Sermons by Michael Howell (Page 23)
Michael Howell
The hard work of Christian ministry
When you think of Christian ministry, do you think “hard work?” If so, you’re not alone! Serving Christ and the church in any capacity can, at times, be hard work. In tonight’s passage we get an insight into the hard work of Christian ministry from Paul’s perspective. His approach to this task is one from which we can all learn.
A New Status
What is the status of your relationship with God? This is the issue that Paul addresses in tonight’s passage. He wants to remind the Colossians of their old status, their new status, and just how their change of status had come about. His reminder to them is a reminder to us also. Because of Christ, we are now reconciled to God! What good news! Paul’s encouragement is that we would persevere in this reality.
Jesus arrested: the full story
Headlines, though often clever, generally can’t tell the full story. This is certainly true when we think about the story of Jesus’ arrest. No headline could possibly capture the significance of the events that took place that night. As we read John’s account of Jesus’ arrest, we see his desire for us to know the full story of what happened that night. He wants us to understand the significance of these events, and especially how these events make a difference for us today.
A church needing reassurance
The Colossian church faced false teachers who were introducing new ideas into the church. These false teachers were not only challenging the truth of the gospel as it had been taught but they were also questioning the authenticity of the faith of some in the church. Paul begins his letter with an expression of thanksgiving which reassures the Colossians that they have, in fact, heard the true gospel and that they are true Christians.
How Can We Experience Life?
After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, it is finally time for Israel to take possession of the land promised to their ancestors. But before they go into the land, Moses speaks to them, reminding them that they have a choice. They must choose between life and death. Join us as we listen to what Moses has to say, and hear him urge his people to choose life. Let us be reminded that we also face a choice in our lives, a choice with life or death consequences. Which will you choose?
Receiving the King of Glory
Listen as we consider what Psalm 24 has to teach us, worshippers in Brisbane in 2015. Let us think about what it means for us to properly prepare for and then receive the King of Glory.
A hopeless situation
By the end of the book of 1 Samuel, Israel finds itself in a hopeless situation. Saul, the king upon whom they have pinned their hopes, is dead and humiliated, a failure. Israel could now see how hopeless things were apart from God’s intervention. Only once they understood this truth would they able to understand the hope that they had in David, the king in waiting.
The Christian life is a little like the history of Israel at this point. In order to know the hope that Jesus brings we must first know the weight of the hopelessness of our situation before God. Our sin means we are distant from God. But there is a great source of hope in Christ. Is he your source of hope?
Our certain hope
The end of Joseph’s life is reminder to us that we can have a certain hope for our future, just as Joseph did. Listen as we conclude our series in Genesis, and be reminded again of why it is that our hope for the future is a sure and certain hope. Do you have a future hope like that?
The God who saves
Listen as we meet Asher, one of Joseph’s brothers. We’ll hear him explain what happened to him and his brothers in Egypt, and how he felt when he realised that God had been at work in everything to save His people.
King my heart
David was God’s chosen king in waiting. Everyone knew this. You’d expect that everyone would have treated him with honour and respect. Well today we meet two people who treat David in very different ways. One of them is Nabal, a fool who treats David with contempt, and pays the price. The other is Nabal’s wise wife, Abigail, who honours David as a king. The question for us is this: when it comes to responding to God’s chosen King, who will I be like, Nabal or Abigail?
A truth for the journey
Life is journey full of ups and downs. Our circumstances are always changing. Joseph knew this all too well. As we read Genesis 39, we can’t help but note that in all the circumstances he faced, one thing never changed. God was always with him, both in his times of success and in his times of difficulty. How important it it that we understand this truth for our own lives!
Childlike Faith
How do we enter the kingdom of God? Jesus says that to answer this question, we need to look at a little child. Listen as we consider what it means for us to have a childlike faith.