All Saints is an important festival in the Church's year but what is it about or who is a saint?
2023-11-05_what_is_a_saint.pdf |
Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Revelation 7:9-11; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12] All Saints is an important festival in the Church's year but what is it about or who is a saint?
Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: 1 Samuel 24; Matthew 6:9-15]
The account of David and Saul in the cave at Ein Gedi provides a good illustration some principles of forgiveness. Here Ian lays out some principles of how to forgive and some useful tips on forgiveness. This is part of the equipping for ministry as so many people have unresolved matters to forgive.
Preacher: Captain Peter Lloyd [Hebrews 11:1-9]
This passage serves as a foundational text that asserts the divine origin, authority, and redemptive power of the Christian faith. Peter quoted from C.S Lewis - 'Christianity, if true, of infinite importance, and if false, is of No importance'. Christianity is not merely a human philosophy but a revelation of the eternal and all-encompassing truths of God, offering infinite significance to the lives of believers.
Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Exodus 32:1-14; Matthew 22:1-14]
Here we have two iinstances of God's people rejecting him and his plans for them. We are those who have been invited into the Kingdom. Let us not spurn the great rescue of God.
Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Matthew 21:33-46] In the parable of the tenants, Jesus both declared that he is the Son of God and warned the leaders of his day that they would be lose their stewardship of God's purposes and the Kingdom would be handed over to other people who would be willing to obey God. We are not immune - we need to be good stewards of the Kingdom entrusted to us.
Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Exodus 17:1-7; Matthew 21:23-32; Philippians 2:1-13]
The three readings today have a common theme - grumbling. We find the Israelites grumbling against Moses and God in the wilderness. In the gospel reading, the religious leaders seek to trap Jesus by their questions. Meanwhile Paul in his letter to the Philippians both warns against grumbling and shows us the attitude we should have (unity in humility) as well as the means by which we can do that.
Preacher: Captain Peter Lloyd [Matthew 20:1-16]
Today Peter preached from the parable of the workers in the vineyard.
Speakers: Toni Wentworth and Michael Ng
Today we hear from Toni and Michael their expense of the mission trip: the challenges they faced and the confidence they gained that God was with them through it all.
Preacher: Ian & Helen Hardcastle [Texts: Isaiah 35:1-6 ; Luke 10:1-9]
The passage from Luke's gospel speaks of Jesus sending the 72 disciples out to heal and declare the Kingdom of God has come. We were sent out to heal and teach of the Kingdom of God in the remote villages of Tanzania. In Isaiah 35, the marks of the Messiah are the parched land rejoicing, the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, the mute speaking, the lame walking - we saw the people in a dry land rejoicing, the blind seeing, the lame walking. Jesus, the Messiah, is still working through his body the Church today.
No preacher today, but a video report of the SOMA mission trip to the Diocese of Banks & Torres Islands in Vanuatu. Posiano joined the team and it was quite an adventure as you will see. Let us celebrate the priviledge of taking part in God's mission to the nations.
Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Acts 6, 7:55-8:2; Matthew 10:16-22]
As we consider St Stephen's ministry, we find that he was equipped and enabled by the Holy Spirit. In all our ministrying we also need to depend on the Holy Spirit.
Preacher: Peter Lloyd [Text: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43]
In the parable of the Wheat and the Tares, Jesus explained that it would do more damage to root out evil doers than to leave them until the judgement. This is both a challenge and a reassurance for us...
Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Genesis 25:19-34; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9,18-23]
From Genesis we have the example of Esau despising his birthright while from the gospel reading, Jesus warns us to be receptive to God's word to us so that it may produce good fruit in our lives. The question arises, "What is our birthright in Christ?"
Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Genesis 24:34-67; Matthew 11:27-30] In the Genesis passage, we find a type of the Holy Spirit and the Church. Just as Abraham's servant went searching for a bride for the Son, so the Holy Spirit calls people to Christ to become part of the Bride of Christ. In the gospel reading, we find Jesus giving his own invitation to come to him and find rest.
Next Friday is Matariki, the Maori New Year. In today's Intergenerational service, we see what the Bible says about constellations and pick up the Maori ideas of reviewing the past year and planning for the next year.
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Preacher: Peter Lloyd [Text: Matthew 10:24-39]
What is the most repeated commandment in the Bible? It occurs twice in our gospel reading today.
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Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Matthew 9:35 - 10:8]
Jesus told the disciples to pray for labourers in the harvest. Then he commissioned them (and later the Seventy-two) to go out and preach the Gospel, heal the sick and cast out demons. We need to pray for more workers in our harvest fields and for the team going to Africa as they are sent to preach the gospel, heal the sick and cast out demons.
Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Genesis 12:1-9; Matthew 9:9-13] With the call of Abram and the call of Matthew before us, we look at how God called each of them. What ways does he call us? To what does he call us? Sometimes he calls us to be faithful where we are. What might he be calling you to now? There is no sermon video today since it was the Integen. service at 10am. Nonetheless, the PDF is below.
Preacher: Helen Hardcastle [Texts: Genesis 1:1, 26-27; 2 Corinthians 13:11-14; Matthew 28:16-20]
As she considers the teaching of the Trinity, Helen reviews these and other scriptures which point to such an understanding of God. Then she explores some thoughts in answer to the 'so-what' question.
Preacher: Capt Peter Lloyd [Texts: Acts 2:1-21; 1 Corinthians 12:4-13]
After resurrection, at the ascension, there is the command to go out and tell. It is Pentecost when the disciples are enabled to obey. By in large, for us too, there the command but we are not good at telling others. Peter attributes this to the relentless attack on the Christian church since the Enlightenment and the fact that we cannot do God's work unaided by Him. So Peter encourages us to ask for the empowering of the Holy Spirit to enable us in our callings. |
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