Sermons by James Stone (Page 2)
Topsy-Turvy Christianity 3 – Least is Greatest
Topsy-Turvy Christianity – Least is Greatest – Luke’s Gospel chapter 9, verses 46 to 48 Christianity says the cross is a symbol of the powerless triumphing over the powerful. It’s the symbol of the slave triumphing over the master; of the victim triumphing over the torturer. This is such a radical notion that it’s hard to adequately express how radical it is. The idea that the last shall be first, that there is an inherent dignity and value and indeed power in being…
Topsy-Turvy Christianity 2, Weakness is Strength
Topsy-Turvy Christianity 2, Weakness is Strength – 2 Corinthians chapter 12, verses 7 to 10 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I…
Topsy-Turvy Christianity 1 – Lose Your Life to Save It
Lose Your Life to Save It – Matthew’s Gospel chapter 16, verses 24 to 26 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in…
Well done, good and faithful servant.
Well done, good and faithful servant. – Matthew’s Gospel chapter 25 verses 14 to 30 14 ‘Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money…
Life and Ministry in the Last Days.
Life and Ministry in the Last Days – “Wolves in sheep’s clothing” – 2 Timothy chapter 3 verses 1 to 9 Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing! The Last days 3 But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. 2 Timothy 3:1 The Bible is clear – the “last days” started at Jesus’ first coming and will end with his second coming. This is this a warning for today, not some time in the future. Paul and…
A Model Prayer of Repentance
A Model Prayer of Repentance – Ezra 9 ‘I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. 7 From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign…
God’s Enduring Word
God’s Enduring Word – Isaiah chapter 40, verses 6 to 8 A voice says, ‘Cry out.’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ ‘All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass.8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures for ever. Isaiah 40:6-8 New International Version – UK (NIVUK) Holy Bible, New…
An Ancient Atheism – Psalm 14
An Ancient Atheism – Psalm 14 Psalm 14 – For the director of music. Of David. 1 The fool says in his heart,‘There is no God.’They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;there is no one who does good.2 The Lord looks down from heavenon all mankindto see if there are any who understand,any who seek God.3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt;there is no one who does good,not even one.4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?They devour my…
God’s Royal Commission
God’s Royal Commission – 1 Timothy chapter 3, verses 1 to 7 3 Here is a trustworthy saying: whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so…
Keep Out! – Come In!
Keep Out! – Come In! – Matthew chapter 27 verse 51 Keep Out! The Curtain of the Temple was 5 stories high and very thick, separating God’s Most holy Place from everyone but the High Priest. Even he was only allowed in once a year, after offering sacrifices for his own and the people’s sins. 5 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and…
The Innocent for the Guilty
The Innocent for the Guilty – Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 27 verses 11 to 26 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Matthew 27:26 New International Version – UK (NIVUK) Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Substitution Barabbas or Jesus? The Guilty One A notorious prisoner, a rebel and a murderer. The Innocent One…
Be Ready!
Be Ready! – Matthew’s Gospel chapter 24, verse 36 to chapter 25, verse 13 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24:44 New International Version – UK (NIVUK) Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Different reactions to Jesus’ return The calculator and calendar approach The anxious response The…