To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the formation of the St John’s congregation (you can read about this in our history), we’ll be gathering on Sunday September 11th at 10:30am. The Moderator of the PCV, Rev Peter Phillips will be preaching. Former members and friends are warmly invited to attend! Plus, there’ll be a big morning tea to follow!
Guest preacher, Rev Stuart Withers (at the time minister of Rochester Presbyterian), preached from three main texts in his message on the importance of prayer (Philippians 1:9-11, Romans 15:30-33 and Colossians 4:2-6) in July 2017. Just as Paul exhorted us to make ‘all kinds of prayers for all the saints’ (Ephesians 6:18), so also in these texts we are reminded that prayer is the key for the encouragement of God’s people, the strengthening of His gospel workers and the means by which unbelievers are brought into the Kingdom of God. Great things happen when God’s people pray!
Service
00:00 Welcome
Song: Holy, Holy, Holy
00:19 Introduction
00:38 Prayer
03:24 Bible reading: Philippians 1:9-11
Song: Behold Our God
04:47 Shorter Catechism Introduction
06:15 Catechism Questions 58-62
08:09 Bible reading: Romans 15:30-33 and Colossians 4:2-6
Song: Meekness and Majesty
Sermon: Philippians 1:9-11, Romans 15:30-33 and Colossians 4:2-6
Song: Come My Soul
09:32 Closing
Outline
As part of Christian Union Sunday in April 2017, Steve Blyth from CU preached from Matthew 11:1-15. In this passage, John the Baptist introduces Jesus to the world but is a confused messenger. He asks to check if Jesus is the one we’ve been waiting for and what he has come to do. Jesus reassures him from the Old Testament prophecies concerning himself and commends John’s message as he prepared the way. Yet we now have a greater perspective than even John as we live on the other side of the cross and Jesus’ resurrection. We have the privilege of introducing Jesus to others as we share the hope that we have in him.
Service
00:00 Welcome
Song: Praise to the Lord
00:19 Introduction
00:37 Prayer
03:33 Bible reading: Matthew 3:1-17
Song: Grace Unmeasured
06:16 Shorter Catechism Introduction
07:44 Catechism Questions 53-57
10:38 Bible reading: Matthew 11:1-15
Song: Never Alone
Sermon: Matthew 11:1-15
Song: Tell Me the Old, Old Story
12:36 Closing
Outline
A Confused Messenger (1-6)
A Commended Message (7-11)
A Clarified Mission (11-12)
Have you ever had someone tell you that you’re not quite there as a Christian, that you need to do something else, fulfil some extra requirement, maybe have some sort of extra experience? if you do that then you’ll be a real Christian! In preaching on Colossians 2:6-23 back in September 2014, Steve Blyth points out how the Apostle Paul says very clearly that authentic Christianity is all about Jesus. If you have Him – you have everything you need. It’s through keeping Jesus at the very centre of our focus that we grow in the way God wants us to and become the type of people He’s created us to be. Beware of people who tell you otherwise.
Service
00:00 Welcome
Song: Oh Christ in Thee
00:17 Introduction
00:36 Prayer
05:04 Bible reading: Isaiah 42:1-17
Song: Jesus Paid It All
08:06 Shorter Catechism Introduction
09:34 Catechism Questions 43-47
12:06 Bible reading: Colossians 2:6-23
Song: Jesus Thank You
Sermon: Colossians 2:6-23
Song: In Christ Alone
14:49 Closing
Outline
The Christian Life (6-7)
Don’t be taken captive by things not about Jesus (8)
Three truths about Jesus (9-10, 11-15)
You don’t need more than Jesus (16-23)
In Christ alone
Jesus appeared to his disciples on a number of occasions following his resurrection. Perhaps the most signficant of these is recorded in John 21:1-19 where Jesus specifically took time to speak to Peter. He did this, because in the lead up to the cross, Peter had failed Jesus so badly, denying him three times. So, as they met on the beach, by the fire, the scene that John records unfolds and centres around the question Jesus asked Peter, ‘Do you love me?’
Service
00:00 Welcome
Song: Rejoice the Lord Is King
00:19 Introduction
00:42 Prayer
05:41 Bible reading: John 13:21-38
Song: Jerusalem
08:07 Shorter Catechism Introduction
09:35 Catechism Questions 38-42
11:50 Bible reading: John 21:1-19
Song: My Hope Rests Firm
Sermon: Revelation 2:18-29
Song: More Love to Thee
15:49 Closing
Outline
That question! What about you?
You have to wonder what the church in Sardis thought when they received their letter from the Lord Jesus in Revelation 3:1-6 and read that his estimation of them was that they were ‘dead’. The church at Sardis may well have had the appearance of being alive. Activity. Preaching. Worship. Giving. Outward signs of life…without inward reality! It is clear then that Jesus’ message to this church was written then to bring them back to life and to re-awaken them to repentance, without which the church will never see the blessing of the Lord.
Service
00:00 Welcome
Song: All Creatures of Our God and King
00:19 Introduction
00:38 Prayer
05:03 Bible reading: Hebrews 12:1-17
Song: Be Unto Your Name
07:51 Shorter Catechism Introduction
09:19 Catechism Questions 33-37
11:38 Bible reading: Revelation 3:1-6
Song: How Deep the Father’s Love
Sermon: Revelation 2:18-29
Song: Search Me O God
12:45 Closing
Outline
• The fifth of the 7 churches
• Appearance of life, but…
• A church receiving a wake up call…
• See in these verses.…
A dead church?
‘Seek the Lord while He may be found…’
Of all the seven cities listed in this part of Revelation, Thyatira was by far the least important. It was neither a major religious centre nor a regional political capital. It was simply a busy, minor Macedonia trading colony notable, if it was notable for anything at all, for the number of trade guilds that provided the structure for civic society and business life in the city of Thyatira. And yet of all the seven letters, this letter to the believers in Thyatira in Revelation 2:18-29 is the longest and the most involved and perhaps the most urgent.
Service
00:00 Welcome
Song: To God Be the Glory
00:18 Introduction
00:37 Prayer
07:28 Bible reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-4:8
Song: Behold the Lamb of God
09:59 Shorter Catechism Introduction
11:26 Catechism Questions 28-32
Song: Romans 6:23
13:51 Bible reading: Revelation 2:18-29
Song: Before the Throne
Sermon: Revelation 2:18-29
Song: Fight the Good Fight
16:23 Closing
Outline
• The fourth of the 7 churches
• A city of no major importance
• A church getting its final ultimatum…
• See in these verses…
That need for consistency…
His way or else!
When Jesus spoke to the 7 churches of Asia Minor, he did so to bring forth spiritual life and vitality. This is seen clearly in the message he spoke to the church at Pergamum in Revelation 2:12-17 where the church was in danger of compromising with the world – especially due to their toleration of false teachers. Sadly, church history revelas that whenever the church has played around with the truth, Jesus has come against His Church – not to bless it and make it comfortable, but to bring it back the the ‘straight and narrow’ paths of the Lord.
Service
00:00 Welcome
Song: Stand Up and Bless the Lord
00:19 Introduction
00:40 Prayer
05:09 Bible reading: Jude 1-13
Song: My Worth Is Not in What I Own
07:27 Shorter Catechism Introduction
08:55 Catechism Questions 23-27
Song: Romans 6:23
10:53 Bible reading: Revelation 2:12-17
Song: My Heart Is Filled
Sermon: Revelation 2:12-17
Song: Soldiers of Christ
12:03 Closing
Outline
• The third of the 7 churches
• Relevant to today
• A suffering church, needing encouragement…
• See in these verses…
Not a popular image of Jesus…
Fighting the good fight …against who?
Join us as we hear and celebrate what God is doing around the world with His word – especially through Wycliffe and the provision of mother-tongue translators! Details below…
When Jesus sent His message to the church at Smyrna through John in Revelation 2:8-11, and called them to perservere in their time of suffering for the gospel, He did not forget that they had already suffered much in the way of persecution. However, He did urge them to ‘keep on, keeping on’ in the midst of their trials. Perhaps the believers in Smyrna might have hoped that He would end their trials. Not this time. He called them to endure, but also gave them many promises that would help them do as He bid.
Service
00:00 Welcome
Song: Marvellous Grace
00:19 Introduction
00:41 Prayer
05:03 Bible reading: James 1:1-12
Song: O Great God
06:50 Shorter Catechism Introduction
08:17 Catechism Questions 18-22
Song: The Bible Is the Answer
10:49 Bible reading: Revelation 2:8-11
Song: My Hope Rests Firm
Sermon: Revelation 2:8-11
Song: Stand Up for Jesus
11:38 Closing
Outline
• The second of the 7 churches
• Snapshots of life in Smyrna
• A suffering church, needing encouragement.…
• See in these verses .…
Was this the message they wanted?
Suffering for Christ? Press on!