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baptist church
baptist church
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
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!
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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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26 December, 2021
We can’t take it for granted that Jesus will be where we want to go, for his ways often go contrary to ours and our business is to follow him.
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12 December, 2021
The joyous message of Christmas demands a response from us all year round.
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28 November, 2021
Christ calls us to be alert for his salvific coming in the midst of the terrors of the here and now, not just in the past and future.
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21 November, 2021
If we are to call Christ a King and still remain faithful to him, we must begin with the subversion of the very concept of kingship that Jesus points to when he is questioned by Pilate.
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7 November, 2021
God calls us to beware of simple solutions that actually violate the laws of love and hospitality towards the strangers.
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24 October, 2021
After horrendous suffering and loss, the most courageous and ultimately transformative response is to reinvest in life and love with passion and hope.
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10 October, 2021
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: Anger, Depression, Grief, Suffering
Faithful lament, even enraged and despairing lament, takes us close to the heart of God, though we usually can’t perceive God when we are there.
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3 October, 2021
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: Children, Culture, Grace, Law, Reconciliation, Relationships
Scripture: Mark
The Kingdom of God can only be accepted the way a child welcomes a hug, not the way lawyers accept a divorce settlement.
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22 August, 2021
Jesus offers life in all its fullness, but many would rather settle for the odd snack rather than the full banquet.
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15 August, 2021
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: Abundance, Commitment, Fullness of Life, Hospitality, Liberation, Spirituality, Virtues, Worship
Scripture: Ephesians
Paul’s word play on drunkenness is both a useful contrast and a useful comparison for Christian living.
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8 August, 2021
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: Community, Compassion, Conflict, Forgiveness, Generosity, Grace, Mercy, Violence
Scripture: Ephesians
We live in amidst a culture of highly toxic, self-righteous, finger-pointing. Jesus calls us to a radical love which will stop the blame game but still speak transforming truth to those who oppress.
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1 August, 2021
There will always be people in the church you find difficult to get on with, and it is their presence that will really enable you to grow in your ability to love.
