Hope Community Church Helensburgh Sermons

‘Jonah: It’s All About Him’. Rodger begins a new series on the Book of Jonah, looking at God’s Sovereignty and drawing parallels between Jonah’s situation and our own. Bible passage: Jonah 1:1-17 Find out more about us: ⁠Website: hopehelensburgh.org⁠ Instagram Facebook Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministr...

‘The Great Invitation’. This week, we welcomed the Rev Neil Longwe of Merchant City Church, Glasgow as our guest preacher. Neil spoke from Psalm 100 on our human need to worship, how that need can be corrupted into idolatry, and how we need to come to the Lord with thanksgiving and praise. Bible passage: Psalm 100 Find out more about us: ⁠Website: hopehelensburgh.org⁠ Instagram Facebook To hear mo...

In this message from Romans 5:1-5, Rev Kirk van der Swaagh explores the foundation, nature, and shape of the Christian life. Through justification by faith, we find peace with God and stand in His grace, while even suffering becomes a means through which God deepens our character and strengthens our hope. A life marked by grace, hope, and love, secured by Christ. Bible passage: Romans 5:1-5 Find o...

What does Jesus expect from those who lead and serve his church? From Acts 15 and 1 Peter 5, we explore how church leadership reflects Christ’s own shepherding and servant-hearted care. Office bearers are called to serve willingly, seek God’s glory, lead by example, and look forward to the Chief Shepherd’s unfading reward. Bible passage: Acts 15:1-21 1 Peter 5.1-11 Find out more about us: ⁠Website...

‘Presbyterianism: Jesus’ Rule in His Church’. This week, we looked at the biblical origins of the presbyterian mode of governance, focussing on the roles of elders and deacons as Paul defines them in his first letter to Timothy. Bible passage: 1 Timothy 3:1-16 Find out more about us: ⁠Website: hopehelensburgh.org⁠ Instagram Facebook Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, Eng...

‘Assurance: Signs of Life’. Continuing his series on Assurance of Salvation, Rodger takes a look at our own lives, asking what evidence might there be that we are on the way to eternal salvation. Bible passage: 1 John 1:1 - 2:2 Find out more about us: ⁠Website: hopehelensburgh.org⁠ Instagram Facebook Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 b...

How can we have confidence that we truly belong to Christ, especially when doubts arise? Continuing the series on assurance, Rev Rodger Crooks points us away from ourselves and towards Jesus: his finished work on the cross and his sure promises in Scripture. This week, discover why Jesus makes us safe—and his Word makes us sure. Bible passages: 1 Peter 2:4-10 John 10:22-42 Find out more about us:...

What happens when you believe in Jesus but still have doubts about whether you really are a Christian? In Assurance: In Two Minds, Rev Rodger Crooks explores the biblical difference between doubt and unbelief, showing that a Christian can struggle with assurance without losing their faith. We are pointed back to God’s Word, through which the Holy Spirit strengthens our confidence in Christ and rem...

Why do Christians sometimes struggle to feel sure of their salvation? In the second in a new series, Rev Rodger Crooks identifies four common obstacles to assurance and explains how confession, biblical truth, the prayers of God’s people, and faith in Christ help us recover a humble confidence in God’s saving grace. Bible passages: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 2 Peter 1:1-11 Find out more about us: ⁠Webs...

Rev Rodger Crooks begins a new series exploring the assurance of salvation. Drawing particularly from 1 John 5:1–13, he explains why it is possible, normal and important for Christians to know that they have eternal life—not by their own performance, but because of what Jesus has accomplished. Bible passages: Romans 11:33-12:8 1 John 5:1-13 Find out more about us: ⁠Website: ⁠⁠hopehelensburgh.org⁠⁠...

What can strengthen Christians facing pressure to compromise? Through John’s vision of heaven, Niall Munro lifts our eyes to God, the eternal Creator enthroned in glory, and to Jesus, the victorious Lamb who was slain to ransom his people. Seeing their greatness calls us to wholehearted worship, faithful service and enduring hope. Bible passage: Revelation ch 4 and 5 Find out more about us: ⁠Websi...

‘The Transfiguration’. This week, we were delighted to welcome back Evan Macdonald from Crow Road Free Church as our guest preacher. Evan spoke on the Transfiguration, from the Gospel of Luke. Bible passages: Luke 9:18-45 Find out more about us: ⁠Website: hopehelensburgh.org⁠ Instagram Facebook Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Cros...

‘The Lord is My Banner’. This week we were delighted to welcome Colin Campbell as our guest preacher. Colin spoke on the theme of the ‘Banner of God’, tracing the concept from the time of Moses, through the prophecy of Isaiah, to Paul’s exhortation to proclaim the gospel by putting on the “armour of God”. Bible passages: Exodus 17:8-16 Isaiah 11:1-12 Ephesians 6:10-20 Find out more about us: ⁠Webs...

‘Remember to Say “Thank You”’. Rodger challenges us to be more thankful in our prayer life, working through David’s great hymn of praise, Psalm 103, to bring God’s gracious gifts to us into view. Bible passage: Psalm 103 Find out more about us: ⁠Website: hopehelensburgh.org⁠ Instagram Facebook Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Cross...

‘Haggai: A Word of Promise’. Rounding off his series on the Book of Haggai, Rodger looks into the context of the passage as it looks back in history to King David and forward to Jesus by way of God’s promise to Zerubbabel. Bible passages: Jeremiah 22:24-27 Haggai 2:20-23 Find out more about us: ⁠Website: hopehelensburgh.org⁠ Instagram Facebook Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy...

‘Jesus Seeks the Lost’. This week, Niall Munro preaches from Luke’s Gospel, looking at the story of Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector, as a model for our own approach to Christ. Bible passage: Luke 18:35-19:10 (also referring to Luke 18:9-34) Find out more about us: ⁠Website: hopehelensburgh.org⁠ Instagram Facebook Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Ver...

As Paul the Apostle reaches the end of his life, he reflects on friendship, faithfulness, and the sustaining presence of God. In this sermon Mr Campbell Brown explores why Christians were never meant to walk alone, how the church is called to carry one another’s burdens, and why, even when others let us down, the Lord never will. A warm and encouraging message about companionship, practical care,...

‘A Word of Motivation’. Looking at Haggai’s fourth sermon through a Gospel lens, Rodger explains how persistence of faith leads us to God’s blessing and life in Christ.  Bible passage: Haggai 2:10-19 Find out more about us: ⁠Website: hopehelensburgh.org⁠ Instagram Facebook Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing min...

Continuing the series in Haggai, this week we explore Haggai 2:1–9, where God's people face discouragement as the rebuilt temple seems insignificant compared to the glories of the past. Through Haggai, God reassures them that their work matters, his presence remains with them, and his purposes are far greater than they can imagine. A timely encouragement for anyone tempted to lose heart while...

Continuing the series in Haggai, this week we explore Haggai 1:12–15, where God’s people respond to his call with renewed obedience and discover the encouragement of his presence: “I am with you.” With readings from Psalms 51 and Haggai, Rev Rodger Crooks reflects on how the Holy Spirit stirs hearts, restores joy, and equips God’s people to move forward in faith together. Bible passages: Psalm 51...

Starting a new series in Haggai, in this sermon from Rev Rodger Crooks, we explore Haggai 1:1–11, where God challenges his people for drifting from worship and witness toward comfort and self-focus. What happens when the church loses sight of God’s priorities? And what blessing comes when his people return wholeheartedly to His agenda? Bible passages: Matthew 28:16-20 Haggai 1:1-11 Find out more a...

‘Resurrection Peace’. We welcomed back Stephen Strong for a second week as our guest preacher. Stephen guided us through Paul’s exposition of how Christ’s death brought us justification, and the chain of events that leads us to peace and reconciliation with God.  Bible passage: Romans 4:23 - 5:11 Find out more about us: ⁠Website: hopehelensburgh.org⁠ Instagram Facebook Scripture quotations are fro...

‘Who is Jesus?’. This week we were delighted to welcome Stephen Strong as our guest preacher. Stephen looked at the identity of John the Baptist, explaining his relationship to the Old Testament prophets and to Jesus.  Bible passage: John 1:19-34 Find out more about us: ⁠Website: hopehelensburgh.org⁠ Instagram Facebook Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard...

‘Habakkuk: Living by Faith’. As we come to the end of Rodger’s series on the Book of Habbakuk, we discover how the prophet puts his faith in God, despite knowing that the Babylonian invasion is imminent. Bible passage: Habakkuk 3:16-19 Find out more about us: ⁠Website: hopehelensburgh.org⁠ Instagram Facebook Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),...

‘Habakkuk: A Prayer to Copy’. Continuing his series, Rodger examines how Habakkuk’s prayer offers us lessons that we can bring to our own prayer life. Bible passage: Habakkuk 3:1-15 Find out more about us: ⁠Website: hopehelensburgh.org⁠ Instagram Facebook Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News...