Preached on 25th October 2020 by Peter Dickson.
A one-off sermon on Jonah 1:1-17.
Sermon Notes
We can be very serious about getting away from The Lord
Our God is surprisingly resourceful
What greater sign could ever be given us?
10. A better master, in a broken world (1 Corinthians 7:10-24)
Preached on 18th October 2020 by Rupert Hunt-Taylor.
The tenth talk in the "How to win at Christianity" series.
Sermon Notes:
How do we find contentment, in a world of disposable things?
In a broken world, it’s enough...
1. …to fight for Jesus’ faithfulness (v10-11)
• so don’t dispose of your marriage!
2. …to live in Jesus’ peacefulness (v12-16)
• so don’t devalue your marriage!
3. …to belong to a better master (v17-24)
• so don’t despise your freedom!
9. Make love, not prayers (1 Corinthians 7:1-9)
Preached on 11th October 2020 by Rupert Hunt-Taylor.
The ninth talk in the "How to win at Christianity" series.
Sermon Notes:
Good, better, best: a game of Spiritual Twister
A reassuringly complicated response
How do we “glorify God in our body”?
1. If God has given you marriage: make love, not prayers! (v1-7)
The command: a cross-shaped bedroom (v3-4)
The concession: a cautious exception (v5-6
Unwrap your own gift! (v7)
2. If God has given you independence: be wise about your weakness! (v8-9)
8. The worth of your body (1 Corinthians 6:12-20)
Preached on 4th October 2020 by Rupert Hunt-Taylor.
The eight talk in the "How to win at Christianity" series.
Sermon Notes:
On the love of our bodies...
Christianity: an earthy, bodily religion.
1. What you’ve got wrong (12-14)
Your life is more significant than you realise.
2. What you don’t know (15-17)
Your relationships are more powerful than they feel.
3. What it means now (18-20)
Your body is ‘you’, but not ‘yours.’
So flee...
So glorify...
7. A crash course in anti-evangelism (1 Corinthians 6:1-11)
Preached on 27th September 2020 by Rupert Hunt-Taylor.
The seventh talk in the "How to win at Christianity" series.
Sermon Notes:
A tragedy: Christians who don’t know where they’ve come from, or where they are going.
How might we become non-verbal heretics?
1. What we tell the world
– “We don’t believe in the last judgement”
church is a place full of squabbles (v1-6)
– “We don’t believe in the cross”
church is a place for the strong (v7-8)
2. What we tell ourselves
– “We don’t believe in the last judgement”
Jesus doesn’t care about wrong (v9-10)
– “We don’t believe in the cross”
Jesus doesn’t know how to wash (v11)
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:
When does worship make the heavens stink?
- When we barge in, filthy and proud
Liturgy
Lives
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:
Human souls need rest
Jesus gives rest to the weary
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…
A Joyful Gathering: At the heart of this universe is a joyful celebration.
An Aching Rift: That gathering is a dangerous place to be if you don’t belong.
A Spiritual Homecoming: God gives his lost children ways to come home.
1. The Copernican Revolution
Preached on August 16th 2020 by Rupert Hunt Taylor
Worth and Worship: Humanity Rediscovered
Sermon Notes:
Turning the Universe the right way round…
Glory Demands Worship (Psalm 29:2)
Grace Restores Worship (Exodus 7:16)
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 32: The best feeling in all the world
Preached over lockdown on 24th May 2020, by Rupert Hunt-Taylor.
Psalms | Book 1: Christ's battle for the kingdom
Sermon Notes:
The prayer of a True Shepherd:
Guilt Rots
Grace Rejoices
…So don’t be a mule!
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:
Heavy souls (v5)
Human times (v15)
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:
The cup we couldn’t drink (Mark 10:35-45)
The cup he wouldn’t drink (Mark 15:22-39)
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