Sermons

Theme: As Christians we are called to suffer according to God’s Will Points: 1. Rejoicing in Suffering 2. Suffering for the right reason

The end is closer than it has ever been … in our passage, the Apostle Peter says that the end is near. So how should we live in these last days? Join us as we explore what it means to think like Christ and live like Christ in these final days.

Theme: Christ’s victory calls us to live the Gospel 1. Called to Bless 2. Called to Answer 3. Called to Remember who wins

Theme: To proclaim the Gospel wives are to be beautiful and husbands are to be considerate Points: 1. Wives be beautiful 2. Husbands be considerate

Theme: We are called to live as exiles by looking to Christ Point One: Live a good life to point people to Christ Point Two: Live a good life by submitting to civil authority Point Three: Live a good life by submitting to human authority

Theme: We are God’s people called to declare His praise Points: 1. Called to grow 2. Called to offer sacrifices 3. Called to declare praise

Theme: Our hope leads us to holy living Points: 1. Hope comes from our Father 2. Hope calls us to Holiness 3. Hope calls us to Love

Young Adults Evening Service. We welcome back Dan Kroon from the Wollongong Reformed Church to speak to us on the topic “Why is there Suffering?”

In the final part of our series on disciple-making we consider where Disciples are to be made. The short answer is anywhere! Wherever there are people, there is an opportunity to do something or say something that can potentially move someone step closer to God – whether a believer or not. The sermon considers that the 2 key places though must be Church and the Home. Every time we come to church, we can come not as consumers, but come ready and willing to love and serve one another. IN fact in being commanded to love one another – there is no better time or place than at church, and no more loving a thing we could do than to help someone move closer to God, through our witness, encouragement, challenge and prayer. The home must also be a place where spousal relationships seek to honour God and where parents seek to point their families to God through their own example, words and actions.

Strangely, because of the culture we live in, the word “submission” irritates us and gets us worked up, hot under the collar. Yet, in reality I believe we actually find submission attractive. Just a few example! We have all been to the supermarket and watched the child do a tantrum at the cash registers. Yesterday, I was at an Ice Cream parlour and the high pitch squeal from the child could have been used as a weapon. The child of course was protesting about the flavour of the ice cream he was given. Standing there, you don’t think to yourself, “That was attractive.” In the same way – when you see a married couple bickering or people throwing stones at the Police in a protest – the word “attractive” isn’t the first word that comes to mind. When chaos reigns in a country we don’t think to ourselves – “Yes, I want to go there.” Killing, mayhem and chaos don’t attract most people. A society can only work if there is submission to those in authority! Families can only work that way. An absence of authority leads to chaos. “Submission” is a great theme of Scripture. Submission to God appointed authorities and it is part of doing good and attracting people to the gospel.

God wants us to live a life that would bring glory and honour to the son who saved us. God wants us to live a life that would be in keeping with who Christ is. Peter’s letter goes on to encourage us to see Christ as the example for Christian living. New Testament worship is not in itself simply singing praise, but listening well, obedience, acting well, serving well, living well. Every aspect of our lives should resound with praise to God. When suffering comes our way, we need to remember our privileges as Christians We have sins forgive in Christ. We have an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.. in Christ. People talk about every cloud having a silver lining but we talk about the fact that the future glory far outweighs any suffering or disappointment we have now. Our privilege must result in praise and worship.