Sermons at St Aidan's

Today we continue in our series in 2 Samuel where we see the destructive nature of sin, that it harms people and has terrible consequences. But though we see the effects of sin, we also see God's forgiveness that deals justly with wrongdoing, and is merciful.

Today we continue our series following the David Story in 2 Samuel, and we see that Kingdom being established in Israel. God's King is one who is victorious over all. It is foolish to oppose him , and those who are wise find refuge and mercy in the Son.

As we continue to listen to God's word from 2 Samuel, we hear God's promise to David that has shaped the entire history of humanity. Things are looking good for God's people as they enjoy rest from their enemies under King David, but as David looks to build a house for God, God promises to build a better house and to provide a deeper rest through David's greater son.

Today we continue the series following the David Story in 2 Samuel. We see how God exalts David as King over Israel for the sake of his people, establishing his Kingdom in Jerusalem giving him victory over enemies. We also see how David is humbled before the holiness of God, which leads to celebration of God's gracious presence among his people.

Today we begin a journey through the book of 2 Samuel - "The Story of David". The story of David illuminates the most important story in the history of the world, the story of Jesus Christ and as we explore the beginnings of the reign of King David, we see God's work in the world to establish his reign amid the mess of history and through broken people. Ultimately, we are pointed to the better King who God has installed to save and rule over all.

As Christ's resurrection is based on solid eyewitness accounts; and the changed lives of Paul and the disciples; so God's people in this age can trust in the resurrection of the dead, and life everlasting.

We are starting this new series for 3 weeks on Easter. This sermon looks at the Last supper where Jesus announces that finally the time has come for God to rescue His people from the power of sin and death, that we are forgiven through Jesus' sacrificial death.

Today our journey through Mark's gospel brings us to aclimactic point where the religious leaders express a lack of faith, the disciples seem slow to understand and are distracted by worldly worries, but in His grace God reveals to Peter the truth that Jesus is the Messiah. The crucial question for us is ‘who do you say Jesus is?' and how are you responding to God's revelation in him?

Today we see Jesus' ministry extending beyond the borders of Israel. In the healing of a foreigner and the feeding of the gentiles, we see the mercy of God reaching the lost, reminding us that we are undeserving recipients of God's kindness and opening our eyes to his worldwide mission.

Today we read of Jesus' confrontation with the Pharisees as they question him about his observance of their traditions. In response, Jesus exposes their hard-halfheartedness and hypocrisy , he also exposes our hearts as he speaks of the depth of the human problem. Jesus has come near as the one who can wash us clean of our sin and give us new hearts that love God and are willing to obey.

Why does Jesus walk on water? We all know he did it, but what was the point? More to the point, why would this event fill the disciples with fear? The heart of the matter is the heart of the matter as we will see.

As we continue in Mark's gospel, we are presented with two Kings who reign over two kingdoms. Mark invites us to compare them, and consider which will we belong to, and which will bring us true satisfaction and meet our deepest needs.

As we continue in our series in Mark's gospel, the focus now turns onto Jesus' missions as he and his disciples spread the good news that the Kingdom of God has come near. As we see how Jesus and his disciples are received, we'll consider what mission looks like for us, and what we should expect as we take the good news to the world around us.

As we continue in Mark's gospel, we see Jesus come face to face with the enemies that most fill us with fear, sickness, and death. Yet, like before the storm and the strong man, Jesus' power prevails , and he restores the sick and raises the dead. We see that Jesus is our only hope in life and death, and we are called to place our faith in him.

Jesus actions show he has defeated all the forces of evil in our world, this frees us to serve him and declare the good news of belonging to Jesus and his Kingdom.

In this sermon, we consider the event of Jesus calming a storm, and where Jesus questions his disciples "why are you afraid?" which raises their question "who is the man?"

In his parables, Jesus teaches about the nature of his Kingdom. It upsets expectations and may look weak, but it is present and growing to become the greatest of all Kingdoms. Are you part of this Kingdom? What will it mean for you to live under the reign of King Jesus?

Today, we hear more of what believers would contend for the faith that was transmitted to them, and what that positively looks like, building up ourselves and others as we wait for the day when the Lord Jesus comes again.

Jude wrote so that believers would contend for the faith that was transmitted to them and so that they would not abandon the faith that was threatened by false teachers.

Today, we hear Paul's appeal to Philemon, and we see that sharing in Christ together makes us a new family. Life in families can have its share of challenges and conflict, and this is true in the church. So, how does our fellowship as brothers and sisters shape the way we relate to one another? Here we see the power that the gospel gives us to welcome, reconcile, and restore.

Today we start a new year with a new series looking at two small letters in the New Testament which have big implications for who we are as God's church. W e begin today with Paul's shortest letter addressed to Philemon which speaks about the nature of our fellowship with one another in the faith.

Everywhere we go at the moment, we see celebrations beginning, but what is it that we celebrate at this time of the year? Today we explore the good news of the Saviour that was promised, who arrived in our world 2000 years ago, and who will come again in glory.

We conclude the series considering Growth in the Christian life by considering the sovereign and Holy God who meets us in the incarnation of his son.

Today we continue our series considering Growth in the Christian life, and explore the relationship between service and spiritual growth. Jesus understood his mission as one of service of others. Having been made alive in Christ, we are called to follow his example of service.

Today we continue our series considering growth in the Christian life. God uses various means to grow us in Christlikeness, and today we consider the gifts of the personal prayer and Bible reading.

In our series on growing in Grace, we are looking at how the Gospel motivates us to grow to be more like Jesus. This week, we will consider how loving God and loving others motivates us to proclaim Jesus.

Today we continue our series considering Growth in the Christian life. This time we consider one of the primary means that God uses to grow us, namely fellowship with other believers

Today we begin a new series considering growth in the Christian life. In our sermon today we begin by considering what kind of growth is envisioned in the New Testament and the grace that motivates it. Incredibly, we are being transformed more and more into the likeness of Jesus as we are shaped into his image by grace.

As we come to the finale of Isaiah we are presented with a choice, go our own way without God or humbly trust in his provision of salvation. Isaiah warns that one way leads to death and judgment, the other to God's promised renewal of all things.

As we approach the end of the book of Isaiah, the prophet speaks to us about the time of the end. The prophet reveals the glory that is yet to come for the redeemed people of God as well as speaking about what will happen before then and how we should live in light of the end.

We are now nearing the end of Isaiah, and we hear Isaiah confronting the people about the same kind of issues as back in the early chapters. The sin that caused the exile has persisted, and so far, the people remain untransformed. So, what will God do about that? And what better hope do we have to see transformation in our lives?

The servant has secured salvation for God's people through his sacrifice, so let us all come to him and rejoice in our redemption and call the world to join us also,

Today as we continue in Isaiah, we come to one of the most famous passages of Isaiah, if not the entire Old Testament. Isaiah promised a coming servant who would redeem God's people and become the light to the nations that Israel failed to be. The promise is fulfilled in Jesus, and in Isaiah 53, we discover how Jesus will redeem his people.

As we continue this week in Isaiah, God's people receive a wake-up call. As they are reminded of God's power and promises fulfilled in the past, they are called to wake up to these realities and confidently rejoice and proclaim what the Lord has done.

Those who hope in the Lord will not be disappointed because God has sent his suffering servant, Jesus, to save his people. Therefore, we can trust God in hopeless situations because of his faithfulness to Jesus and the future promise where God will make all things new.

The challenge of this section is that God will use a pagan idolater, the Persian King Cyrus the Great, as his instrument to rescue His people from captivity. Many of God's people will be outraged at this, but God maintains His complete sovereignty in these events and will ensure that every knee will bow to Him.

Today in Isaiah, we continue to hear words of comfort for God's people living as exiles. God speaks of his great love and tender care for his people, and the price he will pay to redeem them and bring them home. Isaiah contrasts the character of the true God with the nature of idolatry so that we might see the absurdity of false saviours, and find our fulfillment in the God who redeems.

As we continue in Isaiah, we are told that God's promises involve establishing a worldwide justice and a renewal of creation, and that all of this will come through the work of a mysterious servant.

There is a dramatic change in the Book of Isaiah at this point as Isaiah's message of judgement culminating in exile, turns to a message of hope and renewal after exile. But, how will this come about? And what will it mean for God's weary people caught up in a world of sin?

In John's Gospel chapter 9, we hear Jesus' claim to be the light of the world, and he gives sight to a blind man as a sign to prove his claims. We also see varying responses from those who meet Jesus, denial, avoidance, opposition, worship. As we meet Jesus in his word, we too must decide how we will respond to him?

Jesus saves and sustains God's people. He is where true life is found. His death means life for us.

Can't get no satisfaction? Satisfaction is more than a feeling, it's a way of life, and if we can't find it we often feel like we haven't found ourselves. But what if satisfaction was not about finding ourselves, but meeting someone else altogether? That's what we'll find today as we meet Jesus by the well outside ancient Samaria.

put on the Gospel put on the G As we wrap up our journey through Ephesians, all the themes of the letter come together with the call to equip ourselves with the armour we need to stand firm against all the attacks of the devil.

Continuing in Ephesians, it addresses our relationship with one another. The apostle Paul places the example of Christ's self-giving love at the heart of all our relationships, and shows how this shapes our attitudes and actions as God's people.

Today we continue to explore the new identity that we have been given in Christ, and what it means to live as God's dearly loved children. We are called to initate our Father as we live in his love, light, and wisdom. At the centre of this is to live in grateful joy for God's grace toward is in Jesus.

Christians are to live according to their new identities in Christ, by taking off the old self which is self-orientated, and putting on the new self, which is God-orientated and focused on building others up in love.

Having been united in one new body in Christ, we now see how the body grows into maturity through the proper working of all its parts. The diversity of the body is essential for its ongoing unity and growth. What this means is that you are needed and have an essential part to play if God's church is to grow into what he intends it to be.

Now that the momentous mystery of the gospel grafting the Gentiles to Christ has been revealed, what is Paul's prayer for the Ephesians? It boils down to the basics: pray, read your Bible, go to church. But, we still see that these are not arbitrary actions, rather they are powerful proof of the glory of the gospel.

Paul now outlines his own role as the one called by God to announce God's good news to the gentiles. We see God's great plan of salvation revealed, and his wisdom displayed as he gathers his church.

Having been reconciled to God by his grace, we now see how we are also reconciled to one another. No longer are there any insiders or outsiders, all are united in one new family through faith in Christ Jesus.

As we continue in Ephesians we come to an amazing passage about the Grace of God toward us in Jesus. It begins with a diagnosis that we may not like to hear, that we are by nature spiritually dead. But from this bleak state God intervenes to lift us out of the grave to live a new life in his grace.