This sermon is a theological proclamation of what Jesus' life means for us and unpacks why this is extraordinarily good news for everyone who believes in him. 

Firstly, we see that Jesus is the Saviour. His name at its root translates back to Yahweh which God's people knew meant God Saves. This is exactly what Jesus' life of sacrificial service was for. To save everyone who believes in him from the power of sin and death.

Secondly, we see that Jesus has the title of Christ, which means messiah. Jesus is the anointed king that the old testament scriptures prophesied about. He is a King beyond all compare, reigning forever in spectacular glory and majesty.

Finally, we see that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus fully embodied the fullness of God in human flesh. He was also the beloved Son of God as said by God the Father on multiple occasions. 

Lord, help us to know the hidden depths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ found in relationship with Jesus more and more each day. 

This sermon calls us to live faith filled lives of adventure listening to God speaking and acting upon it. This is what we see in demonstrated in Peter's life.

Firstly, God calls Peter to be a disciple, not merely an observer. Peter see's Jesus walking on the water and is called to imitate this. Secondly. Peter is able to walk on water and continue doing so because he understood what God could do through him. He begins to sink when he looks within his own capabilities. Thirdly, Peter was able to enjoy this amazing experience because unlike the other disciples he took action by stepping out of the boat. Finally, this amazing adventure was a catalyst for Peter, to expect the extraordinary when you step out of comfort of the boat in obedience to God. 

Lord, help us to learn from Peter, stepping out of the comfort of boats we may be in today, trusting you will provide the faith and strength for us to do so.

This sermon reflects on the key differences between the New Covenant and the Mosaic Covenant. This is glorious news for everyone who lives under the New Covenant.

Under the Mosaic Covenant, there were conditional blessings and curses dependent upon perfect obedience to the law. The Israelites received the blessings of health and wealth when they were obedient to God. In contrast, they received the curses rightfully due to when they disobeyed God. Their history and our experiences demonstrate that if this covenant was the end we would rightly deserve to perish.

However, there is a steadfast glorious hope in the New Covenant upon which the Mosaic Covenant pointed towards. The law has been perfectly fulfilled and obeyed in the person of Jesus Christ. For all who believe in him and his life's work there is the free, undeserved gift of close relationship with God. This was also true for the Israelites who we see were restored to God not through their own works but by God's mercy and grace.

Lord, we rejoice today that we live under the New Covenant, and thank you for sending Jesus to do what we could not.

This sermon reminds all Christian's that we have so much to be thankful to God for. The natural response from this thankful heart is to respond with gratitude expressed in free and generous giving. 

We can be thankful like the Israelites that God provides for our material needs, has transformed our lives graciously including us in his redemption story, hears and see's our afflictions, gives us a world to enjoy, and declares us as his treasured possession!

Therefore, the Israelites and we are encouraged to express gratitude for all that God has done by giving of our resources. Specifically, we are called to give first to God, and to do so in faith sacrificially. 

Lord, thank you for who you are, for what you have done, and what you are still to do. Help our hearts overflow in a generosity that imitates the great big generous God you are. 

This sermon reflects on multiple laws within this chapter that demonstrate God wants his people to be both united together and set apart for him.

God's call for unity amongst his people is demonstrated in the law to care for your neighbours property/possessions and in the law to care for those who receive your hospitality.

God's call to be set apart for him is demonstrated in the law to respect the difference between men and women, the law about sustainability, and the laws about mixing clean things with the unclean. 

Only Jesus has perfectly fulfilled the law exemplifying perfect unity whilst being perfectly set apart for God. Therefore, we are no longer under these laws, but there is blessing to be received as we meditate on them asking God to show us more of his heart through them.

Lord, thank you for Jesus, help us as we meditate on these laws to grow in Godliness.

This sermon addresses how Christian's can deal with feelings of guilt.

We see through multiple laws in these chapters that God is a God of justice and a provider of of the perfect substitute so that his people are not crippled by guilt. This is evident in the provision of laws for when innocent blood was shed and allegations of sinful conduct were made.

But doesn't Jesus contradict these laws in the New Testament? No! Jesus fulfils and intensifies these commands. Jesus is the perfect substitute, who in shedding his innocent blood on the cross, purged the guilt of everyone who believes in him. Jesus is also the perfect judge of the whole world who will bring just punishment for all who do not believe in him. Therefore, this is a repeated call to trust that God is a God of justice. It is through knowing and trusting in God's character that we can then go on to respond to the glorious intensification of these commands seen in the Sermon on the Mount.

Lord, help us to evermore gaze on the cross, trusting that you take away all our guilt and shame, leaving justice with you.

This sermon encourages us to turn to and trust in God always, especially in times of trouble.

The psalmist first encourages us to trust in who God is. God is the refuge, strength, and very present help of his people. He has always been and will always be! Therefore, if we know and apply this truth to our life the outcome is astonishing. We will not fear not matter what seismic and devastating troubles we face in life.

We are then encouraged to trust that God provides for his people. He continually provides spiritual life and nourishment through providing them with his very presence. The outcome being that we should have supreme confidence and security in life. No matter how great our troubles are that we face our God is mightier and stronger helping us through.

Finally, we are encouraged to trust that God will be exalted. This is the inevitable outcome of trusting in who God is and that he will provide. We cannot do anything other than yield and submit our focus to how amazing God! As we do this, we are reminded that this is the purpose of life, that God would be exalted and glorified across the whole earth.

Lord, help us to trust in you always, and as we do help us to worship you enthusiastically for the glorious unique God you are.

This sermon shows us that only Jesus answers the longings of our heart for a perfect King, Priest, and Prophet.

We see the people of God are permitted a King who meets a set criteria. He must be God's choice, not be greedy, not have many wives, and must know & be led by God's law. Even the best Israelite King's fell short of living this out. Thankfully, Jesus the servant hearted King fulfils all these requirements perfectly, and in doing so fills the king shaped hole in our lives.

The people of God are also given priests, the Levites. They are mandated with the job of blessing God so that they might then bless the people. However, like the Israelite King's, these priests fell short in fulfilling the law and carrying out their function. Praise God, that Jesus is the perfect priest, who fulfils all of the law, offers himself as a once and for all sacrifice on the cross, and continues to minister for his people from heaven.

Finally, these verses show us the people of God were given Prophets. God spoke to these Prophets and this was how one way God's people would hear from him. However, the Prophets didn't always obediently carry out this role, and God's people turned to sinful ways of trying to hear from God. Glory to God, that Jesus came as the perfect prophet, speaking the Words of God uniquely as God himself.

Lord, we herald you and praise you as our King, Priest, and Prophet. Help us to grow as your servants in our kingly, priestly, and prophetic functions.

*Please note the sermon recording was paused and restarted due to a medical emergency. We thank God the person involved is well.

This sermon unpacks three annual communal feasts from Deuteronomy 16 and explains how they point to Jesus.

The Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread remembered God's great act of salvation in rescuing his people from Egypt. However, it also prophesied of the perfect Passover lamb to come, Jesus Christ. All Christians celebrate today in the Lord's Supper that his blood has saved us from the judgement we deserved.

The Feast of Weeks was a joyous celebration that God had provided for his people through the harvest. It was during this feast that Pentecost occurred. The Holy Spirit was poured out and a great harvest of new believers was celebrated. We rejoice that the same Spirit is active today bringing in new harvests.

The Feast of Booths was a joyful time of fellowship for God's people who would tabernacle together under shelters/tents. This prophesied of Jesus tabernacling with God's people in his taking on flesh and of his joining all peoples together when he triumphantly returns.

Today, we can respond by gathering together regularly to enjoy inclusive feasts of celebration, joy, and thanksgiving. For God is so worthy of our worship, praise, and thanksgiving!

This sermon looking at a number of laws from Deuteronomy 15 showing us something of God's heart.

We see that God required his people to forgive debts every seven years. This is because he is a God that releases us from debts. Nowhere is this demonstrated better than in how he releases us from the debt of sin through Jesus Christ.

God's people are called to be generous to the poor and needy. This is because he is a God who gives to us freely and ungrudgingly. God has an open heart to us and our circumstances.

We see that God instructs his people to free their fellow Hebrew's from slavery in the seventh year. This is because he is a God who free's slaves. He did this for his people in freeing them from slavery in Egypt and does it in freeing us from our slavery to sin.

God's people are told to sacrifice their firstborn animals without blemish to God. This is a foreshadowing of Jesus' earthly mission. As per the united will of God, he laid himself down for all who believe in him, as the perfect sacrificial lamb without blemish.

We can respond by celebrating God's magnificence embodied in his heart behind these laws and by living in the light of who God is.