Category Archives: Church

1 Tim 4:9-16 – What kind of church do we want to be? – sermon notes

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[Note: this sermon was preached the Sunday after the appalling killings carried out by ‘Islamic State’ in Paris on Friday 13th November, 2015.  Hence the introductory comment.]

There was ‘a moment of relative calm’ in Paris yesterday afternoon as Davide Martello played his piano outside the concert hall where dozens of people had been killed just a few hours earlier.  The song?  John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ – ‘Imagine there’s nothing to kill or die for.  And no religion too.’…

Purgatory

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Elgar’s ‘The Dream of Gerontius’ is a wonderful piece of music.  For me, however, its story-line requires a considerable suspension of belief.  Based on John Henry (Cardinal) Newman’s poem of the same name, it describes the journey of a Christian soul from his death-bed to Purgatory.

The Roman Catholic doctrine of Purgatory took shape in the Middle Ages.  The Council of Trent (1545-1563) pronounced as ‘anathema’ those who rejected it.  The doctrine states that the intermediate state for Christian believers consists not of unmixed rest, but rather of punishment for post-baptismal sins.  …

God does not live in houses

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“The Most High does not live in houses made by men,” declared Stephen (Acts 7:48).  And even though these words infuriated his accusers, he was only echoing the consistent message of their own Scriptures (see, esp. 2 Sam 7:5f).

To this day, Christians seem to doubt Stephen’s words.  True, they may pay lip-service to the idea that the church is a ‘people’, not a ‘place’.  But ‘holy’ buildings still feature far more prominently than they ought, given the consistent teaching of both Old and New Testaments.…

Our fellowship in Christ

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Commenting on Philippians 1:5, William Hendriksen writes of the following characteristics of the fellowship of all believers in Christ:-

1. It is a fellowship of grace. It is not natural to us; nor is is manufactured by us.  It is effects by Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 1:9, and is the gift of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 13:13; Phil. 2:1, who has been sent from the Father.

2. It is a fellowship of faith. As Christ draws us to himself, so we approach him through faith.  …

Worship on death row

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On 29th April, eight convicted drug traffickers, including the two ring-leaders of the so-called ‘Bali Nine’, were executed by firing squad.

All except one of the eight had turned to Christ during their years in incarceration.  Their lives had been transformed, and they had been transforming other peoples’ lives, writes Joy Tibbs.

Despite protests from across the globe, the authorities decided to uphold the death penalties. But when the day came for them to face the firing squad, something extraordinary happened.

…

The church and the glory of God

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In relation to the church, the glory of God in Christ,

  1. is still seen and reflected by the church, 2 Cor 4:3-6
  2. is the glory of the new covenant, 2 Cor 3:7-11
  3. is shared both now, 1 Pet 4:14, and hereafter, Rom 8:18 by those who suffer with Christ
  4. is to be manifested by the church, as she witnesses to God, Rom 15:9, shows his deeds, Acts 4:21, practices holy living, 1 Cor 6:20, and honours Christ, Rom 16:27.
…

Toolbox for Skillful Shepherding

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Member Condition Spiritual Danger Proper Response Scriptural Support
Living fruitfully Failing to Continue Encourage; Praise 1 Thess 4:1; Phil 2:29
Lacking information Doctrinal Ignorance Teach; Instruct 1 Cor 12:1; 1 Thess 4:13; Acts 18:26
Needing to get moving Laziness; Neglect Exhort; Spur On; Urge Heb 5:11-12; 6:12; 10:24; 2 Cor 9:4-5
Suffering Trial Discouragement Comfort; Console 2 Cor 1:4; 7:6
Starting to Go Astray New Sin Pattern Warn; Correct; Admonish Titus 3:10; 1 Cor 4:14; Luke 9:54-55; Matt 16:23
Determined to Wander Habitual Sin Rebuke Rev 3:18-19; Titus 1:12-13; Gal 2:11
Stubborn Unrepentance Apostasy Excommunicate Matt 18:17; 1 Cor 5:5

Andrew M.…

Was Paul a Catholic?

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It is interesting to note that the New Perspective on Paul has flourished in the wake of the Holocaust and the onset of the ecumenical movement, and the development of closer ties between Roman Catholics and Protestants.

The link here is that the ‘old’ (Protestant, and especially Lutheran) perspective on Paul taught that both Judaism and Roman Catholicism were (and are) beset by legalism, and that Paul’s doctrine of justification by faith alone was needed to counter-act this.…

1 Pet 3:8 – Togetherness – sermon notes

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1 Peter 3:8

We live our Christian lives under intense scrutiny.  1:12 – angels, 3:12, the Lord; 2:12 the world.

What astonishes the angels, delights God, and convicts the world, more than almost anything else?  To see the followers of Jesus Christ living in harmony with one another.

Five qualities.  Apple pie & fatherhood?

This is addressed to ‘all of you’.

1. Harmony

‘Like-mindedness’.  Unity of thought, purpose and action.

It is a unity in diversity. …

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).…