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.