Sermons from All Souls Church

Richard reflects on Christ's ascension. He considers the disciples expectation that Jesus would carry on after the resurrection as before.. but their thinking was too small. With referenct to Daniel 7 he encourages us to recognise and welcome God's rule over all.

Using snooker as a parallel, Revd Dr Steve Walton speaks of the Holy Spirit's effects in these passages as the "accompanying colours" alongside His "red ball" consistency. The Spirit's liberating role is elaborated with references to earlier Bible stories.

We listen to a Christmas reading "out of context" and Richard highlights how Zachariah, Mary, Elizaebeth, Simeon and Anna were empowered by the Holy Spirit to see clearly, believe wisely and act courageously - we have the opportunity to do likewise.

In the first of a new sermon series Richard introduces the work and person of the Holy Spirit. With references to Genesis ("the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters") and Spiderman ("with great power comes great responsibility") Richard explains how Jesus introduced his disciples to the Holy Spirit, exploring the depth of meaning in Jesus's "Shalom" greeting to them after his resurrection.

Rachel teaches from these two passages, highlighting just how controversial Jesus' reading of Isaiah 61 was as he showed how God chose Gentiles - a widow and a military leader - to bless and to be blessed by Israel.

Richard challenges us to see God in the ordinary. He takes us from modern comicbook superheroes to the ancient book of Isaiah and examines just how ordinary Jesus was foretold to be as well as how he would spectacularly plunge into the heart of our suffering to rescue us.

Richard compares Isaiah's words to those of a doctor and a recruitment consultant. The doctor pointing out symptoms (you're in exile(!)), providing diagnosis (you've turned your back on God(!)) and being honest (you risk losing your identity...). The recruitment consultant laying out a job description for God's servant (to bring God's hope to a broken and weary World) - a role we can't fulfil but...

Steve Walton looks at the servant's role from three perspectives - the author's, Jesus's and ours. Using examples from modern (waiters needing to pay more attention) to ancient (the Roman centurion who was first to recognise Jesus for who he is after his death) we are encouraged to reflect on Israel's, Christ's and our own calling to be a light to the ends of the earth.

Richard introduces a five session series on "servant songs" and considers three big questions relating to reality, judgement and hope. He sets Isaiah's message in context and explains how the prophet provides clarity and perspective - then (2,500 years ago) and now - appealing to us to live with joyful freedom within God's purposes.

Rachel considers the contentment of Paul and the secret of generosity. With reference to exercise, money and bunnies she uses Google and Amazon to uncover popular searches and solutions for happiness. She goes on to unpack how Paul's contentment stemmed from his friendship with Jesus and reminds us that our generosity should be a natural reflection of God's goodness and his gifts to us.

In this family service Richard encourages us to practically live out prayer by showing care for our World. From contemplating an orchid to writing to your MP he considers practical ways to get involved and talks about All Souls role as an eco church.

Prayers and the first few minutes of today's sermon when Richard reflects on the differences between deep joy and mere happiness.

Following Jon leading prayer according to the PRAY mnemonic, Fi encourages us not to grumble over the niggles of life but to shine like stars. She uses "Chariots of Fire" and an actual Olympic torch to lead us to reflect on how Paul faced up to the reality. He experienced sorrow and anxiety but focussed on the firm foundation for his joy - Christ and his word of life - and rejoiced in the torch be...

With reference to the D-day landings as an example of inevitable victory Richard considers "How am I to live now?". He looks to Jesus and how he humbled himself in obedience before being exalted. Though we are sure one day all will be under Jesus he challenges us to work hard at our salvation, recognising that we are not going through life alone - we are in it together with God.

Rachel considers motivations for and the meaning of church unity. With references to Pope Francis, Paul and Brexit she reflects on the challenges of unity and how Christ's servanthood provides a model for us to follow.

Richard considers why Paul was so joyful given his circumstances, concluding that his confidence in Christ helped him see reality - knowing not what the future holds, but knowing who holds the future.

In the first of a new series Richard challenges us all, as Paul did to the Philippians, to evaluate "who do you think you are?". He encourages us: - to live generously, since we belong together; - to live resiliently, since no one should expect an easy ride; and, - to live simply a godly life, aspiring for purity and blamelessness; finding joy in our identity with Christ.

Richard commentates on a live re-enactment of the miraculous crossing of the river Jordan. He reflects on God's reminders and how important it is we remember 2018 as we enter 2019. From the "gold box" ark and it's contents - a staff (leadership), a pot of manna (provision) and two tablets (rules to live by) - to stones from the Jordan to our own family photobooks he encourages us all to reflect on...

In a short sermon Richard reflects on how Simeon recognised an infant in an instant as our saviour. Using Christmas imagery he talks about how we make the everyday (pine branch) special (decoration) and use candles (light) to point to Jesus as we already start thinking about the significance of Easter...

Richard explains why prayer should be treated as a gift (rather than a duty or a skill) to help us put the pieces of our lives together and join in with God "in his name". He takes us from inappropriate prayers - e.g. for an open top, racing green Aston Martin - to being regularly filled afresh with the Spirit... because we leak(!).

Richard works backwards through this passage, chewing over what it means to live a healthy Christian life amidst a YouTube generation. He exhorts us to: emulate wisely, think deliberately, pray confidently and rejoice constantly; celebrating what we know to be true.

Rachel compares wordless prayers from a heart of flesh with wordy prayers from a heart of stone. In a world where we are "bombarded by words" she encourages us to appreciate the value of a "symphony of sighs" with God sensitising us to know him as father, know there is hope and enabling us to pray with and without words.

With elaborate imagery from mingling with rugby superstars to an entitlement to enter Ronnie Scott's Richard explains how, through Jesus, we have confidence to draw near to God in prayer.

Holding both a bible and a newspaper, Richard reflects on the reality of living in a broken world and exhorts us to pray in the context of the cross. From pulling out charred remains from burning tanks and the destruction of ongoing conflicts he points us to the anticipation in the book of Revelation that every tear will be wiped away - the world to come.

Recognising that some passages in the Bible can seem "really weird", Nathan Shedd unpacks God's love of the world as our context for prayer. With a breadth of references - from Hallowe'en to Meatloaf - he encourages us all to 'gut check' our daily reality to make sure our actions and dispositions align.