Sermons

‘See the interaction between the centurion and the Saviour’ (Luke 7:1-10)

AudioPhilip

After Jesus had completed his long teaching intensive, Luke records that he returned to Capernaum where His ministry had previously been well received. There, according to Luke 7:1-10, He was approached by the Jews on behalf of a Roman centurion – a man who had power at his fingertips, but no power to deal with disase and impending death. But this man saw that Jesus did have authority and submitted himself to One greater than he, implicitly trusting that whatever Jesus commanded would come to pass! Great faith indeed!

Message

Outline

• The thirteenth in this series
• Back in Capernaum
• The Roman centurion
• See how this interaction tells us of the ..

  1. Reason why Jesus could have chosen not to help the man (v.1-3)
  2. Reason why the Jews said that Jesus should help the man (v.4-6a)
  3. Reasons why the response of this man is a great help (v.6b-10)

How the story ends…
The God who is too big to fail!
What Naaman discovered…

‘See the upside-down life taught by the Saviour (4)’ (Luke 6:43-49)

AudioPhilip

In Luke 6:43-49, Jesus is finishing his teaching intensive on how His disciples ought to live. The text is very much connected to the previous versess in which Jesus spoko of making careful and merciful judgements – especially about people – and this certainly applies in the way we are to look at others and view the reality of their profession. Words are part of it, but fruit will be the greater evidence, as will the need to be hearers and doers of His word.

Message

Outline

• The twelfth in this series
• The end of His teaching intensive
• Don’t be foolish!
• See how Jesus taught that we ought remember that …

  1. Your fruit gives you away (v.43-45)
  2. Your foundation may give way! (v.46-49)

Dr Smith and Dr Smith
The bottom line
Hear and do!

‘Mary: A woman of faith’ (Rev Peter Phillips, Luke 1:26-56)

AudioPhilip

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…

  1. The great blessing of being Jesus’ mother
  2. 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)

AudioPhilip

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 …

  1. Not be hypercritical of others (v.37-40)
  2. 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)

AudioPhilip

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…

  1. What this love looks like (v.27-31)
  2. Why this love is necessary (v.32-36)

Corrie Ten Boom…
What our Father God is like!

‘Joshua’s defining moment – for himself and his family’ (Joshua 24:1-28)

AudioPhilip

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 …

  1. The story that God’s grace creates (v.1-13)
  2. The claims that God’s grace implies (v.14-28)
  3. The response that God’s grace demands (v.14-15)

Serve Him!

‘The logic of God’s love’ (Jonah 4:5-11)

AudioPhilip

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…

  1. Jonah – pity for a plant
  2. The Lord – pity for a people

Did Jonah go home happy…?
Why this book is relevant to us
God’s love and ours

‘The day the gospel made its way into Philippi’ (Acts 16:11-40)

AudioPhilip

We’re interuppting our studies in Luke’s Gospel this morning, to take into account another part of Luke’s writings, his second book, known to us as the ‘Acts of the Apostles’ or just ‘Acts’. In the text of Acts 16:11-40, Luke shows us the difference the gospel made as it spread into the Roman city of Philippi. There, three unlikely people became the first believers on European soil, all in different walks of life, and yet all united by their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Message

Outline

• From Luke’s gospel to Luke’s other book
• Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria…the end of the earth!
• What is the gospel?
• See how at Philippi, the gospel spread….

  1. Down by the river (v.11-15)
  2. Down in the marketplace (v.16-18)
  3. Down in the prison (v. 19-40)

Where the gospel goes…
See the gospel’s sign!
What does believing the gospel bring?

‘See the upside-down life taught by the Saviour’ (Luke 6:12-26)

AudioPhilip

When teaching what God wanted us to know, Jesus was never one to beat around the bush. He put it out there. Spoke the trusth as he saw it. In Luke 6:12-26, particularly 6:20-26, Jesus taught His disciples in what is known as the ‘Sermon on the Plain’ (which corresponds well with Matthew’s ‘Sermon on the Mount’ but a lot shorter). These verses teach us that Jesus and the world clearly value different things, almost the opposite of each other in many respects, and so, His disciples are called to have a whole new set of ‘upside-down’ priorities and values.

Message

Outline

• The ninth in this series
• This growing portrait of Jesus
• Luke – on the plain, Matthew – on the mount…
• See how Luke wants us to note…

  1. The plain-spoken contrasts He made (v.20-26)
  2. The point-blank challenges He gave (v.20-26)

‘Imagine’
The upside-down kingdom
Your greatest treasure?

‘See the food (and other) laws broken by the Saviour’ (Luke 5:33-6:11)

AudioPhilip

When Jesus and his disciples were challenged by the Pharisees over their obvious love of food (compared to them who loved to show off their fasting) and their ‘working’ on the Sabbath day (despite the strict rules the Pharisees taught and enforced), and then leaing on the Sabbath day (despite it being a work of mercy), all recorded for us in Luke 5:33-6:11, it seems that the Pharisees escaltated their hatred for Jesus and opposition to his message to new levels. But Jesus wasn’t troubled by these accustaions. Nor was he guilty of any sin! How was that so? Listen on…

Message

Outline

• The eighth in this series
• Luke’s portrait of Jesus
• Food!
• See that Luke wants us to note that Jesus was….

  1. Accused of eating when he shouldn’t! (5:33-39)
  2. Accused of eating what he shouldn’t! (6:1-5)
  3. Accused of healing when he shouldn’t! (6:6-11)

Lawbreakers!
Mercy for the guilty!
What would Jesus do….?