{podcast id=263}
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 4 September 2011
Bible Readings: Jeremiah 2.1-13; Psalm 106.13-31; Romans 1.18-32; John 3.16-21
Why is the wrath God being revealed and how is it being revealed? Paul gives surprising answers to both questions.
{podcast id=262}
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on Sunday 28 August 2011
Bible readings: Isaiah 52.1-10; Psalm 19; John 5.31-47
Paul eager in preaching the gospel; the power of God, righteousness of God - can God act to bring things to rights? God acting to save powerfully through his word.
Many people really want a benign God. They do not want a God who does anything bad or dangerous. Bad as far as they are concerned anyway. No earthquakes, disasters, floods or fires can be attributed to God. Only nice things.
Why is this? Perhaps it is a last ditch hope that there may be something good in the universe. That not everything is bad and corrupt. Maybe it is confusing God and an ideal parent figure. Or wishing that there was such a person somewhere.
Maybe it is the accumulation of bad experiences. Of bad people. Of frightening events. None of which is nice or good or pleasant. Who would want a god who was anything like any of that?
Can't get rid of feelings of anger, resentment and hurt about things that have happened in the past? Feeling worn out from ministry? Caught in a pattern of behaviour that you want to be free from? Having difficulty forgiving someone who wronged you? Want to serve the Lord better but find that the same things keep pulling you down?
If so read on to find out how prayer ministry could help.
{podcast id=261}
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 21 August 2011
Bible readings: 2 Samuel 7.11b-16; Psalm 89.1-4; Romans 1.1-7; John 20.24-31
Introduction to Romans and the Roman church, and the summary of Paul's gospel
We have a gospel to proclaim... so the song goes. Good news for all. Good news about what? Actually good news about whom? Good news about the name of the saviour. The fame, the glory, the reputation of the King - Jesus, our Lord.
And the news? Birth, of course. Born among his people, as one of them. One of the great paradoxes. Word of God, with God in the beginning, creator of all. Made flesh. The creator takes creation to himself, and sheds God light on human life.
And. His death. Another paradox. Lord of all. Great King. Cruelly killed on a cross – for the ones he came to save. Gave his life for them – so they could live.
And there’s more.
What a great encouragement it is to see God answer prayer. And what a great encouragement are brothers and sisters in the Lord. “in the Lord” – now there is a description. The word “Christian” is only used three times in the New Testament. What words did they use instead to describe each other?
You can see the answer at the end of Romans. “In Christ” or ‘in the Lord” occurs maybe a dozen times in Romans 16. Brothers and sisters in the Lord are those who share a common Lord, a common trust, a common experience of grace and forgiveness, a common hope of eternal life in Christ.
And a common experience of encouraging each other.
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