Rev. Craig Lynn preaches 2 Samuel 25 at evening worship on Sunday 3rd May 2026 in First Ards.

Absalom steals the hearts of Israel and David is forced to flee Jerusalem. The chapter shows the bitter public fallout of David’s earlier sin, but also a chastened king beginning to trust God again. David refuses to use the ark as a tool for control, entrusts himself to the Lord and prays as he leaves in shame. Yet David’s sorrow points beyond himself to Jesus, the true Son of David, who crossed the Kidron and went out in shame, not for his own sin, but to save his people.

Rev. Craig Lynn preaches Luke 10:21-24 at morning worship on Sunday 3rd May 2026 in First Ards.

Luke 10:21–24 takes us behind the scenes of mission and shows us heaven’s view. The 72 return rejoicing, but Jesus redirects their joy from usefulness to grace, their names are written in heaven. Then Jesus rejoices in the Spirit that the Father reveals his kingdom not to the proud and self-sufficient, but to “little children” who receive it humbly. At the centre stands the Son, who alone reveals the Father. As Jesus travels towards Jerusalem, we’re reminded that salvation is God’s joyful work from beginning to end and our deepest joy is simply to know him.

Rev. Craig Lynn preaches 2 Samuel 14 at evening worship on Sunday 26th April 2026 in First Ards.

2 Samuel 14 shows Absalom brought home from exile, but not truly restored. Joab’s scheme moves David to act, but the deeper wounds remain untouched. Absalom returns to Jerusalem without repentance, Tamar remains forgotten and David offers a shallow peace that can’t heal his broken house. The chapter leaves us longing for a better King. In Christ, God truly devises a way for the banished to come home, not by ignoring sin, but by dealing with it at the cross, so that sinners may be forgiven, welcomed and restored.

Rev. Craig Lynn preaches Luke 10:1-20 at morning worship on Sunday 26th April 2026 in First Ards.

“The God of mission has a church”! As Jesus sets his face towards Jerusalem, he sends the seventy-two ahead of him to proclaim that the kingdom of God has come near. They go in dependence, prayer and weakness, like lambs among wolves, carrying Christ’s message and authority. Some welcome them, others reject them and Jesus warns that rejecting his messengers means rejecting him. When they return rejoicing in what they’ve seen, Jesus redirects their joy: not in usefulness or success, but in belonging to him.

Rev. Craig Lynn preaches 2 Samuel 13:23-39 at evening worship on Sunday 19th April 2026 in First Ards.

Two years after Tamar’s violation, Absalom’s silence gives way to carefully planned revenge and Amnon is killed. David grieves, but once again his house is marked by passivity, confusion and unresolved sorrow. The chapter shows that time alone doesn’t heal what sin has broken and that vengeance can’t produce the justice that silence refused to pursue. David’s household is unraveling exactly as Nathan said it would. The passage leaves us longing for a better King than David, one who judges rightly without sin and brings true peace.

Rev. Craig Lynn preaches Luke 9:49-62 at morning worship on Sunday 19th April 2026 in First Ards.

Jesus “resolutely set out for Jerusalem” and everything is now shaped by that road. The passage shows how unlike him the disciples still are: narrow where he’s generous, harsh where he’s merciful and hesitant where he’s resolute. Jesus corrects their instincts about who belongs, how to respond to rejection and what discipleship really costs. Following him can’t be done on our terms or at our convenience. The passage calls us to stop trying to reshape the road and instead trust and follow the Christ who set his face towards the cross for us.

Rev. Craig Lynn preaches 2 Samuel 12:1-22 at evening worship on Sunday 12th April in First Ards.

2 Samuel 13 shows the sword entering David’s house just as Nathan had warned. Amnon’s desire for Tamar becomes violence, Jonadab’s cleverness becomes complicity, Absalom’s care is mixed with silence and David’s anger never turns into action. Tamar stands at the centre of the chapter as the one who sees clearly, speaks truthfully and is then left desolate. This passage is hard, but it drives us beyond David’s broken household to the true Son of David, the Lord Jesus Christ, whose kingdom is marked by righteousness, justice and grace.

Note: This sermon includes adult themes, including sexual abuse. Please use discernment if listening with children and please take care if this subject matter is difficult for you.

Rev. Craig Lynn preaches Like 9:37-48 at morning worship on Sunday 12th A 2026 in First Ards.

Coming down from the mount of Transfiguration, Jesus meets a scene of confusion, suffering and failure: a desperate father, a tormented boy, disciples who can’t help and followers who still don’t understand the cross. This sermon shows how the glory of Christ is seen not just on the mountain but in the valley, where he rebukes evil, restores the boy and keeps walking towards Jerusalem. It also shows how far the disciples still have to go and how Jesus redefines greatness, not as status or importance, but as humble, cross-shaped service.