preview

A Risky Royal

Share to

13 April, 2025Pastor John Strelan

Sermon Pastor John Strelan Sunday 13 April 2025 A Risky Royal (Unley).pdf
22 Palm Sunday C

The share-market has been in the news a bit lately. Sounds like it has been a rollercoaster ride for investors and retirees as they watch their nest eggs diminish by the day. Maybe you’re a little nervous too? It’s enough to make someone want to pull all their money out and stick it under the mattress where it’s safer. Which may well be a good strategy for some, but for most people by playing it safe they will lose out, and even go backwards. There’s always a risk in investing. Even in Jesus. You see, you could play it safe and not talk at all about Jesus. That may well be a good strategy for some, but for most people it means you will lose out on the full benefits of a relationship with God, and even go backwards spiritually. Worse than that, others will lose out by not hearing about Jesus. There’s always a risk in investing. Even in Jesus. But, there’s also rewards. Big rewards. Why not have a crack?

* The above comments should not be taken as personal financial advice. Before making any decisions I recommend you obtain your own advice and consider the Product Disclosure Statement and Financial Services Guide. However, I take full responsibility for any perceived spiritual advice and recommend it heartily. Unfortunately, yours and my past performance is a reliable indicator of future performance which is why it’s worth investing in Jesus. He’s a good saver.

 

 

Luke 19:29-40

28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” say, “The Lord needs it.”’ 32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ 34 They replied, ‘The Lord needs it.’ 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’ 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ 40 ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’

More From 'Sermons'

How Many Lutherans Does It Take...?

7 December, 2025 Pastor John Strelan

Money was tight in the small country congregation but the church really needed painting. The pastor came up with a cunning plan. He bought half the amount of paint needed for the job and thinned it down. He set to work painting. Everything seemed to be going well; he had just about finished when a huge storm rolled through and the rain washed the thinned paint off the church walls. In frustration and desperation the pastor got down on his knees and prayed: “Lord, what do I do now?” A voice came from heaven, ‘Repaint and thin no more”.

~ Pastor John

View

The View from the E.D.

30 November, 2025 Pastor John Strelan

On July 13 1984, Terry Wallis was involved in a car accident that left him in a coma. For 19 years he remained comatose in a minimally conscious state. Doctors believed his condition was permanent. Then, in 2003, he spontaneously awoke.

Can you imagine how much the world changed in those 19 years? Can you imagine how it must have been to suddenly wake up? And, I wonder, if that was you, what would you like to see when you woke up? Who would you want to have around you after sleeping for 19 years?

One of the first people Terry Wallis saw was his mother. And he recognized her.

~ Pastor John

View

umop episdn

23 November, 2025 Pastor John Strelan

I went old-school this week and consulted my Oxford English Dictionary (yes, real paper; all 2,152 pages of it). I was curious to know what definitions it had for the word ‘kingdom’. I was pleasantly surprised. Here they are:

kingdom ènoun 1 a country, state or territory ruled by a king or queen. 2 the spiritual reign or authority of God. 3 each of the three traditional divisions (animal, vegetable, and mineral) in which natural objects have conventionally been classified.

Of course, it was the second definition that interested me. So, as I was enjoying just turning the pages instead of clicking a button, I looked up ‘spiritual’. Here’s what was written:

spiritual èadjective. Of, relating to, or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.

That made me wonder: if God’s kingdom is a spiritual reign it’s a strange one, ruled as it is by a very human king, hung on a cross, who certainly felt the nails hammered through his wrists. A spiritual rule that happens through a splash of very ordinary physical water on a baby’s head and a scrap of bread and a sip of wine. It’s not what we might expect for a spiritual reign. Then again, God does like to do things differently.

~ Pastor John

View
View All