Sermons on Compassion
Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ
Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ – Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 11 How not to com: 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…
God Loved Us
God Loved Us – 1 John Chapter 4, verses 7 to 21 9 This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 New International Version – UK (NIVUK) Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979,…
Rich…Poor…Rich
Rich…Poor…Rich – 2 Corinthians chapter 8 verse 9 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 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. We love Rags-to-Riches stories. Here is the ultimate one. I…
Faith and Works
Faith and Works – James chapter 2, verses 14 to 26 Faith and Works 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works…? James 2:21 English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. “What! Abraham was justified by works?” How can James say that? Isn’t it opposite to what Paul says? James was concerned that some Jewish Christians were not living according to…
Greatness in the Kingdom
Greatness in the Kingdom – Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 20, verses 17 to 34 Toxic leaders Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” Lord Acton: Letter to Archbishop Mandell Creighton (Apr. 5, 1887) Jerusalem for Jesus (Matthew 20: 17-19) He is going to death, so far from greatness in the eyes of Jews and Romans. But this is what is up next for Him. 17 Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way,…
The Servant King
The Servant King – Matthew’s Gospel chapter 17 The transfiguration 17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Matthew 17:1-3 New International Version – UK (NIVUK) Holy Bible, New International Version®…