Paul says in Philippians 3:17; "Brothers & sisters, join in imitating me, & keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us." This message walks us through the theme of imitation that is repeated in Paul's letter to the Philippians. We all have people we look up to & who inspire us in different ways but Paul encourages us to imitate those who imitate Christ.

This sermon explores the New Testament's teaching on the Lord's Supper -- also known as Holy Communion or the Breaking of Bread -- & it's place in corporate worship. The sermon opens by dealing with some misconceptions & then goes on to look at how the Lord's Supper is described by Jesus in the Gospels & by Paul in 1 Corinthians. What is the Lord's Supper exactly & what is it that we do when we break bread together in worship? Is it just a symbol or is there more to it? Make sure & read the two reading below before you listen. 

Reading: Luke 22:7-20;  1 Cor. 11:17-34

​Every church has a liturgy! The word liturgy simply refers to the pattern of our worship service. Some have an accidental liturgy while others have an intentional one, but every church has one. An intentional one is better! For if Sunday worship is to help shape the rest of our lives then how we shape it is vitally important! This message proposes that corporate worship should be Pentecostal (encouraging the gifts & ministry of the Holy Spirit), Evangelical (rooted in healthy exposition of Scripture) & Sacramental (centred on encountering Christ afresh in the Breaking of Bread). 

Key Scriptures: 1 Cor 14:26-40; 1 Timothy 4:13; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Luke 24:13-35

​Corporate worship in the New Testament is about connecting with God, connecting with one another & connecting with the world. This means that in our times together we need to be present not only to God but also to each other, to ‘unbelievers’ or ‘outsiders’ who may be present & to what is happening in the world outside. This is the very clear impression we get from Bible passages that specifically address our regular times of worship together! This sermon introduces a new series called Sunday Worship exploring what the Bible teaches about corporate worship & how it should help shape our everyday life.   

Christian joy ought not to be dependent on how well our work for the Lord seems to go, but rather on the truth that our names are permanently written in heaven! A difficult or fruitless time of life cannot rob us of joy when our joy is rooted in this better reason to rejoice. Our names are written in heaven on the most discouraging days of life as much as they are on the most encouraging! It is this kind of gospel rejoicing that sustains Christ’s disciples through all the ups & downs of the Christian life. 

​Haggai’s forth & final message comes on the same day as his third. This time the message is personally directed at Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah. All the people needed to hear from God, but as a leader Zerubbabel especially did. He needed the encouragement found in these verses. The building of the city walls had not even begun; meaning anyone could invade the city before the temple was complete. There were a lot of uncertainties & God’s people were very vulnerable to attacks from much more powerful nations. Zerubbabel needed a big & personal vision from God to sustain & assure him & that is exactly what Haggai’s final message gives him & us. We are safe in God's hand!

It’s been almost three months since the people begun work on the temple again & it’s now planting season. At this time things would not have looked any different than previous years. So God gave Haggai a third message for the people which finished with a strong assurance that God is ready to bless them. Yet just before he promises his blessing he gets them to stop & consider how things went when they did not prioritise God’s house with how things will go when he blesses their work. This message challenges us as Christians to stop & consider our ways & then devote ourselves wholly to God again while trusting in his promise of blessing in Christ!

It’s one thing to respond to God’s word & begin working on his house again. It’s quite another to keep working until the job is complete. As with the returned exiles of Judah a single message from God can help encourage & motivate us to action again, but it takes more than this keep us motivated through all the ups & downs that come. What we need is something that does not wear off! God has given us that something in the abiding presence of his Spirit with us & in his promises which constantly assure us that the best days are always ahead!

​The book of Haggai is made up of four messages that God spoke through the prophet to the returned exiles of Judah. After being discouraged by opposition to rebuilding the temple Haggai’s first message challenges the priorities of God’s people before encouraging them of God’s empowering presence with them. Haggai’s words bring the same challenge & encouragement to New Testament believers today!

Time To Build Again (1): Sermons on the Old Testament book of Haggai

“There’s the thing you plan to do, & then there’s the thing you end up doing. Most of us start off life with some Plan A which we abandon... switching to a Plan B, which becomes our lives.” Iain Duguid is his commentary on Haggai tells how these words once introduced a radio show tracking stories of people whose lives had turned out different than they anticipated. Maybe for you, life hasn’t turned out the way you envisioned it 10 or 20 years ago & now you find yourself settling for Plan B. If so Haggai might just have something to say to you. In this sermon Pastor John introduces a new sermon series on the Old Testament book of Haggai.

The Apostles' Creed (Part 5)
"He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, & buried."