Everyday Church Sermons

God leads the Israelites into the Desert. They begin to grumble. They complain about Moses and Aaron. Their complaint is astonishing. They wished that they would have died by God’s hand in Egypt. They’ve endured slavery, oppression and infanticide and been set free. But they wished they were still in Egypt sitting around pots of meat? Are we like the Israelites or like Moses? Moses at Marah cried...

The story of the Israelites is the story of many people going on tour together. Of a group being formed into a people, and eventually a nation, with a clear sense of identity and purpose. Their journey was filled with ups and downs, and would take a little longer than most group tours take! The Old Testament reveals to us that their journey would ultimately take 40 years wandering in the desert be...

In January and February this year, we spent 6 weeks looking at our Vision and Values. We spent 6 weeks looking at 7 words: Son – Father – Spirit – Grace – Community – Kingdom – Love. Of course, the Vision and Values of a church, indeed of any community, cannot be limited to 7 words and take far more than 6 weeks to discuss, digest and develop. Culture – which is the fruit of an organisation's visi...

The truth that transforms- sets Christians apart is that Jesus not only died – but HE ROSE AGAIN! It changes everything. When Jesus was crucified his followers fled. It seemed like everything had gone wrong. They were afraid the same thing would happen to them. Yet a few weeks later same disciples burst out of hiding onto the streets of Jerusalem very place Jesus had been killed – bravest sermon e...

Why is the Passover so significant? In what ways is this 10th plague so important? It is uniquely important in its historical effect. It works! The people are released from slavery. It is important in its theology – what it reminds the people about their God. God is sovereign over their history. God declares beforehand that this will be the final plague – that after this the people will be release...

Sometimes we can be so trapped in our own self-importance - our own framework for seeing the world around us – hindered by our own limits of experience - that the grace and mercy of the Almighty, all-knowing God is actually repellent to some.

God sent the plagues and brought his people out of Egypt that they may worship him. We are saved to worship, saved to serve. Open your heart to the expulsive power of a greater affection, the love of Christ.

Moses is one of the great leaders in scripture. A hero of the nation of Israel. Still honoured in the time of Jesus. The writer to the Hebrews uses the greatness of Moses to reveal the even greater majesty of Jesus. But Moses is not perfect. Moses receives an incredible call from God to lead the people out of slavery and into the promised land – by way of worship and covenant.

The promise of God’s presence explains Moses’ follow-up question: “Well then, who are you?” Moses might have been convinced that God was on his side, but he would need to convince the Israelites too, and anticipated a tricky conversation turning up after 40 years trying to explain what the non-burning, talking bush had said to him. So far all he could say was this is what our Dad’s God said. The I...

We see from these themes that Exodus can be accessed many levels. A personal level. Our walk with God is a mix of relationship and task. We have mountain top times and spend time in the valley. We can be lost in worship, love and praise one day and tripped up by our idols the next! We cry out to God personally and need to know he is our God, who hears us as an individual and reaches into our lives...

We read in Matthew 6 and Luke 11, the disciples coming to Jesus, saying; Jesus, tell us how to pray. It wasn't that they didn't pray already. In the Jewish culture at that time they would pray at least three times a day. They had specific prayers to pray for specific occasions. They knew how to recite prayers, prayer was a part of their daily life. But there was something in Jesus prayer life, in...

We come to the end of our series. What a journey. Fixing our eyes on God. Planting our roots in grace. Committing ourselves to one another as a covenant people. Pursuing the Kingdom as Jesus builds his church. But how do we cope with our imperfections? It is great to have Kingdom vision, but what about the nitty gritty, the cold light of day when the church family let us down, when leaders get it...

We work out our faith in tension. The tension of discipleship and Kingdom. The tension of the Now and Not yet of that Kingdom. But our vision – why we are here is always the Kingdom. Our discipleship is an apprenticeship to Jesus in the works of the Kingdom. We work out our vision in faith. Certain that there will come a day when the Kingdom is fully revealed in Christs return. Believing that Jesu...

We live in a self-centred, self-obsessed, consumer driven world. It is so easy for our world culture to shape our church culture. Church leadership can focus on felt needs, marketing tactics, seeker sensitive sermons, amazing Kid’s and Youth work, off the chart welcome and worship bands, engaging and entertaining sermons and of course quality coffee. There is nothing wrong with seeking to do thing...

How do we connect with God? How is it possible for us to have relationship with the creator of the universe? The short answer, and indeed the complete answer, is this – by the grace of God. Paul’s letters in the New Testament are full of the grace of God and we find one of his most succinct descriptions of grace in his letter to the Ephesians. We are going to unpack it by asking, and hopefully ans...

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus explains that God is seeking relationship with us. It is not just that God is offering relationship to those who look for him. God is actively looking for relationship with us – with you and me. What is more, God is looking for real relationship – not just contractual relationship. The Father goes out to look for the son who is lost in his unrighteousness...

Without vision the people perish, what you see is what you get, people who aim at nothing usually hit it, if the eyes are good then the heart will be good but if the eyes are bad…. There are numerous sayings, biblical and unbiblical that seek to remind us of the importance of vision. Vision lifts our heads, it inspires, it reminds us of the “why” behind the “what”. It is vision that sets the bound...

We do not know a lot about shepherds. Traditionally viewed as social outcasts – and this may have been the case. What is clear is that they were not religious leaders. Another reminder that God is looking to break into ordinary lives. People who travelled from area to area – so strategically good people to share the news with, if you wanted it shared.

There is something hard wired within each of us for connection. And at Christmas, we celebrate when God came to be with us so that we could be with him. "they will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us’)". We all need God’s rescue. We all need His presence. Just like Joseph, we’re called to believe and obey. So, I want to encourage you this Christmas time. Invite God into your Christmas.

We’ve each got a unique part to play in God’s story, even if it’s a less prominent one than Mary’s. God has graced us with a unique blend of circumstances, relationships, talents, and opportunities that he wants to use for the advance of his kingdom. As with Mary, the precise parameters of God’s grace are down to Him. Mary was chosen by God’s grace – there was nothing she did to earn or deserve th...

• We come to the end of our journey through John’s gospel • A journey we started back in January • 35 sermons through 2022 • What a journey has been • This is the journey we have been on – and we end where we started – In Galilee, on a beach with fishermen

Jesus prays for the three threats to the disciples, but before they can get caught up in themselves, he prays that they would know the love of God. This phrase could be heard in one of two ways – given the context I wonder if Jesus means it both ways. Firstly, would the disciples know the love of God in the same way that Jesus knows the love of God? Throughout the gospels, we see the intimacy betw...

Working our way through the gospel of John which is different from the other gospels. John, the beloved disciple, is making known to us the ‘Word made flesh’ as Jesus, and Jesus is making known to us the Father. Jesus refers to God as ‘Abba’ again and again in John’s gospel, In Aramaic/Hebrew, it is like saying papa/daddy. The Old Testament rarely refers to God as Father and then only in the conte...

This sermon message by Dave Holden is from our New Ground Sunday service. New Ground is a family of churches led by Dave Holden and the New Ground core team. We believe that God has called us to play our part in His great mission to see many churches planted across the world and to see communities transformed by the love of Jesus. Find out more here: https://newgroundchurches.org/

The next message in our John series. Join Simon Elliott as he unpacks John 15:18-16:15.