When Jesus attending the wedding in Cana, he was called upon to do something about the shortage of wine for the guests. His actions formed the first of seven ‘signs’ that John recorded for his readers that show something of His glory. While Moses’ first miracle was to turn water to blood which indicated judgement, Jesus’ first miracle was to show the fullness of coming blessing for the people of God as he turned something from the old covenant arrangement into something new and better. Not all saw his miracle but his disciples did and by it their faith in Him was confirmed.
Sermons
‘Being part of the ripple effect’ (John 1:35-51)
When John the Baptist announced that Jesus was the Messiah, some of his disciples turned and followed Jesus, others became convinced of Jesus’ identity by their experience and still others came to follow Jesus because of their own study of the Scripture. John’s words led to an immediate growth in the number of disciples who followed Jesus. In many ways the same happens today as believers share their personal testimony or what they have found through believing the Word of God. This ‘ripple effect’ will grow if and when today’s disciples continue to speak ‘just a word’ for Jesus.
‘Have a Really New Year’ (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)
Russ Grinter asked us to consider what is noteworthy about the new year. More than wishing “happy new year” and resolving to seek happiness ourselves, in 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 we read that Jesus makes us really new. From now on, our identity should be in Christ – not what we do or how the world sees us. We should not depend on our effort but on what Jesus has done as our substitute. By faith, God looks at us and sees Jesus’ righteousness. Jesus makes us really new.
‘Is anybody listening?’ (Psalm 81)
At the end of a year, Hugh Price encouraged us from Psalm 81 to focus on God and listen to him. God’s people ought to celebrate him and his goodness to them. God gives those who do not listen what they want – but it is not good. We are invited to open ourselves to God, ready to receive.
‘Jesus, the best gift’ (Matthew 2)
On Christmas morning, Andrew Kerr preached from Matthew 2 about God’s greatest gift. Wise men searched for him, the chief priests should have known more about him and Herod felt threatened by him. In his son, Jesus, God gives the world what it really needs: a better king, a better priest and a better saviour. Matthew shows us how God has promised him all those years ago. After all these years since, wise men still seek Jesus.
‘Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ (John 1:29-34)
Rory Weightman spoke from John 1:29-34 about the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John the Baptist gets our attention (“Behold!”) and uses the imagery of the Old Testament to tell us about Jesus. God provided a lamb to be a substitute payment for sin, to buy back an unfaithful people. Proven to be of God by the Spirit, Jesus willingly gave himself once and for all. He showed power over sin and death by rising again. As we read later in John 3:16, this promise is for whoever believes.
‘On being a more-than-useful signpost’ (John 1:19-28)
In this message on John 1:19-28, Rev Philip Burns highlights the actions and words of John the Baptist in his ministry just before Jesus burst onto the scene. John was a successful ‘signpost’ in that he pointed people to Jesus without drawing too much attention to himself.
‘The down-to-earth-in-the-flesh God’ (John 1:14-18)
John 1:14-18 is an amazing text of John’s gospel, ‘the Word became flesh’. By these words, John tells us something of the some of the motive of love that God had in sending his Son, Jesus, something of the rescue mission he enacted for our sake, and something of God’s presence beside us in the birth of Emmanuel (God with us) – all beyond our full understanding but not our appreciation!.
‘Jesus: as He really is’ (John 1:1-18)
John’s Gospel is the ‘gospel that is different’. 1:1-18 brings out some of the major themes that John introduces to his readers. John presents Jesus as the Living Word, the One who is fully divine, eternal,the creator of all things and the one who became flesh (man). John’s purpose in writing is that we might believe in Jesus and so have life in His Name and all who do that are granted the privilege of being called His children.
‘The unpopular (but still very true) truth’ (Matthew 7:13-29)
Jesus was a popular preacher when he spoke these words in Matthew 7:13-29, but his words are very unpopular today. He spoke of the road to life being one that has a narrow gate, of those who profess faith but do not have the fruit to show that their profession is true and of those who hear his words but do not do them. The end result of all this remains that some people who might profess to be believers, may be deluding themselves! All that Jesus taught remains the truth, no matter how unpopular it has become.