The Word of The Lord Endureth

The lack of knowledge about the Christian faith among many people gives us opportunities to tell people about the good news of Jesus Christ. Our message is simple but profound and very personal.

Danger loomed, the people saw Egypt as their hope, but what did God have to say?

Matthew 5 -

We gather together to worship, but we are to go out from and live our lives witnessing for Jesus.

If someone in the church is overtaken in a fault how would you respond? More importantly what does God's word tell you to do?

When you hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, how do you react? In Acts 5, we see three very contrasting reactions.

On the road to Emmaus we meet two despondent disciples. The answer to their doubts though is to be found in scripture.

The tomb was empty; Jesus is risen. This is the message that the Apostles preached. But Jesus had risen from the dead amidst hostility and unbelief.

In the few days before his arrest and crucifixion, many people had different interests and reactions to Jesus. What about you?

Is worship real for you or are you only pretending?

You are responsible to God because he is the creator and gives you life. We break his good law but he is gracious.

"You must not teach or preach in the name of Jesus." Peter and John were banned from preaching in Jesus' name. How did they respond? What did they do next?

A man had been healed in the name of Jesus Christ. Peter and John were under arrest, how would they respond?

On their annual visit to Jerusalem Joseph and Mary mistakenly left Jesus behind.

Anna was an elderly woman who had experiences sorrow in her life. However, she lived a life of hope and prayer. She was greatly blessed in meeting Jesus.

It is remembrance Sunday. We are very aware that many who were called to serve their country and lost their lives . We live in a troubled world, a world that needs reconciliation. But, that has to start with reconciliation with God our creator.

Why did the apostle Paul endure such hardship whilst he preached the gospel of Christ? He was driven by the love of Christ.

In the face of discouragement and difficulty how are we to continue as witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ?

The desire for eternal life is good, and he came to the right person with his question but this man's thinking was wrong.

Children were brought to the Lord jesus Christ. They were rejected by the disciples but welcomed by Jesus. He used this as a teachable moment.

Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was rejected, the other accepted. Why? Luke 18 vs 9-14

Life is becoming harder for Christians. There is pressure to conform, to not be distinctly Biblical. Christ has prepared us for this and urges us to pray and not feint.

Are you living in the light of the fact the the Lord Jesus Christ is coming again?

The letters from Christ to the seven Churches in Revelation chapters two and three are there for our benefit. Take time to examine your Church and yourself in their light. Christ's warnings are an opportunity for repentance and faith.

What is your view of Christ today? He is glorious and powerful. He stands amidst the churches.

The last book of the Bible presents us with Jesus Christ amidst the Churches and in glory ruling the nations. He is working out his purpose. Trust him, glorify him. Worthy is the lamb that was slain.

You have heard about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but what does it mean for you and your future?

They were gathered in a room behind locked doors when the Risen Christ came and stood in the midst. He brought them assurance of peace, a commission to carry out and a message to proclaim.

John 12:12-19 -

Life goes on from day to day and then suddenly something happens. Difficulty comes. This happened to Joseph, after a time of rejoicing and worship he is warned that they must flee. Learn from his response.

The great emphasis here is that these men came to worship Jesus Christ.

God's good news of free forgiveness is truly amazing, but, it is easy to go into error. The apostle takes time in Romans 6 to deal with one question, shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

Why do we all have to die?

The Old Testament is not all doom and gloom. It tells us the truth about ourselves but it also speaks of the joy of sins forgiven.

Thomas missed out and Thomas refused to believe that Jesus had actually risen from the dead but that was not the end for Thomas.

In the book of Acts we see the New Testament Church established. Learn what church should be like and see how we measure up.

Luke 1:34-45 -

Matthew 11:1-11 -

What do you deserve in life? We are all sinners. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus his Son.

Rejoice! But, remember that error takes joy away, particularly be aware of those who add anything to faith in Christ. They boast, but Paul could boast more.

We are in the middle of a passage on how we can rejoice in the Lord through right doctrine and avoiding error. Paul saw the possibility of false teachers bringing corruption to Philippi. The question is how can we be righteous in God’s presence? The enemy alleged that it was by becoming an observant Jew (Circumcision) and by Christ. Paul gives himself as an example. He saw himself as blameless but then says vs 7 those I counted loss for Christ, and states emphatically vs 9: “not having my righteousness, which is of law, but that which is through faith of Christ ….. the righteousness that is of God by the faith,”

Rejoicing is the opposite of anxiety. It is when our focus is on the Lord, his person, character, his work and his promises that we truly live lives of rejoicing. How does this call to joy fit in with the stark warning which follows? Paul is showing clearly that it is ‘in the Lord’ which matters; if we follow another path we are not in the Lord, and we will not have this joy, hence the warning of verse 2 and then the contrast of “in the Lord” in verse 3

What is your greatest need? Do you see yourself as God sees you?

What we know of Epaphroditus is found in these words here in Philippians. Given that Epaphroditus was in Rome to help Paul and Paul intends to send Timothy why is he now sending back Epaphroditus? An explanation is required.

We join with Paul the prisoner once more, he was confined physically but not spiritually. In the local church, many had failed to help v 21 "all seek their own not the things which are Jesus Christ's" but he had not despaired. He did not become bitter, instead, he wrote this epistle with its focus on joy and concern for others. In contrast here, how good to hear of Timothy, he was not like the others, he desired the things of Christ. That was his long-standing priority.

what do we know about Timothy? When we read a name in scripture it is helpful to stop and consider all that we know about that person, sometimes there is just a single mention of a name, but in other cases, a great deal can be found and considered with profit. There are no unnecessary details in scripture. Romans 15:4 “ F or whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” As Stuart Olyot has said, “you cannot neglect any part of it without loss.” How well do you know the characters of Scripture?

How well do you understand and know about the Lord Jesus Christ? Does this truth affect the way in which you think, talk and live?

We are citizens of heaven but are not a physically separated community. Hence our Lord commanded Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” The ‘all nations’ include the people we live amongst as we are living and going in our regular lives. The saints at Philippi are the children of God living amidst evil. You are seen no matter how you live. People know you attend church, what do they notice about how you talk and what you do?

The doctrine about Christ was not just for academic interest. Doctrine always has relevance for life today, and so it is here. This is a lesson we need to remember every day. Matt 7:24 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.” Chapter 2 started with an appeal for a unity of selfless love in the local church, to have the mind of Christ. Now Paul tells them that the truths of the great facts of Christ’s voluntary humble submission and his exaltation are to have a motivating effect on them in daily life.

In Eternity past equality with God, then the humble submission of the incarnation, even to death, the death of the cross. He who cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" as the earth was shrouded in darkness, is now exalted to the highest. His suffering, his humiliation, was finished, he had won the victory long foretold (Gen 3:15). and so, in consequence, God also hath highly exalted him, We are not to see this as a payment or a reward for his service as if he had added to his self merit in his sacrifice. He had equality with God vs 6. Fully God, but now the God–man, one person, two natures. It is in his whole self he suffered; it is in his whole self he is exalted. God has exalted, an answer to the prayer in the garden.