Category Archives: Sermon Notes

Mt 1:18-25 – An interview with Joseph – sermon notes

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[Note: the following was presented in the form of a semi-scripted, role-played interview with ‘Joseph’]

A little earlier, we listened to a reading from Matthew’s Gospel, 1:18-25.  This is a very familiar story, and yet quite puzzling in many ways.  So I thought it would be good if we could get it straight from the horse’s mouth, as it were.  I’m very pleased to welcome a special guest.  Joseph, thankyou for coming along and agreeing to answer a few questions about how the birth of Jesus came about.…

Mt 2:11 – The visit of the Magi – sermon notes

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Matthew 2:11 – ‘On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ‘

To us, it’s as cosy as a Christmas tree and as comfortable as an old pair of slippers. Of course, we just couldn’t leave it alone, this story of the Magi from the East who came to visit the infant Jesus.…

John 4:29 – The woman at the well – sermon notes

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John 4:29: “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

When was the last time you wore a mask?  Actually, we wear masks all the time.  We pretend to be what we are not.  We pretend to be happy, though really we are sad.  We pretend we are tough, though we are hurting inside.  We pretend we are confident, though really we are quaking in our shoes.  We pretend that everything is OK, even we have done something we know is wrong.…

2 Pet 1:12-21- Not cleverly invented stories – sermon notes

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How good are you at remembering things? There is a little exercise that I sometimes do with my students. I get people to line themselves up according to how they see themselves on certain characteristics. Do you see yourself as tall or short, as old or young, as out-going or shy, as optimistic or pessimistic? Do you have a good sense of humour? Do you have a good memory? Two things I have discovered without fail: nobody ever admits to having a poor sense of humour.…

Mt 5:17-48 – Kingdom righteousness – sermon notes

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The Sermon on the Mount is the most comprehensive and systematically arranged collection of Jesus’ teaching to have been passed down to us.  It is also the most celebrated piece of public speaking of all time.  Phrases and sayings from this sermon have become part of everyday speech for countless numbers of people, even though they may never have stepped inside a church or opened up a Bible: “Blessed are the meek” – “You are the salt of the earth” – “Casting pearls before swine” – “Turning the other cheek”, and so on.…

Acts 27 – Plain sailing – sermon notes

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Which place in the world would you most like to visit?

Paul had longed to visit Rome.  Two years earlier, the Lord had appeared to him and said, “Don’t worry! Just as you have told others about me in Jerusalem, you must also tell about me in Rome.”  Now, after waiting all that time under house-arrest in Caesarea, Paul is about embark on his journey of a life-time.

1When it was time for us to sail to Rome, Julius, a centurian from the Emperor’s special troops was put in charge of Paul and the other prisoners.…

1 Pet 1:1-12 – A living hope – sermon notes

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‘My dearest sister, I offer you no consolation, for I know of none. There are things which each must bear as best he may with the strength that has been allotted to him.’  (Aldous Huxley, writing to his sister on the death of their mother.)

‘There is a darkness without, and when I die there will be darkness within.  There is no splendour, no vastness anywhere, only triviality for a moment and then, nothing.’ (Bertrand Russell)

What a terrible thing it must be to face death without hope.…

 Joshua 5:12-6:27 – Totally devoted – sermon notes

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The Israelites have been camped out on the eastern side of the river Jordan.  Now, things have moved on:-

*they have crossed the Jordan, and entered the Promised Land ch 3.
*as a memorial to this momentous event, they have set up at Gilgal a stone memorial, ch 4
*the males have been circumcised at Gilgal, ch 5.

Now we reach 5:13-6, and the account of the conquest of Jericho.  I wonder how Joshua and the Israelites must have felt as they faced the prospect of attacking this city, with its seemingly impregnable walls, its fast-shut gates, and its fighting men inside? …

Josh 24 – Future perfect – a sermon notes

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Anyone who is a parent can remember the time when they set out with the family on a long car journey.  You have travelled no more than five minutes, when a little voice starts singing out from the back of the car, “Are we nearly there?”

In the earlier chapters of the Book of Joshua we have seen the Israelites camped over on the east of the river Jordan.  We have watched them send spies into Jericho, and we have observed Rahab and her family being rescued from the destruction that was to befall the city of Jericho. …

Col 3:18-4:1 – ‘Wives, Children, Slaves…’ – sermon notes

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Well, it’s not looking too good for wives, children and slaves, is it? Nor is it looking too good for the preacher who’s got to try to explain all this.

So I decided I needed a bit of extra help from the bloke who wrote this stuff:-

Dear Paul. We’re studying your letter to the Colossians at our church, and we’ve reached 3:18-4:1 – the bit about wives, children and slaves. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?…