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.…

The Codex Sinaiticus: rival to the Bible?

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Roger Bolton writes on the BBC web site:-

What is probably the oldest known Bible is being digitised, reuniting its scattered parts for the first time since its discovery 160 years ago. It is markedly different from its modern equivalent. What’s left out?

Mk Bolton goes on to tell us which bits of our modern versions of the Bible are missed out of this early manuscript.

The Codex – and other early manuscripts – do not mention the ascension of Jesus into heaven, and omit key references to the Resurrection, which the Archbishop of Canterbury has said is essential for Christian belief.

…

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.…

Harvest – God’s part and ours

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John Stott tells the story of the cockney gardener who was showing a clergyman the beauty of his garden, with its herbaceous borders in full and colourful bloom.  Duly impressed, the clergyman broke out into spontaneous praise of God.  The gardener was not very pleased, however, that God should get all the credit.  “You should ‘have seen this ‘ere garden,” he said, “when Gawd ‘ad it to ‘isself!”  He was right.  His theology was entirely correct. …

The road from text to sermon

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The effective expository preacher is involved in two different worlds

  • The world of the Bible
  • The contemporary world of himself and his congregation

The preacher needs to know how to develop the Biblical text into a message that will address people’s needs today.

The exegetical idea should be submited to three developmental questions:

  1. What does this mean?
  2. Is it true?
  3. What difference does it make?

Just four things can be done with a declarative statement

1. …

Theology of Prayer 8 – Objections to prayer (iv)

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B.M. Palmer, Theology of Prayer, ch. 8

The 4th objection is that the prayer of the wicked is an abomination.

‘Acceptable prayer presupposes a proper state of heart, in the absence of which it becomes an abomination to God, to be suppressed rather than encouraged.’

The principles here affirmed leads to conclusions so appalling, that a fallacy must lurk somewhere:-

1.  It does not hold in the sphere of our earthly relations, and is unsound in reference to human law. …

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.…

Heaven

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Christians often talk about living with God ‘in heaven’.  In fact, writes Wayne Grudem, the Scripture speaks of a new heaven and a new earth – that is, a completely renewed creation – and of living with God there.  See Isa 65:17; 66:22; 2 Pet 3:13; Rev 21:1f.

The term ‘heaven’ is often used in Scripture to speak of God’s dwelling place; Isa 66:1; Mt 6:9; 1 Pet 3:22.  Of course, God is present everywhere; but heaven is the place where ‘God most fully makes known his presence to bless’.…

Jesus – God’s promised King

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The Lord promised to King David: “Your house and your kingdom shall endure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.” (2 Samuel 7:16)

Psalm 45:6 reveals that it is a divine throne that will last for ever: ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of your kingdom.’

And Hebrews 1:8 informs us that this is a reference to the divine kingship of Jesus Christ: ‘About the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever”‘.…