“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.Revelation 22:14Genesis has a lot about blessing. God promises that Abraham will be blessed and all nations blessed through him. But we often have a confused relationship with this word blessed. What does it mean to be blessed? What does it mean for Abraham? What doe...  Read More

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7I reckon one thing that most people want is to be wise (or maybe at least to be seen as wise). How do you become wise? Well, what does our world say? A few things maybe:i) Wisdom comes from experiences - the wisest people are those who have travelled the most, engaged with the most cultures an...  Read More

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.2 “I will make you into a great nation,    and I will bless you;I will make your name great,    and you will be a blessing.3 I will bless those who bless you,    and whoever curses you I will curse;and all peoples on earth    will be blessed through you.”Genesis 12:1-3What is the ...  Read More

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in very nature God,    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7 rather, he made himself nothing    by taking the very nature of a servant,    being made in human likeness.8 And being found in appearance as a man,    he humbled himself    by becoming obedient to death— ...  Read More

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wickedor stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in seasonand whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.Psalm 1:1-3Did you ever do that e...  Read More

17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.20 T...  Read More

With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.Ezra 3:11To be honest, I have a funny relationship with singing praises to God. It’s tricky right. Sometimes it’s the songs. Sometimes it’s the people playing the songs. Most o...  Read More

19 When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22...  Read More

Then he (Jesus) said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”Luke 12:15Isn’t greed ugly? We don’t like it when we see it. Whether it’s the bonus the CEO gets paid, or the profit a company makes, or just that person at the party who takes more food than they should. Greed is ugly.But so rarely are we brave enough to loo...  Read More

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.Philippians 4:12-13I don’t know that I really know what it is to be in need. But I certainly know what it is to have plenty. And yet, l...  Read More

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in very nature God,    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;7 rather, he made himself nothing    by taking the very nature of a servant,    being made in human likeness.8 And being found in appearance as a man,    he humbled himself    by becoming obedient to death— ...  Read More

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:18-19I remember when we first launched Village Church. It was during the second NSW COVID lockdown. What does it look like to start a Church online? We didn’t...  Read More