Category: - St Stephen's Whangaparaoa

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
File Size:	1012 kb
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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
File Size:	340 kb
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Epiphany 2022 Water into Wine

16/1/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: John 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11]
Jesus' first sign displayed his glory. The use of the spiritual gifts is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. When we use them are we like pots of water now holding the wine - transformed and showing God's presence?

220116_epiphany_at_cana_and_in_the_spirit.pdf
File Size:	820 kb
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Psalm 23 Part 2 with Stephen

1/8/2021

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Psalm 23; Acts 7:44-8:2]
We continue our look at the Lord's love for us shown in Psalm 23 and illustrated in the life of Stephen.

210801_ps23-2_and_stephen.pdf
File Size:	1134 kb
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Saint Stephen

2/8/2020

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Acts 6:1-16; Matthew 23:27-36]
Our church is named after Saint Stephen - what can we learn from his example?

200802_saint_stephen.pdf
File Size:	672 kb
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Presence, Peace and Power

31/5/2020

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Numbers 11:24-30; Acts 2:1-21; John 20:19-23]
Pentecost - the Holy Spirit comes on the disciples. How does that relate to Jesus breathing on the disciples on the evening of his resurrection and saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit?" What is common is the presence of God resulting in peace and power.
The sermon can be watched in the service video starting at 20:00.

20-05-31_presence_peace_and_power.pdf
File Size:	668 kb
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Living Water

15/3/2020

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: John 4:45-42; Exodus 17:1-7]
A rejected woman of a despised people met a stranger who engaged her in penetrating conversation. Who could this be? And what is he offer of Living Water?

200315_water_of_life.pdf
File Size:	618 kb
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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
File Size:	702 kb
File Type:	pdf

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
File Size:	457 kb
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The Ascension: Promises, Enthronement, Empowerment

2/6/2019

190602_ascension.pdf
File Size:	415 kb
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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
File Type:	pdf