Sermons on Hope
The Promise of Heaven
The Promise of Heaven – John’s Gospel chapter 14 verses 1 to 4 Sad and troubled disciples: one was a betrayer, all the rest would abandon Him, and He was leaving. Faith began to waver. Embarrassment, confusion, sadness. The Command: Trust Me ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1 Not a distant command. He was weighed down himself. But He cares for them. You can trust me because of who…
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…
Life as a Living Sacrifice
Life as a Living Sacrifice – Romans chapter 12 verses 12 to 16 Life as a living sacrifice. Hard, yet rewarding. Living sacrifices live a life of hope and prayer in trials Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 Patience endurance is the call, not naturally but in dependence on Him, in prayer. This is the answer. Living sacrifices live a life marked by generosity Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practise…
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,…
Parables of the Kingdom
Parables of the Kingdom – Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 13, verses 24 to 52 4 gospels, the heart of the Bible. What is a parable? A story that shows a particular truth. Jesus told many parables. Here He uses several to show what the Kingdom of God is like. The inevitable growth of the kingdom. 31 He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is…
True and False Disciples
True and False Disciples – John’s Gospel chapter 6 verses 60 to 61 Before there was mass enthusiasm “Jesus gives us political security, universal health care and economic security. Make him King!” Jesus’ focus is different – “I am the bread of life.” So there is grumbling and unbelief from the religious leaders. Now the disciples are at a crossroads. The offence of Jesus: 60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching. Who can accept…
The Believer’s Tug-o-War
The Believer’s Tug-o-War – Romans chapter 7 verses 14-25 21 So I find this law at work: although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from…
The Omnipresence of God
The Omnipresence of God – He is Everywhere – Jonah chapters 1 and 2 Definition: Omnipresent He is present everywhere, really present. He fills heaven and earth. He is truly present in all places at all times. An attempt to flee God’s presence 1:1-3 Jonah knew of God’s greatness. Yet he flees, he runs, he goes “down”. Foolish, yes, but so are we. 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where…
Hope in the Love of God
Hope in the Love of God – Romans chapter 5, verses 6 to 11 There is something missing in the lives of many Christians, and it stunts their growth. What is it that’s missing? It is failing to grasp the greatness of the Love of God. The Greatness of God’s Love, Roman’s 5:6-8 To understand it we need to see ourselves through God’s eyes: Weak, helpless, sinful. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ…
Hope for the Desperate
Hope for the Desperate – John’s Gospel chapter 4 verses 43 to 54 Hope for the desperate. The twin themes of desperation and faith. The superficial faith of the curious crowd They were there to see His miracles. 43 After the two days he left for Galilee. 44 (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honour in his own country.) 45 When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in…
The Hope of the Resurrection
The Hope of the Resurrection – 1 Corinthians 15 The Gospel stands on the physical resurrection of Jesus. Without it there is no Gospel. Evidence for Christ’s Resurrection From scripture, and from eyewitnesses. Six consequences of NO resurrection 12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.…