon on the Nicene Creed, Lachlan helps us to consider the breadth of what it means to believe these words in the creed. These words show how Jesus is in our past, our future and active in the present day.

To believe these words will have ramifications for us today and should shape how we live in the here and now. Lachlan draws from 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 to help us see the continued relevance and impact of real faith then and now.

“…We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human…”

In the second sermon in our series on the Nicene Creed, Luke Prentice helps us come to a deeper understanding of the hypostatic union of Jesus the 100% divine and Jesus the 100% human. This concept is a common challenge for many people exploring Christianity, and yet it is a crucial duality that made Jesus life, death and resurection effective for us.

Luke gently helps his listeners to come to a deeper understanding of this part of Chirstian faith with the aid of John 1:1-14 and Hebrews 2:14-18

“We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.”

These are the first lines of the Nicene Creed, and the focus of our first sermon in a new series that dives deep into this beautiful and thorough summary of Christian belief.

Luke Prentice (preaching at our combined service) guides us through these opening lines and draws from scripture, in particular Mark 12:28-34 and Acts 17:22-28, and helps his listeners to consider what it means to believe in one God, the maker of everything, and how it might shape our lives.

The final sermon in our series on Philippians, recorded during our evening service, Mike challenges his listeners to consider what we seek as sources of comfort and contentment.

In Philippians 4, Paul reveals the secret to his contentment in any circumstance. Writing while in circumstances where he is in prison and often hungry, he encourages the Philippians and through them us to turn to Christ for our contentment.

In this sermon, Mike shares his own reflections and experience to encourage and challenge us to consider where our own priorities lie and the things that hold us back from being generous.

In a world of distractions, it is worth asking where our focus is.

Mike unpacks Philippians 3:12-21, helping us to see that Paul is reminding Christians of who they are, to be aware of who our role models are, and to keep our eyes on the goal.

Many people today trust that they have some value due to what they have achieved or the merits of their family and others they are connected to. Other people may feel undeserving of any blessing.

Luke Prentice addresses both groups, showing how Philippians 3:1-11 can challenge some and encourage others. As Paul says, “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”

Will we put aside the things in our lives that we believe make us valuable to cling to Christ?

Paul encourages his readers not to be like the Israelites in the wilderness during the Exodus but to shine like stars without grumbling.

Mike unpacks Philippians 2:12-30, revealing the encouragement Paul has for the faithful in Philippi and the ways in which we can seek to be an encouragement to others.

Mike continues our series “Partners in the Gospel” with Philippians 2:1-11. In this passage, Paul encourages his readers to be of one mind and seek to meet the needs of others before themselves. Not only for the benefit of the early church in Phillipi, but to be imitators of Christ.

Mike helps us to see the need for this same attitude and mindset today, not only for the benefit of our wider community but discover that a life live in this way is more fruitful for us too.

Third in our series on Philippians, drawing from Philippians 1:27-30, Mike shows how standing firm in the Gospel is easier when we have a community living likewise and can see examples in the lives of others.

For the Philippians this was Paul, in chains for his faith. For all of us past, present and future, this is most clearly seen in the willingness of Jesus Christ going to the cross to redeem us.

In the second sermon of our series through Philippians 1:12-26, Mike highlights the single minded focus Paul has on Chirst that enables him to rejoice in Christ regardless of his circumstances and in spite of the motivations of others.

While pointing to the way in which others have lived for Christ above all, Mike encourages us today to likewise develop a singular focus on Christ and discover the way it can change our lives and motivations.

Starting our series through Philippians with Philippians 1:1-11, Mike introduces the context of the letter to the Philippians found in Acts 16:11-40 and encourages us to consider how we might be effective partners in the gospel.

This Sunday we celebrate the enduring legacy of St Mark’s faithful ministry in the south-east of Melbourne.

Ormond Anglican began as a church plant from St Marks, today Michael helps us to reflect on 1 Peter 1:22-2:10 and what will truly endure in this world. Now, while reflecting on the 175 years of the legacy of St Mark’s, we are encouraged to consider how the enduring word of God will continue in the weeks, years and decades to come.

On the surface, Easter makes no sense; our own experience of life tells us that the dead do not come to life, and yet this is the claim of the Bible and the events in our passage, John 20:1-18.

Mike helps us to see the heart of this passage, the truth of Jesus’ resurrection and the real and honest emotional responses of Jesus’ friends and followers; Mary, Peter, and John. In this passage, we see how in Jesus we can make sense of the nonsensical.

This easter, you are invited to re-examine the empty tomb and encounter the risen Jesus. He is risen, he is risen indeed.

The crowds on the road to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival welcome Jesus as their king, but as we read John 12:12-19, it is revealed that Jesus is a different kind of King.

Mike unpacks this passage and helps us to consider what good leadership should look like and how we can exemplify it in our lives.

In his first sermon as vicar of Ormond Anglican Church, Mike encourages us from Psalm 67 and Titus 2:11-14, pointing to the blessings of God for all people.

Furthermore, we have seen God’s blessing and graciousness in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, while we await his return we can all play a part in sharing that blessing and grace with others in our lives no matter our context.

The final sermon in our four part series on the key events around the first kings of Israel. Luke walks us through 1 Kings 11:1-13 showing how Solomon lost sight of the Lord and was swayed by his many wives to worship other gods.

Luke encourages all Christians to be aware of their responsibility to be fully devoted to God and warns us all to be careful to avoid losing sight of God.

In Greg's final sermon as Locum at Ormond, he speaks on 2 Samuel 7:1-17, revealing the importance of being flexible and being willing to change our good plans in order to Follow God's plans.

In the context of a funeral, Luke engages with the freedom of forgiveness. Roger's story, Psalm 32 and Matthew 11 help us see this powerful freedom that Jesus brings, which was lived out in this Christian man's life and faith.

The second part in our series on the pivotal points around the first three kings of Israel.
Saul as king was called to rule in obedience to the Lord, but let his fear of his men result in disobedience. Luke unpacks this 1 Samuel 15:7-26, where Saul is rejected by God as king, to help us consider how we can best live in obedience and avoid the lies, blaming and self justification that can lead us astray.

This sermon includes a short Q & A afterwards.

The first in our series looking at the first Kings of Israel. Luke points to the fact that God is capable of using our mistakes for his purposes as a reason to have hope.

1 Samuel 8:1-22 is one such mistake, the people of Israel knowingly choose to reject their God and be like the other nations, despite this God will give them what they want, ultimately the world will receive its greatest king - Christ.

Jesus warns his disciples that the road to life is hard pressed and the gate narrow, to beware of false prophets, and to be a true disciple.

Matthew 7:13-23 has much to teach us and Luke Prentice guides us through this passage to understand what is being said and how we can approach scripture ourselves.

Luke unpacks Jesus' teaching in Mathew chapter 7, encouraging believers to have true sight; to see themselves truly, to see gospel opponents truly, and to see our Father truly.

True sight produces kingdom joy. This sermon includes the post-sermon Q&A.

Luke guides us through Matthew 6:1-15, ensuring we hear the hard words of Jesus. Too often, our prayers are focused on ourselves, and too often, we withhold forgiveness from others.

Luke helps us to dwell on the need to put God first and forgive others whilst reminding us that we can only do this in the power and forgiveness we have already received from God.

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Matthew 5:48

Jesus' teaching encourages his followers to move past simple adherence to the law and instead to a perfect standard. Greg continues our journey through Matthew looking at Chapter 5:38-48, and helps us understand what the life Jesus calls us to look like and how it must inherently lead us to the cross.

In Matthew 5:17-37, Jesus instructs all of his followers to live a life of exceeding righteousness, to move past the simple sayings and interpretations, and to stand out as different from those around us. Greg takes us through these challenging verses clarifying things when needed and encouraging Christian listeners to strive for exceeding righteousness

This sermon is part of our January and February Series covering Jesus' teaching in Matthew chapters 5 to 7.

Matthew 5:13-16, To be salt and light is to live in a way that preserves life, reveals truth, and dispels evil. Greg encourages Christians to make sure their faith is having an impact on the world.

This sermon is part of our January and February Series covering Jesus' teaching in Matthew chapters 5 to 7.

It's easy for the events of Jesus' birth to become just another story, Greg encourages us to be amazed at the Christmas story as seen in Luke 2:1-20, and to see how God is at work throughout.

With one day to go before Christmas, Luke unpacks the implications of the birth of John the Baptist, encouraging us to look past the presents and to seek Jesus as our lifeline this Christmas.

The passage for this sermon is Luke 1:57-80 (NIRV)

When Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, they were moved to praise God for their blessings. Greg unpacks this passage from Luke 1:39-56 and encourages us to be ready to praise God for our own blessings, how many can you think of?

God's messengers come to ensure that his people know the true story. Greg explores what it means for an Angel to come to Mary and encourages us to trust that in God nothing is impossible.

Luke 1:26-38

Our advent series continues, Luke unpacks Luke 1:5-25, showing the ways that God is at work, challenging Christians to ask God to work in them and change their hearts.

In this first sermon of our advent series, Greg dives into Luke 1:1-4, exploring the certainty and hope found in the Gospels. As we prepare our hearts for the Christmas season, he encourages us to reflect on the solid foundation of our faith and the reasons we have to believe in the Good News.

Luke Prentice concludes our series on Habakkuk with chapter 3 by encouraging us to maintain Godly emotions in a broken world and reflecting on the challenges that can stop us from doing so.

Greg encourages us to learn from Habakkuk's response to God in the face of a problem he can't fix and God's solution not coming soon enough or in the way he wanted. Trusting God is not always going to be easy and is particularly difficult when our prays are not being answered and the challenges remain, will we still faithfully turn to God and trust in him?

Bible Passage: Habakkuk 2

Luke begins our short series through Habakkuk encouraging us to be real with God, especially when we struggle to see how God can be at work in the world.

Habakkuk 1

Josh from CMS speaks from Acts 14:21-28, encouraging us to learn from the first missionary journey in the Bible and to consider what God is calling us to in our own lives.

Acts 14:21-28

Greg’s sermon, delivered on Baptism Sunday, centered on the essential practices of the early church in Acts 2:36-47. With several congregation members being baptized, the message provided a meaningful framework for understanding the commitment and transformation baptism signifies. Greg emphasized how early Christians lived out their faith through belief, repentance, community, worship, and evangelism, encouraging the newly baptized and all believers to embrace these practices authentically. This message was particularly relevant as it connected the sacrament of baptism with a call to live in alignment with Jesus' teachings, building a supportive, active church community.

Ben Van Gelderen, principal of Nunglinya College speaks to Ormond Anglican Church sharing on Abraham and the Cultural Crocodile. The culture of our indigenous brothers and sisters challenge us to consider what elements of scripture we are blind to and how our faith and understanding can be grown.

Passages: Genesis 12:1-7; Galatians 3:15-16, 26-29

Tonya updates Ormond Anglican church on the work of Compassion Australia.

The passage for this talk is Titus 2:11-14.

Each October we hear from our mission partners, the people and organisations supported by Ormond Anglican Church. Anna, speaks from Acts 10:1-48

Words have power and how we use them matters. Luke unpacks what Proverbs has to say on the way we use words.

Proverbs 10:17-21; 12:18; 13:3; 15:1; 18:20-21; 28:23-24

It is not enough to be known as a Christian but we must also act as a Christian. Greg speaks on Colossians 3:1-17 challenging believers to act out their faith in every aspect of their lives, both in what we do and in what we put aside.

The way we run our church services, the traditions we follow in our congregations, these can be good, yet Luke encourages us that none of these are necessary for the freedom found in Christ! Luke unpacks Colossains 2:6-23, showing the warning present as well as the hope on offer.