Sermons on Love
Love Prays (Lent #5)
Lent #5 Love PraysSeries: Lent Love WinsPreacher: Phil Swain Reading: John 17:1, 13-23 We are coming towards the end of our Lenten journey to the cross, and after seeing examples of generous love, love that serves, and love that abides … this Sunday we reflect on how prayer can be an act of love. Our bible reading comes from John 17 – just before Jesus is arrested he pauses and prays … for himself, for his friends and for the Read more
Servant Hearted Love (Lent #3)
Lent #3 – Servant Hearted LoveSeries: Lent Love WinsPreacher: Phil Swain Reading: John 13:1-17 Our Lent journey continues this week as we keep exploring the Easter story through the lens of love. In John 13 we find Jesus kneeling with a towel and basin to wash his disciples’ feet — a powerful picture of servant-hearted love. What does it mean to follow a Lord who shows that love wins not by power, but by serving others? Sermon Text Can everyone Read more
Love Stronger than Death (Lent #1)
Lent #1 – Love stronger than deathSeries: Lent Love WinsPreacher: Phil Swain Reading: John 11:1-45 We begin our Lent journey together and our theme for this year is “Love Wins” or Easter through the lens of Love. We will be using John’s Gospel as our key source and in John’s writing we find that love underpins everything – not a simple or sentimental love but rather John present this love as strong, costly, present and deeply relational. John goes so Read more
The Gospel that began at the Well
The Gospel that began at the WellReading: John 4:1-42 Preacher: Kevin Kim In this week’s message, we continue our journey through John’s Gospel by moving from Nicodemus’ nighttime conversation with Jesus to a surprising encounter at a Samaritan well. Through the intentional contrast between a respected religious leader and a socially rejected woman, we see that Jesus meets people in every place — in theology classrooms and in ordinary daily routines. At the well, Jesus breaks barriers, offers living water Read more
Ephesians #3 – God’s Expansive Love
God’s expansive Love Preacher: Rev Kevin Kim Bible Readings: Ephesians 3:1-21 As we continue our series on ‘Ephesians’, we will learn from chapter 3 this Sunday. Chapter 3 speaks about the mystery of Christ revealed and the second part of this chapter emphasizes Paul’s prayer for spiritual strength. Paul was a minister of a gospel according to God’s grace (v 7). Though he was the least likely to be in this role, God gave him his calling to share Christ Read more
Loving Spirit
The Holy Spirit and the Church: Loving Spirit Preacher: Rev Phil Swain Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 This week we read Paul’s famous discussion on love from 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. We will ponder how love is the one de-constructable reality, the most fundamental principle of the universe, and the very essence of God. The sort of love that Paul calls us to in this passage goes against the world’s thinking where domination, control and pride are the logic of the Read more
Gifts of God #4 – Overflowing
Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:12-15Preacher: Rev Phil Swain Phil continues our “Gifts of God” program by going back to basics and focusing on God’s amazing gift to us; and we will tie it all together by sharing together in communion. And yes, there will be buckets and we will use them as a symbol of the wonderful, generous and excessive way that God blesses us. We will also be reflecting on the reality that sometimes it feels that there is a Read more
Love, Love, Love
Love, Love, Love God’s prevenient, unfailing, unconditional, amazing love for us (and a little bit of Phil & Marion’s love story as well) Reading: 1 John 4:7-21Preacher: Rev Phil Swain This Sunday is all about love! It is actual Phil and Marion’s 29th wedding anniversary and Phil is taking the opportunity to share a little of their love story (with some envelopes that have to be seen to be believed) as an analogy to ultimately point to God’s prevenient, unfailing, Read more
The Art of Abiding
Series: A deep dive into 1 JohnTheme: The Art of AbidingBible Reading: 1 John 2:15-17Preacher: Rev Phil SwainDate: 2 January, 2022 Continuing our slower paced worship for the summer break and the fourth sermon in our 1 John series. This week we dive deep into 3 verses of chapter 2 and learn about life, and being close to Jesus and Phil shares a great illustration to bring it all together. Click here to download Kid’s Activity Sheet Click here to Read more
Sin vs Love
Series: A deep dive into 1 JohnTheme: Sin versus LoveBible Reading: 1 John 1:8 – 2:14Preacher: Rev Phil SwainDate: 26 December, 2021 As we slow down for the summer break, we are jumping back into our ongoing 1 John sermon series with our next block of the book. In this sermon we will be exploring how John addresses the question of sin but not from a judgemental point of view but rather as an inhibitor to love and spiritual growth. Read more