Gospel Proclamation

We began with a series in Genesis, which was a wonderful way to start the year. What do you do when things feel destabilized? You rely on your foundations. What an encouragement to hear that the world is not an accident, and that our God is supreme and sovereign.

Genesis took us through to Holy Week (which was brilliant as usual). For Easter Sunday, we decided to look at a particular character in the Easter story that normally doesn’t get much attention – Thomas. John 20 is an encouraging story for all of us who struggle with belief. We learnt how, despite Thomas’ unbelief, Jesus doesn’t abandon him, but seeks him out, and deals so graciously with him.

Next came a deep dive into Philippians, which reminded us that the gospel creates a particular type of community marked by supernatural unity, as people live out the gospel. Again, a great message for us living in such a fractured world.

We began summer with a series based on the vision statement of St John’s, as it’s reflected in 1 Peter. The heart of our vision is that we become people gripped by the gospel of grace. It was a very helpful follow up to Philippians, as 1 Peter helped us see how a gospel-centered life produces a community of contrast, and prepares us to be ambassadors for Christ in our city.

The second half of summer was taken up with our family services, which mirror what the children learnt at Vacation Bible School. It was a chaotic joy to have the children with us for the whole service. This year the theme was ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’. We learnt that faith gives us eyes to see a new vision of reality, and why the promises of God are worth more than everything else.

For our Fall term, we studied the first half of Mark’s action-packed Gospel - which answers the question ‘Who is Jesus?’culminating in Peter’s world-shattering response, ‘you are the Christ!.’ Mark’s conspicuous love for Jesus is so evident in every paragraph, as he describes from eyewitness accounts the Christ of power and compassion.

Our calendar year finished (and the church year began!) with an Advent series focussing on the second coming of Christ. It was a great encouragement to remember that the same baby who was born in a stable now rules in heaven with the Father, and will come again to bring an end to this world, and usher in a time where all tears will be washed away and all evil banished. A wonderful end to a message for an unsettled world.

What’s in store for preaching in 2023?

We are still sketching it out, but I can tell you that, after finishing the second half of Mark’s gospel, we will dive into the tricky and deeply challenging world of the minor prophets, followed by a series looking at what it means to be on mission for Jesus.

Rev. Aaron Roberts