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Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Pastor
Nathan Nettleton
Nathan Nettleton has served as pastor of this congregation since 1994. He was ordained as a Baptist pastor that same year and completed an honours degree in theology at Whitley College in 1995, followed by a Master of Theology in Liturgical Studies from the University of Divinity in 2001. In our church, he carries particular responsibilities for the preaching, teaching, and ordering of worship and prayer, and for pastoral care. He also writes liturgical resources for a global audience through LaughingBird.net, and serves as a board member of Open Baptists. Nathan is married to Margie, and they have an adult daughter, Acacia, and two dogs.
Sermons by Nathan Nettleton
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18 October, 2026
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: Caesar, church identity, Icons, idols, image of God, imitation, political power
Scripture: 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Exodus, Matthew
A president’s face on a park pass, Caesar’s on a coin: when images demand our gaze, Jesus asks us to give back to God the image we bear.
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11 October, 2026
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
The golden calf, a guest in the wrong clothes, and the question fear never wants asked: whose dead am I forbidden to grieve?
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4 October, 2026
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Hope amid climate collapse and social collapse: the Ten Commandments as a guide for wilderness living, free of longing for an empire that was killing the earth.
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27 September, 2026
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: accompaniment, accountability, church conflict, elders, Humility, Leadership
Scripture: Exodus, Philippians
Thirsty, frightened, and ready to blame their leader: God’s answer is not just water from the rock, but elders to walk alongside the people, and alongside us.
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13 September, 2026
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: 9/11, climate change, Communion, Forgiveness, Gethsemane, nonviolence, refugees
Twenty-five years on from 9/11, still trapped between an angry sea and old enemies, and still asked to accept a mercy that plays no favourites.
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6 September, 2026
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
When grief and loss make no sense, scripture’s oldest protest offers not answers, but a God who weeps beside us.
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1 September, 2026
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: climate grief, Communion, Creation, feast of creation, Icons, Resurrection
Scripture: John
On the first Feast of Creation, this sermon asks whether a wounded world might still be a window into the grieving heart of God.
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30 August, 2026
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Peter begged Jesus to avoid the coming disaster. Paul offers something braver: how to live with love, courage and beauty when there’s no escape.
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23 August, 2026
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
A footballers’ scandal, a call to sober judgment, and an uncomfortable question: how much of this culture do we all help sustain?
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16 August, 2026
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: antisemitism, asylum seekers, belonging, dispossession, Grace, kindred, slavery
Kindred is beautiful – and it always draws a line (usually without realising). A sermon on Joseph, Jesus, and grace beyond the boundary.
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9 August, 2026
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Modern slavery, a half-hearted rescue, and a sinking disciple: a sermon on what makes a response to injustice faithful, not just felt.
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2 August, 2026
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: antisemitism, grief and lament, Israel and Palestine, scapegoating, supersessionism, Yoorrook Justice Commission
Scripture: Romans
Paul grieves for Israel rather than standing apart in judgement – and asks what it would cost us to stop pointing the finger only outward.
