Inner West Sermons

Death and resurrection aren't just a part of the Christian story, but the shape for the Christian life. As in the waters of baptism we die to sin. We also experience his resurrecting power in our everyday lives as we wait for the culmination of all God's promises when Christ returns. SCRIPTURE: Philippians 3:15-4:3

"You are enough" - this is the mantra of our age. But scripture tells us a very different message: only Jesus is enough. Pete Greenwood preaches on how Jesus' finished work alone is enough to give us life, meaning and hope for the future. Everything less than Jesus' work will fall short. SCRIPTURE: Genesis 3:6-13, Philippians 3:1-14

Guest speaker Bishop Genieve Blackwell unpacks how to work out our faith in response to God's grace in Christ.

Everyone wants to be unified, but that is easier said than done. To a church struggling to be united, Paul lays out what creates disunity - selfish ambition and vain conceit - and what it takes to become unified - adopting the same attitude of humility that Christ Jesus had. Preacher: Kirsten Wade

Guest speaker Brad Watson (wearesoma.com) helps us see how living a life worthy of the Gospel isn't about working harder to be better, but trusting completely in Jesus who has made us worthy, so that we can joyfully work, and even suffer, for Him.

What is the greatest boast of our lives? Jon Tran preaches from Philippians 1:12-26 showing how confidence in Jesus produces rejoicing in Jesus and culminates in boasting in Jesus SCRIPTURE: Philippians 1:12-26

Pete Greenwood preaches on how grounding ourselves in God's story brings us joy as we reflect on the past, have confidence in the present and anticipation for the future. SCRIPTURE: Psalm 28:6-9, Philippians 1:1-11

Pete Greenwood finishes off our 'Commitments' series by explaining that our mission is to bear witness to God's mission to us, that we fulfil this mission by making disciples, and that the power to be on mission comes from knowing Jesus' authority and faithful presence with us. SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 1:1-9

Pete Greenwood helps us consider our commitment to prayer as a church. While we could all spend more time praying, Pete's emphasis is on improving the depth of our prayers, in line with what Paul prays for the church in Ephesians 3. For power to be strengthened inwardly, and to grasp the immensity of God's love in Christ.

Jon Tran preaches on IWC's fifth commitment: We are committed to being generous. Generosity is something we all like to receive but can often find it difficult to practice. From Luke 7 we see that selfishness and shame are both barriers to our generosity. But God's gift of forgiveness in Jesus sets us free to be truly generous. SCRIPTURE: Luke 7:36-50

Pete Greenwood preaching on Inner West Church's fourth commitment - family. The Gospel means that we have become sons and daughters of God, a part of the same spiritual family. What does it look like for us to live together as God's family? How can we continue to grow and thrive as God's family? SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 1:3-6; 2:19-22; 4:29-5:2

What does it mean to follow Jesus? How does discipleship to Jesus impact all of our lives? How can we walk the way of Jesus with commitment? Pete Greenwood preaches on the third of Inner West Church's commitments: following Jesus in every sphere of life. SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16:24-27, Romans 12:1-2

How do we change? Pete Greenwood preaches on how the Gospel is the power that renews individuals and communities. SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 3:12-18, Titus 2:11-14

Pete Greenwood kicks off the series 'Commitments' with the first of Inner West Church's commitments - a commitment to the Bible. From Psalm 119 and 2 Timothy 3, Pete preaches on how the Bible is God's true word, how the Bible is authoritative, and how the Bible forms us as God's people. SCRIPTURE: Psalm 119:1-8, 169-176; 2 Timothy 3:10-17

Jon Tran preaches on the need for disciples of Jesus need to see him for who he is, to be taught by him, and to give him as the message of their lives. SCRIPTURE: Luke 24:13-35

Pete Greenwood preaches on the resurrection of Jesus and how it not only reveals that Jesus is deserving of our worship, but transforms our hearts and gives us power to do so with great joy. SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:1-10, Acts 2:22-36

Pete Greenwood finishes our series 'Kingdom Come' by preaching from the Matthew 22 and the parable of the wedding banquet. God has invited us into his kingdom, will we be a people who go out and do the same? SCRIPTURE: Matthew 22:1-14, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Jon Tran preaches from Jesus' parables of the treasure and the pearl. God and his kingdom are the most precious treasure in this life, but do we live as if this is true? SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:19-21, 13:44-46

Pete Greenwood preaches from the parable of the yeast. We are either working in the yeast of the Kingdom or the yeast of the self into our lives. Jesus' parables challenges us to ask the question of which yeast is at work. SCRIPTURE: Matthew 13:33,16:1-12

Pete Greenwood preaches from Jesus' parable on how the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. From this parable Jesus answers the questions of how the Kingdom begins, how it grows and what it is for. SCRIPTURE: Matthew 13:31-32, Ezekiel 17:22-24

Jon Tran preaches on the parable of the weeds. Through examining the Sower, the Enemy and the harvest, we hear Jesus' call to hear his words, understand them and to live them out. SCRIPTURE: Matthew 13:24-30,36-43

Pete Greenwood opens up our new series 'Kingdom Come: Parables of the Kingdom'. Preaching from the parable of the sower (Matt. 13) Pete unpacks the questions of what the Kingdom is, what Kingdom work looks like, and how we can bear Kingdom fruit. SCRIPTURE: Matthew 4:17-23, 13:1-9 and 13:18-23

Jon Tran preaches from Psalm 134 about the God who not only deserves to be blessed, but who Himself bends down to bless. SCRIPTURE: Psalm 134, Mark 13:32-42

Pete Greenwood preaches from Psalm 126 on how joy remembered and joy anticipated serve as bookends to our joy in the present. SCRIPTURE: Psalm 126

Guest preacher Martin Rogers (GraceWest Bible Church) unpacks one of the shortest psalms and explores how to bring calm and quiet to your spirit.