Sermon – Salvation for the World: The Message for the World (Isaiah 55:1-13)

Read the text – Isaiah 55:1-13, Isaiah 56:1-8

This sermon is a part of the ‘Will God help his people?’ sermon series. God calls us to draw near, promises an everlasting covenant, and calls us to live in response. Ken Noakes gives this sermon on living as a Christian at Lower Mountain Anglican Church, Glenbrook evening service.

Sermon – You need Easter: Justice (Matthew 27:1-26)

Read the text – Matthew 27:1-26

In this special Easter series, we explore the Death of Jesus Christ, the events that proceeded it and what it means for us as Christians. In this sermon on Justice, Paul Hallam speaks on the unjust trials that led to Jesus’s crucifixion, and how it lead to an ultimate justice for all of humanity, whether we deserved it or not.

Sermon – Wisdom Through Suffering (Job 38-42) – God Knows

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.

Easter Sermons – Life is On! (Psalms 2, 72, 22 & 110)

Easter is such a special time for Christians. The king of heaven to hung on a cross – what a way to treat a king.

To reflect on Easter we have chosen four Psalms: the Psalms of the King. They are essentially about God’s promised once and for all time King, Jesus. The New Testament cites the Psalms more often than any other Old Testament book, so it is right for us to look at them and use them and preach on them, especially at Easter. May we understand how Jesus fulfils the expectations of this one true King.

Psalm 2 – The King over All
Psalm 72 – The King of Justice
Psalm 22 – The Forsaken King?
Psalm 110 – The King who Conquers

Sermon – Stand Firm: Hope in Hard Times (2 Thess. 1:1-12)

Just as the Lord Jesus suffered, so too will his people. Why? In Thessalonica, the persecution of the church has intensified.  In this Bible Talk, Gary Haddon answers some of those ‘why’ questions that tend to arise when suffering is encountered. Yet more, Gary shows us the Apostle Paul’s response as he encourages the Thessalonians to give thanks for God’s grace, remember his justice, and pray for his power.

Read the text – 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Sermon – Who says I will be judged?

LMAP - Easter2019 - CoverPhoto

We all like and want justice – yet justice is not possible unless there is judgement (vindicating the good and condemning the bad). In Jesus you have a judge – who is just, right and good. Can we say the same about our own judgements?

Read the Bible Text – John 5:16-30; John 12:44-50

Talk Outline – Who says I will be judged

– Ken Noakes

– David Shead

Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner.

Imagine, after a long day, I drive home to find that the only thing remaining where my house once stood was its smoldering remains! And standing outside was my child holding a sign saying: ‘Hate the sin, Love the Sinner!’.

It is one thing to recognise that sin is bad – in fact so self-evident that there is no chance that it would not be seen! Yet it is a whole new level of self awareness to think that the sinful actions that caused damage and hurt should be separated from the person who caused the damage and hurt – such that the perpetrator should bear no responsibility!

Continue reading

Imagine a World Without Justice…

12494698_960034897384837_3764043313328766050_n

Imagine a world without justice. Our first reaction when we see injustice is ‘Someone should fix that!’; ‘Where’s a policeman when you need one?’; or ‘There should be a law against that!’. Most of us don’t like injustice when we see it against others, and particularly when we experience against ourselves.

The event that took place on ‘Good Friday’ amounts to injustice on a grand scale.

Continue reading