Journey of a Thousand Steps

Do you ever feel as though the wind is against you? Are you in a workplace, a family dynamic, or a personal health battle that feels unsurmountable, or unfair? This Sunday we asked three questions of Jesus about the times when we find ourselves in physically or emotionally overwhelming experiences. Why would Jesus send me into this? Has he abandoned me? How do I transcend the waves? When Peter and the disciples found themselves in yet another frightening storm, they had a powerful experience of Jesus walking out to them on water, and Peter, in turn, attempting to meet him in the waves. Matthew 14.22-36 shows us that a life of faith involves being sent into storms, meeting Jesus in the middle of it, and learning, step by step, to walk on water. 

Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 9 August 2026

Jesus is a multiplier of loaves and fishes. He grows His Church and increases financial and human resources. This is very different to a perfectly stitched up business plan, where financial capacity is secure whether we are faithful or not. This Sunday we learned that multiplication of resources happens at the intersection of 'not enough' and the decision to serve anyway. On the day the Jesus multiplied food for a crowd, he was deeply grieved about the death of John the Baptist; working from heartbreak. His disciples were tired and hungry after a long day of ministering to thousands of people in need. We saw in Matthew 14.13-22 that the choice to lean into compassion, even from a place of lack, is the intersection where faith exists and miracles happen. 

 

Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 2 August 2026

Why does God allow evil to continue in the world and in the church? This is never an abstract question. Every single one of us has experienced corrupt leadership, betrayal by people we once trusted, or the injustice of people continuing in leadership when it is known that they are unrepentant of significant sin. Why does God allow this? In Matthew 13.24-30, Jesus describes the reasons. Understanding the reasons doesn't make our experience of life less painful, but it does help us to avoid believing that God isn't sovereign, doesn't care or won't ever execute justice. In this knowledge, we can persevere, and focus on the wheat. 

Podcast by Zoe Donnan, 19 July 2026

Have you ever been surprised, perplexed or disappointed by watching a Christian you admired leave church or renounce their faith? As hard as this is to grapple with, Jesus told his followers a parable to help them expect and understand it. Sometimes, some people have had hurtful or even harmful experiences of religious people and, for this reason, need space to recover. However, barring this, Matthew 13.1-23 gives those with "ears to hear" a clear picture of what happens to people as they journey in faith. Some never understand the Gospel, and so move on very quickly. Others receive Jesus' love with joy and enthusiasm, but their commitment is shallow. As soon as something very painful happens in life, they struggle to sustain it. Some are keen, but the other commitments in their life overwhelm their relationship with God. Others are in forever, no matter what, forsaking all others. These will bear fruit and that is guaranteed. 

 

Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 12 July 2026

Arguably, two topics we have most failed to educate young people in schools about are money and sex - how to manage personal finances and how to prepare for, choose and sow into a life partnership. This is also true in the Church! Whilst people have often received condemning (or even controlling) messaging around sex outside of marriage and tithing to the Church, many followers of Jesus feel ill-equipped in making decisions about money and sex. In today's teaching from Matthew 10.40-11.15, we encounter some general principles around stewarding finances for the Kingdom. Whilst some are called to fulltime apostolic ministries, it is only through benefactors who sow time and finances into Kingdom projects that the Church moves forward. Jesus assures us that every gift and risk taken is noticed by the Father and will be rewarded. 

Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 28 June 2026