Author: Philip
‘Mary: A woman of faith’ (Rev Peter Phillips, Luke 1:26-56)
There are spome great women of faith in the Scriptures, none so important as Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus. Mary’s story is unique. No-one else but her was chosen by God to become one who would bring the Son of God into the world. Yet, Mary’s story also centres around her real and living faith in God, her Saviour. In this message, Peter explores Mary’s story from Luke 1:26-56.
Message
Outline
• Difficult to preach but important
• Which Mary? The Mary of myth or the Mary of the Scriptures?
• Consider…
- The great blessing of being Jesus’ mother
- The better blessing than being Jesus’ mother
Only one person could be His mother … but those who believe in Him can have Him as brother and God as Father!
‘See the upside-down life taught by the Saviour (3)’ (Luke 6:27-42)
Jesus was never one to mince words. Instead, He spoke forthrightly and to the heart, and perhaps never more so than in Luke 6:27-42, where Jesus warned His disciples against judging others in a way that would mean that they open themselves up for judgement. He also warned them against being ‘speck inspectors’ who have ‘logs in their own eyes’. It’s tough stuff. But every word of His is the truth!
Message
Outline
• The eleventh in this series
• What we’ve covered
• Are we not to judge – ever?
• See how Jesus taught that we ought …
- Not be hypercritical of others (v.37-40)
- Not be hypocritical towards others (v.41-42)
Some warning signs to consider…
Some action steps to take!
‘See the upside-down life taught by the Saviour (2)’ (Luke 6:27-36)
In Luke 6:27-36, Jesus is still teaching His disciples about their responsibility to be His people in a world that hates them. After instructing them on what constitutes ‘blessings’ and ‘woes’ for his followers, He now makes it clear that His disciples will be known by a special kind of love – one that even includes love for their enemies. What this looks like in practise and why this is necessary is also made plain!
Message
Outline
• The tenth in this series
• Something overlooked!
• The character of this ‘new Israel’…
• See how Jesus taught a kind of love and…
- What this love looks like (v.27-31)
- Why this love is necessary (v.32-36)
Corrie Ten Boom…
What our Father God is like!
It’s our 40th birthday! (of sorts…)
Yes, well,…kind of! While we celebrated the 150th annivesary of the formation of the congregation of St John’s in 2022, the actual story of the building we meet in is quite a complex one. In that story (which you can read here), is the important date of 6 October 1985, the date when the church building was re-opened as St John’s Presbyterian Church. So it’s 40 years ago this weekend!
To celebrate this, members of the church family have been busy this week giving our church hall a fresh coat of paint as well as sanding and resealing the floor. So far, thanks be to God, all has gone well and we are looking forward to gathering in it after worship on Sunday for our usual morning tea together.
We are thankful to the Lord our God who has brought us this far in His great and eternal plan!
‘Joshua’s defining moment – for himself and his family’ (Joshua 24:1-28)
When Joshua addressed the people of Israel at Shechem in Joshua 24:1-28, there was a large backstory to his words in Joshua 28:14-15. This was an important moment, a defining moment for Joshua and for the people of Israel. Would they serve the Lord or would they serve other gods, ones that laid less demands upon them? And what about us? Who will we serve?
Message
Outline
• A great text (v.14-15)
• Is Joshua boasting here?
• The story leading up to this last chapter…
• See how Joshua told the people of …
- The story that God’s grace creates (v.1-13)
- The claims that God’s grace implies (v.14-28)
- The response that God’s grace demands (v.14-15)
Serve Him!
‘The logic of God’s love’ (Jonah 4:5-11)
In this last instalment on the book of Jonah, referrring specifically to Jonah 4:5-11, Rev Peter Phillips brings home the message of God’s love for people we wouldn’t expect that He would love – contrasted wth the ungrateful and unloving attitude of the prophet Jonah – who should have known and done better!
Message
Outline
• A blessing to preach this book, but deeply disturbing
• If Jonah could be so far out of step with the Lord…
• See in this text…
- Jonah – pity for a plant
- The Lord – pity for a people
Did Jonah go home happy…?
Why this book is relevant to us
God’s love and ours