Sermon – How to go to Church: Men and Women (1 Cor 11:2-16)

This post, we offer two different (yet complementary) sermons on the same passage – 1 Corinthians 11:2-16…

Preacher: Ken D Noakes

Talk Outline: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 (Ken D Noakes)Download

Preacher: Nick Lindeback

Talk Outline: 1 Cor 11:2-16 (Nick Lindeback)Download

In the letter of 1 Corinthians the Apostle Paul has been addressing numerous matters to help the Christians in Corinth consider how they live for Christ – both before the world, and within the church family.

Previously in this series we have considered what Paul has said about Christian freedoms as taught in chapters 8-10. In this talk we turn our attention to how Christians should live together as a church family – and there are several matters which will be addressed from Chapters 11 through to 14 which all relate to what happening in a specific church gathering. We start with the first half of chapter 11 which speaks in particular to those who are married within a church family.

Sermon – How to go to Church: FOMO – Fear of Missing Out! (1 Cor 8:1-13 & 10:23-11:1)

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 & 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1

As a society we have never had more freedom, yet we often use that freedom to serve ourselves. The Corinthian Church know they are free in Christ, but they use this freedom to love themselves and not others. How will we, who are free in Christ, use our freedom? Will we follow our society and the Corinthian Church by loving ourselves? Or will we use our freedom to build up the church in love?

In this Bible Talk, Nick Lindeback looks at the how some actions are permissible for the Christian person and not not inherently sinful, but in exercising that action may cause others to stumble (thus sin) in their faith. The point: consider whether your actions are loving to other fellow Christians before doing them.

Sermon – A Confounded World: Jesus’ Authenticity (Matthew 8:18-34)

Read the text – Matthew 8:18-34

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, Nick Lindeback looks at the chaos of life and shows us how Jesus holds the power over chaos. If you know Jesus is in control, then you can live in faith rather than fear. Are you willing to rest in this storm, and are you willing to trust him when the chaos of this life overwhelms you?

Bible Talk Outline Download

Sermon – Apostles’ Creed: The Holy Apostolic Church and the Communion of Saints

Read the texts – Isaiah 25:6-9; Ephesians 3:1-21

The final talk in this Apostles’ Creed series and we consider the final lines which help us to recognise that the Christian Life (life in the Spirit) is the best life now and forever. Why?

Nick Lindeback helps us to see the importance of the forgiveness of sin, the comfort of the Christian community, and the hope that is eternal.

Bible Talk Outline Download

Sermon – Apostles’ Creed: A Day of Darkness and a Day of Light

Read the texts – Amos 5:18-27; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

We continue working through The Apostles’ Creed and in this talk we focus on the line ‘He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead’. For those who love Jesus the day he returns will be a day of light. For those who do not it will be a day of darkness.

Nick Lindeback is eager in this talk to help us to know that it is because of what Jesus has done that the day of darkness (Amos 5:18) will be a glorious day of light (1 Thess 5:4-5) and that we can look forward to light, offer light to others, and live in light forever.

Bible Talk Outline Download

Sermon – Apostles Creed: Good Suffering

For thousands of years Christians have said the words of the Apostles’ Creed together. In the two talks which follow we look at the line in the creed ‘Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the Dead’. These two talks together offer a helpful, yet different, treatment of this important and theologically loaded statement.

Read the texts – Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 27:11-54

This this talk, Nick Lindeback offers a narrative retelling of the trial, cross, death and burial of Jesus. In doing so he gives a broad overview of the importance of the atonement. Nick helps us to see how the Roman parades celebrating their military victories, set something of the context for the supposed ‘humiliation’ of Jesus – yet how by his wounds, and in his crucifixion, we see the coronation of the King of Kings.

Bible Talk Outline Download

In this talk, Dr Trace Akankunda looks at the significance of the sufferings and death of Jesus on the cross. He helps us to see Christ’s suffering in the context of salvation, and then helps us to rethink our own suffering in the context of hope.

Sermon – Apostles Creed: Creator of the Heavens and Earth

For thousands of years Christians have said the words of the Apostles Creed together. Each line contains rich theology and meaning and in this talk Nick Lindeback focuses on the significance of God Almighty as sovereign and merciful creator.

In looking at both Psalm 33 and the doxology of Romans 11 we see God’s sovereignty, mercy and creating power. And in looking at Romans 12:1-2 we see an appropriate and fitting response to God almighty creator of heaven and earth.

Read the text – Psalm 33; Romans 11:33-12:1

Bible Talk Outline Download

Sermon – Apostles Creed: I believe in God the Father

For thousands of years Christians have said the words of the Apostles Creed together. Join us as we look at these ancient words with fresh eyes, discover why we can say them with confidence, and allow them to transform our lives.

In this Bible Talk, Nick Lindeback looks at God as Father and what it means to share in the sonship of Christ.

Read the text – John 17:20-26

Bible Talk Outline Download