6. How to Shock an Apostle (1 Corinthians 5)

Preached on 20th September 2020 by Rupert Hunt-Taylor.

The sixth talk in the "How to win at Christianity" series.

Sermon Notes:

The real scandal in Corinth:

  • One Corinthian disease, right through the letter

  • How do chapters 5 & 6 relate to it?

Dealing with sin in the church is hugely painful… so why bother?

1.  Some real ‘judgement’: A loving heart (v1-5)

  • For his sake:  your love for the sinner demands it

2.  Some real ‘knowledge’: A fresh start (v6-8)

  • For your sake:  the health of God’s temple demands it

3.  Some real ‘spirituality’: A brotherly part (v9-13)

  • For the world’s sake:  the mission you share demands it

5. Our Embarrassing Father (1 Corinthians 4)

Preached on 13th September 2020 by Rupert Hunt-Taylor.

The fifth talk in the "How to win at Christianity" series.

Sermon Notes:

A paternity test…

1.  When do we want our approval? (1-5)

– A true child of Paul…cares for Jesus’ ultimate verdict on his heart, not that of others now.

2.  What do we think of as success? (6-18)

– A true child of Paul… boasts in nothing more or less than the message Paul was trusted with  (6-7).

– A true child of Paul… is willing to “lose” now, knowing that everything they have, they received  (8-13).

3.  Where do we look for our examples? (14-21)

– A true child of Paul… follows his ways, not just his words.

4. Two Ways to Smell

Preached on September 6th 2020 by Rupert Hunt Taylor

Worth and Worship: Humanity Rediscovered

First Reading:  Mark 7:5-8

Second Reading:  Amos 5:21-24

Third Reading: Hebrews 12:28–13:16

Sermon Notes:

  1. When does worship make the heavens stink?

    - When we barge in, filthy and proud

      • Liturgy

      • Lives

  2. When does worship make our Father smile?

    - When the crucified one fills our lips and our love

      • Liturgy

      • Lives

3. The Exhausted Soul

Preached on August 30th 2020 by Rupert Hunt Taylor

Worth and Worship: Humanity Rediscovered

First Reading: Genesis 1:31-2:3

Second reading: Hebrews 3:12-4:11

Sermon Notes:

  1. Human souls need rest

  2. Jesus gives rest to the weary

  3. We rest in him through worship

[Please enjoy the sound of authentic Scottish seagulls, added into the background of this sermon at no extra cost.]

2. The Torn Photograph

Preached on August 23rd 2020 by Rupert Hunt Taylor

Worth and Worship: Humanity Rediscovered

Sermon Notes:

Stitching the fabric of creation back together…

  1. A Joyful Gathering: At the heart of this universe is a joyful celebration.

  2. An Aching Rift: That gathering is a dangerous place to be if you don’t belong.

  3. A Spiritual Homecoming: God gives his lost children ways to come home.

Psalm 33: Praise for Presbyterians

Preached over lockdown on 31st May 2020, by Rupert Hunt-Taylor.

Psalms | Book 1: Christ's battle for the kingdom

Sermon Notes:

A song for the times that praise doesn’t come naturally.

Two places to see God’s trustworthiness:

1) Creation (v4-9)

  • You can trust God… because planets pour out of His mouth.

2) Providence (10-19)

  • You can trust God… because your heart is stuck in His eye.

Psalm 31: God's Grip

Preached over lockdown on 10th May 2020, by Rupert Hunt-Taylor.

Psalms | Book 1: Christ's battle for the kingdom

Sermon Notes:

- Two perspectives on a death

- What could God’s king see, that will help us respond with v23 & 24?

Three things that God holds in his hands:

  1. Heavy souls (v5)

  2. Human times (v15)

  3. Hidden treasure (v19)

Love | Loyalty | Life: Redemption in three cups

Preached on Easter Sunday 2020, by Rupert Hunt-Taylor

Lockdown reflections on the atonement, from Mark’s Gospel

Redemption in three cups:

  1. The cup we couldn’t drink (Mark 10:35-45)

  2. The cup he wouldn’t drink (Mark 15:22-39)

  3. The cup all heaven will drink (Mark 14:17-25)

“The Cross he Bore” by Frederick Leahy is published by the Banner of Truth Trust. This is a wonderful little book of Easter meditations drawn on (and quoted from) under Mark 14:23.

4. Three little pigs built a church... (1 Corinthians 3:5-23)

Preached on 15th March 2020 by Rupert Hunt-Taylor.

The fourth talk in the "How to win at Christianity" series.

Sermon Notes:

God owns his church, and will judge how we build:

How should we think of our ministers?

1. God’s little pigs are kindly put to work 5-9

What will become of our ministry?

2. God’s little pigs will answer for how they build 10-17

Who should we boast in and build for?

3. Our future comes from God, not his little pigs 18-23

All that glitters is not gold (2 Timothy 1)

Preached on 1st March 2020 by James Clark.

A one off sermon on 2 Timothy.

Sermon Notes

1. The gospel is what saves us, and is what we continue in v1-7

2. The gospel is nothing to be ashamed of, but we will be shamed for it v8-14

3. The gospel leads to different responses, which will mean loss and cost v15-18

2. Draining the cross of its power (1 Corinthians 1:10-2:5)

Preached on 23rd February 2020 by Rupert Hunt-Taylor.

The second talk in the "How to win at Christianity" series.

Sermon Notes:

God doesn’t need us to be clever people, only cross-people

1. The symptom: 1:10-17

Competitive Christianity

2. The disease: 1:18-25

Forgetting what the cross says about Christians

3. The remedy:

i. Remember how cross-people boast 1:26-31

ii. Remember how cross-people trust 2:1-5

The Growing Church (Colossians 1:1-14)

Preached on 16th February 2020 by Euan Dodds.

A one off sermon on Colossians 1.

Sermon Notes

1. Two promising reports (v1-8)

i. Their personal Godliness (v1-5, 8)

ii. The Power of the Gospel (v6-7)

2. Two Prayer Requests (v9-14)

i. For knowledge that they would please the Lord Jesus (v9-10)

ii. For strength that they would persevere with joy (v11-14)