St Stephen's Whangaparaoa - Sermons

Jesus is Baptised

17/1/2020

Preacher: Roy Smith [Text Matthew 3: 13-17]

Jesus our Lord lowers himself to the depth of us failed human beings. He is the Beloved Son of the Living God. His baptism was unnecessary regarding the repentance from sin, nevertheless, Jesus shows us the importance of submitting to God’s law, God’s will for mankind

2020-01-12_jesus_is_baptised_-_sermon.pdf
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What we learn from the Magi

5/1/2020

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Matthew 2:1-12]
The Wisemen, the Magi, travel from afar to honour the newborn Jesus. What can we learn from them?

In this talk, Ian starts by summarising a Blog posting by Dr Peter Gainsford who shows that Christmas has not borrowed from pagan sources. That Blog post can be found here:
http://kiwihellenist.blogspot.com/2015/12/christmas-and-its-supposed-pagan-links.html

200105_what_we_learn_from_the_magi.pdf
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Finding Hope and Purpose for 2020

28/12/2019

Preacher: Helen Hardcastle [Text: Isaiah 63:7-9; Hebrews 2:10-18; Matthew 2:13-23]
Helen draws from the account of the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt some principles to help us in our life and walk with God through all the joys and difficulties of life.

19-12-29_finding_hope_and_purpose.pdf
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Not Offended

15/12/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Matthew 11:2-11; Isaiah 35:1-10; James 5:7-10]
It wasn't easy for John. He'd announced Jesus as the Messiah, but now he was in prison and was Jesus actually the One? Jesus said, "Blessed is the One who is not offended by me." We can be offended at God; we can grow hardened or bitter. How might we respond to difficulties in life so this does not happen?

191215_not_offended.pdf
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The Jesse Tree

8/12/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12]
Have you heard of the Jesse Tree? Based on Isaiah's prophecy of the Messiah we trace today how the Bible points us to the future return and reign of Jesus.

191208_jesse_tree.pdf
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The World's Last Night

1/12/2019

Preacher: Capt Peter Lloyd [Text: Matthew 24:36-44]
As we enter Advent our attention is drawn to the Second Coming. What does Jesus teach about it here in Matthew?

191201_the_worlds_last_night.pdf
File Size:	665 kb
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Is your King big enough?

29/11/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Colossians 1:11-20 ; Luke 23:33-43]
Christ the King Sunday - the end of the Church year. Jesus is King. Jeremiah looked forward to him; at the Cross it is proclaimed as Jesus triumphed over evil; Paul looks behind the scenes to tell us the wonder of who he is.

191128_is_your_king_big_enough.pdf
File Size:	613 kb
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Erebus Memorial Service

28/11/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle.
This was a service to commemorate the Erebus Disaster and those who died on that flight on 28/11/1979.

erebus_liturgy.pdf
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19-11-28_erebus_sermon.pdf
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Baptism

17/11/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:1-5]
Today we have an adult baptism. It's always exciting as we witness the commitment, the new-found faith, the joy of knowing Jesus. Today, with the children in for the baptism, we will have a brief look at what scripture says about baptism.

191117_baptism.pdf
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Our Hope of the Resurrection

10/11/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Luke 20:27-38; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17]
What do you make of the resurrection? Jesus believed in it. Paul believed in it. What about you?

191110_resurrection.pdf
File Size:	679 kb
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Report on Kondoa Mission Project

27/10/2019

Preacher: Capt Peter Lloyd. Team members: The Revd Don Battley and Gill Henderson.
[Texts: Isaiah 60:1-3; Acts 16:6-10; Matthew 10:1-10]
The review team give feedback to the parish about the integrity and future of our support for Kondoa Diocese - reporting that their findings are positive. All financial matters were properly authorised by Vestry and AGMs as appropriate. Our work has been done in co-operation with CMS and the Board of Missions and has their support and encouragement. There is good fruit and they recommend we continue.

Below you will find the recording of their presentation and the written report of their findings.

kondoa_report.pdf
File Size:	241 kb
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The Word of God

20/10/2019

Preacher: Helen [Text: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5]

191020_word_of_god_is_useful.pdf
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Be Strong; Be Diligent

13/10/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: 2 Tim 2:1-15]
Paul urges Timothy and us to be strong in the grace of Christ and to be diligent in his faith.

191013_be_strong_be_diligent.pdf
File Size:	466 kb
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Don’t be Afraid or Ashamed! Be ready to suffer! Guard the Deposit!

6/10/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: 2 Timothy 1:1-14] The first in a series of sermons on 2nd Timothy.
Paul exhorts Timothy his disciple not to be afraid, not to be ashamed, to be ready to suffer and to guard the good deposit entrusted to him. The same message applies to us all - but the good part is that he tells us to do these things in the power of the Spirit and the grace of Jesus.

191006_2tim1.pdf
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Planks and Sawdust

29/9/2019

Preacher: Peter Lloyd [Text: Colossians 3:8-17]
In this portion of his letter, Paul addresses behaviours. We need to consider how we respond for ourselves and for others. Peter offers some principles and some ways to handle these concepts.

190929_planks_and_sawdust.pdf
File Size:	622 kb
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Trustworthy?

22/9/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Luke 16:1-13]
The Unjust Steward - a difficult parable. What should we make of it? Read the sermon to see what Jesus' challenge is to us, today.

190922_trustworthy.pdf
File Size:	637 kb
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God with us

8/9/2019

Preacher: Tony Jee

Live in Him

18/8/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Colossians 2:6-23]
Having established his credentials with them, Paul challenges the false teachings which threaten the faith of the Christians at Colossae. While we may not be subject to exactly the same errors, there are common principles which are valuable for us as we face the challenges of today's world and its thinking.

190818_live_in_him.pdf
File Size:	463 kb
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The Trustworthiness of Paul: Presenting the Gentile Christ

11/8/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Colossians 1:24 - 2:5]
Paul here argues for his trustworthiness - that the Colossian Church should listen to him. Will we too give Paul credence? Much hangs on believing his words - this is the man who made the Jewish Messiah available to the Gentiles as the Christ.

190811_jewish_messiah_-_gentile_christ.pdf
File Size:	466 kb
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St Stephen: Challenging Culture

4/8/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Acts 7:51-60; Matthew 23:34-39]
Our patron saint is Stephen. What can we learn from his example? One thing we see is that he stood his ground for the gospel. How well do we do on that front?

190804_stephen_-_challenging_culture.pdf
File Size:	478 kb
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