Category Archives: Sermon Notes

John 20:24-31 – Doubting Thomas, believing Thomas – sermon notes

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Text: Jn 20:24-31

On the evening of the first Easter Sunday, the disciples of Jesus huddled together in a locked room.  They were in utter despair: they had left everything to follow Jesus, but now he was dead.  They were frightened: the same people who had killed their Master would surely come looking for them.  They were confused: where would they go now?  what would they do?  Into that despairing, frightened, confused company steps Jesus.  The grave could not hold him back; neither can a locked door. …

1 Kings 19 – A still small voice – sermon notes

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Text: 1 Kings 19

Recently, I caught a snippet of a phone-in on local radio, and I’m sure I heard the caller say that he was willing to swap what was left of his Norwich City season ticket for a can of baked beans.  He seemed to be at the end of his tether with his local football team, and people can say and do some unexpected things when they reach the end of their tether. …

1 Kings 21-22 – The power to judge – sermon notes

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[Notes of a sermon preached at Holy Trinity Norwich some years ago.  It differs from my usual expository approach by attempting to follow the narrative form of the passage itself, while reflecting (I think) careful exegesis and including applicatory points along the way.  If I were asked to preach from this passage again today, I would be tempted to take a similar approach, while aiming to strengthen the practical implications and applications.]

Act 1, Scene 1 – In Which Ahab Wants Naboth’s Vineyard, 1 King 21:1-7

Ahab gazes out of his palace window. …

Lk 20:9-19 – The Parable of the Tenants – sermon notes

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Famous last words: “I’m looking for a loop-hole,” (W.C. Fields, when asked why he was reading the Bible). “I think I’m going to make it,” (Murderer Richard Loeb after he had been stabbed 56 times by a fellow convict). “The best of all is, God is with us,” (John Wesley).

We have before us some of the last words of Jesus. Spoken on the Tuesday of Holy Week. The die had been cast, the net was tightening, the wood, the hammer and the nails awaited their victim.…

Lk 8:22-25 – Stilling the storm – sermon notes

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The Gospel of Luke is obsessed with one question.  It is a simple, sublime, life-changing question.  “Who is this man?”

The question is asked by sceptics, such as the Pharisees, who asked (5:21), “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy?”

It is also asked by the curious (7:49), who enquired, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

It is asked by a king: Herod, (9:9) who demanded to know, “Who is this I hear such things about?”…

Mt 5:1-12 – The Beatitudes – sermon notes (v1)

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When Jesus of Nazareth first burst into the public limelight his message, in a nutshell, was, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near’.  What was he expecting people to do?

There is no better place to turn for answers to questions like these than the Sermon on the Mount.  Here, the Master himself describes in more detail than anywhere else the attitudes, behaviour and character of the Christian disciple.

And it all begins, not with the issuing of instructions, but with the pronouncement of blessing. …

Lk 10:38-42 – Martha – sermon notes

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I’d like you to imagine that you are visiting Bethany in the latter part of the 1st century AD.  Hoping to find some lodging for the night, you find a house with a little sign outside: “Visitors always welcome.”  You knock on the door.  An elderly but sprightly lady appears.  “Come in, come in!” she urges with a welcoming smile.  “You look very hot and tired – would you like to visit the bathroom to freshen up? …

Acts 2:41-47 – The marks of a Spirit-filled church – sermon notes

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What a tragedy that precious truths of God are trampled over by the muddy boots of controversy!  What it means to be a Spirit-filled church is just such a truth.  But here we see:-

1.  The church’s inward life

(a) ‘They continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine.’

The Spirit-filled church is a well-instructed church.

Mt 28:20 ‘…teaching them to observe all things whatsover I have commanded you.’

Jn 8:31 ‘If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.’…

Mark 10:45 – ‘A ransom for many’ – sermon notes

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The 2nd of a pair of sermons on Mark 10:45  “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

If everything that God had ever done was published in newspaper form, what would the main headline be?  If it were possible to compile a list of God’s ten greatest achievements, what would be at the top of the list?  Surely, it is the work that God has done for us in Christ, in securing our salvation.…

Mk 10:45 – “Not to be served, but to serve” – sermon notes

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This is the 1st of a pair of sermons on Mark 10:45  “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Picture the scene: the road leading to Jerusalem is thronging with people, all making their way up to the holy city for Passover.  Jesus is heading in that direction too, and he has a look of resolute determination as he strides towards those momentous events of Holy Week. …