Mossvale Community Church

We continue our sermon series in Ecclesiastes, with Shona Ballentyne warning us about three paths that can easily distract us from the life God intends for us: the path of pleasure, the path of possessions, and the path of performance. Ecclesiastes 2 reminds us that they cannot satisfy the deepest needs of the human heart. Like the prodigal son we chase pleasure believing it will bring freedom, only to discover that true fulfilment is found when we return to the Father. Scripture makes clear God richly gives us all things to enjoy - reminding us our treasure ultimately is in heaven. We are called to seek the right path: fear God and obey His commands, seek first the Kingdom of God, be generous and ready to share, and commit our work to the Lord.

In this second session of the Joshua study series at Mossvale Community Church Men's Meeting, we explore Joshua 2 and the remarkable story of Rahab and the scarlet cord. We consider why this seemingly unexpected story is placed at the beginning of Joshua and discover how Rahab, an unlikely hero—a Canaanite woman and former prostitute—demonstrates courageous, living faith in the God of Israel. Her confession that the Lord is God of heaven and earth, her willingness to risk everything, and her trust in His promise of deliverance reveal the power of faith to transform lives. We explore the theme of mercy before judgement, seeing how God provided a way of salvation for Rahab and her household before Jericho fell, and how the scarlet cord points us ultimately to the blood of Jesus Christ and the refuge found in Him. Rahab’s story reminds us that it is not enough simply to hear about God—we must hear, believe, and trust in Christ, finding our security in the salvation He provides.

This week at Mossvale we begin a new teaching series in Ecclesiastes. Daniel Carnan opens with Ecclesiastes 1:1–11, where Solomon asks what gain there is “under the sun” (v.3). The message challenges us to stop fixing our time and energy on what sits below the sun, what is temporary, and instead lift our eyes to the heavens. With 2 Corinthians 4:18 guiding us this message calls us to invest in what lasts and live each day with eternal significance. 

In this opening session of the Joshua study series, at Mossvale Community Church Men's Meeting, we explore Joshua 1 and the powerful call to “be strong and courageous.” We discover who Joshua was, his years of preparation alongside Moses, and the daunting responsibility of leading Israel into the Promised Land. The session highlights the book of Joshua as a message of God’s faithfulness, with His promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” at its heart. We consider how biblical courage is built through remembering God’s faithfulness, meditating on His Word, and obeying His commands, rather than relying on our own strength. As we face fear, uncertainty, change, loss, and new beginnings, Joshua 1 reminds us that we do not need to be someone else or face life alone—the same God who was with Moses and Joshua is with us through Jesus Christ.

In today's sermon, our guest speaker, the Reverend Kingsley Armstrong explores the vital importance of discerning the sound of God amidst the overwhelming noise of daily life and social media. Using Biblical examples like Adam and Eve in the garden (Genesis 3:8), Joshua at Jericho, David in the valley of Rephaim, and the Day of Pentecost, he emphasises that believers must cultivate intimacy with God to recognise His frequency and direction, rather than reacting to cultural or political distractions. Armstrong encourages us to move beyond shallow responses to external chaos and instead shift our focus toward prayerful waiting, asserting that when we align ourselves with the Lord's specific leading, we are empowered to witness His transformative work and miracles in our personal lives and communities.

In this final sermon in the series, Pastor Hugh explores the closing words of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians: "peace, love, faith and grace*". Paul’s message points us beyond the unrest and uncertainty of the world to the deep and lasting peace found through Jesus Christ. We reflect on how the early Christians discovered peace with God through Christ’s death and resurrection, and how that peace reshapes the way we live, giving us hope, security and strength in every circumstance. We consider what it means for faith to produce love in action and for God’s grace to transform and sustain us. From sacrificial kindness and forgiveness to the limitless grace of Christ, we are challenged to let these truths become more than words—to live them out in practical, Christ-centred ways. Ultimately, Paul’s closing blessing captures the heart of the Christian life: growing peace, growing love and growing grace, all flowing from Christ, who is our source, foundation, hope, strength and joy.

What does the Bible really teach about money and generosity? In this sermon from 2 Corinthians 9:6–15, Pastor Hugh explores how generous giving is not about pressure, guilt, or simply how much we give, but about the heart and attitude with which we give. We discover two powerful blessings of generosity: we are enriched in every way, and God is glorified through our giving. We consider how generosity challenges both our desire for more and our anxiety about having enough, inviting us instead to place our security in God rather than in wealth. Ultimately, generosity is an expression of God’s grace at work in us — blessing others, transforming our hearts, and producing thanksgiving to God.

In this powerful message from Reverend Mark Ryan [National Project Lead for Church Growth for Elim UK], we explore the story of the woman who had suffered for twelve years in Mark 5:25–34, taking us on a journey “From No Way Out to All the Way In.” Through her encounter with Jesus, we discover what it means to break destructive cycles, develop a deep and determined faith, and step into true wholeness. Her healing was more than a physical miracle, Jesus restored her identity, dignity, peace and place within the community, calling her “Daughter.” Mark reminds us that Jesus does not simply want to heal our wounds; He wants us to live healthy and complete, no longer defined by our past, rejection, fear or shame. Like Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, Jesus can restore what has been broken, pouring in His grace so beautifully that the scars themselves become part of our testimony.

We explore Paul’s powerful call in Ephesians 5 to leave behind the darkness of our former lives and walk as children of light. Through Christ, we are made new. The Light lives within us, giving us direction, understanding, and a radically different way of living. We look at what it means to “put on” Christ daily and allow His light to be evident through the fruit of goodness, righteousness, truth, integrity, and a life that seeks to please the Lord.

Pastor Hugh explores Paul’s powerful picture of the "old" and "new" garments from Ephesians 4, revealing what it truly means to live the Christian life. Discover the contrast between a life shaped by the flesh, marked by deceit, bitterness, anger, and self-centredness, and a life clothed in Christ, characterised by truth, holiness, kindness, generosity, and forgiveness. As we unpack the practical choices we make every day, we are challenged to consider which garment we're wearing and encouraged to embrace the Spirit-empowered life that reflects Christ to the world.