St Stephen's Whangaparaoa - Sermons

Faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ

14/8/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-12; Genesis 15:1-6]
What is faith? We explore this topic with the case study of Abraham, pulling in Jenga blocks and Indiana Jones to help us on the way.
We learn that faith rests on the Word of God. Also included in this post is a set of promise cards which may be a helpful resource for you as you build your foundations of God's promises.

2022-08-14_faith_comes_from_the_word_of_god.pdf
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Promise Sheet. Click to download this page.

Stephen: A Man of Perception, Purpose and Power

7/8/2022

Preacher: Peter Lloyd [Acts 7:51-60]
Peter takes a look at Stephen the first Christian martyr. He was called to serve out food but developed into a powerful preacher, defender of the faith and by God's grace worked miracles.

Colossians 3 - New Clothes for Old in Christ

31/7/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21; Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23]

As we continue through Colossians we move from the high description of who Christ is and how he has rescued us to the practical outworking in our lives. Paul tells us some things in us need to be put to death and we need to strip off some behaviours like dirty clothes and put on fresh clean clothes.

2022-07-31_new_clothes_for_old_in_christ.pdf
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Colossians: Encouragement for the Journey

24/7/2022

Preacher: Peter Lloyd [Texts: Colossians 2:6-15]
Peter shared from Colossians 2:6-15. He reflected on four of St Paul's principles on how to handle times of uncertainty. No matter what the world throw at us, no matter how dire the circumstances are, we know that God is looking after us.

2022-07-24_encouragments_for_the_journey.pdf
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Overdelivering with God

17/7/2022

Preacher: The Ven Jonathan Gale [Texts: Genesis 18:1-10a; Colossians 1:15-28 ; Luke 10:38-42]
Jonathan, our Archdeacon, and paid us a visit this Sunday. He laid before us a vision of Christ and his Kingdom as the basis for our motivation. “Don’t teach people how to build a ship. Teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”

2022-07-17_overdelivering_with_god.pdf
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The Good Samaritan - No By-Passing

10/7/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Luke 10:27-35]
The Good Samaritan: The Lawyer in the gospel wanted perhaps to avoid the full impact of the command to love his neighbour. We too wonder sometimes do I have to love that person? Jesus addresses the question in this parable.

2022-07-10_no_bypassing.pdf
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Sermon: Sowing and Reaping

3/7/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Galatians 6:1-10; Luke 10:1-20]
Today Ian preaches on Galatians 6 and the principle of Sowing and Reaping. What choices do we make and what are their consequences? We need to choose to sow to the Spirit and not to the flesh.

2022-07-03_sowing_and_reaping.pdf
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Sermon: Following Jesus all the way to heaven

26/6/2022

Preacher: Torben Sorensen [Text: Luke 9:51-62]
Today we hear of those who put conditions on following Jesus; "First ... me!," as Torben point out in his sermon. We need to seek wholeheartedly the Kingdom of God.

2022-06-26_following_jesus_all_the_way_to_heaven.pdf
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Te Pouhere Sunday - A Celebration of Three Tikanga

19/6/2022

Preacher: Helen Hardcastle [Text: Acts 10:30-48]
Te Pouhere (The Constitution) was revised in 1992 so that the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, NZ and Polynesia was organised into three tikanga (peoples) so each of Maori, Pasifica and Pakeha could share resources and organise their affairs in their own culturally appropriate ways. Helen explores relationships between people groups and concludes with the necessity of love.

220619_acts_10_te_pouhere.pdf
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2022 Trinity

12/6/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: John 16:12-15; Proverbs 8:1-4,22-31; Romans 5:1-5]
The Trinity - a mystery but not a contradiction. God is one being but exists in three persons - this satisfies all the statements made about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit in the Bible. One ancient analogy is to a circle dance read on to learn more...

220612_trinity.pdf
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2022 Pentecost sermon

5/6/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Acts 2:1-41; John 14:8-17; Romans 8:14-17]
The Day of Pentecost. As Jesus promised, he sent the Holy Spirit on the disciples in power and they were transformed while 3000 people were converted and baptised that day! Ian looks at the work of the Holy Spirit and encourages us to ask for more of his work in our lives.

2022-06-05_the_work_of_the_holy_spirit.pdf
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Easter 7: Sunday after Ascension

29/5/2022

Preacher: Helen Hardcastle [Texts: Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24:44-53]
What does the Ascension mean? How does it affect us and what is the call on us today? Helen explores these questions as she looks to the Ascension of Jesus to reign in glory.

22-05-29_ascension.pdf
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Trust in Times of Trouble and Disappointment

22/5/2022

Preacher: Peter Lloyd [Texts: Acts 16:9-15; Revelation 21:10, 21:22 – 22:5; John 5:1-9]
Today Peter Lloyd preaches on the basis for trust in tough times: the testimony of Scripture and our personal experience of God's faithfulness.

220522_trust_in_times_of_trouble_and_disappointment.pdf
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Drink of the Water of Life

15/5/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle
[Texts: Revelation 21:1-6; Acts 11:1-18]

As the ripples of Easter spread wider the Spirit of God introduces Gentiles to the Church while in John's vision of the New Earth, we catch a glimpse of the enthroned Son of God who invites us to drink of the water of life - the Holy Spirit.

220515_drink_of_the_water_of_life.pdf
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Jesus: Son of God; Glorified; Empowerer

8/5/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: John 10:22-30; Acts 9:36-32; Revelation 7:9-17]
As we continue to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, we review his teaching and understand him to be the Son of God who holds us safe; he is glorified by the angels and he empowers his church.

2022-05-08_jesus_son_of_god_glorified_empowerer.pdf
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WItnesses of the Resurrected Jesus - Healing the Lie-Bound Soul

1/5/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: John 21:1-19; Acts 9:1-20; Revelation 5:11-14]
Today's readings present three encounters with the risen Christ told by eye-witnesses. When the disciples met Jesus by the lake, he restored Peter from shame into acceptance and responsibility. Here we find lessons for us as we find our way in greater wholeness or help others on that journey.

2202-05-01_witnesses_of_the_resurrrected_jesus.pdf
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Easter: Colours of Sunday

17/4/2022

Not a sermon but an extended reflection on responses to the resurrection account. See the service video under online services.

Sermon: Palm Sunday Followers and Foes

10/4/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Luke 19:28-40; Psalm 118:1-2,19-29]
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on the Sunday before Passover a great crowd accompanied him. What was happening? What was the significance of this event? Why did it cause resistance from the authorities? What do we learn from it?

220410_followers_and_foes.pdf
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Sweetness amid the Storm Clouds

3/4/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: John 12:1-8]
Mary poured out precious scented oil on Jesus to honour him with her best. It was a sweet space amongst the great threats which surrounded him at that time. Today we start the lead up to Easter. Today we are challenged to think how do we show honour to the Lord?

2022-04-03_sweetness_amid_the_darkness.pdf
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Family and the Church Family

27/3/2022

Preacher: Peter Lloyd [Text: Matthew 12:46-50]

Mothering Sunday has its 16th century roots in people returning to the church where they were baptised. By 19th century, servants were given that Sunday off to go home and the maids would gather spring flowers as they walked and take a posy to their mothers. We honour our mothers, the churches where we as individuals were raised in the faith, the Parishes that planted this parish. Peter in his sermon honours the commitment and love of mothers and shows how Jesus said that our Christian relationships will be of the same nature and character.

220327_family_and_gods_family.pdf
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