About our Minister » Nathan's Greatest Hits!
This is the contents page to a selection of sermons I have preached since I was ordained here at IBPC in February 2006.
These sermons are birthed out of a life of growing up in church, hearing other's sermons, attending and leading Bible studies, reading, studying theology, history and anthropology, and the Spirit's voice as God has led me through life thus far. Accordingly, I have tried to credit the sources of inspiration for these sermons as far as I am able, but over time it does become hard to distinguish between what is an orginal inspiration and what is something I read years ago!
I am quite reliant on the visual element of power-point in my sermons, and at times include a link to the picture I'm referring to.
Anniversary Services:
Some years, on the Sunday closest to the anniversary of the church's founding in 1899 we hold an"Old Time Religion" service. For these we pick a decade, invite in a band to play in the style of that decade, encourage people to dress up, and look at the issues facing the church in that era.
October 8 2006: The 1920's
October 7 2007: The 1940's
October 11 2009: The 1960's
October 9 2011: 400 Years of the King James'
Summer of Art/Music Services:
This concept for services was borrowed off CitySide Baptist in Auckland. They are shorter services for the four Sundays after Christmas, where each week a different member of the congregation is invited to present works of art, poetry or music that have been significant in their spiritual lives and their growth with God. They can be lighter than standard services, and are a great opportunity for people to share what God has been doing in their lives.
January 8 2007: Hildegard of Bingen, a protrait
January 20 2008: Rublev's Icon of the Trinity
January 11 2009: The Isenheim Altarpeice
January 17 2010: McCahon's "Elias"
January 16 2011: Van Morrison: Astral Weeks
January 22 2012: Van Gogh's Churches
General Sermons:
October 15 2006: Suffering and the Book of Job
Job 23
November 5th 2006: All Saint's, Guy Fawkes, Parehaka - a legacy
Hebrews 12:1-8 / Revelation 8:1-5
April 22, 29, & May 6 2007: The Prodigal Son Series
A 3-sermon series looking at each of the main characters of Luke 15:11-32. Based largely on Kenneth Bailey's book "Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes"
February 3 & 10 2008: Transfiguring Willow Creek; A Practicing Congregation
November 16 2008: The Parable of the Talents
Matthew 25:14-30 - a stark yet grace-filled parable
September 6, 13, 27 2009: James 2, 3, 5
A series from the Book of James (other preachers covered chapters 1 & 4)
April 25th & May 2nd 2010: Death and Judgement
Two sermons prompetd by reading Suprised by Hope by NT Wright - "ANZAC Day and the Afterlife" and "The Second Coming"
Feb 13th, 20th, & 27th 2011: The Book of Ruth Parts 1, 2, & 3
Three sermons on the three main characters of Ruth