Embracing the Unchanging Nature of God: A Message for the New Year

Reverend Andrew Irwin Reflects on God's Constancy in a Changing World

In his insightful sermon at St Paul's & St Barnabas, Reverend Andrew Irwin offered profound reflections on embracing the unchanging nature of God as we step into the new year. He encouraged us to view the passage of time through the lens of God's eternal presence and love.

Reverend Irwin spoke about the traditional notion of New Year's resolutions and the societal pressure to transform ourselves with the dawn of a new year. He challenged this perspective by emphasizing that, despite the changes around us, God remains a constant and unchanging presence in our lives.

Delving into the themes of anxiety and anger that have marked recent years, Reverend Irwin encouraged listeners to find solace and strength in God's immutable nature. He illustrated this through biblical passages, including the story of Moses and the burning bush, where God reveals Himself as "I Am Who I Am". This profound statement underscores God’s eternal, unchanging nature, providing us with a foundation of faith to face the uncertainties of life.

Whether we are entering a year of new challenges or continuing our ongoing journeys, the sermon reminds us that God’s character remains steadfast. As Reverend Irwin eloquently put it, "It might be a new year, but the beauty of our faith is that in every season, whatever time we find ourselves in, it's the same God."

We invite you to listen to this moving sermon, embedded below, and reflect on how its message can guide us through 2024 and beyond. Whether you are part of our church family or simply seeking a moment of spiritual reflection, Reverend Irwin's words offer comfort and guidance in these changing times.

Comments

SPB Sermons || Sent Like the Son || JOhn 20:19-23

Sent Like the Son – Family Worship at SPB Belfast (Sunday 27th April 2025) On the evening of Easter Sunday, as fear gripped the disciples behind locked doors, Jesus appeared among them and spoke the words they most needed to hear: "Peace be with you." At St Paul’s & St Barnabas this Sunday, we reflected on John 20:19-31 and the incredible transformation that the resurrection brings — not just to history, but to our hearts and lives today. We joined the disciples in their fear and doubt, seeing how even the testimony of Mary Magdalene couldn’t unlock their fear. Yet no locked door could keep out the risen Christ. Jesus appeared, scars and all, speaking peace into their brokenness. His scars weren't signs of defeat, but emblems of the victory won at the Cross — a reminder that by His wounds, we are healed. Jesus did not come to rebuke His followers, but to comfort them with His presence, speak peace into their hearts, and to co...

SPB Sermons || Spiritual Vitality: A Psalm for the Weary || PSalm 63

Spiritual Vitality: A Psalm for the Spiritually Weary We don’t often admit it, but many of us know what it’s like to feel spiritually dry. We’re not hostile to God, just tired. Life keeps moving, we keep showing up, but our souls feel like they’re running on fumes. In this sermon from Psalm 63 , Rev. Andrew Irwin invites us to see spiritual vitality not as a bonus for the super-committed, but as a core part of walking with God — even in the wilderness. Desire in the Dry Places David writes this Psalm not from a mountaintop, but from the desert. Hunted, hiding, and weary, he cries, “O God, you are my God… my soul thirsts for you.” It’s not a cry for rescue, success, or answers — it’s a longing for God himself . David remembers being in the sanctuary, lifting his hands in worship, and he yearns for that nearness again. Spiritual vitality begins not with more effort, but with more honesty . When we admit our weariness and desire, we open ourselves to the God who satisfies. Dryne...

SPB Sermons || John 20:24-31 || An Invitation For All To See ||

The Invitation Still Stands John 20:24–31 | Holy Communion | Sunday, 6 May 2025 In this deeply personal and reflective message, Rev. Andrew Irwin explores one of the most well-known and misunderstood figures in the resurrection story — Thomas. Often labelled "doubting," Thomas is shown instead as honest, wounded, and longing for truth. His absence at Jesus' first appearance leaves him reeling in a sea of sorrow, having missed not only the risen Christ but also the peace and power the others received. Still, Jesus returns — not with rebuke, but with compassion. And in that grace-filled encounter, Thomas makes one of the clearest declarations of faith in all Scripture: "My Lord and my God." The sermon challenges the assumptions we carry about doubt, showing us that Jesus is not afraid of our honesty. Like Thomas, we are often shaped by pain, disappointment, and questions, yet we are also invited to bring them to Jesus — whose scar...

St Pauls and St Barnabas

Search This Blog