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

Bible Talk Outline – Talk 1 Download

Talk 2 – Matthew 25:31-46. The Shepherd King & the Sheep and the Goats.

Read the text – Matthew 25:31-46

Bible Talk Outline – Talk 2 Download

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 – How to go to Church: Loving ALL the Church (1 Cor 12:12-31)

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

This Bible talk is about how the church is like a body – it has many parts with different gifts that all act to serve each other, where a missing part affects every other part. As a church in unity under Christ, do not let our selfishness exclude others and bring division. Instead let us all care for one another, suffer together, and rejoice together.

Bible Talk Outline Download

Sermon – How to go to Church: Trouble caused by Division (1 Cor 11:17-34)

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

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.

In this talk Ken Noakes looks at the rebuke that is written to the church of Corinth because of their selfishness has hurt their fellowship. He focuses on the way that they share in the Lord’s Supper. There are lessons for the church today. The Lord’s Supper should humble us as we remember Christ’s death and proclaim his coming again. When you remember Christ’s death, and where he is taking us, there is no room for a pecking order, or being concerned with social status, or competing with each other. As a result, we must examine ourselves (11:28) and wait for one another (11:34).

This talk will also help us thing about how we deal with division within the church family.