Read the text – 1 Peter 1:13-2:10
God had made Christians his Holy People, and it is our calling to be holy. In this talk in the sermon series ‘Stand Fast’, Ken Noakes speaks on what Jesus had done to earn us the grace of God, and what we’re called to be in building a spiritual house.
Read the text – John 17:20-26
Who am I? We can have many answers to this, most of which we make ourselves or garner from those around us. In this sermon on ‘Speaking to God’, David Swan argues that the answer is who we are in Christ, and is shown in Jesus’ prayer in John 17. Listen to how we’re supposed to relate to God, each other and ourselves in Belief in the One that was sent.
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.
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.
The Gospel of John introduces Jesus and gives him an extraordinary array of titles. Jesus does not disappoint. His teaching, his interactions, his miracles and his knowledge give those who meet him cause to question who he is – and as readers we also can look at these ‘encounters’ and decide for ourselves whether Jesus is worth another look. Perhaps a new beginning for a new year.
This talk challenges us to listen to God’s word, believe even if we can’t see, and as a result go and live out our faith in Jesus.
Read the text – John 4:43-54 Isaiah 65:17-25
What does scripture say?
‘Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness’ (Genesis 15:6)
When the apostle Paul cites this verse in Roman 4:3 he uses it to make the claim that a person is justified by faith alone.
James in his epistle also cites this verse in James 2:23 yet he used it to suggest that ‘a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
It appears the Paul and James are at odds.
It is one thing to say that you believe in what Jesus had done to save you – it is another step to act on that belief.
James 2:14 asks the question: ‘What good is it brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such a faith save them?’.
This third talk on the topic of ‘faith’ looks at faith in action.
Read the Bible Text – Hebrews 12:1-3 James 2:14-26
Talk Outline – Hebrews 12 and James 2
– Ken Noakes
‘Faith’ is the Christian calling. And one could ask: ‘How do I know my faith is real?’ or ‘Does doubt mean I have a shallow faith?’. Yet, you don’t need to be Christian to have questions about ‘faith’: ‘How do I get faith?’ or ‘What does faith achieve?’.
This talk, the second in a series on ‘Faith’, looks how faith comes to a person.
Read the Bible Text – Hebrews 11:1-39 Joshua 2:1-24
Talk Outline – Hebrews 11 and Acts 10
– Ken Noakes
We all love justice and hate injustice. From earliest childhood this has been the case. One of the first complaints we learn to utter is, “That’s not fair!”
But how do we go when the finger of justice is pointing at us? Are we still as passionate about it? Or is there something else we love even more?
And what about God’s justice? How do we feel about that? Is justice beneath God? Does his justice betray a cranky side of him? And how will we go when God’s finger of justice is pointed at us?
These are very important questions!
Read the Bible Text – Romans 3:21-26
– David Shead
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