Recent Sermons

• Sunday, 23 January 2022

  What is the Purpose of Church?

  from Bernard Gabbott

  The purpose of church should be understood from what church is forever. Places like Revelation 21:1-4, and Hebrews 12:22-24, give us a glimpse of this. In those two places, church is no more, and no less, than being with God: fellowship. Now, think on that for a moment… and marvel at the deep simplicity of such a truth!

• Sunday, 16 January 2022

  Who makes up the Church?

  from Bernard Gabbott

  In Hebrews 12, we are given five descriptions of the members of God’s church. All turn, as we dig into God’s word, on something God has done for these people, and nothing depends on what they have contributed. It all turns on the mercy and love of God that moves him to intervene in the lives of dead people (us, because of our sins!) to make them living people (by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus alone!). Church membership is an act of God – by love and mercy, through Jesus Christ. And it is displayed, publicly, vocally, practically – it is never hidden, sporadic, private, hypothetical, or apathetic.

• Sunday, 9 January 2022

  Who Builds the Church?

  from Bernard Gabbott

  Psalm 5:4-6 states very clearly – and this is consistent across God’s word – that the sinner cannot stand in the presence of God. So, the question of ‘Who builds the church?’ becomes the question, ‘Who can deal with my/our sin so that we can gather before God?’ The answer to that is very clearly Jesus. And this means that the heart of church is the good news of Jesus – the one who comes to heal the sick, bind up the broken, give rest to the weary, by dealing with our sin.