We are Exiles

1 Peter 2:11–2:17


While we live as elect exiles, we can’t drink from the spring of living water while at the same time poisoning it with the sin of the flesh. Our right thinking ought to shape our right living. If we are in Christ, we will abstain from sin, pursue a life of beauty, and honour all — even government.

Living in what was the world’s most locked down city and coming out to vaccine mandates and political tension can make it hard to want to obey the government. But Peter wrote this letter during the time of Nero. So we submit in recognition that God is sovereign over all, and has all authority. The purpose of the government is to work for good and restrain evil. If they fail, we can speak out and shine light against authority that is misusing power and acting contrary to the goodness and grace of God. In the end, governments will give account to God. Until then, we submit to the king and honour one another — that “through our good acts we should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people” (1 Peter 2:15).

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27 Feb 2022

Guy Mason

Guy is the founding and Senior Pastor of City on a Hill, a church that began in 2007 with a small team and a big vision. Today City on a Hill is a movement of many churches that gathers across multiple locations, in different cities and is united around the central mission of knowing Jesus and making Jesus known. Guy is a passionate communicator of the gospel who is committed to engaging culture with the beauty, truth, and relevance of Jesus. Guy graduated with a BA in Public Relations from RMIT University, has a Masters of Divinity from Ridley College and is currently completing a Doctorate of Ministry with Wheaton College. He is the husband to Vanessa and the father to four children. He is an ordained Anglican Minister and serves as an Archdeacon in the Diocese of Melbourne.

27 Feb 2022

Guy Mason

Guy is the founding and Senior Pastor of City on a Hill, a church that began in 2007 with a small team and a big vision. Today City on a Hill is a movement of many churches that gathers across multiple locations, in different cities and is united around the central mission of knowing Jesus and making Jesus known. Guy is a passionate communicator of the gospel who is committed to engaging culture with the beauty, truth, and relevance of Jesus. Guy graduated with a BA in Public Relations from RMIT University, has a Masters of Divinity from Ridley College and is currently completing a Doctorate of Ministry with Wheaton College. He is the husband to Vanessa and the father to four children. He is an ordained Anglican Minister and serves as an Archdeacon in the Diocese of Melbourne.

27 Feb 2022

Sam Low

Sam joined the team in 2018 as one of our inaugural church planting residents in our Planters Academy. Sam is now the Lead Pastor of City on a Hill Gold Coast which launched publicly in 2020. Sam has a passion to see people discover the life, joy, and hope that is only found in Jesus. He loves to preach the bible to whoever will listen and is energised by seeing leaders developed and released to use their gifts and passions for God’s glory. Sam is married to Sally and they have three sons Bailey, Hudson and Zion. He is an ordained Anglican Minister.

27 Feb 2022

Leigh DiProse

Leigh and his wife Helen have been married for 45 years. Together they have had 43 years in Baptist Pastoral ministry in both country and city church landscapes. Being farm raised, both Leigh and Helen love animals and country culture. Together they have complemented one another in ministry as a dynamic team. With four children and nine grandchildren, they are now regularly involved in their 'Ma and Pa' roles! Since retiring from full time ministry he has set up a ministry called ‘Roving Revs’ to give encouraging support to Pastors for ministry continuance. He also serves as lay pastor at City on a Hill Melbourne West where his key responsibilities entail praying, mentoring, discipling, showing pastoral care, encouraging evangelism, preaching and teaching and lending support to the pastoral team.

27 Feb 2022

Mike Wziontek

Mike is the Community Pastor at City on a Hill Brisbane. He is married to Sarah and they have two young daughters, Elle and Lily. He loves engaging with people from all walks of life, and is passionate about the life-changing message of Jesus. He also enjoys playing or watching all types of sport and trying a new cafe or craft beer.

27 Feb 2022

Rhys Bezzant

Rhys is Dean of Missional Leadership and a lecturer in Christian Thought at Ridley College, Melbourne. He lectures in Church History, Theology and Christian Worship, and is the Director of the Jonathan Edwards Center for Australia. He joined the Faculty at Ridley in 2004, after working in both parish and student ministry. While at Ridley he has also served a number of locums and loves to preach for friends who are on holidays!

27 Feb 2022

Neil Castle

Neil is the Executive Pastor of City on a Hill Melbourne East. He is married to Kirsty and has two children. He loves music, playing guitar, and wrestling with his kids. Neil has a Bachelor of Theology from Ridley College, and a Diploma of Music from Box Hill Institute.

27 Feb 2022

Andrew Grills

Andrew is the Lead Pastor of City on a Hill Geelong. He has spent most of his life as an officer in the Australian Army. Graduating with the Sword of Honour from the Australian Defence Force Academy, he served in Infantry and Intelligence, including operations in East Timor with the commandos. He holds a postgraduate degree in International Relations from Oxford University and an MDiv from Ridley College. Andrew later became an Army Chaplain at the Australian Recruit Training Centre at Kapooka, before leaving the full time Army in 2013 to plant City on a Hill Geelong. Andrew has been married to his beautiful wife Danna for over 20 years and has five young children. He loves the ocean, traveling, camping, playing with his kids (including attending their innumerable sporting matches), and reading military history.