Sermon series: Miscellaneous

We don’t know what 2018 has in store for us, but as followers of Jesus, we follow Jesus wherever he leads. We may pay a cost, but we also get to be with Jesus.

There are four ways we can celebrate Christmas: We can walk in the darkness, or we can cope with it by partying once a year, or we can forget it, or we can acknowledge it but recognise that a great light has dawned.

God wants to stir in us a passion for Jesus. Our passion for him is a response to his love for us and will stir us to action.

David wanted the presence of God in Jerusalem, but he needed to take both the holiness and the word of God more seriously. Similarly, we need to take the teaching of Jesus seriously.

God’s kingdom extended beyond Israel and it extends beyond our church. The kingdom extends when we have faith and are forgiving, like Naaman’s servant girl, when we are unimpressed with the things of this world and seek to heal the sick, like Elisha, and when we are obedient to God’s word, like Naaman.

We idolise ourselves by making ourselves the centre of our lives, and there are two symptoms of self-worship - worry and guilt. God wants his people to worship only him.

We can often rely on other things. God calls us to primarily rely on Him, and when we do, he strengthen us.

Moses faced a big decision: should he merely accept God’s promises for Israel, or should he ask for something more, relationship with God himself?

Like Jonah, some of us need a change in direction, a change in action and a change of heart.

Daniel faced a whole range of challenges in Babylon, how did he remain in the culture and honour God? How do we make Godly decisions in a society which does not honour God.

It doesn’t matter how weak I am, what matters is that I am called. I don’t need a perfect life and unquestioning faith, just a humble heart and a commitment to be obedient to God.

Ruth, a widow from the despised people of Moab, is embraced by the covenant love of God. She finds hope and a future through Boaz her kinsman-redeemer. Jesus is the ultimate redeemer: let us enjoy his wonderful love and faithfulness and extend his heart to the vulnerable.

When we follow Jesus, we get a new identity. We get caught up into God’s plans rather than catching him up into our plans. Without always knowing precisely where God is leading us, God transforms our character in community and through trials.

Dan talks us through the importance of water baptism for believers and follows of Jesus.

This is spring, a time for new life. It is also a time for those who have been pressed down to spring up, and for springs of living water to flow through us. We are to live as Spirit-filled Christians not just on Sundays but wherever we are and however dry we feel.

Prophets engage with God face to face, but Jonah fled from God’s face, and fell asleep instead of calling on God. But the turning point comes when he acknowledges his identity as a Hebrew who worships the Lord. God is calling us back to face to face fellowship with him.

We are all partners together. It’s God’s heart to bring revival to Sheffield. Our task is praying, prophesying, receiving, giving, travelling and sending.

We can learn what it means to live by faith from Elijah. It means learning to rely on God, to obey him and to work with him. God frequently provides for us in mundane ways at the last minute so that we can learn to trust him.

The disciples want Jesus to stay where he is, where he is popular, but he knows it’s time to move on to the next town. Is it time for us to move on?

Strongholds hinder us in our walk with God. What are strongholds, what power do they have and how can we demolish them so we can walk in freedom?