Sermons by Michael Howell (Page 8)

Sermons by Michael Howell (Page 8)

Michael Howell

20220529PM

Luke 7:36-50 At a baptism, we see a person publicly declare their love for Christ. Why does someone do this? Indeed, why does anyone “go public” with their faith, whether in baptism, or simply by publicly living for Jesus in daily life? Because they know, like the woman in our story, that through Jesus, their many sins have been forgiven. To be loved and forgiven by Christ will overflow in the way we publicly love and live for Jesus.

The End of an Era

Deuteronomy 29-30 In these final scenes of Deuteronomy, we’re reminded of the uniqueness of Yahweh, the unique privilege of God’s people and the unique status of Moses the prophet. We’re left looking ahead in hope, for the day when the prophet like Moses would be revealed. In Jesus, all these hopes are not simply realised, they’re completely surpassed.

The Path to Life

Deuteronomy 29-30 As Moses reaches the end of his final “sermon” he calls Israel to a decision. Which path will they take? Will they embrace the grace being offered to them and choose life? Or will they turn from God and choose death?

Dining with Wisdom

Proverbs 8 & 9 Proverbs 8 and 9 paint a picture for us of Woman Wisdom and Woman Folly. Each of them calls us to dine with them, to learn from them, to be shaped by them. The choice for us is clear – will we choose wisdom or folly, life or death?

Justice and Justice Alone

Deuteronomy 16-21 Moses outlines the kind of leaders that God’s people will need if they are to maintain their distinctiveness from the nations. These leaders are responsible for ensuring that truth, justice and righteousness prevail in the land. Ultimately, these ideal leaders point us towards Jesus, the most just Judge, righteous King, true Prophet and faithful Priest.

The True Tabernacle

Various passages On Good Friday, we celebrate that because of Jesus, we can confidently enter into and enjoy the goodness and glory of God’s presence.

Found in Christ

Galatians 3:23-29 Whether or not we speak in these terms, every human being is on a search for our “true self.” But the Bible makes it clear that our search will always be futile while we remain disconnected from God. The key to discovering our true self is to understand who we are in Christ. In him, we truly find ourselves.

By Grace Alone

Deuteronomy 9:1-11:32 Once in the Promised Land, Israel would be tempted to boast that they had somehow earned the blessings they were experiencing. Moses warns the people against such boasting, reminding them of the ways they have sinned. If they deserve anything, it’s God’s judgement. The land, then, is given by grace. They receive blessing not because of their righteousness, but in spite of their unrighteousness. We are no different. Once dead in our sin, we are now blessed through…

Always Ready

1 Peter 4:7-11 In light of the fact that “the end of all things is near” (1 Peter 4:7), how should the church live? In these verses, Peter casts a vision of a church that is ready for Jesus to return. A ready church is praying, loving and serving.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Deuteronomy 1-3 The opening chapters of Deuteronomy are essentially a history lesson. Moses helps the people look back to learn that God is both faithful to his promises and able to fulfill them. If the people are to succeed where their ancestors failed, they must trust him