Author: Philip

‘The gathering’ (Hebrews 10:24-25, Ryan Smith)

AudioPhilip

In this message, Ryan Smith take us to Hebrews 10:24-25, pointing out that the Christian life is not an individual thing, it’s a communal thing. God is calling a people who are His. A people who don’t give up meeting together, but rather gather, in order to encourage one another and spur one another on to love and good deeds. This is the biblical picture of the local church, where each and every member plays a part in encouraging one another and all the more in light of the coming return of the Lord Jesus.

Message

Outline

  • Giving Up
  • Grace
  • Egg & Lettuce Verses
  1. NOT… Neglecting to meet together
    • Bad Habits
    • Reasons we neglect meeting
  2. BUT.. Encouraging one another
    • What should we look for in a local church?
  3. ALL THE MORE…
    • The Day of the Lord
  • Living in light of that Day

‘The gospel’ (Hebrews 10:19-23, Ryan Smith)

AudioPhilip

In this message, Ryan Smith points us to Hebrews 10:19-23 as a clear explanation of the gospel – the good news of what Jesus has achieved for us, specifically how because of his death and resurrection, we now have access to God and confidence to enter into his presence. We should do that by drawing near to him and holding onto this hope without swerving.

Message

Outline

  • Trespassing
  1. Approaching God (in the Old Testament)
    – In the Garden
    – In the Tabernacle/Temple
    – The Most Holy Place
  2. Approaching God (now)
    – We have confidence to enter into God’s presence (v.19)
    – By the blood of Jesus (v.19)
    – By his Body (v.20)
    – We have a great priest (v.21)
  3. Since we have confidence, let us…
    – Draw near to God (v.22)
    – With a sincere heart (v.22)
    – With full assurance (v.22)
    – With a cleansed conscience (v.22)
    – Hold unswervingly to the hope we profess
  • The faithful Promise Keeper

Report on our 2026 Annual Congregational Meeting…

Philip

Our 2026 Annual (General) Congregational Meeting was held after our worship today. There’s nothing unusual to report, just the usual reception and adoption of reports – including the financial statement for the 25/26 financial year and the budget for the 26/27 financial year – with the exception of one thing. Special mention was made of the contribution to the church by our, now retired, honorary Treasurer, Vic Ansell.

The following motion was carried with applause; ‘that the former Treasurer, Vic Ansell, be thanked for his excellent, reliable, conscientious and faithful service to God and this church over the last 4 years.’ Thank you Vic! ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’

‘See the aspects of His return as promised by the Saviour (2)’ (Luke 12:49-59)

AudioPhilip

Still speaking to the crowds about the dangers of living lives where money is the only object, Jesus warned his listeners about the dangers of being unprepared for His coming and the dangers of overlooking the signs of the times. In Luke 12:49-59, He points out that his first coming was not necessarily for the purposes of bringing peace to the earth, but division, and then also that people should be much more aware of the nearness of His second coming and act urgently to prepare for it. That note of urgency in his words makes listening to and doing what He says, all the more important!

Message

Outline

• The fortieth in this series
• The variety of situations in chapter 12
• Coming closer to the cross
• See how Jesus spoke so we would have …

  1. No misunderstanding about his purposes (v.49-53)
  2. No mistaking the need for readiness (v.54-59)

People who use a lot of words
The art of ‘doublespeak’
The clear and urgent words of the Saviour!

‘See the aspects of His return as promised by the Saviour (1)’ (Luke 12:35-48)

Philip

After warning His hearers on the dangers of greed and being found unprepared for eternity because our hearts are set on eartlhly things, Jesus began to take up the theme of being prepared for His return in Luke 12:35-48. The New Testament scriptures breathe with the hope of Christ’s return, and yet in some cases, it can be entirley overlooked or given too much emphasis. Jesus taught that His disciples (and, all those who aren’t) should be ready for Him to come back at any time. Expectancy, watchfulness and vigilance are all necessary in order that people everywhere might be prepared!

Message

Outline

• The thirty-ninth in this series
• Not ‘old ground, but new
• The return of Jesus in the New Testament
• See how Jesus taught of …

  1. The need for careful preparation (v.35-39)
  2. The need for continued watching (v.40)
  3. The reasons for constant readiness (v.41-48)

Sir Eric Shackleton
Priorities
Rewards
Readiness…

‘See the warning against greed given by the Saviour’ (Luke 12:13-34)

AudioPhilip

When asked to intervene in a family dispute over an inheritance, Jesus, rightly and carefully explained that ‘a man’s life does not consist of the things he owns’. A far cry from ‘he who dies with the most toys wins’!! To make his point, in Luke 12:13-34, we find that Jesus not only told the parable of the rich farmer, but that he also had other things to say about wealth and greed and the love of money which are all so relevant to our wealth-hungry world! And yet at the time, Jesus spoke to people who were much poorer than we will ever be. How much more should we take heed of his warnings!

Message

Outline

• The thirty-eighth in this series
• Jesus responding to questions
• A parable and well-known words
• See how Jesus taught that his disciples should…

  1. Beware of pursuing earthly things (v.12-21)
  2. Resist worrying about earthly things (v.22-30)
  3. Earnestly seek for heavenly things (v.31-34)

What would you do for $10million?
Keeping wealth in perspective
The parable of the three friends…

‘Clarity for navigating life’s grey areas’ (Sam Braid, 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1)

AudioPhilip

Sometimes things in life are black and white. Other times things are grey. The Bible calls us to love God and to love our neighbour, yet it is not always clear what that looks like. 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1 reveals that in first century Corinth, idol worship was prominent and posed a bit of a conundrum for the Christian community. Worshipping idols was clearly wrong, but did that mean they shouldn’t eat the meat sacrificed to those idols and what about going out to dinner at a pagan’s house? The Apostle Paul teaches us how to navigate such a scenario, while providing the wisdom of God and the example of Christ to enable us to tackle any tricky situation we might find ourselves in. We learn that God has given us great freedom in the Christian life, not to live recklessly or indulgently, but to wholeheartedly serve God and seek the good of many. This requires clarity around the important issues as well as a servant-heart. After considering this passage we may need to repent of thoughtlessness and selfishness, but we will also gain greater peace and confidence to navigate life’s complexities.

Message

‘See the warnings against hypocrisy given by the Saviour (2)’ (Luke 12:1-12)

AudioPhilip

Followeing on from the things Jesus concluded in Luke 11:29-54, He had mre to say about hypocrisy as :Luke reciords in Luke 12:1-12. The whole section can be understood as awarning about the ‘leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy’ (Luke 12:1-2), as Jersus gives some reasons why hypocrisy is to be avoided. The truth behind Jesus’ teaching is that God wants the truth to be in our hearts, where the light it will bring will deliver us from inner darkness.

Message

Outline

• The thirty-seventh in this series
• Avoid being like the Pharisees!
• A working definition of hypocrisy
• See how Jesus gives us reasons to avoid hypocrisy …

  1. Because all truth will be revealed (v.1-3)
  2. Because the Lord will be the Judge (v.4-7)
  3. Because only faithfulness will be rewarded (v.8-12)

‘We are all hypocrites…’
The one in the mirror
Having the light within!

‘See the warning against hypocrisy given by the Saviour (1)’ (Luke 11:29-54)

AudioPhilip

When Jesus spoke out in judgement on the Pharisees in Luke 11:29-54, He did not mince his words or hold back. If there was anyone that made Jesus angry, it was the self-righteous, hypocritical religious leaders who did everthing they could to advance themselves in the eyes of the people, but failed to live honestly before God. Hypocrisy is such a dangerous snare for all of God’s people. We must beware iof it and avoid being like these Pharisees at all cost!

Message

Outline

• The thirty-sixth in this series
• From bad to worse
• Committed unbelief
• See how Luke tells us that Jesus spoke against …

  1. The blindness of their hearts (v.29-36)
  2. The falseness of their lives (v.37-54)

The importance of…
Truth on the inside

‘See the accusation against.. and the defence of… the Saviour’ (Luke 11:14-28)

AudioPhilip

When Jesus chose to heal a man from demon possession in Luke 11:14-28, he got much more than he was expecting in terms of opposition to his miracle. Those who observed the miraculous deliverance of the man, could only reach a conclsuion that was opposite to what might have been made by those with ‘two eyes’, attributing the miracle to the works of the evil one. But Jesus was not deterred and used the opprtunity to press His claims and to point out what responsing to Him the right way really means.

Message

Outline

• The thirty-fifth in this series
• Encouragements and discouragements
• Divided witnesses
• See how Luke tells us of …

  1. The ‘crime’ Jesus committed (v.14)
  2. The accusation they levelled (v.15-16)
  3. The defence Jesus gave (v.17-28)
    R
    S
    N

Courtroom drama
What’s your verdict?
Hearing and heeding…