September has been declared St Michael's month! As Kate reminds us in this sermon, remaining faithful often means resisting cultural norms and enduring challenges. Drawing on inspiring examples both biblical (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) and local (Kate Sheppard and Michael Jones), we are assured that discernment in community and trust in God's presence is the equipping we need.

Gospel reading:

Matthew 5:13-16

Key text:

Daniel 3

Part eight and our final sermon in the series on the book of Philippians. Rosie Fyfe of NZCMS shares a refreshing understanding of 'koinonia' or partnership as it appears in Paul's letter.

This message invites us to reflect on the value of global partnerships, building grace-filled communities that support and uplift one another through all circumstances.

Gospel reading:

John 1:45-51

Key texts:

Philippians 1:1-11

Philippians 4:10-23

Part seven of our sermon series on Philippians. With a little inspiration from Wendell Berry but mostly drawing on Paul's letter to the Philippians, Anya shares three keys for living out joy as Christians: prayer, thought and embodiment.

Gospel reading:

John 16:16-24

Key text:

Philippians 4:1-9

Rev. Dr Sam Wells visiting us from St Martins-in-the-Fields, London, explores six moments of inspiration and what they tell us about the theology of the Holy Spirit.

Part six of our sermon series on Philippians. On a rainy day in Wellington, Tim challenged us to live as citizens of heaven right where we are, in work, at home and in community.

Book mentions:

Practising the way by John Mark Comer

The Other Half of Church by Jim Wilder and Michel Hendricks

Gospel reading:

Luke 12:32-40

Key text:

Philippians 3:12-21

Tragically, part 4 of this series failed to record, sorry people.

However, here in Part V, Sam Jackson compares the life of Paul with the life of King Saul. Paul, we learn, is compelled to give up his status as one of the religious elite, to serve a crucified master.

Readings:

1 Samuel 9.1-2

Philippians 3.1-11

Matthew 11.25-30

Philippians 2.1-11 are among the most discussed verses in the New Testament. They include the stunning poem in verses 6-11, which celebrate Jesus' journey from glory to a cradle in the dirt, and then a cross beside criminals. In this sermon, Chris Marshall walks us through the beauty of this poem, and its extraordinary portrait not just of Jesus, but therefore of God.

In Part 2* of our series on Philippians, Kate Sampson explores Chapter 1, verses 12 to 30. Given that suffering seems to be an inevitable part of the Christian life, how are we to face it? Paul's example can give us hope and confidence to undergo the suffering that is an inevitable part of following in Christ's steps.

* Part 1, on verses 1 to 11, was lost to the mists of time.

Death is all around us. We often pretend otherwise, but the fact is, it's coming to us all. Since the dawn of time, people have tried to cheat death, whether through magic, diet, or (increasingly) technology. Would the life gained through these means be eternal life? Or is Jesus promising something different? Not surprisingly, Matthew here outlines that life with Jesus, eternal life, is not the same as life uploaded to the cloud...

Texts:

Ezekiel 47.1-12

John 4.1-15

John 3.16

At the business end of John 3.16, John tells us that those who put their trust in Jesus will "not perish". What, then, will happen to them? That's what soteriology, the doctrine of salvation, is all about. Looking at Ephesians 1, Tim outlines some of the benefits of salvation as Paul describes them for the Corinthians. But what of those who don't put their trust in Jesus? Tim finishes with some brief reflections on what kinds of creatures humans are, drawn from Psalm 49, and concluding with the hope of resurrection.

Texts:

Psalm 49

Ephesians 1.3-14

John 3.16-21