The sermon uses the biblical account of friends lowering a paralytic through a roof to illustrate the necessity of persistent faith and active effort in approaching Jesus. It challenges listeners to reject spiritual complacency by pressing through obstacles to seek Christ's healing and forgiveness, paralleling this with the woman who touched his garment. The message emphasizes that true devotion requires diligent work for God rather than passive belief, urging believers to live in constant readiness for His return. By referencing Joseph's preparation for famine and the urgency of the times, it calls for immediate obedience and wholehearted service to the Lord. Ultimately, the text asserts that Christians must be prepared at all times to meet Jesus, ensuring their lives reflect a genuine commitment to His will.

How far is Jesus from you? While King Jesus has ascended to His throne, He is yet a near help to the poor in spirit.

Boasting in our salvation is not frowned upon or forbidden. It's not as if the NT teaches: "A new commandment I give to you: thou shalt not boast!" No. The apostle Paul makes clear that boasting, rather, is excluded. It's irrelevant, because the believer in Jesus by grace through faith has exactly nothing to boast about.

In a world that constantly encourages us to boast in ourselves—our accomplishments, our morality, our reputation, or our success—Paul says there is only one thing worth boasting in: "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (Galatians 6:14). Why would anyone boast in a degrading and humiliating instrument of execution? Because the gospel of free justification through faith alone produces something the world cannot explain: a radical, self-denying life that finds its confidence, identity, and hope in Christ alone. If you've ever wondered what the cross has to do with your everyday life, or why the gospel is far more than simply the way we begin the Christian life, take a few moments to listen.

The worship of God is the answer to the question of how the believer deals with the prosperity of the wicked. 1. A False Impression, vv. 1-12 2. A Faulty Interpretation, vv. 13-17 3. A Faithful Insight, vv. 18-28

The sermon explores the theological question of whether God has rejected His people, Israel, concluding firmly that He has not. It highlights the concept of a faithful remnant preserved by grace rather than human effort or adherence to the law. The preacher contrasts salvation by faith in Christ with religious systems that emphasize works, using personal anecdotes and biblical examples like Elijah and Simeon to illustrate God's sovereign choice. Key passages from Romans are analyzed to demonstrate that justification comes solely through faith in Jesus Christ, excluding boasting. The message emphasizes that grace remains the only basis for salvation, offering hope and assurance to believers across all nations.

Q: How does the gospel remove every human distinction in receiving God's promises? A: Through faith in Christ alone, every believer is adopted into God's family and made an heir of Abraham's promised inheritance apart from works or earthly status.

Sunday PM 19th July 2026, "What Is Your Life?" James 4:8–17 is one of the most searching passages in the Bible. It confronts the illusion of self-sufficiency and calls us to live every day in humble dependence upon God. James reminds us that life is uncertain, our plans are limited, and our future rests entirely in the hands of God. While the world boasts about tomorrow, Scripture asks the sobering question, "What is your life?" It is but a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. True wisdom is found in trusting Christ for salvation, submitting our plans to the Lord's will and faithfully doing the good He has given us to do today, investing our brief lives in that which will endure for eternity. Series: The Book of James Series Number: 9 Bible Reference: JAS 4:8-17 (KJV)

I. Christ drank the cup of wrath for us II. Only Christ could drink the cup of wrath for us III. Our only boast is Christ, who drank the cup of wrath for us