(SERMON) The Heresy of Arianism: 1 John 1.1-18

In the streets of Alexandria in 318AD a mob was chanting "There was a time that Christ was not!"  This heresy - Arianism - is alive and well around the world and church today.  Athanasius would spend most of his 46 years as a bishop in exile for fighting it.  Why was he so determined to fight the good fight and why should we be today?

We must stand firm because Scripture teaches that Jesus is truly God, begotten not made.

We must stand firm because if the person of Jesus is a created thing, no matter how exalted, all our worship is idolatry.

We must stand firm because unless Jesus is truly, fully, God - and not just close to God or like God - then our sins have not been forgiven.

We must stand firm because in this  truth is great comfort and blessing: knowing that God is a loving Father and not a distant and cold loner.

(SERMON) YHWH Shammah - The Lord is There: hope yesterday, today, and forever

When we face trial and temptation, darkness and fear, we can find great hope in the fact that The Lord is There.  The Lord was there showing faithful love to Israel through ages past and thus providing hope for today.  The Lord is here among the Church giving hope to the world and He is here in our hearts sealing our hope for today.  The Lord will be there in all His fullness when the New Heaven and the New Earth come and we dwell in the New Jerusalem in joy and pleasure for evermore - this is our unshakeable hope.