Hillington Park Church

This is the last Sunday of the Christian Year and is traditionally when we think of Christ as King.   Our Scripture is Revelation 2:1-7 and here Jesus addresses the church in Ephesus. He commends their hard work and perseverance, but condemns them for having left their first love. He calls them to remember, repent, and return to the passionate commitment they once had towards Him. To maintain our identity in Christ as His beloved royal priesthood, we must return to our first love and align our hearts with His heart— a call to passionate commitment in our relationship with Christ the King.

This episode looks at the last part of the Armour of God from Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10-20. In Paul's letters to the Ephesians, he emphasizes the importance of prayer as an essential component of the believer's spiritual armour. The readings from Ephesians today highlight both the depth of God's love and the call to pray in all circumstances, empowering believers to stand firm in their faith. True spiritual power is accessed through a life woven with prayer, enabling believers to stand firm against adversity by relying on the strength found in Christ.

We take time to consider the transformative power of God's Word, described in Ephesians 6:17 as "the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God." We also took time to remember all those who made sacrifices for us and our country through 2 world wars and other conflicts. There were many who went off to serve and there were those who were left behind. As we remember them, we give thanks to God for their sacrifice.

We continue to put on the full Armour of God and this morning look at the Helmet of Salvation. As Christians, we are called to learn the truth of Jesus and in doing so we learn of our salvation which moves us from being caught up in a sinful way of live to being alive in Christ. To resist the Devil, we must be assured of our salvation. Go to God daily and be reminded of the great object of your faith: Christ. Our hope is in Him.

During this service, we dedicate the members of the Guild as they commence their 2024/2025 season. We continue to look at Ephesians, specifically the Armour of God considering the element of peace and faith.

Last week we looked generally at the Armour of God and Paul’s expectation of its need as people life out their Christian lives.  We looked at why the Armour of God was needed and a bit about who the enemy was.  Over the next few weeks, we’ll look in a bit more detail at the elements of the Armour; today we consider the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness.

Today we celebrate harvest. The harvest has always been a beautiful and important part of life on earth, the time when the year's work bears fruit and the people are fed. In Christian worship harvest also reveals the mission of gathering and discipling people who have heard and responded to the Word of God. And as a church concerned for the lost, the least and the broken, we speak out into the world to remind the world where there is need due to a lack of food.

Our identity in Christ is more than being able to say that we are Christians, or followers of Christ, more than being members of church. In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul draws out what it is to be Christians by speaking about what Christian living looks like for individuals and families.  Paul writes that God’s people should submit to one another out of reverence of Christ. We look at what the submission means in living as a family of God.

In this episode from Hillington Park Church, join Minister Dave Sutherland and Lead Pastor Buchan Lennon, of Rehope Church, Paisley, as they delve into the teachings of Ephesians chapters 3 and 4. Discover profound insights on Christian living, the importance of humility, and the transformative power of God's love. Pastor Buchan, a former member of the church, returns to share his journey and the relevance of scripture in today's world. Don't miss this inspiring service filled with heartfelt prayers, biblical readings, and divine wisdom. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction and Welcome (00:45) Prayer and Scripture Reading (Ephesians 3:14-21) (05:30) Sermon by Dave Sutherland: Transition from Identity in Christ to Christian Living (18:00) Sermon by Buchan Lennon: Christian Living in 2024 (40:00) Closing Prayers and Benediction

In today's episode, we explore the profound teachings of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, focusing on what it means to live a life worthy of our calling. Reverend Dave Sutherland of Hillington Park Church of Scotland in Glasgow leads us through a service held on Sunday, 21 July 2024, delving into the themes of Christian identity, spiritual gifts, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Join us in worship, prayer, and reflection as we seek to understand our gifts and how to use them for the building up of the church. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:30) Reading from Psalm 27 (03:00) Opening Prayer (05:00) Reflection on Healing Ministry (10:45) Ephesians Chapter 4 Reading (12:00) Sermon on Living a Life Worthy of Our Calling (35:00) Closing Prayers