King's Church Darlington

Matthew 16.13-20. In chapter 16 of Matthew's Gospel, Jesus asks his disciples one of the most important questions anyone can face: 'Who do you say I am?' Peter's inspired response triggers Jesus setting out his great and glorious vision statement - one that is still in operation today, and one we all have a part in. 28 July 2024.

Matthew 16.1-12. Jesus gave many warnings during his ministry but one of the most curious was to avoid the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. What did he mean? Michael unpacks this for us and shows how it is a warning we have to take seriously in our day too. 21 July 2024.

Matthew 15.21-39. Matthew 15 contains one of the most puzzling passages in the four Gospels; Jesus' encounter with a Canaanite woman, whose daughter is in desperate need. Jesus' response to her appears cold - even rude. What is going on? John explores this passage and then walks with us through another slightly strange story which follows it - the feeding of the 4,000. Coming so soon after feeding...

Matthew 15.1-20. A delegation of Pharisees and teachers of the law arrive from Jerusalem to confront Jesus about the way he is carrying on. But Jesus replies that he is simply disregarding their man-made traditions, while they are finding ever-more ingenious ways of avoiding obedience to holy scripture. Despite Jesus being crystal clear on this matter, Michael shows us how the Church down the year...

Matthew 14.22-36. Jesus approaches his disciples, who have been rowing hard for nine hours, walking on the water. It scares the living daylights out of them but this passage is quite important for helping us understand the dynamics of fear and faith in our own hearts. 30 June 2024.

Matthew 14.13-21. As Jesus seeks a bit of solitude to digest the awful news of his cousin John the Baptist's death, large crowds flock around him and, filled with compassion, he tends to their needs. In particular, their need for nourishment. But there's a problem; a totally inadequate supply that cannot meet the demand. Michael explains how, for Jesus, 'impossible is nothing.' 23 June 2024.

Matthew 13.53 - 14.12. After almost thirteen full chapters of Jesus' amazing and popular ministry, we get an abrupt change of mood, with Jesus' own home town turning against him and John the Baptist meeting his gruesome and untimely death. Why? Where is God when everything goes wrong? John Lambert explores some of the questions that arise when faith is shaken. 16 June 2024.

Matthew 13.44-58. Paul opens up the end of the third main block of teaching in Matthew's Gospel which contains three more short stories to illustrate what the kingdom of heaven is like. Hidden treasure. A pearl that is worth more than all others put together. And a net that gathers a great catch of fish. 9 June 2024.

Matthew 13.24-43. Jesus' series of stories on what the kingdom of God is like continues with parables about wheat and weeds, yeast and mustard seeds. 2 June 2024.

Ephesians 2.11-18. This week we are joined by guest speaker Chris Frost as he speaks to us about a Father, Son and Spirit vision for a diverse church
. At the end we have left in the special prayers from some of the nations represented in our church. 26 May 2024.

Matthew 13.1-23. Jesus often speaks in parables to communicate with His followers. This week, our special guest, Andrew Bunt, opens up the well-known Parable of the Sower. 19 May 2024.

Matthew 12.38-50. Jesus' thorny relationship with the Pharisees continues to get worse and it brings tension into his own family relationships as well. How is he going to respond to criticism and friction on two fronts? 12 May 2024.

Matthew 12.22-37. As Jesus' relationship with the jealous religious authorities continues to polarise, they accuse him of being an agent of the devil. Phil Hillsdon explains how Jesus' response to them contains a challenge for all of us. 5 May 2024.

Matthew 12.1-21. Jesus clashes with religious leaders over the question of the sabbath. For Jesus, it is not legalistic suffocation, it's an opportunity to enjoy the grace of God. Guest speaker Raj Saha explains how this works. 28 April 2024.

Matthew 11.20-30. Following Jesus' sending out of the twelve on mission in Matthew 10, Jesus comments on the apathetic response of the towns he visited and where he did many signs and wonders, before giving an invitation to those who were weighed down with fatigue and anxiety. 21 April 2024.

When Abi and Sam Little and their two daughters joined us at King's, Abi gave us a brief update of their work, planting a new Word and Spirit local church in Siem Reap, Cambodia. 14 April 2024.

Acts 8.26-40. Sam Little, who with wife Abi and family, is planting a church in Siem Reap, Cambodia, shares about cross-cultural mission from Acts 8, where the evangelist Philip has a divine encounter with an Ethiopian official. 14 April 2024.

Matthew 28.16-20. After being raised from the dead, Jesus gathers his disciples and gives them some final instructions. What will he leave them with? What will their response to him be? What about ours? 7 April 2024.

Matthew 28.1-15. On the third day, he rose again from the dead, according to the scriptures. On Easter Sunday, Michael shares about how the first disciples, initially sceptical and fearful, began to be certain of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. 31 March 2024.

Matthew 27.45-66. And so, after a judicial scandal, a severe flogging, mocking laughter and agonising crucifixion, we reach the moment when Jesus takes his last breath. What did that mean for him? What does it mean for us? What are the monumental implications of what Jesus did for us on the cross? 24 March 2024.

Matthew 27.27-44. Having had the death sentence passed by Pontius Pilate, Jesus is handed over to be crucified and is mocked by Roman soldiers before he is led off. Michael explains what crucifixion was like and what it all means for us. 17 March 2024.

Matthew 27.11-26. Guest speaker Alan Bell from Emmanuel Church Durham continues opening up the story of Christ's passion. The ruling religious council send Jesus to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, hoping to secure the death penalty of a man they know is innocent of any crime. 10 March 2024.

Matthew 27.1-10. The story of Christ's passion continues with the tragic and troubling episode of Judas' despair and suicide. It raises so many questions. Was Judas ever saved? If so, did he lose his salvation? Is that even possible? Was this all part of God's plan? If so, how can Judas have been responsible? And what does this passage have to say to us in our own walk with God? 3 March 2024.

Matthew 26.57-75. Moving on from Gethsamene, we follow Jesus into the home of the high priest, where he is interrogated by the chief priests and elders who seek an opportunity to condemn him to death. Following closely behind is Peter, anxious and desperate to listen in on proceedings. 25 February 2024.

Matthew 26.36-56. Continuing the narrative of the events of Jesus’ last week, Matthew describes the agony and stress Jesus experienced just before his arrest as his disciples all fall asleep and then run off. 18 February 2024.