Redemption - Love as the Lord loves
Hosea 3. As we continue our journey to Easter, Stephen looks at the story of Hosea and Gomer to demonstrate God's love for us
Hope in times of trouble
Jeremiah 32:6-10 and Acts 27:33-39. Stephen uses two stories of believers caught in great troubles around them - one in a battle and one in a storm - to demonstrate that God is the basis of our hope, and His promises never fail.
The meaning of redemption
Ruth 3:1-13 and Ruth 4:1-10. Stephen examines the story of Ruth and Boaz to illustrate the meaning of redemption.
Living as a transforming community: Jesus and the scriptures
1 Samuel 15 12-23 and Matthew 5:17-20. To show the supremacy of all scripture, Stephen highlights how Jesus fulfilled scripture, how He recognised its authority and how we ought to practice living according to scripture.
The Grace of Giving
Luke 14:1-7 and 2 Corinthians 8:1-9. Stephen talks about how we ought to use our finances to advance the Kingdom of God; giving that is a priority, giving that is sacrificial and giving that is a response to God’s grace.
Blessed are those who depend on God
Matthew 5:1-12. Stephen examines the first four of the ‘beatitudes’ given by Jesus in His ‘sermon on the mount’ - four qualities of the heart that God is looking for in us.
Jesus begins His ministry as King of God's Kingdom
Matthew 4:12-25. Stephen uses this passage to demonstrate that Jesus requires (a) allegiance to His person, (b) abandonment to His will and (c) acceptance of His mission.
The temptation of Jesus in the desert
Matthew 4:1-11. Directly after his baptism and Spirit-empowered anointing as the Messiah, why does Jesus go into the desert? Stephen examines this next episode in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life.
Meeting the Lord in 2020
Isaiah 40:1-5 and Matthew 3:1-17. Looking at Isaiah 40 and Matthew 3, Stephen shows how both passages answer the following questions: ‘who is coming?’ ‘what do we need to do?’ and ‘why is He coming?’. Stephen encourages us, as we step into 2020, to embrace humility, live in hope and live in the new life which Jesus offers.
The flight to Egypt
Matthew 2:13-23. Jim Thompson looks at the account in Matthew’s gospel of the warning Joseph received about Herod’s intent to kill the Christ child, the escape to Egypt and the subsequent return to Israel.
Advent 3 - the worship of the Magi
Matthew 2:1-12. Stephen discusses Matthew’s account of the visit of the Magi, and demonstrates that Jesus is the king with all authority and He is the blessing to all nations.
Advent 2 - the courage of Christmas
Matthew 1:18-25. Stephen looks at Joseph's courage to face a hostile world after choosing to accept Mary as his wife, and then compares that with the courage needed by Christians today to accept Jesus and declare Him as king in a world that does not understand why He came.
Doesn't Jesus care...?
Luke 8:22-25. "Anything for an easy life" is a phrase we hear a lot. But, does having things easy always mean we are better off? When we face trouble and danger we often feel that God has abandoned us or that Jesus doesn't care. Kenneth uses the story of the disciples caught in a storm on a boat with Jesus in Luke 8 to show that there are positive elements to facing difficulties; that we can benefit and learn from them and that Jesus not only cares, but is with us in our hard times.
The Gift of the Holy Spirit: Two aspects of His work in our lives
John 16:5-16. Stephen looks at two aspects of the work of the person of the Holy Spirit (part of the trinitarian Godhead) to show us how he can be not only a counsellor and advocate, but also a mentor to us and a means to point the way to, and glorify, Jesus.