📖 Romans 1:1–2, 16–17

🔹 The gospel begins in shame — and undoes it
🔹 Jesus is Lord means Caesar is not
🔹 Phoebe preached it first
🔹 God’s justice is not abstract — it’s healing, embodied, and disruptive

💬
 Romans has long been read through the lens of empire, patriarchy, and personal escape. But what if it was never meant to justify power, but expose it?
This week, we opened the book not through Augustine or Luther, but through Phoebe — the first to carry and interpret this dangerous letter.
A gospel first spoken by a crucified slave, carried by a woman, read to a community of outcasts and former slaves.
This is no mere theology textbook.
It’s a call to shame-defiant solidarity.
It’s a letter of healing justice.
It’s a whisper to every outsider — you belong.

Homework this week:
📖 Read Romans 16 — slowly, with Phoebe in mind.
💭 Ask: Where have I turned the gospel into abstraction? Where might Jesus be found in what I’ve been taught to feel ashamed of?

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
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If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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CAN THESE PEOPLE EAT TOGETHER?
📖 Romans 14

Every table tells a story.
This week, we pulled up a chair to ask:
Can we actually eat together?

The early church in Rome was divided by food, culture, status, trauma.
🍽 Slaves with no control over their bodies.
📜 Jewish believers clinging to Torah as survival, not superiority.
🗽 Gentiles flaunting their freedom as pride, not love.
🏛 Wealthy hosts, poor guests, complex histories, clashing worlds.

Paul doesn’t say “just get along.”
He says: Disarm.
Lay down the shields of fear.
Lay down the swords of judgment.
Let your story become a witness—not a weapon.

💥 Romans 14:17 – The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

This gospel doesn’t erase who you are.
It transforms what you carry.

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
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If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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BRIDGING NOW TO NEXT

📖 Luke 6:37–42

Reconciliation is not a destination — it's a bridge we walk with Jesus.

As we obvserve National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week, we’re reminded:

🧹 Clear the bridge — Let go of judgement and condemnation.

🕊 Fuel the bridge — Forgive boldly, give generously.

🌊 Shape the culture — Overflow with grace, not scarcity.

🔍 Look inward — Remove the log in our own eye before pointing to others.

Reconciliation isn’t symbolic. It’s relational, economic, structural — and spiritual.

This is our training: not to police morality but to build bridges of grace.

💭 The question is not: “Do you love your enemies?”

It’s: “Is your love liberating?”

This is the way of Jesus.

This is resurrection.

This is the now becoming next.

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
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If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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Love Is Liberating (Or It's a Lie)
📖 Luke 6:24–36

In this week’s message, we heard the radical call of Jesus not just to love our enemies, but to stand where he stands—with the poor, the afflicted, the scapegoated.

And we were reminded:

🔹 Love without liberation is distortion
If our love excuses oppression, silences the vulnerable, or ignores injustice—it’s not the love of Jesus.

🔹 The Devil can quote Scripture too
If Scripture is used to harm instead of heal, to protect power instead of liberate—it's been weaponised.

🔹 Woes aren’t curses—they’re a cry
Jesus isn’t condemning the rich, full, and praised—he’s grieving what their comfort costs others.

🔹 The Sermon on the Plain is about leveling
It’s not about flipping hierarchies—it’s about dismantling them.
Not about rescuing “the least of these”—but recognising they are us.

💬 “Be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” (Luke 6:36)

Love like Jesus:
 ⚔️ Confrontational to injustice
💞 Compassionate to the undeserving
🌱 Creative in its nonviolence

🧠 The question isn’t “do you love your enemies?”
The question is: “is your love liberating?”
If not, it’s a lie.

📖 This week, re-read Luke 6:24–36
 👀 Ask: Where have I dismissed or distorted Jesus’ call?
🔥 Pray: God, help me love like you—boldly, justly, and without limits.

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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Week Three: Love Your Enemies – Luke 6:27–31

📖 “But to you who are listening…”
 Jesus doesn’t just tell us to love in theory — he names what love looks like in action:

🔹 Love your enemies
🔹 Do good to those who hate you
🔹 Bless those who curse you
🔹 Pray for those who mistreat you

This isn’t passive acceptance of abuse — it’s creative resistance, an act of radical nonviolence that exposes injustice and confronts it with mercy, not retaliation.

💥 Turn the other cheek?
 Not weakness — it’s reclaiming your dignity.
 🧥 Give your shirt too?
 Not surrender — it’s spotlighting the greed of those who take.

💬 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Not just reciprocity — it’s transformation.
Because God doesn’t wait for us to be deserving.
God gives, heals, and restores anyway.

📌 To love like this is not to be naive — it’s to be Christlike.
 To love like this is not to avoid conflict — it’s to confront with mercy.
 To love like this is to look like God.

This week’s invitation:
 🌎 Love in public — even when it’s hard.
 🛑 Resist with peace — especially when it’s costly.
 ❤️ Choose mercy — because Jesus shows us, this is what God is like.

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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Blessings & Woes – The Great Levelling Continues
📖 Luke 6:20–26

In the kingdom of God, the cosmic lottery runs in reverse.
 Jesus doesn’t just comfort the poor — he centers them.
 He doesn’t just warn the rich — he loves them enough to tell the truth.

This week, we explored:

🔹 Blessed Are You
— Not because suffering is holy, but because God is already with you in the hunger, the grief, the exclusion.
— Because dependence can become the doorway to divine presence.

🔹 Woe to You
— Not condemnation, but compassion: “Oh no, look what you’ve done to yourself.”
— A grief that calls us to reframe what we call success.

🪜 The invitation?
 Check what your life is propped up on.
 Ladders only hold one. Tables hold many.

📊 From Maslow to Gallup, we looked at the needs of human flourishing:
 Purpose. Safety. Growth. Community.
 And how Jesus reshuffles the order — not to shame the wealthy, but to draw us into interdependence.

💬 The blessing isn’t in being needy.
 The blessing is in discovering that, in your need, you can still be met.
 And in your strength, you still have something to give.

The kingdom of God isn’t solo.
 It’s kin-dom.

📖 Homework this week:
 💭 Ask: Where am I resistant to receiving help?
 👐 Who in my life might be transformed by my willingness to need them?
🌱 What would it look like to live more interdependently — not as charity, but as kinship?

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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Series Launch: Luke 6 - Sermon on the Plain

📖 Luke 6:17–19
 The resurrection isn't just a moment — it's a movement.
In Eastertide, we learn to walk in the life that is stronger than death.

This week’s launch reminded us:
 🔹 Compassionate Solidarity
— Baptismal identification with the poor, afflicted, and scapegoated.

🔹 Confrontational Love
— Resisting evil, injustice, and domination in the Spirit’s healing power.

🔹 Creative Nonviolence
— Rejecting violent power to embrace Christ’s vulnerable, transforming way.

💬 The hidden music of Luke’s sermon:
Where Matthew gives a mountain, Luke gives a plain — a level ground.
A place where no one is higher, no one is lower.
A place where power comes not over us, but with us, and within us.

The center of it all:
 ➡️ “Love your enemies, and you will be children of the Most High, because God is compassionate to the ungrateful and wicked.” (Luke 6:35)

This love leaves no one out.
It levels mountains, fills valleys, and teaches us to look one another in the eyes — not up, not down — as equals.

🌎 To live resurrection is to live the great leveling.
 To long to hear.
 To long to be healed.
 To long for the love that flows out from Jesus to touch and transform the world.

Homework this week:
📖 Read Luke 6:17–49 — slowly, openly.
💭 Ask: Where is Jesus levelling ground in my life?
🌱 Where do I need to be healed by the power that flows from him?

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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LOVE IS STRONGER THAN DEATH
Easter Sunday at Steeple

📖 Hebrews 2:14-15
 📖 Moana (yes, really)
 📖 Colossians, Corinthians, and the end of the book…

This Easter, we didn’t just remember a story.
We stepped into the story.

Jesus didn’t rise to prove a point.
 He rose to open a path.
 Not just out of death,
 but into a life more alive than we’ve ever known.

🌀 Just like Moana, Jesus goes all the way down.
 He enters our storm, faces our monsters, and restores what was lost.
 But unlike Maui’s magic hook—
 the true power is not in dominance.
It’s in love.

✝️ The early church called it myth become fact.
Love descended into death…
And came back with all of us in hand.

💀 Hell took a body and found God.
 🌊 The tomb is empty—because all tombs will be.
 🌱 This is no escape act. It’s a jailbreak for all creation.

So what now?

💥 Go live the story.
 💥 Love is stronger than death.
 💥 Join the winning side.

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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WHICH JESUS?

📖 “Do you want me to release Jesus Barabbas… or Jesus the Christ?” —Matthew 27:17

This week we asked: which Jesus do we follow?

🕊️ One rides in on a donkey to bring peace.
 ⚔️ The other fights Rome with violence.
 ✝️ Both are called “Son of the Father.” But only one shows us what Abba is really like.

On Palm Sunday: 🌿 Jesus enters not with swords, but with solidarity.
 🌍 He doesn’t conquer by force—but by self-giving love.
 🙏 He calls us to follow—not with fists raised, but with hearts open.

Because: 🚫 There is no victory in the Gospels apart from Calvary.
 💔 Jesus doesn’t destroy his enemies—he dies for them.
 ❤️ God is revealed in the nonviolent Messiah, not the warrior king.

So we ask again: WHICH JESUS DO WE FOLLOW?

Let’s lay down the swords.
 Let’s beat them into plowshares.
 Let’s follow the one who rides in on a donkey.

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
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If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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HE WILL COME AGAIN TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD…
AND THAT’S GOOD NEWS!

📖 “He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints.”

Let’s be clear:
 Judgment isn’t about fear.
It’s about Jesus.
And Jesus looks like love.

⚖️ Judgment isn’t God switching personalities.
 It’s Jesus getting the final word — and that word is mercy, justice, healing, and truth.

So what does this part of the Creed remind us?

✝️ Jesus is the judge — and he’s the same Jesus who fed the poor, healed the sick, and forgave his enemies.
🔥 God’s judgment is love that reveals, restores, and makes all things new.

And we believe in…

🕊️ The Holy Spirit — not a bonus for the “spiritual,” but the presence of God moving now, shaping us into love.

🌍 The holy catholic Church — “catholic” means universal. One body, many voices, all joined in Christ.

⛪ The communion of saints — across time and space, we’re never singing alone.

Because Jesus will come again:
 🔹 We live with hope.
 🔹 We step into the light.
 🔹 We trust that love wins.

🙌 So let’s be people of resurrection —
 welcome the light, follow the Spirit, and live the kingdom now.

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN… AND REIGNS!

📖 "He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father."

The Ascension isn’t Jesus saying “see you later” — it’s Jesus being crowned as King.

👑 He reigns with all power, authority, and love.
✝️ Not just our Savior, but our Lord.
🌏 Heaven isn’t some far-off escape — it’s a reality breaking into our world now.

Because Jesus reigns:
 🔹 We live with hope.
🔹 We join the revolution of resurrection.
🔹 We don’t wait for heaven — we live it out here and now.

🕊️ Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, not far from us, but for us. He knows our struggle and advocates on our behalf.

🙌 So let’s be kingdom people —
 love boldly, serve humbly, and bring heaven to earth.

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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WHAT IF HELL ISN’T WHAT YOU THINK?

📖 “He descended to hell. On the third day, he rose again from the dead.”

This line in the Apostles’ Creed isn't about fear—it’s about freedom.

💭 Hell has been weaponised to control, exclude, and shame. But Jesus doesn't avoid hard places—he goes through them.

🔥 He enters death, darkness, and even hell—not to condemn, but to liberate.
🔓 The doors of hell aren’t locked by God—they’re opened by Christ, who holds the keys.
👀 If our vision of hell looks more like vengeance than Jesus, it’s time to reimagine.

Jesus doesn’t change who God is—Jesus reveals who God is:
💗 A God of nonviolent, liberating love.

So we ask:
 Are we using hell to harm or to heal?
 Are we more concerned with control than Christlike compassion?

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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CHRIST SUFFERED. BUT WHY?

💧 A creed without living water is as cruel as an empty bottle to the thirsty.

The Apostles’ Creed isn’t a checklist of beliefs—it’s a container meant to carry the radical, liberating story of Jesus.

📖 “Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.”

Early Christians weren’t memorising doctrine—they were declaring that Jesus stood with the suffering, exposed systems of oppression, and embodied a kind of suffering that ends all suffering.

🙅‍♂️ The cross isn’t divine vengeance—it’s divine solidarity.
 🕊️ Jesus takes shame so we can stand beside the shamed.
 🤝 The gospel invites us not to avoid pain but to enter it with love, standing with those the world tries to crucify.

So we ask:
 💭 Are our creeds leaking living water?
 💭 Or are they holding space for justice, mercy, and radical love?

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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NURTURING THE DIVINE IN UNEXPECTED PLACES

📖 “Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.”

God begins a revolution through the unseen and undervalued—a young woman on the margins. Mary says yes, risking everything, because she longs for mercy, justice, and liberation.

🤰 Like Mary, we are called to carry Christ into the world:
🤲 Not as heroes, but as team players.
🫶 Not to fix, but to listen, uplift, and support.
🕊️ Not with pride, but with curiosity and compassion.

💭 Who in your life is on the margins, longing for someone to join their team?
 Let’s not center ourselves—let’s make space for God’s transforming love to be birthed through us.

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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WHO HOLDS YOUR ALLEGIANCE?

📖 Names carry meaning—identity, purpose, and expectation. The name Jesus Christ isn’t just a label; it’s a bold declaration:
🔹 Jesus = "God saves" – His mission is redemption.
🔹 Christ (Messiah) = "Anointed One" – The promised King.

👑 Son of God – In Jesus’ time, emperors used this title to justify their power. Jesus flips the script—not ruling by dominance but through service, sacrifice, and love.

⚔️ To say "Jesus is Lord" is an act of defiance
It means:
🔥 No earthly power has ultimate control.
🔥 Oppression & empire won’t last.
🔥 We belong to a kingdom of love, justice & mercy.

🙌 When we declare Jesus is Lord, we commit to:
🔸 A new allegiance – beyond politics or self-interest.
🔸 A radical kingdom – where grace, mercy, and justice reign.
🔸 A faith lived out – in love for God and neighbor.

🕊️ Communion reminds us of this truth. As we share the table, we proclaim: JESUS IS LORD. Live His love.

💭 Reflection: What does it mean for YOU to live as if Jesus is truly Lord?

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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🌍 Who is God? A Creator Who Still Creates 🌍

With so much brokenness in the world, how do we hold onto a belief that God is good?

On Sunday, we continued exploring the Apostles’ Creed, unpacking the first line:
🔹 I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth.

We reflected on:
💭 Who is God? – Not a distant figure who pressed "start" on creation and walked away, but a Father who orders the world and a Mother who nurtures and sustains it.
🔥 What does it mean to renounce Satan? – The early church saw baptism as a radical act of defiance against systems of domination that steal, kill, and destroy. To follow Jesus is to resist injustice and trust in God's reign of love.
🌱 Creation is still happening. – The world isn’t just something God made, but something God is making new. To believe in a Creator is to join in God's work of healing and justice today.

This challenges us: Do we believe in a God who is actively renewing all things? Do our lives reflect that belief?

Drop a ❤️ if this resonated with you, and let’s commit to living out a faith that doesn’t just wait for heaven but fights for justice, peace, and healing here and now.

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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🔹 What does it mean to say "I believe"? 🔹

On Sunday, Emmanuel kicked off our new series, Ancient Paths, exploring the Apostles’ Creed—a framework of faith handed down through generations of disciples.

We reflected on:
💭 What does it mean to say “I believe”? – More than agreement with an idea, belief in the early church was about allegiance—declaring loyalty to Jesus and his kingdom, not the empires of this world.

💧 Baptism & Belonging – The Creed was historically tied to baptism, marking a radical reorientation: dying to oppressive systems and rising into a kingdom of justice, mercy, and love.

🫂 Faith in Community – Saying I believe is never just individual; it’s a collective declaration, spoken alongside the global and historic Church—one body, one Spirit, one hope.

We’re invited to live out this belief—not as an empty creed, but as a living reality, animated by the love of Jesus.

So, what do you pledge your allegiance to?
What shapes the way you live, love, and fight for justice?

Join us over the next 10 weeks as we explore how these ancient words still have power to shape the world today.

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
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If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

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On Sunday, Sunil led us in a powerful reflection for Aboriginal Sunday, inviting us to stand in defiant hope—a hope that chooses justice, refuses to settle for empty gestures, and holds onto God’s promise of liberation for all people.

We explored:
🔥 Exodus & the Kuranganja Walk-Off – Just as God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites, the Yorta Yorta people took a courageous stand against injustice, walking off their land in protest of government oppression in 1939.
 
 🎶 A Song of Resistance – Ngarra Burra Ferra, a hymn rooted in Exodus, became a powerful anthem of faith and defiance, connecting the struggles of Aboriginal people with the African-American gospel tradition.

✊ Faith in Action – From the Hebrew midwives’ bravery in Exodus to the call for justice today, we are invited to embody defiant hope—a faith that acts, speaks, and stands in solidarity with the oppressed.
 

This is more than a history lesson—it’s a call to move.
✔️ Pray & listen to the stories of Aboriginal peoples.
✔️ Advocate by signing a letter to our local MP, calling for youth justice reform.
✔️ Give towards the work of Aboriginal Christian leaders through Common Grace
 

Justice isn’t abstract. It’s lived out in our relationships, in the voices we choose to amplify, and in the courage to stand with our Aboriginal neighbours.

Let’s not settle for performative gestures—let’s pursue the Shalom of God’s kingdom, where all can flourish.

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
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If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

Instagram
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Youtube

On Sunday, Joel explored Mark 12:28-31 and the call to love your neighbour as yourself, unpacking how this revolutionary commandment invites us into a love that is practical, countercultural, and deeply transformative.

Here’s what stood out:

❤️ Agape love in action: This is a love rooted in will and commitment, seeking the good and flourishing of others, no matter who they are or what differences exist.

👀 The one who is near: Your neighbour isn’t limited to proximity—it’s anyone God places in your life. Who might God be asking you to love this week?

🕊️ Start with being loved: Joel reminded us that we can only love others well when we let ourselves be loved by God. Seeing ourselves through His eyes frees us to love without agenda or expectation.

✨ Joel’s tips for slowing down and letting God’s love sink in:

Scripture: Read God’s promises as a love letter to you.
Silence: Spend a few quiet minutes each day resting in His love.
Sabbath: Pause, rest, and delight in God’s goodness.
This week, let’s practice slowing down to receive God’s love—and watch how it overflows to those around us.

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
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If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

Instagram
The Facebook
Youtube

What if loving God and loving others wasn’t about striving but about relaxing into transformation?

This past Sunday, Jarrod McKenna opened the year with reflections on Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Luke 10:25-37, centring us on Jesus’s revolutionary invitation to love God fully and love our neighbours with mercy-filled action.

Here’s what stood out:

• ✨ A New Year Without Striving
  The year often starts with big goals and plans that can feel overwhelming. Jarrod reminded us that Jesus invites us to release the anxiety and guilt that often comes with striving and instead relax into the transformative love of God.
• ❤️ Love as Action
  The parable of the Good Samaritan challenges us: Who is my neighbour? It’s not about defining boundaries but breaking them, showing mercy wherever it’s needed.
• 🌍 A Love That Transforms
  Loving God with all our heart, soul, and strength transforms how we see the world and invites us into a life of active compassion. It’s not about a program or checklist but joining in God’s work of healing and justice.

As we step into 2025, how might you embrace this invitation to love God and others more deeply?

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
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If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

Instagram
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Youtube

✨ What if the manger wasn’t the point, but a sign pointing to something much bigger? ✨

On Sunday, Mikaela Turner led us through the familiar Christmas story in Luke 2, but with fresh eyes. What if the manger, the shepherds, and even the angels are more than details? What if they’re signs pointing to Jesus’s identity and mission?

Here’s what stood out:

• 🛡️ Augustus vs. Jesus: While Emperor Augustus claimed to bring peace and justice, Luke subtly reminds us that true justice and peace come through Jesus—born humbly, yet the true Savior and Son of God.
• 🎉 Joy for all people: The angel’s announcement is big—joy not just for some, but for everyone. It points us to the eternal hope and restoration Jesus brings, even when the world’s circumstances seem far from joyful.
• ✝️ Christmas leads to Easter: The nativity isn’t the whole story. It sets the stage for Jesus’s revolutionary life, his sacrifice, and the salvation that transforms everything.

This Advent, let’s take a moment to look where the signs are pointing and find joy in the hope of what’s to come.

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

Instagram
The Facebook
Youtube

What if the advent of God’s dream started in the vulnerability of a refugee child?

On Sunday, Jarrod McKenna unpacked the second Sunday of Advent with a message about the arrival of God’s vision for the world—a vision revealed in Jesus. Advent, Jarrod reminded us, isn’t just about waiting; it’s about recognizing that God’s dream is already breaking into our world, even amidst darkness.

Here’s what stood out:

🌟 Dreamers like Joseph: God uses dreams—both Joseph’s in the Old Testament and Joseph’s in Matthew’s Gospel—to guide His people into transformative action, inviting us to participate in His unfolding story.
🛡️ Jesus, the refugee: The story of the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt reminds us that God doesn’t align with power and privilege. Instead, He comes vulnerable, as one of the displaced, showing us His radical solidarity with the oppressed.
✨ Advent calls us to action: Waiting for God’s kingdom doesn’t mean standing still. Like Joseph, we’re invited to respond with bold, compassionate steps, joining in God’s vision for healing and justice.
Jarrod even tied it all to Die Hard (yes, the movie!), suggesting it shares unexpected parallels with the Gospel—both featuring a subversive outsider offering hope in impossible circumstances.

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

Instagram
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 What if living God’s love looked less like big words and more like bold action?

That’s the thought Jarrod McKenna left us with on Sunday as we explored the final verses of Matthew 7, where Jesus calls his followers to live out their faith with action, not just words. 

 Jesus’s challenge to “do to others as you’d have them do to you” is more than a moral guideline—it’s an invitation to participate in God’s work of healing and justice. It’s not about striving or looking good but about bearing the kind of fruit that reflects God’s love. 

Jarrod reminded us that: 

• 🌿 GOOD TREES DO GOOD FRUIT. Discipleship means stepping into a life of justice, mercy, and humility—actively living Jesus’s teachings.
  
  
• 🪨 THE NARROW PATH IS ACTION. It’s not the easiest way, but it’s the most life-giving, calling us to step into the Spirit’s transformative power.
  
  
• 🍎 EMPATHY LEADS TO ACTION. When we imagine ourselves in another’s shoes and act with compassion, we bring God’s kingdom closer to earth.

Less sign shops. More fruit. Let’s live God’s love this week.
 

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

Instagram
The Facebook
Youtube

What if we could save a tonne of energy and bucketloads of heartache by choosing which doors we’re knocking on to see change?

On Sunday, Mel explored the puzzling passage in Matthew 7 that has some talk of pigs, dogs and pearls.

We took a look at how disengaging from cycles that oppress can help us to redirect our focus to more life-giving ways of creating and sustaining change.

Of course it has something to do with Jesus, light and weirdly…Grandpa Simpson made it in there too somehow.

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

Instagram
The Facebook
Youtube

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The Steeple Church Podcast is recorded on Wurundjeri land in the east suburbs of Naarm - that you will find on a map as Balwyn in Melbourne, Australia.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands, the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation and we pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

You can view the full Steeple Church Acknowledgement of Country here.
.
.
If you would like to know more about Steeple Church or connect with us you can do so by checking out our website on-the-line at steeplechurch.com.au or by following us on all the socials...

Instagram
The Facebook
Youtube