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 – 1 Peter 1:1-12
God has given Christians a living hope of salvation through Jesus. In this first sermon of the sermon series ‘Stand Fast’, Ken Noakes speaks on 1 Peter 1:1-12, which shows that in a world full of suffering, this hope can fill us with joy even as we suffer in the present.
Read the texts – Isaiah 9:2-7; Matthew 1:18-21
In the midst of a disconnection epidemic, God connects with us through the birth of his son at Christmas. In this sermon of our ‘Christmas series’, Ken Noakes shows us the hope we can have because of the birth of Christ. Because Christ’s birth was the opening act of God’s salvation plan for mankind, which culminates at the cross where our sins are finally and completely paid for.
Read the text – Isaiah 36:1-37:38
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?
This is the culmination of everything so far. Jerusalem is under siege, and the situation, humanly speaking, is hopeless. In this sermon, Stephen Hawkins outlines the historical context and explains the choice that the people in Jerusalem are faced with: Who will they trust? There is only salvation when they trust in God for deliverance, and that salvation may be unexpected and beyond belief.
Read the text – Isaiah 5:1-6:13
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 Bible talk, Neil Atwood describes the imagery of the vineyard, in the context of God’s holiness, and how God’s judgement and mercy is a necessary extension of his holiness. And we should rejoice in the holiness God offers to us.
Read the text – Isaiah 2:5-4:6
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 Bible talk, Nick Lindeback describes how there will be a day when God punishes the sin of his people, but the result of this judgment – a holy people and the beautiful branch of the LORD. Mercy will come through judgement. Therefore flee to Jesus, let him take the judgement for us, so we may we spend eternity in the beautiful presence of the LORD.
Read the text – Psalm 84
The Psalms have been described as ‘both God’s word to us and our words to God’. The Psalms speak to the total person and demand a total response. Generally, the book of Psalms has been divided into five books and this ‘Psalm of Hope’ number 84, comes from Book III. We are encouraged to find hope in God alone through his Son, our Saviour and King, Jesus Christ.
In this talk, Ken Noakes helps us to think about all the good things that might make life good, and yet also recognize that those good things pale into insignificance compared with the hope of the glory of heaven. May this Psalm, and this talk, help you to sing for joy because of your hope in Jesus.
Read the text – Job 40:1-14
It has been a long time in coming, but finally we hear the voice of God. In Job 38, God speaks from the midst of a storm (or whirlwind). It is not surprising that God speaks from a storm, but it is surprising that it isn’t the storm of judgement, but of wisdom. Two chapters of God describing the extent of his sovereignty conclude in 40:1. And Job’s response? Despite all that he had previously thought he would say if he could enter God’s presence, he is speechless. He recognizes his insignificance before God and keeps listening to what God has to say and stays attentive to what God will show him – God is not only sovereign, but just.
God has not given Job the answers he was looking for, but Job has seen him in a way that is clearer than ever, and without asking for any more answers, he trusts in God’s sovereignty, even though his circumstances still have not changed. It isn’t until we get to the New Testament that we can begin to understand what it cost Him to win the battle over evil and death on our behalf.
In this talk Ken Noakes helps us to understand the importance of living under the sovereignty of God – and that wisdom, even blessing can be found in suffering.
Read the text – Job 28:1-28
Job’s ‘comforters’ have become more like his ‘accusers’. Chapter 28 acts as an interlude where all are invited to lift their eyes from Job’s problems and the arguments which have bogged them down. The cost of the search for the most valuable things is worth it. Yet, Wisdom is the most valuable thing and the most difficult to find. God is the only source of true wisdom.
In this Bible Talk, Ken Noakes helps us to unlock the wisdom of the Book of Job. And in doing so helps the listener to lift their gaze from suffering and trying to figure things out for themselves to understanding that answers can only be found in God.
Read the text – Job 19:1-29
We have met the upright and blameless Job, and seen the tragedy and suffering which fell upon him. In the chapters that follow (Job 3-27), Job responds to the “comfort” (?) of his friends with words full of agony and pain. Job looks to his only hope: a sovereign and perfect God who cannot allow injustice. In spite of his circumstances and feelings, the small glimmer of hope from 9:33-34 which became a faint trickle of hope in 14:14-15 and 16:19-21, has become much more certain, to the point where declares “I know that my redeemer lives!”(19:25). This yet again reveals that the deepest desire of his heart is to be in the presence of the God he loves (19:27). In spite of what his friends have said, Job doesn’t fear death because he is sure that he will see the Lord face to face, and that there is the hope of a resurrection (19:26).
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