Sermons at St Aidan's

Jude wrote so that believers would contend for the faith that was transmitted to them and so that they would not abandon the faith that was threatened by false teachers.

Today, we hear Paul's appeal to Philemon, and we see that sharing in Christ together makes us a new family. Life in families can have its share of challenges and conflict, and this is true in the church. So, how does our fellowship as brothers and sisters shape the way we relate to one another? Here we see the power that the gospel gives us to welcome, reconcile, and restore.

Today we start a new year with a new series looking at two small letters in the New Testament which have big implications for who we are as God's church. W e begin today with Paul's shortest letter addressed to Philemon which speaks about the nature of our fellowship with one another in the faith.

Everywhere we go at the moment, we see celebrations beginning, but what is it that we celebrate at this time of the year? Today we explore the good news of the Saviour that was promised, who arrived in our world 2000 years ago, and who will come again in glory.

We conclude the series considering Growth in the Christian life by considering the sovereign and Holy God who meets us in the incarnation of his son.

Today we continue our series considering Growth in the Christian life, and explore the relationship between service and spiritual growth. Jesus understood his mission as one of service of others. Having been made alive in Christ, we are called to follow his example of service.

Today we continue our series considering growth in the Christian life. God uses various means to grow us in Christlikeness, and today we consider the gifts of the personal prayer and Bible reading.

In our series on growing in Grace, we are looking at how the Gospel motivates us to grow to be more like Jesus. This week, we will consider how loving God and loving others motivates us to proclaim Jesus.

Today we continue our series considering Growth in the Christian life. This time we consider one of the primary means that God uses to grow us, namely fellowship with other believers

Today we begin a new series considering growth in the Christian life. In our sermon today we begin by considering what kind of growth is envisioned in the New Testament and the grace that motivates it. Incredibly, we are being transformed more and more into the likeness of Jesus as we are shaped into his image by grace.

As we come to the finale of Isaiah we are presented with a choice, go our own way without God or humbly trust in his provision of salvation. Isaiah warns that one way leads to death and judgment, the other to God's promised renewal of all things.

As we approach the end of the book of Isaiah, the prophet speaks to us about the time of the end. The prophet reveals the glory that is yet to come for the redeemed people of God as well as speaking about what will happen before then and how we should live in light of the end.

We are now nearing the end of Isaiah, and we hear Isaiah confronting the people about the same kind of issues as back in the early chapters. The sin that caused the exile has persisted, and so far, the people remain untransformed. So, what will God do about that? And what better hope do we have to see transformation in our lives?

The servant has secured salvation for God's people through his sacrifice, so let us all come to him and rejoice in our redemption and call the world to join us also,

Today as we continue in Isaiah, we come to one of the most famous passages of Isaiah, if not the entire Old Testament. Isaiah promised a coming servant who would redeem God's people and become the light to the nations that Israel failed to be. The promise is fulfilled in Jesus, and in Isaiah 53, we discover how Jesus will redeem his people.

As we continue this week in Isaiah, God's people receive a wake-up call. As they are reminded of God's power and promises fulfilled in the past, they are called to wake up to these realities and confidently rejoice and proclaim what the Lord has done.

Those who hope in the Lord will not be disappointed because God has sent his suffering servant, Jesus, to save his people. Therefore, we can trust God in hopeless situations because of his faithfulness to Jesus and the future promise where God will make all things new.

The challenge of this section is that God will use a pagan idolater, the Persian King Cyrus the Great, as his instrument to rescue His people from captivity. Many of God's people will be outraged at this, but God maintains His complete sovereignty in these events and will ensure that every knee will bow to Him.

Today in Isaiah, we continue to hear words of comfort for God's people living as exiles. God speaks of his great love and tender care for his people, and the price he will pay to redeem them and bring them home. Isaiah contrasts the character of the true God with the nature of idolatry so that we might see the absurdity of false saviours, and find our fulfillment in the God who redeems.

As we continue in Isaiah, we are told that God's promises involve establishing a worldwide justice and a renewal of creation, and that all of this will come through the work of a mysterious servant.

There is a dramatic change in the Book of Isaiah at this point as Isaiah's message of judgement culminating in exile, turns to a message of hope and renewal after exile. But, how will this come about? And what will it mean for God's weary people caught up in a world of sin?

In John's Gospel chapter 9, we hear Jesus' claim to be the light of the world, and he gives sight to a blind man as a sign to prove his claims. We also see varying responses from those who meet Jesus, denial, avoidance, opposition, worship. As we meet Jesus in his word, we too must decide how we will respond to him?

Jesus saves and sustains God's people. He is where true life is found. His death means life for us.

Can't get no satisfaction? Satisfaction is more than a feeling, it's a way of life, and if we can't find it we often feel like we haven't found ourselves. But what if satisfaction was not about finding ourselves, but meeting someone else altogether? That's what we'll find today as we meet Jesus by the well outside ancient Samaria.

put on the Gospel put on the G As we wrap up our journey through Ephesians, all the themes of the letter come together with the call to equip ourselves with the armour we need to stand firm against all the attacks of the devil.