by Neil Ellis | Aug 20, 2023 | Sermons
Step to the Edge Step to the Edge Scripture: Matthew 15: 10-28 The Pharisees are concerned with issues of ritual purity and cleanliness. Don’t eat with dirty hands as it will defile you. Jesus is concerned with the words that come out of our mouths, as these words...
by Neil Ellis | Aug 13, 2023 | Sermons
Choosing a Focus Choosing a Focus Scripture: Matthew 14: 22-33 Most sermons I’ve ever heard on this passage go like this. When Peter began to sink Jesus rescued him. If Peter, the individual who Jesus built his church on, can falter and have moments of doubt, it’s...
by Neil Ellis | Aug 6, 2023 | Sermons
Who Does the Feeding? Who Does the Feeding? Scripture: Matthew 14: 13-21 This gospel story is so well known that at the beginning of the week I sat down and thought to myself ‘how do I say something new about this passage?’ It’s a piece of scripture that when we hear...
by Neil Ellis | Jul 30, 2023 | Sermons
The Kingdom of God is Like… The Kingdom of God is Like… Scripture: Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-50 You are probably familiar with the expression ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ An expression meant to convey the depth of meaning we can pull from a single...
by Neil Ellis | Jul 23, 2023 | Sermons
Good Seed, Bad Seed Good Seed, Bad Seed Scripture: Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43 As you are aware from last week, I am not a gardener. Nor am I a farmer. However, I have always been led to believe that when you spot weeds in your garden you remove them. There is no need to...
by Neil Ellis | Jul 17, 2023 | Sermons
The Garden Path The Garden Path Scripture: Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23 I am not a gardener, I would never describe myself as having a green thumb. I appreciate a beautiful lush garden, but I don’t have the patience to get out and do the work that is needed on a regular...
by Neil Ellis | Jul 9, 2023 | Sermons
This Generation This Generation Scripture: Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30 We have all been there. Perhaps we’ve been in the situation where nothing we do seems to please someone else. Maybe that’s our boss, our spouse, our children or our parents. It doesn’t matter how many...
by Neil Ellis | Jul 2, 2023 | Sermons
The Prophet’s Reward The Prophet’s Reward Scripture: Matthew 10: 40-42 There is a saying that goes: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you...
by Neil Ellis | Jun 25, 2023 | Sermons
Peace or the Sword? Peace or the Sword? Scripture: Matthew 10: 24-39 Let’s just get it out of the way and say that we don’t like this passage or at the very least that it makes us very uncomfortable. The dislike and discomfort come from the passage which reads, “Do...
by Neil Ellis | Jun 18, 2023 | Sermons
A Holy Nation A Holy Nation Scripture: Exodus 19: 2-8 and Romans 5: 1-8 We will in our lives from time-to-time experience what I will describe as a call. A clear sense of direction of who we are and where we are supposed to be. External and internal sources will...
