Category: - St Stephen's Whangaparaoa

The Spirit of Adoption

9/6/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Acts 2:1-21; Romans 8:14-17; John 14:8-17]
At Pentecost we celebrate the release of the Holy Spirit to the Church. An aspect of His ministry is to adopt as sons - heirs - of God. Let's see what Paul has to tell us about this aspect of the Spirit's work and how we benefit.

190609_the_spirit_of_adoption.pdf
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The Ascension: Promises, Enthronement, Empowerment

2/6/2019

190602_ascension.pdf
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Heavenly Glory: New Earth and Living Water

19/5/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Revelation 21:1-6]
The readings in Revelation through the Easter Season paint a picture of the heavenly glory of Jesus. Let's look more closely at this glory and the things to come....

190519_new_earth_and_water_of_life.pdf
File Size:	460 kb
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Stephen - full of the Spirit

5/8/2018

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Acts 6; Acts 7:55-60; Matthew 23:34-39]
Our church is named after Stephen. What has he to teach us today? What can we learn from his life and death?

180805_stephen_full_of_the_spirit.pdf
File Size:	475 kb
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Ascended, Enthroned, Glorified

13/5/2018

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:15-23]
Christ ascended into heaven: What does that signify - more than you might think. Read on to explore some ideas of its meaning for us.

180513_ascension.pdf
File Size:	459 kb
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The Essential Spirit

7/1/2018

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Genesis 1:1-5; Acts 19:1-7 ; Mark 1:4-11]
We see the Holy Spirit at work in creation, in anointing the Messiah for his mission, in equipping the new believer to follow Christ. At Jesus' baptism he received the Spirit and a word of the the Father. We too need to know the word of the Father and the filling of the Spirit to our hearts.

180107_the_essential_spirit.pdf
File Size:	475 kb
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Pentecost - Our Church's Birthday

4/6/2017

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Numbers 11:24-30; Acts 2:1-21; John 7:37-39]
We often say Pentecost is the Birthday of the church. Today, we look at this and a local significance!

170604_pentecost.pdf
File Size:	507 kb
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Revealing Jesus

15/1/2017

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Isaiah 49:1-7; John 1:29-42]
In John the Baptist and his disciples we see an example of good discipleship - has Jesus been revealed to you? Will you follow him? Will you tell others?

170115_revealing_jesus.pdf
File Size:	505 kb
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Pentecost is utterly amazing!

15/5/2016

Preacher: Tony Jee [Texts: Acts 2:1-21 ; Romans 8:12-16; John 14:8-17, 25-27]
Tony is amazed - blown away - by God and how he does things ...

Becoming the Dwelling Place of God

20/12/2015

Preacher: Helen Hardcastle [Text: Luke 1:39-45]
Mary carried the unborn child who was God! When she visited Elizabeth, the unborn John was filled with the Holy Spirit. How can you be more open to allowing God to find a dwelling in you?

151220_becoming_the_dwelling_place_of_god.pdf
File Size:	567 kb
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Relationships that Work

18/10/2015

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Ephesians 5:21-33]
Marriage relationships, submission but actually there is a lot here about Christ and the Church. Actually we find more is asked of the husband than the wife. Read on...

151018_relationships_that_work.pdf
File Size:	444 kb
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The Flow of the Life of the Spirit

11/10/2015

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Ephesians 5:15-22]
Paul leads us on from the negatives to avoid to the instruction to be filled with the Holy Spirit and helps us explore the outflow of the Spirit in our lives.

151011_the_flow_of_the_spirit.pdf
File Size:	399 kb
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It's War!

7/6/2015

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Mark 3:20-35; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1]
We are in the midst of a spiritual battle - it is naive to think otherwise. Jesus shows us and instructs us in today's reading.

150607_it_is_war.pdf
File Size:	392 kb
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The Guarantee of the Holy Spirit

24/5/2015

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Acts 2:1-21; Romans 8:22-27; John 15:26-27; 16:4a-15]
The gift of the Holy Spirit is more than interesting history or exciting power, it is a promise within us from the Father of what he will give us....

150524_the_guarantee_of_the_holy_spirit.pdf
File Size:	447 kb
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Obedient, Alert, Faithful

2/2/2014

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Malachi 3:1-5; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40]
The baby Jesus is first brought to the temple and recognised by Simeon and Anna. From them we learn of a long obedience, alertness to the Spirit and faithfulness.

140202_obedient_alert_faithful.pdf
File Size:	303 kb
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Words of Knowledge

19/1/2014

[Preacher: Ian Hardcastle. Texts: 2 Kings 6:9-17 ; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John4:4-19,28]
Words of Knowledge - What are they? What are the dangers? What can we learn from the Bible?

140119_words_of_knowledge_pub.pdf
File Size:	361 kb
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Virgin Birth

22/12/2013

[Preacher: Ian Hardcastle. Text: Isaiah 7:10-16; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25]
There is no getting away from it - the Bible presents us with a miraculous event in the conception of Jesus. How do we cope with the idea of miracles?

131222_virgin_birth.pdf
File Size:	393 kb
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Advent 2: Once and Future King

8/12/2013

[Preacher: Ian Hardcastle; Texts: Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Mattehw 3:1-12]
Repentance and 7 Spirits of God

131208_advent_2_the_once_and_future_king.pdf
File Size:	267 kb
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Trinity

26/5/2013

On Trinity Sunday Helen expounds on John 16:12-15 and takes us into some thoughts on what the fact that God is Trinity means for us.

Established, Empowered, Adopted

19/5/2013

[Preacher: Ian Hardcastle. Texts:Acts 2:1-21; Romans 8: 14-17; John 14:8-17; 25-27 ]
Pentecost and its outworkings for us today.

130519_pentecost_-_adoption.pdf
File Size:	190 kb
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