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‘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

‘God’s saints in tight spots’ #4: Daniel (Daniel 6:1-28)

AudioPhilip

You can be sure that the story of Daniel in the lion’s den found in Daniel 6:1-28 will make it to just about every children’s Bible that has ever been or will be published. Funny The funny thing about that is this – the story is not really just a children’s story. Instead it is one of the great stories of the Bible that forces us to examine our own loyalty and faithfulness to God. It might have been an extreme test that God allowed Daniel to endure – and while he proved to be faithful, how would you go at being in Daniel’s position?

Full service

00:00 Introduction & Prayer
Song: Come Praise and Glorify
03:21 ANZAC Remembrance
Song: Eternal Father
09:45 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #51)
Song: Stop What You’re Doing and Pray to Jesus
15:13 Bible reading: Hebrews 11:32-40
16:28 Bible reading: Daniel 6
22:34 Sermon: Daniel 6
Song: O Great God
44:39 Benediction

‘God’s saints in tight spots’ #3: David (Psalm 63:1-11)

AudioPhilip

David is one of the key characters in the unfolding story of the Scriptures. We can often forget that huge responsibilities and pressures were placed upon his shoulders in his role as King over Israel and Judah. One of those pressures was simply maintaining the stability of his kingdom – especially when it threatened, at times, to crumble from within. Psalm 63:1-11 records David’s feelings in one of those crisis times and shows us what it is we need the most in life – regardless of whether our circumstances are good or bad.

Full service

00:00 Introduction & Prayer
Song: Before the Throne of God
07:23 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #35)
Song: From Everlasting
11:35 Bible reading: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11
Song: Grace Unmeasured
13:03 Bible reading: Psalm 63
Song: My Hope is Built
14:12 Sermon: Psalm 63
Song: O Lord My Rock and My Redeemer
40:55 Benediction

‘The one who fixes fallen-apart worlds’ (Luke 24:13-35)

AudioPhilip

When the two travelers on the road to Emmaus met with Jesus, as recorded in Luke 24:13-35, they were downcast and disconsolate. They were men without hope. Jesus, whom they had known and had put their hope in, was dead. While they had heard rumours of Him being alive, this all must have sounded so fanciful. Strange. But when a stranger met them on the road and opened the Scriptures to them, all that changed! Jesus fixed their fallen-apart world and hope was renewed again!

Full service

00:00 Introduction
Song: Thine be the Glory
02:26 Prayer
Song: Never Alone
06:48 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #89)
Song: Jesus Christ was Raised to Life
10:50 Bible reading: Luke 24:1-12
Song: All Heaven Declares
12:11 Bible reading: Luke 24:13-35
Song: In the Tomb
15:34 Sermon: Luke 24
37:38 Benediction
Song: He is Risen

‘The day of most importance’ (Matthew 27:27-54)*

AudioPhilip

This Easter will certainly be one to remember. One like we’ve never had before. With all this extra time, it is a perfect opportunity to re-visit the foundations of our faith, to go back to the cross and think about what happened to Jesus and what He completed for us there. It really was an amazing day…but coming to Christ in repentance and faith could also prove to be your greatest day!

*This message quotes extensively from an article written by Andrew Lansdown. You can find the original article here. May it help us all to grasp the wonder of God’s grace to us in Christ.

Full service

00:00 Introduction
Song: How Deep the Father’s Love
02:22 Prayer
06:07 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise ; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #88)
Song: Boss of the Cross
10:52 Bible reading: Matthew 27:1-2,11-26
Song: This Life I Live
13:00 Bible reading: Matthew 27:27-54
Song: The power of the cross
15:51 Sermon: Matthew 27
Song: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
38:03 Benediction
Song: I can’t save myself

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

AudioPhilip

The story of Jonah is one of the most well-known in the Scriptures. It’s not everybody that gets swallowed by a huge fish and lives to tell the tale. Talk about socially isolating!  But what was Jonah doing in that ‘tight spot’ and what does a ‘socially isolating’ Jonah teach us? This message on Jonah 2:1-10, examines Jonah’s prayer and what we can learn from it.

Full service

00:00 Introduction
Song: All creatures of Our God and King
00:49 Prayer
06:30 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #44)
Song: God is everywhere
Song: Are you serving Cap’n Jesus?
11:59 Bible reading: Jonah 2
13:29 Bible reading: Luke 15
Song: My heart is filled with thankfulness
15:45 Sermon: Jonah 2
Song: In Christ alone
37:36 Benediction
Song: I will trust my saviour Jesus