Category: Salvation - St Stephen's Whangaparaoa

Find Rest for your Soul in Jesus

9/7/2023

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.

2023-07-09_find_rest_for_your_soul_in_jesus.pdf
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The Lord of Heaven and Earth

14/5/2023

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: 1 Peter 3:]
As we continue through the First Epistle of Peter, Peter encourages his readers to fear God more than people. He continues with an intriguing comment about Jesus preaching to imprisoned spirits and explains baptism.

230514_he_is_lord_of_heaven_and_earth.pdf
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Easter Holy Communion

9/4/2023

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Acts 10:34-43; 1 Peter 2:22-25; Matthew 28:1-10]

Ian reviewed the mysterious and truly awesome events that happened around Jesus' death and resurrection. Both St Matthew and St Paul quote Isaiah 53 to describe the work of Christ on the Cross. He was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities and by his stripes we are healed.

230409_easter_awe_and_wonder.pdf
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Jesus our Glorious King

20/11/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Luke 23:33-43; Colossians 1:11-20; Jeremiah 23:1-6]
As we end the Church year, our readings climax with Jesus as King: The Righteous King Jeremiah described; the Redeemer King on the cross and the Glorious King as Paul describes him. Is your understanding of Jesus big enough? Do you want to pray, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom"?

2022-11-20_jesus_our_glorious_king.pdf
File Size:	185 kb
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Testimony: Cleansed, Healed & Saved

9/10/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Luke 17:11-19; 2 Kings 5:1-3, 9-19]
In the readings, two men hundreds of years apart are cleansed of leprosy, healed and come into relationship with God. We see the importance of testimony, of giving thanks and glory to God, of encouraging others to believe that God can heal them and use them to heal others.

Sermon: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

6/3/2022

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Romans 10:8b-13; Deuteronomy 30:11-14]
A great text on salvation and how we be right with God through our own efforts but when we trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour, God makes us right with him.

2022-03-06_call_on_the_name_of_the_lord.pdf
File Size:	642 kb
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Advent IV: Prophecies and Miracles

19/12/2021

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Luke 1:39-45; Hebrews 10:5-10; Micah 5:2-5a]
As Advent rolls on, today's readings take us up to six months before the birth of Christ. We hear of messengers from heaven, wonderful prophecies and miraculous events. Through it all we are encouraged to trust God and his promises.

2021-12-19_prophecies_and_miracles.pdf
File Size:	632 kb
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God Shepherds Us

18/7/2021

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Psalm 23; Mark 6:30-34,53-56; Jeremiah 23:1-6]
In the gospel passage we see Jesus actively shepherding the people. When we turn back to Psalm 23, David spells out the care God provides for his people based on the practices of a shepherd. It is richer than most of us understand.

210718_god_shepherds_you.pdf
File Size:	841 kb
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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
File Size:	463 kb
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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
File Size:	459 kb
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What are We Celebrating?

25/12/2018

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:8-20]
I love the celebrations of Christmas but what are we celebrating? Let's turn back to the Bible to find out...

181225_what_are_we_celebrating.pdf
File Size:	452 kb
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The Bread who came down from Heaven

12/8/2018

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text John 6:35,41-51]
After feeding the 5000, Jesus taught on the bread that God provides. What is it? What does it do? How do we get it?

180812_the_bread_who_came_down_from_heaven.pdf
File Size:	491 kb
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For God so Loved the World

11/3/2018

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle Texts: John 3:14-21; Ephesians 2:1-10
Today we baptise a family and another seven of our people renew their baptismal vows. It is a celebration of life in Christ. It is worth remembering that we have this life because God so loved the world.....

180311_for_god_so_loved_the_world.pdf
File Size:	475 kb
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Christmas Day - Christmas Tree Redemption

25/12/2017

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Is 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14]
Did you know the Christian origin of the Christmas Tree? It tells the story of fall and redemption. Read on ...

171225_christmas_tree_redemption.pdf
File Size:	463 kb
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True Apostles

29/10/2017

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [1 Thessalonians ]
As we look at this passage we see marks of a true apostle and consider too comparisons to Martin Luther as he ignited the Reformation 500 years ago.

171029_true_apostles.pdf
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Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart

30/7/2017

Preacher: Tim Johnston [Text: Romans 10:5-15]
Tim explores what Paul teaches in Romans 10 about our salvation.

What's My Ancestry?

12/3/2017

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [John 3:1-17; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; Genesis 15:1-6]
Who are you descended from ... spiritually? It is an important question. Can your 'spiritual DNA' be changed? Paul leads us to see what our natural inheritance is and what we are offered.....

170312_whats_my_ancestry.pdf
File Size:	484 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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Our Privilege in Christ

15/11/2015

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Hebrews 10:11-25; Daniel 12:1-4; Mark 13:1-8]
Read what is written about our position in Christ - this is wonderful stuff - we should be delighting and rejoicing in the blessings we receive.

151115_our_privileges_in_christ.pdf
File Size:	351 kb
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He Himself is our Peace

10/8/2015

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text Ephesians 2:11-22]
Whereas in Ch 2:1-10 Paul addresses the separation between God and mankind, now he turns to the alienation of Jew and Gentile and shows how Jesus has made the two one in his body.

150809_he_himself_is_our_peace.pdf
File Size:	436 kb
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