Matt Garvin

Why Hope Matters More Than Ever Hope is the conviction that the future is good and worth moving toward. Yet many people today feel uncertain about where the world is heading. The real question is not whether we have hope, but where that hope comes from. When people build their own maps for life, they often get lost. Real hope is not invented. It is discovered.

Today we completed a six week series trying to name how followers of Jesus actually make a difference using the acronym BLESS.

It culminated today talking about hope.

Every human being lives from hope.
The real question is what that hope is built on.

Serving Needs: How Ordinary Life Reveals God’s Justice and Mercy Serving needs means closing the gap between the world as it is and the world as it would be if God’s justice and mercy were present. This article explores the simple rhythm of prayer, listening, and shared life that leads to meaningful Christian service.

What if making a difference in the world starts closer to home than we think? A simple rhythm leads to serving needs and reveals God’s character.

Six Ways We Structure Time — And Why It Matters. We structure time in six basic ways — withdrawal, ritual, pastime, activity, psychological games, and intimacy. Most of us move between them without noticing. But these patterns shape our relationships, our church life, and even our sense of hope. Which one dominates your life? And what would it take to move toward real intimacy?

We don’t just pass time — we structure it.

Withdrawal. Ritual. Pastime. Activity. Games. Intimacy.

Which one shapes your relationships most?

In a lonely culture, this matters more than we think.

Eat With People — But Don’t Hide at the Table Most meals don’t change anyone’s life. But Jesus changed the world while sitting at tables. In a culture drowning in loneliness, eating together is not enough. Real connection requires welcome, honesty, and courage. Don’t hide behind distraction or polite conversation. Be present. Be truthful. See people — and let yourself be seen.

Eating with people doesn’t automatically create intimacy.
Jesus’ meals changed lives because He welcomed deeply and spoke truth clearly.

In a culture drowning in loneliness, presence matters.
Don’t hide at the table.

Listening as Mercy: Why It Changes Everything We never arrive neutrally. We carry assumptions, categories, and pictures of how things should be. But Jesus calls us beyond our assumptions and into mercy. And mercy begins with listening.

It might be simple but its all too rare and Bonhoeffer puts his finger on the core issues...

The Way Requires Training Following Jesus is not just about belief or good intentions. The New Testament describes Christianity as “the Way” — a lived pattern of life. Spiritual growth requires training, intentional practices, and daily alignment with the kingdom we have already been brought into by grace.

I’ve been thinking a lot about training lately.
Not just physical training — although the photo might suggest that — but the kind of training that shapes a life.
It’s not enough to want to follow Jesus. It’s not enough to mean well. If we want to become people who actually reflect hope in the plac

Is group decision making possible? This article introduces a framework for corporate discernment in Baptist churches that moves beyond reactive problem-solving. By slowing down to name where we are, where Jesus is leading us, and how we respond, churches can surface assumptions, attend to Scripture, resist cultural pressures, and learn to listen faithfully together under Christ.

Our church has a number of important decisions coming up in the months ahead and I've been thinking about how its possible to make good decisions in a group of people.

What Makes a Nation? Faith, Story, and Aboriginal Sunday Australia Day raises a deeper question than a date: what actually makes a nation? A reflection on story, faith, and why Aboriginal Sunday matters for Christians today.

I shared some reflections today on Australia Day, national stories, and why Aboriginal Sunday matters for Christians.

It’s not about sameness, but learning how to be one — honestly and faithfully.

Books I read in 2025 This year’s reading traced a clear thread—from the person of Jesus, to the life of the church, to the cultural forces shaping our shared reality. These books challenged easy assumptions, deepened discipleship, and helped name the moment we are living in, with clarity, humility, and hope.

A few people have asked what I’ve been reading this year, so I thought I’d share. These books have helped me think more clearly about Jesus, the church, leadership, and the cultural moment we’re living in. Not all light reads, but all worth the time.

Why the Lights of Christmas Change Everything Christmas lights are more than decoration. They remind us that light comes into darkness, that sadness is sometimes sane, and that Christmas invites us into a different reality shaped by love.

I realised today that Christmas lights are not just pretty - they are revolutionary.

The Real Story Behind Santa Claus (And What We’ve Lost Along the Way) We all know Santa as a symbol of cheer, but we’ve forgotten the real story. Nicholas confronted injustice, led his city through famine, and rescued vulnerable young women with quiet generosity. Culture softened the truth, packaged it, and sold it back to us — and we lost something important along the way. This Christmas, we need that deeper story again.

Santa didn’t start as a magical elf or a marketing mascot. The original Nicholas challenged corruption, fed a starving city, and quietly helped the vulnerable. His story might be exactly what we need this Christmas.

Ephesians 4: A Vision of Church Most of Us Have Never Seen Have you ever felt there must be more to church than good music and friendly faces? Ephesians 4 reveals a vision of community that’s deeper, harder, and more beautiful than we imagine—a people united in love, growing into maturity, and reflecting the multi-coloured wisdom of God.

I’ve been sitting with Ephesians 4, and it’s really challenged how I think about church. It’s not about services or programs—it’s about people learning to love, speak truth, and grow up together. Here’s what that vision looks like:

Why You Can’t Trust Yourself—And What Ephesians 2 Teaches Instead We’re told to “trust ourselves,” but Paul says otherwise. In Ephesians 2, he uncovers the truth about the world, the flesh, and the devil—and the grace that gives us a new identity in Christ. When we stop building on self and trust him instead, everything changes.

We’re told every day to “trust yourself.” But Paul says something completely different.
True freedom begins when we stop trusting ourselves and start trusting Jesus.

Rethinking the “Great Commission”: 5 Surprising Truths Christians Overlook Most Christians think Jesus’ mission was simply to “go and preach.” But the real Great Commission calls us to much more—a life of apprenticeship, trust, and courage. Discover five surprising truths that reveal what Jesus actually meant when He said “Go.”

Rethinking the “Great Commission”: 5 Surprising Truths Christians Overlook

Most Christians think Jesus’ mission was simply to “go and preach.” But the real Great Commission calls us to much more—a life of apprenticeship, trust, and courage. Discover five surprising truths that reveal what Jesus…

What the church is meant to be The church was never meant to be a service to attend or a hierarchy to climb. Jesus calls us to be His witnesses: a body where every part matters, a family where every member belongs, and a temple where God dwells by His Spirit.

What if church wasn’t something you go to, but something you are? A body, a family, a home for God’s Spirit... This is what I've been wrestling with.

How the Cross Changes Your Life The cross isn’t just a symbol — it’s where God meets us in our pain, carries evil, and transforms suffering into hope. Discover why Jesus’ death and resurrection still change everything for how we live today.

The cross isn’t just a symbol. It’s where justice and grace meet, where pain is transformed into hope, and where you discover you are never alone. ✝️
#Jesus #Cross #Hope #Faith #Grace #Christianity #ProblemOfEvil #Discipleship

Who Is God? We often picture God as a projection, a genie, or a distant watchmaker. But in Exodus 34, God reveals His glory: compassion, mercy, justice, and truth. This revelation gives us a framework for life and calls us to reflect His character in our families, communities, and the world.

Who Is God?

We often picture God as a projection, a genie, or a distant watchmaker. But in Exodus 34, God reveals His glory: compassion, mercy, justice, and truth. This revelation gives us a framework for life and calls us to reflect His character in our families, communities, and the world.

You Are Both Beautiful and Broken The first chapters of Genesis reveal a profound truth: you are both beautiful and broken. Made in God’s image, you carry incredible value. But you also wrestle with sin, shame, and brokenness. The good news is grace meets you in that tension—and it changes everything.

I’ve had to face it: I’m both beautiful and broken. Genesis says that’s true for all of us—and that’s exactly where God’s grace shows up.

Reality is Not What You Think We’ve been taught to “live our truth,” but the Bible tells us reality isn’t what we think. Sin is choosing our version of truth over God’s. Repentance and faith aren’t just how you start the Christian life — they are how you live it every day.

We like to think we see life as it really is. But the truth is our perspective is limited, fragile, and often shaped by false stories. The Bible tells us reality isn’t what we think — and faith begins with learning to trust God’s reality instead of our own.

A Bigger Story: How the Real Gospel Changes Everything The gospel is more than a quick fix for sin. It’s an invitation to live from a new foundation—God’s reality. These six levels of repentance help us name the tensions we carry and discover a better way to live, rooted in God’s truth, grace, and a vision of new creation.

We’ve sold the gospel short. It’s not just about heaven after we die. It’s about living from a whole new foundation—now. These six levels of repentance help us face what’s really going on and discover what it means to follow Jesus for real.

How to Change the World When Paul entered Ephesus, he didn’t bring a strategy—he looked for what God was already doing. Acts 19–20 shows us how real change happens: by surrendering to Jesus, being open to the Holy Spirit, and confronting the idols of money, power, and control. That’s how churches—and cities—are transformed.

Ever wondered what it really takes to change the world? Spoiler alert: it’s not programs or power. It’s a bunch of ordinary people saying yes to Jesus, open to the Holy Spirit, and willing to let go of control. Acts 19–20 shows how it happens—one surrendered life at a time.

Which Version of Christianity Are You Living? Paul and Apollos both preached Jesus as Messiah. But not everyone meant the same thing when they used that word—and we still don’t. From prosperity to self-help, we’ve created different versions of Christianity that serve us instead of Jesus. So the real question is: which version are you living?

Here’s a reflection on why it matters so much which version of Christianity you believe.

The Heresy That Shaped the Church: How Acts 10 Breaks Down Our Barriers As culture grows increasingly divided, the church is called to be a counterculture of radical unity. Acts 10 reveals God’s heart to break down barriers and welcome all people. True church isn’t about comfort or sameness, but about diverse people growing together in Christ, reflecting Jesus’ prayer for perfect unity.

We’ve built churches that keep us comfortable. But Acts 10 reminds us: Jesus is calling us to something far more beautiful. This one’s pretty close to my heart.

"A whole new generation of Christians has come up believing that it is possible to 'accept' Christ without forsaking the world."
A W Tozer

Why Christianity is not safe Christianity was never meant to be safe. The book of Acts shows us a revolution of love, truth, healing, and surrender. When Jesus is truly Lord, everything changes—our priorities, our relationships, our mission. The early church didn’t play religious games. They lived lives that turned the world upside down. So should we.

What if Christianity was never meant to be safe? What if following Jesus actually changes everything? Here’s why Acts still turns the world upside down…

The Only Way Forward Is to Remember Who We Are The future of the church won’t be found in preserving buildings or replicating past models—it will be found in recovering the heart that shaped them. Mary Ann Gibson’s faith, courage, and hospitality lit a fire in Tasmania. The question for us is: will we follow that same Spirit today?

We've just come back from our church camp at Perth, Tasmania. I left inspired by the history I discovered and the people I met. This is what I spoke about on the weekend.

The clash of Kingdoms in Acts 3-4 The early church wasn’t built on hype or strategy—it was built on the living presence of Jesus. In Acts, we see heaven and earth overlapping through ordinary people. Their lives, marked by justice, mercy, and compassion, became the new temple. This is our calling too: bold, witness in a divided world.

Ever wonder what made the early church so compelling? It wasn’t flash or hype—it was the way their lives pointed to something real. This week I’ve been reflecting on how Acts shows us a whole new way of being human. Have a read—keen to hear what you think.

The Real Beginning of the Church The first chapter of Acts reminds us that Jesus is still alive, still working, and still inviting us to be part of His kingdom. The church isn’t about carrying out a project — it’s about being witnesses to a different kind of life, rooted in sacrificial love, with Jesus still on the throne.

The Real Beginning of the Church

The first chapter of Acts reminds us that Jesus is still alive, still working, and still inviting us to be part of His kingdom. The church isn’t about carrying out a project — it’s about being witnesses to a different kind of life, rooted in sacrificial love, with…

its amazing how chatgpt knows everything about subjects I know nothing about, but is wrong like 40% of the time in things im an expert on. not going to think about this any further