Category Archives: Ken Noakes

Sermon – The Call and the Commission (Matthew 9:35-38 & 28:16-20)

Read the texts – Matthew 9:35-38 & Matthew 28:16-20

‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few’, Jesus observed as he then called his disciples to prayer. In compassion he shows us a great need. ‘Go out and make disciples of all nations’, Jesus directed as he sent his disciples to work. By commission he gave all disciples a job to do.

In this talk Ken Noakes helps to show that it was by compassion for the lost that drives what disciples of Jesus do, and it is by commission of Jesus that we do it.

Sermon – Kingdom Coming: Moving Mountains (Matthew 17:14-27)

For the fifth and last time in Matthew’s Gospel Jesus speaks of what ‘little faith’ might look like – and he offers yet another description of what will happen to him as he heads into Jerusalem where he will be delivered into the hands of opposing men, killed, and then on the third day rise.

In these Bible talks both John Lavender and Ken Noakes look at what faith in the life of a believer might look like – it is not about the quantity of faith (as if that could be measured), but about the genuineness of faith in Jesus.

Preacher: John Lavender

Read the text – Matthew 17:14-27

Preacher: Ken D Noakes
Outline for this TalkDownload

Sermon – Kingdom Coming: Son of Man Revealed (Matthew 16:13-28)

Read the text – Matthew 16:13-28

Famously Jesus challenges his disciples: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me’ (Matt 16:24). What does it mean today to be a disciple of Jesus? In an age when we express our individualism in many and numerous ways, this message is a challenge for it asks us to put Jesus before ourselves. Yet, Jesus gives very good reasons to follow him.

In this talk, Ken Noakes helps us look first at the identity of Jesus – and as a result to consider what that should mean for anyone who wants to follow him.

Sermon – Kingdom Coming: Fish out of Water! (Matthew 14:1-36)

Read the text – Matthew 14:1-36

In this Bible Talk, Ken Noakes considers some very well-known passages: the beheading of John the Baptist, the feeding of 5000, and Jesus walking on water. In each of these accounts the question we as readers are effectively asked is ‘who do you think Jesus is?’ Herod gave his conclusion, the crowds made their approach, the disciples got a firsthand view of Jesus in action. The question: who sees Jesus as ‘truly… the Son of God’?

Sermon – Adoption and Fellowship (1 John 2:28-3:10)

Read the text – 1 John 2:28-3:10

Central to fellowship with God the Father is acknowledging his son and in turn living as a child of God. This talk is about confidence in the Christian faith – confidence that comes from being adopted as a child of God and experienced in the new birth that the Christian person enjoys.

In this talk Ken Noakes describes the process of moving towards a confident faith. And also, the process that person may go through in moving away from a confident faith.

Talk OutlineDownload

Sermon – Forgiveness & Sin (1 John 1:5-2:2)

Read the text – 1 John 1:5-2:2

Sin is serious, and even Christians can live as if it isn’t! In this talk, Ken Noakes looks at what the Bible calls sin and helps us to understand more of what sin is and means for our world, our church and our person. Yet to sit right alongside the trauma that is sin, is the wonder that is forgiveness in Jesus. Sin we love yet we should hate. Whereas Forgiveness we want and we all need.

Bible Talk OutlineDownload

Sermon – Love & Hate (1 John 3:11-24; 4:7:21)

Read the text – 1 John 3:11-24 & 1 John 4:7-21

Love that is Christian, is a love for others that is both pleasing and acceptable to God before it is to the world. This is a huge topic and so contested today. For today, love is often determined by popular opinion or consensus – and as directed by the loudest voices. In this talk, Ken Noakes looks at the importance of understanding Love in the context of truth and obedience. God indeed wants Christians to be loving – love that is truthful, sacrificial, obedient even if different to the way the world looks for love.

Bible Talk OutlineDownload

Sermon – Truth & Anti Truth (1 John 1:5-2:6; 2:18-27)

Read the text – 1 John 1:5-2:6 & 1 John 2:18-27

The second in this series from the little letter of 1 John – this talk looks at the contrast between truth and un-truth and more particularly the danger of not thinking that truth is important. Truth and knowledge matter when it comes to faith – so does untruth and error.

In this talk Ken Noakes suggests that if we lose sight of the truth of the gospel, then it is impossible to live by the truth of the gospel.

Bible Talk OutlineDownload

Sermon – Word & Life (1 John 1:1-4; 2:12-17)

Read the text – 1 John1:1-4 & 1 John 2:12-17

The little letter of 1 John packs a punch. It is rich with ideas we love to debate:  truth and error, love and hate, forgiveness and sin, individualism and community, life and death. These ideas are not simple, yet we can be very simplistic in how we think about them for we don’t always consider how one may affect the other. 1 John works hard to draw these ideas and concepts into an integrated Christian worldview. And in the process helps us see the value of having the Word of Life to guide us in how we live.

In this first talk of six, Ken Noakes introduces the Letter of 1 John and its overlapping themes. In doing so he wants to make clear that believers have the Word of Life: Jesus. And life with him looks different to life without. 1 John has a lot to say to help Christians today live confidently for Christ.

Bible Talk OutlineDownload