Sermons
God is in the Valley of Risk and Failure
| God is in the Valleys / 7 |
God is with us in the valley of risk and failure. In today’s passage we see Jesus inviting Peter (and the other disciples) to step out of the boat and walk to Him across the water. Peter chooses to take the risk, and literally steps out in faith to walk on the water. The other 11 disciples stay safe and dry in the boat. They did not trust that Jesus would enable them to walk on water. Read more
God is with us in the valley of risk and failure. In today’s passage we see Jesus inviting Peter (and the other disciples) to step out of the boat and walk to Him across the water. Peter chooses to take the risk, and literally steps out in faith to walk on the water. The other 11 disciples stay safe and dry in the boat. They did not trust that Jesus would enable them to walk on water. Read more
God is in the Valley of Weakness and Pain
| God is in the Valleys / 6 |
God is with us in the valley of our weakness and pain. Pain and weakness come from living in a fallen world. But God redeems our pain. He gives us His ceaseless compassionate comfort to help us endure pain and suffering. He brings purpose from our pain and He teaches us to grow instead of groan through our experiences of pain and weakness. Are you struggling with pain or weakness at the moment? Read more
God is with us in the valley of our weakness and pain. Pain and weakness come from living in a fallen world. But God redeems our pain. He gives us His ceaseless compassionate comfort to help us endure pain and suffering. He brings purpose from our pain and He teaches us to grow instead of groan through our experiences of pain and weakness. Are you struggling with pain or weakness at the moment? Read more
God is in the Valley of Shame (Part 2)
| God is in the Valleys / 5 |
We continue looking at the overall theme of God is in the Valley. And this week we think about God being in the Valley of shame, the shame that comes not from sin but other sources. The shame that doesn’t help us stay close to God but instead destroys us Shame can become an overwhelming emotion that begins to try to define who we are. This shame can come from comparing ourselves to others and finding ourselves ’lacking’. Read more
We continue looking at the overall theme of God is in the Valley. And this week we think about God being in the Valley of shame, the shame that comes not from sin but other sources. The shame that doesn’t help us stay close to God but instead destroys us Shame can become an overwhelming emotion that begins to try to define who we are. This shame can come from comparing ourselves to others and finding ourselves ’lacking’. Read more
God is in the Valley of Shame of Sin
| God is in the Valleys / 4 |
We continue looking at the overall theme of God is in the Valley. And this week we think about God being in the Valley of shame because of sin. Shame can help us stay attentive to God as it helps us to avoid sinful behaviours and attitudes. However it can also make us withdraw from God because we believe we are too sinful, too lost to be redeemed by God. Satan uses shame to condemn us and prevent us from seeking God for redemption. Read more
We continue looking at the overall theme of God is in the Valley. And this week we think about God being in the Valley of shame because of sin. Shame can help us stay attentive to God as it helps us to avoid sinful behaviours and attitudes. However it can also make us withdraw from God because we believe we are too sinful, too lost to be redeemed by God. Satan uses shame to condemn us and prevent us from seeking God for redemption. Read more
God is in the Valley of Pride and Destruction
| God is in the Valleys / 3 |
We continue looking at the overall theme of God is in the Valley. And this week we think about God being in the Valley of our pride and destruction. Pride is so common to us all, and yet it is also so destructive. It causes us to focus on our own plans and ideas rather than following God. It blinds us to our need for God in everything and so leads us to destruction. Read more
We continue looking at the overall theme of God is in the Valley. And this week we think about God being in the Valley of our pride and destruction. Pride is so common to us all, and yet it is also so destructive. It causes us to focus on our own plans and ideas rather than following God. It blinds us to our need for God in everything and so leads us to destruction. Read more
God is in the Valley of Striving
| God is in the Valleys / 2 |
We continue looking at what God spoke to me at the New Wine Festival, which has the overall theme of God is in the Valley. Over the next few weeks we will be considering different areas under the title God is the Valley of …. This week we reflect upon the idea that God is in the Valley of our striving, exhaustion and burnout. Why are we all so tired? Why do we strive to gain things? Read more
We continue looking at what God spoke to me at the New Wine Festival, which has the overall theme of God is in the Valley. Over the next few weeks we will be considering different areas under the title God is the Valley of …. This week we reflect upon the idea that God is in the Valley of our striving, exhaustion and burnout. Why are we all so tired? Why do we strive to gain things? Read more
God is in the Vale
| God is in the Valleys / 1 |
God is present by His Holy Spirit, flooding our streets, our homes, our open spaces, and cramped buildings. He is moving and active in our local communities. And He is unifying us as He works to bring the Kingdom of God, calling us to get involved. I have been away at a Christian Festival, the New Wine Festival. So for the next few weeks I’m going to share some of the things God has spoken to me throughout the festival, with the over-arching theme of God is in the Valleys. Read more
God is present by His Holy Spirit, flooding our streets, our homes, our open spaces, and cramped buildings. He is moving and active in our local communities. And He is unifying us as He works to bring the Kingdom of God, calling us to get involved. I have been away at a Christian Festival, the New Wine Festival. So for the next few weeks I’m going to share some of the things God has spoken to me throughout the festival, with the over-arching theme of God is in the Valleys. Read more
The Wheat and the Weeds
| Matthew’s Gospel / 11 |
Why is there so much evil in the world? A question that has troubled people throughout human history. Jesus gives His answer to that question, by telling a story. A parable about wheat and weeds. So what can we learn from this parable? How can it impact the way we live? Join us as we explore the parable of the wheat and the weeds and learn from God what He teaches through this parable. Read more
Why is there so much evil in the world? A question that has troubled people throughout human history. Jesus gives His answer to that question, by telling a story. A parable about wheat and weeds. So what can we learn from this parable? How can it impact the way we live? Join us as we explore the parable of the wheat and the weeds and learn from God what He teaches through this parable. Read more
The Sower
| Matthew’s Gospel / 10 |
We can learn much from Jesus’ famous parable about a person sowing seed, some of which scatters on the path where the birds eat it up, some on rocky ground which has shallow soil so the plant withers, some among weeds which choke the plant and some on fertile ground. We often focus on thinking about what kind of ‘soil’ we are. But let us take a moment to think about the sower and to see if we can identify with this character. Read more
We can learn much from Jesus’ famous parable about a person sowing seed, some of which scatters on the path where the birds eat it up, some on rocky ground which has shallow soil so the plant withers, some among weeds which choke the plant and some on fertile ground. We often focus on thinking about what kind of ‘soil’ we are. But let us take a moment to think about the sower and to see if we can identify with this character. Read more
God’s Kingdom vs Human Kingdom
| Matthew’s Gospel / 9 |
We continue to follow Jesus in Matthew’s gospel where we see a clear distinction between the Kingdom of God and its citizens, and the human Kingdom and its citizens. What are some of the signs that someone is a citizen of heaven rather than of the world? Are they Spirit-filled and Spirit-led? Do they have God’s heart of compassion? Do they have a desire for God’s justice? These are just a few features of living in God’s Kingdom. Read more
We continue to follow Jesus in Matthew’s gospel where we see a clear distinction between the Kingdom of God and its citizens, and the human Kingdom and its citizens. What are some of the signs that someone is a citizen of heaven rather than of the world? Are they Spirit-filled and Spirit-led? Do they have God’s heart of compassion? Do they have a desire for God’s justice? These are just a few features of living in God’s Kingdom. Read more
