A sermon about the joys (and perils) of being part of the team (or tribe), based on 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a and Luke 4:14-21 (Epiphany 3C). Introduction When we read the Bible there is a danger that we can prettify it. We can think that all God’s people are heroes who never make mistakes, and that we are …
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Making Jesus more Reasonable
A sermon about the temptation to make Jesus more reasonable, based on Luke 4:21-30 and 1 Corinthians 13 (Epiphany 4C). Introduction A recent BBC social survey suggests attitudes are getting more liberal, which is not surprising given years of BBC propaganda designed to achieve this end! However, pressure on the church to conform to the …
We Choose to Celebrate
A sermon about choosing, based on Jeremiah 31:7-14 and several New Testament passages (Christmas 2A,B,C). Introduction People who don’t know God sometimes say that they can’t believe in Him because of all the bad things in the world (e.g. David Attenborough and the eyeball-burrowing worm; he choses not to consider the logical opposite, which is that good things …
Transfiguration: Glimpses of Substance
A sermon on the Transfiguration, based on Luke 9:28-36 (The Transfiguration). Introduction We are in that part of the story (Luke, Mark or Matthew), where Jesus asks his disciples who he is and only Peter has the nerve to see it and say: “you are God’s Messiah”. Then Jesus tells the disciples that he must …
The Holy Spirit, Jesus’s Legacy
A sermon on Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit and the Birthday of the Church. (Scripture for the day, Pentecost C: Genesis 11:1-9; John 14:8-17, (25-27); and Romans 8:14-17). Jesus’ Legacy: the Holy Spirit. Not just a Birthday, but Our anniversary – a time for reflection and thinking ahead. When we reflect we often …
Lord over All
Message: To remind us that God is Lord over all things, time & space – based on Psalm 148 & Revelation 21:1-6 (Easter 5C). Introduction Blizzards, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes – we have recently been reminded how powerful nature is and how we are subject to that power. As the song says, “We’re not as smart as we’d …
The Cost of Discipleship
Message: when we have a real picture of God, we can understand why discipleship costs. Based on Luke 14:25-33 (Proper 18C). Introduction Today the church often seems to offer a nice, fluffy, cuddly God to people. A sympathetic, empathetic God of unconditional love. A God who saves us and loves us and looks after us. …
Grace
A sermon on grace, based on Galatians 1:1-12 and 1:11-24 (Proper 4C or Proper 5C). Galatians 1:1-9: Grace is Key Paul’s greets his audience, prays for them and gets straight to business. Vv 1-2. Paul: an ambassador sent directly by God and Christ – raised from the dead. Vv 3-5. A (short) prayer for the …
In Desperate Need
A story of endurance and faith in desperate times, based on 1 Kings 17:8-24 (Proper 27B or Proper 5C). The Story Elijah the prophet has told Ahab the wicked King that there will be no rain or dew in Israel, because “Ahab … did more to arouse the anger of the Lord … than did all the kings …
Persistence in Prayer & all Things
Persistence in Prayer and in all things, a sermon based on Luke 18:1-8 and 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 (Proper 24C) Introduction We are often told that we live in a culture of instant gratification. I think that is only superficially true, or even, it was true, would it necessarily be a bad thing? Would it be …
Preacher & Veteran 