Red Church

In this Advent message, Mark invites us to rediscover the power of the gospel against the backdrop of silence, longing, and a world aching for hope. After centuries of divine quiet between the Old and New Testaments, the opening line of Mark’s Gospel lands like a thunderclap: “The beginning of the good news about Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God.” Mark paints this moment as the breaking of silence—the long-awaited arrival, the adventus, of the One who brings not advice but victory, not self-improvement but salvation. As he reflects on the installation of Melbourne’s new Anglican Archbishop and the stirring proclamation of Christ’s death, resurrection, and return, Mark calls the church in our city to wake up to its purpose: to bear the good news again. In a Melbourne marked by cynicism, violence, and spiritual hunger, Advent becomes not just nostalgia but a summons—pray, prepare, and posture our hearts for what God longs to do in 2026. The world is gathering at our doorstep; the silence has been broken; the King has arrived. Now we carry His good news.🔗 Learn more at redchurch.au

Launching our Advent series, Trudi invites us into the practice—and the posture—of heaven-directed gratitude. In a season marked by frenzy, pressure, and the noise of consumption, she reminds us that thanksgiving is more than a wellbeing exercise; it is a spiritual discipline that recentres our hearts on the goodness of God. Looking at Jesus feeding the 5,000 and raising Lazarus, Trudi shows that Jesus gives thanks before the miracle—revealing gratitude as a pathway into abundance, partnership, and faith. True gratitude shifts us from scarcity to expectancy, from grumbling to trust, from self-sufficiency to dependence on the One who freely gives life without measure. As Advent begins, we’re invited to pause, lift our eyes to heaven, and give thanks—not only for what God has done, but for the abundance He is ready to pour out in us, through us, and beyond us in the year ahead.🔗 Learn more at redchurch.au

Mark dives into the Church's calling to be a community of abundance, challenging spiritual slumber in a comfort-driven society. He explores the story of Eutychus from Acts 20, highlighting how early Christians met after long days, driven by a hunger for transformation. Emphasizing the danger of comfort-induced sleepiness, Mark calls for a renewed passion and active faith to foster a vibrant church life. He encourages listeners to dream big, believing in God's power to revive and transform communities.

Mark explores the promise of abundant life from John 10:10 amidst today’s culture of scarcity. He connects modern anxieties with a scarcity mindset, while highlighting Jesus as the true source of abundance. Listeners are encouraged to renew their hearts and expand their vision, shifting from fear to faith. Engaging stories, like that of the hem-touching woman, illustrate how Jesus breaks barriers. Mark emphasizes practical applications of abundance in work and relationships, reminding us that God's blessings can exceed our wildest expectations.

In this message, Trudi continues our Beautiful Life series by exploring abundance—not as something we create through self-sufficiency, but something we receive when we open the door to Jesus. Using the image from Revelation 3 of Christ knocking, she reminds us that lukewarm faith often comes from unknowingly shutting Jesus out of parts of our lives. True abundance flows only from the abundant Jesus—the One who brings freedom, light, perspective, and kingdom-riches wherever He is welcomed. Whether we feel stuck, stale, self-reliant, or in deep need, Jesus stands ready to enter, renew, and lead us into a spacious place. The invitation is simple: open the door, let Him in, and let His life reshape every part of ours.🔗 Learn more at redchurch.au

In this message, Ryan builds on last week’s teaching that a beautiful life is a life of faith—one that’s both ridiculous and risky. But this week, he reminds us that faith must also become action. Drawing from Luke 5, where Jesus calls Peter from his boat, Ryan invites us to move from mere faithfulness to a faith that lives, saying small, daily yeses that open space for God to move. True discipleship, he says, means being open to Jesus, willing to be interrupted, quick to obey, and ready to follow—trusting that every “yes” to God can change not just our story, but the story of our community and city.🔗 Learn more at redchurch.au

In this message, Ryan explores what it means to live a life of faith—one that often looks ridiculous and risky, yet reveals a deeper unseen reality. Drawing from Hebrews 11, he shows that faith isn’t passive belief but active trust in God even when outcomes are uncertain. True faith steps into spaces where God has to show up, not because it’s safe, but because it’s beautifully worth it. Ryan shares stories—from his family’s unexpected moves to moments of doubt and surrender—that remind us faith is sustained by continually fixing our eyes on Jesus, saying yes again and again, and trusting that God’s reality is greater than what we see.🔗 Learn more at redchurch.au

In this discussion, James Kelly, founder of FaithTech, shares insights on integrating faith with technology. He recounts how FaithTech began as a grassroots movement among Christian tech workers. James contrasts Jesus' model of friendship with technology's speed-driven culture, advocating for a thoughtful approach to tech use. He offers practical strategies for families, like daily Scripture and digital Sabbaths, while emphasizing the importance of redeeming technology to reflect God's beauty in our lives and workplaces.

Mark Sayers delves into the essence of spiritual discernment, emphasizing the importance of awareness in living a beautiful life. Using Acts 21, he illustrates how Paul balanced divine guidance and human emotion. He identifies four interconnected awareness types: Kingdom, Spirit, Self, and Situational. The discussion highlights how inner heart scripts can obscure God’s voice and the necessity of self-examination. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their spiritual responses and follow Jesus's lead, as the ultimate model of holy awareness.

In this closing message of the Furnace of Faith season, Trudi reflects on four months of intentionally fixing our eyes on Jesus through winter and witnessing hearts opened, faith raised, and hunger stirred. God has been preparing Red to be a people ready for harvest, building prayer rhythms, raising up pillars of faith, and restoring vision for abundance. Stories of people meeting Jesus, unexpected conversations, and renewed hunger remind us that the ground is fertile and the season is ripe.Looking ahead, Trudi points us to John 20:19–23: just as Jesus gave His disciples peace and sent them out, He now sends us as carriers of His shalom—wholeness, harmony, and life-transforming peace. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are to advance with “shoes of readiness” to bring the gospel of peace into our city and beyond. The furnace has been ignited, and this is just the beginning.🔗 Learn more at redchurch.au