Sermons on Ian Ferguson:

Fidelity To God's Call

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Apr 1, 2019

When we hear the word “prophet”, we often think of someone whose primary job is to tell the future. But prophets had a much more important job: they were called to bring the hard truth to God’s people, so that they would realize their need for reconciliation with God.

INTRODUCTION When we hear the word “prophet”, we often think of someone whose primary job is to tell the future. We might equate the term with “soothsayer”, “seer,” or even in a non-Christian context, “fortune teller”. We most often judge a prophet by whether or not their words come true. There is ...read more

Scripture: Amos 7:7-15, Amos 2:6-8

Denomination: Nazarene

The Spirit Of Hope

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Apr 3, 2019

If there are two things which are universal to the human condition, it’s that we all hold hope dear to our heart, and we all have to face disappointments and some time or another. Though many may not realize it, hope isn’t just a universal experience, it’s a universal need.

OPENING STORY On this Armed Forces Day weekend, I am reminded of one of the persistent dreams of my childhood. When I was a kid, there was nothing I hoped for more than to one day be a Soldier like my dad. In fact, both my parents had served, and some of my earliest memories were putting my dad’s ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:22-27

Denomination: Nazarene

Captives Free

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Apr 29, 2019

Just as God was faithful to Israel by returning them to the land and restoring the nation when all hope had seemed lost; so today, Christ is faithful to transform ashes into a beautiful headdress, a spirit of mourning into the oil of gladness, and a faint spirit into a garment of praise.

A PEOPLE IN EXILE I want you to close your eyes for a moment. Now imagine with me that you are an Israelite during the Babylonian Exile around 2,500 years ago, standing on the bank of the Euphrates River. You look downstream as two priests and a small crowd gather to perform an “Opening of the ...read more

Denomination: Nazarene

The Wonder Of The Risen Lord

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Apr 29, 2019

Experience the wonder and awe the women must have felt on finding the empty tomb this Easter morning.

In everyday speech, we tend to use words like “wonderful” and “awesome” quite a bit. “That cake was wonderful.” “I got out of work early today and had an awesome afternoon.” “What a wonderful service.” Usually we just mean something was nice, or convenient, or was pleasing to the senses. But I ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Denomination: Nazarene

Finding Rest Among The Crowds

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Apr 10, 2019

We often pride ourselves in our work ethic, but we are addicted to work! This sermon takes a look at our need to find rest in the midst of a chaotic world and a myriad of responsibilities; using Jesus' practice of finding rest as our example.

IMMEDIACY IN MARK When we read the Gospel of Mark, we read a story moving at breakneck speed. Mark is the shortest gospel, and in it we don’t find a genealogy, or narratives from his childhood, or even much of a prelude before Jesus is baptized. And once he is baptized, it seems like he is ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:30-34, Mark 6:53-56

Denomination: Nazarene

A New Creation

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Apr 11, 2019

We are being called to see the world through new eyes, but in order to do that, we need to be transformed by Christ. Once we witness His power firsthand, only then are we truly able to go out as ambassadors for Him.

OPENING STORY If any of you have gotten the chance to sift through old pictures on my Facebook page, you’ve probably noticed that in most of the older pictures I used to wear glasses. Well, I used to be slightly near-sighted. And when I mean slightly, I mean it was like 20/400! If I took my glasses ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Denomination: Nazarene

The Rich Man's Choice

Contributed by Ian Hyde on Oct 16, 2021

At some point we all have to make the same choice the Rich Man was faced with when he encountered Jesus in Mark 10:17-31. Will you be willing to give everything up to follow Him?

SPELUNKING How many here are familiar with the practice of exploring caves or spelunking? How many of you have ever gone spelunking? How many enjoy just saying the word spelunking? It’s like the sound water makes when it drops in a bucket… spelunking. It’s a fun word! And it’s an even more fun ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:17-31, Exodus 20:2-17, 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

Denomination: Nazarene

Forgiveness Vs. Judgement - Sermon Of Proper 19 - Year A

Contributed by Ian Bullock on Sep 9, 2020

An exploration of Judgement and Forgiveness and how we should forgive others even when we may not want to, and why it is right for us to do so.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Around 25 years ago I was studying for my banking qualifications, and one of the subjects I had to study was Banking Law, it was a fascinating subject, but it was also filled with great amounts of technical legalistic jargon which had to be ...read more

Scripture: Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Anglican

The Grace Of God - Sermon For Proper 20 - Year A

Contributed by Ian Bullock on Sep 18, 2020

How does Gods grace affect our lives, and are we willing to accept it, and turn away from what the world regards as important.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. When I was a child I hated P.E. at school, whenever we were going to play a team sport, I always knew that the two captains would be the same two athletic boys, and that I would always be the one who wasn’t picked, but just ended up on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 20:1-16

Denomination: Anglican

Harvest Festival - Year A Readings

Contributed by Ian Bullock on Sep 24, 2020

To help us consider why Harvest is so important today

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. When I was a youngster I went to cubs, which meant also attending the obligatory parade Sundays, and harvest was one of my favourite services, I knew most of the hymns, many are the ones we continue to sing even in 2020! and the sight of all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:16-30

Denomination: Anglican

Who Do We Strive After? - Sermon For Proper 22 - Year A

Contributed by Ian Bullock on Oct 1, 2020

Paul teaches us about being Christlike, whilst the Gospel teach us about the corruption in Israel. Where do we stand in our faith when we consider the two scriptures?

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. I wonder if you have ever set out to do something and whatever distractions and obstacles has been thrown into your path, you have not been dissuaded, and have carried on with an absolute belief that you could accomplish whatever needed to be ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46, Philippians 3:4-14

Denomination: Anglican

Are You Properly Attired? - Sermon For Proper 23 - Year A

Contributed by Ian Bullock on Oct 6, 2020

This sermon seeks to explore what it means to wear the wedding garments, and how choosing to wear them requires commitment regardless of what is happening in our lives.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Over the past few weeks, we have been working through a number of challenging parables in Matthews Gospel, and we are again faced with another this morning. There are definitely two parts to this parable, the first mirrors the concepts of our ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9

Denomination: Anglican

Who Are The Saints? (Feast Of All Saints - Year B)

Contributed by Ian Bullock on Oct 27, 2021

A look at our understanding of what the Feast of All Saints is about and how it can inspire us in our Christian walk. (Based on a sermon I wrote many years ago)

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. When our culture transforms a "holy day" into a "secular holiday," it almost always manages to focus on the wrong side of the equation. Let me explain what I mean. The number of shopping days left till Christmas ...read more

Scripture: John 11:32-44

Denomination: Anglican

Reflection For The Feast Of All Souls

Contributed by Ian Bullock on Oct 28, 2021

We have an annual service, The Commemoration of the faithful departed, where people gather to remember and give thanks for their loved one who have died. Here is my offering for this years service.

May I speak in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. As I reflected on the year that we have had since the last time we gathered for this service in 2020, none of us could have imagined that what we were experiencing would still be prevalent in our lives, and for many people the ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-14, John 20:1-9

Denomination: Anglican

Will You Come And Follow Me? (3rd Sunday Before Advent - Year B)

Contributed by Ian Bullock on Nov 4, 2021

We consider how the calling of the fishermen affects our lives, and allows us to focus on our own calling and why it is important for us to share our faith beginnings with others.

In the name of the Living God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. As I sat thinking about our Gospel this morning, a film that I watched a number of years ago came to mind, a comedy called School of life, starring Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds was a school teacher whose job was to teach his students ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-20

Denomination: Anglican