Category: Resurrection - 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
File Size:	246 kb
File Type:	pdf

Assurance of the Resurrection

7/11/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Luke 20:27-38; Job 19:23-27a; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17]
There is hope for life after death for those who believe in Jesus. We will also one day be resurrected to life. Jesus' resurrection guarantees ours.

2022-11-06_assurance_of_the_resurrection.pdf
File Size:	205 kb
File Type:	pdf

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
File Type:	pdf

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
File Size:	702 kb
File Type:	pdf

WItnesses of the Resurrected Jesus - Healing the Lie-Bound Soul

1/5/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: John 21:1-19; Acts 9:1-20; Revelation 5:11-14]
Today's readings present three encounters with the risen Christ told by eye-witnesses. When the disciples met Jesus by the lake, he restored Peter from shame into acceptance and responsibility. Here we find lessons for us as we find our way in greater wholeness or help others on that journey.

2202-05-01_witnesses_of_the_resurrrected_jesus.pdf
File Size:	697 kb
File Type:	pdf

Resurrected and Transformed

27/2/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; Luke 46-49]
Part 3 of 3 on 1 Cor 15 and the resurrection. We consider the question of cremation and how it fits with a resurrection hope, what happens to those who are alive at the time of Christ's return, death defeated and the consequence for living our lives now. We have hope. We need to keep our trust in Christ and the transforming power of resurrection.

22-02-27_resurrection_3.pdf
File Size:	738 kb
File Type:	pdf

The Resurrection Body

20/2/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 16:19-31; Genesis 45:3-11,15]
Part two of three considering Paul's teaching on the resurrection from 1 Cor 15. Today we consider what we know of our form in the afterlife - before and after the resurrection.

2022-02-20_the_resurrection_body.pdf
File Size:	847 kb
File Type:	pdf

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
File Size:	863 kb
File Type:	pdf

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
File Size:	670 kb
File Type:	pdf

Laying down our Lives

25/4/2021

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: John 10:11-18; 1 John 3:16-24]
Today is ANZAC day. We remember those who gave their lives in war. Where do we find hope? Jesus supremely gave his life for us and in him we find the hope of eternal life.

210425_laying_down_our_lives.pdf
File Size:	768 kb
File Type:	pdf

Resurrection and Science

18/4/2021

Preacher: Peter Lloyd [Text Luke 24:36-48]
Peter addresses the concern that science is opposed to faith or incompatible with it with a resounding 'NO!' Read his sermon to hear why.

210418_resurrection_and_science.pdf
File Size:	711 kb
File Type:	pdf

We are Witnesses

4/4/2021

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: John 20:1-18; Acts 10:34-43; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11]
Here we have the testimonies of three eyewitness followers of Jesus writing of his resurrection from the dead - not legend, not imagination, not hallucination, but solid evidence from those who were there.

21-04-04_we_are_witnesses.pdf
File Size:	805 kb
File Type:	pdf

Our Hope of the Resurrection

10/11/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Luke 20:27-38; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17]
What do you make of the resurrection? Jesus believed in it. Paul believed in it. What about you?

191110_resurrection.pdf
File Size:	679 kb
File Type:	pdf

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
File Size:	463 kb
File Type:	pdf

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
File Size:	463 kb
File Type:	pdf

What did Jesus teach his disciples after he rose from the dead?

29/4/2018

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Acts 8:26-40; (Luke 24:36b-48)]
We are in the Easter season, in these 40 days Jesus appeared repeatedly to his disciples and taught them - what? We are not told - or are we?

180429_jesus_post-resurrection_teaching.pdf
File Size:	483 kb
File Type:	pdf

Eating with the Risen Christ

30/4/2017

170430_eating_with_the_risen_christ.pdf
File Size:	464 kb
File Type:	pdf

He IS risen

16/4/2017

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Matthew 28:1-10; Acts 10:34-43; Colossians 3:1-4]
Matthew's gospel records the women meeting Jesus alive after he had been dead for about 40 hours. In this sermon, Ian considers the evidence and its value as a basis of belief.

170416_he_is_risen.pdf
File Size:	465 kb
File Type:	pdf

Resurrection

2/4/2017

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 11:1-45]
What is happening in these two texts - metaphor, reality, resuscitation?

170402_resurrection.pdf
File Size:	477 kb
File Type:	pdf

Resurrection

3/4/2016

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: John 20:19-31; Acts 5:27-32]
John has carefully presented his eyewitness account to give us the evidence we need to believe. So what will you do with it? What will flow out of such belief?

160403_resurrection.pdf
File Size:	488 kb
File Type:	pdf