Sermon – Salvation for the World: Saviour for the World (Is 49:1-26)

Read the text – Isaiah 49:1-26

For the sermon series, ‘Will God help is People?’, we have been discussing what Isaiah says on Christian Hardship, but did Jesus himself find hardship? Ken Noakes tells us that God’s global salvation comes through the suffering servant—Jesus, the true Israel—who speaks with divine authority, endures rejection, and brings light not just to God’s people, but to the ends of the earth. We need to see the goodness and power of Jesus as the one who speaks God’s word like a sharpened sword (Rev 1), who is a covenant between God and people, and who suffers as he brings salvation to the world.

Sermon – God & Life: End of Life

Read the text – Psalm 139Deuteronomy 30:11-20; Isaiah 65:17-25; Romans 14:1-9

God ends life. God is the author and sustainer of life – from conception to eternity. How does the Christian person live by his timing and determination until he brings you home. In this Bible Talk, Ken Noakes aims to help us think Christianly (Biblically) about the value of life under God’s hand when it comes to dying and death – especially as we live in a world where life can be quietly ended or painlessly prolonged. Our topic: Thinking Christianly about Euthanasia.

Sermon – God & Life: Limitations in Life

Read the text – Psalm 139John 9:1-34

God shapes life. Disability is a normal and good part of God’s creation and whilst that may mean there are limitations placed upon a person (including their reliance on others), Christians should embrace the God’s gift of each person.

In this talk, Ken Noakes opens a discussion about how Christians can think about disability in our fallen world now and suggests a different approach to thinking about disability in our coming perfect world. This will create discussion – agree or disagree – let’s together recognize that we can take steps now to care well for those who live with disabilities as we all wait for heaven.

Sermon – God & Life: Start of Life

Read the text – Psalm 139Luke 1:39-45

Audio Recording

God gives Life. We are fearfully and wonderfully made by God – and we need to make choices to protect the sanctity of life (mother and child) even in hard or unwanted circumstances.

In this talk, Ken Noakes looks at the wonderful, sometimes difficult, and always emotive topic of start of life matters with particular reference to decisions about medical termination (abortion).

The approach here is pastoral as the Christian response should always be one of embrace and comfort as we draw towards both mother and child in Christian faith.

Sermon – God & Life: Made in God’s Image

Read the text – Psalm 139; Genesis 1:26-2:4; Colossians 1:15-23; Revelation 21:1-4

We see ourselves as choosing individuals. Our strength is measured by our ability to stand on our own two feet and make decisions (we value agency). And we live in a society which views the autonomy of the individual as sacrosanct and defining, and that any challenge to that autonomy is regarded as a threat (we value choice). In addition, we live in a consumer culture, which tells us that we deserve to have whatever it is we want (we value entitlement). Yet, Christians hold to the biblical view that God makes men and women in his image. He gives life, shapes life, and takes life – and we experience that life both individually and collectively.

This ‘God & Life’ series looks at some of those key and ethical life matters where we, as choosing individuals, are now able to make decisions that will impact our life or another’s life: Abortion, Disability, Euthanasia (to pick three examples).

In this first talk, Ken Noakes sets the scene which help us think theologically about life matters over the next three talks. The purpose: to start a conversation – how can we value humanity as created by God and so in our care for ourselves and others, how do we think Christianly?

Sermon – Stand Fast: Until Glory (1 Peter 5:1-14)

Read the text – 1 Peter 5:1-14

In this sermon series, ‘Stand Fast’, we dive into the realities of suffering and Christianity. This sermon, Ken Noakes will discuss the motivation we have for suffering well as Christians, and that the glory of God is worth what we have to face in life. Spoken at LMAP Glenbrook, the evening gathering, the final sermon of ‘Stand Fast’ is a call to hope and perseverance in the face of suffering.

Sermon – Christmas: Find Hope (Matthew 1:18-21)

Read the texts – Isaiah 9:2-7; Matthew 1:18-21

In the midst of a disconnection epidemic, God connects with us through the birth of his son at Christmas. In this sermon of our ‘Christmas series’, Ken Noakes shows us the hope we can have because of the birth of Christ. Because Christ’s birth was the opening act of God’s salvation plan for mankind, which culminates at the cross where our sins are finally and completely paid for.

Sermon – Listening and Speaking to God: Bible – Truthfulness & Sufficiency (Psalm 119:145-176)

Read the text – Psalm 119.145-176

In the sermon series, ‘Listening to God’, Lower Mountains Anglican Church has explored the ambiguous points of the bible in Christian faith, including the authority of the Word, its historical reliability and its clarity of message. In this final sermon, Ken Noakes will talk on the Bible’s sufficiency in providing us God’s truth and guidance.