“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9) What does it mean to be a “Son of God”? This is a focus of the Gospel of John: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in […]

Rev Todd Beiswenger talks about differing perspectives reconciling Divine Foresight and Human Freewill. Recorded on Friday 30 August 2024. Have you found us on other platforms? Go to: https://linktr.ee/swedenborgcommunityvic Want exclusive content, advance notice of events, and news? Sign up here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/y6e8v6 Our website: www.swedenborgcommunityvictoria.net.au Read Swedenborg at: www.newchristianbiblestudy.org

Looking at a story found in Mark chapter 10:32-45 (also Matthew chapter 20) Chapter 10 – Events and teachings – which the Disciples consistently misunderstand (consistent in Mark’s account): The Pharisees question Jesus about divorce (disciples don’t understand, and question Jesus) Disciples rebuke those bringing little children (Jesus welcomes them) The rich young ruler (disciples […]

The story so far …  We often use “Blessings” to describe external states or end results (of wealth, happiness, prosperity etc.), but it must refer to internal states as the source of those externals, the Lord is working with the path that takes us there. To be “poor in spirit”, I realise I am without […]

I’d like to welcome you on this journey, reading Emanuel Swedenborg’s Heaven and Hell. Many people encountering Swedenborg’s work for the first time begin here, with his most well known book. It certainly captures the popular imagination, as illustrated by the recent Netflix movie, “Things Heard and Seen” But as you open the book, there […]

Isaiah chapter 40 begins with familiar words, used by Handel in his oratorio, Messiah, and often associated with the Christmas story: “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” But if anything, the words that end the chapter, in verse 31, are even more well-known: “But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall […]

The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche … was a famous critic of Christianity, and thought that it needed to be transcended by modern men and women. But at the same time, he granted that there were some “advantages” to the Christian understanding of morality – advantages that were no longer operative in a more relativistic, nihilist, […]

The Commands of Jesus: Do not Judge. 12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.” 14 […]

The Commands of Jesus: Forgive. Continuing the journey, we look at Matthew 18:15-35, and John 8:1-11. Recorded on Sunday 16th August 2020. Watch on YouTube: An article from Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-blame-game/201510/forgive-me-forgive-me-not Martin Luther King’s sermon on Forgiveness: https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/draft-chapter-iv-love-action Swedenborg’s discussion of forgiveness, reading from here and continuing to paragraph 9454: https://newchristianbiblestudy.org/exposition/translation/arcana-coelestia-elliott/ex-25/94430?translation=arcana-coelestia-elliott&fromSection=0&section=9443 Rev Howard Thompson’s series […]

Is it more important to make a public confession of faith and to take a firm stand for the truth, or to live a private religion? Continuing our series on the Commands of Jesus. Recorded on Sunday 2 August 2020. “when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites […]