‘The King that the Lord chose’ (1 Kings 1:11-53)

The text of 1 Kings 1:11-53 tells us of the outcome of Adonjah’s bold and pride-filled push for the throne. When Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba broke the news to the dying old, King David, he acted swiftly, authorising the coronation of the rightful King, Solomon. There will always be those who push forward counterfeit kings and saviours. It has been the devil’s plan from the very beginning to do this, but there is only one true King that God wants us to serve as He says in Psalm 2:6 … and that King is His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Message

Radio service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Standing on the Promises
00:20 Introduction
00:35 Prayer
Song: Search Me O God
05:14 Bible reading: 1 Kings 1:11-53
Song: Jerusalem
13:33 Bible reading: Luke 19:28-40
Song: Yet Not I
Sermon: 1 Kings 1:11-53
Song: My Hope Is Built
15:56 Closing

Outline

• Catching up with the news on the royal family…
• Where we left David
• Where we left Adonijah
• Note from the text…

  1. Some royal cooperation (v.11-26)
  2. A royal coronation (v.27-40)
  3. Two royal responses (v.41-53)

Satan’s plan to provide counterfeit kings
God’s King will rule…!

‘Who will be King?’ (1 Kings 1:1-10)

The book of 1 Kings opens with the final days of King David and tracks the succession of Solomon to the throne. According to 1 Kings 1:1-10, not everything went smoothly – especially when Solomon’s brother, Adonijah, took it upon himself to take hold of the throne. We don’t need a king like Adonijah – one who acts out of pride and self-interest! We need a King who will put His people before Himself! But where would we find a King who would do that? Oh wait … according to Philippians 2:1-11, Jesus did just that didn’t He? What a King!

Message

Radio service

00:00 Welcome
Song: I Heard the Voice
00:19 Introduction
00:35 Prayer
Song: What a Friend We Have In Jesus
05:23 Bible reading: 1 Kings 1:1-10
Song: Be Unto Your Name
07:23 Bible reading: Luke 14:1-11
Song: How Deep the Father’s Love
Sermon: 1 Kings 1:1-10
Song: And Can It Be
08:50 Closing

Outline

• Picking up from the life of David
• This book of 1 Kings… dusty, boring history?
• Will the promised King ever come? Solomon?
• Note from the text…

  1. The outgoing King’s decline (v.1-5)
  2. The incoming King’s aspirations (v.6-10)

Adonijah and the prodigal son!
Adonijah and the King we need…

‘Nabal, Abigail, David and Jesus’ (Guest speaker, 1 Samuel 25:1-44)

From July 2018: When the would-be king, David, was spurned by the foolish Nabal in 1 Samuel 25:1-44, he saw red. In his anger, David made up his mind to put an end to Nabal’s life. If it wasn’t for the actions of Nabal’s wife, Abigail (who in some small way points us to Jesus), David would have fallen into serious sin. Anger does that, which is why the Bible teaches that we should ‘be angry’, but ‘do not sin’ (Ephesians 4:30).

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Immortal Invisible
00:20 Introduction
00:39 Prayer
05:08 Bible reading: 1 Samuel 25:1-22
Song: We Are His People
09:00 Shorter Catechism Introduction
10:28 Catechism Questions 48-52
13:17 Bible reading: 1 Samuel 25:23-44
Song: Jesus Strong and Kind
Sermon: 1 Samuel 25
Song: May the Mind
17:44 Closing

‘A plot to bring Him down, an act to lift Him up, a deal to give Him away’ (Matthew 26:1-16)

In the chapters leading up to the events of the death and resurrection of Jesus in Matthew’s gospel, Matthew 26:1-16 follows on directly after the Olivet Discourse. In these chapters, Matthew sets out clearly the events that led up to the the death of Jesus, beginning with the plot the Jewish religious leaders hatched to put Him to death and ending (in these verses) with the desire of Judas to betray Him. But in the midst of those two events is the wonderful act of love completed by Mary. While the men in this text are clearly walking in darkness, she, on the other hand, is walking in the light.

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Immortal Invisible
00:18 Introduction
00:40 Prayer
03:18 Bible reading: Zechariah 11:1-13
Song: Behold the Lamb of God
05:39 Kids’ Talk
Song: Mary and Martha
09:59 Bible reading: Matthew 26:1-16
Song: Before the Throne
Sermon: Matthew 26:1-16
Song: My Hope Is Built
11:53 Closing

Outline

• A new series leading up to Easter
• Irony in the life of Jesus
• ‘Let the games begin’
• See how Matthew tells us…

  1. How the plot to kill Jesus was hatched (v.1-5)
  2. How the action to anoint Jesus was noted (v.6-13)
  3. How the decision to betray Jesus was motivated (v.14-16)

Where do you fit in this picture?
More irony… hated and rejected but the only safe place to stand!

‘Living as Heaven’s Citizens (part 2)’ (Rev Keith Bell)

Given that followers of Jesus have become citizens of heaven, Philippians 4:5 reminds the church to live God’s way. Reasonableness is so important for maintaining community and Christians should seek to what is best for everyone, especially in light of the fact that Jesus will surely return as judge.

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: To God Be the Glory
00:16 Introduction
00:34 Prayer
05:04 Bible reading: Psalm 145
Song: Christ Is Mine Forevermore
07:09 Kids’ Talk – Colin Buchanan (with thanks to Compassion)
14:57 Bible reading: 1 Peter 2:11-25
Song: Consider Christ
Sermon: Philippians 4:5
Song: Take Time to Be Holy
17:02 Closing

‘The heights and depths of gospel love’ (1 Thessalonians 3:6-13)

One theme stands out in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, and that is the close relationship that Paul had with these believers. This is reflected in so many ways, but is eviden mainly in the language Paul uses to describe the depths of his feelings towards them. In 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13, it is apparent that Paul truly loved these people and was encouraged that they loved each other and those around them. This kind of love can never be taken for granted, when it is the kind of fruit that Jesus taught his disciples that would show the reality of the gospel to the whole world.

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Crown Him
00:18 Introduction
00:42 Prayer
07:09 Bible reading: 1 Peter 1:13-25
Song: My Hope Rests Firm
09:00 Kids’ Talk
Song: 1 John 3:18
13:29 Bible reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Song: This Life I Live
Sermon: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Song: Have Thine Own Way
14:48 Closing

Outline

  • A pastor’s actions in the US
  • The charges levelled against Paul…
  • Timothy’s report came back and told that all was well…
  • Note here…
  1. The heights of the Apostle’s delight (v.6-8)
  2. The depths of the Apostle’s prayers (v.9-13)

Learn from Paul’s commitment to these believers…
Learn what pleased Paul about these believers…

‘A living portrait of genuine gospel people’(1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5)

When the Apostle Paul wrote his first letter to the church at Thessalonica, he was full of praise for the way in which these people had received and welcomed the gospel. Their lives had been transformed from worshipping idols to turn and wait for Jesus to return from heaven. In 1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5, in describing the characteristics that pleased the Apostle about these believers Paul paints a ‘portrait’ so to speak of what people transformed by the gospel look like. His ‘portrait’ therefore asks us the question, are we ‘gospel people’ in this sense?

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: I Will Sing the Wondrous Story
00:19 Introduction
00:43 Prayer
05:52 Bible reading: Isaiah 55:1-11
Song: 10,000 Reasons
08:11 Kids’ Talk
Song: More Like Jesus
12:32 Bible reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5
Song: Behold Our God
Sermon: 1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5
Song: Jesus Master Whose I Am
14:51 Closing

Outline

  • What we’ve covered so far
  • The importance of character
  • Paul tells us what gospel people are like…
  • Note that…
  1. They desire spiritual food from the word of God (v.13)
  2. They are ready to suffer for the Son of God (v.14-16)
  3. They desire fellowship with the people of God (v.17-5)

Learning from mirrors
Do you fit the portrait?

Moderator’s Address

Moderator Peter Phillips and Lorraine Phillips

On Tuesday, 5th October 2021, Rev Peter Phillips was appointed as the Moderator of the General Assembly of Presbyterian Church of Victoria.

This address was recorded on the 23rd September at Bendigo Presbyterian for the Assembly, which was held remotely.

Congratulations to Peter and we look forward to having you and Lorraine represent the Presbyterian Church of Victoria.

‘Understanding Elisha and the famine of Samaria’ (2 Kings 6:24-7:20)

There’s an awful ring to the story recorded in 2 Kings 6:24-7:20. Not only is the prophet Elisha in danger – this time from the king of Israel! – the whole nation has hot rock-bottom due to the siege laid by the surrounding armies of Syria. Inside the captial, Samaria, things are a mess. Awful. There’s famine, desperation, hopelessness and unbelief. But then God did something. Having tried His people to an extremity, He then acted to save them and drive the enemy away, leaving it very clear that none else but He was the Saviour of His people, and reminding us that the grace of God is far greater than we can imagine.

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: O Worship the King
00:17 Introduction
00:41 Prayer
04:45 Bible reading: 2 Kings 6:24-7:2
Song: Christ Is Mine Forevermore
07:20 Kids’ Talk
Song: We Give Thanks (Psalm 75:1)
11:35 Bible reading: 2 Kings 7:3-20
Song: He Will Hold Me Fast
Sermon: 2 Kings 6:24-7:20
Song: My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
15:38 Closing