Gavin McGrath

The rejected by many yet received by others Messiah (John 1:10-13)

Preached on Sunday 17th December 2023 by Gavin McGrath, a member of our congregation.

The third sermon in a four sermon advent series.

Why Christmas?

1. Because he came into the world (v.10a)

• Who he is

• Who he is to the world

2. The world in which he was and is rejected (vv.10b-11)

• The world which will not know him but should

• Even those who should know him but didn’t

3. Yet in the world he was and is received by some (v.12)

• Reception is believing in his name

• Reception is through nothing less than a new creation

4. Because we are in this world

• Who he is to us

• What he offers us

He is why Christmas

3. Rome (Acts 28:11-31)

Preached on Sunday 29th October 2023 by Gavin McGrath, a member of our congregation.

The third of a three sermon series: The Church in Acts: what, who and why?

1. The storms of human events cannot stop the Lord Jesus growing his church!

i. Storms of every kind (vv.11-13)

ii. Yet there are ‘brothers and sisters’ already (vv.14-16)

iii. Rejection by some, acceptance by others (vv.17-29)

2. The church of Jesus both subverts and answers the longings of Rome

i. A welcome (v.30)

ii. A message (v.31)

3. The church of Jesus has not stopped with Rome

iii. Luke’s brevity and Luke’s point

iv. The ongoing story…including us

2. Antioch (Acts 11:19-29 and 13:1-3)

Preached on Sunday 22nd October 2023 by Gavin McGrath, a member of our congregation.

The second of a three sermon series: The Church in Acts: what, who and why?

1. The church is attacked but attacks never ultimately win (11:19-21)

2. The church is strengthened by the grace of God (11:22-30)

3. The church is a wonderfully diverse people - even if this is complicated

(13:1-5; 15:1-5)

4. The church sends out people in the Spirit with the gospel (13:2-3)

For us at ENC now:

• …Let’s look for unexpected opportunities even in hard times

• …Let’s pray we increasingly be a grace-filled church

• …Let’s ask questions about our ‘culture’ and if we are welcoming outsiders

• …Let’s continue to be a sending out church

1. Jerusalem (Acts 2:40-47)

Preached on Sunday 15th October 2023 by Gavin McGrath, a member of our congregation.

The first of a three sermon series: The Church in Acts: what, who and why?

1. The church is built upon the Apostles’ witness to Jesus (1:1-11)

2. The church receives the faithful fulfilment of God’s promises (2:1-40)

3. The church is the people of God (2:41-47)

4. The church shares Jesus’ sufferings and resurrection (Acts 3-8)

For us at ENC now:

• Do we know what time we’re in right now?

• Do we long for a Spirit-enabled community life?

• Will we make the apostles’ witness and teaching central to everything we do?

• Do we know how to read the times in which live — this point in history?

How can we be the church we want to be? (Colossians 1:9-14)

Preached on Sunday 6th August 2023 by Gavin McGrath, a member of our congregation.

The second of two sermons in Colossians 1.

On our own, we can’t!

But following Paul’s prayer, we pray we may…

1. Be filled with all knowledge, wisdom, and understanding (v.9)

2. Be fully pleasing to the Lord (v.10)

3. Be strengthened with all power (v.11)

4. Be thankful for redemption (12-14)

What kind of church do you want to be? (Colossians 1:1-8)

Preached on Sunday 30th July 2023 by Gavin McGrath, a member of our congregation

The first of two sermons in Colossians 1.

1. A people marked out by faith in Christ

2. A people with love for one another

3. A people with hope through the gospel

4. A people encouraged by the sufficiency and supremacy of Christ

Q. Why should we be this kind of church?