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SPB Sermons || The King Has Come || Palm Sunday || Luke 19:28-40

The King Has Come – Palm Sunday at SPB The King Has Come – Palm Sunday at SPB On Palm Sunday, we stepped into Luke 19:28–40 and into the streets of a city full of noise, tension, and expectation. It was Jerusalem then — it is Belfast now. In his sermon, Rev. Andrew Irwin reminded us that the King we proclaim is not the kind we expect. He doesn’t ride in with fanfare or force but with humility, peace, and purpose. The city of Jerusalem was packed to the brim. The great Passover celebration was at hand, and the people of God were remembering a story of freedom and rescue while still living under Roman occupation. The air was thick with anticipation. Into that atmosphere, Jesus rides — on a donkey. Not a war horse. Not with soldiers. But with disciples and borrowed cloaks. As the crowd shouts praise and throws their coats on the road, we’re reminded that they had the right words — “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” —...
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This Is the Hour – Join Us for Holy Week 2025 at St Paul’s & St Barnabas

This Is the Hour – Join Us for Holy Week 2025 at St Paul’s & St Barnabas, Belfast As we journey toward Easter this year at St Paul’s & St Barnabas in North Belfast, we invite you to take part in our Holy Week services under the theme “This Is the Hour.” This powerful phrase comes from John’s Gospel, where Jesus speaks of the appointed time—the hour—for which He came into the world. From Gethsemane to glory, Jesus moves with divine purpose toward the cross and the empty tomb. We are invited to walk with Him in that hour: to sit in the sorrow of betrayal, to receive the grace of service, to stand at the foot of the cross, and to rejoice at the dawn of resurrection. Our Holy Week reflections will follow the Gospel of John, focusing each evening on a key moment in Jesus’ journey. All services begin at 7:30 pm , and we warmly welcome you to come just as you are. Tuesday 15th April – 6:30pm Easter Community Prayer Walk Meeting at Salv...
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Sermon || True Worship – John 12:1–8 || SPB Belfast

True Worship – John 12:1–8 | SPB Belfast True Worship – John 12:1–8 As we journey through Holy Week, we find ourselves in Bethany, just six days before the Passover, where Jesus is gathered with friends for a meal. Among them is Lazarus—recently raised from the dead—a quiet but powerful reminder of Jesus’ divine authority over life and death. In this setting, Mary responds not with words, but with worship. She breaks open a jar of costly perfume, pours it over Jesus’ feet, and wipes them with her hair. This extravagant act becomes a defining picture of what true worship looks like. In Sunday’s sermon, Rev. Andrew Irwin helped us explore the richness of this moment. Mary’s worship is more than emotion; it is the overflow of a heart transformed by grace. She had seen the power of Jesus firsthand when her brother Lazarus walked out of the tomb. Her act of worship ...
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SPB Sermons || Luke 15:11-30 || 2 Brothers and 1 Father || Coming Home

SPB Sermons || Luke 15:11-30 || 2 Brothers and 1 Father || Coming Home Come Home – A Reflection for Mothering Sunday This Mothering Sunday, we paused to reflect not only on the gift of mothers, but on the deeper call to come home—to the place of belonging, restoration, and grace found in the Father’s embrace. Rev. Andrew Irwin led us through the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11–32, a familiar story with fresh power, reminding us of God’s patient, pursuing love for all His children. More Than a Place Home, as we were reminded, is not just a building or a memory. It’s the people, relationships, and moments of formation that make it meaningful. On Mothering Sunday, many returned historically to their “mother church”—the spiritual home that nurtured their faith. In the same way, we are invited to remember the deeper home we find in God, the one who forms us, welcomes us, and loves us without condition. A Tale of Two Sons The sermon explored the we...
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Easter Community Prayer Walk – Praying for Gospel Hope in Our City

Easter Community Prayer Walk – Praying for Gospel Hope in Our City As we journey through Holy Week and prepare to celebrate the risen Christ, we invite you to join us for a special Easter Community Prayer Walk on Tuesday 15th April . We will gather at 6:30pm at the Salvation Army, York Street , and finish around 8:00pm at Alexandra Presbyterian Church . Along the way, we will stop at several local churches and key community sites in Tiger’s Bay and Mountcollyer , lifting our city in prayer. This prayer walk is an expression of Gospel partnership — a visible sign that we are one body in Christ, united not by tradition or denomination, but by the shared hope of the resurrection. It is our desire to walk humbly, pray fervently, and proclaim Christ clearly in the heart of North Belfast. As we walk and pray, we will be interceding for the people who live, work, and worship in our neighbourhood. We will pray for schools, families, frontline wo...
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SPB Sermons || Lent 1 || Luke 4:1-13 || Who Will You Serve?

Who Will You Serve? | Luke 4:1-13 Who Will You Serve? | Luke 4:1-13 On Sunday, 9th March 2025, Rev. Andrew Irwin preached on Luke 4:1-13 with a sermon titled “Who Will You Serve?” As Lent continues, this passage brings us to a pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry—His temptation in the wilderness. Here, we see the battle for allegiance, the test of faithfulness, and the question that confronts every one of us: Who or what will we serve? The world often tells us that we are free to shape our own destinies, that we can live without answering to anyone. But as Andrew pointed out, this simply isn’t true. Whether we recognise it or not, we are all serving something—our careers, ambitions, relationships, or even our own desires. The question is not whether we serve, but whom we serve. The Temptations of Jesus Luke 4 presents us with three temptations faced by Jesus in the wilderness. The first is the temptation of provis...
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SPB Sermons || Sun 23rd Feb || Mark 12: 28-34 || One Lord: One Way || Rev Ian Cahoon

Sermon Blog - Mark 12:28-34 Sermon Blog - Mark 12:28-34 On Sunday, 26th February 2025, at St Paul’s & St Barnabas, we had the privilege of welcoming Rev. Ian Cahoon from Alexandra Presbyterian Church, who preached from Mark 12:28-34. This passage brings us to the heart of Jesus’ teaching on the greatest commandment—what it truly means to love God and love our neighbour. The scribe who approached Jesus that day was not trying to trap Him, as others had done. Instead, he genuinely sought wisdom, asking, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus’ response was simple yet profound: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” He then adds, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” These are the foundation of a life lived in obedience to God. Rev. Cahoon reminded us that this call to love is not transactional—God is ...
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