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?