This is not the age for the self-fulfilment and glory of human beings – there is an eternity for that (we will be changed and given a new resurrection body). This is the age for the work of the LORD – our labour in the Lord, though it looks weak now, is not vain (like the death of Jesus and like our bodies).
In this talk Dave Swan, warns us from the last section in the first letter to the Corinthians, to not be driven by the present age and by what we see. For now is not the time for the work of the gospel to look splendid, it is the time for gospel work and that work will look weak (v58).
Listen to this world, have your life shaped by the resurrection, so that when you do experience death you might also know the wonder of the resurrection.
The Corinthians live for the ‘now’ as they deny the resurrection, so they have always focused on looking good now, but the Apostle Paul shows how foolish this is. Paul shows instead that our glory comes through weakness, just as life comes through death, so his ministry is marked by weakness and death. As Paul commands in 1 Corinthians 15:33-34, Christians we must be careful of being led astray by those who would have us focus on living for now.
In this talk Dave Swan, wants to help the listener fix their eyes on eternity. To have a life shaped by the resurrection, so that you don’t live for the now, but for eternity, and so that you can take steps to encourage others to live for eternity as well.
Whilst Jesus appears to have the power to do anything, he uses it to demonstrate his compassion on all who come (regardless of their station in life) – and the outcome: faith. In this talk, Dave Swan, considers how Jesus shows his goodness and compassion to those who had faith during his time on earth, and they were healed. Just like those who met Jesus during his time as a man, everyone should also put their faith in him and trust his goodness. Not everyone does.
Jesus is confounding. Reading through the Gospel of Matthew, we see Jesus do some extraordinary things and the result is that some follow and some turn their backs on him. That is not so different from today. We often expect the extraordinary before we allow ourselves to believe something. As such we settle for the normal and mundane, all the while wishing for the extraordinary. Jesus came into the normal and mundane, but he did that which was extraordinary. He does what we hope by doing what we find hard to believe! How confounding.
In this Bible Talk, Dave Swan looks at the unparalleled authority which Jesus demonstrated – his ability to heal a man with leprosy, the servant of the a Roman centurion, Peter’s mother-in-law, those who were demon possessed – all people who suffered because of their circumstance, but also because of there status as outcasts under Jewish law. He heals, and in doing so he fulfils what the prophet Isaiah said the Messiah would do.
This should encourage us to examine our faith in Jesus, by looking at how an encounter with Jesus shaped the belief of others.
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?
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.
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.
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
What should hold a church together – Our relationships? Our feeling of belonging? Our gospel convictions? Jesus? The Apostle Paul wrote this extraordinary letter to a church he knew well, yet a church which had got itself into a bit of a muddle. It turns out that the Christian Family does matter – and it is important to ensure that Jesus sits at the heart and soul of this church and in fact any church. We look at 1 Corinthians 1-7 because it holds a mirror up to us and it would be wise for us to consider carefully what it might say to us in 2022.
In this talk, Dave Swan looks at how being in a relationship with a person of the opposite sex should not come before being in a relationship with the Lord – put the horse before the cart when thinking about singleness and relationships. This talk upholds singleness. There is great value for us all (single or married) to recognise the value of singleness and to be given reasons to see that our status before the Lord is first about our relationship with him than it is about our relationship with another. Yet, we also acknowledge the burden/longing that those who are single may feel.
What should hold a church together – Our relationships? Our feeling of belonging? Our gospel convictions? Jesus? The Apostle Paul wrote this extraordinary letter to a church he knew well, yet a church which had got itself into a bit of a muddle. It turns out that the Christian Family does matter – and it is important to ensure that Jesus sits at the heart and soul of this church and in fact any church. We look at 1 Corinthians 1-7 because it holds a mirror up to us and it would be wise for us to consider carefully what it might say to us today.
In this Bible Talk, Dave Swan speaks about the touchy subject of sexual purity and the important place it holds in the Christian family. Since “your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God” (1 Cor 6:19) – how should the Christian person handle their sex drive in a highly sexualised world and yet still honour God?
In this two-part Bible Talk, Dave Swan helps us to see how the Apostle Paul teaches his friends that when Jesus returns, he will come like a thief in the night. This truth should motivate them to stay awake and sober. His exhortation is to continue in the Lord Jesus, encouraging one another as they are already doing.
We are still waiting for the return of the Lord Jesus and so Paul’s encouragement should be practically considered by us today.
In every stage of life, what we often need and frequently lack, is wisdom. Whether seeking or being married, relating to our children or relating as adults to our parents, there are potholes that rattle us. Proverbs anticipates our struggles and offers timeless wisdom, warning and instruction that find their zenith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Building Wisdom: Husband and Wife
This sermon looks at the need for faithfulness in a marriage, and the greatest example of this being Christ and the church.
Proverbs assumes the need to love our children through discipline, as hard as this is in practice. This sermon investigates the idea of discipline, as well as the ways that God loves us through his discipline of us as his children.
This sermon looks at our struggle to heed all the wisdom our parents have to offer, often due to pride. We should honour our earthly parents naturally as we live out our faith in honouring our heavenly Father, perfectly modelled by Jesus.
“What is truth?” “It is finished.” “Peace be with you!” “Follow me!” These are some of the famous last words recorded in John’s gospel – in the days before Jesus’ death and the days after his resurrection and before his ascension. But what do these famous last words mean to us today? What does it demand of our lives? Is it simply a story of 2000 years ago, or does the power of Jesus in our world today demand that we must follow him?
28th March – Testify To The Truth?
This talk looks at the interactions of Jesus & the Jewish Leaders with Pilate – we see a 1st century example of cancel culture, as Pilate chooses which side to listen to, and the Jews attempt to stamp out and reject Jesus as their King.
This talk investigates about who has the power and control in Jesus’ final week before his death. While Pontius Pilate claims he has the power of life or death over Jesus, Jesus claims his power is given to him from above.
This talks looks at the crucifixion of Jesus. His death was not a defeat; his final words “It is finished” announced a shout of victory. He finished the work of the Father – to save humanity.
This talk focuses on Jesus’ first interactions after his resurrection – his first words to the disciples were “Peace be with you!” They found comfort, they found joy, they found life in Jesus.
This talk focuses on Jesus’ first interactions after his resurrection – his first words to the disciples were “Peace be with you!” They found comfort, they found joy, they found life in Jesus.
This talk looks at Jesus’ call to his disciples – looking at Jesus in faith, following Jesus by walking with him, and being fed by Jesus by growing in him.
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