Role: Pastor |
Hi my name is Phil Irvine and I’m the Pastor at Emu Plains Community Baptist Church. My family and I moved all the way from the Blue Mountains and to live in the community here in Emu Plains. Jesus said “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.” Sometimes we find that our lives are so full with things to do, but we don’t seem to be fulfilled. I enjoy running, spending time with my family, playing Xbox and a good coffee. But what fills my life is Jesus. If you are wanting your life full, the best it can be, why not check out Jesus and take him up on this promise?
Sunday, 03 March 2019
In Act 15 we have a very important meeting where the church met to talk about some important issues. At the heart of this discussion was the relationship between LAW and GRACE. God had been moving in some amazing ways, as He saved the Gentiles, but did they still need to follow the law of Moses? Time and time again we have seen that all are saved by grace and not by their works. Peter says in v.11 that "we believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved". This is still true for us 2000 years later.
Sunday, 24 February 2019
Duration: 37 mins 57 secs
Peter has unlocked the door to heaven for the Gentiles and now Paul and Barnabas continue to take the good news to those who haven't heard. In these two chapters they will face everything thing from a warm reception to being misunderstood, mistreated and even an attempt to take their lives. But they are faithful in sharing the good news about Jesus, that through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. Firstly, we must believe and accept Jesus and secondly we too should be faithful in sharing this good news no matter what is happening around us. Take a step of faith and walk through the door.
Sunday, 17 February 2019
Duration: 35 mins 43 secs
God has always seen, always listened and has always been attentive to what is happening in this world and what is happening to us personally. In this passage we see King Herod and the Jews standing against the church. With Peter's arrest and being put in prison, his future looked bleak, but the church continued to pray earnestly for his deliverence, which was answered in a miraculous way. For us, we can find peace in any situation we face by handing over our concerns to God in prayer. As Peter responded to God's answer through the angel's call and leading, we also need act in response to God's answers to our prayers.
Sunday, 10 February 2019
Duration: 33 mins 17 secs
We see in this chapter of Acts how the Gentiles are being accepted as followers of Jesus, founded on the Word of God. We need to spend time reading God's Word so that our life matches God's expectation for us. The Gentiles were encouraged through Barnabas visiting Antioch and observing the establishment of the church with great numbers of people coming to faith in the Lord. We need to accept, encourage, give and receive for each other as we faithfully serve Jesus.
Sunday, 03 February 2019
Duration: 32 mins 46 secs
Jesus had told His disciples that they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. This chapter in Acts marks the start of the Gentiles hearing the good news of Jesus. God has prepared Cornelius and now calls on him to act in faith in sending for Simon Peter. Peter has already been used by God in many ways, but there is still more for Peter to learn, and so in the same way as Cornelius, prepares Peter for him to learn more. Both Cornelius and Peter responded positively to God's call. The challenge for us is how do we respond to God's call in our life and are we ready to act on this?
Sunday, 23 December 2018
Duration: 29 mins 59 secs
Jesus' arrival in this world was not met with special privileges. He was born in stable and came humbly to live amongst with the people. There are lots of things, as we live today, that can make us afraid. The truth and reality is that God is with us in all things as we are reminded in Isaiah 41:10. We need to stand firm in our faith in God and trust in Him in the circumstances we face each day.
Sunday, 16 December 2018
Duration: 21 mins 45 secs
We know the world still needs to be saved - there are still many conflicts and unrest throughout the world today. In the time of Jesus, shepherds had a low standing in Jewish society, but history shows that God has raised them up to to do great things. In this passage today, God chose the shepherds to be one of the first groups to know about the good news of Jesus' birth. Today, this is still good news and we need to let others know about Jesus, the only Saviour for this world.
Sunday, 09 December 2018
Duration: 28 mins 25 secs
We are starting a Christmas series to call Jesus, Name above Every Name. We will spend the next 4 weeks leading up to Christmas looking at the names given to Jesus; Messiah, Saviour, Immanuel and Son of God. Each one reveals more about who Jesus is and what He came to do. In today's message we see Jesus the Messiah, which means anointed one, Christ and King. We are going to see how the Magi, Herod and the Priest responded to this news and how we should respond as well.
Sunday, 02 December 2018
Duration: 31 mins 43 secs
At this cross road in Saul's life we see God turning his life upside down. He went from someone not believing that Jesus was alive to meeting the risen Saviour. Someone who thought was fighting for God, but was really fighting against him. Someone who was persecuting the church to being persecuted himself. But the greatest thing we see in Paul's life is the Gospel played out in all of its glory. He is saved by God's Grace despite the life of rebellion he has lived.
Sunday, 25 November 2018
Duration: 27 mins 37 secs
Jesus' life on this earth was not one of settling down in one place, but He continued to move from place to place. As followers of Jesus, we are strangers on this earth as we look forward to an eternal life with Him. In this passage, God's church is on the move as the people were scattered but continued to preach the Word of God. Philip had the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with an Ethiopian. We need to take the opportunities that come before us to tell others about Jesus.
