The Book of Ruth and God’s Grace

In what situations does God meet us with his Grace?  What is our experience of God’s Grace?  This question is considered as we begin our series of sermons on the Book of Ruth. After moving to the land of Moab from their place in Bethlehem, Judea, because of famine, Naomi experiences the death of her husband, and then of her two sons who are married to Moabite women. Though with a severe sense of bitterness she sets out to return to Bethlehem, she tells her daughters-in-law, for their own welfare,  to return to their original homes and people. Orpah does so, but Ruth holds firmly in her resolve to go with Naomi, to adopt her people and her God.  Naomi’s bitterness may be seen  as form of lament.  A parallel to this may be where we see Jesus’ crying out on the Cross.  Even there, God is not missing. God still clings to his people!  … more to come next week.

Speaker: Ron Irving.

A further sermon in or series on the Means of Grace. 

Hospitality and the means of Grace

Biblical Hospitality what is it? What is it NOT? Not like King George III, who knew how to hugely over cater for his guests, thinking that popularity would flow from that.   This isn’t the popularity that God holds out for us.  Jesus calls us to a different hospitality.  In the bible, hospitality is associated with two Greek words: “phile-o” (brotherly love) and “xenos” (a stranger), to lovingly invite into your life, someone who doesn’t belong.  When we show hospitality, we get to show God’s generous “stranger-love” -- love of the stranger. Isaiah 55 tells us of the Lord’s invitation “to come!” Hospitality is the very heart of the gospel because of Jesus. It’s a practical way to invite the “stranger” into our life.  People can get to experience how generous, kind and caring God is. .    This is a means of grace, when we get to show His love, we get to know His love! 

Speaker: John Batten.

 20230618 6PM CD Gratitude as a means of God’s Grace.

Starting with an anecdote on saying “Please” and “Thank You” this sermon explores how showing gratitude becomes a means of God’s grace.  Five ways giving thanks may help us to grow in grace:

• We notice grace more

Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Corrie Ten Boom provide great examples of gratitude leading to Grace. Gratitude opens us up to grace. 

2nd in our series on "The means of Grace".  In the midst of our busy-ness, the creation invites us to ponder and consider our place.  We are tempted to inflate ourselves and deflate God, yet, as reminded by an excerpt from Luis Giglio on our place in the universe, that God is so big and we are so small.  Yet, even as we are so small, yet God calls us by grace, into relationship with him.  

Speaker: Ron Irving.

A sermon in our series on "The Means of Grace".

Prayer in one of the means of Grace.

It is an invitation rather than an obligation.

Speaker: Ron Irving

Final in our series: "That's my King", on chapters 4 to 8 of Luke's Gospel. We are brought face-to-face with the concerns and worries of two persons who came to Jesus for help, and received the miracle of healing. Jairus, the ruler of a synagogue, begs Jesus to come to save his very ill 12 year old daughter. The woman, suffering 12 years of bleeding, does not wish to be identified, so touches his clothing, in faith. 

In this sermon, their thoughts, fears and concerns are portrayed for us as they meet Jesus.  And Jesus' way of reassuring comfort and his words to them and to others is brought to our attention! That's our King! 

Speaker: Chris Donald. 

Bible: Luke 8:40-56.

What do we take for granted? There is contrast of the actions and thoughts of the Pharisee and other uncommitted observers with those of the woman who washed and anointed Jesus’ feet.  Self-righteousness blinds us to our need for forgiveness. 

We are challenged to consider: Do we take the gift of salvation for granted? Or do we constantly think and act in appreciation of the gift of love?

Speaker: David Tyndall

20230507 6PM.

Jesus heals the Centurion’s servant.  Jesus is amazed!

What difference perspective makes.  Perspective is how we view things, it changes what we see. It helps us to see things differently. In this story, people saw things from different perspectives.  The Jewish elders saw the centurion as worthy to receive healing for his servant. The centurion saw himself as unworthy to receive Jesus into his house. He addresses Jesus as ‘Lord’. Jesus saw the centurion, not as being worthy, or unworthy.  Jesus sees him as having greater faith than anyone in all of Israel. This is the miracle in this passage.  A man of authority sees a man of Greater Authority. 

Speaker: John Batten.

3rd in our series on Luke: That’s My King.

Jesus is followed and confronted by the Pharisees, who seek to find fault with him because of his attitude to the Sabbath Law and their Sabbath rules. Jesus responds with a scriptural example and the example of doing good on the sabbath. Jesus declares that “the Son of Man” is Lord of the Sabbath.  William Wilberforce provided an analogy for our lives of a field partly fenced off for Jesus … but in reality it becomes a field partly fenced off from Jesus. Chris challenges us to consider the question, “what parts of our lives do we NOT want Jesus to have power over”?

Speaker: Chris Donald.

2nd in our series: "That's my King!"

Bible: Luke 4:14-30. 

Speaker: John Batten.

Jesus, having been well received elsewhere, came to his home town of Nazareth, reads from the scroll  of Isaiah and declares that the prophesy of Isaiah is fulfilled before their eyes.  Not believing that Joseph’s son could be the Messiah, the anointed one. Jesus asks the question as to why the prophet Elijah was sent to “non-israelite widow”, and why the “non-Israelite Naaman” was the leper who received healing through Elisha. The people are angered and want to kill Jesus, but he passes through their midst. This is King Jesus.

Do you know him?