Sermons

An elder should be an ordinary guy, devoted to his wife if he has one, and of excellent character. He must be an example of what the gospel does in the life of a believer.

Isaac, Jacob and Joseph all looked ahead to the future. Isaac knew that God had chosen to bless Jacob and Jacob knew that God had chosen to give Ephraim a greater blessing the Manasseh.

Elders have the noble task of shepherding the flock, which includes guiding the sheep, governing them and guarding them against danger.

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.

Abraham believed God when tested, when it didn’t make sense and with everything. Like him, we too are encouraged to trust God in all circumstances.

We need to see why Paul says different things to men and women. We need to make and celebrate three affirmations - the equality of men and women, their differences, and their unity.

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.

Abraham had faith to go where God told him to go even though he wasn’t told initially all that God would do for him. We like to see what God’s plans are for our future, but God wants us to take a small step of faith even when we don’t know what will happen.

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.

There are positive accounts in the New Testament of women teaching, but what Paul has in mind is women teaching when the whole church gathers together. This is what is prohibited. This message looks at three ways in which this text is sometimes unhelpfully softened. It then looks at three key words that help us understand what Paul was specifically prohibiting, before considering three possible reactions.

When the church misses the grace of God there can be quarrels and disputing, and also an unhelpful focus on outward appearances. There are four steps to real beauty: receive acceptance from God, believe in Biblical beauty, serve God gladly and choose clothes wisely.

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.

Noah’s faith is described as a holy fear. He is commended, not because he built the ark, but because of his faith.

Let’s be courageous, holy and gentle when we come to pray.

We don’t see great exploits with Abel and Enoch, but we see two men walking with God day by day which are examples for us.