Acts 1:1-11 – Returning King – sermon notes

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From the middle of the 2nd century onwards, the 5th book of the NT has been known as ‘The Acts of the Apostles’.  And with good reason: this book tells us a great deal about the exploits of those first Christians leaders, especially Peter and Paul.

Then, about a century ago, someone suggested that the book might well be titled, ‘The Acts of the Holy Spirit’.  To be sure, when you consider the central role of the Holy Spirit in this book, from the day of Pentecost onwards, it’s difficult to argue with that idea.…

Quotes on the Incarnation

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When Jesus came to earth he did not cease to be God; when he returned to heaven he did not cease to be man. (John Blanchard)

Jesus Christ is God in the form of man; as completely God as if he were not man; as completely man as if he were not God.  (A.J.F. Behrends)

Jesus Christ, the condescension of divinity, and the exaltation of humanity.  (Phillips Brooks)

Christ uncrowned himself to crown us, and put off his robes to put on our rags, and came down from heaven to keep us out of hell. …

Quotes on Children

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1.  Children need love, especially when they do not deserve it.  (Harold Hulbert)

2.  No man or woman ever had a nobler challenge or a higher privilege than to bring up a child for God, and whenever we slight that privilege or neglect that ministry for anything else, we live to mourn it in heartache and grief. (Vance Havner)

3.  The cure of crime is not the electric chair, but the high chair.  (J. Edgar Hoover)…

Ex 20:4-6 – No idols – sermon notes

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Do you feel a bit like the American sailor who heard the Ten Commandments being recited?  As he listened to all this stuff about adultery, lying, coveting, and so on, he began to feel more and more uncomfortable.  But as he reviewed the whole list in his mind he turned to his neighbour, and said, “Well, at least I’ve never made a graven image.”

So, can we relax on this one and just worry about the other nine? …

Lk 16:1-13 – The parable of the shrewd manager – sermon notes

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The Story

A rich land-owner, his manager who had complete responsibility for the estate, and certain tenants who owed rent to the land-owner.  The land-owner accuses his manager of fiddling the books, and tells him to fetch the books and hand them in.  The manager realises that he is about to become jobless and homeless, but he’s not prepared to do manual labour or beg, so he hatches a cunning plan.  He calls in each of the tenants. …

Lk 19:11-27 – The parable of the ten minas – sermon notes

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It shouldn’t be too difficult for us to unlock the meaning of this parable: the key is hanging at the door.  V11: ‘…because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom was going to appear at once’

Luke’s record of this journey to Jerusalem began at ch. 9:51 – ‘As the time came for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem’

Jesus had spoken repeatedly about what was going to happen to him when he got to Jerusalem, but his listeners had not been able, or had not wanted, to understand. …

Calvin as a Commentator

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The name of John Calvin is for ever bound up with the name of the theological system that he is thought to have founded – Calvinism.  He is supposed to have imposed on Holy Scripture a severe, unfeeling logic, and forced its teachings to conform to his own pre-conceived ideas.  This impression can easily be corrected by recalling Calvin’s gifts as a Bible expositor – in many ways, the first modern expositor – not least of which was an insistence on letting the text speak for itself. …

Pilgrim’s Progress and the Bible

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John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress is a masterpiece of Christian writing.  Indeed, it has sometimes been referred to as an example of ‘inspired’ writing, with the intention of thereby demoting the idea of biblical inspiration to that of any other insightful spiritual writing.

But this will not work.  The Baptist theologian A.H. Strong (following W.H.P. Faunce) suggested that, great as it is, Pilgrim’s Progress actually falls short of scriptural teaching about the Christian life in some important ways:-

1.…

Prospects for Revival

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The Prospect Stated

One of the most striking things arising from a perusal of the literature on revival is the very prevalent hope which is sustained concerning a latter-day outpouring of the Holy Spirit in revival. The following extracts are typical:-

The Scriptures are so far from encouraging us to plead for a diminution of divine influence in these last day of the gospel that on the contrary, we are encouraged to expect, hope, long, and pray for larger and more extensive showers of divine influence than any former age hath ever yet experienced.…

Work

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Arthur Holmes writes lucidly on work within a Christian world view.  Here’s a precis:-

The technological revolution has affected the world of work in many ways: computerised accounting, sophisticated management techniques, systems analysis, advertising, and distribution networks all employ technology.  But technology is amoral, and an amoral mentality can take over, with utilitarian considerations predominating.  Profit, productivity, efficiency, or corporate growth can become not just important factors but over-riding goals.

This kind of mentality marred the industrial revolution. …