open icon
baptist church
baptist church
Topic: Unity
At Open Icon Baptist Church, we value great preaching — preaching that engages deeply, humbly and honestly with Jesus, the Bible, and the pain and joy of living in the real world. And since going permanently online, we have been able to welcome great preachers from all over the world without having to wait for them to visit our shores. Click here to meet the inspirational preachers depicted in the gallery above, none of whom have preached for us!
Each sermon below opens in a new tab. Close the tab when you're done to return to this page.
-
25 January, 2026
Preacher: Mark Wilkinson
Topic: Community, Hospitality, Polarisation, Reconciliation, Relationships, Tribalism, Unity
Scripture: 1 Corinthians, Isaiah, Matthew, Psalms
In both the Christian church as well as the wider world, there is increasing division. Is there a way we can become genuine peacemakers in both church and world?
-
30 March, 2025
If you set yourself against the other, you also cut yourself off from the Father who loves you both. You diminish yourself, cut off the other, and break the Father’s heart.
-
4 August, 2024
We can only keep the UNITY OF THE SPIRIT by experiencing the Oneness of Christ in all the parts of ourselves and each other.
-
28 April, 2024
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: Baptism, Conversion, Grace, Hospitality, Liberation, Mission, Unity
Scripture: Acts
In baptism we are adopted into a new family that is radically inclusive of those who have been cut off.
-
25 June, 2023
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Scripture: Matthew
Jesus did not come with the goal of making some gentle improvements to the status quo, but to disable the status quo by exposing its lies and revealing its victims. Without our culture being radically converted by that, the result is escalating chaos, to which Jesus offers himself as a victim and calls us to do the same.
-
23 January, 2022
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Scripture: 1 Corinthians
In God’s vision for humanity, every person and the role they play is valued and cared for. When society fails to live up to this, the Church is called to go against the flow and courageously champion and model it.
-
23 May, 2021
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: Generosity, Holy Spirit, Reconciliation, Unity
If we surrender ourselves to the Holy Spirit, we lose some of our inhibitions about social conformity and are liberated to break down the boundaries that keep people apart.
-
31 May, 2020
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: Gifts, Holy Spirit, Hospitality, Reconciliation, Unity
Scripture: Acts
El EspÃritu de Jesús nos une a través de lÃmites previamente hostiles y nos enseña un lenguaje de amor liberador.
(The Spirit of Jesus unites us across previously hostile boundaries and teaches us a language of liberating love.) -
9 February, 2020
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: Communion, Discernment, Jesus, Reconciliation, Sin, Unity
Scripture: 1 Corinthians
Jesus calls us to unite as his body around his table, and if we come to the table without seeking that unity, we dishonour Jesus.
-
2 February, 2020
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: Children, Discipleship, Faithfulness, Formation, Healing, Humility, Jesus, judgement, Leadership, Unity
Scripture: Matthew
Jesus calls us to follow his lead in bringing healing, hope and positive leadership to others, and not to be too worried about anxious and vexatious criticism.
-
15 July, 2018
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Scripture: 1 & 2 Samuel, Ephesians, Mark
Glimpses of the transformed world that God makes possible transfix us and leave us hungering for more.
-
8 July, 2018
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: Failure, Faithfulness, Fear, Grace, Hospitality, Humility, Identity, judgement, Unity, Virtues
Scripture: 2 Corinthians, Mark
Pretending to be better than we are alienates us from God and one another. Being open and real about our weaknesses and failures open us to God and one another.
