Christchurch Sermons

What seems like an almost mundane encounter for the book of Acts, shows how God uses the simplest of conversations to change not only one person, but impact many. 

Research suggests that the UK is in the midst of a ‘Quiet Revival' as young people (especially men) are returning to church.  What are we to make of this? And what is the difference between a Spiritual Awakening and salvation?  In this message, Lewis Roderick continues our series through the book of Acts.

We begin our limited series in Acts with the wonderful story of a man's healing, grace abounding to a man who received far more than he could ask for or imagine!

In this Easter morning message, we step into the awe-filled moments of Luke 24:1–12, where a group of grief stricken women discover the endless joy of Christ's empty tomb. Lewis Roderick preaches as we celebrate that Jesus is alive!

To boast in something means “to glory, trust, rejoice, revel in something. It is to live for it. The object of our boast fills our horizons, engrosses our attention, and absorbs our time and energy. In a word, our 'glory is our obsession.” John Stott. As we conclude our series through Paul's letter to the Galatians, we as how Paul was able to make a means of Roman execution his boast; and how grasping this will equip Christchurch for the coming decades. Lewis Roderick preaches from Galatians 6: 11-18

What does true spirituality look like? Probably not what we think. The apostle Paul shows us that how we care for the weak and broken is the true test of being genuinely spiritual.

A Christian is not someone who holds to a confession of faith alone, but has a dynamic relationship with God through the Spirit who dwells within. But what does it mean to relate to him? In this message from Galatians 5: 16-26, Lewis Roderick shows us what it means to walk by the Spirit, and why self-crucifixion is the way to life.

Leadership is essential in church life. In the few short years since Paul had left the area, the Galatians had lost their way through the influence of false teachers. How can a church future proof-itself from this happening to them? In this message from Galatians 5: 1 - 15, Lewis Roderick contrasts the Galatians false teachers with Paul's Gospel-ministry.

The Gospel means Jesus has set believers free from enslavement to trying to achieve righteousness under the law. In this text, Paul argues from the law that the law defends the Gospel of faith alone.

“Christ became like us, so that we might become like him.” Sonship. It's the reason behind it all. Why did God call Abraham, give his law, send his Son? Why did Jesus become a curse, pardon our sins, justify his people? In order that we, rebel sinners, might become his sons and heirs. It's staggering grace. And it's Paul's theme as we return to Galatians 4: 1 - 20. Listen in as Lewis Roderick takes us to this rich passage.

Bob looks at how Paul responds to those threatening the assurance of the Galatian Christians. We dive deep into the history of salvation and discover how God preaches the same gospel to the Galatians as he promised to Abraham; it's only ever been about faith in Christ alone!

The idea of Christ being cursed by God is unsettling. How is it possible that the only one who loved God with his whole heart would become a curse? And yet, in Galatians 3: 10 - 14, this is what the Apostle Paul says happened, Christ became a curse for us. Listen in as Lewis Roderick shows us the reason why.

“Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law of by believing with faith?” Paul asks. But it prompts a question ‘What does it mean to receive the Spirit?' In this message from Galatians 3: 1-5, Lewis Roderick shows us how the Spirit makes the gospel personal.

Pete Greasley shows how the law was never meant to save us, but only point us to Jesus and find our justification in Him alone.

How does a person get right with our Creator? That's the question that preoccupies Paul's mind as we arrive at Galatians 2: 15 - 21. In this first of two weeks in these verses, Lewis Roderick shows us what the answer isn't, and what the answer is.

Why would Paul recount the moment he opposed Peter to his face? Because the gospel of Christ alone was at stake. It's a repeating theme; every generation will know the pull toward ‘gospel addition'. It was true in Galatia, it was true for Luther. And it was true as Christchurch began in 1995. In this message, Pete Greasley shares the story of our origins as we continue in Galatians.

How can we know the gospel is true? And beyond that, how can we know if we've truly encountered its power in our lives? As we return to Galatia, Lewis Roderick unpacks Paul's origin story and defence of the true gospel.

September 2025 will mark Christchurch Newport's 30th birthday. As we begin this anniversary year, Lewis Roderick begins a new series in Paul's letter to the Galatians and tells the story of the gospel among us as a church.

Many father are wonderful. Some are not.In this message from Isaiah 9, Lewis Roderick shows us how the everlasting fatherhood of Jesus can heal our father wounds and restore that which is broken within us.

Jesus is the Mighty God who becomes the Most Lowly one to save sinners.

To a people without hope, the Prophet Isaiah spoke a promise; that a Virgin would conceive and bear a child. And he would be called; Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This child would bring light into the darkness and hope to the world. And 700 years later, Jesus was born.  Christchurch Newport is delighted to welcome Steve Robinson of Cornerstone Liverpool to preach the first of our Advent series, He Shall be Called.   

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Nothing more to be done.

In the second part of our series, Bob looks at the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ prophesied 700 years beforehand and its transforming effect on a sinner saved by the blood of the lamb.

Kingdom, Cross and Grace. This is the gospel is three words. As we begin our Whole Gospel series, Lewis Roderick takes us to Matthew 4 and shows us the beauty of the gospel of the Kingdom.

Peace be with you Reformation Sunday 2024 As Christians around the world remember the moment Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis to the door of Wittenberg Castle, Christchurch welcomes Reuben Hunter to preach Christ's promise of peace.

“Forgiveness. Can you imagine?” The frequency of the sin. The magnitude of the hurt. The cultural discouragement. For these reasons, forgiveness is one of the most challenging aspects of the Christian life. Listen again as Lewis Roderick concludes our series Life Together series with this message about forgiveness: What  it is, Why we often can't, and how we can.

In many ways we can misunderstand this text. Jesus knows there will be sinful relational conflicts in the church and provides a grace based, love focussed way of working through them for our good and his glory.

How should the church respond when a believer wanders away? In a hyper-individualised world, what does it mean to follow Christ's example and pursue those that go astray? Lewis Roderick preaches as we continue to consider Christ's vision for life together with this well-known parable from verses Matthew 18: 10-14.

As we celebrate Harvest, we welcome our dear friend, Jonathan Thomas to preach 2 Corinthians 8 and show us how the gospel of Christ's poverty inspires a heart of mercy among his people.

“I believe that in all men's lives at certain periods, and in many men's lives at all periods between infancy and extreme old age, one of the most dominant elements is the desire to be inside the local Ring and the terror of being left outside…” CS Lewis In Matthew 18: 5-10, Jesus speaks against one of the strongest instincts of human kind, the desire to form cliques and separate from those society deem lesser. Listen as Lewis Roderick shows us Christ's vision for a welcoming church.

How can a life of deliberate obscurity be the way of flourishing? What does Jesus mean when he calls us disciples to be ‘like children' and how can this counter-cultural way of living free us from our status-anxiety. Listen in as Lewis Roderick begins Life Together, our short sermon series on church interrelationships.

On Sunday August 25, we welcomed Sammy Davies from Ammanford Evangelical Church to preach to us this simple and yet profound parable of Christ's Kingdom.

God is not like the judge and we are not the same as the widow in this story. He delights to give us what we need and we already have everything in Christ. So we keep on in prayer and hope.

In the midst of teaching his disciples about the cost of following him, Jesus uses a bystander's selfish demand to warn against the dangers of coveting the wrong treasure as the meaning of life.

In this account of two very different men heading to church, Jesus the master story-teller, delivers a verdict of which one was righteous before God that no one expected. This story is nothing short of the glorious Gospel in parable format!

“We don't struggle to believe in love ‘that won't quit'. We just doubt that this how God loves us.” In this final message from our series in Romans 8, Lewis Roderick shows us why our union with all conquering Christ assures us that nothing will ever separate us from the love of God.

If there's now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, how can we enjoy that truth when we often feel condemned? Pete Greasley shows us how God's judgment of His Son is the final word for us: 'All Charges Dropped'!

God proves His love for us and promises He will give us everything we need in this life and the next, by sending His Son to the cross to die in our place. What more could he do? What more do we need? Nothing.

Having spent eight weeks climbing, we've arrive at the Romans 8: 28-30; the peak of this towering mountain. From here we can see all things, and take in a view that stretches from eternity past to forever to come. These verses have some intimidating words. But why did Paul write them? To bring comfort and assurance to a people groaning in a broken world. Lewis Roderick preaches these famous words and shows us the ‘good' God has for his people.

Until the day Christ's people behold his face, we groan under the weight of this broken world. But ‘as we groan, we're not alone', the  Spirit has come to pour hope into our hearts and pray for us in our weakness. Lewis Roderick continues our series through Romans 8 and tells us of the joy ahead and our present, prayerful companion.

As we have a child dedication service, we hear how Jesus loves children and how he calls us to become like them in our dependency upon him.

Is Christ worth the pain? Maybe it's not a question you've asked yet, but if you're a Christian, at some point you will. We live in a creation  ruined by the fall, and so hurt is inevitable. So why would we add to these inescapable sufferings the pains that accompany following Christ? Is he worth it? As the Apostle Paul pivots toward application, he answers these questions head on. Listen in as Lewis Roderick takes us to verses 16-22 and shows us the glorious inheritance that awaits the children of God.

Paul takes us higher up the mountain of Romans 8 where we discover how the indwelling Holy Spirit empowers forgiven sinners to live the new life Christ has won for them as adopted children of God.

As we continue our climb to the summit of Romans 8, we stop off at basecamp to rest a while and survey where we've trekked already. As the global church celebrates Pentecost, Lewis Roderick takes us to Acts 2 and Romans 8 to hear the story of the Spirit.

Pete Greasley continues our series in Romans 8 with these three absolute truths: You belong to Christ His Spirit is alive in you His Spirit will raise you as he did Jesus on that day. 

“Today. Right now. If you are a follower of Jesus, something global has taken place. Something magnificent. You have been transferred from life ‘in the flesh', to life in the Spirit.” The Bible speaks big about life ‘in the Spirit', but what does this mean? In this message, Lewis takes us to Romans 8: 4-9 and shows us the profound change that's taken place in a believer's life.

How can it be possible that the declaration “there is no condemnation for sinners in Christ Jesus” holds fast despite the believer's ongoing struggle with sin and failure to love God as required by the law?