Category: Sermons

Lent with Luke – Rev Andrew Fitzgerald – Luke 13:10-17

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

“When Jesus saw her, He called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’ Then He put His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” (Luke 13:12-13)

During Lent I have found the writing of John Pritchard in his devotional ‘The Journey’ very helpful. John reflects on the chronology of Luke’s Gospel through the eyes of the disciple John, ending each daily devotion with challenging questions to stimulate thought and application of God’s Word. Concerning this passage, John Pritchard asks, “I wonder what restricts our churches from being the places of freedom and hope that we’re meant to be?” For the synagogue leader, and others Jesus calls the “hypocrites” in verse 15, it was religiosity – observing the Sabbath so devoutly that healing was restricted to only six days for work (verse 14). Jesus (quite rightly) illuminated the hypocrisy, with this woman, crippled for 18 years whilst ox and donkey were cared for on the Sabbath. The freedom of God, as Jesus exampled, is accessible to all those who want and need it, any time. We must avoid this religiosity that hinders and see those whom Jesus wants to set free.

Lent with Luke – Ken Martin – Luke 9-12

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

In answer to the question “Who do you say I am?” Peter replied “You are the Christ of God”, and soon afterwards Jesus and his disciples set out for Jerusalem.  Along the way there were six examples of how not to follow Jesus:

1. Wanting to be the greatest – The disciples argued about this, and Jesus showed them a small child and said, “He who is least among you all—he is great.” (9:48)

2. The “not-one-of-us” syndrome – Jesus had to explain to his disciples that “whoever is not against you is for you.” (9:50)

3. Calling down fire on the unfriendly – James and John wanted fire from heaven to destroy an unwelcoming Samaritan village, but Jesus rebuked them. (9:51-56)

4. Not counting the cost – A man offered to follow Jesus, but Jesus warned him he would, as a result, be a homeless wanderer.  Had he really counted the cost? (9:57-58)

5. Putting it off until later – Jesus called a second man to follow him, but he said he wanted to go and bury his father first. Was this just a way of putting the decision off?  (9:59-60)

6. Any excuse will do – A third man wanted to say good-bye to his family before following Jesus.  But maybe this was just an excuse for evading the issue. (9:61-62)

Jesus had earlier told his disciples the right way to follow: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (9:23)

Lent with Luke – Steve Allott – Luke 5-8

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

““Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you’, or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he said to the man who was paralysed – “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.”

(Luke 5:22b-25)

In Luke chapters 5 to 8 we see Jesus at the height of His powers: strong, without fault, and compassionate: yet this is the one they crucified. In these chapters we see also see the gathering religious storm that killed Him. We also thought about what might be called a rhythm of both the Bible and the season of Lent: being humbled before being lifted up. Jesus was brought very low indeed before He was lifted up: to death, and you can’t get lower than that. But Jesus rose on high; and He’s alive and present by the Holy Spirit. He is God through whom all things were made, and to prove it, He raised the paralysed man and a Roman centurion intuitively called him “Lord”. So should we, and receive Him as Lord.

Lent with Luke – Rev Dave Stedman – Luke 3-4

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

“The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’””

(Luke 4:3-4)

After His baptism, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He was tested by the devil. The enemy urged Jesus to feed His appetites with inappropriate things, exercise worldly power to avoid the way of the cross and to parade Himself in a proud display, but Jesus remains resolute. These temptations are “common to man” (1 Cor. 10:13) and, in overcoming, Jesus becomes our example in our struggles with temptation. The Good News is that when we fail and fall, He is faithful and just to forgive.

The Six Core Values of CBC: 6. Growing – Rev Andrew Fitzgerald – 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)

Having identified core values from the example for church in Antioch (Acts 11 and 13) as Distinctively Christian, Authentically Spiritual, Strategically Missionary, Truly Generous and Ethnically Diverse, we concluded last Sunday with the sixth and final core value, which is Growing. The church in Antioch grew in two ways. First, it grew in number. Believers scattered by persecution, arrived in Antioch and told the good news about Jesus with a great number turning to the Lord (Acts 11:21 and 24). Second, it was growing in faith. With the visit of Barnabas and Saul, disciples were taught for a whole year growing not only in number but also in Christian maturity. As we conclude this series, and consider our application of these six core values, let’s be a people who speak unashamedly about Jesus – the main attraction and source of transformation. Let’s also be a people compelled to Christian maturity, not those who remain on the infancy of milk but enjoy the full table of God in solid food (as Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 3). And in all this, let’s remember that we must seed and water in co-operation with God but understand that it is Him who makes things grow.

Heroes of The Bible: David – Tom Fisk – 1 Samuel 17

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

“The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:37

David and Goliath is like a Superhero origin story. David came from relative obscurity, as a young man, to defeat the Philistine, Goliath, and so began his journey to become King over Israel and the ancestor of the winner of the ultimate victory, Jesus. David’s strength and power however only had one source and that was God. And it was by God’s strength that he was able to overcome Goliath. In our daily lives we often face Goliaths, whether that be our health, our finances, our relationships or our livelihoods. But the call from this story is to trust in a living God who wants to give you the strength to overcome those Goliaths in whatever form they take. David defeated Goliath by trusting in God and by God’s strength alone, let us be prayerful people who believe in a God who can do the same to our Goliaths today.

God is Accessible – Rev Andrew Fitzgerald – Psalm 139:1-12

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” (Psalm 139:7-8)

Many of you will know that just less than two weeks ago I travelled to Israel. It’s a very special place, bringing the Bible to tangible life and the places we visited both spiritually and emotionally very moving. But the danger of visiting these holy places is that you can easily become too religious and believe they are the only places were God is encountered. During my travels, I witnessed pilgrims touching the stone where Jesus it is believed Jesus was crucified and wrapped for burial. At the mount of olives, I was compelled to touch an olive tree that Jesus clearly did not touch and at least one father dunked His children in the Jordan River very much against their wishes for some kind of special blessing or anointing from the Lord. But God is not only found in these places. As the author of Psalm 139 knows, God’s presence is everywhere. Whether we are experiencing the heights or the depths, whether we find ourselves in the east or the west, God is accessible. Jesus says, in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” And Paul writes, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” So whether you are in the heights or the depths, remember that God is accessible to you. Call out to Him even in the darkness valley.