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1 Peter 3:8-15a – Live in harmony – sermon notes

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Peter’s purpose in writing was to encourage persecuted Christians to stand firm in their faith, 1 Pet 5:12.  Accordingly, he repeatedly reminds them of the blessings that belong to those who belong to Christ: so much so, that this letter has been called ‘the epistle of hope’.  Moreover, he instructs them in the behaviour that Christians should exhibit in the midst of suffering: what kind of relationships they should have with the world in general (1 Pet 2:11f), with the state (1 Pet 2:13-17), within the home (1 Pet 2:18-3:7).…

Forgiveness in the teaching of Jesus

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According to N.T. Wright (Jesus and the Victory of God)  “Forgiveness of sins is another way of saying ‘return from exile’”.

‘However,’ (writes Robert Stein) ‘this is at best an overstatement. There is much in the Gospels concerning the great joy in heaven over one sinner who repents and receives forgiveness (Luke 15:7, 10). It is difficult to see in Jesus’ forgiving the paralytic’s sins (Mark 2:1–12), in his forgiving of the sinful woman (Luke 7:36–50), in the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1–10), and in all the accounts of the forgiving of sinners the theme of the return of the nation from exile as being more central than the forgiveness of these individuals.’…

What is the time?

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Trevin Wax explains the importance for the Christian leader of knowing ‘what time it is’.  It is one thing to focus on ‘timeless principles’, but another to lead in the context of:-

Biblical time.  Scripture has a clear timeline, reaching back to creation and stretching forward to the new creation.  We need to know where we are in the grand sweep of God’s purposes, and to understand what it means to live in the overlapping time of ‘now’ and ‘not yet’.…

Christmas is coming, preacher

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Peter Mead suggests some starting points from which the creatively-challenged preacher might approach the message of Christmas:-

Prophecies from the Old Testament such as Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2, or Jeremiah 31:15.

People from Matthew’s genealogy – the women, for example (each of whom has an interesting story to tell!), or the Gentiles (suggesting the greater scope of the Christmas hope).

Themes – the ‘Immanuel’ (God with us) theme, for example, beginning with Isaiah 7:14-9:7), continuing with Matthew 1, and then moving on to Matthew 28:20.…

Col 2:6-23 – More? – sermon notes

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Do you long for more in your Christian life?  Paul did, Phil 3:10-14 –‘Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.’  So, evidently, did the Colossians.

1. You don’t need Christ ‘plus’

False teaching in Colosse.  Its general description, v8 – ‘hollow and deceptive philosophy’, ‘human traditions’.  In particular:-

(a) Christ plus ritual, v16, ‘religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day’. …

Some “I wills” of Christ

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Prayer, Jn 14:13f, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

Salvation, Jn 6:37, “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”

Confession, Mt 10:32, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.”

Evangelism, Mt 4:19, “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”…

Isaiah 56:1-8 – Welcome the stranger – sermon notes

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Ethiopian eunuch, Acts 8:27ff.  He asked, “Of whom is the prophet speaking?”  He might also have asked, “To whom is the prophet speaking?”  The answer is here.

Last section of Isaiah – addressed to those returning from exile.

1. Gospel welcome

Addressed to all (v1-2), but specifically to ‘eunuchs’, v4, and ‘foreigners’, v6.

Gen 12:2 – “All people on earth will be blessed through you.”

Rahab, Ruth.

Cf. Deut 23.  ‘Special measures’, cf. Ezra, Nehemiah.

Jn 10:16 “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen.…

Joshua 101 – sermon notes

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Joshua 1

It’s taken us millions of years to discover it, but four days ago it finally became official.  This is the way Reuter’s agency broke the news:-

They were huge, lumbering and certainly not the most graceful of creatures, but when they had to dinosaurs sure could run, scientists said on Wednesday.

Using prints from a fossilised dinosaur track in a quarry from southern England, scientists have calculated that bipedal theropod dinosaurs could run at speeds of up to 30 kilometres (19 miles) per hour.…

Luke 1:5-25, 57-66 – A day to remember – sermon notes

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Is there any one day that stands out in your life?

For Zechariah, that day had arrived.  Except that it would turn out to be far more outstanding than he can have ever imagined.

1. Ordinary people

A humble couple, from the Judean hill country.  Of priestly stock, but did not belong to the corrupt aristocracy of Jerusalem.

Childless.  Elizabeth’s ‘disgrace’, v25.

Getting on in years, v7, must have given up all hope

Faithful, v6, not bitter. …

Christian scholarship needs Christian faith

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Why is it that some Christian scholars engage in what James Barr called ‘maximal conservatism’?  Why is it that, according to Peter Enns, evangelical Christians are far too ready to ‘defend’ the Bible against ‘attacks’ on its (supposed) moral uprightness, historical accuracy, and theological consistency?  Why is it that Kenton Sparks feels the need to accuse evangelical biblical scholars of giving the impression that they accept all the tools of critical scholarship while, on the other hand, blithely insisting that the use of these tools, ‘when properly used’, must uphold their own predetermined views about the Bible does, and does not, teach?…