Sermons at St. John’s
Listen along to the weekly sermon at St. John’s (Newtownbreda Presbyterian Church). Watch live on our YouTube channel or visit www.newtownbreda.org for more information.
Episodes
Bible text: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 and Philippians 4:8-9.
This series on Christian living begins by asking what it means to be a faithful steward of the life God has given. In particular, what does it mean for the church to steward well the mysteries of God? With allusion to an atheist chaplain, the author Marilynne Robinson, and St. Ignatius of Loyola, Paul opens up the Apostle Paul's words to challenge us to consider how a life well...
Bible texts: Deuteronomy 6:1-9; 20-25 and 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
In this second part of the "Stewarding Life" series, Paul considers the role of tradition in our lives, asking two key questions: 1. What good is tradition anyway? and 2. How are we to stewards tradition well?
References:
Jaroslav Pelikan (Church Historian): “Tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.”
Bible texts: Amos 5:18-24 and Luke 4:16-21
In this third part of our "Stewarding Life" series, we consider the centrality of justice to our calling as followers of Jesus. With a critique of modern worship trends, Paul looks to Jesus' words in Luke to argue for a cross shaped discipleship, which is concerned with both the vertical -- our right relationship with God -- and the vertical -- our right relationships with each other. But ...
Bible texts: Ecclesiastes 3:1-10 and Ephesians 5:16-17
The Apostle Paul tells us that we are to make the most of our time. But what does this mean? Listening to the Teacher of Ecclesiastes and the philosopher James Smith, Paul offers three easy steps we might take to become better stewards of the time we have been given:
Step 1: Embrace the seasons;
Step 2: Work out when you are;
Step 3: Time travel with friends!
References:
Bible Texts: 1 John 4:7-12 and John 13:34-35
In Part 6 of our Stewarding Life series we consider the Apostle John's reminder that the love of God is the measure of Christian community. With the help of a French social worker turned theologian, a German pastor turned prisoner, and a London barrister turned barista, Paul challenges us to consider how we measure up as stewards ...
Bible texts: Proverbs 4:23 and John 8:1-11
In Part 7 of our Stewarding Life series, guest speaker Roz Stirling helps us unpack what it means to be stewards of the HEART. Roz has experience in a variety of Christian ministries, but she currently serves as director of Cleopas, a ministry a ministry that offers retreat and reflective space for Christians seeking to discover the deep joy of abiding more deeply in Christ. In her sermon,...
Bible texts: Matthew 6:19-24; 16:24-27 and 1 Timothy 6:9-10, 17-19.
We don't like to talk a lot about money. It makes us uncomfortable. But what is more uncomfortable still is that Jesus talked about it a lot! And so, in this next part in our series, Paul considers how we can avoid the allure of money by loosening our grip on wealth and taking hold of the life offered in Christ. He challenges us to consider proportional giving. But...
Bible Text: John 12:12-26
On this Palm Sunday, Paul looks to John's account of the triumphal entry to consider the nature of Jesus' kingship. Reading this text in the context of "strong-man" politics, which is often characterised by populism, polarisation, and post-truth, Paul considers how Christ's Kingship is radically different and asks what this might mean for those of us who seek to follow this counter-cultural King...
Referen...
Bible Text: John 16:16-24
When faced with suffering, we often ask: WHY? But Christ's example confronts us with a different question: HOW? How are we to carry our pain? And is it possible that it might be used to bring compassion and healing to ourselves and others?
Quotations:
Nicholas Woltersdorf, Lament for a Son:
- “I could not bring myself to try to figure out what God was up to in Eric’s death. I joined the psalmist in lamen...
Bible Text: John 20:1-20
What does it mean to be a steward of hope in a world of suffering? Considering the experience of Mary weeping outside the empty tomb, Paul suggests that Christian hope is most clearly perceived through tear-stained eyes.
References:
Gideon Heugh's poem, "The light our ruin lets in", in Rumours of Light: https://gideonheugh.com/books/
Holy Saturday Sermon (2024) by Rev Munther Isaac (Evangelical Lutheran Chr...
Bible Texts: Psalm 85 and Matthew 5:1-10
What does it mean to be a steward of PEACE? And what might this look like in our particular context in Northern Ireland? This week we welcome Tony Davidson to help us consider these questions. Recently retired as minister of First Armagh Presbyterian Church, Tony has long been involved in peace and reconciliation. In this sermon, he challenges us to be peacemakers by unpacking the four compo...
Bible text: John 20:24-30
Thomas is often described as the doubting disciple. But is his doubt a sign of his lack of faith? Could it be that the experience of doubt can actually lead us more deeply into a relationship of love and trust with God? Paul considers how we might steward our doubt towards this end in this next part of our series on Stewarding Life.
References
Marilynne Robinson, Gilead:
“Don’t look for proofs. Don’t bothe...
Bible Text: John 21:1-14
In an age of distraction it can be difficult to pay attention to God's presence in our lives. In this penultimate sermon in this series, Paul considers the extraordinary story of the disciples' encounter with the Risen Christ to suggest that we need to pay attention to the ordinary because it is there that God most often shows up.
References:
Frederick Buechner, Whistling in the Dark.
Bible Texts: Genesis 1:26-28 and John 21:15-19
In this final part of our series on stewardship, Paul challenges us to consider the meaning of vocation. Is vocation just another word for employment? Is it something that is found or formed? And what does Christ have to say about it all?
References:
Wendell Berry's novel, "Jayber Crow", and his non-fiction essay, "Our Deserted Country".
Frederick Buechner: “Vocation is the place where...
Bible Texts: Psalm 1 and Matthew 5:1-12
In this new teaching series, we begin with Psalm 1 which makes us sit up and pay attention as we embark on a life of prayer. Paul explores the psalm's rich imagery, challenging us to consider the way we are walking and where we look to find nourishment for the journey.
References:
Eugene Peterson, "Praying with the Psalms" and "Eat This Book".
Bible Text: John 4:1-30
Rosamond Bennett is the CEO of Christian Aid Ireland. In this sermon for Christian Aid Sunday, Rosamond share's about her organisation's work in Burundi and unpacks for us the story of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman in John 4.
Bible texts: Psalm 124
Sea monsters, catastrophic floods and Hollywood disaster movies... What do all these have to do with Psalm 124? In this sermon, Paul considers how this Psalm of Ascent helps us to look up beyond the challenges of our present circumstances to see things as they really are.
References:
Eugene Peterson, "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction".
Bible texts: Psalm 104:1-18 and John 14:1-6
On Creation Care Sunday, we are joined by Dr Matt Williams, Wildlife and Wellbeing Officer at Jubilee Farm. Combining the grand sweep of the biblical narrative with a focused look at Christ's words in John 14, Matt explores the idea of home and challenges us to consider how we might be cultivators of home in today's world.
References:
Jubilee Farm - https://www.jubilee.coop/
Bible Texts: Psalm 114 and Luke 22:14-19
Reflecting on his own past trauma, the theologian Miroslav Volf warns that our very souls are at stake in how we remember.
If that's true, then how do we remember rightly? How do we look to our past in a way that gives life in the present and hope for the future?
In this sermon, Paul looks to Psalm 114 for answers. Considering that this is a psalm of memory, likely sung by Jesus and his disc...
Bible texts: Psalm 100 and Ephesians 2:1-10
Psalm 100 is simple, but that doesn't mean it is simplistic. In this first of two sermons on this short poem, Paul charts a course between the words MAKE, SERVE and KNOW to draw a new constellation and to help us see how worship is essential to being both a disciple of Jesus and being human.
References:
Makoto Fujimura, Art and Faith: A Theology of Making:
“I would be introduced to Christ...