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 – Psalms of Hope: Hope in the God who is Faithful (Psalm 89)

Read the text – Psalm 89

Even in the midst of the turmoil of this world, God is faithful, God’s promises are rock solid – in Psalm 89 we are reminded that God’s love stands forever; his faithfulness is firmly established. In this talk Ken Noakes looks at how Psalm 89 points us to his appointed, anointed, exalted king – not King David, but King Jesus.

This talk shows the hope that we can have today because we can see how God has kept his promises in his Son Jesus.

Sermon – Psalms of Hope: Hope Sings it’s heart out (Psalm 84)

Read the text – Psalm 84

The Psalms have been described as ‘both God’s word to us and our words to God’. The Psalms speak to the total person and demand a total response. Generally, the book of Psalms has been divided into five books and this ‘Psalm of Hope’ number 84, comes from Book III. We are encouraged to find hope in God alone through his Son, our Saviour and King, Jesus Christ.

In this talk, Ken Noakes helps us to think about all the good things that might make life good, and yet also recognize that those good things pale into insignificance compared with the hope of the glory of heaven. May this Psalm, and this talk, help you to sing for joy because of your hope in Jesus.

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