Author: Philip

‘Meet the final encouragements given to the church at Corinth’ (1 Corinthians 16:1-24)

AudioPhilip

In the final chapter of this letter of Paul to the church at Corinth, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 16:1-24, the Apostle comes down from the high point of the resurrection of Jesus and the hope that that brings to His people, to speak of more down to earth, day-to-day matters – especially relating to the Corinthians’ financial stewardship, some travel plans he could share with them, some news regarding fellow workers they knew and final prayers and blessings up this often wayward church. These matters may not be weighty theologically, but they do matter on a practical basis and they remind us of what kind of church we ought to be – living out the gospel in the world in which God has called us.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Come People Of The Risen King
00:16 Introduction
00:36 Prayer
06:12 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 16:1-11
Song: Christ is Mine
07:33 Devotional
Song: He Will Hold Me Fast
09:07 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 16:12-24
10:43 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 16:1-24
Song: Jesus Master Whom I Serve
33:56 Closing

‘Meet the solution to the chaos at the church in Corinth’ (1 Corinthians 14:1-40)

AudioPhilip

There’s something to be said about a church than runs smoothly and orderly. As a Presbyterian church, we usually don’t know any other way. The worship is ordered and everything is in its place. That’s certainly not how Paul would have described the very un-Presbyterian Church in Corinth! Instead of order there was chaos. Choas when it came to the use of tongues. Chaos when it came to the use of prophecy. Chaos when people were interrupting! Rather than ordered it was disordered. In 1 Corinthians 14:1-40, the Apostle Paul had quite a bit to say about these things and we learn from them and seek to do them today.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Only a Holy God
00:15 Introduction
00:36 Prayer
07:04 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 14:1-19
Song: Jesus Thank You
10:13 Devotional
Song: This Live I Live
12:01 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 14:20-40
15:38 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 14:1-40
Song: Search Me O God
45:40 Closing

‘Meet the resurrection teaching shared with the church at Corinth’ (1 Corinthians 15:35-58)

AudioPhilip

When it comes to ‘life after death’ there are a whole lot of questions and lots of different ideas. The Corinthians too had questions about what happens to our bodies after death, and these questions were the subject of Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 15:35-58, where Paul likened what happens to our bodies when they die to the whole process of pplanting seeds – what you get is not what you put in the ground! This portion of text gives rise to the Christian’s understanding about the resurrection bodies that God will give to His people. To last the distance of eternity, they need to be and must be of a different kind to what we have now! This hope ought to encourage and inspire us to get busy with God’s work and put the fear of death away – as it one day will be – forever!

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: O Worship The King
00:19 Introduction
00:43 Prayer
02:04 Bible reading: Psalm 16
Song: Nothing Can I Boast In
03:17 Devotional
Song: The Power Of The Cross
03:45 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58
07:08 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58
Song: In Christ Alone
31:40 Closing

Welcome Wednesdays up and running again!

Philip

‘Welcome Wednesdays’ (or as some call it ‘Wacky’ Wednesdays) is up and running once more.

We meet in the Upper Room (just the meeting room off the Hall) from 10am-1pm for a cuppa, conversation, craft (bring your own), laughter and friendship.

You are most welcome to drop in and say ‘hi’ – even stay for the whole morning – and make it a regular event! We look forward to seeing you there!

‘Meet the resurrection hope offered to the church at Corinth’ (1 Corinthians 15:12-34)

AudioPhilip

Sometimes that ‘what if?” question of thought just passes through your mind. “What if I’d married someone else?” “What if I’d been born in another country?” So many options to think on like these! In 1 Corinthians 15;12-34, Paul asks the question ‘What if Christ was not raised?” and comes up with some devastating answers. The resurrection of Jesus is so crucial to the Scriptures that without it, everything else falls. Paul even says that we may as well live the the rest of the world and adopt their philosophy ‘eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die!’. But he doesn’t leave it there. One of the great ‘buts’ of the Bible puts things into their proper perspective!

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: All Creatures of Our God and King
00:16 Introduction
00:38 Prayer
05:14 Bible reading: Revelation 1:4-18
Song: Before the Throne of God Above
08:00 Devotional
Song: By Faith
10:00 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34
13:02 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34
Song: See Him Coming
35:20 Closing

Anzac Day 2021

Philip

While we won’t be dedicating the whole service to this important occasion, we won’t be forgetting those who we ought to remember at our service at 10:30am…especially the men from St John’s who did not return.

David John Anderson d.16.06.1915 aged 18
William James Blake d.18.09.1918 aged 23
William Ferguson Buchan d.1.07.1916 aged 23
John James Hindley d. 6.05.1919 aged 28
William Love d. 31.08.1918 aged 43
Angus Mackay d.19.08.1916 aged 19
Archibald McAlpine d. 2.10.1916 aged 31
Thomas Menzies d. 9.09.1915 aged 45
Walter Harold Reynell d.11.11.1917 aged 21
Richard Bertram Taylor d. 28.04.1918 aged 21

LEST WE FORGET

‘Meet the evidence for the resurrection supplied to the church at Corinth’ (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)

Philip

When you compare the leaders of world religions, it’s clearly a no-contest. Only Jesus lives. The rest are dead. And the evidence for this resruuection of Jesus is something that the Apostle Paul was keen to share with the church at Corinth. So in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Paul did just that, reminded his readers of not only the information that had been passed down to him personally, but also of his own experience (not to mention that of at least 500 others) of the risen Christ. But this message of the resruuection is not just fact, it is fact that leads to a changed life and a living hope in the face of death.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: In Christ Alone
00:22 Introduction
00:44 Prayer
Song: The Servant King
04:26 Bible reading: Matthew 27:57-28:15
07:28 Mission Spot
Song: Be Unto Your Name
10:45 Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
12:12 Sermon: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Song: Thine Be The Glory
34:01 Closing

‘The silence, the suffering and the substitution of Jesus’ (Mark 15:1-15)

Philip

There’s no doubt that the death of Jesus was one of the world’s greatest events for all the wrong reasons. Not only was He inncocent of all charges laid against Him and not only did the situation show itself to be one fuelled by anger and hatred, it was also true that it was possibly the greatest injustice ever handed out to a man. It’s telling that when the Son of God appeared on earth, mankind rejected Him and put Him on the cross. But that’s not the whole story and in Mark 15:1-15, the other side of the coin is made clear. Jesus went through with all this in obedience to God’s plan and in the madness of it all, we can trace the love and mercy of God.

Full service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Man Of Sorrows, Lamb Of God
00:50 Introduction
01:07 Prayer
Song: Jesus Thank You
04:52 Bible reading: Mark 14:53-62
Song: How Deep The Father’s Love
07:45 Bible reading: Mark 15:1-15
09:26 Sermon: Mark 15:1-15
Song: Man Of Sorrows
32:27 Closing

‘A great invitation’ (an Easter reflection)

Philip

One of the most obvious features about living in this world is the fast pace of living! Life is lived at such a rush and any kind of delay can easily lead to outbursts of anger of frustration. Something somewhere is terribly wrong! In the midst of all the rush, deep down we still know that our busyness does not completely drown out the fact that we are burdened by sin, feelings of guilt and much fear. We enjoy many things in this world, but inwardly we yearn for true rest and peace.


In the midst of all this, the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28 are so inviting. He said, ‘Come unto Me, all who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest”. Here He is, calling us to come to Him, to trust in Him and find rest in Him. He does not wish to add to our burden but wants to lessen it by coming to Him. And He can do that because He gave His life for us and received it back again from God the Father at that first Easter so long ago!


This invitation of Jesus deserves a response. You will not hear words like this from anyone else in this world! No one else can promise rest for your soul and deliver on that promise.

As Easter comes around once again, why don’t you stop and take some time to consider where your life is heading and think over what Jesus promised? And if you intend on doing that, then these words of John Mason from the seventeenth century may also help. He wrote; ‘Come as you are; come poor, come needy, come naked, come empty, come wretched, only come, only believe; His heart is free, His arms are open; ‘tis His joy and His crown to receive you. If you are willing, He never was otherwise.’