Vision Church Podcast | Christian Church in Canberra

Adam Ritchard | Matthew 5:6, 6:5-18; Joel 2:12-13 — Fasting is a largely neglected spiritual practice in the modern church. But, alongside prayer, this unseen discipline is a key means through which God’s power is enabled in our lives. Fasting redirects our hunger, deepens our devotion, exposes our sin, and releases the work of the Holy Spirit. As we enter a season of prayer and fasting, may God refuel and refire our hearts!

Andrew Baker | Ephesians 6:10-20 — Paul’s concluding remarks to the Ephesians remind us that prayer is not an optional extra or a last resort. Prayer is a critical part of the armour that we as God’s people need to stand firm against the powers of darkness. Far beyond duty, prayer is our priority and joy; a constant invitation to commune with the God who desires to bring His Kingdom near upon the earth.

Andrew Baker | Ephesians 3:14-20 — To grow as God intends, Paul’s desire for the Ephesian church and us as believers is to be grounded in and filled with the fullness of God’s love. We cannot achieve this by striving or trying harder, but rather by learning to receive, with open hands.

Andrew Baker | Ephesians 2:19-22 — As we begin 2026, Paul’s message to the Ephesians calls us to be a church of God’s presence. We have been brought in as His people not just to hold good services and run effective programs, but to be built together into a place where He - the Living God - would dwell.

Andrew Baker | Isaiah 35:1-10; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Revelation 5:10, 21:3; 1 Peter 2:9; Romans 8:22 — The OT Prophets bear witness to a future in which all brokenness is healed, all creation is restored, and in which God will dwell forevermore with His beloved children. Our blessed hope is the Messiah who has come and who is coming again; who through love will make all things new.

Andrew Baker | Acts 2:4-12, 15:5,11-18; Isaiah 11:10, 49:6, 45:20-25; Zechariah 2:10-11; Jeremiah 16:19-21; Galatians 3:8-9,16,26-29; Genesis 11:1-4,8-9; Joshua 24:2; Deuteronomy 32:8-9; Psalm 82:1,6-8; Luke 4:17,22,24-27; John 11:49-52 — Across the breadth of prophetic scripture, we consistently see that God’s plan was for a Messiah who would come to redeem and reconcile all nations - not just one people group. No one is beyond His loving pursuit, and no culture, language, or far-off land is beyond His reach.

Andrew Baker | Isaiah 9:2-5, 14:12-15, 24:21, 34:4; Ephesians 6:12; Ezekiel 28:12-17; Daniel 7:13-14,27, 10:12-21; Psalm 82:1; Jeremiah 10:11; Jude 1:6; 2 Peter 2:4; Acts 2:32-36; Romans 8:19-21; Colossians 2:13-15 — Throughout the Prophetic scriptures we see vivid descriptions of evil spiritual forces which oppose God, rebelling against His purposes and influencing earthly events. But alongside these depictions we also see the promise of a great cosmic reversal: a Messiah who would not only achieve salvation for a sinful humanity, but an ultimate and decisive victory over every force of spiritual darkness.

Adam Ritchard | Psalm 23:3, 51:12, 85:1-7, 126:1; Genesis 50:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Joel 2:25; John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:10; Acts 3:19-21; Revelation 21:5; Job 42:1-6,10 — Throughout scripture we see a God who restores and revives - in the midst of specific situations as well as the brokenness of humanity at large. While we wait in the tension between our life’s circumstances and this unchanging truth, may His restorative power revive our hearts to a deeper revelation of Him.

Andrew Baker | Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:19-20; Deuteronomy 60:6; Isaiah 53:5-6 — Throughout the Old Testament Prophetic Books, we see God continually calling His people back to covenant relationship with Himself. But, knowing they would continue to rebel, God declared the promise of a new everlasting covenant: freedom from iniquity; forgiveness of sins; and a new heart.

Adam Ritchard | Revelation 2:1-7; Luke 7:36-50, 10:38-42 — In John’s Revelation, the Church at Ephesus was commended by Jesus for their hard work, patient endurance, hate of evil, and sound doctrine. And yet they had abandoned their first love - the love of Jesus. How do we heed this warning and keep ‘the main thing’ the main thing; letting all that we do flow from loving Jesus as our highest priority?

Adam Ritchard | Matthew 9:35-38; Isaiah 6:1,8, 59:1; Genesis 18:14; John 4:35; James 5:16; 2 Chronicles 7:14 — Jesus saw the great ‘lostness’ of humanity as an opportunity; a plentiful harvest ripe for the picking. As we consider how God’s Great Story is still unfolding today, may we respond to this same opportunity as He did: with expectant faith, deep compassion, earnest prayer, and urgent action. Just as Isaiah proclaimed, may we too cry “Here I am Lord, send me!”

Andrew Baker | Ezra 1:1-4, 3:10-13, 7:1-6, 9:1-2, 10:7-11; Nehemiah 1:1-4, 2:17-18, 6:15-16, 13:6-11,17-25,31 — King Cyrus rebuilt the temple; Ezra enforced the law of Moses; and Nehemiah repaired the city wall. But ultimately none of these external acts could truly change the hearts of God’s people. As we see the brokenness of the world all around us, may we not fight external battles with revenge, resistance, and force. Rather, may we be stirred with Christ-like compassion to love and forgive those around us - that the light of the Gospel would be allowed to transform hearts from the inside out.