Sermons from December 2019
2020 Vision
Mark 10:46-52The story of Bartimaeus reminds us that only Jesus can fix our spiritual eyes and that Jesus is the only one on whom our eyes should be fixed. Whatever our personal goals or ambitions might be for 2020, let us prioritise seeing Christ – crucified, risen, reigning and returning – more clearly.
Recognising the ‘Christ’ of Christmas
Luke 2:1-20Despite the medical variables of childbirth, most babies make fairly unspectacular entries into the world. In many parts of the world they are still not born in a hospital. Nor was Jesus. Yet despite His humble birth, He has divided history! As we consider the people mentioned in the Christmas story, we can’t help noticing a variety of different responses to this newborn baby – the innkeeper, the shepherds, King Herod and the wise men. Still today people struggle…
The Hope of Christmas
Luke 2:21-40With all the hype of a traditional Christmas it’s easy to overlook the small yet profound details of the original event. Two people who picked up on these details were Simeon and Anna, who had a very personal ‘chance’ encounter with Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus in the temple. This simple story has much to teach us about God, and how He still brings hope and joy to people like us today.
The all-knowing God
Isaiah 40:25-31Knowledge can be a wonderful thing. Through reading, study and now the internet, it is possible to accumulate a lot of information. But only God knows everything! In our pride we can think we know better than God, doubt His ways, and trust ourselves instead. Claiming to be wise we actually become fools. Because we are human we are not meant to know everything. But we are meant to live in dependence on God. When we do that we…
The Final Destination
Isaiah 65:17 – 66:24The final chapters of Isaiah’s prophecy look to a future reality beyond exile in Babylon, beyond return to Jerusalem, beyond Christ’s first coming, and to a new creation. Central to it will be God’s eternal purpose of gathering people from all nations to see his glory. But not all will be included. And so we are left to ask our selves the questions: Is that where I am going? Does the life I’m living now align with…
Revive us, O Lord!
Isaiah 64:1-12Severe drought often leads Christians to desperate prayer. How much more should spiritual drought drive us to God! The Jews in Babylon were desperate. Now, in their desperation they cried out for God to “rend the heavens and come down” as He had done in the past at Mt Sinai. They recognized that it was their sin that was blocking their deliverance, and pleaded for God’s mercy. We today also need God to revive us with a fresh visitation…
Omnipresent
God is not bound by space. He is everywhere fully present. Listen as we think about what this means for us, who are only ever able to be in the one place at the one time.
What God thinks about worship
Isaiah 58:1-14The subject of worship can be rather controversial in many Christian circles. Often the conversation will focus on the Sunday service ….. music, what we do with our arms, liturgy etc. But what does God think about worship? In today’s passage God uses the practice of fasting (common among the Jewish exiles in Babylon) to make the point that true worship must come from the heart and must involve all of life 24/7. In particular this will be seen…