St. John's Lurgan

In this message, Raymond highlights how our culture often misunderstands God - as distant, stern, or joyless. But Jesus reveals a different picture: a God full of joy, compassion, and celebration when His children return to Him. We follow the younger son's journey: leaving home in search of freedom, only to find emptiness and regret. But the turning point comes when he heads back - broken, reh...

This sermon on Ezekiel 37:1–14 explores God’s power to bring life to what seems hopeless and dead. Using the vision of dry bones, it highlights the spiritual death of God's people, the power of God’s Word, and the life-giving breath of His Spirit. Ezekiel calls us to trust that God can revive individuals, churches, and nations, reminding us that even in our driest valleys, the Spirit can breat...

Every person is building a life, and storms will come. Jesus warns that only those who build their lives on Him - the solid rock - will withstand life’s trials. Appearances don't matter; foundations do. True security is found not in success, religion, or image, but in a real relationship with Jesus. He alone offers a life that lasts.

Raymond shares about how Jesus' return should encourage and excite His people. For the coming Kingdom secures, gathers and redeems His people.

Hazel shares about how ambassadors of God's Kingdom are convinced, converted and compelled to a posting, with news of a peace-treaty, and equipped with God's protection.

Raymond shares how Jesus sends out 72 ordinary disciples with an extraordinary task - to go to the surrounding towns and proclaim the peace of the Kingdom and demonstrate the power of the Kingdom. They weren't to take anything with them and were sent as lamb among wolves. So how did they do? Jesus claims He saw Satan fall like lightning because when His people go where He wants them to go, say...

First words are often important. When a child speaks for the first time we pay attention. More so when Mark records Jesus' first words in his gospel. For Jesus announces that the Kingdom is at hand for the King is here. He then explain the message of the Kingdom, the meaning of the Kingdom and the mission of the Kingdom.

Ruth shares about how the resurrection of Jesus from the grave gives us hope for every day of our lives.

Jesus addresses our common tendency to worry, especially about material needs like food, drink, and clothing. Through the examples of birds and lilies, Jesus shows how God faithfully provides for His creation - reminding us that if He provides for them, He will certainly care for us, His children. The cure for worry is not to fix all our problems, but to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righ...

Hazel Uprichard shares the life of Jesus through the eyes of His mother, Mary. Mary would come to know that Jesus didn't come so she could do something for Him, but so that He could do something for her.

Simon Genoe, from Magheralin Parish, encourages us to assess our values, give generously, and store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. For Jesus demonstrated ultimate generosity by giving His life, putting humanity first, and calling us to treasure heavenly rewards.

In this passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches how true Kingdom praying and fasting is about hungering for God rather than seeking personal gain or recognition. The call is to deepen intimacy with the Father and trust in His presence, purpose, provision, pardon and protection.

Jesus' calling to give to the needy is not an optional extra but a command and expectation. He also challenges our natural tendency to give as a way stroking our own ego. Instead we are to give to reflect our Father's character, pass on our Father's grace, and see our Father's Kingdom come.

Jesus calls His followers to live radically. This means they must be unlike the Pharisees who are superficial with God's law. Instead they are to allow the law to go deeper and work itself out with radical speech, mercy and love.

Jesus fulfils the Old Testament rather than abolishing it, establishing the Bible as the ultimate authority for believers. True righteousness goes beyond external obedience to a transformation of the heart. Jesus warns against anger and lust, instead urging us to reconciliation and radical measures to resist temptation. He also invites to embrace Himself for transformation and to live as citizens...

Jesus calls his disciples to be world changers by being salt and light. This means that we must remain distinct and go against the flow. We are also to be light by being visible and resisting the temptation to hide our faith.

This new series begins exploring Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and its radical call to live differently from the world’s definition of success. Raymond argues that Jesus' teaching is both the most influential and the most challenging, as it presents a countercultural way of life. The Beatitudes redefine success - not as wealth, power, or comfort, but as humility, mercy, righteousness, and pea...

When Nehemiah learned that persistent disobedience had crept into the lives of the people, he did not hesitate to confront the offenders. Hazel Uprichard shares that God’s people need to take action against the threats of the devil, the flesh and the world seriously and that we must be more concerned with God’s glory than the favour of others.

Raymond shares how God works to rebuild joy in the lives of His people through a joyful redemption that brings a loud joy and leads to a joyful obedience to all that He has instructed.

Raymond shares how the communities both in Nehemiah's day and ours are rebuilt whenever God's people are in God's place fulfilling God's purposes.

Alison Kernohan from Open Doors shares about their work among the persecuted church and what God is doing through them.

Ruth shares about how Nehemiah rebuilds God's people through a call to renewed their commitment to His promises in the covenant.

Raymond shares how repentance allows us to have humility is in seeing ourselves correctly but also confidence in seeing God correctly in all His goodness and grace.

Raymond shares how Simeon's encounter with the baby Jesus as he is presented in the temple by Mary and Joseph shows how He is gift of grace for a world that is waiting and in need of consolation and salvation.

Sarah shares about Jesus brings peace for a world in pieces in order to bring wholeness.