Sermons

Forming Foundations of Faith - God is Holy

READ

Exodus 40:34-38: God entering the tabernacle

Hebrews 9:24-26, 10:19-25 Christ entering the heavenly temple

Here’s what happens… 

God gives very specific instructions for the Tabernacle, a transportable temple where his holy presence can live among his people. When the Tabernacle is built to specification, God comes and fills the building, hovering over it with a cloud by day and a cloud that glows with fire inside it at night. 

Christ enters the heavenly temple and through him we can have confidence to enter the heavenly sanctuary and enter into the presence of God

DISCUSS 

- What does it mean to say God is holy?

- Why does sin create a barrier between God and humankind?

- What is God’s ‘rescue plan’?

- Is there a tension between God is holy and God is loving/ Discuss.

- How does all this affect you and how you live your life?

- How do you ‘provoke others to good deeds (Hebrews 10:24)

PRAY 

Let us pray

Awesome and great God, whose holiness is beyond our capacity even to imagine - we worship you. God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we glorify you as our God also. Your care for your people of old is evident through the stories of your involvement and constant covenant with them. Your care for us is evident through your grace and mercy which we experience in Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit. From the very beginning you desired to be with us and journey with us. Father help us to have confidence in your grace and mercy, to be provoked, and to provoke others to good deeds. We offer our praise and adoration and this time of worship as our response to your extravagant initiative of entering our lives in the person of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.!

If you would like access to the Recorded Services YouTube Playlist please [click here.](https://tinyurl.com/y45x97rs/)

This playlist begins with the 19th of July.

Please note: due to copyright laws, the music may be absent or muted

16th August 2020 - Forming Foundations of Faith - God is Creator

Please be advised: the sermon recording will be available on YouTube with the whole service on Monday

READ

God Responds to Job – Job 38

Here’s what happens…

After enduring loss upon loss, Job’s cries of anguish are finally answered by God who, in answering, reminds Job that God is the creator of the universe.

DISCUSS

- What aspect of creation in Job 38 stood out to you?

- When have you been amazed by the achievements of another person?

- When being reminded of God’s creative nature do you respond with a sense of responsibility, a sense of resonance, or a sense of appreciation?

- What do you believe God is trying to teach you in this passage?

- What would you like to dig deeper into or learn more about?

- What are you going to do to respond to what God is teaching you in this passage?

PRAY

Let us pray

God in heaven, in the beginning you created all. You, the uncreated God, the one who set creation into motion, the one who guides and shapes the universe. We are amazed when we think of the works of your hands, the attention to detail, the vastness of your design. Our prayer is that you would guide us to follow your leading in your creation. To create, to appreciate, and to share. Father in heaven, let your will be done on earth, and may our lives be a reflection of your will as we continue to live not only as created beings, but also as creative beings.

In Christ’s name we pray. Amen!

9 August 2020 - Forming Foundations of Faith - God is Real

READ

Moses and the Burning Bush - Exodus 3:1–15

Here’s what happens…

Moses is tending his sheep when he sees a strange sight: a bush that’s on fire but not burning up. When he goes to investigate, he hears God speak to him and sees God give clear signs of who he is. Moses’ encounter makes it clear that God is real. God calls Moses to be the person who goes and sets the Israelites free from Egyptian oppression. If you have time read the full story Exodus 3:1 to 4:17. Read how God calls Moses. The excuses and reasons that Moses gives as to why he can’t do it and how God calls him anyway and gives him the ability and the support to fulfil his calling

DISCUSS

1. What did Moses see?

2. How did he know it was really God?

3. How did he respond and what did God do?

4. How do you know God is real?

5. What would help you to know that God is more real?

6. How does God speak to people today?

7. What is or might God be saying to you at the moment?

8. What are you going to do about it?

PRAY

Let us pray

Awesome and great God, whose holiness is beyond our capacity even to imagine - we worship you. God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we glorify you as our God also. Your care for your people of old is evident through the stories of your involvement and constant covenant with them. Your care for us is evident through your grace and mercy which we experience in Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit. You love us so lavishly, and empower us so mightily, that we come to see the world as a place charged with blessing - your blessing. We realise that we stand on holy ground whenever we are in your presence Oh God, which is always and forever when we praise you as we ought. We offer our praise and adoration and this time of worship as our response to your extravagant initiative of entering our lives in the person of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.!

2 August 2020 - Fruit of the Spirit: Self Control

Congregational purpose : Growing disciples who Exalt

LISTEN & WATCH (songs, sermon & video)

Sermon

Worship Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wdvwmE6huo

READ

Titus 2: 11 - 14, 1

Peter 5: 8 - 11

This week we continue the series on the Fruits of the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are described in Galatians 5:22-23 as being love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are fruit or outward signs that people are filled with the Holy Spirit. Alongside this we will be exploring the congregation’s purpose of growing Disciples who Exalt, Explore, Embody, Engage. This week we will be looking at self control and how self control is about honouring God and putting God first rather than idols. Idols can be drugs, sex, food, power, business, busyness, success any thing that we put first before God.

DISCUSS

• How would you define self control?

• Why is self control a fruit of the spirit?

• What are your idols?

• Do you believe in Spiritual warfare?

• What are your tools or weapons in Spiritual warfare (you may refer to Ephesians 6:10-20)

• How do you develop Godly self-control?

• What are you going to do about this, this week?

PRAY

Let us pray

Almighty Father, in this world filled with goodness, evil, pleasure, leisure, lust and temptations, my desire is to have the fruit of Your Spirit evident in my daily life. Grant me Father I pray, a spirit of self control. Father, please forgive me for the times I have said and done things rashly. Please remind me to consider self-control as “God-control”. It’s not trying to control myself with human effort. But rather it is depending on the Holy Spirit to guide my ways and choices

In my relationships, may I practice self-control Help us Lord to pray and receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all our decisions of family work, friendship and relationships.

May I grow in deeper mutual understanding, respect, honor. And, most of all, may I grow in love for my brothers and sisters, even as I grow in self control to be able to counter and defeat most issues in life. I pray for a spitit of self-discipline as I deal with money, wealth, my daily living habits and my pleasures. Help me to do all in moderation and in accordance with your will.

Lord Jesus, I believe and trust that You will deliver me from temptations and self indulgence as I place my heart in Your loving care. I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. May I be renewed daily with a fresh filling of Your Spirit, as I come and surrender myself. In Your blessed name Lord Jesus Christ I pray, Amen!

LISTEN & WATCH (songs, sermon & video)

Sermon: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQQIXCdo9UY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQQIXCdo9UY/)

Worship Playlist: [https://tinyurl.com/y6t6lfy2](https://tinyurl.com/y6t6lfy2/)

READ

Galatians 5:22 - 23;

John 8:1-11

This week we continue the series on the Fruits of the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are described in Galatians 5:22-23 as being love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are fruit or outward signs that people are filled with the Holy Spirit. Alongside this we will be exploring the congregation’s purpose of growing Disciples who Exalt, Explore, Embody, Engage. This week we will be looking at gentleness and how we need to be gentle as we seek to engage our faith with others. We will explore gentleness as an attribute of God, of Jesus and within the early church and be challenged to being gentler in our own lives.

DISCUSS

· How would you define being gentle?

· Would you describe yourself as a gentle person? Why/ why not?

· When is it OK not to be gentle?

· Discuss the saying If God did not have a gentle spirit, there would be no plan of salvation.

· Do you think you have become more or less gentle as you have gotten older?

· Discuss You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar

PRAY

Let us pray

Dear Lord help us to learn to be gentle

Remind us of the many ways you have shown gentleness to us

When we respond to others help us to see them through your eyes.

How much you love them and died for them.

Convict us when we descend into mockery or hurtful speech.

Help us to be people of righteous justice without abandoning gentleness and respect.

Teach us to speak the truth in love.

Let our gentleness be evident, a clear sign that you are at work in their lives.

Amen

Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness  

Congregational purpose : Growing disciples who Engage

LISTEN & WATCH (songs, sermon & video) 

Sermon: [https://youtu.be/cDpe4XsIgMQ](https://youtu.be/cDpe4XsIgMQ/)

Worship Playlist : [https://tinyurl.com/y55vex2n](https://tinyurl.com/y55vex2n/) 

READ  

Galatians 5:22 - 23;

1 Samuel 20:13-17, 41-2;

Matthew 25: 14-30

This week we continue the series on the Fruits of the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are described in Galatians 5:22-23 as being love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are fruit or outward signs that people are filled with the Holy Spirit. Alongside this we will be exploring the congregation’s purpose of growing Disciples who Exalt, Explore, Embody, Engage. This week we will be looking at faithfulness and how we seek to engage our faith with others. We will explore God being faithful, what it means for us to be faithful, how we cope when we or others are not faithful. The Samuel reading demonstrates the relationship between David and Jonathan who remain faithful to their friendship and promises they make to each other. The gospel reading speaks of being faithful with the gifts and talents that we have been given.

DISCUSS 

- How would you define being faithful?

- Hat is the opposite of faithful?

- David and Jonathan were faithful friends. Do you have faithful friends and how or what makes them so?

- The bible tells us that God is faithful. Is this your experience? Explain.

- What does it mean to be faithful to God?

- Can one be faithful without having faith in God?

- Is faithful about being honest or being supportive no matter what? Can they be the same?

- What does it mean for you to be a faithful witness for Christ today

PRAY 

The Lord exists forever; your word is firmly fixed in heaven.

Your faithfulness endures to all generations;Psalm 119:89-90

Let us pray

Through us, God speaks words of peace, love, justice and faithfulness that challenge violence, hatred and self-interest in the world. We pray that we find courage and strength in the risen Christ to be faithful witnesses in the face of all the challenges and risks Amen

Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness

Congregational purpose : Growing disciples who Engage

LISTEN & WATCH (songs, sermon & video)

Sermon: [https://youtu.be/vp_zwRGBJpw](https://youtu.be/vp_zwRGBJpw/)

Worship Playlist: [https://tinyurl.com/y8m52aa7](https://tinyurl.com/y8m52aa7/)

READ

Galatians 5:22 - 23;

Luke 10:25-37

This week we continue the series on the Fruits of the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are described in Galatians 5:22-23 as being love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are fruit or outward signs that people are filled with the Holy Spirit. Alongside this we will be exploring the congregation’s purpose of growing Disciples who Exalt, Explore, Embody, Engage. This week we will be looking at goodness and how we seek to embody our faith with others. We will explore what it means to be good, and what is goodness and how it relates to kindness. The story of the good Samaritan challenges us. What ws a Samaritan and why was this story considered so shocking? Why is he called good?

DISCUSS

· What can you find out about Samaritans? Why did they and Jews dislike each other?

· Would you describe yourself as a good person?

· What does it mean to be good? How would you define it?

· Is good more about what you do or who you are? Explain.

· In Mark 10:18 It says ‘And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.’ Explore what this means?

· Each of the characters in this parable embody a particular part of the human condition. How do you relate to each of these.

· The lawyer as self-satisfied insider knowing they are going to heaven

· The thugs who only care about themselves

· The priest and levite for who keeping God’s rules is more important than people

· The victim needing grace and mercy

· The good man who will disregard all else and see the humanity of oine in need.

PRAY

Oh, how abundant is your goodness,

which you have stored up for those who fear you

and worked for those who take refuge in you,! Psa 31:19 ESV

Lord your goodness knows no bounds. Your children know you to be a good, good Father. Your goodness is greater than we can imagine or explain. You have surrounded us with your blessings and given us more than we can imagine. We are in awe of you and your goodness. We graciously thank you for it and humbly accept it.

Only those who stand in awe of you can understand your goodness. Only those who show reverence to your holy name can obtain the favour your goodness brings. Lord we surrender ourselves to you to receive your blessing and goodness. In Jesus name we pray.

5 July 2020 -

Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness

Congregational purpose : Growing disciples who Embody

LISTEN & WATCH (songs, sermon & video)

Sermon [https://youtu.be/dpRYkaIHKgE](https://youtu.be/dpRYkaIHKgE/)

Worship Playlist - [https://tinyurl.com/y7338yvb](https://tinyurl.com/y7338yvb/)

Communion [https://youtu.be/dlhBnhDrVaI](https://youtu.be/dlhBnhDrVaI/)

READ

Galatians 5:22 - 23;

Genesis 18:1-15

John 13:1-17

This week we continue the series on the Fruits of the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are described in Galatians 5:22-23 as being love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are fruit or outward signs that people are filled with the Holy Spirit. Alongside this we will be exploring the congregation’s purpose of growing Disciples who Exalt, Explore, Embody, Engage. This week we will be looking at kindness and how we seek to embody Christ where we are through acts of kindness. We will explore kindness and acts of service. Looking at both Abraham and Jesus who go the extra mile and offer service beyond what would be expected. Abraham offering more than just hospitality to the 3 strangers and Jesus washing his disciple’s feet.

DISCUSS

· Do you like to help people?

· How do you decide who to help?

· Do you like to go the extra mile or just do what is required?

· Do you feel guilty if someone asks for help and you want to say no?

· When is it ok not to help people?

· Are you happy to accept other people’s help?

PRAY

Be kind and merciful.

Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier.

Be the living expression of God’s kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes,

kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.

Mother Teresa

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that in Your love and wisdom, You invite us to accomplish Your acts of love, service and kindness here on earth. Thank You for the privilege of helping You. Cleanse the thoughts of my heart by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love You and worthily praise Your holy name.

You know all about me, Lord, and You love me. Thank You for understanding me completely! Please help me to love You and follow You today.

Into to Your hands, O Lord, Jesus Christ, my God, I commend my spirit. Bless me and all those who pray in faith of You this day; save us and grant unto us everlasting life. Through Christ I pray.

Amen