BBC Sermon Cast

Although Psalm 14 does speak to theoretical atheism, the heart of the matter is that practical atheism is what leads to atheistic behaviour—whether among Christians or unbelievers. While this psalm is popular for its brooding assertion, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God,’” the last verse reminds us that it is God who delivers us from living as if He doesn’t exist.

Psalm 13 is a brief psalm, but it packs a punch. David writes as one who feels as if God has abandoned him. He wrestles with the seeming absence of God in the midst of his great trial, appeals to God to be with him in, and deliver him from, his time of turmoil, and ultimately breaks forth into an expression of confidence and trust. As he does so, he gives us some important lessons for the times when we feel that God has abandoned us.

God desires us to be wholehearted worshippers, and God’s Word enables us to be so. God wants us to be His witnesses, and God’s Word enables us to be so. And God’s Word enables us to be worshippers and witnesses to the very end.

Christmastime is filled with silly, sentimental, predictable and completely unbelievable, because unreasonable, Hallmark Christmas movies. Sadly, many treat the historical Christmas with the same cynicism. But, in fact, Christmas is rooted in space-time history and therefore it, and consequently Christmas as a whole, is completely reasonable. It is reasonable because it is factual, because God is faithful and because it has proved fruitful.

The Old Testament is replete with prophecies of the coming of Christ. He is portrayed coming as the Lord (Psalm 110), the Shepherd (Ezekiel 34), the Ruler (Micah 5), the Servant (Isaiah 42), the Child (Isaiah 9), the Branch (Isaiah 10–12), and as coming from a virgin (Isaiah 7). But the very first prophecy of Christ portrays him as the Seed. It is this most ancient prophecy that will be the focus of our attention in this study.

Psalm 8 is an incredible psalm. It is one with which, until recently, I had only a vague familiarity. I understood that it had much to say about the privileged position of man. I also understood that Hebrews 2 references it and that its ultimate fulfilment is in Jesus Christ. But not until I had spent time digging into it did I see something of its true glory, as it points us to the glory of God revealed by the original glory of man, and ultimately revealed in the Christmas story—the story of the incarnation.

Isaiah frequently prophesied the fall of the kingdom of Israel, but in chapter 9 he also foretold the deliverance of God’s people through a promised child.

Far too many Christians have lost sight of the biblical doctrine of vocation—what the Bible teaches regarding the importance of labour. Each Christian is responsible for the business of work. But if we do not appreciate the value of work, the losses can be tragic. For one thing, we will be tempted to steal.

The verse is straightforward: The Christian is to stop stealing (v. 28a), to start sweating (v. 28b), and to start sharing (v. 28c).

Anger is a legitimate, God-given emotional response to perceived wrong. Anger and wrath are referenced in the Bible over six hundred times—and most of these are with reference to God. The Bible, it can appropriately be said, is an angry book.

Anger is part and parcel of our existence. Paul seems to be acknowledging this in Ephesians 4:26–27. But his message is simple: Put off sinful anger (v. 26a), put on self-control (v. 26b), and put in sound thinking (v. 27).

Jesus told people that He was meek and lowly in heart, and centuries before He walked to earth, the prophet Isaiah foretold the meekness of Messiah. In Isaiah 42:1–9, we learn about the supremacy of His meekness.