Each week, our preachers, teachers and ministers speak in the church…
to explain the scriptures,
to glorify Jesus
and to reveal God’s love and eternal purposes for his people.
Addresses, messages and sermons. Just click the black audio bars to listen.
N. B. - the small triangular ‘PLAY’ buttons do not change appearance but the audio WILL nevertheless play.
PLAY BUTTON:
(Psalm 68, v.19)
“…day after day he carries us along!”
Our speaker recalls some important words of Paul in his letter to the Romans, chapter 8, verse 31…
“So what should we say about this? If God is for us, no one can defeat us?”
Romans 8, v28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…”
”Love one another as I have loved you.” John 13, v.34
HYMN
Before the speaker’s message, we first listen to (or even join in with) this well-known song, which reminds us that it’s Jesus who carries our burdens. Click the video screen to begin and the music will play.. together with the lyrics which will appear on screen line by line.
A Prayer
In the audio bar below, our speaker leads us in prayers for our world - its leaders and for those who, in their grief, their daily struggles and suffering, need lifting up to our Lord.
We pray for each other and for the Church of Christ... both at home and abroad.
Preacher’s message
“Carry each other’s burdens”
Our preacher’s message below centres on Paul’s letter to the Galatians in which he underlines Christ’s commandment to his disciples that they “Love one another as I have loved you!”.
This, of course, involves carrying one another’s burdens… serving one another as the Holy Spirit guides us and, in every case, treating everyone as equal in God’s sight.
Specifically, she explores Galatians, chapter 6, verses 1 to 10. This bible passage is shown in full below.
Galatians 6: 1-10
Paul speaks to the Galatian church…
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.
4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load.
6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
“Abigail - a channel of Your peace.”
Bible reading
1st book of Samuel, chapter 25, verses 1 to 17
This is read to us in the recording below. The full text has been printed beneath the audio bar for you to follow.
David, Nabal and Abigail
1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David moved down into the Desert of Paran.
Abigail
2 A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel.
3 His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings—he was a Calebite.
4 While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. 5 So he sent ten young men and said to them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name. 6 Say to him: ‘Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!
7 “‘Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing. 8 Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore be favorable toward my men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever you can find for them.’”
9 When David’s men arrived, they gave Nabal this message in David’s name. Then they waited.
10 Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?”
12 David’s men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported every word. 13 David said to his men, “Each of you strap on your sword!” So they did, and David strapped his on as well. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
The meeting of David and Abigail
14 One of the servants told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them. 15 Yet these men were very good to us. They did not mistreat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing. 16 Night and day they were a wall around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them. 17 Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him.”
Preacher’s Message
“Relationship”
What is a ‘relationship’? More particularly and specifically, what ‘relationship’ does a Christian have with Jesus?
In his message to church below, our preacher will shed light on this important theme and the peace and joy which comes through a commited relationship with the risen Christ.
First, a call to worship.
and now a prayer
“Testing”
Before our speaker gives his message, he reads to us a passage from Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth, namely chapter 13, verse 5. Paul asks the members of this church to examine themselves. The verse is shown beneath the audio bar belo so that you may follow the text as it is read to you.
Bible passgage - 2 Corinthians 13: verse 5
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
Speaker’s message
“Firstfruits - The Resurrection Promise”
We are still in the season of harvest (in the UK) and today’s message is very much about this important, joyous and key Christian theme.
Before she delivers her address to the congregation, our preacher opens with a bible reading from Leviticus. The passage is shown below so that you can follow the text as it is read to you in the message below.
BIBLE READING
The book of Leviticus, chapter 23, verses 9 to 14
Offering the Firstfruits
9 The Lord said to Moses, 10 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. 11 He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. 12 On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the Lord a lamb a year old without defect, 13 together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil—a food offering presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma—and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine. 14 You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.
Preacher’s Message
“Favouritism forbidden”
We look at a passage from James, chapter 2, in which we are reminded about the love Jesus had for ALL people, rich and poor alike. Sadly, this isn’t always true today… even in a church community. Fine clothes and adornments are all very well but, in God’s world, they don’t lift anyone up the pecking order above those who are impoverished.
Bible Passage
James 2:1-17
(from the N.I.V. bible)
Favoritism Forbidden
1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbour as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Faith and Deeds
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
PREACHER’s ADDRESS
“The Game of Life.”
Bible Reading
The preacher’s sermon emerges from a reading given during the morning worship from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter 5, verses 1-20, which is shown below in full (from the N.I.V. bible) for you to read beforehand.
EPHESIANS 5 : 1-20
1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Preacher’s Address
“ROCK”
Our speaker takes as his text the passage from Matthew, chapter 16, verses 13 to 21 in which Peter declares that Jesus IS the Messiah. In ‘The Message’ bible, verses 15 to 18 record…
15 He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17-18 Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are.
You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
SPEAKER’S ADDRESS
“I am making everything new!”
BIBLE READING
The message in the address below is drawn out of the Revelation 21, verses 1 to 8, the text of which is not only shown below but also read to us in the recording here.
1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
MESSAGE
“Are you happy?”
Our preacher looks at four stories from Psalm 107.
This is a long passage - some 32 verses! It contains four different stories, which tell of God’s rescue plans for each of the four different communities mentioned in the reading.
Our speaker looks at ‘happiness’ and reminds us that God wants to bring salvation to His people… to us.
And this goes way beyond ‘happy’!
“Are we ready?”
GET READY….
Our preacher’s starting points come from two parables in Matthew’s gospel; chapter 7 tells of the wise man and the foolish man - and chapter 25 recounts the predicament of the ten bridesmaids. We are reminded, too, that our ways and thoughts are NOT God’s ways and thoughts!
Preacher’s Address
“Our hearts . . and the heart of God”
Our speaker delves into the famous account in the first book of Samuel in which David.. of all people.. is picked out from the list of possible and probable candidates to be anointed as the king of Israel.
Before the speaker’s address, this story is read to us in the audio below, beneath which the text is shown in full for you to follow.
Bible reading : 1 Samuel 15 - from verse 34 - to 1 Samuel 16, verse 13.
1 Samuel 15
34 Then Samuel left for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. 35 Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.
1 Samuel 16
1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”
2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.” The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.”
11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
Speaker’s Message
At the time of this address, the 2024 General Elections for the UK were imminenet.
Our speaker relates Samuel’s choice of David to be King of Israel to the choices facing the voting public who will be considering where to place their crosses on the ballot paper.
‘Heavenly’ Father’s Day
A single bible verse underpins our speaker’s address, which you can hear in the audio below.
Verse 18 from the 2nd book of Corinthians, chapter 6, says :
“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty.
ADDRESS
“Don’t give up on yourself!”
Our preacher looks at the scene described in John’s gospel, chapter 5, in which Jesus sees the queue of lame, blind and deaf people waiting for space in the so-called “Healing” pool in Bethesda.
First, we can hear this passage being read for us in the audio below. The bible text from John, chapter 5, verses 1 to 7 are shown beneath so that you may follow it if you wish.
The Healing at the Pool
1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
Preacher’s Address
“A fellowship of believers”
This is the heading in the N.I.V bible in Acts, chapter 2, verse 41 in which we hear about the early growth of the Christian church and the daily increase in the number of His followers following Peter’s preaching to the crowds after Pentecost.
Bible Reading
41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
The Fellowship of the Believers
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
ADDRESS
In the recording below, taken from a recent morning service, our speaker gives an insight into this passage and its importance to the church today.. both locally in the community and world-wide.
A TIME OF PRAYER
If you would like to join with us in prayer right now, just click the audio bar below to listen.
Several prayers will be spoken, including prayers for ourselves and our world and for all peoples everywhere who need the Holy Spirit to bless, to heal and to comfort.
THREE IMPORTANT, SEASONAL AND TIMELY MESSAGES
The three addresses, readings and messages here concern key moments in the Christian calendar.
Below, different preachers and speakers explain the important aspects, the true meanings and the deeply personal significances relating to each of these areas of our Christian faith and our daily walk with the Lord.
1. Ascension
BibLE reading
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
MESSAGE
2. Pentecost
Bible Reading
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.
17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
MESSAGE
3. The Holy Spirit
Bibel Reading and MESSAGE
BIBLE READING : Zecharia 4 : verses 1 to 14
The bible passage read by our preacher just before the the address is shown in full below so that you can follow the text as you listen.
The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees
4 Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. 2 He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. 3 Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”
4 I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5 He answered, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I replied.
6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
7 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”
8 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.
10 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?”
11 Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”
12 Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?”
13 He replied, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I said.
14 So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to[b] serve the Lord of all the earth.”
“Believing”
We are confronted with the fact that, on Easter morning, the women who came with spices to anoint Jesus’s body were in disbelief.. and fear. They discovered that the tomb was empty.
Our preacher paints thia picture again for us in his message below and pinpoints the whole crux of the Resurrection… belief!
Bible reading
The text from the bible passage below is shown beneath the audio bar. Click to hear this read to us by a member of the congregation during the church service.
MaRK 16: vs. 1-8
Jesus Has Risen
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
Message
Our preacher begins by showing the congregation a wristwatch and a pair of shoes. He suggests the value of each and poses the question, “Do you believe me?”
“Forgiveness, cleansing and transformation.”
Bible reading
ACTS, Chapter 3, Verses 11 to 19
The text of this passage is shown beneath the audio below so that you may follow it as it is read to you.
Peter Speaks to the Onlookers
11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.
12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go.
14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.
15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.
16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer.
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
Speaker’s address
“Watch… for the New Creation!”
“Who is this King of Glory?”
In her address below, our preacher helps us to understand that, whilst David composed Psalm 22 all about the cross - forseeing Jesus’s death - and Psalm 23 all about his resurrection, Psalm 24 is all about Jesus’s ascension to heaven and His glory, might and dominion! It is full of joy. David is full of joy. She explains that a positive and deeply contrite response is required on the part of Christians.
Bible Reading - PSALM 24
Psalm 24 is read to us in the audio below. If you wish to follow the passage, it is set out beneath the audio bar.
1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.
3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.
5 They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Saviour.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, God of Jacob.
7 Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty - he is the King of glory.
“Lives change.”
Our preacher delivers a message about the dramatic life-changes that take place when Jesus meets us. Lives are turned upside down and begin afresh.
The bible reading below from Matthew’s gospel tells of these very changes as Jesus preached and journeyed through towns and villages, proclaining good news and healing people of every disease and sickness.
BIBLE READING
Matthew, chapter 9, verses 35 to 38 followed by chapter 10, verses 5 to 8.
Whilst the passage from the NIV bible is read to us, you may wish to follow the text below.
Matthew 9: 35-38
The Workers Are Few
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 10: 5-8
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
Preacher’s Message
Thank you for tuning in to this simple form of online worship. Feel free to explore more messages, songs, prayers, media and general information about our outreach, services, activities and events via the buttons and headings on our ‘home’ page. Click HERE.
“ A call to intimacy, transformation and action.”
In his message below, our preacher explains what our relationship with Jesus and our call to discipleship ought to be in today’s world… the world as it is in 2024. His starting point is the passage in John, chapter 1, verses 35 to 50 in which the disciples realise… that is, KNOW… that Jesus is the Messiah!
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FOLLOW JESUS… IN 2024?
BIBLE READING
John, chapter 1, verses 35 to 55
John’s Disciples Follow Jesus
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want? They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
Speaker’s Address
“Sufficient, timely and free”
Our preacher speaks about God’s provision for each of us, taking the undeniably shocking story from Genesis, chapter 22, verses 1 to 14 in which Abraham is called by God to put his only son, Isaac, on an altar, take a knife and actually go ahead and slay him as a sacrifice!
The passage in question is read to us below with the full text beneath the audio bar for you to follow as you listen.
Genesis 22: 1-14
Abraham Tested
1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
14 So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
“Paid in full”
Our speaker takes Luke’s account of the walk out of Jerusalem on the Emmaus road by Cleopas and his companion. Jesus joins them and walks alongside them though they do not recognise him. The audio bar below contains the full passage from Luke 24 (from the NIV bible) for us to listen to, beginning at verse 13 and continuing on to the moment Jesus reveals who he is during supper with the two gentlemen.
Speaker’s Message
(During her address, our speaker refers to selected passages from the book “No Ordinary Man” by Nick Fawcett.)
Thank you for tuning in to this simple form of online worship. Feel free to explore more messages, songs, prayers, media and general information about our outreach, services, activities and events via the buttons and headings on our ‘home’ page. Click HERE.
“We have a king. We have THE King!”
We begin with the song “Jesus is King” in video form. Three verses in particular have been selected and reproduced below just to show that this hymn is all about honouring Jesus as King. Click on the video screen to begin. The lyrics will appear verse by verse as the music plays so that you may follow them or even sing along.
Jesus is King
And I will extol Him
Give Him the glory
And honour His name
Laying our lives with
Gladness before Him
Filled with His Spirit
We worship the King
Oh, Holy One
Our hearts do adore You
Thrilled with Your goodness
We give You our praise
Bible reading
Matthew 17: 24-27
This passage from Matthew’s gospel is a rather unusual one, containing as it does some rather difficult moments to grasp or understand at first hearing. The preacher’s message further down concerns this very passage, with further insights into Matthew himself.
To help with this reading, the text is shown below the audio bar below so that you can follow it while the speaker reads aloud.
The Temple Tax
24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
25 “Yes, he does,” he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”
26 “From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.
“From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes?” asked Jesus.
MESSAGE
“The Lord Is My Shepherd”
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Preacher’s Message
Thank you for joining with us in these devotions.
We hope you have been touched by the Holy Spirit in some way as you praised and worshipped.
May Christ richly bless you as you follow Him. AMEN
Bible Reading
Our bible passage is read to us below and is taken from Mark, chapter 3, beginning to read at verse 13.
The text is shown beneath the audio bar for you to follow as you listen,
Jesus Appoints the Twelve
Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Preacher’s Message
“Calling and Following”
“Clean Up - De-clutter - Sort out”
With Christmas and New Year festivities rapidly fading to become just memories, our speaker looks at what is REALLY important in our lives as we move forward. Many of us realise that, for a variety of reasons, we have gathered - even hoarded - a lot of ‘stuff’ throughout our living spaces… and even in our out-buildings. Is it time to get rid of some of it?… perhaps time to tackle some ‘spring’ cleaning? The preacher’s message grows out of the points Paul offers in his letter to the Colossians. The text of this bible passage is shown beneath the black audio bar below, which you can click on to hear a church member read for you.
Bible Reading :
Colossians Chapter 3
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Paul writes to the church in Colossus
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Address
The ‘Tunneling’ God
FIRST, THREE BIBLE READINGS…
(1) Isaiah 2:1–5 describes an impossible-seeming time in Israel's future, when the Lord will reign over the entire earth from Jerusalem. People from all the Gentile nations will flock to Israel and to Jerusalem to learn from the Lord how to walk in His ways.
Jerusalem in bible times…
(2) Paul uses this example of night and day to show that we should live as people behave properly as in the day, compared to how they live in the night. At night and in darkness people are more likely to engage in sinful desires than in the day, when their actions are more on display.
Day and night…
(3) Matthew reinforces the idea that the community must “be ready.” In this context, to “be ready” is to continue to do what Jesus taught throughout His ministry. The community is to prepare for the final advent less by doing special things and more by living and witnessing as Jesus instructed.
“Be ready...”
PREACHER’S ADDRESS
“The Tunneling God”
“From Darkness To Light”
The preacher’s address is based on the bible passage which is both shown and read to us below. It is taken from
ISAIAH Chaper 9, verses 1 to 7
1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Preacher’s address
“The full armour of God”
Ephesians, chapter 6, verses 10 to 18
Thi famous passage, read to us in the audio below, is from Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus. Really, however, it’s a universal letter to the whole Christian Church. The passge is shown below so that you may follow it or refer to it in the speaker’s address lower down the page.
The Armour of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11 Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Saints.
ADDRESS
“JOY!”
In his address, our preacher looks (perhaps surprisingly) at Jeremiah and the bible book of ‘Lamentations’.
He shows that, when all around is despair, destruction and desperation, God is ALWAYS there… His love is new every morning and His faithfulness is GREAT! First, our speaker reads from Lamentations 3:19-24. You can follow this passage from the text below as you listen to the audio.
Lamentations 3:19-24
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
“Prayer”
…for our communities
…for our nation
…for our world
In our recent service, both preacher and congregation joined together to offer prayers for the troubled, war-torn, desperate, sick and needy people… (a) close by in our communities, (b) in our nation and (c) across the world.
He also gave an address on “The Lord’s Prayer” as Jesus taught His disciples, pointing to the various ways we can and should pray today… prayers which, always, should have FAITH as the starting and ending points.
Below is an audio of the speaker’s message on “Prayer”.
…for schools, hospitals, food banks, industry, commerce.
…for the church near and far.
“An Eternal Perspective”
JESUS HEALS AN OFFICIAL’S SON…
Bible Reading
43 After the two days he left for Galilee. 44 (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, for they also had been there.
46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”
An Eternal Perspective…
53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.
54 This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.
ADDRESS
“Banquet Invitation”
Bible Reading - Matthew 22: vs. 1 - 10
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.
13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Message
Our speaker looks at the passage above and considers who, in today’s society, in which there is increasing poverty… with ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’, is invited to Christ’s heavenly banquet and who actually attends.
“The Mind of Christ”
Bible Reading
The reading you can listen to above is from Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth, chapter 2, verses 1 to 16'. What Paul was telling the Corinthians back then - and is saying to us today - will be explored in our speaker’s address further down this page. It is a difficult passage to understand… even after multiple read-throughs, as it speaks of a different wisdom from our normal ‘human’ one we acquire through life. Because of the Holy Spirit, we have a wisdom that can grasp the “mind of Christ”, which changes everything we once thought!
Address
The Mind of Christ… not the mind of man, which functions by focusing on human thoughts.
Once revealed by the Holy Spirit when we are “renewed from above”, our mission is to strive to maintain “The Mind of Christ”.
“I AM WHO I AM”
Ex. 3: 14
What is the way of Christian pilgrims?
Bibel Reading
The famous passage in the Old Testament, in which Moses is on Mount Horeb (later to be known as Mount Sinai) and is confronted with a most strange phenomenon, is read to us below and the text is shown in full beneath the black audio bar. Our preacher sheds light on this event and directs our thoughts towards our own ‘pilgrimage’ through life. A recording of his address appears lower down this page.
Moses and the Burning Bush
1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
Exodus chapter 3, verse 2… “There the angel of the Lord appeared to [Moses] in flames of fire from within a bush!
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’
“This is my name forever,
the name you shall call me
from generation to generation.
Where does the road ahead go for you?
“A harvest of hope!”
Our preacher takes two bible readings from Matthew [shown in full below]. In the first, Jesus, tells the crowds of folk, who had gathered for multifarious reasons, his “Parable of the Weeds”.
In the second, we notice that Jesus withdraws from the masses and goes into a private house. Here, he addresses his disciples only and we read of the “Parable of the Weeds Explained”
TWO BIBLE READINGS
Matthew 13, verses 24 to 30
The Parable of the Weeds
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?
“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
Matthew 13, verses 36 to 43
The Parable of the Weeds Explained
Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
Preacher’s Address
“Luggage & Baggage”
Our preacher looks at the crucial things we need for our lifelong journey with Jesus… and what we really DON’T need but somehow still seem to carry with us day by day!
He takes as the basis for his message Jesus’s meeting with the Samarian woman at the well (which is shown in full below) as recounted in John’s gospel.
Bible Reading - JOHN Chapter 4, verses 7 to 17
(from ‘The Message’ bible)
7-8 A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, “Would you give me a drink of water?” (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.)
9 The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, “How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (Jews in those days wouldn’t be caught dead talking to Samaritans.)
10 Jesus answered, “If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.”
11-12 The woman said, “Sir, you don’t even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are you going to get this ‘living water’? Are you a better man than our ancestor Jacob, who dug this well and drank from it, he and his sons and livestock, and passed it down to us?”
13-14 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”
15 The woman said, “Sir, give me this water so I won’t ever get thirsty, won’t ever have to come back to this well again!”
ADDRESS
Addressing the issue of ‘Depression’
“Pain - Plea - Proclamation”
What is life like for a Christian… difficult, easy, enjoyable, a strain..? Our preacher takes the difficult topic of “Depression” and looks at it through the lens of the book of Jeremiah. He focuses in particular on the passage read for us below:
Jeremiah, Chapter 15, verses 15 to 21
ADDRESS
Our preacher’s message opens with a question that was put to the gathered church congregation:
All about forgiveness…
“70 times 7”
Forgiveness…
In her message, our speaker fixes her focus on ‘Forgiveness’, taking the bible passage from Matthew 18, verses 21 to 35 as her starting point. The complicated yet ever-present relationship issues of reconciliation and forgiveness is dealt with as Peter asks how often sinners should be forgiven. How merciful should we be? The passage is read for us in the audio below:
God, who forgives, expects Jesus’s followers to forgive one another; if they don't, there will be terrible consequences. Our speaker enlarges on Jesus’s answer to Peter’s question on how many times we should forgive those who have wronged us… “70 x7”, he says… literally 490 times (meaning without limit really).
MERCY…
AND FORGIVENESS…
Colossians, Chapter 3, verses 12 to 17 says…
“As God’s chosen people, clothe yourselves with…”
In the audio below, our speaker remind us that we should (as Paul tells everyone in his letter to the church at Colossae) live as people who have been made alive in Christ… that we should ‘clothe’ ourseves in key vitues for all to see - clearly visible every day. Giving thanks that we can do this is also a crucial part of the Christian life.
. . . COMPASSION, KINDNESS, GENTLENESS, PATIENCE . . .
AND HUMILITY - all bound together by LOVE.
AUDIO MESSAGE
Bible Reading : Colossians 3:12-17
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
“Compassion, Surrender, Obedience”
The feeding of the 5000
Matthew’s account of this famous miracle is read to us below. The passage is shown beneath for you to follow.
Bible Reading - Matthew 14: 13 -21
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
ADDRESS
More than 5000 adults… plus children!
12 baskets left over..!
“New Wine”
Bible Reading - John 2 :1-11
The narrative of the wedding at Cana in Galilee - a week-long affair (..or more!) - in which Jesus performed His first miracle is read for us below before we hear the preacher’s message. The text has been provided beneath the audio bar for you to follow.
1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.
Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Message & Prayer
The story of Jephthah
Jephthah led the Israelites in battle against Ammon and, in exchange for defeating the Ammonites, made a vow to sacrifice whatever would come out of the door of his house first. When his daughter was the first to come out of the house, he immediately regretted the vow, which bound him to sacrifice his daughter to God.
Judges 11: 32-34
32 Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into his hands.
33 He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon.
34 When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourine! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter.
Two Sermons
1.
…based on the well-known bible passage in John 14
2.
…based on the passage from 1 Chronicles chapter 11, verses 15 to 25
“What Is A Good Father?”
“Turn To God”
Our preacher takes the bible reading from Acts 9: 1-19 as his starting point for the theme of his message. The passage is read to us below:
“If you love me…”
Our preacher takes a close look at Jesus’s words in the gospel of John, chapter 14, verse 15 :
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God.”
Below, we hear his message all about love and obedience and the difficulties we all can find in upholding true, faithful, loving and unswerving obedience.
“Why, when & how do we read the Bible?”
The message brought by our preacher in the address below focuses on the 66 books of the bible – 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. He concurs that many people don’t know where to start when it comes to reading the Bible and he explores some of the reasons why it can often present difficulties without the help of the Holy Spirit and Christian friends with whom much greater understanding is revealed through study.
“Doubt”
Our speaker addresses the subject of ‘doubt’ - personal doubt and loss of faith, which many Christians feel uncomfortable talking about or expressing to others in the church. Should we even experience doubt at all as a follower of Jesus?
“Tears”
PSALM 126
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
4 Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. 5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
With Psalm 126 as his starting point (see above), our speaker looks at the purpose, value, relief, joy and, above all, the hope that shedding tears can bring.
“On the Emmaus road”
Following the dramatic events in Jerusalem on a weekend which saw Jesus deserted by his followers, tried without a courtroom, condemned by a mob, crucified, buried in a rock tomb and, amazingly, appear to Mary and Peter 3 days later, the story - as told by Luke - continues as two of Jesus’s followers leave to travel the 5 miles to Emmaus.
Reeling from shock and disappointment, they are joined on their walk by a stranger who seems to be totally unaware of what’s just taken place in the city. He quizzes them on the details of the events and even, at the end of their journey, has supper with them.
Our speaker explains what REALLY was going on! No ‘stranger’ at all! She gives us huge encouragement about our personal walk with Jesus in our daily lives.
“Who do you think you are?”
Our speaker explores who we are in Christ and how much God loves us despite the roles we play and the masks we wear.
“And forget not all His benefits!”
Psalm 103
1 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
“Jesus is in the boat!”
Our preacher takes the famous story in Mark’s gospel of the disciples and their sheer panic as they are buffeted and thrown about during the fiersest of storms at sea. It is read to us below and you may follow the text of the passage beneath the audio bar.
“Jesus Calms the Storm”
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
OVERSEAS MISSIONS
As a church, we know of, and keep in touch with (where possible), several different ‘missions’ projects in progress in different regions of the world right now. On this special “Overseas Missions” Sunday, our speaker dips into a collection of letters and other correspondance to guide us through some of these current projects.
She highlights both the successes and struggles our missionaries experience in the course of their work for God. In the recording below, where necessary, names have been ‘bleeped’ out to protect identities. Our speaker then goes on to encourage all of us to be ‘Christian missionaries’ in our own neighbourhoods.
“New every morning!”
Our preacher reminds us how great God’s faithfulness truly is and how He bestows new mercies on us every day. He recalls the situations that confronted Jeremiah, the Old Testament prophet, and how, despite tribulations all around him, he was still able to thank God for fresh beginnings each new morning.
courtesy of www.bibleimages.org
God told Jeremiah : ‘I am going to make you my spokesman. You will tell kings, leaders and the people that I am going to uproot, tear down and overthrow nations that disobey me.
You will also say that God will build up and plant those who obey Him.’
“Faithful obedience from the heart”
Our preacher looks at discipleship, highlighting “The Beatitudes” in Matthew’s gospel. They paint the perfect ‘portrait’ of what a disciple of Jesus truly looks like.
“In The Potter’s Hands”
The speaker’s message is drawn from the bible passage in Jeremiah 18, verses 1 to 12, which tells us about the potter’s wheel, about a pot forming in the wrong shape and how the potter will, in such circumstances, throw it away and begin again. The passage is read to us below.
“Broken Cisterns”
This title comes from the passage in the reading below - Jeremiah 2: vs 13 to 19. In her message, our speaker explains what the relevance of Jeremiah’s words are for the Christian Church today, illustrating the key points with visual aids in the church (shown here in the accompanying graphics). The running clean water can be heard in the background of both recordings.
…a broken cistern
…producing dirty, undrinkable water.
“You got it wrong!” (I told Him).
The fourth candle in the Advent wreath represents ‘Love’. Our preacher shares with us here some thoughts on Mary and Joseph, the important ‘visits’ they each have in the “Incarnation” story and the names our coming King will be given… “JESUS” - “EMMANUEL” - “CHRIST”.
We also hear a meditation based on the predicament in which Mary initially finds herself.
“Mary’s Story”
The story underpinning this address is found across two passages in the first chapter of Luke’s gospel. These are read to us in the recording below.
Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas. On the third Sunday of Advent, our preacher looks at the story of Mary by exploring 3 points:
1. The Miraculous aspect of Jesus’s birth;
2. Merciful : God in his mercy, chose Mary;
3. Most High : Gabriel told Mary that Jesus… “will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High!”
“Opportunities in Advent.”
The countdown to Christmas Day has begun! People mark the passing of each of the 24 days in different ways.
Some use a calendar - opening little windows daily, behind which lie ‘treats’. Others perhaps begin more detailed planning… searching out for gifts for friends and loved ones. Some prefer to spend time on other seasonal activities.
Our speaker offers yet another view and looks at the possibilities for Christian witness during Advent.
During our services and devotional times, if you would like prayers to be spoken aloud for you, your family or friends in need - or if you would like to talk with someone from the church about the messages you have seen or heard on this website, do not hesitate to contact us here.