Philip Burns

Rev Philip Burns is the minister of Bendigo Presbyterian Church.

‘Elijah, the widow and her son’ (part 1) (1 Kings 17:8-16)

AudioPhilip

So far into his important ministry of declaring God’s Word to King Ahab of Israel, Elijah may be forgiven for wondering (if he ever did) what God had in mind – for no sooner had he appeared before the face of King Ahab, just as soon – the Lord directed him to disappear to a remote place. There, by the brook, fed by ravens, Elijah may well have also been surprised to find that his next place to stay would be with a widow and her son in Jezebel’s country! But there, as 1 Kings 17:8-16 tells us, God had plans for His prophet and there was a good reason for it all (as we may always expect with God!).

Full service

00:00 Introduction
Song: All Creatures of Our God and King
00:42 Prayer
05:03 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #69)
Song: Generous God
09:07 Indigenous Ministries
11:50 Bible reading: Luke 4:16-30
Song: My Heart is Filled
13:54 Bible reading: 1 Kings 17:8-16
15:21 Sermon: 1 Kings 17:8-16
Song: Grace Unmeasured
39:10 Closing

‘Elijah, the brook and the ravens’ (1 Kings 17:2-7)

AudioPhilip

After bursting onto centre stage to stand for a moment or two under the spotlight, Elijah had announced his one line to the king (about there being no more rain) and then just as quickly as he had come in, he exited stage right. 1 Kings 17:2-7 continue the story of where the Lord sent his prophet so that he too might survive the drought, there by a brook fed by ravens. The story is one of survival, but more than that. God was also teaching his prophet a lesson – one that we also might learn, because every circumstance, yes, even our survival is all dependent upon Him!

Full service

00:00 Introduction
00:45 Prayer
Song: 10,000 Reasons
04:54 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #39)
Song: The Old Black Crow
08:48 The Persecuted Church
Song: To God be the Glory
12:00 Bible reading: Matthew 6:26-34
Song: The Servant King
13:17 Bible reading: 1 Kings 17:2-7
14:12 Sermon: 1 Kings 17:2-7
38:07 Closing

‘Elijah, the King and the king’ (1 Kings 16:29-17:1)

AudioPhilip

There have been many people who have shot to fame (and so to the limelight) out of obscurity. In the Scriptures, Elijah the prophet is one such man. Not much is known about Elijah’s past except to say that he was from the town of Tishbe. Not much is known about his calling to be a prophet, but according to 1 Kings 16:29-17:1, we do know that his call to be a prophet brought him into the presence of Ahab, king of Israel.  He could do that, of course, because Elijah knew how to stand before Israel’s true King.

Full service

00:00 Introduction
Song: Crown Him with Many Crowns
00:37 Prayer
04:54 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #39)
Song: God Never Says Oops
08:26 The Persecuted Church
11:19 Bible reading: John 1:19-30
Song: O Lord My Rock and My Redeemer
13:00 Bible reading: 1 Kings 16:29-17:1
14:17 Sermon: 1 Kings 16:29-17:1
Song: In Christ Alone
37:59 Closing

‘God’s saints in tight spots’ #11: Peter (Acts 12:1-25)

AudioAndrew

Being incarcerated for preaching the gospel of Jesus would be no fun. Especially not if you were being held there until your imminent execution. While that was the case for the Apostle Peter in Acts 12:1-25, God had other plans and these plans not only brought about peter’s release, they also served to spread the gospel message of Jesus even further than before. The whole incident brought two things together as well – the mystery of the will of God and the prayers of His people – somehow they fit together!

Full service

00:00 Introduction
Song: At the Name of Jesus
00:41 Prayer
Song: Revelation 3:20
06:25 Children’s talk
Song: The Chooky And Her Chickies
09:03 The Persecuted Church
Song: There is a Higher Throne
11:47 Bible reading: Acts 5:12-26
Song: Meekness and Majesty
13:56 Bible reading: Acts 12:1-25
17:40 Sermon: Acts 12:1-25
40:45 Closing

‘God’s saints in tight spots’ #10: Paul (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)

AudioPhilip

The life of the Apostle Paul was full of trial. At  the time of his conversion, the Lord said of him, ‘I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name’ (Acts 9:16). Reading through the book of Acts and any of his letters will bring those trials to mind – beatings, shipwreck, imprisonment, hatred, scorn and threats against his life – all of these were part of Paul’s experience. But there was another aspect of Paul’s life that he wrote about in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10… his ‘thorn’. The passage is helpful, for Paul was not the only one to have a ‘thorn’, and if you have one, then you will want to know how Paul dealt with it!

Full service

00:00 Introduction and prayer
Song: Jesus Thank You
03:46 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #99)
Song: Damascus Road
06:16 The Persecuted Church
09:39 Bible reading: 2 Corinthians 11:16-31
Song: Christ is Mine Forevermore
13:04 Bible reading: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
15:10 Sermon: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Song: It is Well with My Soul
39:07 Closing

‘God’s saints in tight spots’ #9: Job (Job 1:1-2:10)

AudioPhilip

In the Scriptures, perhaps it is the character of Job who gets the title of ‘the saint in the tightest of spots.’ His story is well-known and told to us in the book that bears his name. It’s a long read but worthwhile, especially Job 1:1-2:10. In these verses, the mystery of why Job suffered what he did is unfolded for us as we are told things that happened behind the scenes, behind the heavenly curtain, giving us an rare insight into the mystery of the trials that God allows – which are for our good and for His glory. Let Job’s story give you reason to ‘give thanks in all things’ – like the Scriptures teach us to do.

Full service

00:00 Introduction and prayer
Song: Worthy of All Praise
05:25 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #43)
Song: 1 Corinthians 2:9
09:04 Greetings from Chris and Naomi
11:31 Bible reading: Job 1
Song: Marvellous Grace
15:06 Bible reading: Job 2:1-10
16:52 Sermon: Job 1:1-2:10
Song: Blessed Be Your Name
42:14 Closing
Song: Blessed be the Name of Jesus

‘God’s saints in tight spots’ #8: King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:1-30)

AudioPhilip

There are times when the need to pray becomes all the more urgent and important. The Scriptures also record for us the many examples of those who found relief by calling upon God in a moment of danger or trial. King Jehoshaphat was one of these. His prayer recorded in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 stands out in Scripture as a prayer of great integrity and urgency, one that God, in His grace, chose to answer, encouraging us to seek after Him and so bring ‘everything to God in prayer’.

Full service

00:00 Introduction
Song: Jerusalem
00:38 Prayer
Song: You Can Tell the Lord that You Love Him Anytime
04:29 Greetings from Daniel and Courtney
Song: God’s Love Is Strong Love
07:29 Bible reading: 2 Chronicles 20:1-17
Song: Amazing Grace
10:35 Bible reading: 2 Chronicles 20:17-30
13:12 Sermon: 2 Chronicles 20
Song: Before the Throne
23:18 Closing

‘God’s saints in tight spots’ #7: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3:1-30)

AudioPhilip

The story of the three Hebrew men standing firm in the face of the fury of the King Nebuchadnezzar and his infamously hot furnace, has long been a Sunday School favourite. Yet the story is far from one that belongs to the children alone. Daniel 3:1-30 tells of courage, bravery and obedience – all in the face of great trial and remains something that urges God’s people along today on our walk with the Lord in this world.

Full service

00:00 Introduction
Song: O Worship the King
00:41 Prayer
05:01 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #48)
Song: The One and Only God
10:09 Greetings from Ryan Smith at CU Bendigo
13:26 Bible reading: Daniel 3:1-15
Song: Behold Our God
16:13 Bible reading: Daniel 3:16-30
19:50 Sermon: Daniel 3
Song: He Will Hold Me Fast
42:20 Closing

‘God’s saints in tight spots’: #6: Esther (Esther 4:1-17)

AudioPhilip

The book of Esther, as the name suggests, tells the story of the Jewess Esther who became Queen of a mighty kingdom by virtue of being married to its King. Although the book never once mentions God, His fingerprints are all over it – especially in the decisive moment when Esther was faced with a choice of having her own people (the Jews) perish or facing that risk herself by entering unannounced into the presence of the King). The book is remembered for her words, ‘If I perish, I perish’, but it does more for us that relate a climactic story. It points ultimately to the One who chose to perish for His people – even Jesus our Lord.

Full service

00:00 Introduction
Song: O the Mercy of God
01:07 Prayer
04:08 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #52-53)
Song: Psalm 68:20 (Our God Is a God Who Saves)
09:01 Prayer
12:58 Greeting from the Canavans
Song: King of Kings
15:07 Bible reading: Esther 4
Song: How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds
18:18 Sermon: Esther 4
Song: Consider Christ
43:52 Closing

‘God’s saints in tight spots’ #5: Moses (Exodus 4:18-5:21)

AudioPhilip

There aren’t many men in the Bible of more importance than Moses. Selected by God to be the redeemer of His people, Moses faced a huge challenge for all of his days – none more so that at the outset of his ministry when God sent him to Pharaoh with the demand to ‘let My people go’. It didn’t go down so well with Pharaoh, nor with the rest of the people of Israel. Exodus 4:18-5:21 fills in the details and reminds us of the fact that God is in all our circumstances – even when we’re having a ‘bad day’.

Full service

00:00 Introduction
Song: Beautiful Saviour (All My Days)
00:45 Prayer
06:14 Children’s talk (see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #15)
Song: Remember the Lord
10:51 Bible reading: Exodus 3:7-12
Song: There is a Redeemer
16:03 Bible reading: Exodus 4:18-5:23
Song: How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds
22:38 Sermon: Exodus 4:18-5:21
Song: By Faith
46:28 Closing