DEVOTION: The Quiet Life
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 “Seek to lead a quiet life, pursue your own affairs and do the work of your hands, just as we instructed you…” (1 Thessalonians 4:11) Does that sound like good advice? Because many people, throughout the ages, have used it as their motto: keep...
read moreDEVOTION: Levels of Belief
John 4:46-54 I find it very odd, today, that so many people profess to be believers, and yet so few attend God’s church. Indeed, when people are admitted to hospital, a fair number still confess to have some sort of religious affiliation. When it’s time for a church...
read moreDEVOTION: The Christmas Jigsaw Puzzle
Luke 2:1-7 I was in an Op Shop the other day, and what did I find? A Jigsaw puzzle. A puzzle called “The Story of Christmas.” And it appealed to me, because it had no picture on the box, and because it had five pieces missing—and it said so right on the box. Now I...
read moreSERMON: Six Responses to God
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 A. INTRODUCTION 1. General Responses to God The subject of the existence of God invariably evokes a variety of responses. Some deny his existence and say that the world, and even our presence, is the result of random acts of nature. Some are...
read moreSTORY: The Devil You Know
Many people know me—at least, in some ways. Because, even though few have seen me, most would be familiar with my whisperings, as I speak in people’s ears. Despite that, people often don’t recognise me, for they do not know what I do. They do not see that I encourage...
read moreDEVOTION: Going Against the Grain
Luke 1:26-38 I probably don’t have to remind you, but Christmas is fast approaching. Indeed, I only had to go into one shop today to find Christmassy things on display. And there was nothing very religious about any of it—it was all related to the pagan celebration....
read moreOPINION: Church Health Check List
I’ve been trying to come up with a check list by which a church can be assessed by those outside that church, and by which a church can make an assessment of its own spiritual health. As a consequence, I have come up with a provisional list of thirty-six questions,...
read moreOPINION: The State of the Local Church
I had good reason, recently, to search for all the Christian churches within my local area. What I found, however, was that some were good at advertising their existence, and others were not. Indeed, I found one church that didn’t advertise their existence at all, not...
read moreSERMON: Joshua: Covenant Renewal at Shechem
Joshua 24:1-28 A. INTRODUCTION 1. Life’s Journey For many people life is a bit of a struggle. It might be work related. It might have something to do with family relationships or long held friendships. It might be financial circumstances. Or it might be related to...
read moreKID’S TALK: The Football Match
Joshua 24:1-28 I don’t know whether you like playing sport, because I never did. And one of the reasons was that at school I was tall, and perhaps a little bit clumsy, and was never very good at it. Indeed, one school report I received, had this comment regarding...
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