Sermons by Rev Phil Swain
Loopholes of Grace. (Sanctification)
The Loophole of Grace? … or the art of sanctification.Preacher: Rev Phil Swain Bible Reading: Romans 6:1-14 Last week our pastor Phil passionately preached on how we are made right with God through Grace – and how God did all of this for us before we understood. This amazing gift of Grace seems perfect but it comes with a loophole … that people seemingly could live however they wanted and as long as they ask God for forgiveness – everything Read more
Justified through Christ
Preacher: Rev Phil Swain Bible Reading: Romans 5:1-11 We will also be continuing our “deep dive” into the book of Romans we are spending the next two weeks looking at the key spiritual teaching that Paul highlights in his letter … that we are saved by faith. This week we will be exploring the teaching of “justification” but more importantly being open to the profound free gift of God’s grace to us. Our minister Phil loves preaching on Romans and Read more
The Changing Perspectives of the Early Church
Preacher: Rev Phil Swain Bible Reading: Acts 13:1-3, 14:8-18 How do we respond when faced when our understanding or world view is being challenged? Last week Liesl shared how the Apostle Peter’s understanding of who was included in God’s family was turned upside-down with his “come and eat” vision and experience with Cornelius. But this episode caused ripples throughout the early church. This week our pastor Phil will explore how the Early Church’s perspectives where challenged and changed as God’s Read more
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday Service – Empty Promises or Good News Reading: Matthew 28:1-10 Preacher: Rev Phil Swain & Rev Kevin Kim Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus in this all-aged service! Lively singing with the Easter worship band, great joy and lots of fun as we worship the risen Jesus. Phil will be exploring whether Easter is about empty promises or Good News – a creative talk that has both a message for the kids as well as reminding all ages of Read more
Good Friday
Good Friday – The all-embracing Love of God Readings: John 12:20-33, Matthew 27:27-44, Matthew 27:45-54 & John 19:28-30 Preacher – Rev Kevin Kim, Rev Phil Swain & Liesl Homes A creative and reflective worship service which will focus on the cross of Jesus and the forgiveness, grace and life that we can find through his death. The theme of our service will be ‘The All Embracing Love of God’. The time of worship will be structured around five short bible Read more
Parables about Judgement [Lent 4]
Lent #4 – Parables about JudgementReading: Matthew 25:1-40Preacher: Rev Phil Swain In the last of our series on “Parables Perspectives” we are faced with three confronting parables about judgement and the end times. During Lent we are considering how the parables of Jesus can help us give us a different insight of the cross and in this video our pastor Phil asks the question … “Does God judge us?” and if so, “What does God judge us on?” In the Read more
Parables about Forgiveness [Lent 1]
Lent #1 – Parables about LentReading: Matthew 18:15-38Preacher: Rev Phil Swain We have started the Season of Lent – a season where we turn towards the cross and prepare ourselves to for the Good News of Easter. The narrative Lectionary is guiding us to explore a series of Jesus’ Parables during Lent and we are open to allowing these Parables to reveal a different perspective of the cross and resurrection. This week we are in Matthew chapter 18 where we Read more
Vision Sunday 2023
Vision Sunday 2023Reading: Matthew 13:24-35Preacher: Rev Phil Swain Vision Sunday 2023 is an important day in our church year – a time where we cast a Vision of where God is leading us as a church for the next 12 months. Our pastor’s – Phil and Kevin – remind us again the core aspects of our Vision which we discerned last year as well as sharing some idea and planning that is in place for 2023. We hope to stir Read more
Building on a Solid Foundation
Sermon on the Mount #3 – “Building on a Solid”Reading: Matthew 7:1-14,24-29Preacher: Rev Phil Swain In the last of our Sermon on the Mount Series, Jesus continues to build an ethical framework and encourages us to not only hear his words but to also put them into practice. Even though this teaching is 2000 years old, Matthew chapter 7 is relevant for us today with teaching on judging others, not being deceived by fake news and recognising the graciousness and Read more
An Audience of One
Sermon on the Mount #2 – “An Audience of One”Reading: Matthew 6:1-21;25-34Preacher: Rev Phil Swain This is the second in our series looking at Jesus’ ethical teaching “The Sermon on the Mount” from the gospel of Matthew and covers teaching about prayer, fasting, what we treasure and the things we worry about. As well as exploring the great wisdom and guidance in these passages, we will wrestle with the question of in contrast to Matthew chapter 5 (which calls us Read more