Proverbs 27:20: The Eyes of Mankind
Introduction: We are living in the information age, and the tools of the information age are primarily our computers, our tablets and our phones. But it is felt across the board that things are getting out of hand. One statistic says the people spend about 90 minutes a day on their phones, this is about 23 days a year and about 3.9 years of your life spent on your phone. One study reckons that cell phone users average touching their phones 2617 times a day, and the worst would be about 5400 times. We are becoming slaves to our...
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Romans 14:17-19: Why we should never be a stumbling block
Introduction: Never be a stumbling block to another Christian, this is the point Paul has just been making, we carry on with Paul in 14:17-19 where he talks about why we should not be a stumbling block, ‘For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.’ Our portion begins with the word ‘for’ indicating its connection with what Paul...
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Romans 12:11: Fervour
Outline Zealous fervour Spiritual fervour Directed fervour Introduction Try and read Romans 12:11 through a 21st century mindset. Think of the pluralistic political correctness that has to insist that all views are equally valid. Think of the new militant and vocal left that is deconstructing traditional Christians truths and norms. Think of the post-9/11 allergy to religious fervour. Now hear this verse, ‘Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.’ Our age cannot hear this verse without hearing an endorsement for radicalism; fundamentalism; stabbings and shootings at night clubs and concerts. This verse would...
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2 Samuel 1: David and the Amalekite
Outline The Amalekite David Introduction Two worlds colliding: that is what we are seeing when we see the Amalekite and David acting towards the same event, the death of Saul. The Amalekite is a picture for us of our opportunistic selves, and David portrays a man whose heart is gripped with a fervour for the glory of God. The book of 2 Samuel continues on the heels of 1 Samuel. The judgement of God has fallen upon Saul and Israel. The Philistine army has conquered and settled in Israel, Saul has committed suicide and Israel is without a king....
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Romans 12:8: The Gift of Mercy
Outline Mercy defined Mercy exampled Introduction Plato once said, ‘How can a man be happy when he has to serve someone?’ This question highlights the tension between joy and commanded service, duty and desire. Yet this is the very thing that Paul is calling us to as he moves on in his discussion of the spiritual gifts, ‘the one who does acts of mercy with cheerfulness.’ It has been said that all the gifts mentioned in Romans 12:6-8 relate to the office of elder and deacon, this could be the case, but we are trying to show how there...
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1 John 2:28-3:9: Why Be Holy?
Outline So that we wont be ashamed on Judgement day Because it is a self evident truth As a response to immeasurable love Because of our identity as children of God Because one day we will be like Him The contradictory nature of sin to Christian submission The sin destroying purpose of Christ’s work The radical effect of regeneration Introduction Why be Holy? Holiness is our destiny, our identity, and it is a command. But this morning we will be looking at how the apostle John motivates his Church to be holy from the epistle of 1 John 2:28-3:9....
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1 Samuel 31: Suicide
Outline God’s plan Saul’s sin Introduction Today we are going to be looking at one of the more underappreciated gifts, the gift of encouragement/exhortation. Romans 12:8 reads, ‘the one who exhorts, in his exhortation.’ The Greek word here occurs 107 times in the NT and has been translated in various ways, beseech, comfort, desire, pray, entreat, console. The word for exhortation in this text is literally paraklese, this may sound familiar to you because when Jesus promises the Holy Spirit He promises the Parakletos. This means the one called alongside. The Latin translation of this is cum forte, the...
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Ecclesiastes 4:7-8; 5:10-20: The Vanity of Riches
Outline Blind slave Afflicted service Introduction All our pleasures are poisoned with pain and disappointment. This is one of the key lessons of the book of Ecclesiastes. We live in a fallen world, the characteristic phrase in Ecclesiastes for this is life ‘under the sun.’ If you have come here for a pick-me-up this morning you are going to be sorely disappointed. This morning’s message is a reality shot. I have been impressed in my devotional reading of Ecclesiastes of the fallen realities we experience and have a strong desire to bring the common sense of the bible’s wisdom...
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1 Samuel 22: When the wicked prosper
Outline The provision of the cave The killing of the priests The praise of the persecuted Introduction Why do the wicked prosper? This is a question that has confounded the people of God since the devil overcame our first parents in the garden. If God is so caring why are His people that he claims to love so hard pressed? If God is so just why does He not suddenly come and judge the wicked? If God is so powerful why do His people have to continue in persecution? We can jump almost anywhere into the story line of...
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Romans 12:3: Humility
Outline Psychology of pride Remedy of pride Introduction When I say, ‘Be holy!’ when you seek to apply that, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Paul has just told us to be holy, to be a living sacrifice giving our whole selves to God. In the rest of this section he moves on to tell us the specifics of what that looks like. What is the first thing Paul talks about? This question is very helpful for us to see what Paul prioritises. Paul is moving into a new section where he talks about our relationships...
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Ephesians 4:25: Our Debt of Truth: Part Two
Outline Putting away falsehood Speaking the truth Introduction Imagine a world with no lies and no liars. Imagine how the politicians would speak as they propose the best ways to make a better country, think of the nature of their promises, how they would represent their opposition, and describe the true problems we have. Think of the newspapers and how they would be unbiased in their reporting, the normal leftist leaning reporting that demonises the non-liberal would discuss the really important issues in fair ways presenting both sides. Advertising would stop using the language of worship for trivial things,...
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Ephesians 4:25: Our Debt of Truth: Part One
Outline Putting away falsehood Speaking the truth Introduction Imagine a world with no lies and no liars. Imagine how the politicians would speak as they propose the best ways to make a better country, think of the nature of their promises, how they would represent their opposition, and describe the true problems we have. Think of the newspapers and how they would be unbiased in their reporting, the normal leftist leaning reporting that demonises the non-liberal would discuss the really important issues in fair ways presenting both sides. Advertising would stop using the language of worship for trivial things,...
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1 Samuel 12: Addressing Sin
Outline The remembrance of sin The exposure of sin The forgiveness of sin Introduction We all know what a party-pooper is, a kill joy, a wet-blanket. In the portion that we have before us Saul has just had his first victory and the nation is finally united under their new king. It is in the midst of this victory that Samuel stands up and ruins the mood. As unwelcome as an evangelistic sermon at a wedding or a funeral Samuel fulfilling his role as prophet speaks about the sins of the people and leads them in a covenant renewal....
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Romans 11:33: The Deep Knowledge of God
Outline God’s knowledge God’s knowledge of sin God’s knowledge of me Introduction A W Pink in his book on the sovereignty of God writes: ‘The god who is talked about in the average pulpit, spoken of in the ordinary Sunday school, mentioned in much of the religious literature of the day, and preached in most of the so-called Bible conferences, is a figment of human imagination, an invention of maudlin sentimentality. The heathen outside the pale of Christendom form gods of wood and stone, while millions of heathen inside Christendom manufacture a god out of their carnal minds. In...
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1 Samuel 8: Demanding a King
Outline The desire for a king The burden of a king Introduction Many people struggle to read the OT and profit from it, but you can always learn something about God, Christ and yourselves from the OT. In the text that we have before us we are confronted with the stupidity and stubbornness of our sinfulness. Last week we saw Israel on one of her best days, she was repenting and prayerful, full of faith and humility. This is the opposite side of the coin, here we see Israel in her sins as she demands a king. Various characteristics...
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1 Samuel 2:12-36: Eli
Outline Eli’s sons Eli’s rebuke Eli’s prophecy Introduction To the everyday worshipper in Israel the religious and political leadership of Israel looked hopelessly corrupt. Eli was a weak leader who had allowed his sons to pervert the worship of God and were next in line for succession. Things were looking bleak for the future. However, we have just had Hannah’s song, a song that speaks about God dealing with those who are sinful and exalt themselves, how He will cut off the proud and wicked. We would expect this chapter to open with a war against the Philistines, but...
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