Listening to Sermons in an Online World

By Ken D Noakes

COVID has changed the experience for many Christians – gone is the ability to gather together physically to listen to the preaching of God’s word. Church is now online!

A key discipline that goes with the Christian life is the practice of sitting under the teaching of the Bible. Historically that has happened when believers gather together regularly to hear someone teach/preach through a passage with the hope that those before them will walk away with an encouragement, or challenge, to live as the disciples of Christ in the days ahead.

Continue reading →

Inviting Folk to an Online Easter

Easter Reimagined (LMAP) Easter 2020 worldwide looks different. Not the message, but indeed the form.

The Easter message of death followed by life in Jesus is a glorious message of hope and perhaps as relevant and important for all to hear in the midst of a pandemic. If life matters, as it clearly does given the extraordinary measures that are being taken worldwide to stop the spread of this virus, then now is the time to proclaim the Easter message!

What has changed is the form. The opportunity to physically gather together with others to proclaim that ‘Christ is risen, he is risen indeed’ is not possible. And so we gather online and in many new and creative ways. Never before has there been such an opportunity for folk to connect into Easter without having to put a foot outside their front door. What an opportunity.

Anyone (with an internet connection) can step into church without the fear of having to make small talk, or the worry about what to do or where to sit, or the concern that they might ‘out’ themselves as someone who might just possibly be open to considering Jesus or his message. They can sit hidden behind their screen, undetectable to those who are proclaiming the Easter message.

How can we invite folk to join us online?

Continue reading →

Sermon – Obeying the Word of the LORD (Jonah 3-4)

We love satire when it comes to political cartoons. Often we see our national leaders’ faults comically exaggerated. But what about satire when it comes to God’s prophets? Jonah is a famed biblical story where we find God’s hero, the prophet Jonah, neglect his responsibility and flee from God. Meanwhile, the city of Nineveh, famed for their evil, turn to God after a surprisingly short sermon!

This is not a story about a giant fish, but rather a God who shows grace and mercy to wicked people, despite his prophet’s rebellion.

This talk will focus on God’s faithfulness in saving Nineveh, despite Jonah’s begrudging obedience. The question remains… are you glad to see God save evil people?

Read the Bible texts – Jonah 3-4 ; Luke 11:29-32

Talk – Obeying the Word of the LORD: Jonah 3-4 (Outline)Download

Speaker: Josh Ord

Sermon – Running away from the LORD (Jonah 1-2)

We love satire when it comes to political cartoons. Often we see our national leaders’ faults comically exaggerated. But what about satire when it comes to God’s prophets?

Jonah is a famed biblical story where we find God’s hero, the prophet Jonah, neglect his responsibility and fleeing from God. Meanwhile, the city of Nineveh, famed for their evil, turn to God after a surprisingly short sermon!

This is not a story about a giant fish, but rather a God who shows grace and mercy to wicked people, despite his prophet’s rebellion.

In this talk we hear about Jonah’s disobedience and the resulting consequence. Additionally, we hear about repentance as the necessary response to sin.

Read the Bible texts – Jonah 1-2

Talk – Running Away from the Lord – Jonah 1-2 (Outline)Download

Speaker: Josh Ord

Sermon – JesusWORKS: What is a Christian?

JesusWORKS aims to introduce you to the Jesus of history by looking at his life, teaching and work. Primarily, it is for the person who wants to check out the claims of Jesus or the claims about Jesus – so that they can make up their own minds about him.

Yet, it is also for any Christian who wants to be prepared to give a reasoned answer for the hope that they have in the gospel of Jesus (1 Pet 3:15).

Jesus calls people to himself, yet he gives everyone the opportunity to examine him and his message before making that decision.

In this talk, the common reservation that a person could never be good enough for God is addressed. We look at what a person can do to respond rightly to what Jesus has done to save.

Read the Bible texts – Luke 18:9-14; Mark 8:34-9:1

Talk 7 – What is a Christian? (Outline)Download

Speaker: Ken Noakes

For more information and resources that go with the JesusWORKS course – go here

Sermon – JesusWORKS: How does the Resurrection relate to life?

Yet, it is also for any Christian who wants to be prepared to give a reasoned answer for the hope that they have in the gospel of Jesus (1 Pet 3:15).

Jesus calls people to himself, yet he gives everyone the opportunity to examine him and his message before making that decision.

This talk addresses the perception that Christianity is all about keeping rules and commandments and is rather more about the relationship that is possible with God.

Read the Bible text – 1 Peter 1:3-9

Talk 6 – How does the Resurrection relate to life? (Outline)Download

Speaker: Ken Noakes

For more information and resources that go with the JesusWORKS course – go here

Sermon – JesusWORKS: Why believe the Resurrection?

Yet, it is also for any Christian who wants to be prepared to give a reasoned answer for the hope that they have in the gospel of Jesus (1 Pet 3:15).

Jesus calls people to himself, yet he gives everyone the opportunity to examine him and his message before making that decision.

In this talk, we consider the claim that when people die, then that is the end and suggest that there is better news. The aim to is explain why the resurrection is fundamental to the Christian faith.

Read the Bible text – Mark 15:40-6:8 ; 1 Corinthians 15:1-19

Talk 5 – Why Believe the Resurrection? (Outline)Download

Speaker: Ken Noakes

For more information and resources that go with the JesusWORKS course – go here

Sermon – JesusWORKS: Why the Cross?

Yet, it is also for any Christian who wants to be prepared to give a reasoned answer for the hope that they have in the gospel of Jesus (1 Pet 3:15).

Jesus calls people to himself, yet he gives everyone the opportunity to examine him and his message before making that decision.

In this talk, we consider the frequently muttered expression ‘If I am good enough, then things will be fine!’. There was a reason why Jesus had to go to the cross – why?

Read the Bible text – Mark 15:21-39

Talk 4 – Why the Cross? (Outline)Download

Speaker: Ken Noakes

For more information and resources that go with the JesusWORKS course – go here

Sermon – JesusWORKS: What is Sin?

Yet, it is also for any Christian who wants to be prepared to give a reasoned answer for the hope that they have in the gospel of Jesus (1 Pet 3:15).

Jesus calls people to himself, yet he gives everyone the opportunity to examine him and his message before making that decision.

In this talk, we look at the unpopular and strange idea of ‘Sin’. Isn’t everyone basically good? Why is ‘sin’ such a problem to God and why such a bad thing for us?

Read the Bible texts – Mark 8:27-33; Mark 9:30-32; Mark 10:32-34

Talk 3 – What is Sin? (Outline)Download

Watch the Talk

Listen to the Talk

For more information and resources that go with the JesusWORKS course – go here

Sermon – JesusWORKS: Who is Jesus?

JesusWORKS Flyer Image

Yet, it is also for any Christian who wants to be prepared to give a reasoned answer for the hope that they have in the gospel of Jesus (1 Pet 3:15).

Jesus calls people to himself, yet he gives everyone the opportunity to examine him and his message before making that decision. who-is-jesus-0

In this second talk, we seek to answer the question: Who is Jesus? – is he just a moral man, wise teacher, unfortunate martyr or could he in fact be the divine Lord?

Read the Bible texts – Mark 1:1-28; Mark 2:1-12; Mark 4:35-41; Mark 5:35-43

Talk 2 – Who is Jesus (Outline)

Watch the Talk – here

Listen to the Talk

– Ken Noakes

For more information and resources that go with the JesusWORKS course – go here