Category: Christ - St Stephen's Whangaparaoa

Resurrection: Risen and Reigning

27/4/2025

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: John 20:19-31; Acts 5:27-32 ; Revelation1:4-8]
We continue with John's eye-witness account of the resurrection. He wrote that he recorded these things so that we might believe - then let's take that seriously and put weight on the foundations he gives us.

2025-04-27_the_risen_and_reigning_christ.pdf
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Christ the True Temple

3/3/2024

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Tests John 2:13-22; Leviticus 14:33–53]
The gospel reading is John's record of the cleansing of the temple. Two questions arise: How does this relate to the Synoptic gospels' cleansing of the Temple at the end of Christ's ministry? Besides the usual ideas, here is a fresh approach which draws on Old Testament law about contagion in buildings. The second question to explore Christ's identifying himself as the true temple.

2024-03-03_christ_the_true_temple.pdf
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Palm Sunday: Who is this Man?

2/4/2023

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Matthew 21:1-17; Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29]

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds asked, "Who is this man?" It is a good question. Through three years of ministry, Jesus had walked everywhere but now he rode a donkey. Why? Some peoplel say that Jesus never said he was God. While he did not say those words, his actions and claims imply it all the time. In that triumphal entry it was clear that here was a prophet, a priest and a king who could only be God! What is your response? He calls us to follow him.

230402_who_is_this_man.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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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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The Resurrection Part 1 of 3

13/2/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-20]
The resurrection is an important foundation of our faith and yet is often misunderstood. Today we review the important creedal statement Paul made in 1 Cor 15:3-8 about the Gospel and the resurrection of Jesus. And then we start to see how crucial the resurrection is to the gospel - without it Paul tells us that our faith is in vain and we are deluded!

2022-02-13_the_resurrection_part_1.pdf
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2022 Epiphany - The Baptism of Christ

9/1/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Luke 33::15-17, 21-22; John 1:29-34]
The next stage of revelation of Christ is to Israel as he comes to be anointed. Anointing is required for a priest and a king. Washing was mandated in the law for the priests and the sacrifice. John the Baptist clearly states his purpose was to reveal Christ to Israel. Has the revelation that Jesus is God reached you? Has it changed your life?

2022-01-09_baptism_of_christ.pdf
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Why was Jesus baptised?

10/1/2021

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Mark 1:4-11]
Jesus said John the Baptist should baptise him "to fulfill all righteousness," why? Besides the usual answers, we consider two interesting ideas suggested by "The Passion Translation."

210110_why_was_jesus_baptised.pdf
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Lessons from the Annunciation

20/12/2020

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Luke 1:26-38; 2 Samuel 7:1-11,16]
The Annunciation. There are lessons to be learnt to encourage us in our faith and trust in God. Will join us as we explore this wonderful account?

201220_annunciation.pdf
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Unquestionable Answer - Unanswerable Question

25/10/2020

Preacher: Peter Lloyd [Text Matthew 22: 34 - 46]
Today we have the baptism of the child of a family in the congregation. Peter helps us consider again the welcome of God to us all in reaching out to us first, then from the Gospel reading two great truths every family needs to hold onto as we raise our children.

201025_unquestionable_answer_unanswerable_question.pdf
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By What Authority?

27/9/2020

Preacher: Capt Peter Lloyd [Texts: Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32]
Peter takes us into the conflict and the challenges of the gospel story.

200927_by_what_authority.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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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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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
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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
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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
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The Supremacy of Christ

28/7/2019

Preacher: Peter Lloyd [Text: Colossians 1:15-20]
Wow! This is a stunning passage as Paul tells us who Jesus Christ truly is! This is food for the soul.

190728_the_sumpremacy_of_christ.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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