Sermons from 2016 (Page 8)
The Rejected Jesus
You can’t understand the life of Jesus without facing the facts about his death. And these facts are recorded in considerable detail in the New Testament accounts. In today’s message we see the way Jesus was harshly interrogated by the high priest (Annas) and denied by his friend (Peter). His journey to the cross was a painful one. Yet, amazingly, it didn’t deter him. We can be critical of people like Annas and Peter today as we look back at these details, but who of us has never been guilty of rejecting or denying Jesus? Despite his treatment, Jesus actually died for people who reject and deny him, and Peter is the classic example of the forgiveness Jesus offers to the person who sincerely repents. What about you? What do you believe about Jesus? That’s a question which only you can answer.
A Prayer for Spiritual Growth
When you hear of a friend in trouble, and they’re hundreds of kilometres away, you can feel pretty helpless. But there’s one thing you can do, and that’s pray! Paul was in prison in Rome but he prayed for the people in the Colossian church. They were becoming confused because of the influence of false teachers. So Paul prayed for God to strengthen their faith in three ways: by transforming their minds, their way of life, and their hearts. He wanted them to know God’s will better (mind), to live more distinctively as Christians (life), and to be more joyful and thankful because of what Jesus has done (heart). This is a powerful combination in a Christian’s life, and a great testimony to the unique, saving and keeping power of Jesus Christ.
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.
Shirkers, workers and serving God
When you read the book of Proverbs it doesn’t take long to see that the topic of work receives a lot of attention. Lazy people (often called “sluggards” even in modern translations!) are described in detail as undisciplined, full of talk and excuses, procrastinating, party-going, frustrating to their friends, and eventually failing to succeed in life. It’s not a pretty picture. On the other hand, hard workers do succeed. But there is an even more important reason why we should take work seriously, and that’s because God has made us to work… for Him. He is the real boss we are serving, so our attitude to our work must ultimately reflect our relationship with Him. And one day we will stand before Him to give an account of what we have accomplished with our lives.
What it means to follow Jesus
These days there are hidden costs on just about everything. Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly what we are signing up for. Thankfully following Jesus doesn’t come with hidden costs. Jesus was always up front about the cost. Listen as Pastor Dave examines what it means for us to follow Jesus and why it is worth the cost.
Managing Money God’s Way
The whole question of money is one which makes many of us feel uncomfortable. Really… how much do we need to live comfortably? What is a reasonable lifestyle for a Christian today? What we can afford is not necessarily what God desires for us. The Bible doesn’t give us a simplistic formula for managing our finances. That’s our challenge! But it does give a lot of principles and good advice. Today we will mine some of the nuggets from the book of Proverbs which alert us to the dangers of wealth, and give us practical guidance about how to handle money wisely and generously. True wealth will never be found in an investment portfolio or a bank account, but in a relationship with Jesus Christ “who for our sakes became poor that we might become rich”.
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?
The Power Of Words
History is littered with examples of the power of words. Famous speeches, heartfelt letters, words of comfort , biting criticism… The results of our words can last a lifetime, for better or for worse, and don’t we know it! In the book of Proverbs we find much wise advice about how we should and shouldn’t speak in many different contexts of life. This wisdom is startlingly practical and embarrassingly convicting. Luke 6:45 states: “Out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks”. Ultimately what we say betrays who we really are. To be able to control our tongues requires more than will-power. It needs “heart surgery”. And only the Holy Spirit can change us in this way so that our words consistently honour God and build up others.
Khai Tan: Are your good deeds good enough?
We often think of ourselves as good people. Yet, we often fail. We feel bad. Most religions tell us to do better next time. We hope that our own efforts will give us credit before God. The Bible teaches us the exact opposite. In this passage, Paul uses his own life to show the foolishness of relying on our own merits to gain God’s favour. Jesus, the Son of God is the only perfect person ever lived. And He wants to OFFER YOU PERFECTION and a NEW LIFE if you follow Him. No more trying on your own. No more shame. No more guilt. What’s your response today?
The Marks of a True Friend
As the modern world becomes more and more “connected” through social media, there is a paradoxical increase in loneliness. More and more people today are looking for friends, even virtual friendships through online sites. God made us to live in relationships and enjoy the company of friends. In the book of Proverbs there is some excellent practical advice about how we should relate to one another as friends, and in today’s message Pastor Murray explores some of this teaching. However, there is only one person who can be the perfect Friend. Jesus referred to Himself as “the friend of sinners” and He proved this by dying for us. In the words of the old hymn: “What a friend we have in Jesus”! Is He your friend? He’s inviting you today!
Greg Beaumont: A wonderful picture of Christian relationship
Philemon is one of those books of the bible that you’d be forgiven for wondering “how on earth can I apply this to my life?” or even “what is this book doing in the bible in the first place?” But when you piece the story together about a runaway slave turn Christian returning to his old Christian master with a letter from the Apostle Paul – you might be surprised by what can be learnt about Christian relationships and the grace that empowers them.