‘Ephesus: In need of spiritual renewal’ (Revelation 2:1-7)

The Lord Jesus gave John seven messages to deliver to the seven churches of the region, and the first of the seven churches mentioned is the one in the city of Ephesus. What Jesus had to say to them was clear in Revelation 2:1-7. There was much to commend the church at Ephesus – they were hard working, dligient and orthodox – but there was one thing that caused Jesus much concern. They had lost their first love. But Jesus not only pointed this out, He also told them the steps needed to bring about the needed renewal.

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: What a Friend
00:19 Introduction
00:42 Prayer
04:21 Bible reading: Acts 19:1-20
Song: 10,000 Reasons
07:18 Shorter Catechism Introduction
08:46 Catechism Questions 12-17
Song: Doodle-Oodle-Oo the Catechismo
11:34 Bible reading: Revelation 2:1-7
Song: Consider Christ
Sermon: Revelation 2:1-7
Song: More Love to Thee
13:00 Closing

Outline

• The first of the 7 churches
• Snapshots of the church at Ephesus
• Lots of good points, but one major flaw…
• See how these verses tell us of .…

  1. The labour that Jesus noted (v.1-3)
  2. The decline that Jesus exposed (v.4)
  3. The response that Jesus commanded (v.5-7)

This little light of mine…
The biggest threat to the Church

Australia’s Federal Religious Discrimination Bill

With the federal election on our doorstep, it is important that God’s people continue to be informed about the significance of the Religious Discrimination Bill (RDB) and its benefits. To answer key questions, the Institute for Civil Society* (ICS) has made a three-part explainer video regarding the RDB.

You can see these videos here.

*ICS is a social policy think tank seeking to promote traditional rights and liberties, including the freedoms of association, expression, conscience and religion.

‘The vision of Jesus: What John heard’ (Revelation 1:1-20 pt 2)

When John turned to see the voice that was speaking to him in Revelation 1:1-20, he saw the Lord Jesus Christ in all His glory and fell at His feet as ‘though dead’. While the vision John had was of significance, of even more signficiance was what he heard Jesus say. In this second message on Revelation 1:1-20, we find out what Jesus thinks of His church and why he wrote the seven letters that appear in Revelation 2-3.

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: O Worship the King
00:17 Introduction
00:41 Prayer
05:03 Bible reading: Psalm 29
Song: Come Praise and Glorify
06:19 Shorter Catechism Introduction
07:47 Catechism Questions 6-11
Song: The Bible Is the Answer
09:50 Bible reading: Revelation 1:1-20
Song: Christ Is Mine Forevermore
Sermon: Revelation 1:1-20
Song: I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
13:22 Closing

Outline

• This new series…!
• Where we are in Revelation 1
• What did John hear, and what does the Lord think of His church?
• See how these verses tell us…

  1. That Jesus had something to say to His church (v.1)
  2. What Jesus had to say to His church (v.17, Ch 2-3)

What does Jesus want to see when he looks at us?

‘The vision of Jesus: What John saw’ (Revelation 1:1-20 pt 1)

The book of Revelation is probably the most misunderstood book in the Bible. Admittedly, there are a few good reasons for that, but Revelation 1-3 could not be clearer. They are a message from Jesus to seven churches of the first century. In this first message on Revelation 1:1-20 which forms something of an introduction to chapters 2-3, it is vitally important to note what the book is about and also who it is that John saw in his vision.

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: I Will Sing the Wondrous Story
00:18 Introduction
00:45 Prayer
05:22 Bible reading: Daniel 7:9-14
Song: Behold Our God
06:43 Shorter Catechism Introduction
08:10 Catechism Questions 1-5
Song: Doodle-Oodle-Oo the Catechismo
09:45 Bible reading: Revelation 1:1-20
Song: Meekness and Majesty
Sermon: Revelation 1:1-20
Song: Crown Him With Many Crowns
13:14 Closing

Outline

• A new series!
• Do you hope for a better church on earth? We should!
• What did John see, and how should the church view her Lord?
• See how these verses tell us of.…

  1. Jesus: who speaks and wants to be known (v.1)
  2. Jesus: who is the same but not the same (v.17)
  3. Jesus: who we must behold in awe (v.13-16)

See Jesus… as He is!

‘Joy in trials’ (James 1:1-8)

In this message, Ryan Smith applies James 1:1-8 to our daily experience of the ‘trials of life’ which always bring to the surface our most desperate need for wisdom!

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Standing on the Promises
00:18 Introduction
00:31 Prayer
08:09 Bible reading: Romans 8:26-39
Song: Be Unto Your Name
10:42 Bible reading: James 1:1-8
Song: Grace Unmeasured
Sermon: James 1:1-8
Song: Teach Me Your Way
11:51 Closing

Outline

Introduction: An extended season of trials

  1. How to think about trials (v2-4)
    Count it joy (v2)
    Because they’re ‘perfecting’ us (v3-4)
  2. What to do in the midst of trials (5-8)
    Ask God for wisdom (v5)
    NOT doubting? (v6)
    Double-minded and unstable?? (v8)
    God gives generously! (v5)
  3. Joy and wisdom in God’s most generous gift
    Wisdom in Christ (Col 2:1-3)
    Jesus’ joy in the cross (Heb 12:2)
    God’s most generous gift (Romans 8:31-39)

Pray with us for our nation and the election!

The upcoming federal election in May will, in many ways, shape and define the future of our country. But so too will the prayers of God’s people! Proverbs 21:3 says, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.”

Come and join us as we pray together to the Lord for our nation and election. We’ll be meeting on Saturday May 7 and Saturday May 14 from 10am-12noon in our ‘Upper Room’ (meeting room off the church hall, enter through the car park door). Of course, you are welcome to pray at home if you can’t come. (If you intend to do this, why not let us know?)

‘All of God’s free grace’ (Luke 18:9-14)

In this message, Rev Peter Phillips reminds us that in the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14, Jesus gives us a very clear picture of how salvation is never earned or merited, but is always given freely by God to those who are undeserving. It is the not the self-righteous ‘good’ who make it in God’s eyes, but those who come to Him in complete humility and repentance. All this, is of course, a gift of God’s free grace.

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: And Can It Be
00:17 Introduction
00:35 Prayer
03:30 Bible reading: 2 Chronicles 33:1-20
Song: We Are His People
08:31 Kids’ Talk – Colin Buchanan (with thanks to Compassion)
18:08 Bible reading: Luke 18:9-14
Song: Jesus Strong and Kind
Sermon: Luke 18:9-14
Song: Rock of Ages
19:19 Closing

‘An empty tomb, a blatant lie and a message for the world’ (Matthew 28:1-20)

When the women first went to the tomb where Jesus has been buried on that first Easter Sunday morning, they never expected to find Him alive. But when Matthew records in Matthew 28:1-20 that Jesus was alive, this changed everything. While they worshipped Him by falling down at His feet, the soldiers who had been guarding the tomb (and saw what happened) and the Jewish authorities were meeting together to spread misinformation about the truth. But no lie can stop the truth, and the whole universe is now under the Lordship on Jesus!

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
00:17 Introduction
00:43 Prayer
04:20 Bible reading: Matthew 27:57-28:7
Song: In Christ Alone
07:06 Kids’ Talk – Colin Buchanan (with thanks to Compassion)
14:42 Bible reading: Matthew 28:1-20
Song: Never Alone
Sermon: Matthew 28:1-20
Song: Thine Be the Glory
17:02 Closing

Outline

• If the gospels ended at the cross…
• The resurrection is the great game changer
• Three scenes in the text
• See how Matthew tells us of…

  1. Feet worth touching (v.1-10)
  2. Lies worth telling (v.11-15)
  3. Commands worth keeping (v.16-20)

A choice to be made… which will be yours?

‘Tried before Pilate, mocked by soldiers, crucified before all’ (Matthew 27:11-44)

Matthew’ gospel continues to record the ‘things that happened to Jesus’ in Matthew 27:11-44. His sufferings did not end with His denial and betrayal or His arrest and trial, but also extended right up to and including His death on the cross. Matthew records all these things to make it doubly clear that Jesus was innocent of all crime and all sin. That He was the One who was ‘the righteous’ who died for the unrighteous’, to ‘bring us to God’ (1 Peter 3:18)

Outline

• Where we are in Matthew 26
• Vivid, remembered details
• Three scenes in the text
• See how Matthew tells us of…

  1. Jesus on trial before Pilate (v.11-26)
  2. Jesus on show before the soldiers (v.27-32)
  3. Jesus on the cross before the world (v.33-44)

All this… at great expense to Himself… for you!