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Sermons by Chris Johnson (Page 3)

Joy in Trouble

We continue our look at 2 Corinthians this week, with Chris looking at chapters 7 and 8. In these chapters Paul expresses his great relief that he had finally been reunited with Titus in Macedonia, and rejoices that his previous (now missing) letter to the Corinthian church had been recieved as God intended and did not harm them as he feared. He also speaks about our giving creating joy. We are reminded that Jesus became poor for our sake so that we may become rich through his sacrifice.

Ant leads the rest of the service, taking part of his inspiration from TikTok (of all places!), whilst Nick and Pete lead our sung worship.

Honour in Service

We carry on with our studies in 2 Corinthians this week, with Chris looking at how Paul looks at the honour that is given to those in service to God. We thought a couple of weeks ago at how we are called to be ambassadors for Christ and in this passage Paul initially paints what on the surface is a not-very-inviting picture of what this may entail, but reminds us that our goal is ultimately to live for God and be set apart as his holy people. We are looked on kindly by God because of our sufferings, not in spite of them.

Andy leads the rest of the service with a rare sporting analogy that may very well be less relevant by about 10pm tonight (14th July) than it was this morning whilst Lynne and Dave lead our sung worship.

More and More Like Jesus

We conclude our All Age Service series with perhaps the most challenging subject of all. How can we become more and more like Jesus? Chris looks at the fruit of the spirit and shows us how by striving to obtain those attributes we can become more like Christ – the only person in history who was able to exhibit all nine!

Pete leads our sung worship this week and we also pray for our Mission of the Month for July, Stand By Me

Reconciliation in Christ

Our series in 2 Corinthians continues with Chris speaking on chapters 4 and 5. In these two chapters Paul sets out the reasoning for his ministry, why he feels called to do what he did and preach the way that he does. We particularly focus on they way that Paul is called to preach reconciliation through Jesus and how as Christians we are ambassador’s of God’s coming kingdom here on Earth.

Ant leads the rest of the service with some reflections on his time away at Sizewell last week, whist Pete and Nick lead our sung worship.

Freedom in the Spirit

We continue our new series in 2 Corinthians, looking at the passages which directly surround our year text for this year. Chris speaks on Paul’s writings about his visit to Troas where – unexpectedly to Paul – God opened a door to the gospel being preached there, and his later reflections on where his authority comes from and the difference in attitudes people who follow the old or new covenants have. All this leads to our year text, and the crux of Paul’s message: it is only through the Spirit of God that we can find true freedom.

Andy leads the rest of the service whilst Pete and Nick lead our sung worship.

Comfort in Trouble

We start a new series this week looking at Paul’s second published (third overall) letter to the Corinthians. Paul finds himself writing to a deeply troubled church, his previous visit had not been particularly well recieved and Paul himself had recently been under extreme pressure during his time in what we would now call modern-day Turkey. As such, he writes in his opening passages about God’s comfort. As Christians we are not promised a trouble-free life – quite the opposite in fact! – but we are reassured that God has anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, put his Spirit in our hearts and will ultimately make us stand firm in Christ.

Susan leads the rest of the service whilst Lynne and Dave lead our sung worship.

Talking Jesus

Yesterday we held our away day with Rachael Heffer, head of mission at the Evangelical Alliance, spoke about their research programme “Talking Jesus”. In this service Chris summarises what we heard – both from Rachael and from God – and the small group leaders feed back to the wider church family the thoughts that arose from our discussions in the afternoon sessions.

James leads the rest of the service whilst Mike and Ricky (for some reason with the video horribly out of sync – sorry chaps!) lead our sung worship.

More & More Faith

Shona leads June’s All Age Service, carrying on our theme of More & More and this month thinking about more and more faith. What different things can we do to help us grow in our faith in God? Susan, James and Chris all give examples from their lives of times when their faith has grown. We also have an introduction to the mission of the month, GenR8, from Lynn Hawkins.

Pete and Nick lead our sung worship with assistance from Ricky.

Pentecost: Liberation Day

Join us this week as we celebrated Pentecost together! Chris speaks on the circumstances surrounding the revelation of the Holy Spirit to the disciples in Jerusalem and its happening at a significant point in the Jewish calendar, how God pre-prepared for that moment by decreeing the festivals to be celebrated thousands of years beforehand. The people in Jerusalem heard God speaking through the disciples gathered there. That same Spirit enables us to hear from God too. What have you heard recently?

As Susan was unwell, Chris also leads the rest of the service with a reflection on how the Spirit cannot be contained and is like a breath and fire. Lynne and Dave lead our sung worship.

Acts 11, Part Two

This week in our Acts series we see the focus shifting from Peter to the spread of the Gospel to the north of Israel in Antioch (on the modern day Turkish/Syrian border) and Barnabas’ mission to bring encouragement and teaching to the newly-named Christian community there. During his time in Antioch Barnabas recruits Saul, who the apostles had previously sent to Tarsus, to join him. This initial spread of Christianity may have seemed random and disorganised but – as Chris encourages us – God often uses disorder to bring forward his purposes. What apparent disorder can we see today that God is working through?

Andy leads the rest of the service as we invite the Holy Spirit to take away all our inhibitions and Lynne and Dave lead our sung worship.