Sermons on Compassion
The Unforgiving Servant
The Unforgiving Servant – Matthew’s Gospel chapter 18, verses 15 to 35 God desires justice but loves mercy. Peter asks “how often must I forgive someone?” Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ 22 Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22 Wanting an excuse to limit forgiveness, but Jesus ushered in a new way, of grace,…
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…
When God Delays
When God Delays – John’s Gospel chapter 11, verses 1 to 16 “Why isn’t God showing up?” Pain of a particular kind Now a man named Lazarus was ill. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay ill, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is ill.’…
Christ’s Heart for His Sheep
Christ’s heart for his sheep – John’s Gospel chapter 10 verses 1 to 21 An illustration: False versus true shepherds ‘Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. … 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. John…
Live at Peace with One Another
Live at Peace with One Another (in view of God’s mercy) – Romans chapter 12, verses 17 to 21 Background: No strong Christians Only those who know they are weak, and depend on God alone, and give themselves to God in consecration. Such people make a strong church. Love is the key, even to our enemies. Conflict is inevitable, but conflict exposes the genuineness of love. Do what is right and live at peace with everyone Repay no one evil…
Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ
Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ – Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 11 How not to come: Offended 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.’ Matthew 11:6 Looking to find fault 16 ‘To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the market-places and calling out to others: 17 ‘“We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance;we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.” 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say,…
Neither Do I Condemn You
Neither Do I Condemn You – John’s Gospel, chapter 7:53 to 8:11 A difficulty in this event in John’s Gospel. It is not found in the earliest known manuscripts. Authentic, original, or not? How did we get our Bibles ? Inspiration. “All Scripture is God breathed”. 2 Tim. 3:16 . “but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit”. 2 Peter 1:20-21” Of course this only applies to the originals and they are…
Unexpected Kindness Shown to a Large Numbers of People
Unexpected kindness shown to a large number of people. John’s Gospel chapter 6, verses 1 to 15 A change of scenery 6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing those who were ill. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. John 6:1-3 A…
A Surprising Solution to Suffering
A Surprising Solution to Suffering – John’s Gospel chapter 5, verses 1 to 15 A surprising solution to suffering. The problem of suffering is ever with us. What could be worse than being sick? A miraculous poolside healing 5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great…
A Miracle at a Wedding
A Miracle at a Wedding – John’s gospel chapter 2, verses 1 to 12 The Invitation Jesus was not a monk. He went to the wedding. He approves of both joy and marriage. On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. John 2:1-2 The Problem A social embarrassment – they had run out of wine! Mary is confident he will…
Church Discipline
Church Discipline – 1 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 1 to 8 Discipline – the Dirty ‘D’ Word? – at home, at work, at church? Responding to Sin: verses 1-2 – How NOT to do it, and how it should be done. Love for the Individual: verses 3-5 – for their everlasting good. Love for the Church: verses 6-8 – for whom Jesus our good Lord died. Living out Church Discipline: – 5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality…
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…