Richmond Anglican Aotearoa

Today Jesse Behan is leading the service, and Peter Somervell is opening our 3-week series on Finance beginning with asking the question, where is your treasure? looking at Matthew 6:19-24

This morning we have Nikki Pritchard leading the service and Dave Clancey is preaching on Luke 10:25-37 and leading in the Lord's Supper

Unfortunately this service had an issue with the sound quality for the first ten minutes or so, the service video starts part way through the service once the issue was resolved. Last week Peter Somervell helped us continue to bring all of life under Jesus' rule and reign, as children of light, filled with the Holy Spirit as we consider our wider family relationship, and how we engage in the workplace. In Ephesians 6:10-24, Zane Elliott will finish our series talking about the Armor of God looking at three important things; being strong in the battle, standing firm and prayer because our need is great.

Last week we thought about Christian marriage as a place which reflects the glory of the Lord Jesus. In Ephesians 6:1-9 Peter Somervell will help us continue to bring all of life under Jesus' rule and reign, as children of light, filled with the Holy Spirit as we consider our wider family relationship, and how we engage in the workplace. Gospel truth should shape all of life, and today we'll see why.

Christian marriage is about so much more than two people living happily ever after; it is intended to point us to the cosmic plans of God to bring all things under Jesus' feet. As Zane Elliott brings us to Ephesians 5:21-33, we'll think about i) a marriage made in heaven vv.31-32.And how that marriage made in heaven is, meant to be:Ii) reflected in Christian marriages vv.21-30,33. a) by spirit filled wives vv.22-24 b) and spirit filled husbands vv.25-30 who live in submission to the love of Jesus.

As we meet Nathan 'Wal' Walter, who will serve as Locum Minister during August and September we are going to hear him encourage us to keep walking in a manner that is worthy of the Lord Jesus, in Ephesians. Chapter 5 is a chapter of application where we are spurred on to live out the love and grace we've received in the Lord Jesus. Wal will help us see; i) Things that must not be among us (vv3-7), that as God's people we must be ii) Walking as light (vv8-14) and as we engage with the world around us be iii) Walking as wise (vv15-21).

Today is Trinity Sunday and Bishop Steve Maina is going to celebrate with us. he'll be preaching on Ephesians 4:25-5:2, a passage where we are encouraged to be totally reshaped into the new sleeves Paul described in chapter 4.

In Ephesians 4 the Apostle Paul urges the church to walk in a manner worthy of the calling they have received in the Lord Jesus. As Zane Elliott open this passage we see that the church has  i) A call to walk, in a particular way (vv.1-6).Then we focus on three wonderful ways God helps us, encourages, us, and supports us, as we walk in the way we’re called to, as his people. He gives:ii) Gifts to achieve it (vv. 7-10)iii) Guides to teach it (vv.11-16)iv) New selves walk it (vv.17-24)

In this sermon Peter Somervell will open  Ephesians 3:1-21 where we see “The Mystery Revealed.” We'll see that Paul wants us to comprehend God’s great plan for the church.  He wants us to see it, marvel at it and rejoice in it and most importantly, live it out.  For that, we need God’s help!  Peter will help us: Marvel at God’s Plan (vv.1-13) and show us why we must Pray for God’s Power (vv.14-21) We'll be called to Pray to be strengthened with God’s Power (16-17a)Pray to grasp the greatness of Christ’s love (17b-19)Pray believing that God is able! (20-21)

As Zane Elliott opens Ephesians chapter 2 we see a church getting a difficult reality check as they struggle to walk in faith because of differences between Jewish and gentile background believers. We'll join Paul as he helps the Ephesians grasp spiritual realities which make sense of:i) How you walked in the past: vv.1-10 as he examines how Jew and gentile both needed God's grace, and ii) How we must walk now: vv-11-22 united in the Lord Jesus.

In Ephesians 1:15-23 Paul prays for the church at Ephesus; that they might understand who God is, and know him better. He asks for three particular things for the Ephesian church, which should help shape the way we pray, and live today. Jesse Behan helps us to know god better by highlighting the heartbeat of Paul's prayer: that we remember the wonderful hope we have in Jesus, that we are strengthened by the glorious riches of being made God';s treasured possession, and that we grasp the power at work in us, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.