Sermon – Apostles Creed: Fully God. Fully Man.

Read the text – Hebrews 2:1-18

For thousands of years Christians have said the words of the Apostles Creed together. In this talk Howard Whitehouse looks at the line in the creed which states ‘I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, Our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary’ and focuses on the beautiful and complex nature of Jesus Christ being fully God and fully Man. This is a rich treatment and needs close attention to several Bible passage – and you will see Howard cover many of them in this talk.

Sermon Series – Joel: The Day of the Lord

The book of Joel is probably best known to Christians because of Peter’s sermon at Pentecost in the Book of Acts, where he quotes Joel to explain the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on all people. But the main emphasis in this book is the Day of the Lord, a day when the powerful presence of the Lord God will bring judgement – meaning deserved punishment for some or deliverance and blessing for others. What will that Day bring for you?

Talk 1 – A Clear and Present Danger (Joel 1:1-20)

Read the text – Joel 1:1-20

What grabs your attention? The natural events and the voice of the prophet are what God used to grab the attention of his people.

In Talk 1, Gary Haddon looks at the lament over Israel’s poor situation – a lament which leads not to a complaint against God, but a call to repentance in the light of the coming Day of the Lord.

Talk 2 – Sound the Alarm (Joel 2:1-17)

Read the text – Joel 2:1-17

Throughout history, we find all sorts of ways that societies have ‘sounded the alarm’ to alert their people to a serious and immediate danger.

In Talk 2, Dave Swan looks at Joel 2:12-13 as the key to the final question of verse 11 – ‘who can endure the Day of the Lord?’

God offers the way to endure the Day of the Lord:  return to him “with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning”. That is, in true repentance and faith.

Talk 3 – The Lord Responds (Joel 2:18-32)

Read the text – Joel 2:18-32

Life is full of uncertainties, but even in the midst of it all there is a constant: Gods’ voice and his promises in his word.

In Talk 3, Dave Swan shows us the way the Apostle Peter uses this part in his Pentecost speech – to point people to Jesus as the answer!

The Day of the Lord  is about the presence of God. Which for some will spell disaster, but for those who call on His name and seek refuge in Him, will be the day of blessing – the day of a permanently restored and renewed relationship with their God.

For Bible Studies to accompany this series see Bible Studies – Joel: The Day of the Lord

Sermon – Stand Firm: Father, Mother & Herald (1 Thess. 2:1-20)

In Thessalonica, the church is being battered and bruised… how should they respond? Paul writes 1 and 2 Thessalonians to encourage the church to stand firm in the good news of Jesus. Today, the world remains full of uncertainties and hostile to the presence of the church. What can we learn? We can be challenged to likewise stand firm as we await Jesus’ return.

This sermon investigates the motive and manner behind Paul’s – and what should be ours – work as a gospel messenger. Sharing the gospel for God’s glory – not our own – and sharing it like a mother, a father and a herald.

Read the text – 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20

Sermon – New Beginnings: Go and Live (John 4:43-54)

The Gospel of John introduces Jesus and gives him an extraordinary array of titles. Jesus does not disappoint. His teaching, his interactions, his miracles and his knowledge give those who meet him cause to question who he is – and as readers we also can look at these ‘encounters’ and decide for ourselves whether Jesus is worth another look. Perhaps a new beginning for a new year.

This talk challenges us to listen to God’s word, believe even if we can’t see, and as a result go and live out our faith in Jesus.

Read the text – John 4:43-54 Isaiah 65:17-25

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

Speaker: Ken Noakes
Speaker: Ken Noakes

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

Sermon – JesusWORKS: Why believe the Resurrection?

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, 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

Speaker: Ken Noakes
Speaker: Ken Noakes

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

Sermon – JesusWORKS: Why the Cross?

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, 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

Speaker: Ken Noakes
Speaker: Ken Noakes

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

Sermon – JesusWORKS: What is Sin?

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, 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

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?

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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.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

Sermon – Does Religion cause Violence? (Mark 12:28-31)

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A glance at history or a quick read through any newspaper will almost certainly report on some act of violence committed somewhere in the world. Often what lies behind those acts are people who declare themselves to be a follower of a particular religion.

Does Religion cause violence – and how does that implicate Christianity?

 

Read the Bible text – Mark 12:28-31

Talk Outline – Does Religion Cause Violence

Talk Addendum – Does Religion Cause Violence (This addendum is referred to in the talk)

Watch the Talk – here

– Ken Noakes