"Sunday Morning" Tagged Sermons
Sunday Morning
Jesus is coming back!
Any discussion about the future from a Christian perspective inevitably centres on one key event – the second coming of Christ. And in the Christian worldview, all of history is heading towards that climax. Everywhere we look the New Testament is littered with this teaching. But does it make any practical difference to our lives? In this message we see afresh the relevance of this important doctrine for our faith today. And with the saints of old we also cry…
Christian community in an individualistic world
Romans 12:9-21 One of the most powerful ways Christians impact those around them is by the way they relate together. Sometimes we simply take for granted this mysterious thing called “fellowship”, yet many people in modern society long for this. A common observation of the early Christians by their pagan neighbours was: “See how they love one another”. In this message we are challenged to make this love practical, not just to our best friends, but also to the those…
Humility in an Entitled World
Philippians 2:1-8 Increasingly these days we see a sense of ‘entitlement’ creeping into our national psyche. We are told to stand up for ourselves and ‘grow a spine’. But the whole essence of the gospel teaches us the opposite. And the kingdom values of Jesus fly in the face of the mood of our modern world. Listen in as Pastor Murray challenges us to follow Christ in our relationships and in our ministries, and show the world that denying self…
Sexual purity in a permissive world
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8It goes without saying that modern society is very open about sex, and there is great pressure today adopt a permissive lifestyle. In the days of the early church things were very similar, perhaps even more extreme. So how does God want Christians to live in this sort of world? In this message Pastor Murray deals with God’s view of sex and marriage in a clear and uncompromising way …. a message that needs to be heard today.
Holiness
Galations 5:16-26
The secret of contentment
Philippians 4:4-13For all the creature comforts and blessings of modern life, many people today, including many Christians, are actually quite discontented. Why? Particularly through TV and the internet we are being constantly bombarded with reminders of what we don’t have or want we ought to have in order to be happy. Just as the devil deceived Adam and Eve with this tactic, so he uses it very effectively against us today. So what’s the secret? In Philippians 3 Paul tells…
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.
Recognising the ‘Christ’ of Christmas
Luke 2:1-20Despite the medical variables of childbirth, most babies make fairly unspectacular entries into the world. In many parts of the world they are still not born in a hospital. Nor was Jesus. Yet despite His humble birth, He has divided history! As we consider the people mentioned in the Christmas story, we can’t help noticing a variety of different responses to this newborn baby – the innkeeper, the shepherds, King Herod and the wise men. Still today people struggle…
The Hope of Christmas
Luke 2:21-40With all the hype of a traditional Christmas it’s easy to overlook the small yet profound details of the original event. Two people who picked up on these details were Simeon and Anna, who had a very personal ‘chance’ encounter with Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus in the temple. This simple story has much to teach us about God, and how He still brings hope and joy to people like us today.
The Final Destination
Isaiah 65:17 – 66:24The final chapters of Isaiah’s prophecy look to a future reality beyond exile in Babylon, beyond return to Jerusalem, beyond Christ’s first coming, and to a new creation. Central to it will be God’s eternal purpose of gathering people from all nations to see his glory. But not all will be included. And so we are left to ask our selves the questions: Is that where I am going? Does the life I’m living now align with…
Revive us, O Lord!
Isaiah 64:1-12Severe drought often leads Christians to desperate prayer. How much more should spiritual drought drive us to God! The Jews in Babylon were desperate. Now, in their desperation they cried out for God to “rend the heavens and come down” as He had done in the past at Mt Sinai. They recognized that it was their sin that was blocking their deliverance, and pleaded for God’s mercy. We today also need God to revive us with a fresh visitation…
What God thinks about worship
Isaiah 58:1-14The subject of worship can be rather controversial in many Christian circles. Often the conversation will focus on the Sunday service ….. music, what we do with our arms, liturgy etc. But what does God think about worship? In today’s passage God uses the practice of fasting (common among the Jewish exiles in Babylon) to make the point that true worship must come from the heart and must involve all of life 24/7. In particular this will be seen…