BBC Sermon Cast

We never imitate God more than when we show mercy to others. Christians, or citizens of the kingdom are blessed because, not only have they received mercy, but they continue to receive mercy and expect to receive mercy in future. This makes them people who likewise show mercy to others.

This passage has much to say about God’s promised comfort for those committed to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ten times, in the course of a few verses, Paul speaks of the encouragement God gives to his children who are committed to what he is committed to: the proclamation of the gospel and the wellbeing of the local church. We will look at this under several headings:

1. The Celebration of God’s Comfort (vv. 3–4)

2. The Participation in God’s Comfort (vv. 5–7)

3. An Illustration of God’s Comfort (vv. 8–10)

4. An Anticipation of God’s Comfort (v. 11)

The apostle John exhorts his readers to walk in the light, honestly dealing with sin, and trusting in Jesus Christ as their Advocate through whose righteous merit sin is atoned for.

When we hunger and thirst for Christ’s righteousness, we will be satisfied with what he gives. But, counterintuitively, that satisfaction will cause us to hunger for more because it is so satisfying.

We live in a distracted age, in which we are always tempted to be busy about a variety of things. Mary’s heart, revealed in Luke10:38–42, has much to teach us in our distractedness. It challenges us to prioritise that which is both necessary and good rather to be anxious and troubled about many things.

Paul begins his second inspired letter to the Corinthian church by sharing his experience of God’s comfort amid much affliction. He does this to both bridge a relational gap as well as to remind them that the gospel is not a trouble-free message. As we commence our study of this book, we will come to appreciate the significance of this comforting introduction.

In a world that values power, dominance, and self-promotion, Jesus calls us to a different way—a way of meekness, humility, and trust in God. And the promise is clear: The meek will inherit the earth, both now and in the world to come.

1.⁠ ⁠Examples of Meekness

2.⁠ ⁠⁠Our Call to Meekness

3.⁠ ⁠⁠Promise for the Meek

We are often concerned with the appraisal of others, their evaluation of our situation, and their being impressed with who we are, what we’ve done, or what we have. But who of us would be impressed with someone who mourns? What is blessed about mourning? Matthew 5:4 invites us to consider the blessed state of the blessed kingdom people who, although broken, will one day be bandaged.

John 17 is one of the best-known and well-loved prayers in Scripture. It is unique in that Jesus prays for not only his first-century disciples but also for us in 2024 who have believed through the word of the original disciples. We will see what we can learn about prayer ourselves by examining this the greatest of prayers.

For Noah, times they were about to change—from bad to good; from the old world to a whole new world; from hopeless to hopeful. And faith in God’s word was key to his hope remaining afloat, quite literally. This “Noahic” faith will keep our hope afloat as well. We will study this verse looking at both the context and character of hope that floats.