Sermons by Michael Howell (Page 11)
Michael Howell
Nothing in my hand I bring
Luke 18:9-14 We all can be tempted to believe that our spiritual high achieving might make us acceptable to God. But Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector reminds us that only those who come to God empty-handed are accepted by him.
Running from God
Jonah 1:1-4 Jonah reminds us that we cannot outrun God. Going our own way only ever leads to disappointment, brokenness and trouble. The storms of life call us back to God, back to trusting him and serving him.
Come and See
John 1:43-51Nathanael was searching for the one who would set things right for Israel, but when Philip announces that they’ve found this one, he doubts. This story shows us what evangelism in a world of seekers and sceptics requires, both from us and from Jesus.
The Blessed Life
Psalm 1 presents a contrast between the wicked and the righteous. A fruitful life comes to those who turn away from sin and plant themselves deep in God’s word. How might we do that in 2020?
2020 Vision
Mark 10:46-52The story of Bartimaeus reminds us that only Jesus can fix our spiritual eyes and that Jesus is the only one on whom our eyes should be fixed. Whatever our personal goals or ambitions might be for 2020, let us prioritise seeing Christ – crucified, risen, reigning and returning – more clearly.
Omnipresent
God is not bound by space. He is everywhere fully present. Listen as we think about what this means for us, who are only ever able to be in the one place at the one time.
The Greatest Invitation
Isaiah 55:1-13 God issues a universal and urgent invitation to us to come to the banquet of grace. To accept the invitation is to repent, turning from our wicked ways and thoughts. Those who do will experience the mercy of the God who fully pardons and know that their future is certain and better than they could ever imagine.
Eternal
God is eternal. We are not. This reality should shape the way we live now and the way we view the future. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Ps 90:14).
Self-Existent
The first of our series on some of the ways that God is different from us. God is self-existent. He has no origin and he is the origin of all things. This truth should shape the way we depend on him for life, the way we understand and use our creativity and the way we worship.
No more barriers
Acts 8:26-40 The Ethiopian could say, “what can stand in the way of my being baptised?” because he had come to understand that nothing stood between him and God. As we celebrate baptisms, let us rejoice in the fact that in Jesus, God has removed all the barriers that exist between us and him.
Setting things right
Isaiah 41:20-42:17Things are not right in our world. The exiles in Babylon knew this in a very specific way. But in a more general sense, so too do we. In our passage today, Isaiah points us to the one who would enter this “not-right” world and make things right, the true Servant of the Lord.
The Perfect King
Psalm 72 paints for us the picture of a perfect King, one who brings justice, peace, prosperity and more to his people. But no human king ever came close to being this kind of king. We’re left longing for the truly perfect king. And that’s what we have in Jesus. When he is king, and only then, will we get the world we all want.