Sermons

No Pain, No Gain: What does it mean to truly surrender?

Jeremy Swift

Published on: 27/11/2025

Life's trials aren't random difficulties but part of God's refining process to develop genuine faith. Like gold heated to remove impurities, our challenges bring spiritual flaws to the surface so God can remove what doesn't belong. The apostle Peter, who experienced his own refining through denying Jesus, teaches that we can find joy in trials because they produce faith more precious than gold. True spiritual growth requires dying to self and surrendering our plans to God's process. Rather than fighting against difficult circumstances, we're called to submit and cooperate with God's refining work, trusting that temporary suffering produces eternal purpose and transforms us into Christ's image.

Carry Your Cross

The Peter Principle: What does dying to self mean?

Jeremy Swift

Published on: 18/11/2025

The Apostle Peter's transformation from an unreliable, impulsive disciple to a powerful church leader demonstrates what it means to truly die to self. Dying to self involves surrendering everything - your identity, dreams, wants, and coping mechanisms - so that Christ's presence, power, and plan can live through you. This isn't just about avoiding sin, but complete surrender that allows His thoughts to become your thoughts and His words to become your words. Biblical passages like Romans 6:6-7 and Galatians 2:20 show us that our old self must be crucified so we can be free from sin's slavery and filled with Christ. True freedom comes not from holding onto our old selves, but from allowing Christ to live fully through us, transforming us into powerful instruments in God's hands.

Carry Your Cross

True Discipleship Costs Everything

Jeremy Swift

Published on: 10/11/2025

Jesus' command to take up your cross isn't a casual invitation—it's a call to complete surrender. Understanding the brutal reality of crucifixion helps us grasp what Jesus meant when he told his disciples to deny themselves and follow him. True discipleship requires dying to our own desires, dreams, and self-centered impulses. It means prioritizing God's will over our comfort and choosing what benefits others over what benefits us. This isn't about adding religious activities to our lives, but fundamentally reorienting our entire existence around following Jesus, even when it costs us everything.

Carry Your Cross

Gods and Monsters: Where does Jesus fit into Halloween?

Jeremy Swift

Published on: 04/11/2025

The Bible reveals that while dark spiritual forces are real and powerful, they are not the ultimate power. In Mark 5, Jesus encounters a man possessed by thousands of demons who had superhuman strength and couldn't be restrained by iron chains. Yet when Jesus arrived, these demons immediately recognized his authority and begged for permission before doing anything. The same Jesus who commanded legions of demons with a word has ultimate authority over every area of our lives today. Nothing we face - past mistakes, current struggles, addictions, or broken relationships - is more powerful than Jesus.

Carry Your Cross