Barefoot Follower

Inviting Reflection on the Stories of Jesus

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Welcome to Barefoot Follower: Inviting Reflection on the Stories of Jesus

The ‘Barefoot Follower’ site is a collection of passion-filled reflections, sermons, and reviews centred around the teachings of Jesus. Join me as we consider what these ancient, long-treasured documents might tell us about God and ourselves.

For more information on the concept, purpose, and aspiration of the site please visit the
Introduction page.

Hidden Trust

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A reflection on Matthew 6:19-34 for Sunday, January 29, 2023 at Mosaic Baptist Church, Gungahlin. ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where Continue Reading

Hidden Deeds

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A reflection on Matthew 6:1-18 for Sunday, January 22, 2023 at Mosaic Baptist Church, Gungahlin. ‘Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no Continue Reading

Celebrate

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A reflection on Deuteronomy 26:1-11 and Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 for the First Sunday in Lent, March 6, 2022. When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an Continue Reading

Indigenous Justice

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A reflection on Matthew 5:6 for Sunday, February 27, 2022 at Mosaic Baptist Church. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 (NRSVA) Continue Reading

Treasure

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A reflection on 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 for Transfiguration Sunday, February 27, 2022. Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil over his Continue Reading

Glimpse

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A reflection on Luke 9:28-36 for Transfiguration Sunday, February 27, 2022. Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the Continue Reading

Shine

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A reflection on Exodus 34:29-35 and Psalm 99 for Transfiguration Sunday, February 27, 2022. Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the Continue Reading

Same. Different.

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A reflection on 1 Corinthians 15:35-40 for the Seventh Sunday After Epiphany, February 20, 2022. But someone will ask, ‘How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?’ Fool! Continue Reading

Children

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A reflection on Luke 6:27-38 for the Seventh Sunday After Epiphany, February 20, 2022. ‘…But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse Continue Reading

Wait

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A reflection on Genesis 45:3-11 & 15 and Psalm 37:1-11 & 40-41 for the Seventh Sunday After Epiphany, February 20, 2022. Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph. Is my father still Continue Reading

Raised

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A reflection on 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 for the Sixth Sunday After Epiphany, February 13, 2022. Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no Continue Reading

The Upside-Down Kingdom

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A reflection on Luke 6:17-26 for the Sixth Sunday After Epiphany, February 13, 2022. He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude Continue Reading

Well Watered

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A reflection on Jeremiah 17:5-10 & Psalm 1 for the Sixth Sunday After Epiphany, February 13, 2022. Thus says the Lord:Cursed are those who trust in mere Continue Reading

Good News

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A reflection on 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 for the Fifth Sunday After Epiphany, February 6, 2022. Now I should remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you Continue Reading

Shortfall

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A reflection on Luke 5:1-11 for the Fifth Sunday After Epiphany, February 6, 2022. Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear Continue Reading

Holy

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A reflection on Isaiah 6:1-13 and Psalm 138 for the Fifth Sunday After Epiphany, February 6, 2022. In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the Continue Reading

Agape

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A reflection on 1 Corinthians 13 for the Fourth Sunday After Epiphany, January 30, 2022. If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging Continue Reading

Home

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A reflection on Luke 4:21-30 for the Fourth Sunday After Epiphany, January 30, 2022. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of Continue Reading

Pluck and Plant

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A reflection on Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Psalm 71:1-6 for the Fourth Sunday After Epiphany, January 30, 2022. Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb Continue Reading

Body

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A reflection on 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 for the Third Sunday After Epiphany, January 23, 2022. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are Continue Reading

Jubilee

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A reflection on Luke 4:14-21 for the Third Sunday After Epiphany, January 23, 2022. Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through Continue Reading

Opening the Book

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A reflection on Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, & 8-10, and Psalm 19 for the Third Sunday After Epiphany, January 23, 2022. …all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They Continue Reading

Gift Giver

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A reflection on 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 for the Second Sunday After Epiphany, January 16, 2022. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know Continue Reading

First Sign

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A reflection on John 2:1-11 for the Second Sunday After Epiphany, January 16, 2022. On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his Continue Reading

God’s Delight

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A reflection on Isaiah 62:1-5 and Psalm 36:5-10 for the Second Sunday After Epiphany, January 16, 2022. For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,    and for Jerusalem’s sake I Continue Reading

Our Baptism

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A reflection on Acts 8:14-17 for the Baptism of the Lord, Sunday, January 9, 2022. Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Continue Reading

Expectation

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A reflection on Luke 3:15-22 for the Baptism of the Lord, Sunday, January 9, 2022. As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether Continue Reading

Gathering Everything

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A reflection on Ephesians 1:1-14 for the Second Sunday After Christmas Day, January 2, 2021. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every Continue Reading

Revealing Word

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A reflection on John 1:1-18 for the Second Sunday After Christmas Day, January 2, 2021. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the Continue Reading

Always Growing

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A reflection on Colossians 3:12-17 for the First Sunday After Christmas Day, December 26, 2021. As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, Continue Reading

A God Who Grows

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A reflection on Luke 2:41-52 for the First Sunday After Christmas Day, December 26, 2021. Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was Continue Reading

Growing In God

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A reflection on 1 Samuel 2:18-26 and Psalm 148 for the First Sunday After Christmas Day, December 26, 2021. Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy wearing a linen ephod. His Continue Reading

The Will of God

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A reflection on Hebrews 10:5-10 for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 19, 2021. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not Continue Reading

Mary’s Song

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A reflection on Luke 1:39-55 for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 19, 2021. In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the Continue Reading

The Hope of Repentance

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A reflection on Luke 3:7-18 for the Third Sunday of Advent, December 12, 2021. John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the Continue Reading

God Among Us

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A reflection on Zephaniah 3:14-20 and Isaiah 12:2-6 for the Third Sunday of Advent, December 12, 2021. Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;    shout, O Israel!Rejoice and exult with Continue Reading

Restoration

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A reflection on Micah 5:2-5a and Psalm 80:1-7 for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 19, 2021. But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,    who are one of the little clans of Continue Reading

Hope Beyond Hope

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A reflection on Philippians 1:1-11 for The Second Sunday of Advent, December 5, 2021. Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with Continue Reading

A Cry from the Edge

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A reflection on Luke 3:1-6 for the Second Sunday of Advent, December 5, 2021. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was Continue Reading

Seeking the Refiner

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A reflection on Malachi 3:1-4 and Luke 1:67-80 for The Second Sunday of Advent, December 5, 2021. See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will Continue Reading

Waiting in Prayer

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A reflection on 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 for the First Sunday of Advent, November 28, 2021. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of Continue Reading

Sign Sighting

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A reflection on Luke 21:25-38 for the First Sunday of Advent, November 28, 2021. ‘There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the Continue Reading

The Wait

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A reflection on Jeremiah 33:14-16 and Psalm 25:1-10 for the First Sunday of Advent, November 28, 2021. The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfil the promise I made to Continue Reading

Story Time: Fish Nets

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A reflection on Matthew 13:47-50 for Sunday, September 12, 2021 at Mosaic Baptist Church ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every Continue Reading

Story Time: Treasure

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A reflection on Matthew 13:44-46 for Sunday, September 5, 2021 at Mosaic Baptist Church ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he Continue Reading

Story Time: Yeast

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A reflection on Matthew 13:33 for Sunday, August 22, 2021 at Mosaic Baptist Church He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in Continue Reading

Rest On Grace

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A reflection on Romans 4:13-25 for the Second Sunday in Lent, February 28, 2021. For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but Continue Reading

Finding Profit

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A reflection on Mark 8:31-38 for the Second Sunday in Lent, February 28, 2021 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the Continue Reading

A New Name

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A reflection on Genesis 17:1-7 & 15-16 and Psalm 22:23-31 for the Second Sunday in Lent, February 28, 2021. When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and Continue Reading

A Living Lent

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May 12, 2015 By Mark Beresford  (Edit) . A Sermon for the First Sunday in Lent February 22, 2015 (Genesis 9:8-17; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:9-15) Peter’s understanding of Continue Reading

Invited

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A reflection on 1 Peter 3:18-22 for the First Sunday in Lent, February 21, 2021 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He Continue Reading

Turning and Trusting

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A reflection on Mark 1:9-15 for the First Sunday in Lent, February 21, 2021 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was Continue Reading

Signalling Covenant

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A reflection on Genesis 9:8-17 and Psalm 25:1-10 for the First Sunday in Lent, February 21, 2020. Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him,  ‘As for me, I am establishing my covenant Continue Reading

A Fragile Treasure

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A reflection on 2 Corinthians 4:3-12 for Transfiguration Sunday, February 14, 2021 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this Continue Reading

Jesus Revealed

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A reflection on Mark 9:2-9 for Transfiguration Sunday, February 14, 2021 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he Continue Reading

Summoning the Faithful

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A reflection on 2 Kings 2:1-12 and Psalm 50:1-6 for Transfiguration Sunday, February 14, 2021. Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha Continue Reading

The Working Apostle

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A reflection on 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 for the Fifth Sunday After Epiphany, February 7, 2021 If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and Continue Reading

Revealing Authority

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A reflection on Mark 1:29-39 for the Fifth Sunday After Epiphany, February 7, 2021 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Continue Reading

A Working God

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A reflection on Isaiah 40:21-31 and Psalm 147:1-11 for the Fiflth Sunday After Epiphany, February 7, 2021 Have you not known? Have you not heard?    Has it not been told you Continue Reading

Prioritising Grace

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A reflection on 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 for the Fourth Sunday After Epiphany, January 31, 2021 Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that ‘all of us possess knowledge.’ Knowledge puffs Continue Reading

Revealing Authority

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A reflection on Mark 1:21-28 for the Fourth Sunday After Epiphany, January 31, 2021 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were Continue Reading

Finding Wisdom

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A reflection on Deuteronomy 18:15-20 and Psalm 111 for the Fourth Sunday After Epiphany, January 31, 2021 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; Continue Reading

Living in the Light

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A reflection on 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 for the Third Sunday After Epiphany, January 24, 2021 I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have Continue Reading

People Fishing

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A reflection on Mark 1:14-20 for the Third Sunday After Epiphany, January 24, 2021 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is Continue Reading

Confronting Love

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A reflection on Jonah 3:1-10 and Psalm 62:5-12 for the Third Sunday After Epiphany, January 24, 2021 The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ‘Get up, go to Continue Reading

A Humble Listening

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A reflection on 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 for the Second Sunday After Epiphany, January 17, 2021 ‘All things are lawful for me’, but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful for me’, but Continue Reading

Already Known

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A reflection on John 1:43-51 for the Second Sunday After Epiphany, January 17, 2021 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was Continue Reading

Learning to Listen

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A reflection on 1 Samuel 3:1-10 & Psalm 139:1-5 & 12-18 for the Second Sunday After Epiphany, January 17, 2021 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word Continue Reading

Baptising the Messiah

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A reflection on Mark 1:4-11 for ‘The Baptism of Our Lord’ Sunday - January 10, 2021. John the baptiser appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of Continue Reading

The Power of a Word

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A reflection on Genesis 1:1-5 & Psalm 29 for ‘The Baptism of Our Lord’ Sunday - January 10, 2021 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless Continue Reading

Advent Sunday: Hope

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A reflection on 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 for Advent Sunday, 29 November, 2020. Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God Continue Reading

Advent Sunday: Hope

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A reflection on Mark 13:24-37 for Advent Sunday, November 29, 2020. But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened,    and the moon will not give its light, and the Continue Reading

Advent Sunday: Hope

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A reflection on Isaiah 64:1-9 and Psalm 80:1-7 & 17-19 for Advent Sunday, November 29, 2020. O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,    so that the mountains would quake at Continue Reading

A Living Lent

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This sermon was originally preached in the parish of St Barnabas, Charnwood in 2015. The readings are the same ones set for Sunday, 21 February, 2021 - so I offer it again for your Continue Reading

Homosexuality in Sodom?

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A reflection on Genesis 1:19:1-11 and Jude 7. The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and bowed down with Continue Reading

Big ‘B’ Baptists

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Reflections on the removal of Canberra Baptist Church and Hamilton Baptist Church from the Baptist Association of NSW and ACT. Over the weekend the Baptist Assembly of NSW and the ACT voted to Continue Reading

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