King's Church Darlington

Matthew 24.1-28. In Matthew 24, Jesus gives his disciples a sweeping overview of the future. Some of it was fulfilled about 40 years later in AD 70, when the Roman Empire crushed a Jewish revolt and destroyed Jerusalem and its temple. But some of it is yet to be fulfilled. In part I of a two-part exploration of this chapter, we can see why the events of AD 70 are so relevant to us nearly two centu...

Matthew 23.13-39. Jesus concludes his sparring match with the clergy of his time with a devastating series of curses on their dismal organised religion. They have shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces and have not entered it themselves. It's over for them. Oh, that we would put to death the Pharisee that so quickly rises up in us. 19 January 2025.

Matthew 23.1-12. Jesus warns his disciples against religious hypocrisy, which was a strong feature of the Pharisees' way of life. Always concerned to look good and be treated with deference by the common people, Jesus says that these are the very opposite of the Kingdom of God he is inaugurating. Apologies: the first few minutes of this sermon are missing due to a technical issue. 12 January 2025.

Matthew 22.34-46. At the end of a series of tests and traps from Israel's religious leaders, an expert in the Law is sent to test him one last time with a question about the greatest commandment of the 613 stipulations in the Law of Moses. Jesus answers with not one, but two commandments that summarise the entire Old Testament, before making his detractors look like mugs yet again with a question...

Romans 5.8. What child does not relish the chance to see Santa in his grotto? But the question he asks is a bit problematic. Have you been good this year? How good is good enough to get a present? Isn't grace about receiving gifts because we're loved? 22 December 2024.

At Our Christmas at King's service, two people who became Christians in the last twelve months share how Christmas is going to be a whole lot different for them this year. 22 December 2024.

Philippians 2.5-11. One of the most stunning passages in the Bible on the Christmas miracle describes the majestic, omnipotent Son of God humbled himself to become a defenceless spec, smaller than half a grain of sand, to become one of us, and save us. John opens up the passage and points out some of the implications for us. 8 December 2024.

Matthew 22.15-33. In the week before his death, several different groups (not friendly among themselves but united in their hostility towards Jesus) approach him trying to catch him out. In this passage, religious hardliners, liberals and politicians alike all fail to trap him as each time, Jesus amazes them with his brilliant response. 1 December 2024.

Matthew 22.1-14. In this parable, God is a father arranging the wedding of his son. But some snub the father with lame excuses. So, Plan B, the father sends servants out all over town to fill the hall. Then, in another twist, one of the guests is not dressed for the occasion and is ejected from the feast. What can it all possibly mean? 24 November 2024.

Matthew 21.33-46. It's Tuesday of Passover week. Jesus is three days away from his death and he speaks to the religious authorities about it in the form of a story showing how the Old Testament prophets were constantly rejected by faithless Israel. Jesus will be the latest (and greatest) in this long line. But like dispensing with a foundation, making the building collapse and crush anyone inside,...

Matthew 21.23-32. Annoyed by Jesus' incendiary behaviour the previous day, the temple leadership approach Jesus when they find him teaching publicly and ask him what right he has to be doing that. Jesus responds with a simple question which perfectly exposes their evil intentions before telling a story which shows that repentant sinners are more righteous than finely dressed clergy with unbelievin...

Matthew 21.12-22. In the week leading up to the cross, the tension between Jesus and the religious authorities grows and grows. Not least because Jesus' behaviour is increasingly confrontational. He causes a right old disturbance in the temple and then curses a perfectly healthy-looking fig tree, making it wither and die. What is going on? What did it mean for those watching these extraordinary sc...

Matthew 21.1-11. At the beginning of the week that will end in his death, Jesus enters Jerusalem humbly, on a donkey, triggering a fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah. What will people make of it? Will they welcome him as king of their nation? And will we welcome him as king of our lives? 27 October 2024.

Matthew 20.17-34. On Jesus’ way to Jerusalem he predicts his death for the third and final time before being met with two very different requests; one for honour and the other for healing. In this sermon, we are invited to join Jesus on the road and to explore why he responded in the way he did to each request. 20 October 2024.

Matthew 20.1-16. Why is life so unfair? Why has he got more than I have? Why is she prettier than me? Constant comparisons with others can lead to life becoming quite miserable. Jesus tells a parable to his quick-to-compare disciples to show them that in the Kingdom of God, the values are not the same. 13 October 2024.

Matthew 19.16-26. A wealthy young individual, confident in his impeccable record of good works, approaches Jesus and asks what he needs to do in order to inherit eternal life. Jesus' reply leaves him crestfallen and the disciples greatly astonished. 6 October 2024.

Matthew 19.13-15. On a day when the disciples are rebuking parents for bringing their little ones to Jesus in the hope that he will bless them, Jesus - as usual - turns the world's values upside down and orders that they be allowed to come to him. But why does he then say that the kingdom of heaven belong to those who are like children? In our children-oriented society the answer may not be at all...

Matthew 19.1-12. The Pharisees approach Jesus with an apparently random question about marriage and divorce. As so often with the Pharisees, it's a trap. What is Jesus going to say about how God views divorce in a society where ditching your wife was as easy as signing your autograph? Jesus, as usual, gives a startling reply. 22 September 2024.

Matthew 18.21-35. Jesus' words about dealing with sin in the local church (Matthew 18.15-20) prompt a question in the mind of Simon Peter. How many times should we forgive people who have wronged us? Jesus' reply is more than Peter bargained for. Apologies: the first few minutes of this recording including the Bible reading was lost due to a technical problem. 15 September 2024.

Matthew 18.15-20. Sometimes, relationships in even the best local churches can turn sour. How should we go about repairing broken fellowship, and what should we do if, despite all our best efforts, things don't improve? Jesus anticipates that church life would not always be sweetness and light, so he gives us a simple process and a superb promise for when things go wrong. 8 September 2024.

Matthew 18.1-14. Jesus uses a child to explain what greatness looks like in the Kingdom of Heaven. Why does he respond to the disciples' question about greatness by pointing to a child? 1 September 2024.

Matthew 17.22-27. Following Jesus' second prediction of his death, there is an unusual episode about the temple tax, where Jesus has a decidedly novel idea for payment - finding the sum for two people's annual liability in the mouth of a fish. What's all this about? John walks us through this surprising story. 25 August 2024.

Matthew 17.14-21. A short while after hitting the heights of the mountaintop with Jesus and his transfiguration, we are back in the valley with lack of faith and lack of power. Phil Hillsdon takes us through that experience of knowing there's more of heaven's power available for us but of just feeling inadequate. How do we grow in faith and authority? 18 August 2024.

Matthew 17.1-13. The transfiguration on the mountain is not just a moment in the Gospel but an event in history. Jesus choosing to become man veiled his heavenly glory, but in this moment he chooses to reveal it to three of his disciples. A truly awesome event that God still wants to speak to us through today. 11 August 2024.

Matthew 16.21-28. Following his spectacular revelation of Jesus' true identity, Peter goes from hero to zero by anxiously appealing to Jesus not to go to the cross. The Lord said that Peter was “blessed” to have had the revelation that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God, but now Jesus sees the work of the devil in him. What, for Peter, sounded like a calamity, is for us a glorious testament t...