Category Archives: Sermon Notes

John 14:16 – “Another Counselor” – sermon notes

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“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.”

It is difficult for us to imagine the emotional turmoil of Jesus’ disciples at the time that these words were uttered.  Impressed by his wonderful teaching and amazing miracles, they had concluded that their beloved Master was indeed the longed-for Messiah, and he would sit on David’s throne, restore the kingdom to Israel, deliver God’s people from all their troubles, and subdue all nations. …

1 Kings 18 – Elijah and the prophets of Baal – sermon notes

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“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength…Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God.”  (Deut 6)

With these words the Lord God formed a nation for himself, a people for his praise, through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed. …

2 Kings 22-23 – Josiah’s reforms – sermon notes

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What does the word ‘reformation’ conjure up in your mind?  If you know anything about our Christian heritage, you will probably associate that word with the great period of spiritual renewal that took place in the 16th and early 17th centuries under the leadership of men like Luther, Calvin and Zwingli.  It was a powerful movement of the Spirit of God, and we are still benefiting from its effects four centuries later.

But that Reformation was not the first or only one. …

Jn 10:1-21 – The Good Shepherd – sermon notes

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John 10:1-21 w Ezekiel 34

John’s Gospel has famously been likened to ‘a pool in which children can paddle and elephants can swim.’  These famous words of Jesus are transparently clear and unfathomably deep.

1.  What does Jesus mean when he says, ‘I am the good shepherd?’?

(a) He is a “shepherd”

A common figure in ancient Palestine.  ‘His life was very hard. No flock ever grazed without a shepherd, and he was never off duty.…

Ex 12:1-13 – The Passover – sermon notes

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When you were a child, you probably played with models of various kinds (and if you are a man, you probably still do!): model cars, model trains, model aeroplanes, model houses, model farmyards.  The point of a model is that it provides a simplified and scaled-down version of the real thing.  The story of the Passover in Exodus 12 is not only a remarkable record of the deliverance of the Israelites over 3,000 years ago, but it also provides a 3-dimensional model of God’s way of salvation as achieved by Jesus on the cross of Calvary. …

Lk 9:18-27 – The cost of discipleship – sermon notes

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Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Jesus has attracted to himself not only a group of 12 disciples, but also a large number of admirers. Events such as the Transfiguration, and Peter’s confession, have marked a change of direction in his ministry. Hitherto, he has been occupied for much of the time in the north, around Galilee.…

1 Cor 9:24-10:13 – Don’t give up! – sermon notes

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On the day of their engagement, a young man gave his fiancee a rather expensive necklace.  It came with a note which said, “My dearest Diane, I love you with all my heart.  I love you more and more each day.  I will love you for ever and ever.  I am yours for all eternity.”  Signed, “Tom”.  P.S. “If we ever split up, I want this necklace back.”

I want to speak to those who have been baptised. …

John 1:14 – The Word became flesh – sermon notes

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‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’

As clowns long to play Hamlet, so I have longed to preach from this great verse.  Now that I have the chance to do so, I feel like a child standing by the edge of some vast ocean, wanting to dive in and swim across, and yet afraid even to put his toe in the water, for fear of quickly finding himself completely out of his depth. …

Mk 2:1-3:6 – Five things you should know about Jesus – sermon notes

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Christianity is Christ.  The Christian faith stands or falls on the person, the teaching and the achievements of Jesus Christ.

When reading the Bible ask, ‘What does this teach me about my Saviour?  What this tell me about my relationship with him?  What guidance does this give me in living a life that is pleasing to him?

This is precisely how I want us to look at this passage together.

1.  Jesus has a habit of upsetting people

I don’t mean, of course, that he deliberately set out to be offensive or aggressive. …

Mk 10:17-31 – The rich young ruler – sermon notes 1

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Jesus said many wonderful things.  But here, it seems, he got it completely wrong.  Here’s what should have happened:

A young man, wealthy and influential, rushes up to Jesus and falls on his knees before him.

“Good Teacher,” he blurts out, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus replies, “I can see that you are a very courteous, eager and sincere young man.  Relax: I’ve got some good news for you: there is nothing you have to do to inherit eternal life. …