http://www.oakleighbaptist.org/

Oakleigh Baptist Church, 183/185 Warrigal Road, Melbourne (2026)

10/06/2026

God’s People on Mission
Zacchaeus: Hunger after God

I’d have been around 15 years old when I was with our youth camp at a YFC weekend in Belgrave Heights. I don’t know who the speaker was, and I have no idea the topic, but when the altar call was given, I flew out of my seat and almost ran. I’d been sitting near the back of the room, and I was one of the first to the front.

God had been working in me, and I wanted to respond, I needed to respond – so I ran, and fortunately it was in the right direction.

I wonder if that’s something like how Zacchaeus felt. What was it that drove him to climb a tree? Was it because he was so short? Or maybe it was because it was harder for people to spit on him, because that is what they would do to a tax-collector in public.

Whatever motivated him then, it was the response when Jesus came to his home that is most remarkable. It is almost reckless – certainly not what you’d expect from a man like him. A man in the profession for the money, not the friends.
8Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
Maybe, like I was at 15, Zacchaeus was hungry! Hungry for God and for more of Him in His life. And it brought a response, it compelled a response. And that response enabled the Lord to do His wonderful work.
9And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:8 – 10)
At 15, I’d already believed and been baptized, that was two years earlier, and a special time in my life. But I’m equally certain that the moment in that hall was pivotal to the work God was doing in my life, and one of the steps along the road He’d lead me in serving Him, and maybe more importantly, in discovering so much more of who He is.

It has me thinking, what do we do to cultivate and feed this kind of hunger all throughout our life of faith, walking in The Spirit. Let me make a couple of suggestions.

Firstly, we must continually feed ourselves on God, His Word and His presence. It is quality time that I’m really speaking of. Not fitting in little bits and pieces whenever we can, and believe me, I’m well acquainted with that kind of devotional life. It might not be a long time, but it is a time when God gets all of me that will allow Him to speak, or more importantly, for me to hear Him speak.

Secondly, feeding that hunger comes from placing ourselves where God is at work. Hopefully we find Him at work in our times of gathered worship, prayer meetings and Bible Studies. But my experience has been that there is something else as well, just as important or maybe more so, it is being on mission.

Look at the disciples and how they returned from pairing up and going into the villages:
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” (Luke 10:17)
Being engaged in mission is an almost certain way to cultivate a hunger for God, growing in Him, and desiring more of Him in our lives. Mission is experienced locally, and also in far places. Both are important and possible. Stay informed about what God is doing anywhere that faithful followers are on mission. Support people, write to them, and pray for them constantly. And whenever you can, take the opportunity to go. I don’t know anything that feeds our hunger for the things of God, more than seeing God at work and changing people’s lives. And witnessing and being a part of that – I’d run in that direction every time!

03/06/2026

God’s People on Mission
Jonathan: Life in the background

Leadership can be difficult, and it can be very lonely – but it doesn’t have to be. For a young man like David, to be taken from the hills around Bethlehem where he’d been tending his father’s sheep, to the household of King Saul in Gibeah. To know the mantle of kingship rested on his shoulders, and the favour and the promises of the Lord over his life and his future, and the expectations of the people who sang his praises after he’d killed Goliath. Despite the adventure all around and ahead of him, it would have been a lonely journey.

It is undoubtedly part of the reason why the bond he shared with Jonathan was so strong and so meaningful to him. This is all the more remarkable given the knowledge that Saul expected the throne to be passed on to his son, certainly not to the shepherd David. When Saul’s jealousy of David was escalating, Jonathan’s friendship and support was deepening. We read:
Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armour, and even his sword and his bow and his belt (1 Samuel 18:1 – 4)
Jonathan put David’s interests ahead of his own – he loved him, supported him, he had his back, and he equipped him with all he needed to be successful and to take his place in God’s plan.

In life and ministry today, we rarely have people coming for our life like David was facing, but the loneliness and other challenges are real none the less. And so it is a reminder for us to seek out, to value, and to give thanks for the Jonathan’s that God knits to our soul. Or maybe it is that we ourselves might consider who are the leaders around us that we can throw our unwavering support behind.

Throughout the Bible we see pictures of the loneliness of leadership, but we equally see the wonders that are achieved with the support of those who faithfully stand and uphold their leader.

• Barnabas went out of his way to go after Paul, bringing him to the leaders of the church, travelling with him on Mission, and even passing the baton as leader to become the follower along that journey.

• When Moses’ arms grew weary on the mountain as Joshua and the Israelites were battling the armies of the Amorites, it was Aaron and Hur that held up his arms that ensured the victory was won before the day was completed.

• Jesus knew the value of strength in numbers as he sent the disciples off in pairs to minister in the surrounding towns.

I know that there are times when circumstances bring us to a place where are forced, and equipped in the Lord, to minister and Witness to the Grace and Lordship of Jesus when we are on our own – but the Biblical principle is well made, that unless the Lord calls otherwise, we should seek to go with company, and in unity.

This is especially true when witnessing on the streets, but it is also true in Children’s Ministry, Youth, Bible Study and Pastoral Care situations. If you are needing to go alone, pray that God will raise up someone alongside you. If you see someone going alone, offer go with them if you can, if you can’t, then pray with them before they minister and cover them in prayer while they are there.

I believe that God has a very special place and reward for the Jonathan’s and Barnabas’ and Aaron’s and Hur’s. People who don’t want or need to take the place of prominence, or have willingly humbled themselves in order that others can flourish in ministry for the sake of the Lord.

Lonely leaders are more vulnerable, susceptible to discouragement, burnout, falling into sin, becoming tired and bitter, and while it doesn’t excuse their sin when that happens, maybe it is us who share that blame because we shouldn’t have ever left them isolated.

Keep your eye out for those who are lonely in leadership or service of the Lord – pray for them at least, let them know you see them, and support them however you can. It might help avoid disaster, or even be part of a great victory – and it won’t go unnoticed by our Lord.

27/05/2026

God’s People on Mission
Mary and Martha: Devotion

Most of us have heard of, if not even read the book by Gary Chapman, the Five Love Languages: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Physical Touch, Acts of Service and Receiving Gifts. Ways we naturally, even most effectively express and receive love. Maybe you’ve even determined what your own love languages are, and if so, then hopefully also those dear to you.

We’re all different – none better than the other, and so understanding how we are wired helps us know what fills our tank, and, as we communicate, helps those we love to help us to keep that tank topped up. I think that’s how it goes, I read the book a long time ago.

I was reflecting on this, and realized that Jesus had something to say on the subject too. It unfolds as two of His beloved friends express their love for Him. We read of that event in Luke 10:
38Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40But Martha was distracted with much serving (Luke 10:38 – 40)
It seems that Martha’s devotion was expressed through acts of service, Mary on the other hand appears to gravitate towards quality time. What’s interesting is that Jesus seems to indicate that one might be better than the other – He certainly validated Mary’s love in sitting and hearing Him speak.

I’m certain that He warmly received the devotion of both women, and that He loved them equally. But it is this idea of devotion that I’d like us to consider today as we seek to be people on Mission, ready for God to move in and through us. With that in mind: I’d like to ask you how you express your love and devotion towards Jesus? Maybe these 5 love-languages could be a reference to help you answer that question.

For example: We are all challenged when Jesus highlights our need to express our love for Him through acts of service directed towards others. We hear, and are confronted by His words:
inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. (Matthew 25:45)
The context of this passage is critical, for sure, but it also shows the heart of our Lord, and what should move us to service.

Yet equally we are drawn to Mary’s actions, to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His Words, along with Jesus’ response to this:

But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, (Luke 10:42)

Along with this, we are also drawn to another act of devotion, that occurred when Jesus dined at the home of Simon who was a Pharisee. On that occasion, a woman (described as a sinful woman) interrupted their gathering and extravagantly expressed her love and devotion upon Jesus through pouring fragrant oil over Him and washing His feet with her tears, and wiping them with her hair. It doesn’t surprise us when Simon was offended and critical when Jesus received her devotion, but Jesus responded:
“Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” (Luke 7:44 – 47)
It is easy for us to forget our need to express our devotion to our Lord. But it is important that we reflect and act on this. Maybe you could take time today to do that. It might well be through some of those ‘languages’ that Chapman has so clearly articulated for us – and it might be received by someone we know, or even a stranger – but let it be extravagant, knowing that as we love others, just like when we give Him quality time, we are directing our devotion towards the Lord.

22/05/2026

If you missed the Foundation’s Course last night “The Bible: What it is and why we can trust it?” I highly recommend you read the full study HERE: https://www.oakleighbaptist.org/foundations A video will be available shortly. I’m also excited to begin our new series this Sunday through the book of Genesis. The foundation of everything that relates to our life, faith and hope has it’s Origin here and I’m sure we’ll all be blessed as we study through it together.

13/05/2026

God’s People on Mission
Esther & Mordecai:

The saying goes: ‘behind every great man, there’s a great woman.’ (I know you are probably wondering what kind of hole I’m going to dig for myself). Well, it turns out that the opposite can also be true.

The story of Esther in the Bible is a great tale of courage, sacrifice and salvation. God is truly glorified in the special way He chose to raise up Esther to save the Israelites from another of the many plots of the enemy to wipe out the Jewish people.

Mordecai is mostly known for uncovering the plot to assassinate King Ahasuerus, and then of course his encouragement of Esther to stand up for the Jewish people, and his famous quote:
Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)
What is less well known, but possibly more important was the part he played at Esther’s plea. She said:
16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him. (Esther 4:16 – 17)
It is easy to think that it was the courage of Esther that God used to save the people, but no less was the importance of Esther and Mordecai leading the people to intercede on Esther’s behalf to bring about the favour of the King.

Intercessory prayer has always been at the heart of God’s plan to bring salvation. Paul requests the prayers of his beloved Ephesian brothers:
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:18 – 20)
When it comes to intercession, we often think of Paul’s request to Timothy:
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (1 Timothy 2:1 – 2)
When thinking of this verse, our focus is often on the ability to lead a ‘quiet and peaceable life,’ that’s what we are praying for, and we are right to make that request. But that isn’t the ultimate goal here. The following two verses demonstrate that Paul is thinking of the lost when making this plea:
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3 – 4)
The value of intercessory prayer seems to be not what it ought to be in our churches today. Certainly the devil understands the power here in the way he keeps people from praying, alone, and together.

But we know better, so as we continue to be active in reaching out to those who don’t yet know Christ as Saviour, let’s remember where the battle is won. It might have been prayer, not Mordecai’s memorable statement that kept Esther alive, certainly our prayers have the ability to bring others to Christ.

You and I are called ‘for such a time as this!’ And our calling begins by interceding for the lost.

06/05/2026

God’s People on Mission
Enoch: Walk with God

Enoch has to be one of the most remarkable and mysterious men in the Bible. He lived in the time between Adam and Noah, he was the sixth decedent from Adam. That seems a fair way down until we realise that Adam was still alive and lived for many years at the same time in which Enoch was alive. We can only wonder at the relationship they might have had, the stories that would have been told.

What we do know, is that Enoch stood out among those who were alive at the time. He still stands out among those who have walked on this planet. But there is very little detail written about his life.

He is attributed as delivering the oldest prophesy given through a man in the Bible – a prophesy about the return of the Lord to judge the wicked on the earth. He also delivered an even more mysterious prophesy, but you’ll have to ask me about that one sometime.

But the most intriguing fact about Enoch is that he is one of only two men (so far) who have ever lived but have never seen death. We read in Genesis:
And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. (Genesis 5:24)
And also in Hebrews:
By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5)
That would be a testimony we’d all be proud of – that ‘we pleased God.’ Surely Enoch is a man we should emulate if we want to be people who glorify God and are ready for God to work through us. Yet if we want to follow in his footsteps, all we have to go on is that ‘he walked with God.’ Great instruction – but light in detail. Fortunately, there are other passages that help us out here.

Noah is also a man who ‘walked faithfully with God,’ and the reference here is that he sought to live in obedience and keep himself from the corruption that the vast majority of the world had fallen into at the time.

Paul instructs us in a similar way. He writes:

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him. (Colossians 2:6)
This verse encourages believers to keep walking and growing in Christ after receiving Him as Lord and Saviour. It teaches us that walking with God is not a one-time decision but a dedicated process of daily faith. And alongside passages like 2 Corinthians 5:17, teaches us that our New life in Chris is different to how we used to live when we were outside of Christ.

The Bible is filled with examples and blessings that come to those who walk with God, but what stands out to me as I read through so many of them in preparation for this, is that so often ‘walking with God’ is seen in contrast to following the ways of the world. Being someone who walks with God, most certainly helps position us in a place where God might work for His glory and purpose – and that means we must very deliberately turn our backs on the ways of the world, and walk with God and in the light of His Word.

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. (Psalm 1:1 – 2)

29/04/2026

God’s People on Mission
Samuel: Faithful mouthpiece of God

Throughout the year I’ve been looking into different men and women of the Bible, particularly looking for what it was that had them ready for God to work in their lives, or sometimes what was the obstacle that kept them from experience the joy of God in them. There is a man, actually only a young boy, who stands out in stark contrast during the generation in which he was born into.
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25)
These are the last words of the book of Judges, and while Ruth is the next book in the Bible, chronologically the next event in the work of God begins with the birth and dedication to the Lord of one of the great prophets of the Old Testament, Samuel. We pick up the story in 1 Samuel 3:
8And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.”
Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”
We can forgive Samuel for not recognizing the voice of the Lord when he spoke. What is immediately evident, despite his innocence which itself is a wonderful characteristic, is his obedience, and soon we learn of his integrity and honesty.

Samuel learned early how difficult it was to be the mouthpiece of God. It cannot have been easy to deliver the Lord’s message to Eli, a message that spoke of judgment on his master and on his family. But that wasn’t the only time that Samuel would face such a difficulty.

Later, when Saul, a man Samuel loved as a son, had become King but had disobeyed the Lord, again Samuel was called on to deliver a message of judgment, the kingdom would be removed from Saul’s house and passed on to a man after God’s own heart. How tempting it must have been for Samuel to speak words of favour to the king, after all this man was becoming arrogant in his power; or even to placate him, helping Saul to ‘keep face’ in front of his leaders as Saul was so concerned about.

But Samuel humbly served as the mouthpiece of the Lord, and it is a powerful example of the kind of person we must be if we wish to serve the Lord faithfully too.

Speaking truth, especially when it is about sin and judgment, is not easy, particularly because, like Samuel, we too live in a world where ‘everyone does what is right in their own eyes.’ But it is the loving thing to do when it is delivered with humility and love.

Beloved, set your mind to be the mouthpiece of God whenever the Lord calls upon you to do so. I suspect you won’t make many friends, but the friends you have, and the ones you make will love you all the more. But more importantly, you’ll be a devoted servant of the Lord, and his faithful mouthpiece, who maybe helps to guide someone away from disaster, and there is no greater privilege.

22/04/2026

God’s People on Mission
RUTH: GO WHERE GOD IS AT WORK

Ruth has to be one of the most precious and loved stories in the Bible. There is so much there for us to find hope and encouragement, challenge and learning, not least of which is that Ruth was a young Moabite woman (descendants of Lot) who married an Israelite. What is significant here is that God had pronounced a curse on the Moabites (Deuteronomy 23:3), because of their treatment of Israel while they were in the wilderness.

When Ruth’s husband died, and Naomi, having lost her own husband and her two sons, returned to Israel, Ruth chose to follow her. Even when Naomi urged both her daughters-in-law to return and marry in their own country, Ruth chose to remain, making a promise that is now cherished by many:

“Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.” (Ruth 1:15 – 16)

We are not told what it is that caused Ruth to leave her country and follow Naomi, but in doing so she takes a wonderful place in the story of God. Not only redemption, despite the curse on her people, she becomes the Great Grandmother of David, who becomes King of Israel, and in the line of Messiah Jesus.

It would seem that Ruth saw something in Naomi, in her people, and most especially in her God, that caused her to attach herself to Naomi and refuse to let go.

When I was a teenager, I attached myself to someone, and that move changed my life. Ken invited me to come with their group when they taught CRE (Christian Religious Education in primary school). He took me under his wing and helped changed the course of my life.

I didn’t have to say yes, there were plenty of other activities vying for my attention and time. But I saw something there, I guess I saw that God was at work, and so I hung on.

It was an important lesson, one that has repeated itself in smaller events throughout my life and ministry. And so my encouragement to you today is, that there are opportunities in many places, and while we don’t want to become divided by getting involved in everything, that isn’t healthy and nor is it possible. But if we are looking for God to work in our lives – seeking the mission that He is calling us to devote ourselves to – then look for places, or maybe more importantly, to people where God is at work – and attach ourselves to them. Commit to that – there will be distractions, there were for me, and I’m sure the road wasn’t always easy for Ruth – but she stayed the course and received the blessing that God had for her.

21/04/2026

Come by this Thursday for our FIRST Foundations Bible Study and get to know the basics of the Bible and ignite your faith in Jesus ✝️
Send us a DM to let us know you’re coming!

15/04/2026

God’s People on Mission
ABRAHAM: OBEY THE LORD ALWAYS

Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:2)
I’d read that passage many times before I became a Dad. It was tough enough to begin with, but holding my own child took it to a whole new level.

There is so much in this that we can dig into, but the question I want to address is: What did it take for Abraham to come to a place where he would have faith enough to trust God when this command came to him.

We may not realise it but there are opportunities every day for us to show our obedience to God, many of these opportunities we let slip through out fingers. I doubt any of us have been faced with a command of the Lord as difficult as Abraham faced. So how do we ready ourselves to obey The Lord. It isn’t a subject often talked about – but it is more important than many realise. Saul discovered this truth the hard way, and God’s Word of rebuke and condemnation was brought to him:
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:22 – 23)
I guess you’d call that passage ‘The Stick’ – demonstrating the consequences of disobedience. But let me share ‘The Carrot’ – the wonderful blessing that obedience brings:
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (1 John 5:3 – 4)
We express our love for God through obedience, and within this passage we discover the key – the same key that Abraham employed, enabling him to obey the Lord’s command – an obedience that brought unspeakable blessing. What is that key? Our faith. In Hebrews we read:
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. (Hebrews 11:17 – 19)
Years of following the Lord, knowing Him, walking with Him in all circumstances. After many failures, restorations, even being drawn into God’s confidence, Abraham had come to know that God could be trusted all the time – even when he didn’t understand it. Abraham could obey God in a situation that made no sense to him, because Abraham knew that God could be trusted to keep his promises, and God had promised that Isaac would be the father of a great multitude of descendants.

I expect our opportunities to obey the Lord today won’t be as difficult as what Abraham faced, but it will be no less important. Keep your heart open to the opportunities to bless and love the Lord through obedience to His gentle commands today, and walk closely with Him, through prayer, loving His Word, fellowship with the saints, and all things that strengthen your faith and enable you to glorify Him at all times when the opportunity arises.

Oakleigh Baptist Church

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