Sermons, Articles, and Other Things

This sermon was preached on 27/3/2011 Peter, as he writes to the Christian exiles, reminds them that their salvation is not a new message. They had become exiles through responding to the gospel, and perhaps they faced the suggestion that their problems were connected to the claim that the message of Christianity was a novel one. It is certain that Jews opposed to the gospel would have made that accusation. We can imagine the content: ‘God’s Word says nothing about the message you hear and believe. You are followers of another faith and the prophetic promises have noting for you.’ In response to such an accusation, Peter explains what had been the response of the Old Testament contributors (vv. 10-12). Peter’s words in our text deal with several issues that we can consider. The first is distortions of the message of the Old Testament, the second is how the three groups of God’s servants mentioned by Peter responded to the message, and the third is the central themes of the Old Testam...

This sermon was preached on 27/3/2011 A theologian called Brentius has commented on this event as follows: ‘No synod on earth was ever more gloriously attended than this. No assembly was ever more illustrious. Here is God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost. Here are Moses and Elijah, the chief of the prophets. Here are Peter, James and John, the chief of the apostles.’ The event described by Luke here is one that made a deep impression upon Peter. Undoubtedly we could say this about many of the experiences that Peter went through in the company of Jesus. Yet he does refer to this incident in 2 Peter 1:16-18: ‘For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honour and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice bor...

This sermon was preached on 24/3/2011 Paul, in describing the spiritual activities of God’s people, uses the illustration of undressing and dressing. In the previous passage, he has listed several characteristics that they are to discard (he does not mean that they should be then stored in a spiritual wardrobe in order to be worn at a subsequent occasion; instead they are to thrown out with the rubbish). Now he mentions several features that they are to put on. These items are not clothes for our body, rather they are designed for our souls. We know that clothes for our bodies are often designed to hide our defects, so that others who observe us don’t see the real us. In contrast, the items mentioned by Paul are intended to reveal that we are new creatures, that our souls are in the process of being renewed by God. Another detail that we need to note is that it is our responsibility to put on this new attire. Paul’s words make this aspect very clear. Who can put on the new clothes?...

This sermon was preached on 21 March, 2011 It was a wonderful experience for doubting Thomas when he responded in worship to Jesus and gladly confessed his faith by saying, ’My Lord and my God’ (John 20:26-28). After all he had just seen the physical evidences of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, so it is not surprising that he acknowledged his Lordship. The evidences of the crucifixion were the holes in the hands and side of Jesus, and the evidence of his resurrection was the fact that he was alive. It was a wonderful privilege given to Thomas and the others to see the risen Lord. So we may find the response of Jesus rather puzzling: ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’ (John 20:29). What could Jesus have meant? An answer to that question is given in 1 Peter 1:8-9: ‘Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled wit...

This sermon was preached on 10/3/2011 In this passage, Paul calls his Colossian readers to life transformation. In 3:1-4 he reminded them that they live in union with Christ. Although they cannot see him, they are linked to him and experience the effects of that union in their lives on earth. These effects will be visible, so it is not surprising that Paul, in explaining how union with Jesus shows itself, focuses on visible effects. He urges them to deal with actions and attitudes that are common to unconverted people but which are not to be found among God’s people. The sins that he mentions can be classified as forms of immorality (v. 5) and wrong forms of speech (vv. 8-9). Such sins are visible in their effects and reveal a failure to deal with inner sin. So in dealing with these sins, the apostle does not only mention the sins, he also gives reasons why they should be dealt with. Right away we can see that Paul stresses the responsibility of the Colossians to work out the heaven...

This sermon was preached on 6/3/2011 Peter is very aware that some of his readers have been going through the fires of persecution. Yet that difficult experience is only one of several kinds of trial they had or were enduring. Right away, we can see a very common feature of trials – they seldom come alone. Persecution is a difficult occurrence to cope with, but there are other intense trials that believers can go through. What other trials could they have experienced? One set of trials would have come under the everyday problems that many people faced at that time such as illness or lack of food. Christian parents would have worries about providing for the needs of their families. Death from disease was common. In addition, they had trials connected to their Christian faith. In times of persecution, some believers would lack courage and deny their relationship with Jesus. The temptation to imagine that Jesus did not care about them as they suffered for his sake was one that the ene...

This sermon was preached on Sunday, 6/3/2011 Jesus is continuing to prepare his apostles, including Peter, for the role they are to play in his coming kingdom, the church, which would be set up when he ascended to heaven and sent the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. This means that when this incident took place they were still in that learning process. It is important to keep this in mind as we consider Peter’s objections to the words of Jesus concerning his suffering in Jerusalem. We begin our knowledge of Jesus, our discipleship, with an understanding of the cross. It was different with the disciples. They began their acquaintance with him before he suffered at Calvary; they followed a man who could perform great miracles, preach profound sermons and pray for prolonged periods. What we can study and digest in a few hours of Bible reading was several months’ teaching for these disciples. It is likely that Jesus had taken his disciples to Caesarea Philippi in order for them to be alon...