TRAC Chapel
By Gareth Tyndall
TRAC ChapelAug 18, 2021
Term 1, Week 10, 2024 – Luke 4vv38-44
How would you respond if you'd just been raised from the brink of death? I doubt you would cook everyone a meal, but that's what happens in our final scene in Luke 3-4, and it's exactly what should be on our menu as we respond to Jesus.
Term 1, Week 8, 2024 – Luke 4vv31-37
Jesus has been causing a scene everywhere he goes so far in Luke's Gospel. Is he just a troublemaker or can this scene be believed because Jesus’ authority has been seen?
Term 1, Week 6-7, 2024 – Luke 4v14-30
Over the last two weeks we've been working through this tense scene in Jesus' hometown, where Jesus is able to move the locals from indifference, to violence, to silence. What could Jesus possibly say that would make us want to jump out of our chairs and kill him, only to then silently let him go on his way?
Term 1, Week 5 – Luke 4:1-13
Do you believe in the Devil? More importantly, what if he believes in you? What if he believes that he can easily lead you away from taking God at his word? This was the battle of beliefs that took place for Jesus, the Word of God, who took on these temptations for us in the wilderness and at the cross.
Term 1, Week 3, 2024 – Luke 3:23-38
Family likeness is an interesting thing, but sometimes we shape our expectations of people based on this likeness. These family ties can pull at us from different directions and perhaps create confusion. Jesus knows this tension all too well, and part of his ministry was to weave us into God's family as we grow in his likeness.
Term 1, Week 2, 2024 – Luke 3:21-22
One week in and we might already have begun the merry go round of comparing ourselves to others in the classroom or the playground. There is hope to break out of this negative feedback loop, but not until we've compared ourselves to Jesus, the one with whom God is well-pleased.
Term 1, Week 1, 2024 – Luke 3:1-20
Are you fearful about the year ahead? Fear can be an effective kickstarter, but it's terrible at sustaining change. How can we hope to move forward in 2024 and not be paralysed by fear? John the Baptist and Jesus the King team up in today's passage to bring us both fear and hope.
Term 4, Week 8, 2023 – Luke 1vv57-80
Christmas is all about the memories, often of presents we receive! But how often we forget that Christmas never really measures up to our expectations. We need to remember that the tender mercy of our God makes Christmas something we don't want to forget.
Term 4, Week 7, 2023 – Luke 1vv39-57
Behind the Scenes Christmas Dad is a mysterious figure who mows lawns, purchases batteries and assembles trampolines long into the night on Christmas Eve. But there is an even more mysterious figure whose glory is in his grunt behind the scenes at that first Christmas. Today, we meet Father God.
Term 4, Week 6, 2023 - Luke 1vv26-38
Long before Paul McCartney conceived a vision of his mother, Mary, speaking words of wisdom to him, there was another mother to be, named Mary, whose mind could not conceive that the wisdom of God would be conceived in her. Let's consider how her reasoned faith could come to conclude 'Let it be'.
Term 4, Week 5, 2023 - Luke 1vv5-25
We've all probably got a wacky uncle who overdoes it at Christmas and needs to take a nap by the afternoon. And we've all probably got a patient aunt who will exclaim that our uncle should've known better!
Today we meet Jesus' uncle and we'll see that he too should have known better when it comes to the promises of God at Christmas.
Term 4, Week 1, 2023 – Luke 1vv1-4
As we begin the countdown to Christmas, our world seems as hectic and unpredictable as ever. As we ask 'what now?' of our world, we find that we are not so different from those of Jesus' world, especially his relatives.
Term 3, Week 10, 2023 - Revelation 21-22
On the occasion of Year 12's Graduation–the day that they could not believe was finally here–we considered another day most people believe will never arrive. However, we will see that because of two other certain days that have come and gone, the arrival of Earth 2.0 will certainly unfold.
Term 3, Week 9, 2023 – Revelation 17-20
We look to our new leaders to follow up their words with actions, but as we come to the Devil's end in Revelation the action is outdone by words. The Word comes riding atop a battle horse and his weapon is the word of the Gospel.
Term 3, Week 8, 2023 - Revelation 12-16
How will you make your mark? It's a question we've all asked at times, but do we really get to make our mark or is it given to us?
This is the tension at play in Revelation 12-16 – what marks us out in this world and is it even a mark we make for ourselves?
And what exactly is the mark of the Beast...
Term 3, Week 6, 2023 - Revelation 8-11
Trumpets decree momentous moments. Much like God's word decreed the creation of all the elements of our universe. However, today's trumpets in Revelation seem to decree de-creation! How can this be and how can any sweet hope be found amidst the bitterness? Thankfully, as we shall see, the bittersweet symphony that is this life is composed by Jesus.
Term 3, Week 5, 2023 - Revelation 6-7
As of this week there are currently 114 uprisings, insurgencies, battles, wars raging across our globe. While we may not hear about all of them, they all have similar traits. It is the relentless nature of war that helps us realise that the figures of Revelation are not mapping out a timeline for the end of history, rather they diagnose the cause of our distress. No 4 figures have caused greater distress in interpretation than the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but it is all just horseplay compared to Jesus, the Lionhearted Lamb!
Term 3, Week 3 - Revelation 4-5
Mascots matter. Choose the wrong one and your team will be forever ridiculed. The forever mascot of the Christian faith is revealed in today's portion of Revelation and it would have certainly espoused ridicule from the empires of Earth. But for Christians looking into the loaded coded language of Revelation, the lionhearted lamb who was slain is the centre of power they were waiting for.
Term 3, Week 2, 2023 - Revelation 2-3
Churches exist in our world. That may not be your preference, but it is the reality. The reality for churches, however, is that their existence is not about their preference in this world.
The existence of the local church depends on the reality of Jesus, and the otherworldly descriptions of him that we learned of last week, which dwell amongst the church as it lives amidst the world.
We should hope to have an out of this world experience, then, when we enter a church.
That's the stern message that Jesus gives to the 7 churches of Revelation 2-3.
Term 3, Week 1, 2023 - Revelation 1
Term 2, Week 9, 2023 - Jonah 4:1-11
You might have thought we were done with Jonah. We've had a couple weeks off from Chapel and the story did seem to resolve itself insomuch that God's plan of restoring Nineveh through Jonah's preaching had occurred. But there's an outtake, an extended scene, a denouement that is no denouement and it all centres on a plant, a worm and a jerk...
Term 2, Week 6, 2023 - Jonah 3:1-10
Justice and mercy. We love them both but can never seem to get the balance right. But what if instead of dilution of the two, we saw them both done to the max? This tension plays out as Jonah finally goes to Nineveh...
Term 2, Week 5, 2023 - Jonah 1:17-2:10
Last week Jonah was prepared to die instead of obey God, but now God has rescued him. It's cause for praise of the Lord, but has Jonah learned his lesson? We stopped by the belly of the beast to see how Jonah was travelling.
Term 2, Week 4, 2023 - Jonah 1:4-16
Ever had a sulk under the doona? We all have probably tried to shut out the world for a moment longer under the covers, but Jonah was trying to shut out the Creator of the world, and it didn't go well...
Term 2, Week 3, 2023 - Jonah 1:1-3
Does God desire our good? How can we find our good without God? Where can you find a good place away from God? These are the questions that Jonah is confronted by as his quest begins.
The meme referred to in the talk can be viewed here.
Term 2, Week 2, 2023 - Jonah Series Intro
Term 1, Week 11, 2023 - John 3:14-18
I believe in the life everlasting! We have come to the end of the creed and at Easter we look to the life everlasting, but do we really want to live forever?
NB: Two lines from the Creed were covered in our Easter Chapel in different ways. 'the forgiveness of sins' was a Kids' Spot delivered by our Junior School Chaplain, Amanda Farrelly, and 'the resurrection of the body' was presented as a free verse, which you can view here: https://youtu.be/_R2EUip1APc
Term 1, Week 10, 2023 - Romans 12:1-5
Church is good for you...seriously. Church is good for your health, but that's not the main reason why I believe in the church. There are reasons greater than my health, greater than me at all, that make the church worth believing in.
Note: This recording sounds a little different as it was recorded in my office after our service was cancelled for logistical reasons.
Term 1, Week 9, 2023 - Galatians 5:16-26
I'll be there in spirit. What does that even mean? Where is your spirit and how can you tell? Where is God's Spirit and why should we believe in him? The shortest clause in the Apostles' Creed creates a long list of questions for us.
Term 1, Week 7, 2023 - Acts 17:24-31
Term 1, Week 6, 2023 - 1 Corinthians 15:51-58
Why did Jesus have to come back to life? That's a very different question to the how (Science) or the what (History) of the resurrection. It's a question we might not always ask, but it's best to ask it first before getting tangled in the how and what of Jesus' resurrection. Why would we want Jesus to come back to life?
Term 1, Week 5, 2023 - Romans 5:1-5
Jesus' death is situated in the past, according to the Apostles' Creed, way back in the days of Pontius Pilate. So what difference can it make for our lives in the present, even into eternity?
Term 1, Week 4, 2023 - Luke 1:26-37
What is the go with the virgin birth of Jesus? Why did it make the Apostles' Creed and not all the teachings and miracles of Jesus? Surely, they're more important and believable than a far-fetched tale about Jesus' birth?
Term 1, Week 3, 2023 - Romans 1:16-25
God is described as Father, Almighty and Creator in the first line of The Apostles' Creed. But do we really need an almighty, creating father, if we live in a universe that seems almighty enough and has done so forever without anyone parenting it? Maybe we should look again at our universe and at God?
Term 1, Week 2, 2023 - Mark 9:22-24
What do you believe in? Do you mean that you believe that something exists or that it is good and right when you say 'I believe in...'? We're often more willing to speak of what we don't believe in, which leads to conflict. Christianity is centred on a series of 'I believe in...' statements, which we call The Apostles' Creed, and this term in Chapel we will see that Christians believe that key figures exist, we believe in things they have done, believing that these things are good and that they lead us to a good existence. Can you believe that?
Hark the Herald Angels Rhyme
Here's the free verse I wrote for our 2022 Christmas Chapel. Thanks to Tim Keller for the insight into Luke 2:8-20.
Term 4, Week 8, 2022 - Matthew 7:24-29
Well, we are finally here at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, but now that we've reached the summit we can look over the horizon and see that we've only just begun. There is now building work to be done!
Term 4, Week 7, 2022 - Matthew 7:15-23
Last week Jesus said the narrow gate was hard to find and this week he steers us away from the wrong gates to enter. Using the Food and Toy Drive as a vehicle for travelling the narrow path let's see how to finally enter the kingdom of heaven.
Term 4, Week 6, 2022 - Matthew 7:13-14
We like to think that whatever path we take in life, that eventually we will end up in the same place; some sort of eternal hope over the horizon. But is that how Jesus sees things?
Term 4, Week 5, 2022 - Matthew 7:7-12
This week as we continue in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount we launch our annual partnership with Anglicare's Food and Toy Drive
Term 4, Week 2, 2022 - Matthew 7:6
Pigs, pearls and dogs? What is this passage all about and why does an old banknote and a dropped pie help us understand why this verse does NOT apply to TRAC?
Term 4, Week 1, 2022 - Matthew 7:1-5
Judgment is prohibited by Jesus, but this talk was delivered on the occasion of the outcome of a long process of judgment -- student leadership elections! Have we done the wrong thing?
Term 3, Week 10, 2022 - Matthew 6:25-34
Term 3, Week 8, 2022 - Matthew 6:19-24
What do you treasure? Where do you treasure? Who do you treasure? These are the 3 simple questions that Jesus asks and he gives seemingly simple answers, but there's always a deeper meaning. The question is whether we're willing to answer these simple questions.
Term 3, Week 7, 2022 - Matthew 6:16-18
Fasting might seem like a strange thing to talk about in this day and age, but amongst our College community, fasting is alive and well. Today Jesus outlines how to live and be well in his kingdom if you fast.
Term 3, Week 6, 2022 - Matthew 6:12-15
What does the Tour de France have to do with forgiving others their debts against us? Find out in this live action K-12 Chapel, with special guest, Mr Kingsland assisting.
Term 3, Week 3, 2022 - Matthew 6:11
Bread is easy to come by. There are over 50 bakeries in Wagga alone. So why does Jesus want us to pray each day for something that is so easily accessible?
Term 3, Week 2, 2022 - Matthew 6vv9-10
Goldfish can't see water, but it is all around them. That's how it is with the Kingdom of Heaven, it's all around us, but we don't see it. Why is that? As we park ourselves in the Lord's Prayer for a few weeks we begin first with Jesus' call to our Father in heaven and his kingdom come.
Term 2, Week 8, 2022 - Matthew 6:5-8
Have you ever prayed? If praying can be defined as longing, hoping or wishing for something, then we've all prayed. We've all felt disappointed when it didn't work out too. Is that all there is to prayer? There is some truth to prayer being about what we're longing for before we've even prayed for it, but how can that be the case, and how can we deal with the disappointment of unanswered prayer?
Term 2, Week 7, 2022 - Matthew 6:1-4
Why do you donate to causes? Is it because there's a need or is it about your own needs? Needing to be noticed, affirmed? It's so hard to know our own hearts, but what if there was someone who does know our hearts better than us? Jesus now turns to the hearts of those who would hope to enter his Upside Down Kingdom.