Sermons from Aberdeen Christian Fellowship

Derek continues the series on Abraham's Journey while also speaking about the current conflict in the middle east.

Derek reads Genesis 17:1-14 & focuses on 3 Main topics:

The life of following God for old and new testament believers

Following God has external aspects (obedience & conduct) and internal conflicts (heart attitude)

The vexed and divisive issue in of The Land

Florence continues the series of Abrahams Journey by looking at Genesis chapter 16. Sarai, Abrams wife is unable to have children, and offers her maid servant Hagar to Abraham. Hagar is treated poorly by her mistress and runs away. She is later found by god in the desert. There she is conforted in the fact that He sees her and she's amazed at the fact she sees Him. What comfort can we have from knowing God sees us regardless of the situation we find ourselves in.

The sermon, delivered by James, focuses on the life of Abraham from the Bible. He discusses the concept of God's covenant with Abraham, the promises made to him, and their significance for the world. James elaborates on how Abraham's faith and obedience to God's call made him a blessing to all nations, ultimately leading to the coming of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes the importance of faith, obedience, and perseverance in the life of a believer, drawing parallels between Abraham's journey and the Christian journey today.

In this sermon by Vijay Pillai, the focus is on biblical greatness, contrasting it with worldly views of power. Using Matthew 20:17-28, Pillai highlights Jesus' teaching that true greatness in God's Kingdom lies in serving and sacrificing for others, as exemplified by Jesus himself. The sermon urges believers to follow this model of selfless service and humility, emulating Christ's example.

In this sermon by Florence McKenzie, the theme of "Undeserved Generosity" is explored through the parable of the vineyard workers from Matthew 20:1-16. Emphasizing that in the Kingdom of Heaven, all who come to faith, regardless of timing, receive God's grace and the gift of eternal life. McKenzie highlights the importance of gratitude over entitlement, and warns against the dangers of assumptions, discontentment, and jealousy in one's faith journey.

In this sermon by David, he explores the theme of true perfection and surrender in Christianity, focusing on the story of the rich young ruler from Matthew 19. David emphasizes that perfection is only attainable through Christ, not through our own efforts to follow the law. He underlines the importance of surrendering worldly attachments to fully commit to Christ, which, though costly, offers greater heavenly rewards. The sermon concludes with the message that we should prioritize what is truly valuable in Christ over worldly possessions.

Cherie Young explores Matthew 19:1-15, focusing on marriage, divorce, singleness, and children. She emphasizes Jesus' high standards for these relationships, contrasting them with the cultural norms of His time. Young highlights the sacredness of marriage, the serious grounds for divorce, and the dignity and value of women and children in Jesus' teachings. She also uplifts singleness as a noble choice and underscores the need for grace and humility in striving to meet these high standards.

In this sermon by James McKenzie, he discusses forgiveness based on Matthew 18:21-35. He starts by sharing the parable of the unforgiving servant, highlighting how God forgives us completely. James then addresses common misconceptions about forgiveness, emphasizing that it doesn't mean excusing, doesn't always lead to reconciliation, and doesn't require forgetting. He encourages us to seek God's grace to forgive others as they have been forgiven.

In this sermon by David Young, he delves into Matthew 18 and explores how Jesus responds to those who wander and sin. He emphasizes the importance of addressing sin within the church community and offers a model for confronting it with love and grace. Discover how Jesus pursues the wanderer and seeks their restoration while learning how we, as believers, can follow his example in dealing with sin among us.

In this sermon, speaker Vijay Pillai discusses the concept of greatness as defined by Jesus and contrasts it with societal notions of prominence and power. He emphasizes the importance of humility and warns against causing others to stumble in their faith. Pillai also highlights the need to deal with sin in our lives and the eternal consequences of failing to do so. Ultimately, he calls for self-examination and a commitment to follow Jesus with humility and a focus on serving others.

In this sermon by Cheri Young, we explore two key moments in Jesus's life. First, he predicts his own death to prepare his disciples for the future. Then, he demonstrates his identity as a king by addressing the issue of taxes. While Jesus has the authority to exempt himself, he chooses not to cause offense and pays the temple tax. This sermon highlights how Jesus, as our king, willingly embraced the human experience, from everyday struggles to ultimate sacrifice, showing empathy and grace to all.

In this sermon by Vijay Pillai, we explore the theme of human helplessness and the need for faith in Christ Jesus. Pillai highlights how we often feel out of control due to various factors in life, such as illness, external forces, and even supernatural influences. He emphasizes that the only answer to human helplessness is faith in Jesus, who has ultimate control over all aspects of life. Through faith in Christ, we can find hope and trust in Him, allowing Him to be in control.

In this sermon, Speaker Vijay Pillai emphasizes the importance of understanding Jesus as the Messiah who suffered, died, and was resurrected, contrary to popular expectations of a triumphant Messiah. He highlights the need for followers to accept suffering and self-denial as part of their discipleship, emphasizing that living for eternity matters more than temporal pursuits. The sermon concludes with a call to follow Jesus faithfully even in the face of difficult choices.

In this sermon by Derek McHardy, he delves into the Gospel of Matthew, emphasizing the revelation and significance of Jesus' identity. Exploring the journey of the disciples' understanding, he likens it to characters in a movie who gradually unveil hidden truths. Derek highlights the multi-layered nature of Matthew's Gospel, reflecting the mature reflection of an eyewitness, and introduces a series on Jesus as the true king. The sermon touches on the recognition of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, and explores potential misconceptions and the importance of submitting to Jesus' authority. Matthew 16v13 - 20​

Vijay Pillai discusses the theme of fear, exploring its different aspects and how it affects us. He shares how fear is a natural emotion, but it can be eased through trust in the perfect love of God, as revealed in Christ. Using verses from both the Old and New Testaments, he emphasizes that God's love can calm our fears and invites us to trust in Him, regardless of the circumstances we face. The sermon highlights how perfect love drives out fear and encourages listeners to embrace this truth in their lives.

In this sermon by James McKenzie, he discusses why Jesus matters in three key aspects. Firstly, he emphasizes Jesus' unique identity as both fully God and fully human, highlighting how Jesus' divinity and humanity come together in an extraordinary way. Secondly, McKenzie delves into Jesus' historical significance, explaining that Jesus' death on the cross was a pivotal event that addressed the problem of sin and offered salvation to humanity. Lastly, he looks ahead to the future, discussing Jesus' role as the ultimate judge and the promise of eternal life for believers.

In this sermon by David Young, he explores the doctrine of the Trinity and its significance for understanding the nature of God. He emphasizes that the Trinity is a complex yet essential teaching of the Christian faith. David discusses the challenges of comprehending the Trinity and highlights three mistakes to avoid: trying to fill in the blanks, drawing inadequate comparisons, and defining God in human terms. He breaks down the Trinity into four key points: the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there is one eternal God in three distinct persons. David uses biblical references, including Genesis 1 and Matthew 3, to illustrate the presence of the Trinity in scripture.

Join Florence as she shares a message about running the race of life with purpose and self-control. Drawing inspiration from athletic events and biblical passages in First Corinthians and Hebrews, Florence encourages us to engage in strict training by immersing ourselves in God's Word, to run with the purpose of exalting and pleasing Christ, and to practice self-control in various areas of our lives. Just as athletes strive for gold, Florence urges us to seek the eternal prize of following Christ with dedication and endurance.

In this sermon based on 2 Kings 5:1-19, James McKenzie explores the theme of misconceptions that nearly cost Naaman, a high-ranking Syrian army officer, God's blessing. Naaman learns valuable lessons of humility, obedience, and faith as he seeks healing from his leprosy. Through his encounter with the prophet Elisha, Naaman's heart is transformed, leading him to a place of gratitude, worship, and ultimately, experiencing God's peace.

In this episode, David Youngwe explores the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter eight. Philip, guided by the Spirit, encounters the eunuch who is reading from the book of Isaiah. Philip seizes the opportunity to explain the good news about Jesus, leading to the eunuch's belief and baptism. This story highlights the importance of partnering with God, being receptive to His guidance, and embracing opportunities to share the gospel. - Acts 8:26-40

Solomon’s Story: Youth is meaningless
In this sermon, Vijay concludes the series this on Ecclesiastes, by speaking on the last two chapters. He tells us about the joys of being young and how we are told to enjoy our youth, but not to forget the hard times and to not put pleasure above everything else. We also see the hardships of growing old and what can be seen, without God, as the tragedy of death. Vijay concludes this series by showing how the nihilistic worldview of Ecclesiastes can shake us into realising what gives life meaning, which is God. - Ecclesiastes 11.7-12.14

In this sermon on Ecclesiastes 1:1-11, Florence McKenzie explores the theme of the book of Ecclesiastes and how it relates to our lives today. She reminds us that seeking satisfaction in the things of this world, without centering our lives on God, will ultimately lead to disappointment and meaninglessness. Through the lens of Ecclesiastes, she encourages listeners to turn to Jesus Christ as the source of true and lasting satisfaction.

Join us in this powerful sermon by James as he delves into the profound significance of 2 Chronicles 5:1-7:22. Exploring the awe-inspiring event of the Ark of the Covenant being brought to the newly constructed temple, James highlights the overwhelming presence of God and the importance of seeking His favor through worship, prayer, obedience, and repentance. Discover the timeless message of God's mercy and forgiveness, and how it relates to our lives today.

Continuing the series Solomon’s Story, Vijay looks 1 Kings 5—6 and considers what we might learn from Solomon’s Work when he builds the Temple. Although the Temple represents an opportunity for Solomon to make God the centre of Israel’s worship, the compromise that he introduces eventually leads to the split of Israel and the exile of Judah. God is pleased more by our obedience than the impressiveness of our work.

Vijay begins a new series title, ‘Solomon’s Story: Searching for Satisfaction’. He tells us of the events that surrounded Solomon’s ascent to the throne in 1 Kings 1-2. Solomon is shrewd in consolidating power. But his shrewdness for gaining political dominance seems to come at the expense of his commitment to an obedience to the Law of God. It is this background that will inform the reflections on power that we find in the Book of Ecclesiastes.

Cheri talks to us about the importance of discerning influences in our lives and how they can impact our faith. She references 1 Thessalonians 5:12-29 and encourages us to test everything and hold onto what is good. Just as the early church in Thessalonica became a model to all believers, we too can become a model to those around us by spurring each other on towards greater faith, love, and holiness.

Florence talks to us about the importance of being spiritually awake and alert, especially in light of the uncertain times we live in. Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Florence urges us to live as children of the light, to put on faith, love, and hope as our spiritual armor, and to encourage one another in our Christian journey. As we run the race of faith, let us keep our eyes fixed on the prize and spur each other on to persevere in the faith.