Sermons

‘Timothy, it’s faithfulness that counts’ (2 Timothy 2:1-7)

AudioPhilip

Any talk about being ‘soldiers of Christ’ may be a bit ‘on the nose’ for many today. Images of the Crusades might quickly come to mind. But this was the metaphor that Paul used the most in 2 Timothy 2:1-7 as the Apostle urged Timothy to do many things that would show him to be a faithful servant of His master and trustworthy with the gospel.

Message

Outline

• The fourth in this series
• What we’ve noted from chapter 1
• The ‘imperfect’ first century church
• See how Paul called Timothy to be …

  1. Strong in grace (v.1-2)
  2. Ready for suffering (v.3)
  3. Faithful in service (v.4-7)

William Booth and the Salvation Army
Your task and mine….!

‘Timothy, be an encourager with the truth of the gospel’ (2 Timothy 1:13-18)

AudioPhilip

As Paul wrote to the younger pastor/teacher Timothy from his Roman jail cell, his time on earth was short, and Timothy’s time on earth would soon become more complicated with the rise of many false teachings and teachers. So what Paul wanted Timothy to do was be committed to the truth of the gospel – not be like others who fell away – but remain strong like Onesiphorus who not only sought out the Apostle in jail but met his needs there. We find this is 2 Timothy 1:13-18 were we read of a man who was a great encouragement to the imprisoned Apostle.

Message

Outline

• The third in this series
• Paul’s example and what he expected of Timothy
• The passing of that baton
• See how Paul pointed Timothy toward …

  1. Committed to the truth of the gospel (v.13)
  2. Guarding well the truth of the gospel (v.14-15)
  3. Living out the truth of the gospel (v.16-18)

That ministry of encouragement
What will you do…?

‘Real repentance’ (Jonah 3:1-10, Rev Peter Phillips)

AudioPhilip

Message

Outline

• What’s unbelievable here?
• Jonah’s sin
• Your sin and mine
• See how the text speaks of….

  1. Jonah’s second chance – a gift of grace
  2. Jonah’s repentance – proven genuine by obedience

‘Fruit in keeping with repentance’
Responding to the grace of God…
Something you need to put right?

‘Timothy, hold fast to the gospel’ (2 Timothy 1:8-12)

AudioPhilip

In 2 Timothy 1:8-12, we find that the Apostle Paul was just ‘getting warmed up’ after his initial greeting to Timothy. After establishing the reasons why he was so thankful for Timothy, Paul proceedes with some exhortations to Timothy to take responsibility for the gospel, not so much teaching it (not yet anyway), but suffering for it. Paul was in prison and facing death and he was doing all this for the sake of the gospel. Timothy was not yet in prison and not yet facing death, but he was still called to live a li9fe of faithfulness to the gospel as Paul did – regardless of the outcome.

Message

Outline

• The second in this series
• What we learned about Paul and Timothy
• The passing of the baton
• See how Paul speaks of …

  1. The content of the gospel (v.9-10)
  2. His suffering for the gospel (v.11-12)
  3. Timothy’s responsibility with the gospel (v.8)

Five French young men
Faithful unto death…

‘Timothy, remember my calling and yours’ (2 Timothy 1:1-7)

AudioPhilip

The letter of Paul to Timothy that we know as 2 Timothy is significant for a number of reasons, but mainly because it stands as Paul’s last letter before his execution. Written to his younger son and trainee Timothy, a pastor-teacher in the first century, it is full of warm feelings from Paul to Timothy, but also strong advice and exhortation about Timothy’s task and the way he ought to fulfill his calling. In 2 Timothy 1:1-7, Paul sets some foundations in place, especially in regard to his own confidence in the Lord and, to a degree, also in Timothy.

Message

Outline

• The first in this series
• Paul’s last letter and from prison!
• Paul’s attitude
• See how Paul tells us of his confidence in …

  1. The certainty of his calling (v.1)
  2. The sufficiency of the Lord’s supply (v.2)
  3. The sincerity of Timothy’s faith (v.3-5)

Fan this into flame…
What God has given his servants…

‘Jacob’s journey to Bethel and beyond’ (Genesis 35:1-29)

AudioPhilip

The text of Genesis 35:1-29 tells us that Jacob finnaly headed from Shechem, where there had been much disgrace brought upon his family, to Bethel, where God renewed so many of His promises to Jacob’s family. With three revelations of the Lord to Jacob on the way to and while at Bethel and three deaths in Jacob’s immediate family, the chapter is full of highs and lows for Jacob. As the last in this sermon series, it’s good to see how Jacob played a special role in the coming of the One who was Jacob’s (Israel’s) greater Son, Jesus the Messiah.

Message

Outline

• The sixteenth and last in this series
• The context of this chapter
• Jacob and Bethel
• See how Moses tells us of Jacob’s journeying…

  1. To Bethel (v.1-5)
  2. At Bethel (v.6-15)
  3. From Bethel (v.16-29)

Where his story began…
Who his story leads to…

‘Jacob, his defiled daughter and his wayward sons’ (Genesis 34:1-31)

AudioPhilip

There’s no way of looking at Genesis 34:1-31 without saying that the story is not a pretty picture. In fact, the actions of jacob’s sons were deplorable, as we the actions of the young man who raped Jacob’s daughter Dinah. Moses, who recorded the story for us, certainly doesn’t hold back – even Jacob himself comes across as all too passive when dealing with the sins of his sons. But in all of this, God is at work, even rescuing us from afar bigger mess that we created because of our own sin.

Message

Outline

• The fifteenth in this series
• An uncomfortable text!
• Some of the bad fruits from Jacob’s failure to obey
• See how Moses tells us of …

  1. The defilement of a daughter (v.1-5)
  2. The mismatch of a marriage (v.6-19)
  3. The sinfulness of the sons (v.20-31)

The abuse of the holy…
When God’s people are a stench…

‘Jacob meets Esau and journeys on to Shechem’ (Genesis 33:1-20)

AudioPhilip

The text of Genesis 33:1-20 gives the conclusion to the long anticipated meeting of Jacob and his twin, Esau. All that Jacob had been through now led up to this most significant moment when he would have to face up to his brother. But while the reader might have expected to be fireworks and anger, the situation has been diffused. Jacob is different and so is Esau. God has been good! But Jacob’s half-hearted response to God leaves the door open for compromise and temptation to make their way in his family.

Message

Outline

• The fourteenth in this series
• Amazing and remarkable…
• Some of the fruits of God’s work in Jacob’s life
• See how Moses tells us that …

  1. The path of humility leads to greater service (v.1-3)
  2. A thankful heart leads to a fruitful testimony (v.4-11)
  3. Half-hearted obedience leads to complicated consequences (v.12-20)

A warning about what’s to come!
God’s work to make us His own…