In Sermons: showing 76-90 of 486

Living As The Family Of God Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Mar 4, 2014

John goes to great lengths at the start of this passage to assure us that we are members of God’s family now. It’s not how we live that guarantees us a place in God’s family. We are God’s family. But how we live shows that.

Sermon by Rev George Hemmings For a while this was one of Sarah’s favourite photos. A few months ago she was sending it to everyone she could think of. Not because it was a great shot of one of our boys. In fact, it’s not a photo of Micah or Joshua at all. No, it’s a photo of ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 3:1-10

Denomination: Anglican

Why Do People Leave Churches? Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Mar 4, 2014

John's most basic concern is to give this church confidence again in what they have believed about Jesus. And he reminds them that this message is carried by the church that listens to the Apostles, and it isn't found anywhere else.

Sermon by Rev John Altmann There are a number of ways that people leave churches, for both good and bad reasons. A good reason to leave is to be sent out to serve in another place. We've seen that recently with Heather and Adam. They spent two years with us practicing their ministry, trying things ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:18-29

Denomination: Anglican

Getting Real About The Christian Life Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Mar 4, 2014

If God is light, if God is perfect righteousness, then we’d better get real about our own righteousness.

John is writing to his followers in the final years of his life. You get the feeling that he thinks he’s running out of time because there’s a certain urgency to the way he writes. He doesn’t waste words. There’s no polite greeting at the start of the letter. He just gets ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:1-17

Denomination: Anglican

Walking In The Light Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Mar 4, 2014

Truth matters. Truth in belief and truth in behaviour. It matters what we believe about Jesus. It matters how we live

John is a passionate writer. Maybe he realises that he’s coming to the end of his life and he doesn’t have much time left to get his message across. Maybe he looks around at the church and realises that the inexorable drift from the gospel to religion is impacting on those he’s ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:1-10

Denomination: Anglican

Why Jesus Came

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 18, 2014

Jesus came to proclaim the gospel to all the world. Let’s make sure we’re a church that continues his work as faithful disciples who continue to proclaim the gospel.

It’s easy to get carried away when things are going well in our ministry isn’t it? We can get caught up in the excitement of ministry and think this is what it’s all about! And if we have enough success we might even be tempted to so focus on that particular area of ministry that ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:32-45

Denomination: Anglican

Jesus’ Chooses His First Team Members

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 18, 2014

Are we willing to make his service the priority in our life? Are we proclaiming the gospel in the confidence that comes from knowing Jesus, who taught with authority, who cast out demons and healed people of incurable diseases?

Jesus begins his ministry with this clear announcement: “The time is fulfilled.” That is, it’s complete. Time’s up. We’re at the end of the line. Notice that John, the one who’s like Elijah, has finished his ministry. Mark wants to make it clear that the time of ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:16-23

Denomination: Anglican

A New Year

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 18, 2014

God has made it possible for us to change, not by making a New Year's resolution but by the work of his Holy Spirit in our hearts

Sermon by Rev Heather Cetrangolo: In 516 BCE the reconstruction of the Temple was complete. King Herod renovated it in 19 BCE, expanding the facility to include what was basically a large shopping precinct, where you could buy religious goods and animals for sacrifice. It would have been a great ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:22-40

Denomination: Anglican

Immanuel - God With Us

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 18, 2014

Jesus come to live among us as one of us; to take our place on the cross; to pay the ransom on our behalf; and he also ascends to the Father where he is seated right now at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf. He comes as truly one of us.

Well here we are again on Christmas Eve hearing the same old story once again. I wonder do you feel like it’s a bit like television in December - just another repeat? Nothing new in it. No new insights to get you going? Or do you approach the retelling of the Christmas story with excitement ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Anglican

God Has Favourites Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 15, 2014

Christianity is unique in our belief that God has become one of us. and Mary waste one favoured by God to bring this miracle to birth.

The Incarnation’ as we call it, God becoming a human being, is the fundamental belief that sets us apart from Judaism and all other religious followings. It really is where the rubber hits the road in terms of the Christian faith. We Christians are the only people on this earth who believe ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Anglican

Arise, Shine For Your Light Has Come Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 15, 2014

Jesus came to bring the fulfilment of this prophecy of Isaiah 60 & 61. He’s the one who brings light into the world. He’s the one who brings liberty and forgiveness and true freedom.

We come today to the end of our series on Isaiah and to the climax of the book. Here we find God’s salvation brought to its culmination. God has come to dwell with his people; and the whole world is drawn to him to receive the salvation he offers. It’s as though Isaiah sees a vision ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

The Beautiful People Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 15, 2014

We are Jesus body in the world. The glory of God is made manifest through us. We sit on David’s throne, to lead and command the nations. We are his beautiful people.

Sermon by Rev Heather Cetrangolo Jesus was standing in the synagogue, in Nazareth, and he read from Isaiah 61 … After he read the passage, he rolled up the scroll, he gave it to the attendant, everyone was staring at him and he said, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-13

Denomination: Anglican

False God Or True Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 15, 2014

Will we remain faithful to the one and only true and living God? Will we trust him alone for security, for salvation? Or will we look to other gods, false gods who offer much but deliver nothing?

Do you ever struggle with whether your understanding of God is correct? Do you ever wonder whether we might have got it wrong? After all, there are lots of voices in the world today that are questioning the orthodox view of God, of Christianity. There are lots of people out there offering an ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 46:1-13

Denomination: Anglican

Fear Not For I Have Redeemed You - Ca Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 15, 2014

God is punishing Israel but he hasn't abandoned them. He’s a loving father who knows his child must be punished but only to bring them back to him.We’re to show to those who have no faith in God hat God is real and active in the world.

The people are in a desperate situation. They’re described in ch42 as being blind and deaf, imprisoned in darkness. God’s patience has worn out and he’s on the warpath. Listen to what he says to them: “42:13The LORD goes forth like a soldier, like a warrior he stirs up his ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-13

Denomination: Anglican

See Your King Is Coming Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 15, 2014

Comfort is something that we all need from time to time. But where do you look for comfort> Is it to the living God who ave us his word to reassure us that he has all things in his hand and who sends us his Holy Spirit to strengthen and renew us?

“Comfort, Comfort, my People, says your God.” Do you sometimes feel the need for comfort. Cadbury’s and Lindt make a lot of money out of that feeling don’t they? But when you hear a passage like this does it speak to an inner longing? That sense that you need someone else to ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:1-11

Denomination: Anglican

Recognising The Voice Of Evil Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Feb 15, 2014

The people of ISrael were tempted to disbelieve God, to listen to the voice of Sennacherib. They, like us, needed to recognise the voice of evil and reject it.

Sermon by Rev Heather Cetrangolo How big is too big? A hundred? Two hundred? A thousand? Ten thousand? What’s your general feeling about mega-churches? We don’t really trust them, do we? We don’t really like it when people visit our church and later decide to join, GWAC, or ...read more

Denomination: Anglican