Tag Archives: Suffering

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 OutlineDownload

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 – 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

A Perfect Storm – Crying out to God (Psalm 13)

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Photo courtesy of Wolter Petters Photography

Sometimes in life we get hit by the perfect storm.

 

I live in the Lower Blue Mountains of NSW – west of Sydney. At present, we are experiencing a perfect storm – hot temperatures, long term drought, a build up of combustible and dry material, high winds and a terrific fire storm.

Since September 5th 2019 there has been fires burning in NSW and Queensland, which at the time of writing, has burned through 3,900,000 hectares, claimed 8 lives, and destroyed 829 properties.

It is understandable that many have fears and concerns.

And while natural disasters cause collective concern, there are so often times when individuals experience there own personal perfect storm – an unexpected medical diagnosis, the loss of a job, a car accident, sickness, depression, family dramas, breakdown of relationships, financial pressures, death of a loved one.

What do we do when we get hit by the perfect storm – or any storm?

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Sermons – Hope in…

Hope Series Graphic

‘Hope’ is a well used term, yet one that is easily misunderstood. This three part series aims to help Christians understand and be equipped as children of God to live in a world that is flawed, fraught and fallen yet still under the glorious umbrella of hope in Christ.

Using the Letter to the Romans as a springboard, this series will look to address the topics of Judgement, Suffering and Predestination – whilst recognizing that ‘creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.’ (Romans 8:20-21)

Hope in Judgement

Read the Bible text – Romans 2:17-3:20

Watch the Video – here

– Josh Ord

Hope in Suffering

Read the Bible text – Romans 5:1-5

Watch the Video – here

– Dave Swan

Hope in Chaos

Read the Bible text – Romans 8:31-39

Talk Outline – Hope..in Chaos (Predestination)

Watch the Video – here

– Ken Noakes

Sermons: A Festal Garment – Despair & Kindness (Ruth 1-4)

Ruth Sermon Series Graphic

Do you love a good party? Go back a millennium and you may have found yourself at an Israelite party – or ‘festival’ to be more accurate. Israel as the people for God conducted festivals which celebrated or reminded them of what God had done for his people. At these festivals they would read out one of their (Old Testament) scrolls – Ruth at Pentecost, Song of Songs and Passover, Ecclesiastes at the Feast of Tabernacles, Esther at Purim and Lamentations at the anniversary of the destruction of Jerusalem. This custom was not continued by the Christian church.

Yet these little books exist in our Bible and it is not often that you hear them preached. So, in our Five Festal Garments series we are going to look at these little biblical treasure troves and see what Christians can learn today as we get dressed to live godly lives.

Let’s start with the Book of Ruth

Read the Bible text – Ruth 1-4

Talk – Ruth 1-2 (Outline)

– Ken Noakes

Watch the Video – here

Talk – Ruth 3-4 (Outline)

– Ken Noakes

Watch the Video – here

Sermon – Groaning in Hope (Romans 8:18-30)

Romans 1-8 Slide

Amid the many challenges we have in life, both as Christians and as participants in a fallen and broken world, we need not waver in hope. God himself is with us and working in and around us in everything to ensure that what he has promised us in Christ will indeed eventuate. So we wait patiently, relying on him.

Read the Bible Text – Romans 8:18-30

– Josh Ord

Sermon – Nothing to Fear (Romans 5:1-21)

Romans 1-8 Slide

Hope is a funny word. It’s such a positive thing, and yet it can seem so fragile.

Psychologists tell us that hope is crucial for healthy functioning. People without hope die, while people with hope thrive. We all want something to look forward to; something to live for; a ‘destination’ in life.

And yet, who can predict the future? Life can often seem like little more than a wrecking yard of dashed hopes. What do we really have to live for? Can anyone have any certainty about what’s to come?

The fantastic message of the Bible’s letter to the Romans is that we can! – and not just a vague sense of wishful thinking, but real, grounded, impregnable confidence! – not just for now, but for all eternity!

Read the Bible Text – Romans 5:1-21

Talk Outline – Romans 5

Talk - Romans 5 (PPT Image)

– Ken Noakes

Sermon – Calamity upon the House of David – Part 2 (2 Samuel 15-18)

2 Samuel Artwork

Through the twists and turns that has become the norm in King David’s household we see God painfully faithful to his word. His judgment remains on David’s house as Absalom rebels and David flees.  Yet it is God who remains on the throne, and preserves David’s place on it, frustrating the usurpers, protecting his king and removing those who defy him.

In the ups and downs that we know in life, who calls the shots? How do you benefit by trusting God in the good and the bad?

Read the Bible Text – 2 Samuel 14:45-19:8

Talk Outline – 2 Samuel 15-18

– Ken Noakes

 

Sermon – Bold Prayers through a Great Deliverer in Psalm 22

How’s your prayer life? Perhaps you pray “plastic surgery” prayers – that look and sound OK but cover up how you are really feeling. In Psalm 22, Simon Marshman takes us to a ‘raw and real’ prayer of King David, to help us learn to rely upon our faithful God even though we may be struggling through difficult times.

Preacher: Simon Marshman

Watch the Sermon

Listen to the Sermon

Read the Bible text – Psalm 22

English Support Handout – Psalm 22