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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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18 March, 2012
Judgement is not something God angrily inflicts on us, but simply the fulfilment of our own decisions.
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4 March, 2012
God’s covenant of love and grace is made unconditionally, not depending even on our response, and so the promises are made to our children whether they respond or not.
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12 February, 2012
Becoming Christlike takes discipline and commitment and practice, but the goal of fullness of life in Christ is worth whatever it takes.
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5 February, 2012
In Christ we are set free from all that would oppress us in order that we might be free to live in gracious and life-giving service of God and others.
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8 January, 2012
With Jesus we are baptised into a Spirit-inspired costly life of living the new culture of scandalous reconciliation.
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6 January, 2012
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: Evil, Hope, Humility, Jesus, Leadership, Reconciliation, Service
Though we get caught up in violent rivalries like Herod, God breaks through with the promise of a new kingdom where all are honoured.
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11 December, 2011
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: Faithfulness, Hope, Prayer
Faithful witness to the Coming Christ is not expressed by trying to force the world into our concepts of righteousness, but by joyously, prayerfully, and thankfully cooperating with the liberating work of the Spirit, even in the face of violent opposition.
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27 November, 2011
God’s action in the world and in our lives is constant and faithful, but rarely flamboyant or unambiguous. Discerning God’s activity is therefore a learned skill.
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20 November, 2011
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: Leadership, Salvation, Service, Suffering, Violence
Jesus calls us to love and care for the world’s victims, and to refuse to participate in making more of them (even from among the victimisers).
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6 November, 2011
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Scripture: 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Matthew
Our anticipation of new life in Christ, though not removing all grief, allows us to find hope in the mercy and love of God.
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23 October, 2011
Jesus recognises that there are different ways of interpreting the Bible that lead to different understandings of God and of following God, and he demonstrates the principles by which he would have us read it.
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16 October, 2011
Preacher: Nathan Nettleton
Topic: Formation, Identity, Incarnation, Jesus, Vocation
Scripture: 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Matthew
As creatures made in the image of God, imitation of God is the pathway to fullness of life.