Read the text – 2 Timothy 3:16-4:5
In this sermon of ‘Listening to God’, Ken Noakes tackles the historical validity and implications of the Bible as the spoken Word of God. The Bible is the Christian’s starting point in everything.
Category Archives: Ken Noakes
Sermon – Clash of Kingdoms: Be Ready for the Kingdom (Matthew 25)
Jesus’ disciples ask of Jesus: ‘Tell us… what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?’ (Mt 24:3). His answer to the first part of the question (his coming) was answered in the rest of Chapter (see last post), the answer to the second part of the question (the end of the age) is found in Matthew 25.
Here are two Bible Talks looking at the whole of Matthew 25. Whilst both start the same way – the content of each looks at the chapter in two parts.
Talk 1 – Matthew 25:1-30. The Parable of the Bridegroom & the 10 Virgins + The Parable of the Master and the 3 Servants.
Read the text – Matthew 25:1-30
Talk 2 – Matthew 25:31-46. The Shepherd King & the Sheep and the Goats.
Read the text – Matthew 25:31-46
What Jesus teaches as recorded in Matthew 25 is not complicated, but it can be very hard to hear. What will the end of the age look like? The answer will involve a division. In these two Bible talks Ken Noakes unpacks this extraordinary chapter – to help us hear what can be very hard to hear.
Sermon – Clash of Kingdoms: Marriage and the Kingdom (Matthew 19:1-12)
In this sermon, Ken Noakes tackles Jesus Christ’s words on marriage and divorce. In Matthew chapter 19, Jesus is asked, ‘can someone get divorced for any reason?’ Ken talks about the meaning behind marriage and what it means to get divorced through how Jesus answers this contentious question, which remains relevant to this day.
Sermon – Persevere: Contending for the Faith (Jude 1-4, 17-25)
Read the text – Jude 1-4, 17-25
Jude is a short little letter which packs a punch. It is written to those who know what faith in Jesus is about – and urges them to ‘contend for the faith’ in the face of what are known challenges. This letter is as valuable today as it would have been for those who originally received it and will help equip believers to persevere as we walk in Jesus.
In this sermon, Ken Noakes encourages us to “be in it to win it”, because there is an urgent, pressing need that we fight for our faith. But we aren’t left to our own devices: we have the firm foundation of God’s word, and we have the power of the Holy Trinity behind us, so we can be built up by God’s word, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep in God’s love and wait on the Lord Jesus.
Sermon – Persevere: Challenges to the Faith (Jude 1-16)
Read the text – Jude 1-16
Jude is a short little letter which packs a punch. It is written to those who know what faith in Jesus is about – and urges them to ‘contend for the faith’ in the face of what are known challenges. This letter is as valuable today as it would have been for those who originally received it and will help equip believers to persevere as we walk in Jesus.
In this sermon, Ken Noakes explains that the call to be Christian comes with challenges, and we need to be ready to walk with God, especially when the challenges are targeted at the faith we profess.
Sermon – Identity: Finding Yourself (Mark 10:32-52)
Read the text – Mark 10:32-52
We have many avenues to find the most genuine version of yourself, but in this sermon, Ken Noakes argues that there is only one way to be truly authentic through chapter 10 of Mark.
Sermon – Identity: Losing Yourself (Mark 8:22-9:1)
Read the text – Mark 8:22-9:1
How do we identify ourselves? Is it our looks, hobbies, gender, social standing? In this sermon, Ken Noakes talks on what we use to identify ourselves (and in our individualistic society, there are many different ways we can identify ourselves), and whether it would be better to lose yourself in order to find yourself.
Sermon – Pictures of Judgement and Grace: The Bread of Adversity (Isaiah 28:1-33:1)
Read the text – Isaiah 28:1-33:1
The people of Judah face a number of crises from within (their own sin) and without (the alliance of Israel and Syria, the power of Assyria). Who will they trust to rescue them? Themselves? Foreign Nations? or God Almighty?
In this sermon, Ken Noakes shows us how God’s punishes and saves Jerusalem – bringing them back to himself through the bread of adversity and water of affliction. This might not be the meal the people of Israel want, but it’s what they need. And even when his people are unfaithful, he is faithful. God will use both the good and the bad to bring about his plans, so we should trust God, even when things don’t seem good.
Sermon – Pictures of Judgement and Grace: The Key and the Peg (Isaiah 21:1-23:18)
Read the text – Isaiah 21:1-23:18
The people of Judah face a number of crises from within (their own sin) and without (the alliance of Israel and Syria, the power of Assyria). Who will they trust to rescue them? Themselves? Foreign Nations? or God Almighty?
Eliakim holds the keys, but ultimately no political leader can save the people. The peg gives way. But Jesus hold the keys forever, the true peg and true key who stands firm. In this sermon, Ken Noakes shows how God is in control and works for our good. Our first response should always be to turn to him, not trusting in our own strength, or the strength of others, but only in Jesus.
Sermon Series – RethinKING Easter
Forget crowns and castles! What does it REALLY mean to be a king? This Easter, it’s time to rethink everything you thought you knew about power, sacrifice, and the true King who changed the world forever. We are “RethinKING Easter.”
Palm Sunday – The King of Peace
Read the text – Zechariah 9:9-17; Luke 19:28-44
We can define a king as one with the power to raise an army yet Jesus defies this kind of kingship because he comes as one who is “gentle and riding on a donkey”. The kingship that he brings is one of peace in the face of war. We need not be threatened by Jesus but welcome him with praise.
In this talk Ken Noakes helps us to see the long-term fulfillment of what was long proclaimed about God’s King – and story that spanned 500 years from prophecy to fulfillment.
Good Friday – The King of Service
Read the text – Exodus 12:14-28; Luke 22:1-37
We can define a King as one who people serve, yet Jesus defies this kind of kingship by being the one who came to serve, laying down his life for his friends.
In this talk, Gary Haddon helps us to see in Jesus a sovereign King who suffered and a king who suffered in order to save.
Easter Sunday – The King of Life
Read the text – Luke 23:50-24:35; Acts 2:22-39
A way to define kingship by succession – yet we still recognize that for every king, no matter his power, or influence, or riches – they will one day die. Yet Jesus defies kingship in almost every way – not least of all in his death and then resurrection. A king, who in death gave his riches as an internal inheritance for all who trust in him. That is Easter.
In this talk Neil Atwood will help us consider the significance of Jesus’ resurrection as a certain indicator of Jesus’ true kingship over all of life.
churchcentralonline.com 