Sermons

‘Leaving your problems with God’ (2 Chronicles 20:6-12)

AudioPhilip

How do you handle your problems? There’s an incident in the life of King Jehoshaphat of Judah recorded for us in 2 Chronicles 20:6-12 which relates to the biggest of all problems that the King faced. In this message on that text, Rev Dr Jared Hood, Principal of the Presbyterian Theological College, explains how the three principles at work in this incident will help us ’email’ all our problems straight to God and leave them there!

Message

Outline

How to leave your problems with God…
See that…

  1. He can sort your problems….by understanding theology (v. 6)
  2. He wants to sort your problems….by understanding history (v. 7–11)
  3. He alone can sort your problems….by understanding yourself (v. 12)

‘See the kinds of people cared for by the Saviour’ (Luke 5:12-32)

AudioPhilip

So far in Luke’s gospel, it seems that Jesus’ ministry has only just begun. We are in the early days. But even then, a pattern begins to emerge in Luke 5:12-32, where people from all walks of life come across Jesus or He meets them – and in each of the three recorded examples of the way that Jesus dealt with these differing people, one thing is constant. It is the amazing mixture of power and authority with love and compassion that sets Jesus apart from all others who ever came before Him or who have followed on since!

Message

Outline

• The seventh in this series
• People from all walks of life
• Life in 1st century Palestine
• See that Luke wants us to note ….

  1. His willingness to show compassion (v.12-16)
  2. His authority to forgive sins (v.17-26)
  3. His capacity to embrace outcasts (v.27-32)

Creating a portrait
What did Jesus look like?
Ambassadors of Jesus….

‘See the fisherman caught by the Saviour’ (Luke 5:1-11)

AudioPhilip

So much changed for Simon Peter in Luke 5:1-11. Although it seems likely that Peter had met Jesus before, he’d never had an encounter with Jesus quite like this one. The text relays how he went from being an unsuccesful, aware-of-of-his-own-sin fisherman type, to a follower of Jesus with a ctach full of fish as an extra bonus! What was it that Jesus did? What did he see in Peter? And what lessons do we learn from Peter’s quick and total response to Jesus’ call?

Message

Outline

• The sixth in this series
• Luke’s focus on individuals
• Jesus and Simon (so far…)
• See that Luke wants us to note ….

  1. The change in Jesus’ field of vision (v.1-4)
  2. The change in Simon’s level of trust (v.5-10a)
  3. The change in Simon’s avenue of service (v.10b-11)

What the coach saw…
What Jesus had been aiming at!
Simon Peter’s response and yours…

‘See the public and private life of the Saviour’ (Luke 4:31-44)

AudioPhilip

In Luke 4:31-44, Luke records how Jesus’ ministry really took off. While in Capernaum after being rejected by the people of Nazareth, Jesus showed his complete and convincing authority over demons and disease. He did this in public, before the eyes of the watching people who were rightly amazed. But Luke also tells us of matters behind the scenes. How Jesus set aside time for prayer, and how that prayer influenced his actions. In Jesus we see a perfect blend of power and compassion – not always seen in others. As God’s people our task is aleays to point to Him as the Saviour of men.

Message

Outline

• The picture Luke is painting
• Jesus about to change gears
• Nazareth and Capernaum
• See that Luke wants us to note ….

  1. The public display of His power (v.31-41)
  2. The private unveiling of His compassion (v.42-44)

Oil and water
The unique balance seen in Jesus
Our task! 1 Peter 2:9-10

‘See the hometown rejection faced by the Saviour’ (Luke 4:14-30)

AudioPhilip

Going home is typically an experience you don’t live to regret. There are exceptions of course. In Luke 4:14-30, Jesus went home to Nazareth and worshipped in the synagogue, only to be run out of town and have his life threatened by angry townsfolk. So what happened? Why did what should have been a welcome home event become something so nasty? The answer lies in what Jesus preached as he brought Isaiah 61:1-2 to their attention, and then, based on what he did and didn’t say, the explosive situation unfolded.

Message

Outline

• The contrast between settings
• Still a conflict with the evil one
• In his hometown…
• See that Luke wants us to note ….

  1. The people He was among (v.14-16a)
  2. The sermon He preached (v.16b-27)
  3. The reaction it caused (v.28-30)

The Saviour has arrived!
The danger of unbelief
John 1:11-12

‘See the temptations that challenged the Saviour’(Luke 4:1-13)

AudioPhilip

When Luke records how Jesus faced temptation in the desert in Luke 4:1-13, it’s clear that he wants us to compare Jesus with Adam. Given that Luke had just traced the genealogy of Jesus back to Adam, it is logical that Luke wanted his readers to understand that Jesus hadf to be tempted just as Adam was in Genesis 3:1-13. But this time, armed with Scripture from the book of Deuteronomy, Jesus did not fall into temptation and disobedience like Adam did, proving Himself to be the Son of Adam and the Son of God!

Message

Outline

• What we’ve covered
• Who we’ve heard from
• In the desert…
• See that this incident leads us to ….

  1. Three questions to ask (v.1-2)
  2. Three facts to note (v.3-12)
  3. Three encouragements to glean (v.13)

The true story of Bobby Leach
Know the Scriptures!
We now face a defeated foe!

‘See the witnesses to the identity of the Saviour’ (Luke 3:21-38)

Philip

Luke, the gospel writer, made it clear in Luke 1:1-4, that his intention was to write an ‘orderly account’ of the things that Jesus did and said. In doing that, Luke also made clear who Jesus claimed to be and was. There are various witnesses to the identity of Jesus scattered through chapters 1 and 2, (Mary, the angels, the shepherds, Simeon, Anna) but these are not alone. In Luke 3:21-38, we find the witness of John the Baptist, the Father from heaven and the testimony of Jesus’ own genealogy – all adding to Luke’s understanding that Jesus is the Son of God.

Message

Oops! Due to human error (mine!) there is no recording of this message, but you can access the manuscript here. Apologies!

Outline

• Where we began our journey
• The downside of missing chapter 1 and 2
• Luke appeals to a number of witnesses
• See the testimonies of ….

  1. The prophet (v.1-20)
  2. The Father (v.21-22)
  3. The fathers (v.23-38)

Time magazine and Jesus
Which voice will you heed?

‘See the prophet who came before the Saviour’ (Luke 3:1-20)

AudioPhilip

Of the 4 gospels about the life and death and resurrection of Jesus, Luke has his own themes unique to his writing style and presentation of Jesus. And while his gospel does not begin at chapter 3, at the very least Luke 3:1-20 marks a signficant moment in Jesus’ ministry, when John appeared preaching repentance and baptising the people in preapration for the immediate appearing of the One he served. John’s ministry was to be a signpost to Jesus, even though for him, it meant that he would become less!

Message

Outline

• Why Luke’s gospel?
• The story begins at ch.1 not ch.3
• John’s lone voice in a noisy world
• What stands out about John? See….

  1. The mission he prized (v.1-6)
  2. The message he preached (v.7-14)
  3. The Master he praised (v.15-20)

The courage of John
Seen less because we’re closer to heaven!
Who are you pointing to?

‘Responding to the wonder of grace: love through welcoming each other’ (Romans 15:1-13)

AudioPhilip

Romans 15:1-13 is the end part of a very long dissertation from the pen of the Apostle Paul. It brings to an end the section of Romans 12:1-15:13 that we have been following, but also concludes his series of applications in relation to love as the response believers should have to the overwhelming grace of God. Not only are we to love all people and one another, but all this culminates in accepting each other, welcoming each other (v.7) for this glorifies God. And the church, a multi-cultural people, must be able to get over this hurdle of ‘difference’ and so effectively show the love of Christ to the world.

Message

Outline

• The twelfth in this series
• Romans 1-14 in a nutshell…
• Chapter 14: the strong and the weak
• See how Paul tells us that welcoming each other…

  1. Is a principle that Jesus followed (v.1-4)
  2. Is a principle that glorifies God (v.5-7)
  3. Is a principle the church is built on (v.8-13)

‘A separated family living together’
Come with an agenda!
Be the church!

‘Responding to the wonder of grace: love despite differences of opinion’ (Romans 14:1-23)

AudioPhilip

Not all of us agree on everything. You may not even agree with your closest family member or spouse on some matters. But when Christians disagree, then what do we do? In Romans 14:1-23, Paul adressess what was a major source of disagreement in a church where two main cultural groups (Jews and Gentiles) had differing views over food and other minor matters. Paul addressed this head on, in the hope that both sides might understand the other and get along – in loving unity!

Message

Outline

• The eleventh in this series
• When disagreements come…
• ‘Protestants’
• See how Paul tells us that we are to love by…

  1. Welcoming each other without judgment (v.1-12)
  2. Accepting each other with understanding (v.13- 23)

Three things to be careful of
Christ is the Lord of conscience!
Generous hearts