Sermon – Authentic Easter: Power (John 20-21)

Read the text – John 20-21

Join us for our big Easter Celebration as we proclaim Jesus is risen! In this sermon of the sermon series ‘Authentic Easter’, we look at the resurrection of Jesus in John chapter 20 and 21. Nick Lindeback walks us through the different disciples who saw Jesus and their different reactions. These testimonies show that Jesus’ love is not only unconditional but is powerful enough to forgive. Again and again and again.
This message was given at Lower Mountains Anglican Church, Glenbrook 10.30 service.

Sermon – Authentic Easter: Love (John 19:1-42)

Read the text – John 19

On this Good Friday, we work through crucifixion and death of Jesus as part of our ‘Authentic Easter’ sermon series. Gary Haddon explains the harrowing experience Jesus went through at the cross and how it shows His infinite and unconditional love, even for those who put him on there. This message was given at Lower Mountains Anglican Church Glenbrook 10.30 service.

Sermon Series – RethinKING Easter

Forget crowns and castles! What does it REALLY mean to be a king? This Easter, it’s time to rethink everything you thought you knew about power, sacrifice, and the true King who changed the world forever. We are “RethinKING Easter.”

Palm Sunday – The King of Peace

Read the text – Zechariah 9:9-17; Luke 19:28-44

We can define a king as one with the power to raise an army yet Jesus defies this kind of kingship because he comes as one who is “gentle and riding on a donkey”.  The kingship that he brings is one of peace in the face of war.  We need not be threatened by Jesus but welcome him with praise.

In this talk Ken Noakes helps us to see the long-term fulfillment of what was long proclaimed about God’s King – and story that spanned 500 years from prophecy to fulfillment.

Good Friday – The King of Service

Read the text – Exodus 12:14-28; Luke 22:1-37

We can define a King as one who people serve, yet Jesus defies this kind of kingship by being the one who came to serve, laying down his life for his friends.

In this talk, Gary Haddon helps us to see in Jesus a sovereign King who suffered and a king who suffered in order to save.

Easter Sunday – The King of Life

Read the text – Luke 23:50-24:35; Acts 2:22-39

A way to define kingship by succession – yet we still recognize that for every king, no matter his power, or influence, or riches – they will one day die. Yet Jesus defies kingship in almost every way – not least of all in his death and then resurrection. A king, who in death gave his riches as an internal inheritance for all who trust in him. That is Easter.

In this talk Neil Atwood will help us consider the significance of Jesus’ resurrection as a certain indicator of Jesus’ true kingship over all of life.

Sermon – The Wisdom of Living for Eternity (1 Corinthians 15:35-16:24)

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 15:35-16:24

This is not the age for the self-fulfilment and glory of human beings – there is an eternity for that (we will be changed and given a new resurrection body). This is the age for the work of the LORD – our labour in the Lord, though it looks weak now, is not vain (like the death of Jesus and like our bodies).

In this talk Dave Swan, warns us from the last section in the first letter to the Corinthians, to not be driven by the present age and by what we see. For now is not the time for the work of the gospel to look splendid, it is the time for gospel work and that work will look weak (v58).

Listen to this world, have your life shaped by the resurrection, so that when you do experience death you might also know the wonder of the resurrection.

Sermon – The Foolishness of Living for Now (1 Corinthians 15:12-34)

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 15:12-34

The Corinthians live for the ‘now’ as they deny the resurrection, so they have always focused on looking good now, but the Apostle Paul shows how foolish this is. Paul shows instead that our glory comes through weakness, just as life comes through death, so his ministry is marked by weakness and death. As Paul commands in 1 Corinthians 15:33-34, Christians we must be careful of being led astray by those who would have us focus on living for now.

In this talk Dave Swan, wants to help the listener fix their eyes on eternity. To have a life shaped by the resurrection, so that you don’t live for the now, but for eternity, and so that you can take steps to encourage others to live for eternity as well.

Sermon – Easter: Transforming Life (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

The resurrection really happened – it changed Paul’s life and it changes us, because it changes death itself. In this Easter Sunday Bible Talk, Gary Haddon, helps the listener to see the transforming power of the resurrection so they can choose to accept and in turn live out their resurrection hope. Listen to hear the gospel preached, the gospel received and the gospel upon which Christians are called to take a stand.

Easter Sermons – Life is On! (Psalms 2, 72, 22 & 110)

Easter is such a special time for Christians. The king of heaven to hung on a cross – what a way to treat a king.

To reflect on Easter we have chosen four Psalms: the Psalms of the King. They are essentially about God’s promised once and for all time King, Jesus. The New Testament cites the Psalms more often than any other Old Testament book, so it is right for us to look at them and use them and preach on them, especially at Easter. May we understand how Jesus fulfils the expectations of this one true King.

Psalm 2 – The King over All
Psalm 72 – The King of Justice
Psalm 22 – The Forsaken King?
Psalm 110 – The King who Conquers

Sermon Series – Famous Last Words

 “What is truth?” “It is finished.” “Peace be with you!” “Follow me!” These are some of the famous last words recorded in John’s gospel – in the days before Jesus’ death and the days after his resurrection and before his ascension. But what do these famous last words mean to us today? What does it demand of our lives? Is it simply a story of 2000 years ago, or does the power of Jesus in our world today demand that we must follow him?

28th March – Testify To The Truth?

This talk looks at the interactions of Jesus & the Jewish Leaders with Pilate – we see a 1st century example of cancel culture, as Pilate chooses which side to listen to, and the Jews attempt to stamp out and reject Jesus as their King.

Read the text – John 18:28-40

1st April – Who Has The Power?

This talk investigates about who has the power and control in Jesus’ final week before his death. While Pontius Pilate claims he has the power of life or death over Jesus, Jesus claims his power is given to him from above.

Read the text – John 19:1-16

2nd April – It Is Finished!

This talks looks at the crucifixion of Jesus. His death was not a defeat; his final words “It is finished” announced a shout of victory. He finished the work of the Father – to save humanity.

Read the text – John 19:17-37

4th April – Peace Be With You! (AM with kids)

This talk focuses on Jesus’ first interactions after his resurrection – his first words to the disciples were “Peace be with you!” They found comfort, they found joy, they found life in Jesus.

Read the text – John 20:1-31

4th April – Peace Be With You! (evening)

This talk focuses on Jesus’ first interactions after his resurrection – his first words to the disciples were “Peace be with you!” They found comfort, they found joy, they found life in Jesus.

Read the text – John 20:1-31

11th April – Follow Me!

This talk looks at Jesus’ call to his disciples – looking at Jesus in faith, following Jesus by walking with him, and being fed by Jesus by growing in him.

Read the text – John 21:1-25

Inviting Folk to an Online Easter

Easter Reimagined (LMAP)Easter 2020 worldwide looks different. Not the message, but indeed the form.

The Easter message of death followed by life in Jesus is a glorious message of hope and perhaps as relevant and important for all to hear in the midst of a pandemic. If life matters, as it clearly does given the extraordinary measures that are being taken worldwide to stop the spread of this virus, then now is the time to proclaim the Easter message!

What has changed is the form. The opportunity to physically gather together with others to proclaim that ‘Christ is risen, he is risen indeed’ is not possible. And so we gather online and in many new and creative ways. Never before has there been such an opportunity for folk to connect into Easter without having to put a foot outside their front door. What an opportunity.

Anyone (with an internet connection) can step into church without the fear of having to make small talk, or the worry about what to do or where to sit, or the concern that they might ‘out’ themselves as someone who might just possibly be open to considering Jesus or his message. They can sit hidden behind their screen, undetectable to those who are proclaiming the Easter message.

How can we invite folk to join us online?

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