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Weekly-ish sermon recordings from the Whitehouse Church in Canberra. If you’re a fan of Greg Boyd and Brian Zahnd among others, you’ll definitely notice the influence (and occasionally shameless borrowing) of their great ideas. The Whitehouse Church is mostly Neo-Anabaptist~ish, post-evangelical leaning in worldview. We see Jesus as the full expression of what God is like and try to build community around his teachings. If you have any questions or comments check out our website and send us ...
The mustard bush was not a plant that any farmer would sow into his field. They are an invasive plant that grows and takes over! It is a weed! And the kingdom of God is like this, it will get into every nook and cranny, it will find every space and it will grow. There is no stopping it! The kingdom of God is going to uproot the kingdom of the world…
The teachers of the law had a sinister agenda. By labelling Jesus as 'possessed' they were also trying to justify to the people what they were planning to do to him.This is a common tactic even today when authorities want to get away with hurting people. Our media is often complicit with policy makers in creating labels that dehumanise people with …
Ultimately, spiritual maturity is about balance. We want to be sensitive to the subtle and emotive voice of the Holy Spirit whilst being tempered with the wisdom and discernment that the Holy Spirit offers. Simply being stoic and emotionless does not make you mature; it makes you a cold and unfeeling. At the same time, always being ‘led’ to do thin…
God is love. God is not some warmongering, violent, capricious, malicious, angry being in heaven that hates everyone who disagrees with him. God is love and he sends his son as the witness and example of that love, and his son dies for us. This is the ultimate example of love: To lay down one's life for one’s friends.…
There are definitely things in your life that need a pruning. Old ways of thinking, habits, toxic ambitions, destructive behaviour, selfishness… even grief and hurt. These things must give way so that new things can grow.
My experience as a child and as an adult has been blessed because I have always known that my mum loves me. All my life she has laid in the gate and protected me. She has been a good shepherd.I have never doubted her love, and there is nothing that I could do that would stop her from loving me. She bore me in her womb and fed me at her breast. She …
Jesus’ physical incarnation, physical death, and physical resurrection, marked by Christmas and Easter, are central to his embodiment of humanity and show us that the flesh is fundamentally good and capable of housing the divine presence. Our bodies are not bad. Our flesh is not bad. This world is not bad. When God created the earth and everything …
I choose to believe because the world truly needs to be saved and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and the beautiful kingdom that he represents are honestly the hope of the world. As I have studied and travelled, as I have sought wisdom and truth, I keep coming back to Jesus as the centre of my life.…
Part of what Jesus does on the cross is to take back the power that humans have handed over to demonic forces. By defeating the devil and his schemes Jesus sets the scene for a new creation and a new earth where humans fulfil their purpose as image bearers.
What have you made sacred that is should not be? What has become commonplace in your life that creates a stumbling block to your worship and faithfulness?
"The Son of Man must suffer and die, and if you want to be my disciple you must also pick up your cross and follow me. You must resist the beastly temptation to define good and evil, resist the temptation towards violence and greed; resist the beast. And in doing that you will find life!"
May the God of all Goodness and Mercy follow you on this Lenten journey and may the barren parts of your life be made fruitful through the grace of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We were blessed to hear from our dear friend Chevelle Hibberd today.
There are many things in the Bible that we can rightly call biblical, that we cannot rightly call Christian.If there is any confusion about whose opinion, tradition, or practice is most valid it is made clear for us here at the transfiguration; Jesus supersedes everything that came before him. “Listen to him!” The law and prophets testified about J…
A terrible side effect of our disbelief in spiritual things is that we fail to recognise their influence and fail to respond to them. There are two sets of values at play in the world, those that are consistent with the kingdom of God and those that are not. Those that bring life and those that bring death. Those that seek to restore and build, and…
Whilst the cross has mostly been used as a symbol of service and sacrifice, it has also been turned into a symbol of power. Seeking military, political, or social power in the name of the cross of Christ is blasphemy. Committing acts of violence, greed, imperialism, judgement, genocide, superiority, and power over people in the name of the cross is…
Gabriel basically says, ‘Don’t be afraid of me, I’m afraid of you!’ Mary’s womb will become the Temple of the enfleshed Word! The incarnate Son of God will be within her and before her angel’s tremble.
I am grateful for you. For those who have become old friends. For those who are becoming old friends. I am grateful for the shared food and memories, and I am grateful for the shared projects and passions. I am grateful for the partnership that we have in the gospel to share good news of hope and salvation through Jesus. I am grateful for your gene…
These people where very quick to make a loud public declaration of their faith when the thought Jesus was going to be a powerful warlord, but they just as quickly disappeared when things got hard.
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The Whitehouse Church Podcast
We were thrilled to have Jarrod join us for an amazing conversation that covered everything from spiritual formation and practice, to historical and contemporary Anabaptism, to what it means to ‘decolonise’ faith in a time of ecological crisis. Even narwhals get a mention! Jarrod McKenna is an award-winning peace trainer and activist who has spent …
We are not good at lament. Our suburban Christian faith is rarely resilient enough to survive significant suffering, sickness, disappointment, struggle, or setback. I know a lot of Christians who have been through challenges and put on a brave face whilst privately experiencing the erosion of their hope, joy, and faith. The inability of Christians …
Hebrew poetry isn't like poetry in English. Where we rhyme words, the Hebrew poets rhyme concepts! Once it has been pointed out you can't un-see it. In particular they used parallelism which we are going to look at today.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola was a 16th century priest who co-founded and led the religious order called the Society of Jesus, or simply the Jesuits. In 1548 St Ignatius wrote Spiritual Exercises, a simple set of meditations, prayers, and other practices. Perhaps the most well known of these exercises is 'The Daily Examen'. This practice helps to build…
One of the defining blessings of my life has been the unwavering knowledge that my dad loves me and wants the best for me. The older I get, and the older my kids get, the more I see the sacrifices and investment that my dad made to be there for me growing up. I know that he loves me. I know that I don’t have to be afraid of him, and that he isn’t a…
These commands were not meant to be perceived as a new law. They were the basis of a new kind of community and a new kind of kingdom. Just as children learn their mother tongue simply by being exposed to a language, these new commands were to be the daily life of the Christian community such that they became second nature to new believers rather th…
The wonderful Chevelle Hibberd shared again with us today. "As renewing as it is to remember Jesus's resurrection, the Lord's Supper harks back to a very ancient message that the Kingdom is about feasting, and the feasting is open to every nation."
Jesus had an entirely different set of priorities compared to the synagogue leader. Setting this woman free was more necessary than following the rules of the Sabbath. But this isn’t just a story about a woman who is bound, it is a story about how Israel is bound. Jesus' desire to set this daughter of Abraham free reflects his desire to set Israel …
From beginning to end the doctrine of Mark is vividly presented as an incarnation story with a persistent message. You must see Jesus not simply as a great teacher, an inspiring leader, and a miraculous healer. You must know Jesus the Son of God, crucified and risen.
The Old Covenant was written on tablets of stone, but the New Covenant is written on our hearts. In the past we were externally compelled by the law but now as we are transformed, we are internally compelled to become more like Christ, living out the way of the kingdom that is within us.
Are Jesus’ words harsh? Yes. Just as his words against the religious rulers were harsh. But under the circumstances I’ve described it makes much more sense. This is a situation loaded with historical racial tension where Jesus cuts straight to the heart of the matter and the woman responds with faith.…
When we justify our judgemental wrath towards others by calling it righteous anger we are simply creating a theological loophole to baptise our sin! Anger is not the emotion of righteousness; it is the emotion of judgement. The emotions of righteousness are love and compassion. Jesus was moved with compassion.…
The instruction here is short and simple: treat women with the respect they deserve as co-heirs of the grace of life, and don’t use your social and physical power to dominate women or your prayers will be hindered! This passage is not a treatise endorsing empire or kingship, the institution of slavery, or the patriarchal family, but rather a guide …
Faith isn’t knowing exactly what is going to happen. Faith is trusting the person who is telling you to jump. It is knowing their voice even though you can’t see them and trusting that they will catch you. A leap of faith may look like blind faith, but it is based on a foundation of trust. It may seem foolish but really it is wisdom to follow a tru…
Today at the Whitehouse Church we had a chat about love languages - what they are (and what they aren't), and how they can help us to build healthy and fulfilling relationships.
I wish I had better words to describe what it means for me to say "I’m progressive". But right now, I simply don’t. I just want to serve Jesus, not tradition, and I believe that all people deserve to be treated with respect, and to be seen as image bearers of God.
Ancient creeds like the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed have been used to define orthodoxy since the 4th century CE. When I say that I am a Christian who holds orthodox beliefs, it is against these statements that I measure my theology.
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The Whitehouse Church Podcast
Today we had Chevelle Hibberd sharing with us! "It’s humbling to remember that people who’ve spent their lives pondering the mysteries of God, whose minds and thoughts can go a million miles faster and higher and deeper than most, whose faith in God is unshakeable and profound, could still fall into the trap of shoehorning — and even augmenting — S…
The Parable of the Ten Minas is not what it seems. In our western culture we are accustomed to glorifying the rich noble and demonising the 'lazy servant'. But what if that isn't the point of this story at all? Despite his fear, the third servant lays the offense of the master at his feet. “You take what you don’t deserve, and you reap a harvest fr…
Jesus' message was scandalous to the religious, treasonous to the empire, and utterly captivating to the poor, disenfranchised, forgotten, broken, and ignored. The message of Jesus was, and is, beautiful. So beautiful that it’s guaranteed to threaten the status-quo and make all who believe a target for the world’s scorn.…
Each year around this time we ask people to prayerfully consider their financial commitment to the Whitehouse Church. We are a pretty small community and we do our best to keep our overhead costs to a bare minimum, so our budget is very modest at about $5000 a month. During the next couple weeks we are hoping you will fill out our online pledge for…
Hey friends, I'm still having some audio issues when recording. So if you notice it is a bit choppy please accept my apology. I'm pretty sure I have figured out the problem now so hopefully it'll be all fixed for next week. "To be connected to the vine is to be connected to one another. And we must do that with love and grace, forgiveness and compa…
Hey there! Sadly there was an issue with the recording today and the sound isn't as good as normal. Sorry about that. :(
He came so that we who were poor might become rich. How does that happen? Most of you are familiar with the term guilt-by-association. That means if I hang around with someone who has committed a crime, I may be considered guilty as well because of my close relationship with them. Turn that concept around and you’ve got the gospel. It is grace-by-a…
What does being a good neighbour look like to Jesus? Washing feet, serving widows and orphans, standing in front of those who accuse and disarming them, befriending the isolated, touching the untouchable, dismantling structures that dehumanise people, promoting the welfare and societal value and equality of disenfranchised people groups including w…
Today we had our very own wonderful Chevelle Hibberd share with us. "A faith community that doesn’t embrace doubt with understanding and trust in God’s wisdom isn’t interested in growth but in control. I can’t emphasise enough how important it is that we continue to extend grace and tenacious love to one another. This is the primary reason I decide…
Nicodemus was steeped in religious tradition that was generations old. His entire life was dedicated to honouring God’s rules but instead of bringing him freedom these rules had become a stumbling block to him. No amount of law keeping, scholarship, tithing, or tradition had allowed him to see the kingdom of God. And then this self-appointed Galile…
When Jesus talks about little ones he isn’t just talking about children, he is talking about the people in our society who are little in the eyes of the world. Those who have little influence, little power, little money, little prospects, little opportunity, little honour, and few advocates.
Sometimes awful things happen, and they are simply that, awful. They aren't a test. The world we live in is broken and the consequence of generations of sin and selfish choices is that our existence is riddled with pain and suffering that grieves both us and God. That is why God is going to reconcile all things to himself in Christ. That is why the…
When people attempt to sanctify their politics, businesses, and ambitions with the name of Jesus they violate his name far more deeply than simply cursing as a cultural reflex. When Jesus teaches them to pray, “father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come”, he is also making a prophetic declaration!…
The church is a community defined by love, not a creedal statement. It is not held together by a set of principles or dogged tolerance but rather by a deep experience of belonging. Accepting the invitation to be a member of God’s household means accepting an invitation to a shared life of redemptive love and a willingness to sacrifice for one anoth…
