Jacob seeks the same love story of old, and operates by the same old formula….boy meets girl, girl beautiful, boy moves heavy things in front of girl, boy gets girl.

But his heart doesn't get what he craves.

God does not come to us by grace, for us to set the conditions.

He is the Lord God, and we are sinners who get to repent, to respond to the grace of God, and turn to him with our sin…and not our conditions.

How may we respond to the sovereign grace of God?

“Do you believe that God is with you, in whatever mess you’re in? Do you believe that God has been with you the whole time? Then, drink from that well, and be refreshed in this life where we never feel quite at home, and yet - know, believe, that we are never alone.”

For all who weep, grieve and visit cemeteries of loved ones, in the same way humans have done since that first funeral of Abel, we have hope we can see – even if through bleary-eyed tears.

For one day in human history, the Risen Jesus will come again, and he will empty the cemeteries.

Here is Jesus the Son of God who in every way is ‘in with God’, and yet he is pushed out.

The Father is telling the Son to get out, because God cannot look at your sin, now on His Son.

Accused, de-friended, rejected…this is how we feel often in our own life.

Jesus experienced this for us, so that we can live the imputed life.

Here is Jesus, whose blood of the covenant is poured out, for he though undeserving carried our curses.

Here is Jesus, whose blood shed for our sins, means that He is the covenant maker, and that He is the one who dies in the place of us covenant breakers.

Welcome to all of us who are often wrong, welcome to all of us who are always weak, for we know we are always welcome, with Christ

Welcome today, for we have come to a place of grace, in Christ. This welcome is real for all who have repented of sinful pride, as Jesus really gives grace to the humble.

Reforming, we need to see something amazing today. Answered prayer.

For such a long time we have been praying, asking the Lord to save people, we prayed. And today we saw Ash, saved by grace, professing faith in the Lord Jesus.

Reforming, let’s keep praying like that! Let’s ask the Lord to do it again.

For whatever reason you need mercy, he will not turn you away, and you’ll get to join in with him and follow him on his way.

Jesus does more than go through the eye of a needle, he does the impossible by going through death on a cross, risen with an inheritance money can’t buy.

The rich man went away sad, because he went away from Jesus. Whereas all the sinners who come to Jesus, get their life back. In Christ is where God makes the impossible, possible, for you.

When you see Jesus, you see the embodiment of his teaching. When you see a healthy church, you see people where we are not a big deal, but Jesus is.

Gospel ministry is for us all, because of the ministry with the mighty, merciful Messiah.

Humility from inability helps our unbelief. That is the centerpiece of this text, and the story of our lives.

What has the transfiguration of Jesus, go to with my life now…?

On the 3^rd of February, 2013, 12 years ago, a church service started at 5pm in a funeral chapel with these words… “Welcome to Reforming Church, a new Presbyterian church in Bendigo.”

Since that day, many people have joined in to say “we are Reforming”.

Psalm Series, Summer 2025

Where is your ultimate joy? What do you worship?

It will be something.

Our world is weary…

Marriages under tension, broken relationships, adultery, cheating brothers, crimes against women, refugees, murder, idol worship, wicked leaders…and that’s just in the family tree of Jesus.

In Matthew 1 we see a thrill of hope that our world has waited ages for.