• At the Festival
    Mar 12 2026

    Welcome to DAY 20 of the Lent Lectio Divina series

    Throughout these 6 weeks we will pause each day for a few moments to Read a passage of scripture, Reflect on what God is saying to us through it, and Ask the Holy Spirit to help us as we step into the invitation this passage offers us

    Before we begin this reading, let’s take a moment to notice our breath and rest in the silence as we invite the Holy Spirit once again to form us into a closer likeness of Jesus. As you breathe in, pray “More of Christ”, As you breathe out, pray “Less of Me”

    Today’s Bible Reading comes from John 7:1-30 As we read this passage now, be listening for one word or phrase the Holy Spirit highlights to you. START 7 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him. 6 Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil. 8 You go to the festival. I am not[b] going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee. 10 However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. 11 Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus and asking, “Where is he?” 12 Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.” Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.” 13 But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders. Jesus Teaches at the Festival 14 Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?” 16 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?” 20 “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?” 21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” Division Over Who Jesus Is 25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah? 27 But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.” 28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, 29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.” 30 At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.

    What is one word or phrase the Holy Spirit impressed on you in that reading? Take a moment to MEDITATE on this.

    As we move into our second reading, consider how this passage relates to a current area of your life RE-READ PASSAGE 2ND TIME What specific situation in your life does this passage relate to today? Take a moment now to PRAY about this

    As we move into our final reading, consider what God is saying to you personally today from this passage.

    RE-READ PASSAGE 3RD TIME

    What is Christ’s personal invitation to you from this passage today? Take a moment now to CONTEMPLATE this Let us take this time now into the coming day as we Surrender our bodies to the Holy Spirt Surrender our hearts to Christ And surrender our souls to our Heavenly Father

    Amen

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    14 mins
  • True Testimony
    Mar 11 2026

    Welcome to DAY 19 of the Lent Lectio Divina series

    Throughout these 6 weeks we will pause each day for a few moments to Read a passage of scripture, Reflect on what God is saying to us through it, and Ask the Holy Spirit to help us as we step into the invitation this passage offers us

    Before we begin this reading, let’s take a moment to notice our breath and rest in the silence as we invite the Holy Spirit once again to form us into a closer likeness of Jesus. As you breathe in, pray “More of Christ”, As you breathe out, pray “Less of Me”

    Today’s Bible Reading comes from John 5:31-47 As we read this passage now, be listening for one word or phrase the Holy Spirit highlights to you. START 31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true. 33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. 36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study[a] the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life. 41 “I do not accept glory from human beings, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God[b]? 45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

    What is one word or phrase the Holy Spirit impressed on you in that reading? Take a moment to MEDITATE on this.

    As we move into our second reading, consider how this passage relates to a current area of your life RE-READ PASSAGE 2ND TIME What specific situation in your life does this passage relate to today? Take a moment now to PRAY about this

    As we move into our final reading, consider what God is saying to you personally today from this passage.

    RE-READ PASSAGE 3RD TIME

    What is Christ’s personal invitation to you from this passage today? Take a moment now to CONTEMPLATE this Let us take this time now into the coming day as we Surrender our bodies to the Holy Spirt Surrender our hearts to Christ And surrender our souls to our Heavenly Father

    Amen

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    9 mins
  • Like Father...
    Mar 10 2026

    Welcome to DAY 18 of the Lent Lectio Divina series

    Throughout these 6 weeks we will pause each day for a few moments to Read a passage of scripture, Reflect on what God is saying to us through it, and Ask the Holy Spirit to help us as we step into the invitation this passage offers us

    Before we begin this reading, let’s take a moment to notice our breath and rest in the silence as we invite the Holy Spirit once again to form us into a closer likeness of Jesus. As you breathe in, pray “More of Christ”, As you breathe out, pray “Less of Me”

    Today’s Bible Reading comes from John 5:17-30 As we read this passage now, be listening for one word or phrase the Holy Spirit highlights to you. START 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. 24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. 28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

    What is one word or phrase the Holy Spirit impressed on you in that reading? Take a moment to MEDITATE on this.

    As we move into our second reading, consider how this passage relates to a current area of your life RE-READ PASSAGE 2ND TIME What specific situation in your life does this passage relate to today? Take a moment now to PRAY about this

    As we move into our final reading, consider what God is saying to you personally today from this passage.

    RE-READ PASSAGE 3RD TIME

    What is Christ’s personal invitation to you from this passage today? Take a moment now to CONTEMPLATE this Let us take this time now into the coming day as we Surrender our bodies to the Holy Spirt Surrender our hearts to Christ And surrender our souls to our Heavenly Father

    Amen

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    10 mins
  • BANTER - Radical Honesty
    Mar 9 2026

    Welcome to BANTER; the weekly podcast where we unpack Sunday's sermon.

    Murray and Mitch delve deeper into the importance of radical honesty in a church community.

    To find out more about The Centre visit; www.thecentredural.org.au/church/ We meet at 10am every Sunday in person and online at; www.youtube.com/@centredural

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    37 mins
  • Do You Want To Get Well?
    Mar 9 2026

    Welcome to DAY 17 of the Lent Lectio Divina series

    Throughout these 6 weeks we will pause each day for a few moments to Read a passage of scripture, Reflect on what God is saying to us through it, and Ask the Holy Spirit to help us as we step into the invitation this passage offers us

    Before we begin this reading, let’s take a moment to notice our breath and rest in the silence as we invite the Holy Spirit once again to form us into a closer likeness of Jesus. As you breathe in, pray “More of Christ”, As you breathe out, pray “Less of Me”

    Today’s Bible Reading comes from John 5:1-16 As we read this passage now, be listening for one word or phrase the Holy Spirit highlights to you. START Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] [b] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” 11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” 12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” 13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him.

    What is one word or phrase the Holy Spirit impressed on you in that reading? Take a moment to MEDITATE on this.

    As we move into our second reading, consider how this passage relates to a current area of your life RE-READ PASSAGE 2ND TIME What specific situation in your life does this passage relate to today? Take a moment now to PRAY about this

    As we move into our final reading, consider what God is saying to you personally today from this passage.

    RE-READ PASSAGE 3RD TIME

    What is Christ’s personal invitation to you from this passage today? Take a moment now to CONTEMPLATE this Let us take this time now into the coming day as we Surrender our bodies to the Holy Spirt Surrender our hearts to Christ And surrender our souls to our Heavenly Father

    Amen

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    9 mins
  • Fifth Step of Humility: Radical Honesty
    Mar 9 2026

    Murray explores how a radical honesty with others through both our guilt and grief and lead to a more humble, intimate, Christ-like community. He unpacks the practices of both confession and lament and reflects on how all of us can help foster a more radically honest church.

    To find out more about The Centre visit; www.thecentredural.org.au/church/ We meet at 10am every Sunday in person and online at; www.youtube.com/@centredural

    Welcome to The Centre! We're a Church in Dural, Sydney who want to Make Jesus The Centre of our lives, community, and world.

    Join us for a time of worship, community and teaching. Remember to stay in contact with the church, especially if you or anyone you know is in need.

    Get Connected: https://www.thecentredural.org.au/church/new/

    Prayer Requests: https://www.thecentredural.org.au/church/prayer/

    Tithing Information: https://www.thecentredural.org.au/church/giving/

    Follow "BANTER"; the podcast where we unpack each week's sermon with the pastoral team: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ReaCaCb6U7r4EjdJQdajy?si=11f44dcd078e4707 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-centre-dural-podcast/id1035454799

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    28 mins
  • Signs & Wonders
    Mar 8 2026

    Welcome to DAY 16 of the Lent Lectio Divina series

    Throughout these 6 weeks we will pause each day for a few moments to Read a passage of scripture, Reflect on what God is saying to us through it, and Ask the Holy Spirit to help us as we step into the invitation this passage offers us

    Before we begin this reading, let’s take a moment to notice our breath and rest in the silence as we invite the Holy Spirit once again to form us into a closer likeness of Jesus. As you breathe in, pray “More of Christ”, As you breathe out, pray “Less of Me”

    Today’s Bible Reading comes from John 4:43-54 As we read this passage now, be listening for one word or phrase the Holy Spirit highlights to you. START Jesus Heals an Official’s Son 43 After the two days he left for Galilee. 44 (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there. 46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. 48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” 49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” 53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. 54 This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.

    What is one word or phrase the Holy Spirit impressed on you in that reading? Take a moment to MEDITATE on this.

    As we move into our second reading, consider how this passage relates to a current area of your life RE-READ PASSAGE 2ND TIME What specific situation in your life does this passage relate to today? Take a moment now to PRAY about this

    As we move into our final reading, consider what God is saying to you personally today from this passage.

    RE-READ PASSAGE 3RD TIME

    What is Christ’s personal invitation to you from this passage today? Take a moment now to CONTEMPLATE this Let us take this time now into the coming day as we Surrender our bodies to the Holy Spirt Surrender our hearts to Christ And surrender our souls to our Heavenly Father

    Amen

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    8 mins
  • Living Water
    Mar 7 2026
    Today’s Bible Reading comes from John 4:5-42 As we read this passage now, be listening for one word or phrase the Holy Spirit highlights to you. START 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.[a]) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” The Disciples Rejoin Jesus 27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. 31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” Many Samaritans Believe 39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” What is one word or phrase the Holy Spirit impressed on you in that reading? Take a moment to MEDITATE on this. As we move into our second reading, consider how this passage relates to a current area of your life RE-READ PASSAGE 2ND TIME What specific situation in your life does this passage relate to today? Take a moment now to PRAY about this As we move into our final reading, consider what God is saying to you personally today from this passage. RE-READ PASSAGE 3RD TIME What is Christ’s personal invitation to you from this passage today? Take a moment now to CONTEMPLATE this
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    17 mins