Regent Hall Sermons: Espresso Yourself

Seasons by

No Longer Slaves by

There Is A King by

Waymaker by

King Of Kings by

Awake My Soul by

Joy To The World by

God calls to the world through the sound, the cry of a new born baby. He says: 'This is who I am. This is my way of being. This is my language - it is the language of love.' This language transforms us. It is a love that transforms our lives. Major Richard Mingay

The good news of Christmas remains unchanged – God is coming in Christ for the world God loves! And it’s the task of the church to joyfully announce Christ’s coming to our tired old world in need of hope. May we hear a fresh word of ‘Comfort and Joy’ in the story of the shepherds and angels outside Bethlehem when Christ was born. Major Caroline Mingay

The Christmas story is so much about light bursting into darkness. Yes – it is about ‘Comfort and Joy’ in the direst of situations and this speaks to us more than ever in 2020. The Story is about the fulfilment of Scripture. It is about God working His Purposes out through the generous giving of His Son Jesus for everyone. Our Scripture this morning considers the response of the Wise men, the light they followed and the difference it made to their journey. All this within the context of remembrance of loved ones – loved ones who now live in the eternal light and life of Christ. Major Richard Mingay

As we come to this season of Advent our theme for our worship over these next weeks is ‘Comfort and Joy’ – both things we might need reminding about if we’re finding things tough. What things has God done for you, what things has he given you, that you’ve forgotten about? This year in many ways has been a difficult year, but through it all God has given us what we’ve needed to get through each day. We can look around us and see things which bring us comfort and joy every day. Captain Alison Stone

Today we focus our worship on Christ the King. This prepares us for the Advent Season. What a significant title for Jesus as we look toward His coming to earth and ultimately to His gift of salvation and new life. Henri Nouwen in his Sabbatical Journey said "on the last Sunday of the liturgical year, Christ is presented to us as the mocked King on the Cross as well of the King of the universe. The greatest humiliation and the greatest victory are both shown to us today. It is important to look at this humiliated and victorious Christ before we start the celebration of Advent. All through the year we have to stay close to the humiliation as well as to the victory of Christ, because we are called to live both in our own daily lives." We consider these words from 2 Peter 1:3, ‘By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvellous glory and excellence.’ And so we join in wor

Today, we conclude our Exodus series in following the Israelites from Egyptian slavery on their long road to freedom and their new home in the promised land. But, as we’re already learning, it’s not plain sailing! And on the way, riddled at times with fear and doubt, the people lurch from crisis to crisis. And today in Chapter 17 we meet the Israelites complaining deeply and calling God to account for who he says he is. In our current circumstances, we may not find it too difficult to identify with this! Interestingly, for the Israelites, genuine complaint is always part and parcel of a robust faith in God. So I pray that we too, through Israel’s story, might find capacity to be real and authentic in our relationship with God who is big enough to shoulder the worst of us! Major Caroline Mingay

It is a privilege to share the message today in our continuing study of Exodus. Today’s lesson is about the miracle of the crossing of the Red Sea. A continuation of the Israelites’ escape from slavery and movement toward freedom and a new life. There are many perspectives to consider in this Bible reading in Exodus 14. I urge you to think about your place in the story and how God wants you to respond. Colonel Evie Diaz

As a Salvation Army church, we are part of a global movement fighting against the injustice and evil of slavery and human trafficking. Our International Headquarters is rallying the worldwide Army to action through its Fight for Freedom strategy and our own territory is raising awareness through its #WeAreNotForSale campaign. We all have a role to play and there are plenty of resources out there to equip and empower us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. But even as we seek to support those who are tricked and trapped by slavery, we realise that we too are in need of saving. We don’t have to look far to find greed and suffering. As we move through Exodus in the current teaching series, it’s appropriate that we explore Passover today – the liberation of the Israelites from the oppression of the Egyptians. This dramatic rescue, and its ultimate fulfilment in the death and resurrection of Jesus, confirm our identity as children of God: forgiven people, free from the judgement of sin and comm

We continue our new series on the Exodus Story by looking at Moses’s encounter with Yahweh on Mount Sinai. This is well known Scripture. The Lord appears to Moses in a burning bush. Moses obeys and is told to remove his sandals as the place where he stood was holy ground. Well this was not exclusive to Moses! I wonder how many of us realise that the ground on which we stand each day can be holy? For millions around the world, 2020 has so far been like a wilderness experience. We have been exposed to restrictive practices that have curtailed and in many instances completely changed our usual way of life. We have felt under threat. Many have felt fear, others have known a mental and physical isolation as anxiety has taken its toll. Others have sadly suffered and died. An air of deep gloom has pervaded the year. But – Let’s remember that when Moses responded to God here in Exodus chapter 3:1-15, he too was standing on ground in the wilderness. The isolation of the People of Israel lasted 40 years! What a privi

Exodus means 'the way out' and this is so apt for us right now in our present circumstances. So let's get right into the epic story of God leading his people out from oppression into his new and loving rule. Today, our theme starts the question of Identity: who you are and whose you are - questions which haunted the Israelites on their 'way out' of oppression, and still challenge us. Major Caroline Mingay

The imperative for God’s people to be aware of the deeply spiritual responsibility of looking after our planet has never been greater. We must be forever thankful that the Lord of the Harvest provides for our physical well-being and nourishment year upon year. Coronavirus has not been able to stop this. We are, as the Psalmist said, ‘Blessed by God’. Our key emphasis this year will be on the Thanksgiving element of Harvest – what one writer has termed ‘the attitude of gratitude’. Today we look at what Jesus had to say about greed. It is interesting that, in speaking about a rich man’s desire for more land and possession, Jesus turns the whole argument toward nature reminding his listeners, and us, that the only element in this world that anyone can ever be certain about is that of eternal life with our Creator-God. Nothing else is as sure as this, therefore we can do ourselves a favour by living by God’s priorities, and endeavouring not to worry about anything more than that. Creation teaches us the deepe

Jesus was keen to talk to his listeners about greed and if it was relevant for those days, perhaps it is even more relevant for us today. The verses for today are not always an easy read and can stir many emotions within us, some positive and some challenging. When you look at your life just now do you have everything you need? Not necessarily everything you ‘want’ but do you have everything you need? Just as the vineyard owner was generous in today’s Bible reading so God is generous towards us, whether we’re a new Christian or whether we’ve known him for years. ‘And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:19 Captain Alison Stone

We continue our ‘Season of Creation’ series by looking at what’s called ‘The Protection of the Commons’. No – not a political centre or amphitheatre, but rather those created elements that we, as the crown of God’s creation, have dominion over; for example the land, the seas and all living beings. The key emphasis when considering ‘The Commons’ is how we communally participate in and protect those common elements that unite all human beings. When we consider this we realise that we have more that unites us with one another and creation, than perhaps we’ve understood before. So in this week’s teaching we will be considering the following: - the Commons of Biblical community; - the Commons of Creation and then - the Commons of Church Life. How do these elements speak into our lives and how do we care for so many created things that we often take for granted? In recent worship meetings together we have remembered the command to Love the Lord your God and to Love your neighbour as yourself. In this teachin