Sermons on Assurance
Are You Bearing Fruit?
Are You Bearing Fruit? – John’s Gospel chapter 15 verses 1-8 What does it mean to follow Jesus, to bear fruit for him, to be more than a nominal Christian? Jesus, the True Vine I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. John 15:1 So, what is the false Vine? We read of it in Isaiah’s prophecy, “The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he…
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
The Promise of the Holy Spirit – John’s Gospel chapter 14 verses 15 to 24 The Promise of Another Counsellor ‘If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever – 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.…
Pray in My Name
Pray in My Name – John’s Gospel chapter 14 verses 12 to 14 Jesus’ disciples are troubled at His words “I am going away”. A Great Mission Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12 Even greater things than Jesus’ miracles! Yes, BECAUSE He is going away. The very thing that troubles them…
Martin, Luther, Grace and OCD
Martin, Luther, Grace and OCD, Romans chapter 1, verse 17 Sub-title – How Martin Luther’s mental illness drove him to rediscover the heart of the Gospel and rescue Christianity from its deadly sleep. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’ Romans 1:!7 I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates ……
God Our Refuge, Strength and Help
God Our Refuge, Strength and Help – Psalm 46 The Setting The Assyrian King Sennacherib with a huge army besieges Jerusalem (2 kings 18-19) – “God cannot help you” he says to taunt King Hezekiah. But God delivers Jerusalem, and the Assyrians are all slain. It is thought that Hezekiah commissioned this Psalm as a memorial. We have a God to run to, who can never be defeated. The Power of God God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help…
Loved to the End
Loved to the End What does Jesus think about me? Here is the answer: John 13:1. It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. John 13:1 Without God there is no love. Loved eternally: “his own”. Loved completely: “to the end”. God is love: 1 John 4:8 “his…
The Jesus You Can Trust
The Jesus You Can Trust – John’s Gospel chapter 10, verses 31-42 The Jesus you can trust. He is the good Shepherd, who gave himself for us, Who can and will keep His promise to keep us safe forever. Why should we trust in Him? A violent response to Jesus’ words. 31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these…
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…