Sermons by Michael Howell (Page 21)

Sermons by Michael Howell (Page 21)

Michael Howell

Jesus is Immanuel

The Christmas story reminds us that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. Listen as we consider the implications of this reality for our lives.

The greatest treasure

Is there a treasure so valuable that it is worth us giving up everything to gain it? Jesus says “Yes!” The kingdom of heaven is a treasure of incalculable value. The question for us is not how valuable the kingdom is, but whether we are willing to give up everything to gain it.

Blessing blockers

Israel is guilty of robbing God in the giving of their tithes and offerings. Their disobedience is preventing them from receiving the blessings that God has in store for them. God calls his people to return and sets before them a challenge – do they trust God enough to give him what they should? Do we?

Feeling down

After his experience on Mt Carmel, you’d think that Elijah would’ve been feeling pretty good. However, things with Ahab and Jezebel haven’t turned out like he’d expected and he’s left feeling spiritually down. Like Elijah, many of us will face disappointments which leave us feeling spiritually down. How do we navigate these times? In his dealings with Elijah, God shows us how we can continue on in the Christian life, even when we feel this way.

Undivided allegiances

Tonight we hear from Obadiah, King Ahab’s palace administrator. Listen as he describes what happened when Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Let us consider what it means to be people who are undivided in their allegiance to the Living God.

An ordinary servant

Under King Ahab, Israel had reached a spiritual low point, having turned their backs on the living God to worship the pagan god, Baal. Into this context comes an ordinary man, Elijah. What God does through Elijah over the following years is extraordinary. However, before God uses him, he needs to prepare Elijah for what lies before him. Listen as we are introduced to Elijah, God’s ordinary servant. Let us consider how God might prepare us to serve him in a world that has turned its back on the living God.

Who do we sing for?

The church sings for God. We are expressing our “vertical” relationship with God when we declare His praise and our love for Him. We do all of this for His glory. But our public singing also has a public effect, that is, there are “horizontal” relationships being expressed during our gathered worship. Listen as we consider the public effects our public worship can have.

Forgiven much

Baptism Service: Public displays of affection are not all that common in Australia. We tend to keep our affections for others relatively private. But in baptism, the Christian stands up in public to declare their love for Jesus and their desire to live their life for him. What would lead someone to declare their love for Jesus in such a public way? The Bible answers that question for us. Listen to a story about a woman who came to Jesus and unashamedly displayed her love for Him.

Singing with Christ

One of the great truths of the Christian faith is that we have been united with Christ. Listen as we consider how this truth shapes the way that we sing as the church.

Continuous worship

Listen as we consider what it means for us to worship God with all our lives and what place singing has in our broader life of worship.

Divine discipline

How do you respond to hardships in your life? Listen as we consider the exhortations of the writer to the Hebrews, as he urges his readers to remember the encouraging word of God and the good purposes of God, even when we face hard times. And then, let us resolve to press on.