Sermon notes: 2024  : April, May June

Supposing

Sunday Worship on 14th April 2024 was led by Roy Davey

Today we look at three 'supposings'!

In Luke 24:21, disciples walking to Emmaus confessed to one they thought was a stranger that they had supposed that Jesus was 'the Messiah who would redeem Israel'.  In  Luke 2:44, Mary and Joseph, missing on a journey the 12-year old Jesus, supposed that he had been with others in the company travelling home. In John 20:15, Mary at the empty tomb supposed she was talking to the gardener. 

How often we 'hope' and 'suppose' and so make mistakes!

Jerusalem was abuzz with rumours and opinions about the crucified Jesus having come back to life.  Two disciples were on the seven-mile trek back home. They didn't know what to believe when, unbeknown to them, Jesus Himself joined them on the journey. He explained to them that the Scriptures had foretold exactly what had happened; that Messiah would be rejected, suffer and die. But that He would rise again after three days. It was then that 'supposing' became confident faith.

When Jesus was 12 years old He joined His parents and villagers on their visit to Jerusalem at feast-time. He was missed on the journey home as His parents 'supposed' that He was travelling with others. They had to return to Jerusalem to find Him - and He was in the Temple astonishing senior priests with His questions and answers.

Back to the empty tomb! Mary, weeping that she could not find the deceased body of her Saviour, was called by name by One she 'supposed' to be the gardener.  Jesus knows all our names, we may have every confidence in Him.

Jonah for All

Sunday Worship on 28th April 2024 was led by Alan Chant

We have recently had an instructive time at our Bible Study series about the prophet Jonah. Alan summarised these studies for the benefit of the whole church.

Jonah does not come out of the story well. God called him to take a warning to Nineveh - then the largest world city with a well-deserved reputation for cruelty and violence. Jonah was violently opposed to taking this message; he knew God's nature: He is a 'compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15 NIV). 

When Jonah's attempts to run away from God's call were thwarted by sovereign actions of God, Jonah went to proclaim the warning, and the worst happened (from Jonah's point of view): there was a city-wide sincere repentance.  Jonah hated it; he could not understand the grace of God; the Ninevites did not deserve God's undeserved mercy!  The book ends with a personal object lesson for Jonah, which he still seems reluctant to accept.

In Matthew 12:38-42 Jesus invites us to compare Himself to Jonah: the historical account was also a prediction of the Saviour. Despite happening 800 years earlier, Jonah's experience of near-certain death, then new life after being three days and three nights in the great fish, pointed to what Jesus would experience. There are many other points of similarity, including sleeping afloat in a storm, being wakened to the same questions; being willing to die for others; a sacrifice of life for others to live; entombment for 3 days and 3 nights;  resurrection; the message taken to non-Jews and believed in revival power.  

The whole story shouts God's sovereignty and grace throughout.

The Provision of God

Sunday Worship on 2nd June 2024 was led by Mr Kenny Rule

Last time Kenny spoke to us, his message, from Psalm 23, was about three D's:  a DECISION to be made, a DIRECTION to be followed and a DESTINATION to be achieved.  Kenny returned to the 23rd Psalm, this time focussing on three P's.

The Provision of God: "The Lord is my Shepherd" - What a provision!  It begins with a relationship; it is personal; it is He who gave us the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember the promise in Philippians 4:19 - 'God shall supply all your needs'? God has provided for us, like for sheep lying down in green pastures. As well as material provision he provides spiritual nourishment in the Bible; all 66 books are for the growth of our faith.  Food must be supported by drink; we are led by still waters: taught by the Holy Spirit who inspired the Scriptures.

The Presence of God: "Though I walk through the valley of death, you are with me" - so many can testify to this! Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David..., so many who will say they were not on their own; they knew God's presence and power.  In the New Testament the disciples knew God's presence and power also. And it is the same today because He is the same today; do we recognise this before it will be too late? Today is the Day of Salvation, tomorrow may be too late.

The Promise of God: "I will dwell in the House of the Lord for ever".  Don't let the busy things of this world detract from the present enjoyment of eternal pleasures. God has prepared a 'table' and an 'overflowing cup'. Enough to have and to share with others. Followed all through life by God's 'goodness and mercy'. 

When Jesus was on the cross He responded to the dying thief: "today you will be with Me in paradise." Even if you have spurned God's promises of His provision and His presence it is not too late to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

'That I May Know Him...'  Philippians 3, verses 8 to 10

Sunday Worship on 9th June 2024 was led by Roy Davey

There is an astonishing statement in Philippians 3:8: 'I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord'.  The writer, the apostle Paul, explains that he once had so much going for him as a Jewish religious leader, but now he regarded such as discarded garbage; Christ was now the entire focus of his life.

(Philippians 3:8) We likewise need to be acquainted with God.  'Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace', says Job 22:21.  How is this possible? The Bible tells us with authority that one of Jesus' roles is to be our Great High Priest - connecting humanity to divinity. Jesus Christ was 'tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin', He thus has empathy for our situations in life, and by His death has provided 'a way back to God from the dark paths of sin'. 

(Philippians 3:10) We need to experience God.  Even after 62 years of marriage, Roy told us, he and his wife are still finding out new things about each other. We can't start to know Him too soon. The hymn warns:  'if you tarry 'til you're better, you may never come at all'.  The newly-sighted man in John chapter 9 could not answer the questions from the religious leaders, but he could testify from his own experience: 'one thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!'  

(Philippians 3:10) We need to be under His influence.  Even if we have to suffer for it, we follow in Christ's steps. See also 1 Peter 2:21.  We sing: 'May the mind of Christ my Saviour live in me from day to day'. 

Paul's wish was to know Christ more fully.  There used to be an old secular love song of dedication by Jody Miller:

 "To know, know, know him is to love, love, love him - and I do, and I do, and I do".  

If that is true in the human realm, how much more should we long to know and love Christ better.

'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.' John 1:29

Sunday Worship on 16th June 2024 was led by Alan Chant

After 400 years of prophetic silence since Malachi, John the Baptist preaches a message of repentance. How faithful Jews must have rejoiced!  God has not abandoned His people! Is the Messiah coming? Christ is the focus of John's preaching: "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world".  He repeats it, and tells his disciples to follow Jesus.  This message must be important!  There are six key words.

Jesus is the Lamb of God. The Passover lamb pointed to Jesus. The message: "God will accept the lamb's sacrificed blood in place of the death you deserve."

This Lamb of God takes away the sins of the world?  No quite!  It is 'the sin of the world'.  He deals with the problem, not the symptoms.  Sin has separated humankind from God.

This Lamb takes away sin.   He deals with the guilt and the power of sin: forgiveness and holiness. The lambs sacrificed daily in the temple foreshadowed what Jesus was prepared to do for us; He gave His life at Calvary because he was prepared to take the blame for our wickedness.  He also imparts God the Holy Spirit to give us new birth and the growth of a holy life.

He takes away the sin of the world.  Jews were expecting a Messiah for their nation. Jesus does much more than take away Jews' sin. All nations are included too.

Jesus is the Lamb of God; Jesus is God’s way for acceptance.  It is insolent to suggest any other. Jesus is the only sacrifice that God will accept. Never our good lives!  

Look! The Lamb of God.  Look!  It is that easy!  We do not have to copy Jesus good life; (we would fail). Faith is not admiring Jesus. It is certainly not to try to do again those actions that we are ashamed of.  That would be rejecting Jesus work for our own!  Do you rely on Jesus blood for your salvation?  If you have a different scheme for salvation, you have no salvation.

Jesus Calms Our Personal Storms

Sunday Worship on 23rd June 2024 was led by Alan Crowe

Yesterday was the Point and Penpoll Regatta: the greatest and best! Why? Because the large boats can sail close to the shore; it is easy to see the faces of those on board and to share their emotions.  Experience of life is often distressing: on board a boat in a storm, or being kept in a cold ambulance all night as Accident and Emergency is full!  How do we cope with life's storms? Do we look to the source of Hope: Jesus our Saviour and Friend? He experienced human distresses and disappointments, and so is able to support. From Hebrews 6:19-20, we learn:

 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,  where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.  

I have seen a 15-ton anchor fail to hold; it had to be weighed and extra weight added to it!  This is not true of Jesus, who is our anchor. He is the risen Lord; the power that raised Him from death is also in the Christian believer. 

Jesus experienced what we experience. When we experience distress or disappointment we seek for Jesus to be alongside us. Do you remember the occasion when Jesus was exhausted and asleep in a boat in a storm?  He had been tired, yet stayed with His disciples and friends; and He was there when they needed Him.

He went to the cross for our salvation; the risen Lord Jesus Christ is with us today. As FDR said: "the only thing to fear, is fear itself".

At yesterday's regatta, unusually, the RNLI arrived as a precaution, but the Lord Jesus Christ is with us all the time. He is our anchor when in dark despair; He gave his life for us. He is our hope in the storms of life.