Journey of a Thousand Steps

Even the greatest of leaders experience doubt. At the end of his journey, John sent his disciples to ask Jesus - 'What on earth is going on and why are you moving so slowly?' The words in scripture read, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” ( See Matthew 12.2-12) John was under immense physical and psychological pressure as he faced imprisonment, but he was also confused by the way Jesus was starting his ministry. It seemed slow and very different to the way John had led a massive campaign for people to choose repentance. We are no different. When we are under pressures, battling pain or grief, and confused by the pace at which God is moving, we may also cry out, “Are you the one? What are you doing? Why are you moving so slowly?” Jesus answers - he will heal before he scales his work, and he won’t allow us to skip this part of the process.
Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 14 December 2025
 

What makes a movement last? John the Baptist built a following that scaled quickly (we know this from Christian and non-Christian historic sources)!! This week, as we continued our teaching series, 'The Sifting Years', we considered John's strategies as a leader of systemic change. His cry was to convert people to an entirely new economy - one led by God as the CEO of our lives and Prime Minister of our home country. The biblical language is that "the Kingdom of Heaven has come near." In Matthew 3.1-12 we see a leader who exemplifies this change in his own life, provides a new process for people to step into, builds a movement that is replicable and scalable, and sets a high bar. Those who don't meet the standards are called out. To truly turn away from the economy of the world and live under Heaven's Rule means three things for us today. 1. We share with those who have less than us from every pay cheque. 2. We forgive and don't leave people trapped in debt. 3. We are content with our wages and live within our means. 
Imagine a nation that did all of these three things in every budget. There is one. It's the true Church and you can step into it right now.
Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 7 December 2025 

Have you been watching the news? This month we are praying and donating to support communities across South East Asia affected by Cyclone Ditwah, as we continue to hold in prayer so many nations impacted by war and many individuals recovering from religious persection and abuse in religious institutions. Where is God is allowing so much hurt to go on? This week we took a deep dive into Jesus' plan, as recorded in Matthew 24. He told us to expect four things to continue and increase before it will, finally, end: wars, natural disasters, persection of Christians and the worst of human suffering, in the middle east. Heather explains how our God is both just and merciful. He promises a final call; an end to suffering. A day will come when justice will be served. Still, He is the God of grace, second chances and forgiveness, and so the human race has been gifted time. This means we are to expect division over the Gospel, but never be divisive ourselves. We let God do the heavy lifting.
Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 31 November 2025

We aren't meant to be church mice! This was the take home message this Sunday. Heather shared some of the reasons why church communities can become timid and happy to be small, keeping the bar low on their Mission Action Plans. As Heather shared the three-year plan ahead of Holy Trinity, she encouraged the congregation to move towards making a noise in the local community - not an offensive, rude noise, but a BEAUTIFUL and skilled sound. This Sunday, we concluded our teaching series about Christian Worship, considering Psalm 150, which describes a people who sing and dance in a loud and bold way. 
Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 23 November 2025

How can God be both good and all-powerful? Surely God can be good, but powerless to stop all suffering, or all-powerful and, therefore, unkind? This week we explored the meaning and practice of worship as described in Psalm 145, in which the singer makes a promise to praise God every day, in all circumstances. We encountered the commitment that people of faith have to exhalt, bless, praise and confess God, even through trial, hardship and persecution. Heather shared a personal example of praising God from a place of despair, and how the Bible answers the question, 'Why pray to a God who lets bad things happen?' God is good. God is all-powerful. God respects the rules of war, and worship is our weapon.   
Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 16 November 2025
 

Are you someone who loves singing and dancing in church, or are you more likely to arrive fifteen minutes late so you can miss the opening worship? Music in church is often one of the greatest sources of conflict in church communities. This is no surprise, since it matters, and is so much more than the icing on the cake of Christian life. Today we considered the lyrics in Psalm 96, which tell us about why worshipping God in song is important. We learned that though there are many reasons why music aids our faith journey, its primary purpose is to make the weightiness of God's power and love (His kavod) felt, tangible and declared. 
Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 2 November 2025

What if it were possible that we will see a revivial of faith across the nations in our lifetime? This week we welcomed Cameron Healey, the Senior Pastor of Albert Park Baptist Church, to share with us from Isaiah 9.1-7. Cameron spoke about God's promise that light will shine in the darkness, as he shared from his experience of praying in the area of Port Melbourne and setting up a 24/7 Prayer Room. He said, "God is working, doing a new thing in this area."
Podcast by Cameron Healey, 26 October 2025 

This Sunday we launched a new, five week teaching series called 'Christian Worship', exploring the meaning of prayer and worship in our lives. We hosted a guest preacher, David Jones, who shared with us from Psalm 95, about his own experience of inviting God to soften his heart. 
Podcast by David Jones, 19 October 2025

What credibility rating woud you give Christianity as a source of wisdom about sexuality or finance? Do you feel the Bible holds wisdom the world needs, or are you inclined to think of biblical teachings about money and sex as outdated? It is a common and understandable response to the moral failings of Church leaders, to throw out the credibility of the whole tradition. However, Paul, in his letter to the early Church across Asia Minor, provides very specific counsel about how we are to respond to sexual and financial immorality by Christians, especially leaders. In Ephesians 5.1-20 he outlines why God does not want or expect us to partner with people who are unsafe to be with romatically or financially. He then provides a vision for cutting unhealthy relationship ties and continuing to walk with Jesus, step by step. 
Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 12 October 2025
This week's sermon ends with a song for reflection by U2 - 'Walk On' - https://open.spotify.com/track/3pUWV5hvXsI9diJ9TeNeCh 

Some churches seem to care more about truth, standards and biblical orthodoxy than compassion and kindness. Other churches can kindess and inclusion above truth. But in truth, love rejoices in facing hard things, having hard conversations. For this reason Paul urges the Church to "grow up", to "mature", and to find the balance between speaking the truth and showing love. Today at Holy Trinity, we considered Paul's words to the early Church in Ephesians 4:1-16, where he provides a pathway to spiritual maturity. He describes a need to nurture all of the gifts that God gives to the Body. To guide us into truth, God raises up teachers, prophets and evangelists. To mature us in our ability to love, He raises up pastors and apostles. Join us on our journey to strengthening all gifts and learning to speak the truth in love. 
Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 5 October 2025