Sermons from weekly church services at Avondale University Church, Cooranbong Australia. Our purpose is to inspire, equip and empower people to respond to God’s love and calling.
From the Heart: Don't Miss Your Moment - Ryan Cuff
In his first message to University Church, Ryan Cuff opens with the story of Elisha Gray—the nearly-forgotten inventor who lost the patent for the telephone to Alexander Graham Bell by mere hours—as a picture of what it looks like to miss a defining moment. Turning to Malachi's prophecy of Elijah and its fulfillment in John the Baptist, Ryan traces how God has always used ordinary people to turn hearts back toward Him, and argues that same privilege now belongs to us as we wait for Christ's return. Weaving in his own testimony of conversion, failure, and a redirected path toward ministry, he offers a simple, practical way to live this out: find your "person of peace"—someone who likes you, listens to you, and serves you—and take the brave step of sharing Jesus with them. His challenge for the church heading into 2026: don't get so caught up chasing your own purpose that you miss the moment God has placed in front of you.
17 Jan 2026
From the Heart: Formation Before Fruit - Norman Hurlow
Building on the series' earlier threads of love and identity, Pastor Norman Hurlow turns to John 15 and Jesus' image of the vine and branches to ask a deeper question: not just what we believe or who we are, but who we're becoming. He unpacks the idea of spiritual formation—the slow, often unnoticed shaping of our hearts by whatever we give our attention to—and makes the case that fruit is the outcome of abiding in Christ, not the goal we should be chasing. Drawing on James K. Smith's line that we are fundamentally loving beings rather than thinking ones, he names practical rhythms (Scripture, prayer, community, family worship) that form us over time, and reframes pruning as an act of love rather than punishment. As the church steps into a new year of resolutions, Norman leaves us with a reordering of priorities: formation before fruit, rhythms before resolutions.
10 Jan 2026
From the Heart: Identity Fuels Purpose - Esera Timu
In this "From the Heart" message, Esera Timu turns to John the Baptist's testimony in John 1 to explore how identity fuels purpose. Reflecting on his own journey as an outgoing Avondale chaplain—and on the culture, family, and calling that have shaped him—Esera unpacks how John located his identity not in the crowd's expectations but in God's story, refusing an honor that wasn't his and pointing instead to Christ. Drawing on Jesus' words that the least in the kingdom is greater than John, Esera reframes "greatness" as impact rather than volume, and challenges us to ask: now that we know Christ personally, how loud—how willing—are we to live out our identity for His kingdom?
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