Sermons
Rejoice! The Lord is at hand!
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- Written by Pastor Mathew Ker
Third Sunday of Advent – Philippians 4:4-7
Grace, peace and mercy to you from God our Father and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The day is getting closer all the time. Can you feel the excitement building? Children are becoming more excited as Christmas Day approaches and as they count down how many more sleeps to go. But just as it is a time of growing excitement for many, for others it may be a time of dread. People without families can look forward to another lonely Christmas. Parents who are unemployed may struggle to buy a gift for their children or for each other. Others who have lost a loved one are spending their first Christmas without the whole family together. So just what is there to be excited about?
Well even in this season when it is easy to become distracted or disappointed, our Heavenly Father give us the reason to rejoice. Whether we find ourselves in poverty or wealth, solid families or broken ones, for us as Christians, the reason for our rejoicing is not to be found in our circumstances. Instead it is found in the gracious heart of God who sent his Son to live, suffer, and die for us so we might receive the gift of eternal life and reconciliation with our God.
Heavenly Father, sanctify us in the truth, your Word is truth. Amen.
- Download and read the whole sermon as a pdf here
We prepare the way of the Lord
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- Written by Pastor Mathew Ker
Second Sunday of Advent – Luke 3:1-6
Grace, peace and mercy to you from God our Father and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of the God.” These are John the Baptist’s words that describe the work to be done as we prepare for the coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father, sanctify us in the truth, your Word is truth. Amen.
- Download and read the whole sermon as a pdf here
Advent Encouragement
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- Written by Pastor Mathew Ker
First Sunday of Advent – Luke 21:25-36
Grace, peace and mercy to you from God our Father and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Something powerful and extraordinary is coming – it is of course the kingdom of God. As we look around us, it seems as though things could hardly be further from a godly kingdom. You know the tragedy and hardships that we face, whether it be on a global level, at the community level or especially a personal level. And yet the kingdom of God actually came among us when Jesus broke into our world. The problem is that we live in the ‘in-between’ times.
It is in the midst of these difficult times that Jesus encourages us this Advent season to watch and pray that we may stand before the Son of Man.
Heavenly Father, sanctify us in the truth, your Word is truth. Amen.
- Download and read the whole sermon as a pdf here
Our kingdom - is not of this world
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- Written by Pastor Mathew Ker
Last Sunday of the Church Year – John 18:33-37
Grace, peace and mercy to you from God our Father and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
“A man’s home is his castle!” These famous words were uttered by the character Darryl Kerrigan in the movie, “The Castle.” Of course they date back to a much earlier time and they have meaning in the movie because they are so well known. The idea is that the place that you build, is as much as you make but whether it is grand or small, it belongs to you and no one can take it away from you.
In our gospel reading today, Pilate brings Jesus into his headquarters and questions him about the claims that he is King of the Jews. Would Jesus be another trouble maker claiming authority over the Jewish people who sought freedom from the Romans? Jesus reveals the truth that his kingdom, nor our kingdom, is of this world.
Heavenly Father, sanctify us in the truth, your Word is truth. Amen.
- Download and read the whole sermon as a pdf here