Sermons from All Souls Church

Joe explores discipleship and suffering through Job’s story and Jesus’ resurrection. Discipleship mirrors apprenticeship: being with, becoming like, and doing what Jesus did. Job’s suffering shows the importance of honesty with God and rejecting the idea that suffering reflects failure. Like Job, we can trust our Redeemer—God himself—to vindicate us. Jesus’ resurrection demonstrates that we, like...

The disciples in the boat ask, "What kind of man is this?" when Jesus calms the storm, a question rooted in the significance of the sea in Jewish culture. In the Old Testament, the sea symbolizes chaos and death, but God alone has the power to control it. Jesus' act of rebuking the winds reveals his divine authority, claiming power over the chaos of creation. This story shifts Jesus from being see...

In this talk Joe explores Jesus's authority in Matthew 8:28. His authority is unique—self-sacrificial and loving, unlike the "authority that's hurt you." It’s accepted by consent, not force; those who reject it can remain in their "comfortable brokenness." Yielding to Jesus means seeing others as precious beloved children, not objects of resentment or desire. Struggling to submit is part of faith—...

Mike takes a look at how Matthew responds to Jesus, and how Jesus responds to the Pharisees' criticism of him eating with tax collectors and sinners. After introducing Matthew, Mike considers how Jesus explains that just like a doctor is needed for the sick, he has come for those in need, not the self-righteous. Mike invites reflection on whether we identify with the Pharisees, especially when we...

Joe looks at how we all suffer and ask "Why?". We revisit part 1 of our vision - to be with Jesus, to become like Jesus, and to do what Jesus did - and ask "how does this apply to us when we're suffering?" Joe highlight that God didn't strike Job; but he was there and in charge. Job suffered - stripped of wealth, family and health - but he didn't blame God. Our proof that God loves us is Jesus; th...

Welcoming us back after Summer Joe sets up the next sermon series. "What do I believe?" and "How should I live?" are two fundamental questions humans ask themselves. In our modern, fractured society life can be particularly unsettling but the truths of Christianity continue to provide hope. We return to our vision - being with Jesus, becoming like him and doing what he did. We will look through a...

Joe brings us another from our series in Matthew's gospel, today looking at the disguises of the 'Wolf Pack'...

Joe continus our series in the gospel of Matthew, looking at 2 verses that offer 2 ways...

Joe looks at Jesus' teaching from Matthew 7:7-12 regarding asking, seeking and knocking...

Joe continues our series in the gospel of Matthew looking at judging others...

Ritesh looks at Matthew 6:25-36 to explore what Jesus had to say about not worrying...

Joe talks about eyes as the receivers and transmitters of light. We are constantly looked upon by God even if - like Garfield (according to the movie) - you aren't aware of your father's presence. Knowing you are cared for you see the world - counter-culturally - as a place of abundance rather than one of scarcity and share accordingly. Learn to look with care and see the world as God sees you.

Joe confronts us with Jesus's teaching on money - what does how we invest tell about who we are and what we believe? Heaven is here and now and everytime we spend we vote for the kind of world we want to live in. So what does our spend profile say about who we are? Take a look at your bank statement to sense how anchored to the future (or rooted in the past) you now/still are. Jesus lived a life o...

Ritesh takes a look at fasting - starting with his own journey. Being a food lover, he was initially reluctant but, with some family nudging, he joined in too. Ritesh reflects on the sincerity and humility Jesus is looking for through this discipline. The health benefits of fasting have received considerable interest but it is primarily about creating a space for spiritual nourishment; making a sp...

Acts 2:1-13

Matthew 6:9-15. Mike takes a look at what Jesus had to say about our prayer lives.

Matthew 6:1-4

Joe looks at Matthew 5:43-48 and tries to uncover what it truly means to us today to love our enemies.

Maf starts with a parallel - 007 expected to protect the British way of life (but acting contrary to it) and the Jewish Messiah - expected to arrive as an all-conquering military hero but manifested in a carpenter's son who preached peace and forgiveness. Maf looks at 3 familiar examples of how Jesus encouraged us to be freed from bitterness and resentment. Overcome evil with good - by turning the...

Joe encouragingly points us to the most sense-making decades of our lives - our 70s, our 80s and our 60s - which most of us have to look forward to :-). He then goes on to talk about truth - a timely topic in our swirl of post-truth, deep fakes, filters and curated content. Do as you would be done by; do what you say you will; be truthful (no spin) - Jesus puts us straight - it is either "yes" or...

Joe teases apart a thorny topic; Jesus's teaching on human failures ranging from lust and adultery to divorce. How are we to deal with our impulses? "You can not stop the birds from flying overhead but you can stop them from nesting in your hair", Joe reflects, recalling the wisdom of Martin Luther. Grace, repentence and a God-given change of heart are what is needed.

Joe joins up recent sermons to show how Jesus' stretching expectations - e.g. righteousness beyond that of the pharisees - can (only) be fulfilled through a change of heart. Personal affront (holding a grudge) may result in expressions of anger which reflects the state of one's heart. What starts with a thwarted will can lead to personal insult, self-righteousness, contempt, a lack of appreciation...

Bishop Emma reflects on her favourite passage. She takes apart the word Jesus used for "blessed" (separating it from the conditional "you will be blessed if...") and goes through each of the "Good on you when..." statements that comprise "the beatitudes". Full dependence is what we need; to recognise our reliance on God, generate genuine gratitude and be in right relationship with our peers.

Ritesh continues our series showing how Jesus fulfilled the law. Jesus showed how to live a righteous life from the heart. Ritesh takes us back to God's choice of David - a man after his own heart. We then go back to Jeremiah and Ezekiel and God's promise to transform us from inside to out. Don't pretend - confess - yield and be changed. This is what matters.

Having looked at the four different perspectives of the four gospel writers Jon zooms in on salt to start today's session. Salt's role then was primarily as a preservative - to slow deterioration and decay. We are called to preserve what is good and wholesome. With a vivid recollection from the darkness of the nightime desert Jon goes on to show how light similarly needs to be exposed to keep dark...