Sermons from 2024
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…
The Jesus Who Divides
The Jesus Who Divides – John’s Gospel chapter 7, verses 40-52 A surprising response to good news A division among the crowd 40 On hearing his words, some of the people said, ‘Surely this man is the Prophet.’ 41 Others said, ‘He is the Messiah.’ Still others asked, ‘How can the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?’ 43 Thus the people were divided because of…
Let All Who Are Thirsty Come and Drink
Let All Who Are Thirsty Come and Drink – John’s Gospel chapter 7, verses 25 to 39 Confusion about Jesus 25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, ‘Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26 Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Messiah? 27 But we know where this man is from; when the Messiah comes, no one will…
Judging Jesus Rightly
Judging Jesus Rightly – John’s Gospel chapter 5, verses 1 to 24 Mounting Hostility (7:1-2) 7 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. John 7:1 The Unbelief of Jesus’ Brothers (7:3-10) 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, ‘Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become…
Jesus’ Power and Compassion
Jesus’ Power and Compassion – Luke’s Gospel, chapter 4, verses 31 to 44 Does it seem so when we see all the sufferings and evil in the world? Here we see both the power and compassion of Jesus at work, and so the power and compassion of God. Jesus’ words have authority. 31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had…
Trusting God in the Darkness
Trusting God in the Darkness, Isaiah chapter 50, verse 4-11 10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant?Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light,trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God.11 But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches,go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze.This is what you shall receive from my hand: you will lie down in torment.…
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…
Skeptics & the Sovereign Saviour
Skeptics & the Sovereign Saviour – John’s Gospel chapter 6, verses 41 to 59 Who Do Some Believe and Others Don’t? Hearing the same message – “I am the bread of life”? Yet God’s plan cannot be thwarted. Grumbling Skeptics 41 At this the Jews [that is, the Jewish religious leaders] there began to grumble about him because he said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’ 42 They said, ‘Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father…
Do You Have True Satisfaction?
Do You Have True Satisfaction? – John’s Gospel, chapter 6, verses 22 to 40 So much, yet so little satisfaction. All of us are still needy. All seeking something to satisfy the need. Work, substance abuse and unsurprisingly, some to Jesus. Here is the sequel to the feeding of the 5000. They are seeking more bread. Seeking his gifts. But the gift of bread was meant to direct then to something better. What kind of bread are you seeking? Enthusiastic…
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…
A Maritime Mystery
A Maritime Mystery – John’s Gospel chapter 6 verses 16 to 21 Prove it! – Jesus “outrageous” claims A rough night out! 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. John 6:16-18 Jesus commanded them to go. Why did He do this?It…
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…