Sovereign God, Hardened Hearts (Romans 9:6-29)
August 31, 2008 by Penny
Today’s passage from Romans poses some apparently simple questions that are hard to answer.
Who is God? What is God like? Questions children ask, but they can be challenging and our answers can be revealing. “Is he safe?” asks Lucy in the Narnia story and gets the reply “Safe! Safe? Of course he’s not safe! But he is good.” Read more
Our Jewish Origins (Romans 9:1-5)
August 24, 2008 by Simon
The sermon begins with a dialogue between preacher & congregation about the blessings and benefits of being a Christian/
“What do you enjoy about being a Christian?”
“What are some of the most important blessings associated with being a Christian?”
Responses
“Would you be willing to give these blessing up?”
“Would you be willing to reject the benefits and blessing of your salvation?”
“What, if anything, would make you willing to deny or reject your salvation?”
New Life in Jesus: Life not Death (Romans 8:18-39)
August 17, 2008 by Colin
Romans 8:18-39
Mr Colin Ottewell
In the first few pages of the very best book I’ve ever read on the subject of preaching, the author asks two questions which are searching and challenging. They are, of course, directed at preachers, but I thought it would be downright unfair of me not to share them with all of you this morning.
Though you may not thank me if they make you feel uncomfortable.
Firstly he says, it’s worth asking ourselves, what is it about Jesus and the Christian life that gives us a buzz? What is it about God that particularly excites you and stirs you? What is it about him that moves you more than anything else? Has it to do with what he calls the dance of the Trinity? Or the suffering God? Or the renewing Spirit? Or is it the amazing and inexplicable grace of Christ? Does anything about God excite you – or do you look back and remember days when it did, and has it all gone stale and tired? I warned you it might be uncomfortable.
And secondly he asks, as we read verses from the Bible, should we not hope to be like an explorer who goes into a cave, makes an amazing discovery and runs out shouting, “Look what I have found!” Are our Christian lives lived out of the excitement of continual new discoveries?
You can see why I love this book.
New Life in Jesus: Spirit not Flesh (Romans 8:1-17)
August 10, 2008 by Simon
I had lunch with a friend of mine this week who’s looking for a new parish. So he’s looking at adverts in the Church Press and writing off for job descriptions. And parishes are writing back with details of what they are looking for.
He showed me one of these job descriptions and particularly the opening pages which described something of the person they were looking for. Read more