What if joy isn’t about your personality or your circumstances — but about knowing a God who never changes? In this message from John 16, James unpacks how Jesus offers a joy that runs deeper than happiness and stronger than sorrow. Discover why real joy isn’t fake smiles or good vibes, but a settled confidence that God is good, near, and in control — even when life hurts.
In this second message of the Fruit of the Spirit series, James explores the first and greatest fruit — love. In a culture that defines love as affirmation or feeling, this passage from 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that true love begins not in us, but in God Himself.
James unpacks what biblical love is, what it isn’t, and what its counterfeits look like. Real love, he shows, isn’t sentimentality or self-fulfilment — it’s self-giving, sacrificial, and rooted in God’s holiness. Drawing on Tim Keller, R.C. Sproul, and J.C. Ryle, this sermon invites us to reflect deeply on our motives, pull out the weeds of fear, and grow in the kind of love that mirrors Christ’s love for us.
If you’ve ever wondered what it really means to “love God and love your neighbour,” this message will help you see love not as emotion, but as transformation — the visible proof that the Spirit lives in you.
🎧 “Fruit of the Spirit: The Battle Within” — Galatians 5:16–26
In this opening message of the Fruit of the Spirit series, James takes us to Galatians 5 to explore what real Christian growth looks like. Using the simple image of a fig tree, he asks: how can you tell if someone truly belongs to Christ? By their fruit.
This sermon unpacks the spiritual battle between the flesh and the Spirit — revealing how our old self fights against the new life God has planted within us. James challenges us to “pull the weeds, plant the seed, and walk by the Spirit,” reminding us that genuine transformation isn’t instant, but inevitable when the Holy Spirit is at work.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in your faith or unsure whether you’re really growing, this message will help you see what’s possible when God’s Spirit takes root in your heart.
This week, we conclude our journey through the opening chapters of Acts — and what a journey it’s been! From a handful of uncertain disciples in Jerusalem to the birth of a vibrant, multi-ethnic church in Antioch, we see the risen Jesus keeping His promise: the gospel going to the ends of the earth.
In Acts 11, Rev. James explores how God builds His masterpiece — the Church — through ordinary believers, prayerful dependence, and leaders who embody both truth and love. What was new about this church, this name “Christian,” and this kind of leadership? And what might it look like for St Alban’s today to uncover again the beauty of Christ’s original design?
Come be encouraged to share your faith, deepen your prayer, and live out your true identity — as one who belongs to Christ.
In a culture that’s increasingly skeptical of conversion, what does it mean to be truly changed by Jesus?
This week, James takes us to the dramatic turning point in Acts 9—the conversion of Saul of Tarsus—and reminds us why Christian conversion isn’t just possible, but essential. With clarity, depth, and urgency, this sermon explores:
Saul’s life before Christ—zealous, sincere, yet sincerely wrong
His encounter with the risen Jesus—a collision of glory and grace
The radical transformation that followed—prayer, community, and mission
Whether you're unsure about Christianity, confident in your faith, or somewhere in between—this message challenges all of us to consider: Have I truly met Jesus? And if I have, am I living like it?
Petty complaints can split a church—but Acts 6 shows us how God turns distraction into mission. As grumbling rises in the early church, the apostles wisely delegate, and Stephen steps forward as a servant full of grace and power. His life and death point us to the true High Priest, Jesus—the one who intercedes for us, cares for us, and gives us boldness to live for Him.
In this message, James unpacks the problem of grumbling, the wisdom of delegation, and the example of Stephen, reminding us that when our eyes are fixed on Christ, we too can serve with compassion, speak with courage, and stay focused on our mission.
Most preachers avoid this passage. No wonder—it’s confronting, unsettling, and far from a “feel-good” Bible verse. But in Acts 5 we meet Ananias and Sapphira, and through their story God teaches us about Satan’s tactics against the church: persecution from outside and corruption from within.
In this sermon, James unpacks how the early church responded with boldness, generosity, and godly fear—and what that means for us today. It’s a sobering reminder that God takes sin seriously, but also a gospel-shaped call to integrity, repentance, and unity in Christ.
What’s your first response when life shakes you to the core? For the early church in Acts 4, persecution, threats, and fear drove them not to retreat, but to pray. And their prayer wasn’t for comfort or safety—it was for boldness to keep speaking about Jesus.
In this message, James unpacks why the believers prayed, what they prayed for, and how God answered. Along the way, he shows how prayer can turn our greatest fears into unshakable confidence in Christ, the solid rock who cannot be moved.
When the ground beneath you trembles, where do you stand?
What does a church really need to grow? A good leader, solid Bible teaching, a strong music team… and persecution? In Acts 4 we see Peter and John dragged before the Sanhedrin, commanded to stay silent about Jesus, and yet filled with Spirit-given courage to speak the truth.
In this sermon, James unpacks three key movements in the passage: the opposition that comes, the reason behind it, and the way forward for us today. Along the way, he explores how the gospel challenges cultural claims—both ancient and modern—and why persecution, far from being a setback, is the very fertiliser God uses to grow His church.
If you’ve ever wondered how to stand firm in a world that wants you to keep quiet about Jesus, this message is for you.
Leaping with Joy: Acts 3 and the Living Jesus
Preached by James
Sometimes we Anglicans act as though Jesus were still in the tomb—heads down, voices hushed, shuffling into church like mourners at a graveside. But Acts 3 gives us a very different picture: a crippled man healed in the name of Jesus, leaping, praising, and drawing crowds to hear the gospel.
In this sermon, James takes us through the miracle at the temple gate, Peter’s bold explanation, and the implications for us today. Why does God work miracles? How do they point us to Jesus? And what does it look like to live with resurrection joy rather than mild misery?
Come be challenged and encouraged to leap in your heart, seize the opportunities God gives, redirect the glory to Him, and tell the full story of the risen Christ.
Linda Colless’ Funeral Sermon-Rev. James Delanty on 21st August 2025
Church Disruption- Act 2:40-46-Rev. John Menear on 17th August 2025
Acts 2 – Cut to the Heart
On the day of Pentecost, Peter’s Spirit-filled sermon pierced his listeners to the core. In this message, James unpacks what Peter said, why it “cut to the heart,” and the life-changing results that followed. Discover how the gospel’s blade—like a surgeon’s scalpel—doesn’t cut to wound, but to heal. Whether you’re exploring Christianity or have followed Jesus for years, this passage calls us all to repentance, faith, and life in the Spirit.
Episode Title: Pentecost and the Power of Passion
Series: Acts 1–9 — To the Ends of the Earth
Speaker: Mal York
Passage: Acts 2:1–13
What does great coffee and the coming of the Holy Spirit have in common? In this passionate and personal message, Mal York takes us to the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, where the promised Holy Spirit arrives with power — not just in wind and fire, but in words.
As the Spirit fills the disciples, they proclaim the wonders of God in every language — a moment that echoes God's faithfulness, fulfills ancient promises, and launches the gospel to the nations. Mal challenges us to consider: Are we filled with that same Spirit today? And if so, are we speaking — not about coffee, but about Christ?
Whether you're curious, convicted, or just craving clarity, this episode invites you to consider how the Spirit still empowers ordinary people to share extraordinary news.
📖 “Do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord…” — 2 Timothy 1:8
What could possibly be more audacious than landing a man on the moon? How about launching a global movement that would transform history—and eternity?
In this powerful sermon, James opens our new series in the book of Acts with a challenge and a promise: the same Holy Spirit who empowered the early church still empowers us today. With boldness, clarity, and deep encouragement, we are called to look out with Gospel courage, look up to our reigning King Jesus, and kneel down in prayerful dependence.
From Christ’s commission to His ascension, from hesitant disciples to a praying church on fire—this message will stir your heart to trust in the truth of the Gospel and walk in the power of the Spirit.
Witness. Worship. Wait. The revolution Jesus started is still unfolding. And you’re invited to be a part of it.
In this powerful message from Jeremiah 36, James unpacks a dramatic moment in Israel’s history—a king who burns God’s Word, thinking he can silence the voice of the Almighty. But as we’ll see, God always has the final word.
With insight, clarity, and even a tale about a modern-day parking fine meltdown, James leads us through the receiving, rejection, and restoration of God’s Word. This episode challenges us to consider: when God speaks, how do we respond?
✝️ From ancient scrolls to the risen Christ, this sermon reminds us that the Word of the Lord endures—and it still speaks today.
Seek the Good of the City- Jeremiah 29-Mr. Trevor Barman on July 14th 2025
In this week's message, Rev. James unpacks one of the most significant chapters in the entire Old Testament—Jeremiah 31—and the radical promise of a New Covenant. Instead of saying "I told you so" to a rebellious people, God offers something far better: a new way to relate to Him.
What does it mean to live in a covenant, not a consumer, relationship with God? Why did the Old Covenant fail—and how does Jesus fulfill both sides of the New? Rev. James walks us through the nature of God’s covenants, the desperate need for renewal, and the life-changing implications for believers today.
Whether you’re feeling burdened by performance or tempted to take grace for granted, this message calls us to deeper trust, real obedience, and lasting hope in Christ.
📝 Key Points:
The Nature of the Old Covenant
The Need for a New Covenant
The Implications for Us Today
📖 Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 31, Hebrews 8, Luke 22:20
💬 “This is the new covenant in my blood…” – Jesus
"Follow your heart"—a phrase our culture exalts as wisdom. But what if the very thing we’re told to trust is actually the deepest source of our brokenness?
In this powerful sermon, James Delanty unpacks the raw truth of Jeremiah 17 and the condition of the human heart. Moving through three key stages—the hard heart, the trusting heart, and the tested heart—we discover why our hearts are not just unreliable, but incurably self-focused… and why that's not the end of the story.
With rich imagery, biblical depth, and a call to real transformation, this message challenges the cultural narrative of self-trust and offers the gospel’s alternative: a new heart, rooted in Christ.
If you've ever felt disillusioned with the advice to "just follow your heart," this episode will show you a better way—the way of surrender, healing, and hope.
💡 Big Idea: The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.
🛑 Don’t follow your heart. 🙏 Give it to God—and let the healing begin.
“When Worship Becomes a Lie: A Warning from Jeremiah 7”
Episode Description:
In this convicting sermon, Rev. James Delanty opens up Jeremiah 7 to expose the danger of religious hypocrisy—when outward worship masks an inward rebellion. Just like the people of Judah who trusted in the temple instead of in God Himself, we too can fall into the trap of going through the motions while our hearts drift far from Him.
Drawing parallels from the Swiss Reformation to the present day, James calls us to examine our worship, align our lives with God's Word, and return to Him with true repentance—not just religious habits. Whether you relate to the rebel or the rule-keeper, this is a message of both warning and grace.
Big Idea:
Religious activity cannot replace a heart surrendered to God.
Key Themes:
The emptiness of outward religion without inward change
God’s call to reformation through repentance
The grace of Jesus for both the rebellious and the self-righteous
Preached at St Alban’s by James Delanty.