Category: Obedience - St Stephen's Whangaparaoa

What Sort of King is Jesus?

24/11/2024

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Revelation1:4b-8; 2 Samuel 23:1-7; John 18:33-37]
Today is the last Sunday of the Church year and as we have followed the account of Christ through the year, it is fitting that it culminates with a focus on his kingship. But what sort of king is he and what response ought we to make to him?

2024-11-24_what_sort_of_king_is_jesus.pdf
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God is Willing - Are We?

11/2/2024

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: 2 Kings 5:1-14; 1 Corinthians 9:16-27; Mark 1:40-45]
We explore God's willingness to heal. At the same time these three scriptures show us a brave slave girl who was willing to take the risk of telling her master how he might be healed, a leper who had faith to ask for healing but then did not obey Jesus, and Paul who disciplines himself to obey God's call on his life.

2024-02-11_god_is_willing_-_are_we.pdf
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Paul's Motivations

13/6/2021

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: 2 Corinthians 5:1-17]
When Paul wrote his second letter to the Corinthians he had been through serious traumas. He lists the many floggings, dangers and perils later in this letter and specifically in the first chapter he wrote of a time when it was so bad he despaired of life itself, but God delivered him. In Chapter five, he shares some ideas about suffering and dying. In the midst of it we find nuggets of hope and indicators of the motivations which kept him going. Which of these impacts you? Take some time to explore it more and build it into your life as a strong motivator for Godly living and service.

210613_pauls_motivation.pdf
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Image and Ownership

18/10/2020

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Matthew 22:15-22 with Isaiah 45:1-7]
Where do you loyalties lie? When challenged with a trick question by his opponents, Jesus gave a brilliant answer which not only dealt with them, but gives us a guiding principle for life. In some matters we are to obey the government, in others our loyalty must be with God.

201018_image_and_ownership.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?

Blessing is Dependent on Obedience

29/8/2016

Preacher: Peter Lloyd [Texts: Jeremiah 2:4-13; Hebrews 13:1-8,15-16; Luke 14:1,7-14]
"If you remember nothing else, remember this: 'Blessing is contingent on obedience.'"

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
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An Attitude of Gratitude

15/3/2015

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Numbers 21:4-9; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21]
The Apostle Paul said that the accounts of the Israelites were given for our instruction. In the reading from Numbers, they complain against God which brings discipline and a means of safety. Amazingly, Jesus compares himself to that solution. What do we learn from this account?

150315_attitude_of_gratitude.pdf
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A Lenten Reflection on the Ten Commandments

8/3/2015

Preacher: Helen Hardcastle [Text: Exodus 20:1-17]

150308_ten_commandments.pdf
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The Annunciation

22/12/2014

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Luke 1:26-38; 2 Samuel 7:1-11,16; Romans 16:25-27]
The Annunciation: angel, miracle - what should we make of it? What might we learn from it?

141221_the_annunciation_web.pdf
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A Year of God's Favour

15/12/2014

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Isaiah 61:1-2]
Looking at today's text, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me ...," I have to tell you of my thoughts about God's favour poured on us ...

141214_a_year_of_gods_favour.pdf
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The Sower Sows ...

13/7/2014

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Matthew 13:1-12, 18-23; Isaiah 55:10-13]
How open are you to receive? Much depends upon it ...

140713_the_sower_sows.pdf
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Ambassadors of Christ

29/6/2014

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Jeremiah 28:5-9; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42]
These three passages all touch on our representation of Christ to the world. What sort of ambassador are you? We explore the privilege, the service and the responsibility of being an ambassador for Christ.

140629_ambassadors_for_christ.pdf
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The Gospel of the Kingdom

22/6/2014

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Jeremiah 20:7-13; Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:24-39]
A challenging word from Jesus, but what is its context? We need to get to grips with the Gospel of the Kingdom to understand where he is coming from.

140629_the_gospel_of_the_kingdom.pdf
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Don't Be Afraid (Text version)

24/5/2014

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text 1 Peter 3:13-22]
The Apostle Peter continues telling us not to be afraid giving us the assurance that Christ is the Victor over evil powers. He goes on to teach about baptism. The power of baptism lies in the resurrection of Jesus.

140525_dont_be_afraid.pdf
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Don't Be Afraid - (Audio version)

24/5/2014

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text 1 Peter 3:13-22]
The Apostle Peter continues telling us not to be afraid giving us the assurance that Christ is the Victor over evil powers. He goes on to teach about baptism. The power of baptism lies in the resurrection of Jesus.

Love One Another Deeply from the Heart

18/5/2014

Preacher: Capt Peter Lloyd [Text: 1 Peter 2:2-10]
"Love one another deeply from the heart." Peter applies this principle to our relationships in the midst of disagreement within the Province and reports back on the recent General Synod.

Obedient, Alert, Faithful

2/2/2014

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Malachi 3:1-5; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40]
The baby Jesus is first brought to the temple and recognised by Simeon and Anna. From them we learn of a long obedience, alertness to the Spirit and faithfulness.

140202_obedient_alert_faithful.pdf
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God makes a way where there is no way.

9/6/2013

[Preacher: Ian Hardcastle. Text: 1 Kings 17:17-24; Acts 20:7-11; Luke 7:11-17]
It seemed impossible - her son had died. Yet God made a way where there was no way.

130609_god_makes_a_way.pdf
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The Obedience of Faith

19/8/2012

2 Samuel 23:13-17
David pours out water meant as a gift for him. Jesus poses a riddle to the Pharisees. What response do we make when times are hard or when we don't understand?

120819_obedience_of_faith.pdf
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