Bangor Parish Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Bangor Parish
All Things New John 5:9-47 Have you ever had a phrase or sentiment “lost in translation” – your words misunderstood by their hearers? In this passage the Judeans are hot on the trail of a sabbath-breaker… or are they? They have found a blasphemer… or have they? They have the culprit in for questioning… or... Read more »
He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Mark 8:31-38
Hearts on Fire We are in a spiritual battle, Christ has won the war, let us fight with confidence in His Name. Ephesians 6.10-20
Hearts on Fire It’s sobering when Jesus takes Simon aside and tells him Satan wants to sift him and the rest of the disciples like wheat in a sieve. Let’s learn something about danger and intercession from this illuminating passage. Luke 22:31-34
Hearts on Fire Matthew 4:1-11 Bring it all to the Table, there’s nothing He hasn’t seen before. For all your fear, all your sorrow and your sadness, there’s a Saviour and He calls, ‘Bring it all to the Table’.
Hearts on Fire Asking our Heavenly Father for provision is at the heart of prayer Matthew 6.9-13
Clothed in Christ, we can approach God’s throne in prayerful confidence Hearts on Fire Esther 4.1 – 5.8
Hearts on Fire Psalm 137 How can we approach God when we are consumed by anger and bitterness?
Exploring, through Jesus’ agricultural parables, how the Kingdom of God is built and how, by His generosity, we can be involved in that process. Matthew 13.31-35
The kingdom of God is God’s ‘sphere of influence’, His rule, which includes the restoration of everything in His time. 1 Corinthians 12.1-11 and Matthew 10.1-8
As the popular phrase goes, “When life give you lemons just make lemonade…” Life gave Herod lemons. His day had started predictable. He’d a good thing going as king in Jerusalem…. He just needed to keep in with the Romans and not rock the boat. Then 3 astronomers turn up and he starts to feel... Read more »
Luke 1:39-56 Christmas is good news to the poor, we too are to be good news to the poor.
Life Together Submitting to the Word of the Lord, enjoying sweet fellowship with Him 2 Timothy 3
Life Together “Popular preacher arrives late to an important appointment after getting unduly distracted and delayed”. Don’t we hate distractions and interruptions to our busy schedule!!? Or does this passage in Mark 5:21-34 suggest we’re in danger of missing the point… Mark 5:21-34
There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We are accepted and can live a life led and empowered by the Spirit of God because law of the Spirit of life has set us free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8 :1-17
Jesus offers restoration to Simon Peter, calling him out of failure to fullness. John 21. 1-17
Why does God sometimes close doors in our lives and how should we respond? Acts 16: 1-10
God tells us that anger and revenge are not the correct responses when our enemies do us harm in life. Instead, peace is to be found when we forgive our enemies and trust God to enact justice. Psalm 37.1-11 (Steven Wilson)
In solitude, we wrestle with the Lord and are transformed. Genesis 28.10-22, 32.22-33.4 (Nigel Parker)
Jesus shows us, through practicing solitude and service, the pattern of life lived in the presence of the Father Mark 1.21-39 (Nigel Parker)
21st April 2019, Easter John 20.1-18, 1 Corinthians 15.35-58 Jesus’ resurrection body is a new type of physical body, transformed from His old physical body. Those who look to Him will be resurrected to everlasting life in similar transformed physical bodies within the new heaven and earth.
Jesus had authority to lay down His life and take it up again. A reality He accepted by faith in His Father. That’s faith in action, that’s real authority. Luke 5:17-26 (Nigel Parker)
God wants to restore us and to use us to restore the whole world. How? Through a deep and intimate relationship of love. Isaiah 49:8-21 (Mark Wells)
The Promised Kingdom Genesis 17.1-8 God has already made us what He is calling us to be (Nigel Parker)
God’s ‘big plan’ for us and for the world was good because it was of Him. He calls broken people and a broken world back to Him, and promises that one day He will make everything new once again. Genesis 1:1-2:3
Christlikeness: Give Your All, Join The Family, Keep on Growing, Serve Each Other, Transform Your World. John 15.1-17
Mary's Magnificat is a powerful song for Christmas, before Christmas. Her focus is on God who powerfully keeps His promises. Luke 1:39-56
Marriage between a man and a woman is a temporary sign of Christ’s permanent union with the Church. Matthew 1.18-25
When we, like Mary, make ourselves available as a servant of the Lord, He will fulfill the plans He has for us and for others through us. Then our spirits will rejoice. Luke 1: 26-38
Fasting is about drawing close to God with pure motives. The overflow of this is justice and blessing. Isaiah 58:1-11
Jesus asks us to simplify our language – to say what we mean and mean what we say. Matthew 5:33-37
God’s promise to us is that, when we are in a time of sowing, we should take comfort, for a time of reaping will come. The harvest awaits, and God will turn our tears to joy. Psalm 126
How to discover fullness of life in Christ by practicing the rhythms of God’s grace. Psalm 23
We all value being equipped to serve fellow members of the church with the gifts given by the Holy Spirit Galatians 3:23-29
Teaching. We examined that learning from the teachings of Scripture is more than acquiring mere head knowledge, it is about an active response on our part towards Jesus. Matthew 7:24-29
Jesus promises, 'Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day'. John 6.47-69
‘What do you want?’ Jesus, the Lamb of God, longs to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine in and through our lives. John 1.29-42
No matter what we’ve done, and no matter how desperate our situation, God’s mercy gives us hope in our time of need. Psalm 130
"Although we are weak and broken human beings, Jesus presence is there in the midst of the storm with us to rescue us and lead us on. Moreover, he calls us out upon choppy waters, into a life of risk and faith. He is the one who equips us to be brave and to do the impossible. Matthew shares how this is true in our personal circumstances and also in stepping out in Mission.”
Bishop Harold shares some of his thoughts on the nature of the presence of God. How we are to revere it, seek it and enjoy being in God's presence. 2 Samuel 6:1-19
The wilderness is a lonely and precarious place where we have to learn how to survive. It is a time of trial and testing. And God puts us there to teach us crucial lessons about character, strength and trust.
Julie Currie, Diocesan Children's worker for Down and Dromore talks to us during our Celebration of Church Family
The conclusion of our sermon series, Jesus' Way, looking at the evidence for Resurrection and what exactly the Resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus means for humankind. Luke 24:1-12 and 50-53
Our guest speaker, Rev Norman Jardine, examines the Passover and how Jesus’ set his face like flint towards the Cross. Luke 22:1-23
Jesus gives a sobering message to his disciples of the Destruction of the Jerusalem temple and the End Times. However like every good coach he has the strategy and words of encouragement to see us through to victory. Luke 21:5-38
God showed incredible unmerited favour in choosing Israel to make a covenant with. As a people, they consistently showed appalling ingratitude towards God. Despite this, God remained persistently patient sending prophets and ultimately His Son to call them back to Him. We see that the behaviour of Israel is a microcosm of humankind as a whole. Will you choose the Son or reject him like the Jewish leadership? Luke 20:9-19
Zacchaeus apparently had it all, but all he felt was emptiness. Jesus calls us by name into a relationship with Him where we can find the real meaning and purpose of life. Luke 19:1-10
God is just and, through Jesus, He justifies those who humbly throw themselves on His mercy. Luke 18
Matthew shared about four discipleship characteristics that flow from living as humble servants of Jesus. Luke 17: 1-10
If we look after all God has entrusted to us, He will entrust us with much more Luke 16
As those who have encountered the amazing love of Jesus Christ, we have the privilege, as Children of God, to embody that love by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that people may see, hear, taste, smell and feel the love of God. 1 John 3:1-7
Just as he was sent by the Father, Jesus sends us to proclaim the good news of the gospel. Why should we have a global perspective on mission? Susan Moore talks about her recent time in Cambodia and we explore God’s heart for justice and mercy. Isaiah 58
Amazingly, the Lord Jesus comes alongside us even as our feet take us in the wrong direction. He allows Himself to be considered a fool in order to engage with us and turn us around to walk in His footsteps towards glory. Luke 24:13-35
The pilgrims entering Jerusalem for Passover saw Jesus as a “popular preacher”, a “prophet." Jesus confounds the people by disappointing their expectations, yet being so much more than they could ever have imagined... And He still does that today. Mark 11:1-11
Jesus placed Himself in the midst of unholy people with their unholy practices and declared that heaven was having a great, noisy party every time a single sinner saw the light and began to follow God’s way. He calls us to do the same. Luke 15
Jesus invites us to follow him to the Kingdom of God where we can experience healing, freedom and eternal life Luke 13
Matthew examines how Jesus taught us to pray, and also looks at the radical call to ask and petition God with “shameless audacity”. Luke 11
Jesus humbles us with the mercy God requires so that we can receive the mercy God offers. Luke 10
Jesus, the Lord of all, gives true lasting eternal peace that the world cannot give. Luke 8.26 - 9.17
Tackling Tricky Topics - Reimagine Series - Week 3 David explores how we can dialogue with others in the Public Square with compassion and sensitivity, and also, with truth. 2 Corinthians 5.16-6.10
Our South American Mission Society (SAMS) partner, Cecilia, tells of the Lord’s work in Northern Argentina Hebrews 10:35-39
Reimagine Series - Week 2 Stu Bothwell continues from where Peter Lynas left off, explaining how we can lead lives of impact in the Public Square through spiritual formation and realising our purpose. Colossians 3.1-17
Our God is a God who speaks and who calls us to greater things for His Kingdom. Are we listening? 1 Samuel 3:1-10
Reimagine Series - Week 1 How Christians in Northern Ireland can have a dynamic witness in a post-truth world. Daniel 1.8-20
Physical birth constitutes a radical change of environment and opportunity. Spirit birth through the blood of Jesus is also radical. We are born for glorious living. John 3:1-21
Whether you were surprised by Christmas this year or feel a bit of a ‘gap’ in your experience, allow yourself to stop and be surprised again by the best news ever! It’s Good News to receive, and Good News to share. Luke 2:15-21
Join us as we explore how Jesus was a human being but so much more; he was God. Hear of the amazing life Jesus offers and how we too can become Children of God. John 1.1-14
What are you celebrating this Christmas? Through Isaiah, God promises his people that the darkness of our world and the darkness of our lives can be dealt with. Isaiah 61
The Spirit works to wither hope in human ability and open the way for His life to emerge. Isaiah 40.1-11
Advent is a time of waiting and expectancy, a time to wake up to what God wants to do in your life and our world. Isaiah 64:1-9
God’s life-filled word is for all, capable of producing peace-filled eternal lives. Are we putting Jesus’ teaching into practice? Our purpose is to trust Jesus completely and live for His glory. Luke:8.1-25
Christ wants to show up in the difficult places in our lives and surprise us with the unexpected. Will we let go of our expectations and allow ourselves to be filled with holy awe for who He is, and a growing expectancy for what He might want to do in and through us, by the power of His Spirit? Luke 7
In life each of us need a strategy to deal with pain inflicted on us by others, whether by violence of action or words. Jesus alone provides the way by a life of radical generosity. Luke 6
The only solution to experiencing the life that we were made for is to reach out in faith and follow Jesus, no matter what we may have to give up along the way, because it’s only then that we receive the healing and grace and forgiveness and hope that we really need. Luke 5
The Spirit of God leads us at times into the wilderness to test us. This is both evidence of growth and an opportunity for further growth by obeying the word of God in the power of the Spirit. Luke 4
Through John the Baptist, God calls a people both then and now to return to himself, and to become part of Christ's new Kingdom project of making all things new. Luke 3
Luke in his portrait of Jesus, frames Him in the Temple at the centre of the Jewish and Roman world. As we gaze at this beautiful word-painting, the Spirit invites us to put ourselves in the picture. Luke 2
Mary and Zechariah celebrate God’s faithfulness as they reflect on the Good News they have received and in which they find themselves wrapped up - the silence has been broken, the long awaited saviour was coming, and God wants to use ordinary people like them to make it all happen! Luke 1:39-80
God calls all into mountain top living through Jesus Christ. Are you willing to trust Him, give up everything and go? Luke 1:1-38
When it comes to navigating the tough issues facing our culture and the church today, how to we know which way to go? Looking at human sexuality as a case in point, we see how we must look to the Bible to point us in the right direction. 2 Timothy 3:10-4:5
When it comes to worshipping and serving God - give your very best in the Name of Jesus. Remembering that anything worth doing is worth doing well and also remembering that anything worth doing is worth doing badly. Colossians 3
They say that you value what you do, and do what you value. When we apply that to our own thoughts and feelings on evangelism, how are we doing? What is our motivation for living as Christ’s ambassadors? 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
Some drink to forget, we drink to remember. What a story of deliverance we have to celebrate! Esther 8, Matthew 5.38-48
Our God is King, we honour Him by living obediently, humbly and prayerfully. Amazingly, He honours those who honour Him through Jesus Christ. Esther 6 & 7
Wonderfully, as we pray ‘through Jesus Christ our Lord’, we discover that God, our awesome King, is totally approachable and generous. Esther 4.1 - 5.8
The King of Heaven is in control and powerfully present even when He seems most absent. Esther 2. 1-18
Now is the day of salvation. Jesus invites you, yes even you, to join Him for dinner. R.S.V.P. Luke 14.1-6, 12-24
How are we to fight the battles that we inevitably face in life? Jesus gives us the answer in the last petition of the Lord's prayer. James 1:2-18
After learning to leave our practical needs in God's care, along with the needs of the world, Jesus now teaches us to bring before him the matters of our hearts as well as he teaches us a lesson on forgiveness. Matthew 18:21-35
Instead of being anxious about them, Jesus invites us to pray every day for our every day needs, and the needs of the world, expecting that our faithful God will provide. Matthew 6:25-34
Praying 'Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven' is a risky, bold, audacious prayer - but it's the only way to experience God's best for us and for our world. Matthew 26:36-46
Why pray? For that matter, how do we pray? Join us as we look this month at Jesus' teaching on prayer, which begins by offering a proper perspective that leads to a right response. Matthew 6:5-15
Play an alternative game - act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. Micah 6.6-8
Jesus shows us that the way to live life as Kingdom People is through submitting to the Father's authority and coming to him in prayer. Matthew 6:5-15
As apprentices of Jesus Christ, we are perfectly capable of doing what He did through faith in Him and by the power of His Spirit, but we'll never know until we try and keep trying. Acts 3:1-16
To fulfil our calling as disciples, making disciples, we need God's power. Pentecost is our invitation to the dance of the Holy Trinity, enabling us to live as Christ lived: hearing and responding to the Father's voice, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:1-8
Jesus finds faith and understanding of the Kingdom of God in an unexpected place. Does he find it in our response to and exercise of authority? Luke 7:1-10
Experiencing life in the Kingdom of God requires having faith like a child and looking to our Heavenly Father who gives good gifts to His children to empower us for His Kingdom Mission. Matthew 18:1-5
Nicodemus wonders how Jesus can do the things he does. Jesus tells Nicodemus that to understand and experience it for himself he must be born into the Kingdom of God as a new-born spiritual baby. Only then will he have the opportunity to grow in spiritual sight, hearing and understanding, in order to do what Jesus is doing as a man fully alive in the Spirit. The same exciting opportunity exists for us. John 3:1-21
For many, Jesus' supernatural ministry on earth is only a signpost to his identity as the Son of God. But what if there's more to it than that? And if so, how would that impact our ability to be Kingdom People? Matthew 12:15-28 (The beginning of this sermon is missing.)
We are Kingdom People - disciples making disciples. An introduction to our new series, starting next week. Luke 24:13-35
Have we forgotten just how good the Good News is? As God's children, we have a living hope and a wonderful inheritance, one that is breaking into our reality even now! 1 Peter 1:3-9
The human race was caught up in the devil's scheme to destroy the Son of God. All seemed lost. But God had a wonderful surprise, a bigger plan to bring good out of evil - new creation through Jesus Christ, which we can enter by water and the Holy Spirit. Alleluia! Luke 24:1-8
Jesus is at the door. He wants to come in and clear the rubbish from our lives. He works in unexpected ways. He alone can give life. Let Him in. Mark 11:1-11
In the midst of the darkness of our world and the darkness of our lives, it can be tempting to ask, 'Why?', or 'Where is God in all of this?' Jesus asks a different question, and he shows us that not only does God know about our suffering and pain, he cares and ultimately he's still in control. John 11:1-45
Sometimes we struggle to see what's right before our eyes. Christ came as the light of the world, to shine into our darkness and bring us into the freedom of seeing as He sees and experiencing life as it was always meant to be. John 9
Gentleness is the exercising of God's strength in our lives under His loving control. In worship, we willingly offer ourselves as living sacrifices and so 'self' is controlled by love, rather than by self-effort. This is life in all its fullness. Romans 12
Like Abraham, we are called to a life of faith-filled faithfulness as we respond to God's promises and allow his Holy Spirit to work in us, so that we too can become a blessing to the world. Genesis 12:1-9
Goodness gets a bad name. It isn’t being 'Little Goody Two-Shoes' or a rigid condescending rule-keeper. Goodness sees good in the worst of people and embraces it, despite the cost. God is good and through Jesus Christ, we can be too. Romans 6:1-14 & Mark 8:27-38
In a world that doesn't expect kindness, an act of kindness can change everything. But what is kindness, and having experienced it, how can we share it? 2 Samuel 9
Johnny Cash said, 'Life is rough so you gotta be tough.' If that's true, then what kind of toughness works in facing the roughness of life? The spiritual fruit of forbearance produces in us the resilience we all need. Matthew 18:21-35
Is it possible to really live life better? Paul shows us that we really can experience the joy-filled, peaceful life that we were made for. Philippians 4:1-9
Love has entered the world. Widely misunderstood and rejected, it cannot be overcome, it never fails and is growing in and through every follower of Jesus Christ. Luke 15.1-3, 11b-32
As we believe and faithfully follow Christ, our lives are changed and we become the people God created us to be. John 1:29-42
Your heavenly Father has a wonderful purpose for your life, filled with blessings. Are you ready to receive? King David and King Jesus display characteristics vital for being ready. Matthew 3:13-17
Whatever we face as we enter this new year, we can know God's peace and the blessing of His presence, which dispels our worries and fears. Luke 2:8-21