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Amos - The Word of a Prophet Part 2: Is It Actually Hard To Understand
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 5 Oct, 2014
Cows of Bashan, sacrifices, worms devouring olive trees, death, opulence, corruption, rivers, exile, oppression, darkness—this is the content of the text that we’re going to be digging into this Sunday. We’re continuing our series on the book of Amos and continuing to grapple with the question of how we can hear the Lord speaking to us today through the ancient, sometimes obscure prophecies recorded in the Bible. This week we’re going to be particularly looking for how we can find a relevant message for our lives in these challenging texts. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Relationship Dynamics 3 – Changing the Dynamic
Worship Service: Children & Adult - 14 Sep, 2014
For the past two weeks we’ve been looking at different dynamics in relationships. What do you do if there’s a dynamic in one of your relationships that you don’t like? You’re stuck in a rut or a pattern of interaction that is unhealthy, harmful, or just frustrating for both of you; what can you do? This Sunday we’re going to look at what it takes to change the dynamic in a relationship. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Relationship Dynamics 1 - Fighting
Worship Service: Sermon only - 31 Aug, 2014
Who are you fighting with at the moment? How does that fight affect the rest of your life? This Sunday we're starting a 3 week series on dynamics in relationships and we're beginning the series by talking about fighting. Being in conflict can cause us a lot of stress and pain and so we often do everything we can to avoid it. When we understand why we're fighting and what we're fighting for it can help us to fight the good fight when necessary. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Malcolm Cockerell Memorial Service
Memorial Service - 19 Aug, 2014
Repentance 4 - Beginning a New Life With the Lord
Worship Service: Sermon only - 17 Aug, 2014
For the past few weeks we’ve been looking at the steps of repentance, the spiritual process the Lord calls us to go through to reject what is evil and harmful in our lives and begin a new life. This week we come to the final step: actually beginning a new life. Scared? Does it even seem possible to make a real and lasting change in your life? Join us this Sunday to take an honest look at the challenges of beginning a new life and to learn how the Lord makes it possible for us to do this. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
The Blessings That Come From Blessing the Lord
Worship Service: Sermon only - 20 Jul, 2014
Are you blessed? Do you feel blessed? This week we are going to look at one of the Psalms and reflect on what being blessed by the Lord means. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Idolatory 4: Other People's Idolatory
Worship Service: Family (may include music) - 8 Jun, 2014
For the past few weeks we’ve been looking at idolatry in ourselves—how we can be tempted to worship idols of various kinds instead of Jesus Christ. This Sunday we’re going to dig into the difficult question of how to respond to other people’s idolatry. How should we treat people who worship other gods than us? And the even more challenging question, how should we treat people in our own church or family or community that have different beliefs and priorities than we do? | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
God with Us as Lord and God
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 20 Apr, 2014
The disciple Thomas only acknowledged Jesus to be his Lord and God when he could see and touch the Lord's body for himself. We will never have that opportunity so is it possible for us to still believe that Jesus really was here and really did rise from the dead and really is God? On Sunday we will explore how faith develops and how we can come to believe that Jesus is our God even though we've never seen Him physically. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
God with Us - How?
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 13 Apr, 2014
As we've led up to Easter we've been exploring the concept of God being with Us - God with us as a King, God with us as an Example. This week we'll listen to the Lord talking to His disciples right before He was about to leave them, explaining to them how He could still be with them once He was gone physically. This will give us the chance to learn how God can be with us too, even though He's never been with us physically. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
God with Us as Jesus and the Christ
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 30 Mar, 2014
This Sunday we're beginning a sermon series that will take us through Easter called "God with Us." We'll be digging into the Easter story as it's told in the Gospel of John. For this week we'll be focusing on how we react to the idea of the Lord's kingdom coming. We might think we want that to happen but when it starts to affect how we're living our lives it suddenly becomes not such an appealing idea. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
7 Practices of Peace: Navigating
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 2 Mar, 2014
After cultivating new habits, a new stage comes when we start to experience the benefits of living a better way. We become lit up about the new way of living, and our love leads us forward. When we have faith in its positive effects, navigating our way through life becomes easier, more peaceful and more joyful. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
7 Practices of Peace - Cultivating
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 23 Feb, 2014
Once we've acknowledged God's presence in our lives, and begun to see that there is a higher way, we are ready to take action (cultivating). These practices lead us toward creating a life that continues to be a blessing to others. The small seeds within these actions will go on to bear more fruit, more seeds, positively affecting people we may never meet. Gen 1:9-13, AC 9, TCR 529, TCR 528, AC 29 | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Why Does What You Believe Matter?
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 19 Jan, 2014
"When You Have Eaten and are Full"
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 5 Jan, 2014
When things are going well and we are 'full' it is easy to forget the Lord. Moses had some warnings about this when speaking to the Israelites before they entered the promised land which we would do well to take heed of. This is a slightly adapted version of a sermon by the Rev. Dr. Reuben P. Bell. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Where is He Who is Born King of the Jews
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 15 Dec, 2013
The wise men followed a star that eventually led them to where the Lord was. And the way we picture them is either purposefully travelling across the desert, following the star, or having arrived at their destination, kneeling before Jesus. Before they made it to the Lord, however, they got a bit lost. When we're trying to follow the star in our lives we also will probably end up not in the right place at first. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Jesus' Dodgy Family History
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 1 Dec, 2013
This Sunday we're going to be looking at the genealogy - the long list of names - at the beginning of the gospel of Matthew. Before you decide that you've definitely got something more important to do on Sunday evening, let me explain why I chose this. I've wanted to preach about the genealogy for some time precisely because it seems boring at first. Why is it there? Why does the whole New Testament start this way? What I found is that, if you look at the list of names more closely, you see that there are actually some quite juicy details contained in it and some important information about what family Jesus was born into. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
What We Can Learn from Mindfulness and Meditation about Spiritual Practices
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 17 Nov, 2013
As human beings we have a lot to deal with - stress, grief, ambition, conflict, joy, confusion, pride, exhaustion, excitement, frustration, guilt, etc. - and rarely does it feel like we have the time and space to deal with what comes up properly. It's a hectic time of year, with lots of work and social commitments, and at times like this life can feel particularly overwhelming. This Sunday we're going to talk about simple but profound truths about how we can learn to respond to life differently. To gain the benefit of these truths will absolutely require that we change our behaviour but it will also change our lives. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Path of Integrity 6 - Have Compassion
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 1 Sep, 2013
One of the hardest things to do is to let go of hurt or shame we've carried. In time, however, we may learn to see blessings that have come from our struggles and we can forgive others as well as ourselves. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Path of Integrity 5 - Take Responsibility
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 25 Aug, 2013
Integrity is taking responsibility for our choices and their consequences. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Path of Integrity 2 - Drop the Distractions
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 4 Aug, 2013
Soon after you gain clarity about your dream, you will see more clearly the addictions, temptations, and other distractions that threaten to sabotage your efforts. We call these "distractions" because they take you off the track of your true path. This is your chance to break old habits and build new ones that support your goals. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Understanding Marriage 3 - The Wisdom of Women
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 14 Jul, 2013
This Sunday I'll be reading a sermon by Rev. John Odhner, a minister who has done a lot of marriage work. In this thought-provoking sermon he talks about when men should listen to their wives and about one of the main things that destroys marriages. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Understanding Marriage 2 - Getting Married and Staying Married
Worship Service: Sermon only - 7 Jul, 2013
Why get married? Why stay married? A lot of people are asking these questions and don't have good answers to them. Last Sunday we talked about what's most important in the first stages of getting married, in dating, proposing, and getting betrothed (if you don't know what betrothal is then read or listen to last week's sermon). This week we're talking about what's most important in the wedding service and being married. If we understand that then maybe we'll be able to answer those questions. | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Understanding Marriage 1 - Dating, Proposing, Betrothal
Worship Service: Sermon only - 30 Jun, 2013
Have you been to a wedding recently? Have you thought about why we have weddings or marriages for that matter? Are they important or are they just legal paperwork? You can probably guess what the answer is but can you explain why? | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
The New Jerusalem - Why Jerusalem
Worship Service: Sermon only - 26 Jun, 2013
This Sunday we are celebrating New Church Day by talking about the Holy City New Jerusalem, as we often do. This time we are focusing on why it's the New Jerusalem. Why not New Bethlehem or New Durban? | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA
Captivity, Part 1 - The Value of Captivity
Worship Service: Childrens Talk & Adult Sermon - 19 May, 2013
In the story of the Bible God allows His chosen people to be taken away into captivity. Enemies come and destroy the temple and all of Jerusalem and take the people far away from the Promised Land. What was the value of this experience for the people and what is the value in our lives of times when we are taken far away from where we want to be? | By Rev. Malcolm G. Smith , Westville, RSA