Radical Discipleship - Simply Care
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- Written by: Ruth Newmarch
Simply Care audio (6MB)
Gen 1:26-28
Acts 4:32-37
Today is George and Sarah’s last Sunday here. Last Sunday George preached his last sermon as curate of St Thomas, and a number of people commented on how helpful it was. He reminded us of Jesus’ final instructions - Go and make disciples (or learner-followers) of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and teaching them to keep everything Jesus had commanded them. George reminded us that St Thomas’ mission statement reflects this: Speak the gospel - God’s incredible grace, which causes people to become disciples/learner-followers, Teach the Bible - because that’s where we’ll find what Jesus taught, and Build community that demonstrates God’s love - community grows from the people of all nations who become disciples.
I think George wanted to leave us with a sense of his and Sarah’s enthusiasm for this!...so we follow in their footsteps – put our sadness at their leaving into positive action!
Matthew 28:1-20 Non-Conformity & Christlikeness
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- Written by: George Hemmings
Easter Sunday - Non-conformity & Christlikeness audio (4MB)
Matt 28:1-20
‘Greetings!’ It’s not the kind of thing you expect a dead man to say. But then why should Jesus’ death be any different to his life which was characterised by non-conformity?
Matt 21:1-11 - The Humble Entry
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
The Modest Entry audio (4MB)
Matt 21:1-11
Have you ever wondered whether Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday surprised people? I mean, if he was entering the city as a king why didn’t he ride a chariot or a warhorse. You certainly wouldn’t expect him to ride a donkey, would you? Yet that’s exactly what Jesus does. He climbs on the least impressive of mounts and rides it into the city. And to our modern minds it all seems a little strange. Of course most of us have heard the story so often that we’re probably no longer surprised by it, but it is a surprising story, and no doubt it was just as surprising to many of those who witnessed it.
In fact what he does in riding a donkey is as significant to those of his day as the US President arriving on Air Force 1 would be for us.
1 Cor 3:1-17 - Building God’s Church
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Building God’s Church audio (3MB)
1 Cor 3:1-17
Well it’s great to celebrate two years in this great building, to see how well it’s been used over that time and how well the congregation has grown. But perhaps a day like this is an opportunity for us to stop and think about what sort of church we’re building and how to make it stronger. In the passage we’re looking at today Paul uses the image of a building to describe the Church. In fact he uses three different metaphors to teach the Corinthians what it takes to build a healthy church. So let’s look at the passage and see what we can learn for ourselves.
He begins by pointing out that no matter how mature they thought they were, their actions actually showed the opposite. They thought they were filled with the Spirit and so were mature Christians but what he sees is quarrelling and jealousy.
Matt 26:17-30
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
The Lord's Supper audio (6MB)
Matt 26:17-30
The Lord’s Command to Prepare
It’s interesting to read the different accounts of the events around the crucifixion. Sometimes you pick up an interesting detail that’s in this account but not in the others. But equally instructive can be the things that are left out. In the case of Matthew’s account here, there are very few details given. In Mark and Luke the disciples are told to find a man carrying a jar of water, but here it’s just a certain man. In the other accounts two disciples, Peter and John, Luke tells us, are sent to prepare the meal. Here it’s a general command to all the disciples. It’s as though Matthew wants to cut down the detail so we’ll focus on what really matters. And what’s that? Look at the passage. Can you see what details are given?
Matt 25:31-45 - Goats and Sheep
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Sheep or Goats audio (6MB)
Matt 25:31-45A
Matthew begins his record of Jesus teaching with the Sermon on the Mount, and that sermon finishes with the parable of the houses built on rock or sand, a parable of reward and judgement. And, significantly, Matthew finishes his account of Jesus teaching with this story of the last judgement.
Jesus tells them that when the Son of Man returns in glory he will sit on the throne of his glory and the reason he sits is to judge. There’s a cataclysmic nature to Jesus return. I think we sometimes imagine a scene where people are hanging around for Jesus to call them in to the courthouse. But here the judgement is closely tied to his return. This is reminiscent of the passage in Phil 2 where we read that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he’s Lord. There’s to be a spontaneous response to his return.
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