Sermon – Persevere: Contending for the Faith (Jude 1-4, 17-25)

Read the text – Jude 1-4, 17-25

Jude is a short little letter which packs a punch. It is written to those who know what faith in Jesus is about – and urges them to ‘contend for the faith’ in the face of what are known challenges. This letter is as valuable today as it would have been for those who originally received it and will help equip believers to persevere as we walk in Jesus.

In this sermon, Ken Noakes encourages us to “be in it to win it”, because there is an urgent, pressing need that we fight for our faith. But we aren’t left to our own devices: we have the firm foundation of God’s word, and we have the power of the Holy Trinity behind us, so we can be built up by God’s word, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep in God’s love and wait on the Lord Jesus.

Bible talk outline

Sermon – Love & Hate (1 John 3:11-24; 4:7:21)

Read the text – 1 John 3:11-24 & 1 John 4:7-21

Love that is Christian, is a love for others that is both pleasing and acceptable to God before it is to the world. This is a huge topic and so contested today. For today, love is often determined by popular opinion or consensus – and as directed by the loudest voices. In this talk, Ken Noakes looks at the importance of understanding Love in the context of truth and obedience. God indeed wants Christians to be loving – love that is truthful, sacrificial, obedient even if different to the way the world looks for love.

Sermon – How to go to Church: Gospel Gifts (1 Cor 12:1-11)

Read the text – 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

In this Bible talk, Ken Noakes look at what is written to the church of Corinth about how spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit for a purpose. Misused, these gifts and our attitude toward those who don’t seem to have the same gifts, can cause us to become prideful and feel superior to others spiritually. That should not be. We are reminded that each gift from the Holy Spirit is used for serving each other, for the common good, while glorifying the Lord. It is not for ranking each other spiritually.