Occasional Sermon – Wayne Richards
Wayne Richards | Psalm 117 …
The Book of Psalms: Leadership in God’s Covenant Community – Ruling with Integrity
Peter Barnes | Psalm 101
SERMON NOTES
RULING WITH INTEGRITY
Psalm 101; Luke 22:24-30
– Nicholas Ridley’s favourite Psalm (he was burnt at the stake in 1555); it has been called ‘the Mirror of Magistrates’
– it has about 15 resolutions (‘I will’ or ‘I shall’)
1. Pursuing lovingkindness and
Philemon: Pockets of Gold: The Short Books of the New Testament – Prayer, Faith and Love
Peter Barnes | Philemon 1-7
SERMON NOTES
PRAYER, FAITH AND LOVE
(Philemon 1-7)
– R. Kent Hughes: ‘The letter to Philemon was the most brilliantly nuanced, compelling letter of reconciliation in ancient history.’
1. Thankfulness in prayer.
– vv.1-4; not just intercession, although we still need to intercede for others …
Exodus: Leadership in God’s Covenant Community – No One-Man Bands!
Peter Barnes | Exodus 18:1-27
SERMON NOTES
NO ONE-MAN BANDS!
Exodus 18:1-27; Acts 6:1-7
– Jethro has come to faith or assurance in 18:8-11.
– elders already existed in Ex.3:16
1. It is not right to concentrate everything in one person.
– 18:13-18; see Num.11:10-17
– second reason perhaps in …
Judges: The Dark Ages of the Old Testament – Band-Aid Therapies
Peter Barnes | Judges 21
SERMON NOTES
BAND-AID THERAPIES
(Judges 21)
– Paul Johnson called social engineering ‘the century’s most radical vice’.
1. A rash oath.
– 21:1-3; Benjamin had been treated as pagans (Deut.7:1-3)
– Eccles.5:2, 4-5; we ought to pray Psalm 141:3
2. Two solutions by social engineering.…
Ezekiel: Prophet in Exile – Life-Giving Waters
Peter Barnes | Ezekiel 47:1-12
SERMON NOTES
LIFE-GIVING WATERS
Ezekiel 47:1-12; Rev. 21:22-22:5
– Rev.40-48 deal with a new city of Jerusalem and a new temple. This is apocalyptic, pointing to Rev.21:22.
1. Grace begins with sacrifice for sin.
– 47:1-2; the temple with its sacrifices points to the one …
Judges: The Dark Ages of the Old Testament – Internal Disintegration
Note: no sermon audio available
Peter Barnes | Judges 20
SERMON NOTES
INTERNAL DISINTEGRATION
(Judges 20)
– recall the outrage at Gibeah (19:22, 25-30)
1. We love to appear more virtuous than we are.
– 20:1-3 – huge gathering of Israelites at Mizpah, and the Levite speaks in verses 4-7…
Ezekiel: Prophet in Exile – Unity and Peace Under King David
Note: no sermon audio available
Peter Barnes | Ezekiel 37:15-28
SERMON NOTES
UNITY AND PEACE UNDER KING DAVID
Ezekiel 37:15-28; John 10:1-21
– to the return from exile or Christ’s first coming or His second coming?
1. One people.
– 37:15-17; see Zech.11:7-17; this Christ’s first coming
– Heb.8:13; cleansing …
Judges: The Dark Ages of the Old Testament – Moral Degradation
Peter Barnes | Judges 19
SERMON NOTES
MORAL DEGRADATION
(Judges 19)
What happens when God’s people become spiritually corrupt?
1. Initial signs of decline.
– 19:1-3 – marriage breakdown, and the Levite takes four months to do anything about it
– maybe too much hospitality with the father-in-law, and then …
Ezekiel: Prophet in Exile – Revival from the Dead
Peter Barnes | Ezekiel 37:1-14
SERMON NOTES
REVIVAL FROM THE DEAD
Ezekiel 37:1-14; Romans 8:1-11
– revival which points to resurrection
1. The spiritual condition of Israel.
– 37:1-3 – see Deut.28:25-26; Jer.34:17-20
– J. Gresham Machen: ‘Nothing kills true prayer like a shallow optimism.’
– Eph.2:1; but God can …