Sermons by Michael Howell (Page 21)

Sermons by Michael Howell (Page 21)

Michael Howell

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.

The fool says…

Psalm 14 is a song for the people of God. It helps us understand how we should feel when we see a world which has turned its back on God.

Playing our part

Sometimes we might be tempted to wonder whether we’re really much use to God. Does he really want to use us achieve his purposes? He does! These last verses in Colossians remind us of the ways in which God delights to use us.

An extraordinary task

Though we are just ordinary Christians, God has given us the extraordinary task of making sure that outsiders hear about Jesus. In this passage, Paul reminds the Colossians of what it is that they must do in order for this to happen. What a great privilege and responsibility we have!

Living the new life

Paul has reminded the Colossians that the Christian has died to the old life and been given a new life in Christ. Now he shows them what it looks like to live out their new life. Join us as we think about what it means for us to take off the old life with its practices and to put on the new life. Each of us must ask ourselves this question: How does the fact that I have a new life in Christ affect the way that I live?

Rejoice with me!

Baptism is one of the great symbols of the Christian faith, representing both the reality of sins forgiven, and the fact that a Christian has died to the old life of sin and been raised to new life with Christ. And our rejoicing tonight, as we witness several baptisms, is also a symbol which represents the fact that God himself rejoices with his angels when sinners repent. What a great privilege it is to rejoice together as we consider the good work God has done in these young people!

Having an impact on the world

During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches that Christians are called to have an impact on the world by being salt and light. Listen as we consider these two metaphors, and what it means for us to be salt and light in the world in our daily lives.

The Resurrection of Jesus

On that first Easter Sunday, a new reality dawned. Jesus had risen from the dead! Listen as we consider how this profound reality effects us.