Sermons from February 2020

Assembly Reception and Letters of Commendation

PART 5 – John Dennison preaches on the topic of “assembly reception” or “coming into fellowship” in an assembly. He outlines the 4 key verbs in Acts 2:41-42 – “received” his Word, were “baptised”, were “added” and “continued”. He expounds the three reasons why a person can be refused fellowship, and the three ways someone can be received into fellowship. Finally he makes a persuasive case for the use of distinct seating at the Lord’s Supper for those who have…

Headship and the Head Covering

PART 4 – John Dennison works his way down 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 (and 1 Cor 14:33-36) and deals with the Biblical subject of “the hierarchy of headship”, explaining 1. what it means for male and female roles in the local assembly and 2. how its symbolic display is seen in head coverings and hair length. He shows clearly that head coverings are not a “cultural issue” but rather something required of assemblies in all cultures, times and places. He explains…

What is Assembly Fellowship?

PART 3 – John Dennison asks the question “What is assembly fellowship?” He distinguishes between different kinds of fellowship in the Bible, each one of which involves three distinct things: partnership, partnering and partners. He then makes a persuasive case that a local assembly of God is a “doctrinal fellowship”. In other words, at its root assembly fellowship is neither a social experience nor a subjective experience but an objective reality; and what will determine if I am in fellowship…

The Lord’s Supper

PART 2 – John Dennison sets out the Biblical precepts, principles and practices that inform our understanding of the Lord’s Supper or the “breaking of bread”. The Bible’s teaching on the Lord’s Supper isn’t just “narrative”, it’s “normative”! So, why must the bread precede the cup? Why only one loaf and only one cup? Why on the first day of the week, every week? Why not on board a cruise ship while on holiday? And…should the bread be unleavened? John…

Cross Cultural Evangelism

PART 1 – Opening a teaching weekend on basic assembly principles, John Dennison speaks on the need for Christians to engage in cross-cultural evangelism as we seek to see people saved, baptised and gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus in today’s “global culture” –  a culture marked by mass emigration, migration and immigration. He gives examples from years of labour in Mexico and Arizona (USA) as he reports on what the Lord has done through the preaching of…

Nehemiah – Finding Opportunities in Days of Difficulty (40 mins)

Josh Jacob preaches on Nehemiah, a man who, returning from Babylon with a deep sense of yearning for the glory of God and the welfare of His city and His people, rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem amidst all kinds of difficulties and opposition. Nehemiah fixed his focus (Ch 1), found the facts (Ch 2), formed the fellowship (Ch 3), fortified their faith (Ch 4), faced the foe (Ch 5), fulfilled his function (Ch 6). Readings from the first 6 chapters…

Samuel – Serving God in a Difficult Climate (42 mins)

Dan Rudge preaches on the young seer named Samuel, a young man who grew up in a climate that was corrupt and dangerous politically, morally and spiritually. In contrast to the other young men around him, the child Samuel stood out as a faithful devoted servant of the Lord. It’s not easy or popular, especially as a teenager with peer pressure all around, to stand against the spirit of the age – but Samuel’s example encourages us. The key is…