Category: - St Stephen's Whangaparaoa

Hope, Shield & Joy

16/4/2023

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: 1 Peter 1:3-9; Acts 2:14a, 22-32]
In this Easter season, we have a series of readings following the teaching of the Apostle Peter. Have you ever wondered what Jesus explained to the Apostles after the Resurrection? We don't have to wonder because they preached it, they wrote it down for us! In today's readings we hear Peter preaching and read his encouragement to the early church about the impact of the resurrection.

2023-04-16_hope_shield_and_joy.pdf
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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.

The Power of Corporate Unbelief

4/7/2021

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Mark 6:1-13; Ezekiel 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10]
"Jesus could not do any miracles in Nazareth because of their unbelief." That is quite a surprising statement. What is the effect of other people's unbelief? What can we learn from this?

210704_power_of_corporate_unbelief.pdf
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Principles of Faith

27/6/2021

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Mark 5:21-43; Lamentations 3:23-33]
We see Jesus' authority over chronic sickness and dead as he heals the woman and raises Jairus' daughter. We also learn some principles of faith from these two incidents.

210627_principles_of_faith.pdf
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Who do you say this Man is?

23/8/2020

Preacher: Peter Lloyd [Matthew 16:13-20]
It was a question to the disciples then and it is still a question today? Who do YOU say Jesus is?

200823_who_is_this_man.pdf
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Walking on Water - Faith comes by Hearing

12/8/2020

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Matthew 14:22-33; 1 Kings 19:9-18; Romans 10:5-15]
Peter walks on water - Wow! But what do we learn about faith from his walking and his sinking?

200809_faith_comes_by_hearing.pdf
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The Rock that is Higher than I

5/4/2020

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Psalm 91; Zechariah 9:9-12]
I want to dwell further on Psalm 91 this week, that we may grow deeper in our confidence in God for trying times.

2020-04-05_sermon_-_rock_that_is_higher_than_i.pdf
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God our Refuge

29/3/2020

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Psalm 91; Proverbs 3:5-6; Philippians 4:4-7]
Psalm 91 is a great psalm which promises the Lord’s care and protection. By these words, we are encouraged and given hope in trouble. It is written to direct our attention back to God in tough times – and we - suddenly, unexpectedly - are experiencing a global tough time.

2020-03-29_god_our_refuge.pdf
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Jesus is presented in the Temple - Lessons of trust, hearing God and faith

2/2/2020

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Luke 2:22-40; Malachi 3:1-4; Hebrews 2:14-18]

When the six week old baby Jesus was first taken to the temple, there were two people who had been waiting, waiting, waiting for him. They heard God, they believed, they were patience. Their faith was rewarded - they saw and held the Messiah; they told people. Let's learn from their good examples.

You can see more about the Alpha Course here.

200202_what_will_you_do.pdf
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Colossians 1:1-14 Faith and love growing from hope

14/7/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Colossians 1:1-14]
The Letter to the Colossians is a lovely epistle. The grand theme is Christ who is supreme and all sufficient. Join us as we explore it together.

190714_colossians_1.1-14.pdf
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Three Responses

5/5/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Acts 9:1-20; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19]
We are given the responses of three different people to Jesus: Thomas who struggled to believe; Peter who had denied Jesus and Saul who had persecuted the church. As we look at their responses, what is our own?

190505_three_responses.pdf
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Do Not Fear

9/9/2018

Preacher: Helen Hardcastle [Isaiah 35:3-7a]
Do not fear! God commands his people over and again not to fear, yet we are very quick to become fearful of all sorts of things and people. Helen leads us into some strategies to counter fear.

180909_do_not_fear.pdf
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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
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For God so Loved the World

11/3/2018

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle Texts: John 3:14-21; Ephesians 2:1-10
Today we baptise a family and another seven of our people renew their baptismal vows. It is a celebration of life in Christ. It is worth remembering that we have this life because God so loved the world.....

180311_for_god_so_loved_the_world.pdf
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Strengthen Yourself in the LORD

4/2/2018

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: 1 Samuel 30:1-6; Isaiah 40:21-31; Mark 1:29-39]
When things go sour, where do you turn? This week we follow David, Eric Liddell and Jesus in finding where they found strength to face the difficulties of life.

180204_strengthen_yourself_in_the_lord.pdf
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A New Beginning vs a Bad Ending

21/1/2018

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Mark 1:14-20, Jonah 3:1-5,10]
A New Beginning: Jesus starts his public ministry. The key to following him is to change our minds and trust what he says.
A Bad Ending: Some comments on the Euthanasia Bill before Parliament

180121_a_new_beginning_vs_a_bad_ending.pdf
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True Apostles

29/10/2017

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [1 Thessalonians ]
As we look at this passage we see marks of a true apostle and consider too comparisons to Martin Luther as he ignited the Reformation 500 years ago.

171029_true_apostles.pdf
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Growing in Faith, Love and Mission

14/5/2017

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Acts 7:55-60; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14]
Exploring our mission together through three unlikely texts!

170514_growing_in_faith_love_and_mission.pdf
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Advent 4 - Fear or Obedience?

18/12/2016

Preacher: Tony Jee [Texts: Isaiah 7:10-16; Romans 1:1-17; Matthew 1:18-25]
Who will you be like - Ahaz or Joseph?

Our God is a Consuming Fire

21/8/2016

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Jer 1:4-10; Heb 13:12:18-29; Lk 13:10-17]
A great hope is set before us - but it is connected with faith and obedience. It is only through God's Word that we can know about it and we are warned not to ignore God's Word.

160821_consuming_fire.pdf
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