Read the text – 1 Peter 3:8-22
Suffering is an unfortunate but common fact of life. And as Christians, we will at one point in our lives be confronted with suffering for our faith. In this sermon in the series ‘Stand Fast’, spoken at LMAP Glenbrook evening service, Nick Lindeback encourages use to fearlessly proclaim Christ, even with the prospect of the suffering that comes with it.
Read the text – 1 Peter 2:11-3:7
In this sermon of the ‘Stand Fast’ sermon series, David Swan speaks on the place of Christians in Society. He looks at the importance of living good lives in the face of persecution, with the goal of saving others as well as glorifying God.
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 text – Isaiah 33:2-35:10
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 sermon, Dave Swan shows how God, after sending adversity and affliction on his people, will also provide bread and water for the righteous that will not fail. God will provide a highway in the wilderness, enabling the ransomed of the Lord to return to him. In God we have the ultimate provider and sustainer; he is our Rock, our foundation and giver of life.
Read the text – Isaiah 28:1-33:1
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 sermon, Ken Noakes shows us how God’s punishes and saves Jerusalem – bringing them back to himself through the bread of adversity and water of affliction. This might not be the meal the people of Israel want, but it’s what they need. And even when his people are unfaithful, he is faithful. God will use both the good and the bad to bring about his plans, so we should trust God, even when things don’t seem good.
Forget crowns and castles! What does it REALLY mean to be a king? This Easter, it’s time to rethink everything you thought you knew about power, sacrifice, and the true King who changed the world forever. We are “RethinKING Easter.”
Read the text – Zechariah 9:9-17; Luke 19:28-44
We can define a king as one with the power to raise an army yet Jesus defies this kind of kingship because he comes as one who is “gentle and riding on a donkey”. The kingship that he brings is one of peace in the face of war. We need not be threatened by Jesus but welcome him with praise.
In this talk Ken Noakes helps us to see the long-term fulfillment of what was long proclaimed about God’s King – and story that spanned 500 years from prophecy to fulfillment.
Read the text – Exodus 12:14-28; Luke 22:1-37
We can define a King as one who people serve, yet Jesus defies this kind of kingship by being the one who came to serve, laying down his life for his friends.
In this talk, Gary Haddon helps us to see in Jesus a sovereign King who suffered and a king who suffered in order to save.
Read the text – Luke 23:50-24:35; Acts 2:22-39
A way to define kingship by succession – yet we still recognize that for every king, no matter his power, or influence, or riches – they will one day die. Yet Jesus defies kingship in almost every way – not least of all in his death and then resurrection. A king, who in death gave his riches as an internal inheritance for all who trust in him. That is Easter.
In this talk Neil Atwood will help us consider the significance of Jesus’ resurrection as a certain indicator of Jesus’ true kingship over all of life.
Read the text – Colossians 1:24-2:5
Any teaching that wants to suggest that Christians need Jesus PLUS … (anything else) to be a Christian or to live as a Christian is guilty of contradicting the supremacy of Christ. Being told we need more than him (either for salvation or to live as a Christian) means that we are being taught that what he has done is not enough. We need to stand firm in our faith in Jesus as all we need for this life and the next.
In this sermon, Gary Haddon helps us understand that growing in Christ doesn’t happen without effort on our part. It must be pursued, and there will be struggle, but we can encourage each other as we contend for Christ together.
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 32:1-10 & Job 33:1-33
We meet Job’s younger friend Elihu. He has been patiently listening to all that has so far been said and finally he breaks his silence and implores Job to listen (33:1-2). He wants Job to trust his words for he is – sincere (33:3), compassionate (33:6-7) and he speaks with the spirit of God (33:4-5).
His argument: Job is not suffering because he has sinned, but he cautions Job not to sin in his suffering.
Gary Haddon helps the listener consider how we react when suffering – do we look up and down? The ‘why’ of suffering is not the question, but who we are trusting for salvation.
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.
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