Category Archives: Sermon Notes

Ex 2 – The turning point – sermon notes

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Exodus 2

Many of us have known and loved the story of ‘Moses in the Bullrushes’ since childhood.  It is indeed a charming story.  But it is also a perplexing story.  And, ultimately, a hugely encouraging story.

1. Be Charmed

Cruel Pharaoh is afraid that the Israelites will continue to grow in number and turn against him.  First, he commands the Hebrew midwives to kill all the boys at birth.  But they outwit him.  Then, he orders that they all be cast into the Nile. …

2 Tim 3 – Continue in the gospel – sermon notes

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2 Timothy 3

What kind of church do we want to be?  A gospel church.  Guard the gospel, 1:14.  Suffer for the gospel, 2:3.  Now: continue in the gospel: v14 – ‘but as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of’.

Why? Because ‘there will be terrible times in the last days,’ v1.  The present age, between Christ’s first and second comings.  If Paul was thinking of some far-off future, why would he tell Timothy in v5 to ‘have nothing to do’ with certain trouble-makers? …

Psa 139 – You know me – sermon notes

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Psalm 139

It was going so well!  Here is one of the most beautiful and personal of all the psalms.  ‘Lord, you are amazing.  You know me through and through.  You are with me everywhere I go.  You formed me in my mother’s womb.  And isn’t it about time you started smiting some enemies?’

At first, I considered leaving that bit out.

1. God knows me – completely, 1-6

V1 – ‘O Lord, you have searched me and you know me’ – though others may misunderstand and misrepresent me, you, O God, know me as I really am. …

1 Pet 4 – The end is near – sermon notes

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1 Peter 4

The letter begins: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.

Peter deals with the very practical tension between the dignity of being God’s chosen people and the struggle of living as Christians in an alien and often hostile world.

4:19 provides a summary of what has gone before:- So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.…

Eph 4:1-16 – Aim high, dig deep, build together – sermon notes

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Ephesians 4:1-16

Ephesians the Switzerland of the NT.

But Switzerland isn’t all mountain peaks, and Ephesians isn’t all lofty doctrine.

We move from belief to behaviour, from principles to practice, from our wealth in Christ to our walk in Christ, from doctrine to duty, from exposition to exhortation, from the indicative to the imperative, from what God has done to what we must do, from the credenda to the agenda

Yet the two parts of Ephesians are closely connected. …

1 Tim 6:3-21 – Apostolic concerns – sermon notes

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1 Timothy 6:3-21

Parents can love their children too much – or so they are sometimes tempted to think.

Here are some apostolic concerns, for Timothy, ‘my true son in the faith,’ (1:2).

1. A concern about belief

Cf. 1 Tim 1:3-11; 1 Tim 6:1 ,3,5,11,12,14,20,21.

We know that mere head-knowledge does not make a Christian.  Indeed, it’s a menace.  The devil is a better theologian than any of us, but still a devil.

I’d might even be willing to concede that Christian belief is less important than Christian behaviour. …

Heb 10:23 – The hope we profess – sermon notes

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Hebrews 10:23

With v19 we come to the great turning-point of this epistle.  Up until now the writer has been dealing with matters mainly doctrinal.  Now he turns to things primarily practical.  Verses 19-21 are transitional: bridging the gap between these two sections of the epistle.  Then follow three urgent exhortations: ‘let us draw near to God’, v22; ‘let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess’, v23; ‘let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds’, v24.…

Psalm 92:12-15 – Still fruitful in old age – sermon notes

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The last in a series on work.  Various angles: –

Statistical.  In NT times the average life expectancy was 35-40.  This didn’t change much until about the year 1850.  By 1950 it had risen to 65.  Now it’s around 80.  Somewhere in the world a person has been born who will live to the age of 150.  Over half the people born today will live to the age of 100.

Economic.  Things will be very different when today’s young people reach retirement age. …

Mk 14:32-42 – The shadow of Calvary – sermon notes

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Mark 14:32-42

It took place in Gethsemane, an olive grove at the foot of the Mount of Olives.

It happened after supper, and before Judas identified Jesus with a kiss and the soldiers arrested him.

Jesus had a few short hours in which to pour out his soul to his heavenly Father.

‘The shadow of Calvary’.  A place of

1. Anguish

V33 – ‘He began to be deeply distressed and troubled.’  To the point of death, v34.…

Mk 14:27-31 – Three words of warning – sermon notes

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Text: Mark 14:27-31.

Everyday life is full of warnings:- health, flood, gale.  Fire hazard, trip hazard, bio hazard, radiation hazard.  May contain nuts, may cause offence.  We will prosecute if you exceed the speed limit, park illegally, drink in a public place.  No photography, no mobile phones, no noise after 11 pm…

We come to church to get away from all that!  To be inspired, uplifted, encouraged, – not warned.

But ‘these things were written down as warnings for us…So, if you think you’re standing firm, be careful you don’t fall!’…