Sermons

There are lots of ways to read the Bible. One of the worst is to avoid the hard parts and cherry pick words and phrases that you think you understand. But there is profit for one who digs to understand what the text means by what is says. Having looked at every verse in Amos, we take a step back and up to view the message of the book as a whole. Having seen the intricacies, we can better appreciate the big idea. And that big idea leaves us needing God more than ever

The sound of the school bell might bring good news or bad. Good news if it signals the day is done and you can finally get outside and play. Bad news if it means your time to write the test is over... and you are not done. When the last trumpet sounds, will it signal joy or despair to you? Amos looks at that day and sounds a final warning. There is only one way to be ready.

Acts of service are a normal yet radical part of everyday life. The person who has been served often becomes a servant themselves. The Scripture shows us that Jesus is the greatest servant of all, and that those who have experienced and understood His goodness towards them, will in turn, live out a life service to those around them.

To have godly courage, one must be sure that what they are doing or saying is rooted in God’s truth: The Bible. Which means that the more we know His Word, the more we will be able to move confidently and humbly through our days.

Some have argued that pride is the root of all sins. If that is true, then we ought to be living with a healthy fear of never letting pride take root in our hearts. That would be easy if it knocked at the door of our hearts before entering, but pride is a silent killer. It climbs in stealthily and spreads its poison discretely. Maybe one of the reasons we will always have the poor with us, is to give us an opportunity to work at our own humility.

The way of Christ is radically different from the ways of the world. We as Christians are called to live in joyful obedience to the Word of God and endure faithfully until the end. This can feel like a daunting task, but we can take heart knowing that God has not left us alone. He promises to sanctify us and keep us until Christ calls us home. Our God is faithful.

There are people who love to predict when this world will come to an end. The reality is, no one knows but God alone. Jesus could come back in any moment and the question we have to ask ourselves is this: Am I prepared for the return of the Lord? In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Paul teaches the saints how to be prepared and ready for the second coming of Christ.

It is never easy to hear about your sins. We don’t mind delving in to the failings of others, but it is quite another thing to have our worst offences paraded across the evening news. Amos shows up in Israel and levels judgment on the family of God. It is direct, forceful and pointed. But, even in the courtroom of God there is room to repent.

If you’ve been to the zoo you might have been startled by the roar of a lion. Imagine how you would have felt had there been no bars or walls separating you from him! There came a time in Israel’s history where God showed up and roared His displeasure with His people. This was more than startling. It was terrifying. But, He did it in order to call His people back into humble fellowship with Him. That same roar echoes down to us today.

Whether you’ve been a Christian for decades or for little over a year, it’s right and natural for you to wonder, “How do I develop as a believer? How do I mature in godliness? How do I thrive as a Christian?” In John 15:1-11, in answer to these very questions, Christ declared that the key to flourishing and fruitfulness was not a technique, system, or place, but a person. That person is Christ, and the way to thrive as a believer is to stay close to him.