Sermon – Apostles’ Creed: Risen Hope

Read the texts – Daniel 12:1-41 Corinthians 15:1-34

We continue in our Apostles’ Creed Bible Talk series and in this talk consider the line which says ‘On the third Day, he rose from the dead’. This gives us opportunity to spend some time looking at the importance of the resurrection of Jesus for us.

In this talk, Ken Noakes looks at some of the evidence for the resurrection, then at what might be lost if the resurrection didn’t happen, before considering why the resurrection is so significant for the believer.

Sermon – Apostles Creed: Good Suffering

For thousands of years Christians have said the words of the Apostles’ Creed together. In the two talks which follow we look at the line in the creed ‘Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the Dead’. These two talks together offer a helpful, yet different, treatment of this important and theologically loaded statement.

Read the texts – Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 27:11-54

This this talk, Nick Lindeback offers a narrative retelling of the trial, cross, death and burial of Jesus. In doing so he gives a broad overview of the importance of the atonement. Nick helps us to see how the Roman parades celebrating their military victories, set something of the context for the supposed ‘humiliation’ of Jesus – yet how by his wounds, and in his crucifixion, we see the coronation of the King of Kings.

In this talk, Dr Trace Akankunda looks at the significance of the sufferings and death of Jesus on the cross. He helps us to see Christ’s suffering in the context of salvation, and then helps us to rethink our own suffering in the context of hope.

Sermon – Apostles Creed: Fully God. Fully Man.

Read the text – Hebrews 2:1-18

For thousands of years Christians have said the words of the Apostles Creed together. In this talk Howard Whitehouse looks at the line in the creed which states ‘I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, Our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary’ and focuses on the beautiful and complex nature of Jesus Christ being fully God and fully Man. This is a rich treatment and needs close attention to several Bible passage – and you will see Howard cover many of them in this talk.

Sermon – Soldiers of Christ (2 Timothy 1:13-2:13)

Read the text – 2 Timothy 1:13-2:13

Simon Gillham, Vice Principal of Moore Theological College, in this stand-alone Bible Talk offers five commands for the soldier of Christ – to be strong in the grace of the gospel, to entrust the gospel to others who will share the gospel, to endure the hardships that may come, to reflect of what the Lord is doing, and to remember what God has done in raising Christ from the dead.

Sermon – Apostles Creed: Creator of the Heavens and Earth

For thousands of years Christians have said the words of the Apostles Creed together. Each line contains rich theology and meaning and in this talk Nick Lindeback focuses on the significance of God Almighty as sovereign and merciful creator.

In looking at both Psalm 33 and the doxology of Romans 11 we see God’s sovereignty, mercy and creating power. And in looking at Romans 12:1-2 we see an appropriate and fitting response to God almighty creator of heaven and earth.

Read the text – Psalm 33; Romans 11:33-12:1

Sermon – Apostles Creed: I believe in God the Father

For thousands of years Christians have said the words of the Apostles Creed together. Join us as we look at these ancient words with fresh eyes, discover why we can say them with confidence, and allow them to transform our lives.

In this Bible Talk, Nick Lindeback looks at God as Father and what it means to share in the sonship of Christ.

Read the text – John 17:20-26

Sermon Series – Joel: The Day of the Lord

The book of Joel is probably best known to Christians because of Peter’s sermon at Pentecost in the Book of Acts, where he quotes Joel to explain the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on all people. But the main emphasis in this book is the Day of the Lord, a day when the powerful presence of the Lord God will bring judgement – meaning deserved punishment for some or deliverance and blessing for others. What will that Day bring for you?

Talk 1 – A Clear and Present Danger (Joel 1:1-20)

Read the text – Joel 1:1-20

What grabs your attention? The natural events and the voice of the prophet are what God used to grab the attention of his people.

In Talk 1, Gary Haddon looks at the lament over Israel’s poor situation – a lament which leads not to a complaint against God, but a call to repentance in the light of the coming Day of the Lord.

Talk 2 – Sound the Alarm (Joel 2:1-17)

Read the text – Joel 2:1-17

Throughout history, we find all sorts of ways that societies have ‘sounded the alarm’ to alert their people to a serious and immediate danger.

In Talk 2, Dave Swan looks at Joel 2:12-13 as the key to the final question of verse 11 – ‘who can endure the Day of the Lord?’

God offers the way to endure the Day of the Lord:  return to him “with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning”. That is, in true repentance and faith.

Talk 3 – The Lord Responds (Joel 2:18-32)

Read the text – Joel 2:18-32

Life is full of uncertainties, but even in the midst of it all there is a constant: Gods’ voice and his promises in his word.

In Talk 3, Dave Swan shows us the way the Apostle Peter uses this part in his Pentecost speech – to point people to Jesus as the answer!

The Day of the Lord  is about the presence of God. Which for some will spell disaster, but for those who call on His name and seek refuge in Him, will be the day of blessing – the day of a permanently restored and renewed relationship with their God.

For Bible Studies to accompany this series see Bible Studies – Joel: The Day of the Lord

Sermon – Christian Family Matters: Concerning Singleness (1 Cor 7:17-40)

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 7:17-40

What should hold a church together – Our relationships? Our feeling of belonging? Our gospel convictions? Jesus? The Apostle Paul wrote this extraordinary letter to a church he knew well, yet a church which had got itself into a bit of a muddle. It turns out that the Christian Family does matter – and it is important to ensure that Jesus sits at the heart and soul of this church and in fact any church. We look at 1 Corinthians 1-7 because it holds a mirror up to us and it would be wise for us to consider carefully what it might say to us in 2022.

In this talk, Dave Swan looks at how being in a relationship with a person of the opposite sex should not come before being in a relationship with the Lord – put the horse before the cart when thinking about singleness and relationships. This talk upholds singleness. There is great value for us all (single or married) to recognise the value of singleness and to be given reasons to see that our status before the Lord is first about our relationship with him than it is about our relationship with another. Yet, we also acknowledge the burden/longing that those who are single may feel.

Sermon – Concerning Marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1-24)

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 7:1-24

What should hold a church together – Our relationships? Our feeling of belonging? Our gospel convictions? Jesus? The Apostle Paul wrote this extraordinary letter to a church he knew well, yet a church which had got itself into a bit of a muddle. It turns out that the Christian Family does matter – and it is important to ensure that Jesus sits at the heart and soul of this church and in fact any church. We look at 1 Corinthians 1-7 because it holds a mirror up to us and it would be wise for us to consider carefully what it might say to us today.

In this Bible Talk, Ken Noakes carefully looks at what 1 Corinthians says about the place of sex in marriage and how it might help us to recognise the gospel importance of the marriage covenant. There are specific matters addressed here and there are specific relationships in view (i.e. – those married, those unmarried and widowed, to Christian married couples, and Christians married to unbelievers). The gospel speaks to each circumstance.

Sermon – Sexual Immorality (1 Corinthians 6:12-20) [15+ Mature Audiences Warning]

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

What should hold a church together – Our relationships? Our feeling of belonging? Our gospel convictions? Jesus? The Apostle Paul wrote this extraordinary letter to a church he knew well, yet a church which had got itself into a bit of a muddle. It turns out that the Christian Family does matter – and it is important to ensure that Jesus sits at the heart and soul of this church and in fact any church. We look at 1 Corinthians 1-7 because it holds a mirror up to us and it would be wise for us to consider carefully what it might say to us today.

In this Bible Talk, Dave Swan speaks about the touchy subject of sexual purity and the important place it holds in the Christian family. Since “your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God” (1 Cor 6:19) – how should the Christian person handle their sex drive in a highly sexualised world and yet still honour God?