St Pauls and St Barnabas Belfast

Have you ever found yourself in a place where you wanted to say something, but the culture, the language, the whole world around you was so different you didn't know where to begin?Paul did. He stood in the middle of Athens — a city of temples and idols, the philosophical capital of the ancient world — and somehow found a way to speak hope into it. He didn't start with condemnation. He didn't shout from a safe distance. He walked the streets, listened carefully, looked for what was good, and from an altar inscribed "To an Unknown God" he opened up the only God of the universe.In this sermon from Acts 17:22–31, Rev Andrew Irwin draws out Paul's missionary pattern and asks what it means for St Paul's & St Barnabas to be a church that speaks hope into North Belfast — into our streets, our lodges, our community centres, our cafés, our campuses, our homes. A church that doesn't hide behind locked doors or shout from a distance, but enters in, listens, and proclaims the risen Christ.Some will sneer. Some will want to hear more. Some will believe. Our call is not to control the reaction. It is to be faithful in the speaking.Preached at St Paul's & St Barnabas, Belfast — Sunday 10 May 2026.www.spbbelfast.church

A locked room. A frightened band of disciples. And a risen Jesus standing among them with the most surprising opening line in the New Testament.In this sermon from John 20:19–31, Canon Mark Eldredge — visiting from the American Anglican Council — asks why the very first thing Jesus said to his disciples after rising from the dead was "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." Not "let's gather and worship." Not "love one another." Not "serve the poor." But "you're sent."Mark unpacks the priority of mission and the plan for mission — leaving our comfort zones, building real relationships with people who don't yet know Jesus, and becoming "yet people" who say with Christ in the garden, "not my will, but yours be done."A warm and bracing word to St Paul's & St Barnabas about being a church for North Belfast — sent in the same way the Son was sent.Preached at St Paul's & St Barnabas, Belfast — Eastertide, May 2026.www.spbbelfast.church

In this sermon from Acts 2:42–47, Rev Andrew Irwin reflects on the four pillars of the early church and asks what it would look like to get the simple things right — the teaching of the Word, the breaking of bread, common life in grace, and the rhythms of everyday faith — and why, when a church does, God builds it.Preached at St Paul's & St Barnabas, Belfast — Sunday 27 April 2026.www.spbbelfast.church

Two disciples. Seven miles. A stranger they should have recognised.On the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus, Cleopas and his companion have all the facts — the empty tomb, the angels, the reports that Jesus is alive. They can practically summarise the gospel. And yet hope is past tense. They are walking away, downcast, confused, and completely missing the one walking right beside them.In this sermon from Luke 24:13–35, Rev Andrew Irwin reflects on the danger of knowing all about Jesus without truly knowing him, how the risen Christ opens the Scriptures on the road and sets two hearts on fire, and what happens to people who genuinely encounter him — they do not sit still. They run.Were not our hearts burning within us?Preached at St Paul's & St Barnabas, Belfast — Easter Series, April 2026.www.spbbelfast.church

On the first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb in the dark — grieving, searching, and not yet understanding. She finds the stone rolled away, the grave clothes lying empty, and angels where a body should be. And then, in a moment that changes everything, the risen Jesus speaks her name.In this Easter sermon from John 20:1–18, Rev Andrew Irwin reflects on the restless searching that lies at the heart of every human life — the longing for something we can't quite name, the disorientation of loss and confusion, and the silence of an empty tomb that at first seems to make everything worse, not better.But Easter doesn't meet us with an argument. It meets us with a person. A risen Jesus who walks in gardens, who calls us by name, and who invites us to stop searching — because he has already found us.In this episode:Why Mary's confusion at the tomb is so deeply humanWhat the empty tomb means before we understand itThe moment Jesus calls Mary by name — and what that means for usHow the resurrection answers our searching with presence, not just proofPreached on Easter Sunday, 5 April 2026, at St Paul's & St Barnabas, Belfast.St Paul's & St Barnabas is an Anglican evangelical parish in the heart of North Belfast, seeking to make Christ known and to love our city in his name.Join us in person on Sundays at 208 York Street, Belfast, or find out more at www.spbbelfast.church

On Palm Sunday at St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Rev Andrew Irwin preaches on Psalm 31:9-16 and the strange, weighty tension at the heart of Holy Week. As Christ enters Jerusalem in triumph, he also walks towards sorrow, rejection, and the cross. This sermon explores the agony beneath the triumph, the honesty of David in suffering, the stubborn trust of faith, and the hope that comes from knowing that our times are in the hands of God. In a world shaped by pressure, fear, and the need to appear strong, Psalm 31 calls us to bring our distress honestly before the Lord, to trust him deeply, and to rest in his faithful love. A sermon for those carrying grief, pressure, anxiety, or uncertainty, and for all who need to be reminded that God is not absent in trouble, but present, faithful, and good.  

St Paul’s & St Barnabas SermonsGalatians 3:13–14 | The Solution to the CurseRev Ethan McCarter (Crosscollyer EPC)In this sermon from St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Rev Ethan McCarter of Crosscollyer EPC preaches from Galatians 3:13–14, opening up how Christ redeems us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. At the heart of the passage is the good news of the gospel: that through the cross, the blessing promised to Abraham comes to the nations, and that in Christ we receive the promised Spirit by faith.At St Paul’s & St Barnabas, we are an Anglican evangelical parish in the heart of North Belfast, committed to preaching Christ faithfully, teaching the Bible clearly, and helping people grow as disciples of Jesus in the whole of life.We hope this sermon helps you see more clearly the glory of Christ’s saving work and the freedom, blessing, and new life that are found in him.For more information about St Paul’s & St Barnabas, visit:www.spbbelfast.church

Part of our Lent preaching, this episode takes us into Matthew 4:1–11 where Jesus is led into the wilderness and tested with hunger, spectacle, and power. The devil’s first move is to unsettle identity: “If you are the Son of God…” but Jesus stands firm by the Word, answering again and again, “It is written.” This sermon calls us to Word-saturated endurance in the ordinary pressures of life, where comfort can become danger and shortcuts can look sensible, and it re-centres us on who we are in Christ as we return to faithful mission in our city.

Part 5 of the “Contending for Hope” series reflects on 1 Peter 1:22–25 on Transfiguration Sunday, drawing on the mountain-top glory of Matthew 17 and what it means to walk back down into the ordinary valleys of daily life. This episode explores how the Christian life is not sustained by moments of spiritual intensity but by the living and enduring Word of God, calling us to love one another deeply, to remember what truly lasts, and to live faithfully in the everyday as people shaped by a hope that does not fade.

In this sermon from 1 Peter 1:17–21, Rev. Andrew reflects on what it means to live as God’s redeemed people in a pressured and uncertain world, reminding us that we have been rescued not by perishable things, but by the precious blood of Christ. Set in the context of a church living as strangers and exiles, the passage calls us to take the holiness of God seriously, not as fear-driven moralism, but as a life shaped by grace, dependence on the Spirit, and reverent trust in a holy and loving Father. As St Paul’s & St Barnabas begins its 175th year of worship and witness in Belfast, this message invites us to locate our faith and hope not in circumstances or success, but in the God who has acted decisively in Christ and is still at work among His people today.

Rev Alan preaches this morning from Hebrews 11 and In this sermon, we are brought face to face with one of the most searching questions of the Christian life: what does real faith look like, and where does it come from?Hebrews 11 opens by grounding faith not in emotion or optimism, but in confidence and conviction. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the certainty of things not yet seen. From the outset, Scripture reminds us that faith is not blind. It is anchored in the Word of God, the God who speaks and creates, the God who frames the world by His command and sustains it by His power.

Part 3 | 1 Peter 1:10–16 | The Beautiful Life Is a Holy LifeIn Part 3 of our series through 1 Peter, we turn to 1 Peter 1:10–16 and consider what it means to live a beautiful life shaped by holiness. Peter slows the church down. Before calling believers to action, he invites them to dwell, to linger, and to reflect on the salvation they have received. This salvation was long anticipated by the prophets, marvelled at by angels, and now revealed fully in Jesus Christ. It is not a passing idea or a private comfort, but the foundation of Christian life in the world.From this deep reflection on salvation, Peter moves to the call of holy living. Holiness is not about legalism or withdrawal from the world, nor is it about blending in without distinction. Instead, it is a life shaped by hope, marked by obedience, and rooted in the character of a holy God who has made us His children.This episode explores how gospel truth leads to gospel living, why suffering often comes before glory, and how a renewed mind fuels faithful, visible discipleship in everyday life. Holiness, Peter shows us, is not an optional extra, but the natural outworking of a life grounded in grace. A timely reminder that the Christian life is formed not by rushing ahead, but by fixing our hope fully on Christ and living as His people in the world.

In this episode, we open 1 Peter 1:3–9 and reflect on what it means to live with a living hope in a weary and pressured world. Writing to believers in exile, Peter begins not with instruction but with praise, reminding us that Christian hope begins with salvation, is secured by the resurrection of Jesus, and is sustained even through suffering. This episode explores new birth, an inheritance that cannot fade, faith refined by trials, and the quiet, resilient joy of loving Christ in the waiting. In a moment when retreat and maintenance feel tempting, Peter calls us to faithful presence, confident worship, and hopeful witness, trusting that the God who has acted before is still at work today.

As we begin a new year and mark 175 years of worship and witness at St Paul’s & St Barnabas, we open a new teaching series: Contending for Hope.In this first message, we turn to the opening words of Peter’s first letter. Written to a weary, scattered church under pressure, these verses speak with striking clarity to our own moment.Peter reminds God’s people who they are before he tells them what to do: strangers in the world, yet chosen by God; set apart by the Spirit; sprinkled by the blood of Jesus; sent to live faithfully where God has placed them.This is not a call to retreat from the world, nor to manage decline quietly. It is a call to live with confidence, clarity, and hope in a place that does not yet feel like home.As we stand at the threshold of a new year and a significant anniversary in the life of this parish, this sermon sets the foundation for what it means to contend for hope in our city today: grounded in salvation, rooted in grace, and sent with peace.Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Living Because the Light Has Come | Isaiah 63:7–9What do we do when the waiting is over? Christmas has come. The candles are lit. The moment has passed. And now the question presses in: what next?In this sermon from Isaiah 63:7–9, we reflect on what it means to live because the light has come. Isaiah speaks to a people who are weary, disoriented, and unsure where God is. They are religious, but hollowed out. Faithful in form, but struggling in heart. And into that moment, Isaiah calls them not to schemes or strategies, but to remembrance.This is a sermon about hope that is rooted not in institutions, numbers, or optimism, but in the unchanging character of God. A God who is kind. A God who keeps covenant. A God who enters our distress, carries His people, and redeems them in love.As we stand at the end of one year and look toward another, this passage reminds us that hopeful waiting is never passive. Because Christ has come, we are called to live, to move, and to trust Him again. Personally. As a church. For the sake of the city.The light has come.And because of that, we live.

As the shortest day of the year slipped into darkness, we gathered by candlelight at St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Belfast, to sing carols and to reflect on the deeper meaning of Advent. This episode is drawn from that reflection — Hopeful Waiting — shared in the space between fading light and rising hope.Winter has a way of intensifying what we already carry: weariness, grief, anxiety, and unanswered questions. Rather than denying that darkness, this reflection names it honestly. Drawing on Scripture and the heart of the Christmas story, it reminds us that Advent is not sentimental waiting, but hopeful waiting in the dark.The Christian claim is not that we climb our way toward the light, but that the light came to us. In Jesus Christ, God steps into our long night — not with advice or distance, but with presence. Immanuel. God with us.This episode invites you to listen, to slow down, and to consider a simple but searching question: not just whether we know the carols, but whether we know the Christ they proclaim. Because hope is not an atmosphere. Hope has a name. And his name is Immanuel.Recorded live at Community Carols by Candlelight, St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Belfast.

As we continue our Advent series Hopeful Waiting, in this sermon from Micah 5:2–5, we continue by exploring the promise that God does His greatest work through small and overlooked places. In a world shaped by numbers, visibility, and influence, Micah points us instead to Bethlehem — insignificant in the eyes of the world, yet chosen by God as the birthplace of the promised King.This episode reflects on the kind of ruler we are waiting for: not a distant strongman, but a Shepherd-King who stands with His people, walks with them through the valleys, and brings a peace rooted in His presence rather than our circumstances. As Advent calls us to wait, this sermon invites us to trust that God is at work even in the ordinary, the unseen, and the long seasons of waiting, because the King has come, and He will come again.

In Episode 2 of our Advent series Hopeful Waiting, we turn to Romans 15:4–13, where the apostle Paul lifts our eyes to a hope shaped by Scripture, sustained by endurance, and strengthened by encouragement. Written to a divided church, this passage reminds us that true Christian hope is not shallow optimism, but a settled confidence rooted in the faithfulness of God.As Advent continues, we reflect on what it means to wait well. Not passively, and not anxiously, but with patience, unity, and trust in the God who keeps his promises. Paul’s prayer points us to a hope that draws God’s people together, welcomes one another in Christ, and overflows by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we begin our Advent 2025 series "Hopeful Waiting," we turn to Luke 3:1–18 and the fierce, hope-filled ministry of John the Baptist. Set against a backdrop of political power and religious expectation, the Word of God arrives not in the palace or the temple, but in the wilderness. From there John announces a call to repentance, fruitfulness, and readiness for the coming King. This sermon explores how Advent begins in the places we overlook, challenges our assumptions about spiritual life, and calls the church to prepare the way of the Lord in a weary and distracted world. We consider the wilderness of our own context, the practical marks of repentance, and the certain hope of Christ’s return.

In this week’s sermon Rev Andrew preaches from Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43 on the theme “When Wheat and Weeds Grow Together.” Jesus’ parable reveals the quiet work of the enemy, the patience and wisdom of the Master, and the certainty of the final harvest. In a world where good and evil grow side by side, we are called to put our roots down deep in Christ, to trust His timing, and to look with hope toward the day when the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Join us as we consider what faithful, rooted discipleship looks like in the midst of a mixed field.

Remembrance Sunday This Remembrance Sunday, we welcomed Rev Tim Wright from the Intercontinental Church Society (ICS) to St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Belfast. Drawing on his experience as a former Royal Air Force chaplain, Tim preached from Ephesians 2:13–22, reflecting on Christ as our peace — the One who breaks down every dividing wall of hostility and reconciles us to God and to one another.Listen as we remember those who gave their lives in service and hear the hope of the gospel that brings true and lasting peace through Jesus Christ.

In this week’s message from Luke 19:1–10, we explore the remarkable encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus — a man who seemed to have everything, yet was lost and searching. As Jesus passes through Jericho, He sees, knows, and calls Zacchaeus by name, bringing salvation and transformation into his home. Through this story, we’re reminded that grace still seeks us where we are, but never leaves us there. It changes hearts, homes, and communities.Recorded live at St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Belfast, this sermon challenges us to be a church that welcomes the outcast, seeks the lost, and lives out the joy of salvation in our city.We would love to see you every Sunday in person and to find out more via our website.

In this week’s message from St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Belfast, Rev Andrew Irwin explores Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector from Luke 18:9–14. Two men go to the temple to pray, but only one leaves justified. What does this reveal about the kind of prayer God hears? Andrew unpacks the story’s challenge to pride and performance, showing that true prayer flows from a heart that is honest, humble, and hopeful. Whether you’re exploring faith, returning to it, or seeking renewal, this reflection invites you to pray again, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner,” and to rediscover the grace that changes everything.🎧 Recorded live at St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Belfast. Visit www.spbbelfast.church for more information.

In this episode, we turn to 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5, where Paul urges Timothy to continue in what he has learned and to preach the Word in season and out of season. Andrew Irwin explores what it means to remain steadfast in Scripture amid cultural drift, reminding us that all Scripture is God-breathed and equips God’s people for every good work. Set in today’s Belfast context, this sermon calls the church to be a people of the Word—faithful, patient, and courageous in a world that often trades truth for myth. Listen as we are encouraged to keep preaching, living, and enduring in the gospel, confident that Christ still reigns and His Word is still enough.

In this week’s message at St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Belfast, Rev Marc Scheibe opens Psalm 67 and reflects on what it means for God’s people to be “blessed to be a blessing.” He reminds us that the mission of God begins not with our activity, but with His grace — as we receive His blessing, rest in His presence, and are sent to make His salvation known among the nations.This psalm calls the church to live in the light of God’s face, to praise Him in all things, and to show His goodness to the world around us.For more information about our church and weekly gatherings, visit www.spbbelfast.church.

In this Harvest service at St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Belfast, we welcomed Bishop Darren McCartney, Rector of St Paul’s Lisburn, as our guest preacher. Preaching from John 15:1 - 17, Bishop Darren reflects on Jesus as the true vine, the Father as the gardener, and the call for believers to remain in Christ and bear fruit that lasts. He reminds us that pruning, though painful, leads to greater fruitfulness, and that abiding in Christ shapes our lives with the love and likeness of Jesus.Listen in as we give thanks for God’s goodness and are challenged to live fruitful lives rooted in Christ.

In this episode, Rev. Andrew Irwin preaches from Matthew 9:9–13 on the call of Matthew the tax collector. We reflect on the beauty of Jesus’ invitation - how grace captures the most unlikely of people, how the company Jesus keeps challenges our assumptions, and how mercy, not sacrifice, lies at the very heart of God’s kingdom.Recorded live at St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Belfast.For Jesus & Our City

In the final chapter of Titus, Paul reminds the church that the gospel saves us not by works but for good works. We are called to live peaceably and gently toward all, avoiding unprofitable controversies, and devoting ourselves to what is excellent and fruitful. Saved by mercy, renewed by the Spirit, and sent for good — this is the gospel fruit God longs to grow in us today. We would love for you to join us each Sunday at St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Belfast. For more information, visit www.spbbelfast.church.

Titus 2 | Gospel Living: Grace That Trains UsIn this week’s sermon we turn to Titus chapter 2, where Paul calls the whole church to live lives shaped by the gospel. From older men and women, to younger men and women, to those in service, no one is left out. Sound doctrine is not just what we confess with our lips but what we embody in our lives.Paul reminds us that the grace of God has appeared in Christ — grace that saves us, sustains us, and trains us for godliness. This same grace orients our past, present, and future: Christ gave himself to redeem us, his Spirit now shapes us for holiness, and we wait for the blessed hope of his appearing.Titus is told to declare these things with authority, because the gospel is both the message and the means by which the church is built up. For us today, the call remains the same: to adorn the gospel by how we live, so that the world sees Christ in us.The big truth: The grace that saves us is the grace that trains us — and the lives we live become a window for the world to see the beauty of Christ.

In this episode we explore Titus 1, where Paul writes to his co-worker Titus on the island of Crete about the urgent need for gospel-shaped leadership. Crete was a place marked by deceit, corruption, and confusion — not unlike our own world. Paul reminds Titus that the church must be built on the foundation of the gospel (vv.1–4), led by elders of godly character (vv.5–9), and guarded against false teaching (vv.10–16).The message is clear: the church will only ever be as strong as the truth it believes and the leaders who hold it. Ultimately, our hope is not in human leaders but in Christ himself — the true Shepherd and faithful Overseer of our souls.For more information, visit www.spbbelfast.church.

Welcome to the St Paul’s & St Barnabas Belfast Podcast—the place to catch up on the latest teaching from our church family.As a church in the heart of the city, we have a heart for the city. Our desire is to serve Christ and His city so that many more might come to know the wonder of life in Him.This week, we continue our journey through the book of Philippians, reflecting on Chapter 3:17–4:1 as we consider what it truly means to follow Jesus, as we stand firm for him. For more information, visit:www.spbbelfast.church

Welcome to the St Paul’s & St Barnabas Belfast Podcast—the place to catch up on the latest teaching from our church family.As a church in the heart of the city, we have a heart for the city. Our desire is to serve Christ and His city so that many more might come to know the wonder of life in Him.This week, we continue our journey through the book of Philippians, reflecting on Chapter 1:27–30 as we consider what it truly means to live a life worthy of the gospel.For more information, visit:www.spbbelfast.church

Welcome to the St Paul’s & St Barnabas Belfast Podcast—the place to catch up on the latest teaching from our church family.As a church in the heart of the city, we have a heart for the city. Our desire is to serve Christ and His city so that many more might come to know the wonder of life in Him.This week, we continue our journey through the book of Philippians, reflecting on Chapter 2:12-18 as we consider what it is to know Gospel joy.For more information, visit:⁠www.spbbelfast.church⁠

Welcome to the St Paul’s & St Barnabas Belfast Podcast—the place to catch up on the latest teaching from our church family.As a church in the heart of the city, we have a heart for the city. Our desire is to serve Christ and His city so that many more might come to know the wonder of life in Him.This week, we continue our journey through the book of Philippians, reflecting on Chapter 1:27–30 as we consider what it truly means to live a life worthy of the gospel.For more information, visit:www.spbbelfast.church

Join us as we explore Paul's letter to the Philippians, specifically focusing on the powerful opening verses of chapter 1:1-11. In this episode, we uncover how Paul, despite being in chains, overflows with joy and thankfulness for the Philippian church's partnership in the gospel, highlighting his humility as a "servant of Christ Jesus" and the profound significance of their sustained partnership through good times and suffering. Be encouraged by the confidence that "God who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus", reminding us that our spiritual growth is God's work. We challenge the common understanding of joy, revealing it as a deliberate spiritual discipline rooted in gratitude and connection with Christ and one another, rather than merely a mood. This episode also explores Paul's prayer for the Philippians' love to grow "more and more in the knowledge and depth of insight," leading to discernment and righteous living, ultimately inviting you to rediscover a joy that transcends circumstances, to recommit to joyful service, and to trust in God's continuing work in your life and in the church. For more information visit: www.spbbelfast.church

In Part 2 of our Pentecost series, Andrew explores Peter’s first sermon — a Spirit-empowered proclamation of who Jesus is, what he has done, and why it changes everything. From denial to declaration, we witness how the Gospel gives voice to the voiceless and turns fearful disciples into bold witnesses. In a culture that dismisses truth or redefines it, Peter stands up to say: This Jesus… is both Lord and Messiah. The question that remains is the same one asked that day: What shall we do?

In this first message in our Pentecost series, we step into the upper room and out into the streets of Jerusalem as the Holy Spirit comes in power. As Andrew unpacks Acts 2:1–13, we see how the Spirit doesn’t just descend with wonder, but moves with purpose — empowering the Church for mission. Ordinary people speak extraordinary truth, and the city is stirred to ask: What does this mean for us? In a world full of confusion and dismissal, Pentecost shows us again that the Gospel is for all people, and the Church is called to go — to every corner of the city and beyond.

Ascension Sunday | John 17:20–26 | Rev. Andrew In this Ascension Sunday sermon, Rev. Andrew Irwin opens Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17 and reflects on what it means for the Church to be united in glory, grace, and mission. Preached in the days leading up to Pentecost, this message reminds us that before Jesus ascended, he prayed — not only for his disciples, but for all who would come to believe in him. That includes us today.Andrew explores how this prayer still shapes our identity and calling: we are a people who are united by faith, sent by the Spirit, and sustained by God’s love. Drawing on vivid scenes from city life in Belfast, the sermon paints a compelling picture of how the Church can be a sign of hope and transformation — not by uniformity, but by the shared life and love of Christ working through us.“Unity is not just a structure. It’s the presence of Christ among his people. It’s not earned — it’s received by grace.”In a fragmented world, this episode invites you to rediscover your part in Christ’s answered prayer: to live as one, so that the world might believe.

In this episode, we explore Psalm 63 and the invitation to spiritual vitality in the dry seasons of life. Preaching from the wilderness, David models not perfection, but presence—a deep longing for God in the midst of spiritual weariness. As Andrew Irwin opens the psalm, we hear how spiritual freshness isn’t a luxury for the elite, but a necessity for the ordinary. It’s not found in mere religious activity, but in intimacy with God—desiring Him above comfort, finding satisfaction in His presence, and trusting Him even when enemies surround. Through this powerful and personal psalm, we’re reminded that God meets us in our longing, holds us in our weakness, and satisfies us with Himself. If you’re in a season of dryness or distance, this message is for you. Take heart—His love is still better than life.

In this week’s sermon from Revelation 7, Andrew offers a powerful vision of the church gathered in worship — not only as a future reality in heaven, but as a present call for the people of God today. Through John’s glimpse of a great multitude clothed in white and united in praise, we are reminded that our identity is shaped by grace, not striving. We worship not because we are perfect, but because Christ has made us his. This passage challenges us to reflect the throne-room in our life together and sends us out to welcome others into the joy of the Lamb. Listen as we consider what it means to be a worshipping, witnessing, and welcoming church in North Belfast and beyond.

In this episode, we reflect on Thomas’s encounter with the risen Christ from John 20:24–31 and explore how Jesus meets us not with rebuke but with grace, inviting us—like Thomas—to see, believe, and proclaim, “My Lord and my God.” Rev. Andrew Irwin reminds us that faith begins not with perfect understanding but with honest longing and a real encounter with Jesus. The message challenges us to live in response to Christ’s wounds and resurrection by making him seen in the world around us, carrying the same invitation that still stands today.

Here’s a one-paragraph podcast episode description for you:In this episode, Rev. Andrew Irwin opens John 20:19–31 and reflects on how the risen Jesus meets his fearful followers behind locked doors, speaks peace into their hearts, and shows his scars as the signs of victory. Just as Jesus was sent by the Father, so he sends us — a wounded yet Spirit-empowered Church — into a wounded world. Listen in as we are reminded that we are called to move outwards, not in our own strength, but in the way of the Cross, by the breath of the Spirit, carrying the hope and healing of the resurrection into everyday life.

On this Easter Sunday at St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Rev. Andrew Irwin preaches from John 20:1–18, reflecting on the quiet yet world-changing moment when Mary Magdalene encounters the risen Jesus. In a world that often looks for spectacle, the resurrection comes with tenderness and truth — a Saviour who calls us by name and commissions us to go. This episode explores the hope, wonder, and challenge of resurrection life today.

On Palm Sunday, Rev. Andrew Irwin opens up Luke 19:28–40 with a powerful reflection on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem — not as a warrior king, but as the humble saviour riding on a donkey. Set against the backdrop of a city at boiling point, both ancient Jerusalem and modern Belfast come into view as places of longing, tension, and hope. In this episode, we are invited to consider how Jesus comes not to meet our expectations but to shatter them with something far better — a kingdom built not by power or pride, but through the cross. Will we recognise him, receive him, and respond with lives of worship?

In this message from John 12:1–8, Rev. Andrew reflects on Mary’s extraordinary act of devotion as she anoints Jesus with costly perfume. Her worship overflows from a heart transformed by thankfulness—not just for her brother Lazarus being raised, but because she has come to see Jesus for who He truly is: the Messiah, the Lord of life and death. Contrasting Mary’s humility with Judas’ critique, we’re challenged to examine our own hearts: do our lives reflect true worship, or are we dulled by worldly logic disguised as piety? As we draw near to the Cross, this message invites us to consider what our worship says about who we believe Jesus is, and what we live for.

In this special Mothering Sunday message, Rev. Andrew Irwin reflects on the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32), inviting us to consider what it truly means to come home. Beginning with the image of home as more than just a place—a space of belonging, formation, and love—he draws attention to how Mothering Sunday historically called people back to their “mother church.” The parable then becomes a lens through which we see the heart of God as a loving Father who runs to meet the broken and repentant, restoring them not as servants but as sons and daughters.The teaching highlights that both sons in the story are lost: the younger in rebellion, the older in self-righteousness. Yet the Father pursues them both. Jesus uses this to challenge His listeners—especially the religious leaders—to grasp the radical nature of God’s grace. The call is simple yet profound: we are all invited home. Whether we’ve wandered far or stayed close but cold in heart, the Father’s arms are open. The question is: how will we respond to His grace?Teaching Summary:God’s grace welcomes the repentant home, restores the broken fully, and invites even the self-righteous to celebrate. Both the rebellious and the religious need the Father’s compassion.

Episode Title: Who Will You Serve? – Luke 4:1-13In this episode, Rev. Andrew Irwin explores the powerful moment in Luke 4:1-13 where Jesus is tested in the wilderness. As Lent calls us to reflection and renewal, this passage asks a crucial question: Who or what will you serve?Jesus faces three temptations—provision, power, and presumption—each challenging His trust in God. Where Israel failed in the wilderness, Christ stands firm, proving Himself faithful and worthy of our worship. In a world that constantly pulls us toward self-sufficiency and control, Jesus calls us to trust in Him alone.Join us as we unpack this passage and consider what it means to serve the only King who truly gives life.

Episode Description:In this episode, recorded on Sunday, 26th February 2025, at St Paul’s & St Barnabas, we explore Mark 12:28-34 and the greatest commandment. Rev. Ian Cahoon from our friends at Alexandra Presbyterian opens up the passage, highlighting Jesus’ challenge to move beyond a transactional understanding of faith toward a wholehearted love for God and neighbour. Through the lens of the scribe’s encounter with Jesus, we reflect on the dangers of being “close to the kingdom” but not yet in it. What does it mean to truly love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength? And how do we ensure that Jesus is not just a teacher we admire but the Lord and Saviour we follow?

On Sunday, 16th February 2025, Matthew Campbell, a student at CITI preparing for ministry, preached from Jonah 2 on the theme "Salvation Comes from the Lord." In this sermon, he explored Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the great fish, highlighting God's sovereign grace in delivering those who call upon Him. Jonah’s descent into the depths of the sea mirrored his disobedience, yet God's mercy reached him in the darkest place. Matthew challenged listeners to consider their own response to God’s call—are we running from Him, or do we trust in His salvation? Drawing connections to Jesus' death and resurrection, he reminded us that just as Jonah was delivered after three days, so Christ rose victorious, securing salvation for all who believe. This message calls us to embrace God’s grace and proclaim His gospel to the world.

In this episode, recorded on Sunday, 10th February 2025, at St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Rev. Andrew preaches from Luke 5:1-11 on the calling of Simon Peter, James, and John. In the midst of their ordinary routine, Jesus steps in and transforms everything, turning fishermen into followers. Rev. Andrew reflects on how God meets us in the mundane, calls us to obedience, and invites us into His abundant kingdom. What does it mean to follow Christ today? Are we clinging to our nets, or are we ready to trust Him and step into His calling?