Author: Philip

Life’s biggest gamble (an Easter reflection)

Philip

It is said that a man once asked people on the street if they would play ‘Russian roulette’ with a loaded gun for 10 million dollars. Most quickly said ‘yes’, but when offered the gun, all of them declined to participate! The results of this exercise are strange considering that many take huge risks with their lives day after day in so many ways.

But there is another gamble that’s even bigger. It happens whenever people live like God does not exist, or if He does exist, that He doesn’t see or care. This is nothing new of course. About 4,000 years ago, King David wrote, ‘The fool says in his heart, ‘there is no God’’. (Psalm 14:1) This approach to life has many risks. What if there is a God? What if the Bible really is true? What if there really is only one way of salvation through God’s Son Jesus? (John 14:6) What if Jesus really did rise from the dead? (The Bible says He did!) And what if all our eternal destiny hangs upon our response to God’s free offer of salvation through faith in Jesus? (John 3:16).

If these things are true, then life’s biggest gamble is to pay no attention to what God has said! And if at Easter, God has made the biggest statement He could ever make by raising Jesus from the dead, then the stakes are even higher. Are you paying attention? This Easter, there is no risk in finding out the truth about Him. Seek Him. You won’t regret it if you do.

The King’s response to the shock about the would-be convert’ (Matthew 19:27-30)

AudioPhilip

When the disciples wtached the ‘rich young ruler’ walk away from jesus and miss out on eternal livfe, they were greatly astonished. They hadn’t thought that a rich man like him could ever miss out on salvation. And so in Matthew 19:27-30, they asked Jesus about what would happen to them. What link was there between leaving all to follow him and their reaward…if there was to be one at all?

Message

Outline

• Continuing the story from last week
• The disciple’s shock at Jesus’ words
• Lord, what about us?
• See how the text tells us of …

  1. The question that Peter asked (v.27)
  2. The rewards that Jesus promised (v.28-29)
  3. The inverse order of the Kingdom’s rule (v.30)

The search for satisfaction is still on!
Would you rather have….?

‘The King’s response to the would-be convert’ (Matthew 19:16-26)

AudioPhilip

When the young man came to Jesus in Matthew 19:16-26 to ask about eternal life, it certainly did not go as the disciples expected it would! The young man went away from Jesus, ‘sorrowful’ and without the eternal life that he had asked Jesus for…although he did still have his money. The text is one of the greatest in the Scriptures for many reasons, especially because it brings eternal life and salvation into focus for us all!

Message

Outline

• A really helpful text!
• The ‘rich young ruler’!
• What Jesus has been teaching about being child-like and children
• See how it tells us of the following questions…

  1. About eternal life (v.16)
  2. About the commandments (v.18)
  3. About perfection (v.20)
  4. About salvation (v.25)

Are you thinking about eternal things?
Have you grasped this principle of the gospel?

‘The King’s response to the parents’ request’ (Matthew 19:13-15)

AudioPhilip

When Matthew records that people were bringing their children to Jesus to bless them in Matthew 19:13-15, he also records that the disciples acted as bodyguards of Jesus and tried to protect him from the children! Mark’s gospel records that at this point Jesus rebuked the disciples and went ahead and blessed the children. There’s a point to note there. Jesus was not unwilling to receive them or bless them. However, the disciples most certainly were … to their loss.

Message

Outline

• Further on into Matthew’s gospel!
• All of us are, or once were, children!
• The context of this event, children in the gospels
• See how these verses tell us of …

  1. The moment Jesus rebuked his disciples (v.13, Mk 10:14)
  2. The lessons Jesus gave to His disciples (v.14)
  3. The blessing Jesus gave to the children (v.15)

Prize highly the family unit!
Prize highly the church family unit!

‘Darkness, light, blood and soap’ (1 John 1:5-2:2)

AudioPhilip

John’s first letter is full of many theological truths that help us to shape our understanding of the gospel. 1 John 1:5-2:2 is a text just like that. In it, John explores themes of light and darkness, confession and cleansing, as well as opening up for us the heart of the gospel message and the path to daily cleansing of our sins.

Message

Outline

• A different text for these reasons
• Why was John writing this letter?
• John’s thesis: God is light and has no darkness…
• See how these verses tell us of …

  1. What is true of those in the darkness (v.6, 8, 10)
  2. What is true of those in the light (v.7, 9, 2:1)
  3. What God has done to bring us from darkness to light (2:2)

How can you bring light and darkness together?
The free offer of forgiveness!

‘The basics of church life’ (Acts 2:42-47)

AudioPhilip

The early church was a remarkable witness and a living testimony to Jesus. In this message on Acts 2:42-47, PCV Moderator, Rev Ian Hutton explores Acts 2:42-47 in a search for the ‘basics’ of church life that we should do well and so also be effective in our witness.

Message

Outline

Introduction …

  1. A Church that is keen to learn (v.42)
  2. A Church that fellowships (v.42-45)
  3. A Church that prays (v.42)
  4. A Church that worships (v.46-47)
  5. A Church that grows (v.47)

Conclusion

‘The King’s response to a hot topic’ (Matthew 19:1-12)

AudioPhilip

When the Pharisees sought to- trap Jesus by their question about divorce in Matthew 19:1-12, Jesus was not backward in coming forward with his response. While the Pharisees tended to be quite lax with regard to laws about divorce, Jesus insisted that God’s good design for marriage in Genesis 2:18-25 was enough! Interestingly, he said all this in the context of helping and healing others. He was no narrow-minded bigot who cared nothing for people around him. Instead, while holding strong to the Word of God, he also backed up his words with caring deeds.

Message

Outline

‘The King’s response to a hot topic’
• Unlimited forgiveness. Always?
• The Pharisees seeking to trap Jesus…
• Jesus unafraid to answer their questions
• See how these verses tell us of …

  1. What Jesus was doing (v.1-2)
  2. How Jesus responded (v.3-9)
  3. How the disciples responded (v.10-12)

Marriage matters!
No additional burdens to those who feel a failure!

‘The King’s measure of forgiveness’ (Matthew 18:21-35)

AudioPhilip

After Jesus had challenged his disciples to follow certain steps in order to ensure that conflict between them be quickly resolved, Peter was quick to ask a question and Jesus was quick to give him an answer! All this can be found in Matthew 18:21-35. Peter’s question had to do with ‘how many times he ought to forgive his brother for an offence’ and Jesus’ answer was both plain and then couched in terms of a parable. The parable adds weight to Jesus’ answer, that the forgiveness that Peter should offer to his brother when offended has no limits. None at all.

Message

Outline

• The all-important context
• The question Peter thought of and asked…
• Conflict among the 12?
• See how from these verses we can note…

  1. What was implied in Peter’s question (v.21)
  2. What was implied by Jesus’ answer (v.22-34)
  3. What was implied by Jesus’ conclusion (v.35)

What is your debt to God?
Where do all these implications touch you the most?