The sermon centres on the profound significance of Calvary, presenting the crucifixion of Christ not merely as a historical event but as the climactic expression of God's eternal plan for redemption. It emphasises that Christ's suffering—marked by shame, physical agony, and divine abandonment—was not random but intentional, as He bore the curse of sin and the wrath of God on behalf of humanity, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy and typology. The message underscores that the cross was both a place of ultimate sacrifice and divine victory, where Christ's finished work satisfied divine justice, defeated sin and death, and opened a fountain of cleansing for all who come in faith. The sermon calls listeners to personal response, affirming that salvation is available to every sinner through simple trust in Christ's atoning death, and that Calvary's power remains effective today, transforming lives and offering eternal security to all who believe.

The sermon centres on the profound significance of Christ's crucifixion as the sole means of salvation, emphasising that God's justice and mercy are fully revealed at the cross. Through a vivid examination of Matthew 27:33–44, it highlights the contempt, mockery, and challenges Christ endured—yet underscores His unwavering commitment to suffer fully in human consciousness, refusing pain relief to bear the full weight of sin. The sermon then turns to the remarkable compassion of Christ's first cry from the cross—'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do'—revealing a prayer of intercession that was repeated, ongoing, and effective for all who repent and believe. This act of divine forgiveness, grounded in Christ's sacrificial death, is presented as the ultimate incentive for sinners to turn to Him in faith, with the assurance that salvation is available to all who come, not by merit, but by grace through the blood of the Lamb.

The sermon centres on the profound question, 'Have you any room for Jesus?', drawing from Matthew 27's account of Christ's trial before Pilate, where multiple figures—religious leaders, Pilate, and the crowd—demonstrate a complete refusal to make space for Christ in their hearts. It exposes the spiritual danger of religious formalism, pride, and the fear of man, illustrating how even those who recognize Christ's innocence still reject Him due to envy, self-interest, or public pressure. The preacher emphasises that salvation is not earned through human effort or religious ritual, but received by faith in Christ alone, who bore the penalty for sin. The message culminates in a personal, urgent appeal: every individual must confront their own heart and decide whether to welcome Christ or remain in the self-sufficient emptiness of a life without Him, with eternal consequences hanging in the balance.

The sermon presents Philip the Evangelist as a paradigm of faithful service, tracing his journey from a deacon who served widows with humility to a pioneering missionary who broke cultural and religious barriers in Samaria and beyond. Central to the message is the theological principle that true evangelism begins with practical compassion and obedience to God's call in the present moment, whether in urban revival or solitary outreach to a single soul. Philip's life exemplifies the balance between itinerant evangelism and settled family life, highlighting the value of both mission and domestic faithfulness, as seen in his prophesying daughters and his hospitality to Paul. The preacher emphasises that spiritual success is not measured by numbers or location, but by faithfulness in God's will, whether in a bustling city or a desert road. Ultimately, Philip's story calls the church to embody a spirit of service, courage, and unwavering commitment to Christ, wherever God places them.

On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy and presenting Himself as the humble, meek King who came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. This moment, set against the backdrop of the Passover—a feast commemorating Israel's redemption from slavery—foreshadowed Christ's ultimate sacrifice as the Lamb of God whose blood would redeem humanity from sin. Though the crowds hailed Him with cries of 'Hosanna,' their recognition was superficial; they did not grasp His divine identity or the profound significance of His impending death. The sermon underscores the contrast between outward religious enthusiasm and genuine faith, calling listeners to move beyond ritual to a personal, transformative relationship with Christ, who offers rest, forgiveness, and eternal life. It warns against spiritual fickleness, as the same people who praised Him soon demanded His crucifixion, and calls believers to remain steadfast in faith, ready for His return in glory. Ultimately, the message is one of urgent invitation: to know Christ personally, to submit to Him as King, and to find true hope in His victory over death.

The sermon presents Stephen as the first Christian martyr, highlighting his exemplary life of faith, humility, and Spirit-filled service, which culminated in his courageous defense before the Sanhedrin and his martyrdom. Centered on Acts 6–7, the message emphasises that Stephen's calling arose from his godly character, his commitment to Christ, and his empowerment by the Holy Spirit, enabling him to serve faithfully in a humble role while demonstrating extraordinary spiritual gifts and prophetic insight. His powerful sermon, rooted in biblical history, confronted the religious leaders with their persistent resistance to God's Spirit and their rejection of Christ, provoking a violent reaction that led to his stoning. Yet, even in death, Stephen exemplified Christ-like grace through his prayer for forgiveness, foreshadowing the conversion of Saul and the expansion of the gospel to the Gentiles. The sermon calls believers to emulate Stephen's total surrender, urging a life of radical obedience, spiritual readiness, and unwavering commitment to Christ, so that their lives may burn brightly for God in a world in need of redemption.

The sermon centres on the biblical call to honest, accountable repentance in the life of the believer, drawing from James 5:16 to emphasize that true spiritual healing begins with confessing sins to one another and praying for restoration, not through ritualistic penance but through genuine humility and relational integrity. It contrasts the early Irish church's healthy practice of penitential accountability—marked by restitution, soul-friendship (anam cara), and pastoral guidance—with the later Roman Catholic system of penance, which distorts the gospel by substituting human works for Christ's atoning sacrifice. The core message affirms that while earthly friends can counsel and guide, the ultimate confessor and healer is Jesus Christ, who alone forgives sins, bears our burdens, and offers mercy to the repentant. The sermon calls believers to reject complacency toward sin, embrace accountability, and embody the role of soul-friend by pointing others to Christ's grace, while underscoring that true spiritual health requires both personal repentance and communal faithfulness, grounded in the gospel of grace alone.

The final invitation of Scripture, drawn from Revelation 22:17, is a profound and urgent call to all people to come to Christ for salvation, emphasising the freely offered water of life—spiritual refreshment and eternal life made possible through Christ's sacrificial death. This invitation, issued by the Spirit, the Church, and every believer, underscores the necessity of divine conviction and personal response, as the Holy Spirit convicts of sin and draws the thirsty soul to Christ. The water of life symbolises the complete and lasting satisfaction found only in Jesus, surpassing all earthly pleasures and fulfilling the deepest longings of the human spirit. The message is both inclusive—open to 'whosoever will'—and urgent, rooted in the reality of impending judgment and Christ's imminent return, calling all to repent and believe before it is too late.

Title: ENCOUNTER - Eight Places Where People Met Christ Speaker: Rev. Peter McIntyre Date: 20 March 2026 Bible: Luke 24:28-32 Preached at the opening of the "Enocunter" young people's facility at Clogher Valley FPC, this sermon centres on the transformative power of encountering Christ, presenting eight pivotal moments in Scripture where individuals met Jesus—by the sea, in the office, at a well, at a wedding, in grief, at the cross, in the empty tomb, and on the mountaintop—each symbolising a stage in the spiritual journey. These encounters reveal that Christ is present in everyday life, calling people to purpose, repentance, joy, comfort, and mission, with the ultimate call to follow Him and share His gospel. The message emphasises that true fulfillment comes not from worldly success or moral performance, but from a personal, life-changing relationship with Christ, who offers mercy, resurrection hope, and eternal life. Through vivid biblical examples, the preacher underscores that every believer is invited into a living encounter with God, not as a one-time event but as a continual pilgrimage of faith, surrender, and service. The tone is both pastoral and urgent, calling young people and all believers to examine their priorities, embrace Christ's presence, and answer His call to be His witnesses in a world in need of hope.

Title: Five Key Christian Truths Speaker: Rev. Peter McIntyre Series: FPC 75th Anniversary Date: 15 March 2026 Bible: Luke 1:1 The sermon presents a foundational reflection on five essential Christian truths—sin, Scripture, the Trinity, Christ, and the atonement—framed as the unshakable pillars of the faith, especially relevant in light of the church's 75th anniversary and its historical roots in the 1927 Davy Heresy Trial. It emphasises that sin is humanity's universal condition, breaking all barriers and necessitating divine intervention, while affirming the Bible as God's infallible, authoritative Word, not subject to human reason or experience. The Trinity is upheld as the core of Christian orthodoxy, revealing God as three persons in one essence, essential to proper worship and understanding of salvation. Christ is presented as the eternal Son who became flesh to reveal God, die as the perfect sacrifice, and rise in victory, offering hope amid global turmoil. Central to this is the atonement, where Christ bore the sins of humanity, making believers righteous through His substitutionary death, grounded in Scripture and secured by the triune God's eternal plan. The tone is pastoral, convicting, and deeply reverent, underscoring that these truths are not mere doctrines but the very foundation of gospel assurance and mission.