Sermon Notes

Title: The Magnificat, Mary's Song
Passage: Luke 1.46-55
Delivered: August 15th, 2010
Theme: A great song of faith, which expresses the heart of the Gospel. Be inspired!
Download

Title: Parable of the Rich Fool
Passage: Luke 12.13-21
Delivered: August 1st, 2010
Theme: Not just for rich fools, this parable challenges us to focus on our true desires.
Download

Title: Keep Your Eye on the Ball
Passage: Colossians 1.15-28
Delivered: July 18th, 2010
Theme: Following Spain winning the 2010 World Cup, we consider the connections between football and the Bible, looking particularly at what St Paul had to say in relation to image, victory and participation.
Download

Title: Who Will Follow Jesus?
Passage: Luke 9.51-62
Delivered: June 27th, 2010
Theme: At the turning point of Luke's gospel, Jesus poses tough questions to potential followers as well as those who refuse to follow.
Download

Title: Who Needs a Nanny?
Passage: Galatians 3.23-end
Delivered: June 20th, 2010
Theme: Opposing the legalists, Paul explains that the law of Moses was created for a nanny role. But grown-up children no longer need a nanny.
Download

Title: What's the Source?
Passage: Galatians 1.11-end
Delivered: June 6th, 2010
Theme: Paul argues passionately for the source of his gospel and his vocation. Why was it so important and what does it mean for us?
Download

Title: Trinity Sunday
Passage: Romans 5.1-5
Delivered: May 30th, 2010
Theme: Can we explain the mystery of the Trinity in everyday language? How does the key word ACCESS help us understand and participate in God's amazing grace?
Download

Title: Pentecost
Passage: Acts 2.1-21
Delivered: May 23rd, 2010
Theme: The Holy Spirit transformed the disciples in faith, hope and love, enabling them to be very fruitful. How can we open ourselves to the same transforming power?
Download

Title: Transforming the Darkness
Passage: Acts 16.16-34
Delivered: May 16th, 2010
Theme: Why did Paul and Silas stay in prison when they were free to go? What might happen in Barcelona if we had their patience, flexibility and vision?
Download

Title: On the Emmaus Road: Sermon by Ann Morisy
Passage: Luke 24.13-35
Delivered: May 9th, 2010
Theme: Emmaus may be a village, but it is also a state of mind where hope has gone. It is in our most troubled times that we find Jesus walking alongside us.
Download

Title: Love One Another: Sermon by Bishop David Hamid
Passage: John 13.31-35
Delivered: May 2nd, 2010
Theme: Christianity is seen by some as a negative religion of "thou shalt nots", but at its heart is the positive commandment to love one another.
Download

Title: Joining in Our Father's Work
Passage: Revelation 7.9-17
Delivered: April 25th, 2010
Theme: What a thrill to be given a peek inside our Father's workshop to see the masterpiece He is working on. How much greater the thrill when we realise His work is our work too.
Download

Title: Fishing in the Dark?
Passage: John 21.1-19
Delivered: April 18th, 2010
Theme: How can we get beyond "fishing in the dark" and become effective followers of Jesus, harnessing the power of the resurrection?
Download

Title: Peace, Purpose, Pattern and Power
Passage: John 20.19-31
Delivered: April 11th, 2010
Theme: Jesus doesn't just talk about peace, he gives peace. More than "sunlounger and cocktails" peace, he gives his followers a purpose, a pattern and a promise of power.
Download

Title: Easter Morning Sermon
Passage: Luke 23.55-24.12
Delivered: April 4th, 2010
Theme: Why do Christians insist on believing in the resurrection? How can we be sure it happened and why is it so important?
Download

Title: Palm Sunday
Passage: Luke 19.28-40
Delivered: March 28th, 2010
Theme: What point was Jesus making in his carefully staged arrival in Jerusalem? What was his challenge to the political and religious leaders of his day?
Download

Title: Wasting Perfume
Passage: John 12.1-8
Delivered: March 21st, 2010
Theme: Why did Mary pour perfume on Jesus' feet and why did this upset Judas? Is our worship wholehearted or are we holding back?
Download

Title: Thirsty? Hungry?
Passage: Isaiah 55.1-9
Delivered: March 7th, 2010
Theme: It is hard to notice our spiritual hunger and thirst when our lives are full of other stuff. What's the answer?
Download

Title: The War of Grace Against Evil
Passage: Luke 13.31-35
Delivered: February 28th, 2010
Theme: How important is it to see the whole of Christ's life, as well as his death, as a war against evil? How does this affect our attitude to the evil around us?
Download

Title: The Testing of Christ
Passage: Luke 4.1-13
Delivered: February 21st, 2010
Theme: Even the Spirit-filled, anointed Son of God needed testing, and so do we. How do his wilderness tests relate to us?
Download

Title: The Transfiguration - All Age Sermon
Passage: Luke 9.28-36
Delivered: February 14th, 2010
Theme: We can’t stay on the mountain top if we are to witness effectively. It is good for us to enjoy the bright light of Jesus, but then we have to take that light out into the world.
Download

Title: Stormy Waters
Passage: Luke 8.22-25
Delivered: February 7th, 2010
Theme: What did the disciples of Jesus learn from their stormy crossing? What about the storms we face?
Download

Title: Love Is...
Passage: 1 Corinthians 13
Delivered: January 31st, 2010
Theme: Talking about Christian love is not enough; we need to put it into action. Sermon delivered by Billie Tweedy.
Download

Title: A Few Grains for Christian Unity
Passage: Mark 2.23-end
Delivered: January 24th, 2010
Theme: A simple meal challenges religious legalists and anticipates the coming feast.
Download

Title: Changing Water Into Wine
Passage: John 2.1-11
Delivered: January 17th, 2010
Theme: An ordinary man’s dilemma is solved by the presence of the only one who could save the day. Likewise, when the crisis comes in our lives, we may not be able to turn water into wine, but we do know someone who can.
Download

Title: The Baptism of Jesus
Passage: Luke 3.15-22
Delivered: January 10th, 2010
Theme: Why did Jesus need to be baptized? In what ways is his baptism a model for ours?
Download

Title: Epiphany - The Two Kings
Passage: Matthew 2.1-16
Delivered: January 3rd, 2010
Theme: Two kings and two kinds of seeker point the way to a new relationship with God, a relationship which is available to all.
Download

Title: Jesus Growing Up
Passage: Luke 2.41-52
Delivered: December 27th, 2009
Theme: This first Sunday of Christmas we fast forward 12 years to a revealing incident from the childhood of Jesus. As we prepare to begin a new year, we can learn from the example of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Download

Title: Christmas Message 2009
Passage: Luke 2.1-14
Delivered: December 25th, 2009
Theme: Luke gives us the big picture and great attention to detail. What can we learn from him?
Download

Title: How Deep Is Our Hope? (Advent 4)
Passage: Micah 5.2-5a
Delivered: December 20th, 2009
Theme: Another prophet looks beyond the chaos and despair of exile to a future time of restoration and renewal. The focus, width and depth of Micah's advent hope are as challenging for today's Christians as they were for his Jewish contemporaries.
Download

Title: The Reason to Be Merry (Advent 3)
Passage: Philippians 4.4-9
Delivered: December 13th, 2009
Theme: What do we have to rejoice about in the busy run-up to Christmas? What does the nearness of the Lord mean for us and for others? How can we reflect the heart of God?
Download

Title: Appearances Can Deceive (Advent 2)
Passage: Malachi 3.1-4, Luke 3.2-20
Delivered: December 6th, 2009
Theme: A deep inner change is necessary if people are to live lives that please God, and God will come in person to bring about this change.
Download

Title: Meet the Prophet of Doom (Advent 1)
Passage: Jeremiah 33.10-16
Delivered: November 29th, 2009
Theme: What can we learn from the "doom and gloom" prophet Jeremiah to bless, heal and restore others, and express joy, hope and confidence in the future?
Download

Title: Christ the King
Passage: John 18.33-39
Delivered: November 22nd, 2009
Theme: Unlike earthly kings, Christ's coronation did not take place on a throne, but on a cross, and his justice is expressed not in punishment but in mercy.
Download

Title: Birth Pain
Passage: Mark 13.1-8
Delivered: November 15th, 2009
Theme: What if our pain and the pain of the world are not futile but more like birth pain, inevitably leading to joy and new life?
Download

Title: Remembrance Day Talk
Passage: various
Delivered: November 8th, 2009
Theme: The symbolism of the poppy reminds us that with the help of God, we can remake the world more like it is supposed to be.
Download

Title: Anxiety Is Out for Christians!
Passage: Matthew 6.25-33
Delivered: October 25th, 2009
Theme: Jesus tells his followers not to be anxious. Easier said than done! Yet as we learn to leave our fears in God's hands through prayer, we will experience peace - not through our own strength, but through the reassurance of the Holy Spirit living in us.
Download

Title: The Rich Young Man
Passage: Mark 10.17-31
Delivered: October 11th, 2009
Theme: How do we react when God asks us to give up something? Possessions were this man's barrier to following Jesus. What barriers do you have?
Download

Title: Genesis, the Book of First Principles
Passage: Genesis 2.18-24
Delivered: October 4th, 2009
Theme: We may not all agree on the historicity of the Creation account. More important is to extract the principles and apply them.
Download