Hope Central Australia

Beware the Leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees - Kevin Hodges 
You know those times when you feel like you just don't measure up, and then you beat yourself up and end up feeling even worse about yourself?  What standard do we measure ourselves by?  How can we ever be good enough?  What does it take to be a "good christian"?  Maybe it isn't as hard as we've let ourselves believe it is. 

Shock and Awe 
Luke 2:8-19  For as perfect as Christmas time was for God, it certainly had a disruptive effect on almost everyone else in the story.  It's almost like we are always lagging behind God's perfect time.  Is there a kind of grace that keeps us flexible to the divine calendar for our lives? 

Great Expectations 
Luke 2:19-39  There is nothing as painful as living with a dream.  “Hope deferred makes the heart sick”, the Bible says.  But how can we live in the expectation of hope and survive before the season arrives?  The Christmas story is filled with those who waited and those who fainted - who will you be? 

'Tis the Season to be Interrupted (pm service - Danny Morton) 

Life is all planned out.  We know what we want out of life, what we want to achieve, how we want to be remembered, and we have the plans for fulfilling it all worked out in our minds and imaginations.  If it wasn't for the interruptions, we'd all be sitting pretty.  But what if sometimes the interruptions are a good thing?  Is that possible? 

'Tis the Season to be Interrupted  (am service - Steve Crouch) 

We all know the feeling.  You've just sat down for the evening family meal, and the phone rings.  You know it is going to be another overseas based telemarketing call but you have to answer just in case it is actually something important.  Interruptions can come at the most annoying of times, but is there a time when we can be happy for the interruption?  Is it possible that interruptions can be for the good?

Christmas Time 
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11  What time is it for you?  “There is a season for every activity under the sun”, the Bible says.  The difficulty is telling the seasons apart so that we are doing the right thing in the right season. 

The Wisdom of Honour 
Philippians 2:3-4 
We are all driven to succeed.  We all want to be on top of the heap, to be looked at with great respect and admiration by others, but what is God's will for us?  What is His idea of success?

The Smart Money 
One of the most powerful things you will ever have in your hand is money.  Learning to use it wisely has the power to define your life.  Proverbs helps us understand how to tame this mammon and to put it to good use.

The Friends We Keep 
The company you surround yourself with will have a huge influence on the direction of your life.  Proverbs helps us understand what kind of people we need to keep close and those we need to keep a distance from.

The Marriages We Make 
Marriage is a tricky minefield and many don’t make it.  The Book of Proverbs offers us sound advice on how to make a marriage that will last a lifetime.

The Plans We Make 
Proverbs 16:1-9  Wisdom is all about what informs the plans we make, enabling us to take the right steps in life.  Let's find out the ingredients of good life planning.

The Most Boring Sermon Ever 
Today our world is filled with attention grabbing entertainment and quick fixes. Compared to the “fun” of foolishness, wisdom can seem like the most boring lecture from your parents. Why is wisdom so boring and foolishness so fascinating?