St John's Lutheran, Tea Tree Gully South Australia

12/06/2026

We’re all familiar with anger. That intense emotion can well up inside us for a host of reasons. When acting impulsively on our anger, we can end up hurting others - and/or ourselves. The word "road rage" has been coined to describe impulsive anger that vents itself in this way. That’s “unrighteous anger.”

Yet anger can be a right and proper response to a situation that’s totally wrong. For example: when a child is being bashed, or vulnerable people are exploited, our sense of justice can provoke anger. “Righteous anger” is a fitting response to injustice. It moves us to DO something to stop the cause of injustice – and to restore people who’ve been injured.

How we act on our anger can be constructive or destructive. That's why Paul writes: don’t sin by letting anger control you. (Eph 4:26 NLT) He acknowledges anger as a normal human emotion. Yet instead of reacting to angry impulses we are to respond to this emotion in healthy ways that honour God.

As the Holy Spirit teaches us how to identify and express our anger in healthy ways, we will find freedom from its destructive power. Lord, have mercy on us and help us!

- Pastor Rolly

Please join us this Sunday 14th June at 8:30am and 10am, for the next message in our series about Freedom: "3. Freedom from anger (reaction or response?)", based on John 2:13-22, Ephesians 4:26-27, and James 1:19-21.

09/06/2026

2. Freedom from Greed - (never satisfied, always wanting more) | Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 - The love of money is insatiable and meaningless’; 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19 - The love of money can damage us; Yet we can bless others by sharing; Luke 12:13-21 - Jesus tells the story of the rich fool (Series: Freedom from the 7 Deadly Sins) | Sunday 7th June 2026 | Message by Pastor Rolly Stahl

A written version of the message is available on WordPress: https://ttglutheran.wordpress.com/2026/06/09/2-freedom-from-greed-never-satisfied-always-wanting-more/

An audio version of this message is available on St John's Lutheran Church Tea Tree Gully YouTube: https://youtu.be/TwcB4iqP2RU

St John’s Lutheran Church Tea Tree Gully https://ttglutheran.org.au...

05/06/2026

Greed is a driving force in our market driven economy and consumer culture. A few questions come to mind:

• In our affluent Western culture, why do we compare ourselves with billionaires – instead of most people on this planet who have much less than we do?
• How does advertising lure us into materialism – and enslave us to greed?
• Have we lost the ability to distinguish between our needs and our wants?
• At what point do we say to ourselves: “I have enough!”
• What are we doing with God’s resources to bring everything together under the authority of Christ. (Ephesians 1:10 NLT)
• How interested are we in supporting people around the world who lack basic needs?

The root of greed is covetous desire - that's never satisfied, but always wanting more! Paul tells Timothy and us, True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. (1 Timothy 1:6 NLT) How might the Holy Spirit bring us to that place? Come along this Sunday as we seek God’s mercy and wisdom to find freedom from greed.

-Pastor Rolly

Please join us this Sunday 8:30am and 10am, both services with Holy Communion.

02/06/2026

1. Freedom from Sloth – the tragedy of laziness | Proverbs 26:13-16 – The patterns of a lazy person; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15.- Paul warns Christians against idleness; John 6: 24-29 Jesus is asked about what sort of work God requires (Series: Freedom from the 7 Deadly Sins) | Sunday 31st May 2026 | Message by Pastor Rolly Stahl

A written version of the message is available on WordPress: https://ttglutheran.wordpress.com/2026/06/02/1-freedom-from-sloth-the-tragedy-of-laziness/

An audio version of this message is available on St John's Lutheran Church Tea Tree Gully YouTube: https://youtu.be/h3xtdPV2lHI

1. Freedom from Sloth – the tragedy of laziness | Proverbs 26:13-16...

29/05/2026

Have you ever tried to shake a nasty habit, break free from an addiction, or stop a dysfunctional pattern of behaviour? How has that been working out for you?

How do we stop unhealthy habits that fill our hearts with shame, alienate us from God, diminish our character, and ruin our relationships? How can we do life with Jesus and live well with others? People have pondered this for thousands of years.

In the Early Church, they came up with a list of dysfunctional desires and habits that trash human lives. It's called "the seven deadly sins": sloth, greed, anger, pride, envy, gluttony, and lust. We'll be looking at each of these in our upcoming worship series: Freedom from the 7 deadly sins. You’ll be amazed at how "modern" they are.

Of course, it’s good to avoid these! But it ain't easy. As the apostle Paul writes:
I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway… Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 7:19,21, 24-25 NLT)

Freedom from slavery to our selfish desires and actions is only possible through our union with Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. In this series, I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will bring you and me into greater freedom in Christ.

This week is part 1: Freedom from sloth.

In the human domain, a "sloth" is a person who's lazy - or “good for nothing” - by choice. Human “sloths” will make every excuse in the world to avoid work or exertion of any kind. Instead of taking responsibility for themselves, the sloth keeps using others. Instead of building up the community, the sloth drains the community.

But the way of Jesus is to grow by serving and investing into the lives of others.

I invite you to read and reflect on these ancient Proverbs about laziness: 6:6-11, 10:4, 12:24, 13:4, 15:19, 18:9, 20:4, 21:25, 24:30-32, 26:13-16.

- Pastor Rolly

Please join us for worship this Sunday, 8:30am and 10am, both services with Holy Communion. Let's find freedom from sloth. Don't sleep in!

28/05/2026

Tomorrow night - join us for an evening of fun and laughter. If you don't normally play cards, give this game a try. It's quick to pick up, and even if you've played Whist before, the 'CRAZY' part keeps everyone guessing! Bring some supper to share and we will see you at 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start.

26/05/2026

7. The Holy Spirit creates HOPE in our hearts | Acts 2:1-6, 14-24, 36-41; – Through the good news of Jesus, the Holy Spirit opens hearts to receive Jesus; Romans 5:1-5 – The Holy Spirit opens our hearts to Jesus and gives us hope in sharing in God’s glory. (Series: HOPE that lasts forever!) | Sunday 24th May 2026 | Message by Pastor Rolly Stahl

A written version of the message is available on WordPress: https://ttglutheran.wordpress.com/2026/05/26/the-holy-spirit-creates-hope-in-our-hearts/

An audio version of this message is available on St John's Lutheran Church Tea Tree Gully YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZpZoMmktmcM

The Holy Spirit creates HOPE in our hearts | Acts 2:1-6, 14-24, 36-...

22/05/2026

Finish off these two commonly quoted sayings:

1. “Where there’s hope there’s .…”

2. “Where there’s life there’s …..”

Life and hope are deeply connected.

Life and hope are central to the work of the Holy Spirit. The first words of the Bible reveal the Spirit of God involved in creation: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 NLT) The Spirit of God is active throughout the Old Testament.

At just the right time, Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
His ministry was empowered by the Holy Spirit.
And Jesus promised that all his followers would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This Sunday is Pentecost – when we celebrate the Holy Spirit as our source of hope and life in Jesus. The Holy Spirit creates HOPE in our hearts through the love and good news of Jesus. The Holy Spirit also has a HOPE mission to complete in us. Each Sunday is an opportunity for us to be infused with HOPE as we celebrate life together with Jesus.

- Pastor Rolly

Please join us for Spirit-filled worship at 8:30am and 10am this Sunday, both services with Holy Communion.

21/05/2026

Pentecost Sunday this week! Enjoy a Bible verse in the many languages spoken by our members.

19/05/2026

6. HOPE of a Friend in high places | Acts 1:1-11 – Jesus promises the gift of the Holy Spirit and is taken up to heaven; Hebrews 4:14-16 – As our great High Priest, Jesus understands our struggles and wants to help us (Series: HOPE that lasts forever!) | Sunday 17th May 2026 | Message by Pastor Rolly Stahl

A written version of the message is available on WordPress: https://ttglutheran.wordpress.com/2026/05/19/6-hope-of-a-friend-in-high-places/

An audio version of this message is available on St John's Lutheran Church Tea Tree Gully YouTube: https://youtu.be/u52dCiUQXQU

St John’s Lutheran Church Tea Tree Gully https://ttglutheran.org.au/6. HOPE of a Friend in high places | Acts 1:1-11 – Jesus promises the gift of the Holy Sp...