2022 Services and Sermon Videos

December 25, 2022 - Christmas Day
​The Word became flesh for our sake and for our salvation!

December 24, 2022 - Christmas Eve
​​After the ‘waiting’ and ‘preparing’ of the Advent season, Christmas is the joyous fulfilment of God’s promise—God has come to live among us as one of us! His incarnation (becoming flesh) begins the fulfilment of our salvation. It means that God has not forgotten us, but has reached out to us, offering himself for us and in our stead. The way we now see God is forever changed. This season of celebration and wonder lasts for 12 days (the 'twelve days of Christmas'), beginning Christmas Eve after sunset, and finishing at the end of 5th January, before Epiphany. Lord, fill us again this Christmas season, with renewed hope and joy!

December 18, 2022 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
​What makes you sing? It is very hard to be mad and to sing at the same time! We find that singing if often an expression of our joy, delight or contentment. In our sermon text today (Luke 1:39-55), Mary follows in the footsteps of many before her who sang with delight because of the great works of God that they had witnessed. Mary sings because she had been chosen by God, forgiven by Christ and granted renewed hope for the future. That too is our situation if we are able to welcome and receive the good news that Christ brings. May the Lord fill us with joy as we marvel again this coming Christmas, at the gift and honour bestowed on us through Christ.

December 11, 2022 - Third Sunday of Advent
While Jesus calls all people to faith in him, we know from experience that doubts can often arise, even for those who have been Christians all their life. To have doubts and to wrestle with hard faith questions is not a sinful thing in itself. Part of testing and refining our faith is that very struggle. However, what does matter is where we look for our answers! The sinfulness of our human nature can point us to answers within ourselves rather than directing us to Christ alone. Ultimately, he will answer all our doubts and questions, but in the meantime he calls us to cling in faith to his word and promises, trusting that he will not do us harm, but is always seeking to assist and strengthen us. Give us faith Lord for the journey!

December 4, 2022 - Second Sunday of Advent
​How are your Christmas preparations going? Have you got yourself and your family ready? Is everything in place? Not for Christmas celebrations of course, but for the arrival of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! We all know how easy it is for our focus at this time of year to be drawn toward material and outward preparations for Christmas, yet Advent is quite the opposite of that. Christ calls us to prepare our hearts and to prepare him room in our busy lives—to make straight the paths so that his arrival is unhindered. Todays sermon (Luke 3:1-6) focuses on getting ready to receive the babe in the manger and welcome his coming. Come, Lord Jesus, come!

November 27, 2022 - First Sunday of Advent
We give thanks to God for Pastor Mark Gierus who is preaching the sermon on this first Sunday in Advent.

November 20, 2022 - Last Sunday of the Church Year
Today 8 young people will stand before the congregation and profess their faith in Jesus Christ during the Rite of Confirmation. Confirmation is a period of intensified learning where young people are helped to better understand the work of Christ for them, grow in their knowledge of the Bible and connect their Christian faith to their daily lives. Confirmation, however, adds nothing to what God has already gifted to them in baptism—adoption into his family, forgiveness of their sins, the gift of the Holy Spirit and eternal life with him. Consequently, those confirming their faith are simply saying publicly that they wish to continue in the faith in which they have been baptised and taught. May God sustain us all with his grace and strengthen us in faith!

November 13, 2022 - Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost
John Wesley famously once said, “the last part of a man to be converted is his wallet!” And while for many people, discussing their finances is a taboo subject, God’s word actually has a lot to say about the matter! Firstly, as the giver of all gifts, God is greatly concerned about how we use or abuse what he has freely given to us. The generosity of the woman in our sermon text (Mark 12 :38-44) confronts us and challenges us in regard to trusting God’s provision for our lives. May our generous and sacrificial Lord, who gave himself completely for us, guide and lead us in our financial decisions and into a greater reliance on him for all things, and most importantly, our salvation and eternal future.

November 6, 2022 - All Saints
As we celebrate All Saints Day, we give thanks to God for our loved ones who have died in the last 12 months, whom God has called to himself through faith in Christ. We also thank God for the faithful witness of those who have gone before us over the centuries and have pointed us to Jesus as the true hope and our loving Saviour.

​October 30, 2022 -  Reformation
Have you ever considered what legacy you would wish to leave behind after your life on earth is completed? Not your financial, vocational or accomplishment legacy, but your spiritual legacy! The Apostle Paul, awaiting his execution in a Roman prison, writes to his dear ‘son’ in the faith, Timothy, and encourages him to remember his spiritual upbringing and to pass on what he had learned to others (2 Timothy 1:1-14). Most significantly, Paul points him to Christ and all the benefits and gifts that Jesus bestows on his baptised children. These gifts are then to be used in service of God’s kingdom, as we courageously give witness to Christ.  Lord help us to leave a faith-filled legacy that encourages others to trust in you alone!

​October 23, 2022 -  Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Our gospel reading this week tells the parable of two men who go to the Temple to pray to God: one full of assurance in his own goodness while the other overwhelmed by the extent of his sinfulness. Jesus said that the latter went home at peace with God! The intended message though is not some moral lesson about being a humble person. God is merciful, full stop! And he graciously forgives those who realise the depth of their need. Lord help us to cry out for your mercy, knowing you will hear us through Christ!

October 16, 2022 -  Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Our God is a relational and communicating God! He wants us to know who he is and what he is like, and most importantly, what he has graciously done for us through Jesus Christ! One of his great gifts to us therefore is his written word, the Bible. Through it we have the privilege of hearing God's own voice speaking to us! But more than just educational or informative, his word is powerful and Spirit filled, and able to "make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 3:15). God's word is a means of bringing his gracious gifts to us. Lord, help us gladly hear, read, digest, study and learn from your precious word.

October 9, 2022 -  Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Have you ever found yourself just biding time in your life, waiting for things to change or improve? That is where the Israelites of the Old Testament found themselves! They had been carried into captivity and had lost everything they valued and cherished. Life as they knew it was now chaotic, stressed and beyond their control. They were just waiting for something to change, for someone to come rescue them and make things better! Instead, God sent the prophet Jeremiah who told them things wouldn’t be changing any time soon! In fact, he invited them to embrace their situation because, ultimately, he had a plan for them. Yes, their sinfulness had produced this unwanted consequence, yet God had not forgotten them, but had a hopeful future in store if they would but trust in him. Lord, help us to embrace whatever situation we find ourselves in, and to glorify you there, knowing you have not abandoned us.

September 25, 2022 -  Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Service led by Pastor Kevin Spilsbury while Pastor Mark Nitschke is on leave.

September 18, 2022 -  Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Service led by Pastor David Schmidt while Pastor Mark Nitschke is on leave.

September 11, 2022 -  Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
When the Pharisees complained that Jesus was befriending 'sinners', Jesus told two parables about a sheep and coin that become lost, and the subsequent joy when they were found (Luke 15:1-10). Without Christ, we too are ‘lost’ sinners, separated from God. Yet God comes relentlessly searching for us, even if it is only one out of a hundred missing! When he finds us, there is great celebrating and joy in heaven over each one restored and found. Lord, grant us the same concern for the lost, and give us joy over those you have found!

September 4, 2022 - Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Dealing with conflicts in the life of a congregation is often messy and very rarely has good outcomes. Yet our Lord invites us to not let our grievances fester and potentially harm the community of faith, but to follow a wise pattern of systematically dealing with the issue. Out sermon text (Matthew 18:15-20) calls us to seek reconciliation with one another as a matter of priority. As it was our Lord''s reconciling and restoring work that brought us into his family, let us live with that same gracious attitude toward each other.

August 28, 2022 - Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Humility is not something that comes easily to people, especially today when so many focus on promoting themselves via social media. Meanwhile, hospitality seems to be a dying art, as very few people seem to have time or inclination to invite and welcome others into their homes. Many have ‘gone into their shells’ during the pandemic. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus speaks about hospitality and humility. Just as God has welcomed and received us into his family through the grace of Christ, we are also called to welcome and receive all those God sends to us. Lord, help us to be humble and inviting.

August 21, 2022 - Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
In the final sermon of our Galatians series, God’s word encourages us to a life that is lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. Having been rescued, redeemed and adopted by the pure grace of Christ, we are not suddenly then left to our own devices! We have God’s Spirit constantly at work in us, seeking to produce true fruits of repentance, faith and good works. However, our sinful nature remains with us till we die, and so we will be constantly tempted to still please our sinful nature. With daily repentance, Paul encourages us to continually crucify those desires so that what we sow is pleasing to the Spirit. Let us only ever boast in the cross of Christ and what he accomplished there for us!

August 14, 2022 - Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
In the fifth sermon of our Galatians series, we are reminded about the wonderful privileges bestowed on us through Christ and his redeeming work. Because of him we can now know God as our dear heavenly Father, and enjoy all the benefits of being an heir of his kingdom and family. With such great grace and privilege now ours, it would be utter foolishness to be enslaved again by the very things from which we have just been set free! In fact it is possible that we could lose God’s grace if we try to justify ourselves by our own actions. Instead, this freedom we have through Christ is now to be used in service of each other. Lord, help us to personally know your grace and live it out daily!

August 7, 2022 - Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
In the fourth sermon of our Galatians series, the Apostle Paul asks the question that is on the lips of many people as they read this letter: If we cannot be saved by keeping the law, what then is the purpose of having the law in the first place? The answer from God’s Word is that the law leads us to Christ by bringing to light the hopelessness of our situation, our total inability to keep the law. It shows that we are prisoners of sin and need rescue from outside ourselves! We need a Saviour! And what a wonderful Saviour God has provided in Jesus Christ! Praise the Lord that he has baptised us into his family, clothed us with his righteousness and made us heirs of heaven!

July 31, 2022 - Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
In the third sermon of our Galatians series, we look at chapter 3 and see that the Apostle Paul is still fired up and wants to make sure everyone understands that our salvation is purely by the grace of God and cannot be achieved through us keeping God’s law. He uses 3 arguments to make his point: (1) from experience, (2) from Scripture, and (3) even from the law itself! Furthermore, he shows that trying to achieve righteousness through the law ends up in us being cursed by God, because it negates what Jesus did for us! Lord, help us to graciously receive your precious gift with thanks and praise.

July 24, 2022 - Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Today is the second week of our 6 part sermon series examining the book of Galatians and its life changing message. The apostle Paul, after rebuffing his critics in regard to the authority with which he speaks (which comes from the Lord himself), turns his attention to how we are saved. Is it by careful and obedient observation of the Law of God, or by an act of mercy on God’s behalf? The astonishing revelation from God is that our salvation is by his grace alone, not the works we do, no matter how wonderful or helpful they may be. Being perfect is the only way that someone can enter heaven—and as we are slaves to sin and cannot achieve this, Jesus comes to make it possible by suffering and dying in our place for the forgiveness of all our sins!

July 17, 2022 - Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Galatians has been one of the most significant books of Scripture in bringing people to an understanding of God’s gracious action for us through Jesus Christ, and how we receive that grace by faith alone. This week's sermon (Galatians 1:1-12) draws our attention to the fact that there is ‘no other gospel’ outside of Christ. This is the first week of our 6 week sermon series on the book of Galatians.
May the Lord bless our meditation upon his word and grow his fruit in us.

July 10, 2022 - Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Thank you to Darryl McNeill, our Lay Reader for today's service. Wayne will be presenting a Sermon written by Pastor Josh Pfeiffer, a former Pastor of the St Paul's Lutheran Church Nundah. The Sermon titled "The mercy of God" is based on the gospel text in Luke 10:1-25 -37 "The parable of the good Samaritan".

July 3, 2022 - Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Thank you to Wayne Dawson, our Lay Reader for today's service. Wayne will be presenting a Sermon written by Pastor Josh Pfeiffer, a former Pastor of the St Paul's Lutheran Church Nundah. The Sermon is based on the gospel text in Luke 10:1-20 - "Sending of the seventy".

June 26, 2022 - Third Sunday after Pentecost
Today we continue our 2 week sermon series on the Lord's Supper. Last week we focused on the mystery of Christ graciously coming to us in bread and wine! Today we explore some of the benefits that are freely given to us in this sacred meal. Lord, grant us your forgiveness and strengthen our faith in you.

June 19, 2022 - Second Sunday after Pentecost
​Jesus said some very confronting things - none moreso than inviting people to 'eat his flesh and drink his blood'! The implication of what he said caused people to turn away from him, both then and now. Yet, for those who trust him at his word, they are the most gracious words of all!
​Today we begin a 2 week sermon series on the Lord's Supper with this week focusing on the mystery of Christ graciously coming to us in bread and wine!

June 12, 2022 - Trinity Sunday 
​Thank you to our Elder Wayne Dawson for conducting this Lay Reading Service. The Sermon is titled “Our Salvation Depends on Our Triune God” and was Written by Pastor Steven Degner and is based on the gospel reading from John Chapter 16, verses 12-15.

June 5, 2022 - Pentecost Sunday 
The people of Babel sought to make a name for themselves (Genesis 11:1-9), trying  to achieve fame and glory through their grand plans. Because of their defiance of his commands, God in judgement scattered them and confused their language. Centuries later, Pentecost was the great reversal of the tower of Babel event. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, God began uniting his scattered people under Christ. Different languages were no longer a barrier, as the Holy Spirit enabled the good news of Christ to be proclaimed to all people in their native tongue. Lord, unite us under Christ through the power of your Holy Spirit!

May 29, 2022 - Ascension / Seventh Sunday of Easter 
The Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ to the right hand of the Father, completes the down and up cycle of the Son of God who left his heavenly home for us. Coming to earth in human form and leaving behind his glory, he lived a perfect life on our behalf, then suffered and died for all our sins, offering himself to be condemned, as our substitute. His rising and ascension then restores him to his rightful place with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He now invites us to trust his completed work and to place our hope in his power over sin, death and all things. Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, who now reigns in power and glory!

May 22, 2022 - Sixth Sunday of Easter 
In our sermon text today (John 5:1-9), Jesus encounters a crippled man who had been one of many waiting for a miracle to happen in the waters of the Bethesda pool. For 38 years he had sat, waiting, watching and hoping his world would change, but nothing had happened. Jesus asks him one of the most fascinating questions recorded in Scripture - "Do you want to get well?". How do we respond to the invitations and offers that Jesus makes to us?

May 15, 2022 - Fifth Sunday of Easter 
This week is the 3rd sermon in our mini teaching series on 'worship'. We focus on the sacred actions that Christ has instituted in his church and to which he has attached his eternal promises. We can receive those gifts in the confidence that they have his blessing and carry to us the benefits he wants us to have. We also look at what might fall into the realm of adiaphora (neither commanded or forbidden by God).

May 8, 2022 - Fourth Sunday of Easter 
This week is the 2nd sermon in our mini teaching series on 'worship'. God's word tells us that we are engagaing in a supernatural activity in which the Almighty God stoops down to meet with us: to forgive, renew, bless, comfort and reassure us, while equipping us to go out in his name. We also look closely at the significance of the Invocation - what it declares, authorises and does!

May 1, 2022 - Third Sunday of Easter 
Today we begin a short sermon series on 'worship' - where we seek to better understand the focus, goal and actions of Lutheran worship. God's word tells us that at the heart of the worship service is God's gracious coming to us: coming to serve us in our brokeness with his Spirit-filled word and his holy sacraments.

​Lord, help us gladly receive you and your precious gifts!

April 24, 2022 - Second Sunday of Easter 
One of the greatest joys that comes from Easter is knowing that death is defeated by the resurrection of Christ and heaven is now possible for us through him! Sadly though, many people will not experience this wondrous eternal gift because they either reject God’s gift outright, or wrongly believe that heaven is something we attain through our own efforts and good works, thereby nullifying the work of Jesus for us! Our sermon today focuses on the joys that await God’s baptised children, with our greatest joy to be found not so much in the place we will spend eternity, but in the one with whom we will share it! Lord, help us to receive your gift in true faith and joy.

April 17, 2022 - Easter Sunday 
An absent body is usually not good news! However, in the case of Jesus, it means the most wonderful good news of all! While other so called ‘spiritual leaders’ lie dead in their shallow graves, Jesus is alive and reigning eternally. His victory over death changes our whole perception of the world and gives us true hope and a wonderful future. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

April 15, 2022 - Good Friday
How are we to meditate appropriately on the suffering and passion of Christ? Are we meant to feel sorry for Jesus, or even be angry at the treatment he received? Martin Luther once wrote about the wrong and right ways of meditating on the death of Jesus. Today’s sermon explores what Luther said and points us to the eternal comfort that is ours through the death of Christ. Praise God for the loving sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

April 10, 2022 - Palm Sunday
​St Paul uses Christ as an example of sacrificial humility for the Philippian Christians (2:5-11). Even though he was truly God, he did not hesitate to lay aside his rights and majesty by assuming human form. He lovingly did this to undergo the humiliation and curse of human death, thereby serving the greatest need of humanity—the forgiveness of our sins! After the cross, however, comes the crown. He now exercises every power, prerogative and glory of the Godhead which is his rightful due. Every knee must bow, whether in wondrous gratitude for his free gift of salvation, or in facing final judgement because of persistent rejection of his gracious gift. Lord help us gladly receive and welcome you and your gift.

April 3, 2022 - Fifth Sunday in Lent 
Each one of us trusts in something! Whether it is our own strength, wit, logical thinking or resourcefulness, we all have things we lean on to get us through. However, when it comes to our standing before God, there is only one place to put our confidence - and that is in Jesus Christ alone! Nothing we can do or bring will ever compare to what he freely offers. Let us place our confidence in Christ!

March 27, 2022 - Fourth Sunday in Lent 
Reconciliation is one of the most difficult and challenging aspects of any human relationship. Very few relationships can return to the positive state that existed prior to the falling out.  Amazingly though, our loving God has reconciled us to himself (2 Corinthians 5:16-21), even before we gave any thought to saying sorry or seeking a new start in the relationship with him. Flowing from his gracious and loving action, we are then called to live out that same approach to those around us. In fact God calls us his ‘Ambassadors’! We have been set apart by Christ to live his reconciling message in such a way that God speaks though us. 

March 20, 2022 - Third Sunday in Lent 
Temptation is inevitable for any human being that lives on this planet. It is not a matter of whether you will be tempted, but how will you handle it when you are. Overt temptations are far easier for us to spot what is going on and to meet that temptation head on. However, it is in the subtlety of temptation where the greatest danger lies: a slight compromise, an easy way forward from a difficult situation, an opportunity to avoid responsibility or blame etc. Thankfully, our Lord Jesus Christ when tempted, met every temptation head on for us (Luke 4:1-13)! He countered every enticement with the word of God, defeating all temptations so that he could strengthen us.

March 13, 2022 - Second Sunday in Lent 
Lenten devotional practises have been utilised in the Christian church since the early years, such as prayer, fasting, acts of mercy, the imposition of ashes etc. The prayer and fasting of Jesus in the wilderness has been the template and inspiration for such practises. Just as Christ sought to faithfully do the will of his father, so these practises are intended to encourage us in faith. However, our strength is only ever found in the Christ that they point us to, never in the practise itself.  This was the trap that ancient Israel fell into and which God addresses in Isaiah 58:1-12. Lord, teach us true fasting so that we may be strengthened by Christ and his word!

March 6, 2022 - First Sunday in Lent 
Lay Reading Service led by St Paul's Elder, Darryl McNeill




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February 27, 2022 - Transfiguration Sunday
Lay Reading Service led by St Paul's Elder, Wayne Dawson




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February 20, 2022 - Epiphany 7
​We all know that infuriating feeling that burns up inside us when we have been wronged by another person! The anger, the sense of injustice, and the rage we might feel can easily lead to a desire for revenge. As Christians, though, how do we deal with those who have done us wrong? Our sermon this week looks at some of the things Jesus said about these kind of situations, and his radical response: God calls us to love our enemies instead of seeking their destruction! However, that can cause us further grief, as we struggle with how to do so and our desire for justice. The turning point for many people is when they come to appreciate that we too were one of God’s enemies—until he acted decisively for us through the loving sacrifice of Christ! Lord, grant us that same forgiving love.

February 13, 2022 - Epiphany 6
​While there are many big questions we may struggle with in life, the single most important question you will ever need to answer is one asked by Jesus of Nazareth - "Who do you say that I am?" The answer to that question has eternal consequences for each person on this planet. In the words of the apostle Peter - "Jesus, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

February 6, 2022 - Epiphany 5
​What is something that you would consider to be foolish, that makes no sense at all to you, but others seem to engage in or believe in? The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ has always presented an incredible challenge to humanity. It illustrates the horrific nature of human sinfulness that knows no boundaries in it’s wickedness; it defies logic and common sense as a salvific act; it raises questions at the deepest level regarding God; and yet ultimately, claims to answer all of our life questions in the dying person upon it. The cross is ‘foolishness’ to many, but to those being saved it is the power of God for our salvation!

January  30, 2022 - Epiphany 4
“I wanna know what love is. I want you to show me” says the words of a popular song from nearly 40 years ago! While the world we live in often longs for, dreams about and lives for finding the ‘ultimate love’, the kind of love described in our sermon text today is very different than what most people may have in mind. The way that God loves us is totally devoid of any selfish baggage that can often accompany human love. God’s love for us is displayed in the most profound and tangible way through the loving sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Help us,  Lord, to know the depth of your love for us, and receive it with joyful hearts, so we love others in the same way!

January  23, 2022 - Epiphany 3
Do you have a life mission that motivates what you do? Some people are passionately driven to achieve a certain goal or outcome in their lives and are willing to do whatever it takes to bring that about. Well, our Lord Jesus Christ has a grand mission also – and his mission is global in scope! His goal is to draw all people and all things under his lordship, redeemed and renewed for eternal life with him. That means that his mission is directed toward you and me! And he was willing to do whatever it took to bring it about. Lord, help us to joyfully receive what you have done for us and join in your mission task to the world. 

January 16, 2022 - Epiphany 2
While some people may think they have little to offer the world, everyone has been endowed by our creator with a set of gifts and skills at some level. The question is how will we use what God has given to us! In our second bible reading today (1 Corinthians 12:1-11) we specifically hear about ‘spiritual’ gifts, given to all of God’s people for the common good. Are these the same gifts as our natural God-given talents that we might use in daily life or are they of a different nature and with a different function or purpose? Today’s sermon examines the spiritual gifts God has given his people and points us to his greatest gift of all—our Lord Jesus!

January 9, 2022 - Baptism of our Lord
​In a world where we are often measured by our productivity or potential as an income source, and where youthfulness and beauty rule, we may wonder if we really matter at all—to anyone! Today’s Old Testament text from the book of Isaiah, while initially spoken to Israel, has wonderful words of comfort for us, especially in those moments when we feel forgotten or abandoned! Our loving God has not forgotten us and we matter dearly to him. Let us take strength in God’s declaration: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1b)

January 2, 2022 - Second Sunday after Christmas
Service led by Pastor Pastor Mark Gierus while Pastor Mark Nitschke is on leave.