Inner West Church Sermons

Guest preacher David Williams unpacks the Levitical laws of cleanliness and uncleanliness, pointing us to the great hope we have in Jesus to be the one who washes God's people clean. SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 11:1-8, 11:39-47 & Mark 1:40-45

We need a priesthood good and consistent enough to mediate between us and the greatest reality, the holy God of the Bible. In an age where human failures are more visible than ever, who can we trust in to bring us to God? Jon Tran preaches from Leviticus 8-10 and Hebrews 7, pointing us to see that the ministry of Israel's priests finds its culmination in Jesus, our Great High Priest. It is only through Jesus alone that we can come before the holy God without fear of being consumed.  SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 8 & Hebrews 7:23-27

What does it take for sinful humans to enter into the presence of a holy God? Pete Greenwood opens up our new series drawing out the grand story the sacrifices tell. Israel had to be purified and make restitution before they could come to worship and offer tribute to God. All these offerings culminate in a meal of fellowship with the awesome God of creation.  SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 1:1-17, Romans 12:1-2

Our society sends us conflicting messages. Do relationships really complete us? Or are we wholly sufficient in and of ourselves?  Pete Greenwood finishes up our series 'Sweet Little Lies', helping us to understand, challenge and subvert this cultural narrative as he preaches from Genesis 2 and John 4.  SCRIPTURE: Genesis 2:18-25, John 4:1-17

Conflicts, fragmentation and a global pandemic have rocked our society's expectations that history should look like an exponential curve. What do we do when things don't go our way, or when suffering comes?  Pete Greenwood helps us to understand, challenge and subvert this cultural untruth as he preaches from Genesis 11 and 1 Peter 1.  SCRIPTURE: Genesis 11:1-9 and 1 Peter 1:3-15

YOLO (you only live once) and FOMO (fear of missing out) are alive and well in our culture. YOLO is a view of the good life that says that life is all about maximising fulfilment today. FOMO is the result of when you can't. But is this the best way to live?  Jon Tran unpacks how the Gospel helps us to understand, challenge and subvert this cultural narrative.  SCRIPTURE: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

'Be true to yourself' and 'follow your heart' is the cry of our culture. But is this the way to the best life?  Pete Greenwood opens our new series on 'Sweet Littles Lies' by unpacking how the gospel helps us to understand, challenge and subvert the dominant cultural narratives around us.  SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 17:5-10, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

We spend a lot of our energy chasing it, but contentment can be elusive. But Paul in says that he's found the secret to contentment - God.  Pete Greenwood preaches on how God can be our source of contentment and how this contentment works itself out in our day to day lives. SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 30:7-9, Philippians 4:10-23

Death and resurrection aren't just a part of the Christian story, but the shape for the Christian life. As in the waters of baptism we die to sin. We also experience his resurrecting power in our everyday lives as we wait for the culmination of all God's promises when Christ returns. SCRIPTURE: Philippians 3:15-4:3

"You are enough" - this is the mantra of our age. But scripture tells us a very different message: only Jesus is enough. Pete Greenwood preaches on how Jesus' finished work alone is enough to give us life, meaning and hope for the future. Everything less than Jesus' work will fall short. SCRIPTURE: Genesis 3:6-13, Philippians 3:1-14

Guest speaker Bishop Genieve Blackwell unpacks how to work out our faith in response to God's grace in Christ.

Everyone wants to be unified, but that is easier said than done. To a church struggling to be united, Paul lays out what creates disunity - selfish ambition and vain conceit - and what it takes to become unified - adopting the same attitude of humility that Christ Jesus had. Preacher: Kirsten Wade

Guest speaker Brad Watson (wearesoma.com) helps us see how living a life worthy of the Gospel isn't about working harder to be better, but trusting completely in Jesus who has made us worthy, so that we can joyfully work, and even suffer, for Him.

What is the greatest boast of our lives? Jon Tran preaches from Philippians 1:12-26 showing how confidence in Jesus produces rejoicing in Jesus and culminates in boasting in Jesus SCRIPTURE: Philippians 1:12-26

Pete Greenwood preaches on how grounding ourselves in God's story brings us joy as we reflect on the past, have confidence in the present and anticipation for the future. SCRIPTURE: Psalm 28:6-9, Philippians 1:1-11

Pete Greenwood finishes off our 'Commitments' series by explaining that our mission is to bear witness to God's mission to us, that we fulfil this mission by making disciples, and that the power to be on mission comes from knowing Jesus' authority and faithful presence with us. SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 1:1-9

Pete Greenwood helps us consider our commitment to prayer as a church. While we could all spend more time praying, Pete's emphasis is on improving the depth of our prayers, in line with what Paul prays for the church in Ephesians 3. For power to be strengthened inwardly, and to grasp the immensity of God's love in Christ.

Jon Tran preaches on IWC's fifth commitment: We are committed to being generous. Generosity is something we all like to receive but can often find it difficult to practice. From Luke 7 we see that selfishness and shame are both barriers to our generosity. But God's gift of forgiveness in Jesus sets us free to be truly generous. SCRIPTURE: Luke 7:36-50

Pete Greenwood preaching on Inner West Church's fourth commitment - family. The Gospel means that we have become sons and daughters of God, a part of the same spiritual family. What does it look like for us to live together as God's family? How can we continue to grow and thrive as God's family? SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 1:3-6; 2:19-22; 4:29-5:2

What does it mean to follow Jesus? How does discipleship to Jesus impact all of our lives? How can we walk the way of Jesus with commitment? Pete Greenwood preaches on the third of Inner West Church's commitments: following Jesus in every sphere of life. SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16:24-27, Romans 12:1-2