Category: Witnessing - St Stephen's Whangaparaoa

Easter 3: You are my Witnesses

14/4/2024

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Luke 24:36-48; Acts 3:12-20]
We continue in this Easter season with the eyewitness accounts reported by Luke. When Jesus had appeared to his disciples and proven that he was alive and solid, he told them that they were witnesses of his death and resurrection. In Peter's preaching, he repeatedly said, "We are witnesses."
All of us are called to be witnesses - to tell of our experiences of God. We don't need to expert evangelists to do that - just say what your experience was.

2024-04-14_you_are_my_witnesses.pdf
File Size:	229 kb
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Showing forth Christ

3/1/2021

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12]
Epiphany - the Manifestation or showing of Christ. The Wise men were the first gentiles to come to see him. They received some revelation and followed the light they had to find Christ and give him their best. Should we do less? Paul says the Church is to show the wisdom of God to the heavenly powers. How might we do that?

210103_showing_forth_christ.pdf
File Size:	760 kb
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St Stephen: Challenging Culture

4/8/2019

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Acts 7:51-60; Matthew 23:34-39]
Our patron saint is Stephen. What can we learn from his example? One thing we see is that he stood his ground for the gospel. How well do we do on that front?

190804_stephen_-_challenging_culture.pdf
File Size:	478 kb
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The Ascension: Promises, Enthronement, Empowerment

2/6/2019

190602_ascension.pdf
File Size:	415 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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The Importance of Evangelism

16/2/2015

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: 2 Kings 5:1-14 ; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ]
How much courage would it take for a slave to tell her master that there is a cure for leprosy in the enmy country? How much courage does it take to tell your friend about Jesus?

150215_evangelism_is_important.pdf
File Size:	492 kb
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Conversations that Connect: One Mouth to Speak with

14/9/2014

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Luke 14:25-35]
Jesus calls us to a radical commitment and warns us of the cost of following him. Surely we need then to be ready to share the gospel with others. Having listened to the person and the Holy Spirit, having conversed in love the time will come when it is appropriate to share the gospel.

140914_one_mouth_to_speak_with.pdf
File Size:	533 kb
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This video by Dave Mann of the Hope Project is referenced in the sermon - watch it at the appropriate point to learn a simple gospel presentation.
Below are the audio files of the sermon. Listen to part 1, then watch the video, then continue with part 2.

Conversations that Connect 3: One Heart to Love with

7/9/2014

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Text: Luke 19:1-10]
All the techniques in the world will not reach people in the way love will. We need to love the people we talk to. We need to find out what are the emotional and spiritual blocks they have. Jesus reached out to the despised tax collector and so rescued a man for the kingdom. We will allow God to use us to reach the lost around us?

140907_one_heart_to_love_with.pdf
File Size:	616 kb
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17.-conversations-that-connect-week-3-study.pdf
File Size:	1942 kb
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Conversations that Connect 2: One Spirit to Listen with

31/8/2014

Preacher: Peter Lloyd [Text: John 1:43-51]
We listen carefully to the person, but we also need to listen to God. What is his input into the conversation? We see Jesus using divine promptings as he talked to the Samaritan woman which opened her heart to him as Saviour. In addition to the recording of Peter speaking, here is a link to the video we watched and the study guide associated with the sermon is below.

16.-conversations-that-connect-week-2-study.pdf
File Size:	2862 kb
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Conversations that Connect 1: Two Ears to hear with

24/8/2014

Preacher: Helen Hardcastle [Text: John 4 - the Samaritan Woman]
In the account of Jesus conversing with the Samaritan woman, we see how he listened both to her and to the Father. Out of what he heard, he responded and so let her to truth.
A study guide is attached for small group work following the sermon.

140824_two_ears_to_hear_with_-_web.pdf
File Size:	492 kb
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15.-conversations-that-connect-week-1-study.pdf
File Size:	1922 kb
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Knowing when to Paddle

17/8/2014

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: 1 Samuel 14:1-17, 20-23; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2; Luke 10:1-2]
When do we act? Jonathan in the account in 1 Samuel presses forward asking the Lord to stop him if it is the wrong time. Paul says, "Now is the acceptable time." Are we ready to press forward into the opportunity God is opening before us?

140817_knowing_when_to_paddle.pdf
File Size:	570 kb
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Are you prepared to give an answer?

9/8/2014

Preacher: Peter Lloyd [Texts: 2 Kings 7:3-9; Acts 17:15-34; Matthew 13:47-53]

The importance of giving reasons for our faith. We need to learn to ask questions - graciously.

200 Years of the Gospel in NZ

23/3/2014

Preacher: Helen Hardcastle [Text: John 4:5-42]
With the Samaritain woman, Jesus asked questions and used her interests to tell her important news. We have golden opportunities to learn and practise those skills. Read on ...

140323_200_years.pdf
File Size:	516 kb
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Light to the World

9/2/2014

Preacher: Ian Hardcastle [Texts: Isaiah 48:1-12; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12; Matthew 5:13-20]
We commence a series on the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus likens us to salt and light. How might we let our light shine in 2014?

140209_light_to_the_world.pdf
File Size:	301 kb
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Standing Tall

25/8/2013

[Preacher: Capt. Peter Lloyd. Texts: 1 Peter 3:13-18; Mark 11:15-18]
The third of the series on witnessing

Commissioned to Communicate

18/8/2013

[Preacher: Ian Hardcastle. Texts: Acts 3:11-22; Luke 24:46-48]
The Second of a Series on Witnessing