Sermons by James Stone
God Revealed!
God Revealed! – Psalm 19 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to…
My Rock, My Fortress
God’s Triumphant and Faithful King Psalm 18 “Holding out for a hero” – This is a royal Psalm of King David, but on further, “to his descendants for ever.” The king’s praises I love you, Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved…
A Prayer For When We Want Things To Be Made Right
A Prayer For When We Want Things To Be Made Right – Psalm 17 A Plea for Truth Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry.Hear my prayer – it does not rise from deceitful lips.2 Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. Psalm 17:1-2 David was not claiming to be perfect, but that in role as king he has done no wrong, walking in God’s path. A Plea for Love Show me the wonders of…
The God-forsaken God
The God-forsaken God – Mark’s Gospel chapter 15 verses 33-39 “Alexamenos worships his god.” Graffiti from 2nd century Rome, mocking Jesus on the cross. Was Jesus mistaken, and Alexamenos a a fool? Listen to these four witnesses and check it out:- The darkness At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. Mark 15:33 The cry And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My…
The Sower and the Seed
The Sower and the Seed – Mark’s Gospel chapter 4 Thoughts, questions and doubts. Is serving Jesus worth the effort? 13 Then Jesus said to them, ‘Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places,…
A New Year’s Prayer
A New Year’s Prayer – Hebrews 13:20-21 We all have hopes for the new year. The basis of the prayer Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep… Hebrews 13:20 “May the God of peace….” He is the one who enables all good things. Who enables, best of all, our eternal redemption, and a clear conscience. He, Jesus, is the great…
The Sign
The Sign – Isaiah chapter 7 The Christmas Surge! No need to panic. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 The birth of Jesus is seen in the birth of this child 700 years before. Fear Now the house of David was told, ‘Aram has allied itself with Ephraim’; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the…
Jesus, the Glory and the Shame
Jesus, the Glory and the Shame Glory and shame The hour of Jesus’ glorification Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we would like to see Jesus.’ 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I…
Grace for the Humble – Family Sunday
Grace for the Humble – Family Sunday – 2 Kings chapter 5, verses 1 to 14 An Army Captain Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. 2 Kings 5:1 “All his vict’ries, all his might, could not remove this one blight.” A…
Strong Hands
Strong Hands – John’s Gospel chapter 10 verses 22 to 30 3 Scenarios Previously we saw how we become Jesus’ “sheep”. Here we see how we stay being Jesus’ sheep. A question of identity 22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered round him, saying, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us…
Playing with Fire
Playing with Fire – Proverbs 6:2- to 7:27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?28 Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?29 So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished. Proverbs 6:27-29 But remember Solomon is speaking to his son. There are male as well as female tempters. It cuts both ways.
Willing
Willing – Mark chapter 1 verses 40 to 45