Northern Life Sermons

“The time has come,” Jesus said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” In this third message of the Gospel of New Beginnings series, Jonathan Shanks unpacks Jesus' announcement of the Kingdom Come.

Mark 1:9-13 records the story of the baptism of Jesus. In this message, Jonathan Shanks explores the Gospel of New Beginnings. Jesus goes through: IDENTIFICATION with sinful Israel IMPARTATION of the Holy Spirit. AFFIRMATION from the Father. CONFRONTATION from the Evil One.

The biblical book of Mark in the New Testament is the Gospel of New Beginnings. In this first message of 2024, Jonathan Shanks unpacks Mark 1:1-8 and the story of John the Baptist as part of our GO24 vision. NEW BEGINNINGS NEW MESSENGERS NEW POWER

In this message from the final day of 2023, Jonathan Shanks wraps up our 18-month long vision called "SEE23" with a reflection on the four core rhythms: SUP, SALT, SCRIPTURE, SUNDAY.

In this Christmas Day message, Jonathan Shanks unpacks the truth that CHRISTMAS CHANGES EVERYTHING because Jesus is God; Jesus is Man; and Jesus is God with us. Featuring an item rendition of Arrival by Ben, Jas, Steph, and Mel.

Christmas is wonderful. In Luke 1:26-38, Mary responds to the angel's message both GRADUALLY and WHOLEHEARTEDLY in wonder. May we have the same response.

In this third message of the “Christmas Is” series, Benjamin Shanks unpacks the story of the shepherds—unlikely characters who get to play a part in the Christmas story. Christmas is INCLUSIVE; it's an INVITATION for the INQUISITIVE to the INCARNATION.  This message will stir you to come and see for yourself if Jesus is the Saviour.

Christmas is difficult. For many, it is a time of conflict, grief, pain, and fear. In this second message of the “Christmas Is” series, Jonathan Shanks unpacks the way the Christmas story speaks to the difficulty of the season.

Luke 1 tells two stories of angel encounters: The first is to Zechariah who found himself at earth's end and desperate for a miracle. The other is to Mary in the midst of mundane, everyday life. In the Christmas story, however, BOTH receive a miracle: the MIRACULOUS IN THE MOMENT OF NEED and the MIRACULOUS IN THE MUNDANE. Christmas is miraculous because Heaven came down to Earth when God became a baby in Jesus.

The story of the character Elijah in the Old Testament is a story of the making of a man of God in the secret place. God used trials and difficulties to forge in Elijah character that God would later use. This message will encourage you that God works in us that He might work through us, and that becoming a person of God will require a season of: Isolated pain Total dependence Unconditional obedience

The story of King Josiah is a story of revival, of following conviction to repentance. Do you need revival in your life? This message will be an encouragement to you. How do we prepare for revival? We: RESPOND TO CONSCIENCE. REDISCOVER GOD'S WORD. RESTORE THE FEAR OF THE LORD. RETURN TO THE LORD IN REPENTANCE. RENEW SPIRITUAL COMMITMENT.

In this fifth message of the Kings & Characters series, Benjamin Shanks explores the story of King David's life alongside the theme of THE SECRET PLACE. All of us have a 'front stage' that is visible to other people, and a 'back stage' that is between us and God. The secret place is in the back stage, and without the secret place, life falls apart. The seven stages of David's life: David the Shepherd David the Musician David the Champion David the Refugee David the King David the Sinner David the Repentant

"In self-deception, a person is both the deceiver and the deceived." In this fourth message of the Kings & Characters series, Jonathan Shanks explores the life of King Saul, highlight his (many) character flaws which stem from one thing–SELF-DECEPTION. This message you will find both challenging and encouraging, as we are prompted to turn to Jesus for light, grace and truth.

The Philistines were the nemesis of the people of Israel—a constant threat in battle after battle after battle. The overarching story of the Old Testament tells us that "the axis on which the battle against the nemesis is won or lost is the FEAR OF GOD." In this message, Benjamin Shanks explores the theme of the FEAR OF GOD and its counterpart, IRREVERENCE in the story of David vs. Goliath. This message will encourage you to hold on to the Fear of God in a culture of irreverence.

"We are made for the presence of God." In this message, Jonathan Shanks unpacks the Ark of the Covenant and reflects on the importance of the encountering the presence of God in our lives. The presence of God brings: REVELATION TRANSFORMATION PROCLAMATION

Words have power. 1 Samuel 3:19 says "The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel's words fall to the ground." In this first message of the Kings & Characters series, Jonathan Shanks unpacks the story of Samuel around the theme of WORDS. 1. BREAK GENERATIONAL CHAINS 2. CONFRONT GENERATIONAL DRIFT 3. RELEASE GENERATIONAL BLESSING

In the final message of our "Grace to Overcome" series, Jack Long teaches on greed and how to overcome it by God's grace. 1. Greed is not passive, it's aggressive. 2. Greed blinds us. 3. Greed is futile, but grace is sufficient. "Grace to Overcome" is a 3-week/10-part sermon series looking at how the grace of God is sufficient to overcome anything. We'll be hearing from 10 of our very own preachers unpacking one vice each.

In this message, Lachlan Ford unpacks principles of godly communication and how to avoid gossip. “Grace to Overcome” is a 3-week/10-part sermon series looking at how the grace of God is sufficient to overcome anything. We'll be hearing from 10 of our very own preachers unpacking one vice each.

The grace of God is able to overcome dishonesty and "personal truths," the lies we tell ourselves that we believe to be true. Virginia Mathews unpacks dishonesty and gives hope that we might overcome it through grace. As Dallas Willard says (in The Divine Conspiracy and Renovation of the Heart), we need: 1. VISION. 2. INTENTION. 3. PROCESS. “Grace to Overcome” is a 3-week/10-part sermon series looking at how the grace of God is sufficient to overcome anything. We'll be hearing from 10 of our very own preachers unpacking one vice each.

"Pride is projecting an inflated view of self and, consequentially, a deflated view of God." In this message, Andrew Dawkins unpacks pride and gives wisdom from Scripture on how to overcome it by the grace of God. “Grace to Overcome” is a 3-week/10-part sermon series looking at how the grace of God is sufficient to overcome anything. We'll be hearing from 10 of our very own preachers unpacking one vice each.

Bitterness is a chronic, physical unpleasantness in response to hard situations. In this message, Stuart Roberts unpacks bitterness and the grace of God that is able to overcome it. "Grace to Overcome" is a 3-week/10-part sermon series looking at how the grace of God is sufficient to overcome anything. We'll be hearing from 10 of our very own preachers unpacking one vice each.

"When it comes to entitlement, it's never enough." In this message, Corri Byrne unpacks the vice of entitlement and gives us hope in the grace of God that is able to overcome it. "Grace to Overcome" is a 3-week/10-part sermon series looking at how the grace of God is sufficient to overcome anything. We'll be hearing from 10 of our very own preachers unpacking one vice each.

"Anger is never without a reason and seldom with a good one." – Benjamin Franklin. In this message, Daniel Spiritosanto unpacks anger, showing us how the grace of God can help us overcome it. "Grace to Overcome" is a 3-week/10-part sermon series looking at how the grace of God is sufficient to overcome anything. We'll be hearing from 10 of our very own preachers unpacking one vice each.

Lust is misdirected, dysfunctional and dissatisfied desire. In this message, Stephanie Mee unpacks lust and how the grace of God can overcome it. "Grace to Overcome" is a 3-week/10-part sermon series looking at how the grace of God is sufficient to overcome anything. We'll be hearing from 10 of our very own preachers unpacking one vice each.

Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting it to harm the other person. In this message, Ruth Spiritosanto unpacks unforgiveness and how the grace of God can overcome it. "Grace to Overcome" is a 3-week/10-part sermon series looking at how the grace of God is sufficient to overcome anything. We'll be hearing from 10 of our very own preachers unpacking one vice each.

Contempt is a lack of humility that results in an unwilllingness to see the heart-intention of other people. In this message, Callum Baker unpacks how there is grace to overcome contempt. "Grace to Overcome" is a 3-week/10-part sermon series looking at how the grace of God is sufficient to overcome anything. We'll be hearing from 10 of our very own preachers unpacking one vice each.

In this final message of The End of the World sermon series, Jonathan Shanks provides a sweeping overview of the entire Book of Revelation—and the story of the end of the world. THE GOSPEL WILL GO TO THE WHOLE WORLD BABYLON WILL FALL BABYLON WILL STAND TRIAL THERE'S GOING TO BE A SPECIAL PARTY

Apocalyptic literature in the Bible (like Revelation, Daniel and Ezekiel) is full of numbers that has rich symbolic meaning. This message from Jonathan Shanks explores the meaning of 7 significant numbers in apocalyptic literature. 1 – Jesus is first 2 – We are His witnesses 4 – Whole-world coverage 7 – God is in control 10 – The Kingdom is more glorious 12 – Humanity is front and centre 3+1/2 – Set period before Christ returns

This sermon is the third message of The End of the World sermon series. Jonathan Shanks explores what Jesus, Luke, Paul & Peter have to say about the end of the world: AN UNPARALLELED SOCIETAL DECEPTION A CATACLYSMIC DISRUPTION OF THE PHYSICAL ORDER A GREAT MORAL RECKONING A GOD GLORIFYING COSMIC HOMEOSTASIS RESTORED

How does the return of Christ fit in with his millennial reign in Revelation 20? In this message, Benjamin Shanks surveys the three big interpretations given throughout church history: PREMILLENNIALISM, POSTMILLENNIALISM and AMILLENNIALISM. This message will encourage you to think about the story of the end of the world and how that changes the way we live now.

Jonathan Shanks kicks off "The End of the World" sermon series with a survey of the biblical theme of the Day of the Lord. Beginning in Genesis and following the thread throughout the Old Testament and into the New Testament, this message will convict you to turn to God before His coming on the Day of the Lord.

In this last message of the Romans series, Jonathan Shanks preaches from the end of chapter 8 (18-39) on HOPE. Our glorious hope is: GLOBAL IN SCOPE WHOLLISTIC IN EFFECT SUPERNATURAL IN POWER SOVEREIGNLY PREDESTINED JUDICIALLY INVINCIBLE RELATIONALLY INSEPERABLE

The word "Spirit" appears 17 times in the first half of Romans 8—it's a chapter dominated by the theme of "Life in the Spirit." In this message, Benjamin Shanks unpacks what Life in the Spirit means. 1. I AM FREE FROM MY PAST 2. I SET MY MIND FORWARD 3. I LOOK FOR THE SPIRIT 4. I CRUCIFY THE FLESH 5. I AM A CHILD OF THE FATHER

In the natural world, death follows life. But in the economy of God, life follows death. In this sixth message in the Romans series, Jonathan Shanks unpacks Romans 6:1-23 looking at the This message will encourage you to die a little to live a lot!

In Romans 5:6-21, Paul tells two stories: The Adam Story, and The Jesus Story. Like a hologram, the Bible projects the world that these two stories create. The question is: which world do you want to live in?

In this third and final message of the Habakkuk series, Jonathan Shanks unpacks chapter 3—looking at what to do in “the dip” of life and faith: Remember. Accept. Trust. You can't have chapter 3-type faith without chapter 1-type questions and chapter 2-type waiting.

Jonathan Shanks unpacks Habakkuk in our second message of the Habakkuk series.

Habakkuk chapter one introduces us to a prophet who is living in the tension of questions and faith.  He is struggling with the apparent “un-fairness” of God.  Throughout the chapter, Habakkuk begins to realise God is up to something behind the scenes.  While Habakkuk is confused and even angry, God is very much in control […]

In this fourth message of the series on Romans: the apostle Paul unpacks for the Romans that faith is indeed the antidote for guilt, enmity, shame, pride, suffering and insecurity.

In this third message of the Romans series, Paul teaches that the Gospel is received by faith alone. Really.

Today's message covers Romans chapters 2 and 3.On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg. In that moment, the Protestant Reformation was born. Luther was convicted by these passages in Romans. The title of this message then, is “How to Start a Reformation.” In this […]

In this message, Jonathan Shanks kicks off our Romans series with chapter 1: Righteousness & Wrath Revealed

Many of us suffer from ‘blockages' in our spiritual hearts. Jonah suffers from: A blockage of RESENTMENT A blockage of DISCONTENTMENT A blockage of AMBIVALENCE

The Book of Jonah is a well-crafted story. It brilliants subverts and plays with our expectations of what we think is going to happen. In chapter 3, Jonah brings the reality of Yahweh (gracious yet holy God) into the great city of Nineveh—a place of judgment, isolation and separation from God. When the reality of […]

Jonah chapter 2 records the prayer of Jonah from inside the fish. Sin, disobedience and rebellion will always result in judgment, isolation and separation, yet our God is a rescuing God. This message will encourage you if you feel stuck in sin.

The story of Jonah is a mirror that shows us the way that we all run away from God sometimes. In this message, Jonathan Shanks unpacks “The Jonah In Us.”

In this final message of the Again series, Jonathan Shanks unpacks the story of Peter walking to Jesus on the water. This message will encourage you to try… again.

In this second message of the Again series, Richard Ford preaches on the restoration of Peter in John 21:15-17. Exploring themes of failure, forgiveness, and trying again, this message will encourage you to minister again.

In this message, Benjamin Shanks kicks off our new 3-week series entitled Again. John 20:24-29 records the story of Doubting Thomas. What if Thomas isn't a cold, cynical, intellectual skeptic but a hurting, despairing disbeliever? Thomas, like the rest of us, carries his hurt with him. He walks with a spiritual limp until the risen […]

Rev. Dr. Ross Clifford brings a message on Easter Sunday. The Resurrection changes everything!

Why did Jesus have to die? Richard Ford unpacks this message on Good Friday 2023.