West Kilbride Parish Church

Matthew 5: 13-16 - Salt and Light (National Sports Sunday)

We were delighted to have Mark Fleming with us for National Sports Sunday. Mark is the National Director for Sports Chaplaincy in Scotland.

In this sermon, Mark speaks from Matthew 5 about being salt and light.

First preached: 11th May 2025.

Speaker: Mark Fleming

1 Corinthians 15: 1-9 - What is most important?

In this Sunday Evening sermon, we think about the basics of the gospel and what is most important in our lives - that Jesus died and rose again.

First preached: 4th May 225.

Speaker: James McNay.

Matthew 28: 16-20 - The Great Commission

This is our final sermon in Matthew's Gospel. Though Jesus has completed everything that he has to do through his death and resurrection, the story has not ended. Because Jesus gives us a commission to 'Go and make disciples of all nations baptising them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit'.

First preached: 4th May 2025.

Speaker: James McNay.

Matthew 28: 1-15 - The Empty Tomb

In this sermon, we continue our series in Matthew's Gospel and consider the empty tomb. The women who go to the tomb early on the Sunday morning find it empty - and then meet with the risen Jesus.

The guards fall into a faint when they see the angel of the Lord and the stone rolled away. After speaking to the priests, they accept a bribe and spread the rumour that Jesus' body was stolen by the disciples.

We are therefore confronted with the empty tomb - and we have to  decide for ourselves what happened as we weigh up the evidence.

First preached: 27th April 2025.

Speaker: James McNay.

Matthew 27: 32-66 - The crucifixion

Throughout Holy Week in 2025, we travelled through Matthew 27 as Jesus went to the cross.

In this sermon, Jesus is crucified and buried. We think of what this signifies and means for us as sinful humanity.

 

First preached: 18th April 2025.

Speaker: James McNay.

Matthew 27: 27-31 = The soldiers mock Jesus

Throughout Holy Week in 2025, we travelled through Matthew 27 as Jesus went to the cross.

In this sermon, we think of the mockery that the soldiers show Jesus - despite Jesus being the very Son of God and the Saviour that we need.

First preached: 17th April 2025.

Speaker: James McNay.

Matthew 27: 20-26 - Jesus or Barabbas?

Throughout Holy Week in 2025, we travelled through Matthew 27 as Jesus went to the cross.

In this sermon, we think about the choice the crowd made to release Barabbas and not Jesus - and how the innocent took the place of the guilty.

First preached: 16th April 2025.

Speaker: James McNay.

Matthew 27: 11-19 - Pilate's Dilemma

Throughout Holy Week in 2025, we travelled through Matthew 27 as Jesus went to the cross.

In this sermon, we think about the dilemma facing Pontius Pilate who clearly knows that Jesus is innocent.

First preached: 15th April 2025.

Speaker: James McNay.

Matthew 27:1-10 - The demise of Judas

Throughout Holy Week in 2025, we travelled through Matthew 27 as Jesus went to the cross.

In this sermon, we think about the plight of Judas Iscariot.

First preached: 14th April 2025.

Speaker: James McNay.

Matthew 21: 1-11 - Palm Sunday

We were delighted to have Rev. Ross Mitchell preaching on Palm Sunday! Here is his message from Matthew 21: 1-11.

First preached: 13th April 2025.

Speaker: Ross Mitchell.

Matthew 26: 57-68 - Jesus before the Council

In this sermon, we see Jesus being falsely accused and condemned by the High Priest and the Council.

The priests and elders were unable to see beyond their own power - and saw Jesus as an inconvenience and someone to be got rid of at any cost. We think about how we are to stand for truth - even when it is inconvenient - and how much Jesus went through, just for us.

First preached: 30th March 2025.

Speaker: James McNay.

Matthew 26: 47-56 - Jesus is betrayed

In this sermon, we think about Jesus being betrayed by Judas. We note how Jesus' demeanour has changed from agony to peace as he centres himself in the Father's will. And we see an example for us in prayer.

And we see how amazing it is that Jesus is willing to go through betrayal and desertion as he goes to the cross - something that only he can do - and him alone.

First preached: 23rd March 2025.

Speaker: James McNay.

Matthew 26: 36-46 - Gethsemane

In this sermon, we consider Matthew 26: 36-46 and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

We think about the agonies that Jesus went through and his temptation to not go through with the cross. But we see how he submits himself to his Father's will and says 'Your will be done'.

First preached: 16th March 2025.

Speaker: James McNay.

Matthew 26: 31-35 - Jesus predicts Peter's denial

In this sermon, we hear of Jesus predicting that all the disciples will desert him before he goes to the cross. We see how Jesus sees this as a fulfilment of Scripture and also the disciples vociferous denials that they will do such a thing. We reflect on how though the disciples are well-meaning - that they are also human and cannot do what they want to do - something Paul reflects in Romans 7. Despite this, Jesus also gives the disciples encouragement that after he is risen, he will meet them again at Galilee - therefore there is hope of forgiveness and reconciliation for the disciples.

First preached: 9th March 2025.

Speaker: James McNay.

John 13: 1-30 - Jesus washes the disciples feet

In this Evening Service reflection and as we were celebrating Communion, we focused on the Last Supper from John's gospel. We asked the question as to why it was so different from the version in the other three gospels and wondered at the amazing example Jesus shows in washing the disciples feet.

First preached: 2nd March 2025.

Speaker: James McNay