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Gospel Conversations  

This week’s Gospel Conversation: Lent 4, Luke 15: 1-3, 11b - 32

This week's gospel is surely one of the most beloved passages in Scripture: the story of the "prodigal son" as it is best known. When we are given a story like this which we have known since Sunday school and have heard myriad sermons on, is there anything to discover? Fortunately yes! Join Lisa Emerson, Gary Griffith-Smith and Andrew Doubleday as they and Michael Godfrey explore this beautiful story together.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE CONVERSATION

Last week’s Gospel Conversation: Lent 3, Luke 13: 1-9

This is a slightly odd little gospel section, plucked out of the larger narrative and given to us to consider as we continue our Lenten journey. Why do tragedies happen? What can we learn from a parable about the one-year's-grace given to a fig tree? John Goodwin, Mark Wilson and Anne van Gend join Michael to see what we can make of it! (Note that the poems quoted or referred to are David Whyte's "Waiting to go on" and Mary Oliver's "The Summer Day".)

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE CONVERSATION.

See all the videos in this Gospel Conversation series on our website

For 2024 Conversations, click here.

Scattered People of the Good Shepherd: 23 March 2025

Anne van Gend reflects on Isaiah 55: 1-9: Sometimes “freedom” when we are others have been captive, can be quite frightening. We get used to the predictability of what we know, and we hold back from God’s gifts of Grace. What are those things that are keeping us (and our world) captive today?

How Eucharist Calls us to Radical Discipleship

What if following Jesus meant having your life wrecked? Not ruined, but transformed—taken, blessed, broken, and given away for the sake of the Kingdom. This was the stirring challenge from Bishop Justin Duckworth as he spoke at Diocese of Wellington Ministry Leaders’ Family Camp, calling the Church to embrace the radical invitation of Jesus.

Doing Lent Locally

We have a range of Lent resources further down this page, but also have recordings that will be available with the Ven. Anne van Gend (our Bishop Elect) taking a small group through Lenten Studies based on her book "Restoring the Story: the good news of atonement" . The Lenten Studies were created in co-operation with Wellington Diocese, but copies of the study are now sold out so if you still need more, contact Anne who can send you a printable version.

These recordings may be useful:

a. if you are leading a group, when you may want to watch the recording beforehand to get some extra background

b. if you have finished a session and feel a little overwhelmed! You may want to watch it both for the extra background and to think about it again

c. if you want to play this recording during your group meeting rather than read the notes aloud.

If you're part of a group meeting, it's best NOT to watch these ahead of time! It'll spoil the opening discussions! If you're not part of a group, it's an opportunity to "join in" with others across the diocese and use this as part of your Lenten journey.

Find this and future recordings HERE.

Worth a Listen: NT (Tom) Wright is one of the world’s leading New Testament scholars and the author of many academic and lay-level books on theology and the Christian life. This fortnightly podcast connects you to NT (Tom) Wright’s thoughts and theology by allowing you to ask questions. Listen on Apple Podcasts here or in your browser here.

RESOURCES FOR LENTEN STUDIES

Lent is a time when traditionally we make an extra effort to meet weekly in a small group and dig deeper into some aspect of God, faith or the Bible. Here are some studies which you may like to take up this coming Lent.

Lent Resources from the Disability Ministry Educators

Posters and brief reflections to share in your faith communities - how can we be part of enabling Good Lives this Lent?

Vincent van Gogh and the Beauty of Lent

"Saltproject" has a wonderful range of Lenten and Advent studies for those who want to explore more of God's beauty and challenge through art, poetry, nature or writers like C.S. Lewis. For year C, which we're in in 2025, they recommend the series on van Gogh. Here's what they say:

"Vincent van Gogh devoted his life to light.

The light of creation, the light of painting, the light of God’s grace – and the light in humanity, mind, body, and soul. The son of a Christian pastor, Vincent fervently set out to be a preacher and missionary himself, but his ministry eventually took the form of nearly 900 paintings shimmering with dynamism, with passion, and above all, with light.

The word “Lent” refers to the “lengthening” light, the growing days that, in time, will coax the sunflowers to open, the wheat fields to rise again, and the irises to bloom. What better companion on this forty-day pilgrimage, then, than Vincent van Gogh, this apostle of light?

In this Lenten devotional, the words of Scripture and the paintings and letters of Vincent van Gogh will be our guides. Each week, biblical texts and Van Gogh’s work throw light on each other, pointing toward simple, powerful practices you can try yourself, with your family or friends, or with your congregation."

Find out more HERE

The Hardest Part

Some of you may have downloaded and enjoyed the beautiful set of Advent devotions created by Kate Bowler (author of the popular podcast "Everything Happens"). She has now written a Lenten study which can be used for individuals, groups, or as a sermon help. Once again, it is thoughtful, compassionate, and honest. Here's what she says:

These Lent guides are designed to be a companion through this season as you pause, reflect, and find the courage to stay with the hard part, trusting that the good part is still coming.

Life is this strange, tender mix, isn’t it? Joy and sorrow, love and loss, heartbreak and hope, all tangled together. This year, we invite you to embrace Lent as it is—raw, honest, and tender. This is the season that asks us to stop pretending we’re holding it all together. It’s a time to pause, sit with what’s fragile and unfinished, and let God meet us in the hardest parts of our lives.

Access this free resource online HERE.

This is Good News

Produced in the Diocese of Waiapu

The word “gospel” means “good news.”  That’s the story we’re invited to live inside and to be carriers of: the good news of God, of Jesus, the good news of the Church.  We are gospel people, we’re the people of good news!  We’re called to share these messages with our whānau, friends and neighbours, and with the world all around us – but first we need to see it for ourselves. 

 

Six studies, for the six weeks of Lent, each engaging with some aspect of the good news story that we, as Christians, are part of.  Woven into this are some themes that are part of the vision for the Diocese of Waiapu – flourishing, discipleship, connection, vocation, koru ministry, and whakapapa.

Access the study HERE

These and other resources can be found on the DEEPENING FAITH page of our website, which is updated as our seasons change.

Faith Communities Videos

See our website for the latest videos

Opportunities in 2025

Look to the Deepening Faithpage for updates on conferences and courses available in 2025 - for example, a Trauma-informed ministry course from Knox College, and the HOPE 2025 Conference in March!

HOPE 2025

https://www.laidlaw.ac.nz/events/hope-conference/

In a world where the toxicity of the contemporary Western church is regularly, and often justifiably highlighted, explore with us how contemporary churches can and should be places of transformation and healing.

Join us for Hope 2025 26-28 March at Laidlaw College - an academic conference where theologians and practitioners can gather together to explore how contemporary churches are and can become flourishing communities. We will look at how God’s specific design for churches is that they are places of hope and restoration; both as overarching communities, and for individuals within these communities. The conference will undertake a multidisciplinary and practical exploration of how, guided by the Spirit of God, we can positively create and sustain flourishing communities that heal and empower individuals within them. 

Gathering the voices of practitioners, biblical scholars, systematic theologians, practical theologians, counsellors, and sociologists, the conference will discuss, explore, and draw some conclusions about how contemporary Western churches are and can become flourishing communities, which provide health and healing both to the overarching church body and to the individual bodies of which they are comprised.

Resources from Elsewhere

Te Tiriti?

As the hikoi has now taken place, what does that, or the Treaty Bill itself, mean for us down in the south of the country? What does it mean for Pākeha as well as Māori? Sometimes we do not realise ourselves why we and others should have such an emotional response to issues like this, but historian Dr Alistair Reese can perhaps help us understand that a little better. Check out his article HERE on Pākeha identity and the Treaty.

Pray the News with Anglican Missions

In a world filled with constant news, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the overwhelming negativity, conflict and need around us. Within those headlines is a powerful place to pray.

Pray the News is a weekly blog published by Anglican Missions to enrich the intercessory prayer life of the church as we pray into the biggest social, cultural and geopolitical headlines facing the world.

We believe that prayer makes a difference and is an active engagement with the heart of God. Sign up to receive updates every Thursday on issues that we can pray into - together.

The Bible Project

Are you familiar with 'The Bible Project'? The Bible Project help people experience the Bible in a way that is approachable and transformative, primarily through animated video bible studies. They combine beautiful illustration and robust theology into a wonderful resource that connects across generations. 

Our lectionary is taking us through the Gospel of Mark right now. The Bible Project has a great video that gives an overview of the structure and purpose of Mark. Check it out here.

If you’ve been looking for something to use which isn’t Alpha but is aimed at the same sort of audience as Alpha, have a look at 321. It’s a new study series, made by an Australian Anglican priest in London who is making quite a splash as a speaker at the moment: Glen Scrivener. The course takes us through a basic introduction to Christianity in a way that encourages us to question and think, and always come back to Jesus. Best of all, it’s free! Click HERE to go to the website.

Deepening Faith: Children's Spirituality
There is another new course up in the brilliant resource"Discipleship Pathways."

This new, short, free, online course looks at the spirituality of children, and would be helpful for many of us! Whether you are wanting help in understanding your own children or grandchildren, or being ready for when children pop into church, or running a children's programme, it would be worth having a look at this.

There are also courses available on Intergenerational Communities, Preaching on Purpose, Baptism Unpacked, Children and Family Theology and many others. Check them out HERE.

The Deepening Faith webpage has a whole range of  resources. Note that Anne Gover has recently gifted her huge range of study notes to anyone who will find them useful. These are simple-to-use, informative and engaging studies which cover biblical characters, books, baptism and a host of other topics. If you are part of a small group (or would like to start one) these will make your preparation easy! Find them in a dropbox folder HERE.

About Nourishing Faith Videos and Podcasts

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If you have any resource you think is worth sharing more widely, contact Anne van Gend, John Graveston or Andrew Metcalfe so we can share them in this space.