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30 August, 2026Pastor John Strelan

As a child growing up in Papua New Guinea my parents would make me take anti-malarial tablets every week so I didn’t get malaria. The active ingredient that prevented malaria was quinine. It was important – even life-saving – that I was given regular quinine. But quinine is very bitter, and so, in order to make it palatable for children, it was possible to buy sugar coated tablets. I’m sure it seemed like a good idea at the time. In fact, it worked brilliantly. So brilliantly that one day, as a toddler, I snuck into the medicine cabinet and downed the whole bottle of ‘lollies’! That nearly killed me.

 

Sometimes sugar-coating, as well intentioned as it is, is not the best option. Especially when it comes to our relationship with God.

 

Click here for a link to our new spotify podcast containing the latest sermon recordings.

If you are unable to access spotify, 2026 sermon recordings can be found here

Jeremiah 15:15-21

Jeremiah's inner struggle

15 Lord, you understand; remember me and care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors. You are long-suffering – do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for your sake. 16 When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty. 17 I never sat in the company of revellers, never made merry with them; I sat alone because your hand was on me and you had filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? You are to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails.

19 Therefore this is what the Lord says:

‘If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them. 20 I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you,’ declares the Lord. 21 ‘I will save you from the hands of the wicked and deliver you from the grasp of the cruel.’

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Fishermen are generally considered masters of the tall story. The ‘one that got away’ is always the biggest fish they might have caught. Perhaps Jesus’ rubbing shoulders with too many fishermen meant their tale tales rubbed off on him as he told the story of a king who wished to settle his accounts. One of the king’s slaves owed him 10,000 talents. Now, just one talent was worth more than 15 years’ wages of a labourer! My maths was never any good, but by my calculations that slave would have to work for 150,000 years to pay off the debt! Now what kind of God king would be kind crazy enough to allow someone to get into that kind of debt in the first place? And, what kind of God king would be kind crazy enough to cancel that sort of debt?

Ha! Good one, Jesus.

Please note there is currently no audio recording of this week's sermon available. However, click here for a link to listen to all our previous sermons from this year over on our spotify podcast "Sermons @ St J's". If you are unable to access spotify, 2026 sermon recordings can be found here

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6 September, 2026 Tim Foulkes

Is love invigorating or exhausting? Maybe it just depends on where you are at that time and moment.

Love to those around us takes all kinds of forms. Our experience and expectations depend on our circumstances: a fancy date is very different to caring for a sick child. How does making room to let someone into busy traffic compare to sharing a timely cup of tea and conversation. Donating time or money to support a good cause is a different experience of love again. These all ask something different of us and in turn, affect us in various ways.

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~ Tim Foulkes

Click here for a link to our new spotify podcast containing the latest sermon recordings.

If you are unable to access spotify, 2026 sermon recordings can be found here

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23 August, 2026 Pastor John Strelan

On the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, 1,300 kilometers inside the Arctic Circle is the Svalbard Seed Vault. Built 150 metres deep into the rock of a mountain at a site with no seismic activity, kept at a constant -18 degrees Celsius, and aided by the permafrost, the massive concrete and steel structure is designed to withstand a nuclear strike, or any other global disaster in order to keep its contents safe for thousands of years and ensure the survival of the world’s crops.

If Jesus wanted to ensure the survival of the church you might have thought he’d come up with something like that. Instead, he chose Peter. Go figure.

~ Pastor John Strelan

Click here for a link to our new spotify podcast containing the latest sermon recordings.

If you are unable to access spotify, 2026 sermon recordings can be found here

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