Author: Andrew Griffin

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The church gathered: devotion, obedience and growth

Sunday 7th May 2023

Read: Ephesians 1:9-10, 1:22-23; 2:1-22; 3:1-21; Luke 10:25-37; Acts 2:42-47

Sermon: Acts 2:42-47

Review: the church’s identity
(Eph 1:9-10, 1:22-23; 2:1-22; 3:1-21; Luke 10:25-37)

Pray Eph 3:19-21
Heavenly Father, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you are able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, we ask that we would know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that we your church may be filled with all the fullness of God, so that to you would be glory in this your church and in Christ Jesus today and
throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Acts 2:42. What does the church do when it gathers? It is devoted to:
· The Apostles’ teaching (Acts 1:1; Lk 24:44-45)

· The Fellowship

· The breaking of bread

· The prayers

Acts 2:43 The mission of Jesus continues

Acts 2:44-47a Faith works through love (Gal 5:6)

Acts 2:47b The church grows

Conclusion: how much does gathering matter?
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A lawyer wants to see the fine print: Who is my Neighbour?

Sunday 30th April 2023

Read: 1 John 3:10-18; Leviticus 19:1-18; Luke 10:25-37

Sermon: Luke 10:25-37

The Bible’s vision of Church

Luke 10:25-28 The lawyer’s test: does Jesus correctly understand the Scriptures?

Luke 10:29-37 Jesus’ test: does the lawyer correctly understand the Scriptures?

Loving God; loving the Church

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The church: God’s new humanity

Sunday 23rd April 2023

Read: Isaiah 57:14-21; Deuteronomy 4:1-14; Ephesians 2:1-22

Sermon: Ephesians 2:1-22

Introduction: What does God mean – “church”?

Ephesians 2:1-3 The great need: what we were

Ephesians 2:4-7 God’s great response: what we are

Ephesians 2:8-10 The great result: a new identity

Ephesians 2:11-12 BC: life before Christ

Ephesians 2:13-18 AD: life in Christ

Ephesians 2:19-22 God’s new temple, humanity’s glorious destiny

Conclusion: the community of the reconciled

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The Resurrection – says who?

Sunday 9th April 2023

Read: Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 22:23-33

Sermon: Matthew 22:23-33

Introduction – life after death?

The authority of the King in Matthew & Contested in ch 20 – 22

Vs the authority of the Sadducees.

Sadducees mocking scenario v23 – 28

Jesus’ response

– Why the Sadducees are wrong – two major failings v29

– Correcting false assumption v30

– Marriage in heaven? Psalm 16:11

– Scripture the Authority, used correctly v31, 32

Sadducees & crowd’s response

OT Big picture on resurrection (including Isa 53)

NT Big picture on resurrection

Romans 15:13
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God’s patient, costly love

Friday 7th April 2023

Read: Isaiah 5:1-7, 65:1-2; Psalm 118; Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon: Matthew 21:33-46

Review: Jesus in Jerusalem

Matthew 21:33 The master’s well-appointed vineyard

Matthew 21:34-36 Complication: the tenants reject the master’s servants

Matthew 21:37 The master sends his son

Matthew 21:38-39 Murder and theft… What now???

Matthew 21:40-41 Jesus asks for a verdict

Matthew 21:42-46 Jesus pronounces judgment

Jesus: king, cornerstone and sacrifice

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When Yhwh comes to his temple!

Sunday 2nd April 2023

Read: Psalm 118:21-29; Zechariah 9:1-17; Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon: Matthew 21:1-11

Matthew 21-22 Confronting Jesus’ authority

Zechariah 9 What will happen when the king comes to his temple?

Matthew 21:1-11 The return of the king
21:1-3 planning to fulfil expectations regarding Israel’s king

21:4-8 Interpreting the coming of the king (Isaiah 62; Zechariah 9)

21:9-11 celebrating the king’s unexpected salvation (Psalm 118)

Matthew 27:42Others he saved, himself he is not able to save: he is the king of Israel!