Talks

You can download our Campus Bible Talk podcast below:

Or you can copy the RSS link and paste it into your favourite podcast app (or just search for “UWA Christian Union” in your app).

2023 – Semester 1

Talk 1: The Blessings of the Gospel (Ephesians 1:1-23) (Matt Smith)
Talk 2: The Grace of the Gospel (Ephesians 2:1-10) (Matt Smith)
Talk 3: The Mystery of the Gospel (Ephesians 2:11-3:21) (Matt Smith)
Talk 4: Living a Life Worthy of the Gospel (Ephesians 4:1-16) (Matt Smith)
Talk 5: The New You (Ephesians 4:17-32) (Tim Thorburn)
Talk 6: The Gospel We Preach (1 Corinthians 15:1-8) (Matt Smith) (Easter)
Talk 7: Living out God’s Will (Ephesians 5:1-21) (Tim Thorburn)
Talk 8: What Makes the Best Marriage? (Ephesians 5:21-6:9) (Tim Thorburn)
Talk 9: The Power of the Gospel (Ephesians 6:10-24) (Matt Smith)
Talk 10: Our Need for Holiness (Leviticus 1) (Matt Smith)
Talk 11: How God Makes Us Holy (Leviticus 4:1-21 and 6:1-7) (Tim Thorburn)
Talk 12: Our Response of Holiness (Leviticus 20) (Matt Smith)

2022 – Semester 2

Talk 1: Trusting the God who Promises (Deuteronomy 1-3) (Matt Smith)
Talk 2: Hearing the Invisible God (Deuteronomy 4) (Matt Smith)
Talk 3: I am what I do. (Matt Smith)
Talk 3: Who am I?  (Sam Alberry)
Talk 4: I am what I say I am. (Matt Smith)
Talk 4: What am I?  (Sam Alberry)
Talk 5: The 10 Commandments  (Tim Thorburn)
Talk 5: Law vs. Love?  (Ben Smart)
Talk 6: The Choice We Face (Tim Thorburn)
Talk 6: Law vs. Grace? (Ben Smart)
Talk 7: 2 Timothy 2:1-13 (Richard Chin)
Talk 7: Acts 12:1-24 (Matt Smith)
Talk 8: Love God (Extended Edition) (Deuteronomy 12-26 (Part 1)) (Ben Smart)
Talk 9: Love People (Extended Edition) (Deuteronomy 12-26 (Part 2)) (Ben Smart)
Talk 10: Deuteronomy 27-28 (Matt Smith)
Talk 11: Deuteronomy 29-30 (Matt Smith)
Talk 12: Deuteronomy 31-34 (Matt Smith)

2022 – Semester 1

Talk 1: Christians United? (1 Corinthians 1:1-17) (Matt Smith)
Talk 2: The Foolishness of the Message of the Cross (1 Corinthians 1:17-31) (Matt Smith)
Talk 3: Preaching the Message of the Cross (1 Corinthians 2:1-5) (Matt Smith)
Talk 4: The Wisdom of the Message of the Cross (1 Corinthians 2:6-16) (Matt Smith)
Talk 5: No More Boasting About Human Leaders (1 Corinthians 3) (Ben Smart) (Tuesday)
Talk 5: Don’t Mess with God’s Church (1 Corinthians 3) (Tim Thorburn) (Thursday)
Talk 6: The Scum of the Earth (1 Corinthians 4) (Ben Smart) (Tuesday)
Talk 6: Christians are the Scum of the Earth (1 Corinthians 4) (Tim Thorburn) (Thursday)
Talk 7: The Gospel We Preach (1 Corinthians 15) (Matt Smith) (Easter)
Talk 8: The Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 15-16) (Tim Thorburn) (Tuesday)
Talk 8: A New Exodus (Revelation 15-16) (Ben Smart) (Thursday)
Talk 9: How (not) to sell your soul to the devil (Revelation 17:1-19:10) (Tim Thorburn) (Tuesday)
Talk 9: The Great Prostitute (Revelation 17:1-19:10) (Ben Smart) (Thursday)
Talk 10: The Final Score: Jesus Wins (Revelation 19:11-21) (Matt Smith)
Talk 11: The End of the Rebellion (Revelation 20) (Matt Smith)
Talk 12: Our Forever Home (Revelation 21-22) (Matt Smith)

2021 – Semester 2

Talk 1: Uncover: The Times in Which We Live (Acts 2:1-41) (Matt Smith)
Talk 2: Uncover: The Gospel (Mark 1:1-15) (Matt Smith)
Talk 3: Uncover: Rescue from Our Real Sickness (Mark 2:1-17) (Matt Smith)
Talk 4: Uncover: Hope in a World of Death (Mark 4:35-5:43) (Matt Smith)
Talk 5: Uncover: Your Ears to Hear (Mark 4:1-20) (Matt Smith)
Talk 6: Uncover: The Suffering Messiah (Mark 8:11-9:1) (Tim Thorburn)
Talk 7: Uncover: The Heart of Our Problem (Mark 7:1-23) (Matt Smith)
Talk 8: Uncover: The Way into God’s Kingdom (Mark 10:17-31) (Tim Thorburn)
Talk 9: Uncover: The Servant-Heart of Jesus (Mark 10:32-52) (Tim Thorburn)
Talk 10: Uncover: The Clash of Kingdoms (Mark 11:1-12:12) (Tim Thorburn)
Talk 11: Uncover: The Crucified King (Mark 14:1-15:41) (Matt Smith)
Talk 12: Uncover: The Resurrected King (Mark 15:40-16:8) (Matt Smith)

Mid Year Conference 2021

Talk 1: Getting Traction on the Resurrection
Talk 2: The Resurrection of Jesus
Talk 3: Raised Like Christ
Talk 4: Raised With Christ
Talk 5: A Life of Hope

2021 – Semester 1

Promises, Promises (Joshua 1) (Ben Rae)
Promises, Promises (Joshua 1) (Matt Smith)
A Question of Loyalty (Joshua 2) Tim Thorburn
A Question of Loyalty (Joshua 2) Matt Smith
Convincing Miracles (Joshua 3-4) Ben Smart
Convincing Miracles (Joshua 3-4) Tim Thorburn
Conquering in the Name of God (Joshua 5-8) Ben Rae
Conquering in the Name of God (Joshua 5-8) Matt Smith
A Land of Our Own (Joshua 9-24) Ben Rae
A Land of Our Own (Joshua 9-24) Ben Smart
Easter: Christ Died for Us (Tim Thorburn)
Easter: Christ Died for Us (Matt Smith)
Hell on Earth (Rev 8-9) Ben Rae
Hell on Earth (Rev 8-9) Matt Smith
Killing Christians (Rev 10-11) Matt Smith
Killing Christians (Rev 10-11) Tim Thorburn
The Number of the Beast (Rev 13) Tim Thoburn
The Number of the Beast (Rev 13) Matt Smith
The 144,000 (Rev 14) MS
The 144,000 (Rev 14) TT
Life in the Light of Death (Ecclesiastes)

 

2020 – Semester 2

Who are we and where are we going? (Genesis 12)
Blessing in a broken world (Genesis 13-14)
How bad people can please a good God (Genesis 15-16)
God Repeats Himself Again (Gen 17) (Genesis 17)
The God of Justice and Mercy (Genesis 18-19) (Genesis 18-19)
Faithful God Unfaithful People (Genesis 20-21) (Genesis 20-21)
When Faith is Tested (Genesis 22) (Genesis 22)
Living by Faith (Genesis 23) (Genesis 23)
Receiving the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:16)
Gospel Anxiety (1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13)
Pleasing God (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12)
God’s Will for Your Life (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12)
Living and Dying with Hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:28) Tim Thorburn
Living and Dying with Hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:28) Matt Smith

 

2020 – Semester 1

Intro to the Apocalypse (Revelation 1)
What would Jesus say to you? (Revelation 2-3) (Ben Rae)
What would Jesus say to you? (Revelation 2-3) (Ben Smart)
The Centre of the Universe (Revelation 4-5) (Tim Thorburn)
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Revelation 6) (Matt Smith)
The 144,000 (Revelation 7) (Matt Smith)
The Return of Jesus (Tom Conyers)
Easter: God Shows His Power and Wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:17-25) (Tim Thorburn)
Easter: Dead Men Talking (Luke 23:32-49) (Matt Smith)
Rational Worship (Romans 12) Tim Thorburn
Rational Worship (Romans 12) Matt Smith
Politics and Religion (Romans 13) Tim Thorburn
Politics And Religion (Romans 13) Matt Smith
Judging Others (Romans 14:1-15:13) Ben Rae
Judging Others (Romans 14:1-15:13) Ben Smart
Gospel Strategy (Romans 15:14-33) Ben Rae
Gospel Strategy (Romans 15:14-33) Ben Smart
Team Jesus (Romans 16) Ben Rae
Team Jesus (Romans 16) Ben Smart
When Christians Disagree

2019 – Semester 2

Grace Reigns (Romans 5:12-21)
Let’s Be Bad! (Romans 6)
Law = Death (Romans 7)
Spiritual Life (Romans 8:1-17)
Liberating Creation (Romans 8:19-19)
Isn’t God Unfair? (Romans 9)
It Ain’t Rocket Science (Romans 10)
The Future of Israel (Romans 11)
Keeping Your Eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 11)
Standing Firm (Hebrews 12)
Yesterday, Today, and Forever (Hebrews 13)

Don’t be on the Wrong Side of History
Be Yourself No Matter What
Science Will Solve Everything
You Can Be Good Without God
Do What You Like as Long as Nobody Gets Hurt

Mid Year Conference 2019

Talk 1: The Big Picture
Talk 2: How God Guides
Talk 3: What Matters Matter?
Talk 4: Wisdom
Talk 5: Work

2019 – Semester 1

We Can Know God (Hebrews 1:1-2:4)
Why God became human (Hebrews 2:5-3:6)
The Importance of Listening (Hebrews 3:7-4:16)
Why Bother With Anything? (Ecclesiastes 1-2)
Death and the Meaning of Life (Ecclesiastes 3)
Wisdom for Life (Ecclesiastes 4-6)
Life before Death (Ecclesiastes 7–12)
Easter: The Hope of a Better World (1 Corinthians 15)
How Dumb Can Wer Be? (Hebrews 4:14-6:20) (Hebrews 4:14-6:20)
Do I Need a Priest? (Hebrews 7-8) (Hebrews 7-8)
The Hope of a Clean Conscience (Hebrews 9)
Sticking With Jesus (Hebrews 10)

2018 Special Guests

Dr Luke Barnes – A Fortunate Universe

2018 – Semester 2

• The God Who Satisfies (Isaiah 55)
• The God Who Uses Suffering (Isaiah 52:13-53:12)
• The God Who Uses Evil (Isaiah 44:24-45:13)
• Your God is Too Small (Isiah 40)
• The Weekend that Changed the World (Mark 15-16)
• Jesus Faces Death (Mark 14)
• The End of the World (Mark 13)
• What’s it Like to be a Christian? (Titus 2:11-3:8)
• Why Should I Become a Christian? (Matthew 22:34-40, 1 John 4:7-12)
• Jesus. Who is He Really? (Mark 8:1-38)
• Jesus’ Upside Down Kingdom (Mark 10)
• The Real Jesus Revealed (Mark 11:27-12:37)

2018 Missions Why Talks

• Why Science and God are Closer Than You Think
• Why Suffering if God is Good?
• Why the Good Life Won’t Satisfy
• Why Bother Believing in God?
• Why Bother with God if I’m Happy?

Mid Year Conference 2018 – Grace

1. Lavished With Grace
2. Grace and Freedom
3. Grace and Love
4. Grace and Forgiving
5. Grace and Glory
6. Extravagant Grace (Summary)

2018 – Semester 1

• The Beginning of the Good News (Mark 1:1-15)
• What’s Your Greatest Need? (Mark 2:1-12)
• Jesus’ Kingdom – it’s New! (Mark 2:13-3:6)
• Explaining Away Miracles (Mark 3:7-35)
• Are You Listening? (Mark 4:1-34)
• Saving Power (Mark 4:35-5:43)
• Who is Jesus? (Mark 6)
• Made Clean by Jesus (Mark 7)
• The Church Family (1 Corinthians 11)
• Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12)
• The Way of Love (1 Corinthians 13)
• Tongues vs Prophecy (1 Corinthians 14)
• Life After ‘Life After Death’ (1 Corinthians 15)

2017 Special Guests

Dr DA Carson – The Intolerance of Tolerance

Semester 2, 2017

• Lawyers, Prostitutes, and Jesus (1 Corinthians 6)
• Why Doesn’t God Prove Himself?
• Is Jesus the Only Way to God? (Mark 14:26-42)
• Love, Sex, and Marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1-24)
• Should You Get Married? (1 Corinthians 7:25-40)
• When Knowledge is Dangerous (1 Corinthians 8)
• Giving Up Your Rights (1 Corinthians 9)
• Demons, Sex, and Dinner Parties (1 Corinthians 10)
• God Appears (Ezekiel 1-3)
• God Departs (Ezekiel 4-24)
• God Is Bigger Thank You Think (Ezekiel 25-32)
• God Gives Hope to the Hopeless (Ezekiel 33-39)
• God’s Good Times (Ezekiel 40-48)

Semester 1, 2017

• United in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:1-17)
• The Foolishness of the Cross (1 Corinthians 1:10-31)
• Knowing God  (1 Corinthians 2)
• Growing God’s Church (1 Corinthians 3)
• Fools for Christ (1 Corinthians 4)
• Dodgy Christians (1 Corinthians 5)
• Easter: Below the Surface (Mark 15)
• Succeeding at Life (Proverbs #1)
• Wisdom: Choose Me! (Proverbs #2)
• Wisdom: Sampling for Yourself (Proverbs #3)
• Wisdom on Friends (Proverbs #4)

Semester 2, 2016

• Jephthah’s Foolish Oath (Judges 12-13)
• Samson and Delilah (Judges 15-16)
• Israel’s Idolatry (Judges 17-18)
• Israel Hits Rock-Bottom (Judges 19-21)
• The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Dead

Getting Life

• • • Main Talks
      • Experiencing the Power of God (Romans 1:1-17)
      • The Problem with People (Romans 1:18-32)
      • The Problem with Moral People (Romans 2:1-16)
      • The Problem with Religious People (Romans 2:17-3:20)
      • God’s Unexpected Solution (Romans 3:21-31)
      • Trusting God’s Solution (Romans 4)
      • Peace With God (Romans 5:1-11)
      • Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution (Romans 5:12-21)
    • Conversations
      • A Curious Life with Prof. Bruce Robinson AM
    • Getting Answers
      • Christianity – What is it really?
      • Are the Gospels Historically Reliable?
      • Science and Christianity
      • How Can A Loving God Send People To Hell?
      • A Doubter’s Guide to Jesus
    • Getting Wisdom – The Bible’s Wisdom on Procrastination & Time Management
      • The Resistance
      • Beating Procrastination
      • Getting Things Done

Mid Year Conference 2016

• • • Talk 1: The Baptism of the Spirit (John 14:8-31)
    • Talk 2: The Spirit of Revelation (1 Corinthians 2:1-16)
    • Talk 3: Led by the Spirit (Romans 8:1-17)
    • Talk 4: The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:13-26)
    • Talk 5: The Gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1-20)
    • Wrap Up talk

Semester 1, 2016

• • • The Mission of the Gospel (Galatians 1:1-5)
    • The Gospel – A Human Invention? (Galatians 1:6-2:10)
    • Liberated from Law-Keeping (Galatians 2:11-3:25)
    • Adopted by God (Galatians 4)
    • Hang on to Freedom (Galatians 5:1-15)
    • Islam for Christians
    • Truly Spiritual Life (Galatians 5:13-6:18)
    • Ehud: The Left-Handed Assassin (Judges 3)
    • Deborah: A Remarkable Woman of God (Judges 4-5)
    • Gideon and His Fleeces (Judges 6-8)
    • Life After Death and Heaven (Romans 8:17-30)

Semester 2, 2015

• • • Jesus and My Neighbour (Luke 10:25-37)
    • Jesus and Possessions (Luke 12:13-21)
    • Jesus and Eternal Life (Luke 18:18-30)
    • Jesus and His Comeback (Luke 26)
    • When the going gets tough (James 1:1-18)
    • Practise what you preach (James 1:19-27)
    • Love is the Law (James 2:1-13)
    • Faith That Works (James 2:14-26)
    • Sounding Like Hell (James 3:1-18)
    • Seek Wisdom (James 4:1-5:6)
    • Living in Light of the End (James 5:7-20)

Mid Year Conference 2015: The Kingdom of God

• • • The Kingdom – God’s Project (Luke 4:14-30)
    • The Kingdom – Jesus’ Message (Luke 6:17-36)
    • The Kingdom – Jesus’ Actions (Luke 11:14-23)
    • The Lost – Jesus’ Mission (Luke 19:1-10)
    • Disciples – On the road with Jesus (Luke 19:11-27)

Uncover: See for yourself (Vaughan Roberts)

• • • Jesus and Identity (Luke 12:22-34)
    • Jesus and Guilt (Luke 7:36-50)
    • Jesus and Mortality (Luke 7:11-17)
    • Jesus and Acceptance (Luke 15:11-32)

Semester 1, 2015

• • • Has God Forgotten Us? (Exodus 1)
    • Moses: Not that impressive (Exodus 2-4)
    • Is God Reliable? (Exodus 4:18-7:6)
    • What would convince you? (Exodus 7-10)
    • The First Passover (Exodus 11-12)
    • Easter and the Exodus (Exodus 13-15)
    • Doctrinal Basis #4:  The Virgin Birth?
    • Doctrinal Basis #5: The Only Real Freedom
    • Travelling with God (Exodus 16-18)
    • The Ten Commandments (Exodus 19-20)
    • Living as God’s people (Exodus 21-23)
    • Failure & Forgiveness (Exodus 32-34)
    • A Glimpse of Heaven (Exodus 24-31, 35-40)
      • The Tabernacle [Powerpoint slides]

What do you crave? 2014

• • • Belonging
    • Sex
    • Purpose
    • Happiness

Semester 2, 2014

• • • Hearing God Speak About Hearing God Speak (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
    • The Trinity – One God is Three
    • Getting the diagnosis right [Sin] (Gen 3:1-24)
    • Who do you say Jesus is? (Mark 8:1-9:1)
    • How To Be The Greatest (Mark 9:30-50)
    • An Upside Down World (Mark 10)
    • Cursing Fig Trees (Mark 11:1-25)
    • Who’s The Boss (Mark 11:27-12:33)
    • Signs of the End (Mark 13)
    • The Meaning of Death (Mark 14)
    • The Foolishness of The Cross (Mark 15-16)

MYC 2014: The Beginning

• • • All things by his powerful word
    • What then is human?
    • The end of the beginning
    • On being human (part 1)
    • On being human (part 2)

Semester 1, 2014

• • • Jesus: Good News (Mark 1:1)
    • Jesus: New World Order (Mark 1:1-45)
    • Jesus: What do you need? (Mark 2:1-17)
    • Jesus: Liar, Lunatic or Lord? (Mark 2:18-3:35)
    • Jesus: Why is he so confusing (Mark 4:1-34)
    • Jesus confronts suffering (Mark 4:35 – 5:43)
    • Jesus: A Prophet Without Honour? (Mark 6:1-56)
    • Religious Tradition Sucks (Mark 7:1-23)
    • Religion That’s a Burden (Malachi 1:1-2:9)
    • How to Find the Perfect Partner (Malachi 2:10-16)
    • When God Shows Up (Malachi 2:17-4:6)

Semester 2, 2013

• • • Good News: God’s Angry (Revelation 15-16)
    • The End of Corruption (Revelation 17-18)
    • The Hallelujah Chorus (Revelation 19)
    • Real Justice
    • Real Life
    • Real Hope
    • Living Free (Philippians 1:1-30)
      
    • Humility (Philippians 1:27 – 2:11)
    • Living a Life Worthy of the Gospel (Philippians 2:12-30)
    • Cutting the Religious Crap (Philippians 3:1-11)
    • The Goal of Life (Philippians 3:10-21)
    • The Secret of Contentment (Philippians 4:1-23)
    • The Millennium (Revelation 20)
    • Seeing the Future (Revelation 21-22)

CS Lewis Week, 2013

• • • The Possibility of Conversion in an Age of Skepticism (Rory Shiner)

Semester 1, 2013

• • • How can you know God? (1 John 1.1-2.2)
    • You gotta serve somebody (1 John #2)
    • Jesus vs the Antichrist (1 John #3)
    • Love changes everything (1 John #4)
    • Children of God (1 John #5) (diagram)
    • Promises, Promises (Joshua 1)
    • Convincing Miracles (Joshua 3-4)
    • Conquering in the Name of God (Joshua 5-6)
    • A Land of Our Own (Joshua 9-21)
    • Who Will You Serve? (Joshua 24)
    • The Woman and the Dragon (Revelation 12)
    • The Number of the Beast (Revelation 13)
    • The 144,000

Semester 2 2012

• • • Knowing God (Psalm 19) – Ben Rae
    • The Image of God (Psalm 8) – Ben Rae
    • Feeling Secure (Psalm 16) – Ben Rae
    • Life is Meaningless – Ben Rae
    • Pleasure is Meaningless – Ben Rae
    • Work is Meaningless – Ben Rae
    • Wisdom is Meaningless – Ben Rae
    • How to Know God (John 1:1-18) – Ben Rae
    • How to be Reborn (John 3:1-21) – Ben Rae
    • Are You Thirsty? (John 4:1-42) – Ben Rae
    • The Power of the Gospel (Colossians 1:1-14) – Ben Rae
    • The Gospel of Jesus (Colossians 1:15-23) – Ben Rae
    • The Mystery Revealed (Colossians 1:24-2:5) – Michael Durell
    • Jesus vs Rules (Colossians 2:6-23) – Ben Rae
    • The New You (Colossians 3:1-4:1) – Jeff Hunt
    • Partners in the Gospel (Colossians 4:2-18) – Ben Rae

Semester 1 2012

• • • Being A Christian at Uni (1 Corinthians 1) – Ben Rae
    • Spiritual Wisdom & Power (1 Corinthians 2) – Tim Thorburn
    • How to Build a Church (1 Corinthians 3) – Ben Rae
    • Fools for Christ (1 Corinthians 4) – Tim Thorburn
    • Celebrate Jesus’ Death – Thom Bull
    • Celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection – Ben Rae
    • Has God Failed? (Romans 9) – Ben Rae
    • It’s Not Rocket Science (Romans 10) – Tim Thorburn
    • The Future of Israel & the World (Romans 11) – Tim Thorburn
    • How to be a Human Sacrifice (Romans 12) – Ben Rae
    • Travelling for Jesus (Romans 15) – Tim Thorburn