Category Archives: Sermon Notes

1 Cor 15 – The doctrine of the resurrection – sermon notes

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1.  WHAT? – The Fact of the Resurrection

Vv1-11, esp. v4 – ‘He was raised on the third day.’

Think back over the events surrounding the execution of Jesus.  Pilate released a common criminal, and had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.  The soldiers swarmed around him, stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him.  Then they made a crown out of thorns and put it on his head.  They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and laughed at him, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” …

2 Pet 3:13 – Stairway to heaven – sermon notes

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‘In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.’

Charles H. Spurgeon: “When you talk about heaven let your face light up with a heavenly glory. When you talk about hell, your everyday face will do.”

What is heaven, and where is heaven? – Heaven is where God is.

You might think, in this age of computers and space travel, that belief in heaven was well past its sell-by date; a relic from more primitive times. …

Gal 3:13-14 – Redeemed from the curse of the law – sermon notes

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Acceptance by God is a matter of grace from beginning to end.  This was the message that Paul himself had brought to these former pagans.  And they had believed the message, received the Holy Spirit, entered into a living relationship with God in Christ.  But some time later, some Jewish people had arrived at the Galatian churches saying, “Faith in Jesus Christ is fine; but in order to be accepted by God you must also be circumcised and observe the law of Moses.”…

Lk 24:13-35 – The road to Emmaus – sermon notes

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The problem we have with the resurrection is the  mirror-image of that experienced by the first disciples.  It was a problem to them because it was all so new.  It can be a problem to us because it is all so familiar.

Let’s try to see it from their point of view.  Let’s imagine it is you and I trudging down that road that leads from Jerusalem to Emmaus.

As we walk, we reflect on the tragic events of the past few days. …

Can we know God? – sermon notes

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[These are the notes of a sermon I preached at Holy Trinity, Norwich, in June 2007.  It was one in a short series in which we sought to address some of the issues raised by Prof Richard Dawkins in his well-known book, The God Delusion.  One or two people nearly fell off their seats when they heard what I had to say in the first 2 or 3 paragraphs.   But I was just teasing, as you will see:-]

Manx Shearwater! …

Isa 53:11 – The sufferings and glory of Christ – sermon notes

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Isaiah 53:11 expresses more clearly than any other in the poem the transition from suffering to glory of the Servant.  Cf Lk 24:26-27; “Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”  1 Pet 1:11  ‘…the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.’

Lit. ‘After the suffering of his soul he will see and be satisfied.’  Cf Psa 17:15, ‘And I–in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.’…

Lk 23:46  – ‘Father, into your hands’ – a meditation

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‘Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.’ (NIV)

This is the last of Christ’s seven sayings from the cross.  These are the final words of Jesus before he died.  They were uttered as he completed his life’s work and stood on the very border between this world and the next.  Ponder them with me for a few moments.

These are words of calm restfulness. …

Prov 6:6-8, etc. – Work – sermon notes

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Here are notes of a sermon on work, based on relevant passages in the book of Proverbs.

Work is, of course, a major part of most people’s lives.  For many people, work (in the form of paid employment) takes up half their waking hours.  And then there’s all the other kinds of work that people do – housework, school-work, voluntary work and all the rest.  Many people – especially women – work long and unsocial hours caring for children and families, and this is surely one of the most valuable kinds of work of all.…

Eph 1:3-14 – The doctrine of election – sermon notes

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Following are my sermon notes on the doctrine of election.  This was preached at Holy Trinity Church, Norwich, in April 2006.  The text was Eph 1:3-14.

We have been considering a number of aspects of the doctrine of salvation:

  • Creation – God made us to glorify him and enjoy him for ever.
  • The Fall – through our own disobedience we have become alienated from our Maker.
  • Inability – we are powerless to save ourselves.
  • Redemption – the price has been paid.
…