https://newchurchaudio.org/feeds.php?location=135 en-us ©2026 New Church Audio no Recordings of weekly sermons at New Church Westville, a family centred New Christian church located in Westville, South Africa. New Church Audio Recordings of weekly sermons at New Church Westville, a family centred New Christian church located in Westville, South Africa. https://newchurchaudio.org/images/logo.jpg https://newchurchaudio.org/feeds.php?location=135 New,Church,Swedenborginfo@newchurch.co.zaNew Church Audio Sun, 12 Apr 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn How can something true also be false? It seems like a contradiction but it is actually something we (...) How can something true also be false? It seems like a contradiction but it is actually something we do all the time. A truth does not exist in isolation: it gets its quality from its connection with other truths and its application to a given situation. When a truth is removed from its proper context and used to justify evil, it is no longer true, no matter how much we'd like to defend our behaviour by appealing to the "truth" of what we are saying or doing. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=31086 2919 How can something true also be false? It seems like a contradiction but it is actually something we do all the time. A truth does not exist in isolation: it gets its quality from its connection with other truths and its application to a given situation. When a truth is removed from its proper context and used to justify evil, it is no longer true, no matter how much we'd like to defend our behaviour by appealing to the "truth" of what we are saying or doing. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn No one likes to fail. We actively try to avoid failure (as we should!). But failure is also unavoida(...) No one likes to fail. We actively try to avoid failure (as we should!). But failure is also unavoidable: it is part and parcel of trying to live a better life. Our own failures are reflected in the Lord's apparent failure. On the first Easter morning, before anyone knew He had risen, it seemed obvious that Jesus had failed. And yet through that apparent failure the Lord had the opportunity to overcome death, and hell, and sin, and so achieve true and lasting success. The path through failure leads to a better future. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=31079 2264 No one likes to fail. We actively try to avoid failure (as we should!). But failure is also unavoidable: it is part and parcel of trying to live a better life. Our own failures are reflected in the Lord's apparent failure. On the first Easter morning, before anyone knew He had risen, it seemed obvious that Jesus had failed. And yet through that apparent failure the Lord had the opportunity to overcome death, and hell, and sin, and so achieve true and lasting success. The path through failure leads to a better future. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn The Old Testament prophets proclaimed that the Messiah would come to engage in fierce warfare agains(...) The Old Testament prophets proclaimed that the Messiah would come to engage in fierce warfare against His enemies. And yet in the life of Jesus we see virtually no warfare! Even when He was arrested and crucified He did not resist. This is not because He was helpless; rather it was because the warfare that matter was a spiritual one: He resisted and conquered every hell, in His human life, and so became the One who can, for us and in our lives, conquer every hell once again. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=31075 2326 The Old Testament prophets proclaimed that the Messiah would come to engage in fierce warfare against His enemies. And yet in the life of Jesus we see virtually no warfare! Even when He was arrested and crucified He did not resist. This is not because He was helpless; rather it was because the warfare that matter was a spiritual one: He resisted and conquered every hell, in His human life, and so became the One who can, for us and in our lives, conquer every hell once again. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 29 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn In the Gospel of John, Palm Sunday is described in the context of the miracle of raising Lazarus fro(...) In the Gospel of John, Palm Sunday is described in the context of the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. There were those who knew of this miracle and hated the Lord for it; there were those who knew of it but kept quiet from fear; and there were those who knew of it and so joyfully confessed the Lord as their king. It was this last group that welcomed Jesus with palm branches. This Sunday we will explore how we too can bear witness to the Lord and rejoice in His coming. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=31074 1026 In the Gospel of John, Palm Sunday is described in the context of the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. There were those who knew of this miracle and hated the Lord for it; there were those who knew of it but kept quiet from fear; and there were those who knew of it and so joyfully confessed the Lord as their king. It was this last group that welcomed Jesus with palm branches. This Sunday we will explore how we too can bear witness to the Lord and rejoice in His coming. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 22 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn Shortly before His death, a woman poured a flask of precious oil over Jesus's head. This would have (...) Shortly before His death, a woman poured a flask of precious oil over Jesus's head. This would have been a clear sign of love and esteem for Jesus. But the disciples felt the oil could have better been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. We might even imagine that Jesus would agree with them! Yet Jesus approved of the woman's actions. We see in this a lesson that while the Lord does require us to serve others, we cannot neglect a loving relationship with Him as central to our spiritual lives. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=31061 2331 Shortly before His death, a woman poured a flask of precious oil over Jesus's head. This would have been a clear sign of love and esteem for Jesus. But the disciples felt the oil could have better been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. We might even imagine that Jesus would agree with them! Yet Jesus approved of the woman's actions. We see in this a lesson that while the Lord does require us to serve others, we cannot neglect a loving relationship with Him as central to our spiritual lives. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 15 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Charles E. Blair In the midst of everyday life, it can be difficult to feel like things are truly getting “better.�(...) In the midst of everyday life, it can be difficult to feel like things are truly getting “better.” But perhaps we can shift our perspective. Perhaps we can begin to see life the way God does—life not necessarily better in every moment, but always moving toward something better when viewed through the lens of eternity.  https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=31056 2232 In the midst of everyday life, it can be difficult to feel like things are truly getting “better.” But perhaps we can shift our perspective. Perhaps we can begin to see life the way God does—life not necessarily better in every moment, but always moving toward something better when viewed through the lens of eternity.  info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 08 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn Many of Jesus's miracles consisted in healing the sick. But in the grand scheme of things He was onl(...) Many of Jesus's miracles consisted in healing the sick. But in the grand scheme of things He was only able to heal a tiny fraction of the people who have suffered, constrained to a relatively small geographic area of the world. So why did Jesus spend so much time healing people? As with all His miracles, it represents something about who God is: He is always able and willing to heal, but in our case to heal us spiritually. We'll look at how three of Jesus's healing miracles show us that God can heal us when nothing else has worked, when we think we are beyond help, and when we don't think we even deserve to be healed. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=31051 1600 Many of Jesus's miracles consisted in healing the sick. But in the grand scheme of things He was only able to heal a tiny fraction of the people who have suffered, constrained to a relatively small geographic area of the world. So why did Jesus spend so much time healing people? As with all His miracles, it represents something about who God is: He is always able and willing to heal, but in our case to heal us spiritually. We'll look at how three of Jesus's healing miracles show us that God can heal us when nothing else has worked, when we think we are beyond help, and when we don't think we even deserve to be healed. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 01 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn Jesus teaches that the first will be last, and the last first. He also teaches that he who would be (...) Jesus teaches that the first will be last, and the last first. He also teaches that he who would be great must become a servant. To be meek and mild therefore seems like the goal we should all aspire to. And this is true! But sometimes our very pursuit of humility can be hijacked by pride and turned into just one more means of gratifying our pride. Humility can be falsified, and true humility may look far more boisterous and assertive than we imagine. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=31047 0 Jesus teaches that the first will be last, and the last first. He also teaches that he who would be great must become a servant. To be meek and mild therefore seems like the goal we should all aspire to. And this is true! But sometimes our very pursuit of humility can be hijacked by pride and turned into just one more means of gratifying our pride. Humility can be falsified, and true humility may look far more boisterous and assertive than we imagine. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 22 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rt. Rev. Bradley D. Heinrichs Often when we hear stories from the Word about the powerful enemies that conquered the Children of I(...) Often when we hear stories from the Word about the powerful enemies that conquered the Children of Israel and we read in the Heavenly Doctrine about the hatred of the devils in hell, we can think that our enemies and hell are formidable foes. But the reality is that hell has NO power at all. Come and learn why we do not need to fear the hells. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=31019 2806 Often when we hear stories from the Word about the powerful enemies that conquered the Children of Israel and we read in the Heavenly Doctrine about the hatred of the devils in hell, we can think that our enemies and hell are formidable foes. But the reality is that hell has NO power at all. Come and learn why we do not need to fear the hells. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 15 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn At the Last Supper, having shared bread and wine with His disciples, the Lord commanded, “Do this (...) At the Last Supper, having shared bread and wine with His disciples, the Lord commanded, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Holy Supper is an opportunity to remember the Lord: to remember what He did for us in giving His life; to remember the Divine Love that He shares with us; to remember the Divine Wisdom that inspires us. But remembering the Lord is not just a matter of thought; it is a matter of doing what He commands us. The best way to “remember” the Lord is to actively follow His teachings. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=31018 1289 At the Last Supper, having shared bread and wine with His disciples, the Lord commanded, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Holy Supper is an opportunity to remember the Lord: to remember what He did for us in giving His life; to remember the Divine Love that He shares with us; to remember the Divine Wisdom that inspires us. But remembering the Lord is not just a matter of thought; it is a matter of doing what He commands us. The best way to “remember” the Lord is to actively follow His teachings. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 08 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn The Word is written in such a way that every word and concept has a deeper spiritual meaning. These (...) The Word is written in such a way that every word and concept has a deeper spiritual meaning. These meanings are threaded through the entirety of the Word, tying together disparate and varied stories into one story with one message. This Sunday we will follow one of these threads by exploring sleep and wakefulness. In this theme we learn about the need to be vigilant and awake spiritually, as well as the need to rest and sleep in the Lord. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=31002 1714 The Word is written in such a way that every word and concept has a deeper spiritual meaning. These meanings are threaded through the entirety of the Word, tying together disparate and varied stories into one story with one message. This Sunday we will follow one of these threads by exploring sleep and wakefulness. In this theme we learn about the need to be vigilant and awake spiritually, as well as the need to rest and sleep in the Lord. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 01 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn Psalm 121 speaks of the Lord protecting your going out and your coming in. This speaks to times of t(...) Psalm 121 speaks of the Lord protecting your going out and your coming in. This speaks to times of transition, times in which it is especially crucial that we remain in the Lord’s care. A prominent example is the Children of Israel coming out of slavery in Egypt and going in to possess the Promised Land. But this story also illustrates the struggle of times of transition: between coming out of Egypt and going into the Land there was forty years of wandering the wilderness. As much as we would like to directly leave hardship and enter good times, more often than not there is an intermediate stage of trial and growth that the Lord must lead us through. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=31000 1764 Psalm 121 speaks of the Lord protecting your going out and your coming in. This speaks to times of transition, times in which it is especially crucial that we remain in the Lord’s care. A prominent example is the Children of Israel coming out of slavery in Egypt and going in to possess the Promised Land. But this story also illustrates the struggle of times of transition: between coming out of Egypt and going into the Land there was forty years of wandering the wilderness. As much as we would like to directly leave hardship and enter good times, more often than not there is an intermediate stage of trial and growth that the Lord must lead us through. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 25 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn There are moments when something so unlikely and unexpected, and yet so wonderful, occurs, that we c(...) There are moments when something so unlikely and unexpected, and yet so wonderful, occurs, that we cannot help but see is as the hand of God at work in the world. But if God intervenes so forcefully in the world sometimes, it serves to highlight the many times when He does not (apparently) intervene. Why is one person miraculously spared from cancer, while thousands of others are condemned to die? The truth is that God’s Providence is not just at work in the unlikely and the obvious ways we see. His Providence extends to each and every moment of our lives, even down to the most mundane. He is never absent. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=30995 1662 There are moments when something so unlikely and unexpected, and yet so wonderful, occurs, that we cannot help but see is as the hand of God at work in the world. But if God intervenes so forcefully in the world sometimes, it serves to highlight the many times when He does not (apparently) intervene. Why is one person miraculously spared from cancer, while thousands of others are condemned to die? The truth is that God’s Providence is not just at work in the unlikely and the obvious ways we see. His Providence extends to each and every moment of our lives, even down to the most mundane. He is never absent. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 18 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn The central element of the baptism service is water. Water in general represents truth, and that is (...) The central element of the baptism service is water. Water in general represents truth, and that is what it represents in baptism: just as water quenches thirst, the truth that is learned from the Lord and His Word quenches our desire for guidance; just as water washes away dirt, truth is the tool by which we wash away sin and evil. Conversely water represents falsity: just as a person needs to be lifted up and saved from drowning, the Lord leads us away from what is false and guides us to live based on His truth. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=30993 2521 The central element of the baptism service is water. Water in general represents truth, and that is what it represents in baptism: just as water quenches thirst, the truth that is learned from the Lord and His Word quenches our desire for guidance; just as water washes away dirt, truth is the tool by which we wash away sin and evil. Conversely water represents falsity: just as a person needs to be lifted up and saved from drowning, the Lord leads us away from what is false and guides us to live based on His truth. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 11 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn The wisdom of God seems like foolishness to the world, and so following God's wisdom inevitably lead(...) The wisdom of God seems like foolishness to the world, and so following God's wisdom inevitably leads to us feeling foolish. The pressure to give in and embrace the "wisdom" of the world can be strong. Resisting takes sacrifice, from passing on a promotion, to ending a relationship, to letting go of ego, and beyond. But until we are willing to be seen as fools by the world, we are not able to fully follow the Lord. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=30989 1733 The wisdom of God seems like foolishness to the world, and so following God's wisdom inevitably leads to us feeling foolish. The pressure to give in and embrace the "wisdom" of the world can be strong. Resisting takes sacrifice, from passing on a promotion, to ending a relationship, to letting go of ego, and beyond. But until we are willing to be seen as fools by the world, we are not able to fully follow the Lord. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 04 Jan 2026 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=30978 1721 info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 28 Dec 2025 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=30977 1506 info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Thu, 25 Dec 2025 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn There is not just one “Christmas Story:” Matthew recounts Joseph’s dilemma, the arrival of the(...) There is not just one “Christmas Story:” Matthew recounts Joseph’s dilemma, the arrival of the wise men, and the threat of Herod, while Luke recounts the annunciation to Mary, the infant Jesus being placed in a manger, and the shepherds coming to see Him. Keeping these stories separate in our minds helps us understand the spiritual significance of each one: Matthew has a lot to say about how we receive the Lord in our minds through truth, faith, and understanding. Luke on the other hand tells us more about how we receive the Lord in our hearts, in goodness, charity, and our will. On Christmas Day we will explore how Luke can help us be more accepting, trusting, and loving in how we receive the Lord. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=30976 1542 There is not just one “Christmas Story:” Matthew recounts Joseph’s dilemma, the arrival of the wise men, and the threat of Herod, while Luke recounts the annunciation to Mary, the infant Jesus being placed in a manger, and the shepherds coming to see Him. Keeping these stories separate in our minds helps us understand the spiritual significance of each one: Matthew has a lot to say about how we receive the Lord in our minds through truth, faith, and understanding. Luke on the other hand tells us more about how we receive the Lord in our hearts, in goodness, charity, and our will. On Christmas Day we will explore how Luke can help us be more accepting, trusting, and loving in how we receive the Lord. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 21 Dec 2025 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn We often talk about "The Christmas Story" as if it were one contained story. But really there are tw(...) We often talk about "The Christmas Story" as if it were one contained story. But really there are two: one in the Gospel of Matthew, the other in the Gospel of Luke. In the first, the danger of Herod looms large, Joseph has to work hard to keep the family safe, and wise men from the East bring gifts. In the second, Mary is central, there is no room for them in the inn, and shepherds come to adore the little infant. These two different versions tell us a lot about the two distinct ways we receive the Lord into our own lives. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=30969 1719 We often talk about "The Christmas Story" as if it were one contained story. But really there are two: one in the Gospel of Matthew, the other in the Gospel of Luke. In the first, the danger of Herod looms large, Joseph has to work hard to keep the family safe, and wise men from the East bring gifts. In the second, Mary is central, there is no room for them in the inn, and shepherds come to adore the little infant. These two different versions tell us a lot about the two distinct ways we receive the Lord into our own lives. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 14 Dec 2025 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn The Christmas story begins with Zacharias receiving the astonishing news that his elderly, barren wi(...) The Christmas story begins with Zacharias receiving the astonishing news that his elderly, barren wife would give birth to a special child. Yet in the moment of his prayers being answered, Zechariah doubted; and so was made mute until the time of the child’s birth. How often do we do the same, doubting just when our prayers might be answered? It’s as if it’s too good to be true, and to protect ourselves from disappointment we refuse to let ourselves give in to false hope. But the Lord does not give false hope: His promises are sure and He brings to pass something greater even then our wildest dreams. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=30965 1641 The Christmas story begins with Zacharias receiving the astonishing news that his elderly, barren wife would give birth to a special child. Yet in the moment of his prayers being answered, Zechariah doubted; and so was made mute until the time of the child’s birth. How often do we do the same, doubting just when our prayers might be answered? It’s as if it’s too good to be true, and to protect ourselves from disappointment we refuse to let ourselves give in to false hope. But the Lord does not give false hope: His promises are sure and He brings to pass something greater even then our wildest dreams. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 07 Dec 2025 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn Christmas is a time of joy and happiness, or at least we try to make it so. Singing Christmas songs (...) Christmas is a time of joy and happiness, or at least we try to make it so. Singing Christmas songs can be one of those fun ways to celebrate. But what makes the season truly joyful is when we look to the Lord and live His teaching. When we do those two things then the fun of all the other aspects can be deepened and enriched spiritually. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=30962 680 Christmas is a time of joy and happiness, or at least we try to make it so. Singing Christmas songs can be one of those fun ways to celebrate. But what makes the season truly joyful is when we look to the Lord and live His teaching. When we do those two things then the fun of all the other aspects can be deepened and enriched spiritually. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 30 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn Part of living a good spiritual life is looking for the Truth that will guide you. The problem is th(...) Part of living a good spiritual life is looking for the Truth that will guide you. The problem is that “truth” is a lot harder to come by then we might imagine. Every true thing we know, or think we know, has endless layers that remain obscure to us and countless nuances that are beyond our current comprehension. We never find the Truth itself in all its complexity. In spite of this, and in fact, because of this, the never-ending pursuit of truth is a crucial part of our spiritual growth. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=30957 1966 Part of living a good spiritual life is looking for the Truth that will guide you. The problem is that “truth” is a lot harder to come by then we might imagine. Every true thing we know, or think we know, has endless layers that remain obscure to us and countless nuances that are beyond our current comprehension. We never find the Truth itself in all its complexity. In spite of this, and in fact, because of this, the never-ending pursuit of truth is a crucial part of our spiritual growth. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 23 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn We know that the Lord has created us to love others; but what about ourselves? Can that love also be(...) We know that the Lord has created us to love others; but what about ourselves? Can that love also be from the Lord? All of us have needs that must be met but it can be hard to ask for help. We worry about putting a burden on others or opening ourselves up to criticism. Yet the Lord is clear that we are to love ourselves. If we cannot love ourselves enough to get the help that we need, we lose the ability to help others. When we ask for help we are not being selfish, but rather are taking the first steps towards helping others. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=30951 1850 We know that the Lord has created us to love others; but what about ourselves? Can that love also be from the Lord? All of us have needs that must be met but it can be hard to ask for help. We worry about putting a burden on others or opening ourselves up to criticism. Yet the Lord is clear that we are to love ourselves. If we cannot love ourselves enough to get the help that we need, we lose the ability to help others. When we ask for help we are not being selfish, but rather are taking the first steps towards helping others. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 16 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn Whenever something goes wrong in the world, there seems to be an outpouring of compassion. We almost(...) Whenever something goes wrong in the world, there seems to be an outpouring of compassion. We almost get excited at the chance to leap into action and help. But as time passes the energy wanes. We can become fatigued; not just fatigued physically, but fatigued emotionally. It is impossible to keep up that initial level of care and energy. Above even the emotional there is the spiritual fatigue: we face exhaustion with ourselves and our own spiritual growth, and can push ourselves to the breaking point. We need to be able to truly address the issues, but to do so in a way that is sustainable. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=30949 1908 Whenever something goes wrong in the world, there seems to be an outpouring of compassion. We almost get excited at the chance to leap into action and help. But as time passes the energy wanes. We can become fatigued; not just fatigued physically, but fatigued emotionally. It is impossible to keep up that initial level of care and energy. Above even the emotional there is the spiritual fatigue: we face exhaustion with ourselves and our own spiritual growth, and can push ourselves to the breaking point. We need to be able to truly address the issues, but to do so in a way that is sustainable. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no Sun, 09 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0500 Rev. Joel C Glenn Religious life is all about resisting sins. But what actually counts as a sin? We have to be able t(...) Religious life is all about resisting sins. But what actually counts as a sin? We have to be able to know what we are looking for if we are going to be able to resist it. Thankfully the Lord gives us guidance in identifying sins, especially through the Ten Commandments. Although there are only Ten, if we look deeper we can find that they guide us to see whatever vice or sin we might be struggling with. https://newchurchaudio.org/event.php?event=30948 1768 Religious life is all about resisting sins. But what actually counts as a sin? We have to be able to know what we are looking for if we are going to be able to resist it. Thankfully the Lord gives us guidance in identifying sins, especially through the Ten Commandments. Although there are only Ten, if we look deeper we can find that they guide us to see whatever vice or sin we might be struggling with. info@newchurch.co.za (New Church Audio)no