Presbyterian Reformed Church of Stockton-on-Tees (Video)

Protestant Truth Society witness at the March for Life 2026.

Please pray for evangelism every Thursday at 11:30 am. This message was preached on the High Street of Stockton: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is proclaimed, emphasising that humanity is naturally an enemy of God due to sin and cannot achieve salvation through religious works or moral effort. It highlights the transformative power of God's grace, using the Apostle Paul's conversion from persecutor to believer as a primary example of divine reconciliation. The central message rests on Romans 5:10, explaining that believers are reconciled to God through Christ's death and saved by His perfect life, which fulfills the law's demands. The preacher urges listeners to abandon self-righteousness and trust solely in the imputed righteousness of Jesus for forgiveness and eternal life. Ultimately, the text calls for a response of faith, inviting sinners to find rest and peace with God through the finished work of Christ.

The sermon emphasises the divine command and logical necessity for believers to gather together in public worship, drawing primarily from Numbers 21:16-17 where God provides water upon the people's assembly. It argues that while private devotion has undeniable value, corporate gathering offers in greater abundance a source of spiritual refreshment and revival through Christ, the living water. The preacher contrasts the folly of rejecting this provision with the joy of receiving God's grace in the midst of life's wilderness challenges. By obeying the command to assemble, by faith believers experience restoration, renewed hope, and a foretaste of heavenly delight. Ultimately, the message calls the church to active participation in worship to receive the spiritual vitality needed for faithful living.

This sermon explores the vital importance of the Church by examining the blessings found in 1 Timothy 3:14-16. It highlights four key aspects of the church's value: intimacy through close relationships, instruction via godly leadership and teaching, integrity grounded in biblical truth, and the central Gospel mystery of the incarnation. The preacher argues that the church is not a voluntary club but an essential body where believers receive spiritual nourishment and support. By remaining connected to this community, Christians avoid isolation and grow in their faith under the care of Christ and his undershepherds. Ultimately, the message urges listeners to value the Church as the pillar and ground of truth, in her publication and promotion of the truth.

This sermon examines Jesus' warning to his disciples about the reality of persecution, emphasizing that hostility from the world is a norm rather than an exception for believers. It outlines four key aspects of this reality: preparation rather than spiritual shock, the pathological hostility driving persecutors, the perpetual nature of God not trials, and the ultimate blessing of paradise for those suffering. The preacher urges Christians to hide Scripture in their hearts during times of peace to endure future hardships with faith rather than fear. By focusing on Christ's departure as expedient for sending the Holy Spirit, the message shifts attention from sorrow to the strength found in divine comfort. Ultimately, believers are called to remain faithful to Christ regardless of external opposition, trusting in his finished work and eternal reward.

On the Stockton High Street.

This sermon explores the concept of finding true satisfaction by seeking what pleases God rather than fallen man, using Matthew 3:17 as the foundational text. It establishes Scripture as the sure source for knowing divine will, contrasting biblical prophecy with worldly distractions and false religions. The message emphasizes that God delights in His Son Jesus Christ, offering believers comfort and acceptance through union with Him. It further exhorts the church to pursue sanctification by aligning their desires with God's, particularly through worship that adheres strictly to biblical commands. Ultimately, the preacher encourages confidence in approaching God, assured that prayers are heard because they are offered in the name of the beloved Son.

The sermon expounds 1 Timothy 3:8–13 on the office of deacon. He argues that the role is frequently reduced or ignored, whereas Scripture requires the same kind of mature, godly character required of elders. Deacons exercise real authority over the church's temporal resources, which belong to God. Four headings structure the message: 1. Testimony. Officers must be blameless so the church's handling of needs does not hinder the gospel. Acts 6 shows deacons solving neglect of widows and freeing apostles for word and prayer. Old Testament gleaning laws and care for widows illustrate the same concern. 2. Treasure. Christ, not wine, money or earthly status, must be the deacon's delight. 3. Tests. Candidates must first be proved; the office is too weighty for a novice. Godliness and wisdom matter more than professional skill with accounts or the business world. 4. Trust. Many sensitive pastoral and financial matters require confidentiality. That is why deacons' wives must not be slanderers. The whole congregation shares in "diaconal" service (visits, practical help, organised relief), while the office coordinates what individuals cannot do alone and protects the elders' priority of prayer and teaching. The sermon closes with a call for wisdom, for the raising up of faithful men, and for the whole church to care for the vulnerable to the glory of God.

This sermon emphasises the grave responsibility of the church to believe, to uphold and witness to biblical gospel message in an era of increasing opposition. The message argues that greater access to God's Word increases human guilt when that truth is rejected or taken for granted. The preacher warns against self-righteousness and highlights the necessity of the Holy Spirit for true conversion and spiritual insight. Believers are called to reflect Christ's light in a hostile world by actively bearing witness to the gospel rather than remaining neutral. Ultimately, salvation depends solely on faith in Jesus Christ, making the proclamation of this truth a critical duty for all Christians.

Street preaching on the Stockton High Street: The message emphasises the absolute necessity of being born again through the Holy Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God, contrasting human inability with divine grace. It highlights that all people are sinners who fall short of God's holy standard and cannot be saved by their own works or religious efforts. The central message focuses on Jesus Christ as the sole mediator who bore the wrath of God for believers, offering eternal life through faith alone. The preacher urges listeners to abandon trust in their own righteousness and place their confidence entirely in the finished work of Christ. Ultimately, the text presents salvation as a gift received by believing in the Son of God, resulting in forgiveness and eternal life rather than condemnation.