Sermons

Christ And Adversity (Mark 6:45-52)

 

  1. Christ tests His people.
    • 6:45. In difficult conditions a crossing might take 6-8 hours. It does not seem to have been life-threatening as in Mark 4:35-38.
    • 6:46-47. Jesus tests His people. See John 11:6-7, 14-15; Luke 13:10-17. Christ is sovereign over all adversity, including Covid-19.
  2. Believers can struggle in
…
Sermons

Remedy For Troubled Hearts (John 14:1-3)

 

“For eighteen centuries they have been peculiarly dear to Christ’s believing servants in every part of the world. Many are the sick rooms which they have lightened! Many are the dying hearts which they have cheered! Let us see what they contain” J.C Ryle

Context: John 13-17 The Upper …

Sermons

Grace From the King of the Ages (1 Tim. 1:16-17)

 

Verses 16-17 are set side-by-side as contrasts, yet they belong together in Paul’s mind.

  1. Paul as a pattern of grace.
    • 1:16. Paul is the first and worst of sinners (1:15), yet he is an example, an exhibit, a pattern, a prototype of all conversions. Some of this is unique
…
Sermons

Seek the Good of Others (1 Cor. 10:23-11:1)

 

‘Flee idolatry’ was Paul’s message back in verse 14, 20-21. But what about outside the pagan temple?

  1. Glorify God by seeking the good of others.
    • 10:23-24. Freedom is important but it is not the only issue. See Rom.15:2; Phil.2:4.
    • 10:31-33. Gordon Fee: ‘To give offence … does not so
…
Sermons

Flee Idolatry (1 Cor. 10:14-22)

 

It is not misleading to say that the West celebrates what it calls diversity (it is actually conformity), whereas the Bible is concerned with truth. It is very serious to worship the wrong god – Romans 1:21-23.

  1. We are to flee idolatry.
    • 10:14-15 (recall 6:18 re. sexual immorality)
    • Paul
…
Sermons

Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (1 Tim. 1:15)

 

Thomas Bilney: ‘O most sweet and comfortable sentence to my soul’. Bilney felt what he described as ‘a marvellous comfort and quietness, insomuch as my bruised bones leaped for joy.’ About 1524 he conveyed its message to Hugh Latimer.

  1. This is a saying to take to heart.
    • there are
…
Sermons

Handling Temptation (1 Cor. 10:13)

 

Enticing to sin is a part of Satan’s very nature – Matt.4:3. Calvin defines temptation as ‘everything that allures us.’ Verse 12 is a warning, and verse 13 reads more like a promise.

  1. No temptation is unique.
    • 10:13a. The temptations of the rural Israelites are much the same as
…
Sermons

Grace Abounding (1 Timothy 1:12-14)

 

John Bunyan’s second most famous book, after The Pilgrim’s Progress, is his autobiographical Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. He received the inspiration for the title from verses 14-15.

  1. Grace makes us thankful.
    • 1:12; see 1 Cor.7:25. Christ gave him wisdom, and enabled him (NIV has
…