Staines Congregational Church Sermons

Psalm 1

Intro to the Psalms
 
What good are the psalms?
 
 - They teach us to pray
 - They train us to respond to all the Bible
 - They reshape our affections
 - They sweeten our emotions
 - The prevent individualism
 - They arouse us to warmth
 
They are the Bible made memorable.
 
Why sing the psalms?
 
 - Poetry makes you think without thinking!
-  Parallel thoughts in couplets
 - Songs make memorable
 - Songs enable worship together
 - Songs intensify emotion
 
Psalm 1: the righteous
 
  We want the blessed life rather than the best life!
  - Not going with the godless flow (normal general life)
  - Not standing for godlessness
  - Not sitting with God-mockery
  Christians delight in God's word:
  - From the heart
- 24/7
  Such people are vibrant and resilient
  - They bear fruit
 
Psalm 1: the wicked
 
  They are like chaff
  - In life they seemed "so weighty, so numerous, so plausible and so scornful"
  - They are actually lightweight rubbish
  They shall not stand before God.
 
Jesus sings the psalms?
 
  The psalms are songs by the king for the king (David)
  David is a picture of King Jesus
  The psalms are fulfilled in Jesus
  We receive the psalms' blessings in Christ
John 15:1-8 for example.

Certainty in our Saviour, Jesus

Heb 6:13-20
The Certainty of God’s Promise
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[a] 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

A Certain Church - Keith Wilson from Ashford Congregational

Hebrews 10:19-25
A Call to Persevere in Faith
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

A Certain Future - Hebrews 12:18-29

Rev Andy Saville
Heb 12:18-29
The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy
12v18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Foundational Truths for Fragile Times - A Certain Word

Pulpit Swap Series - A Certain Word
Hebrews 9:4-16
9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,[a] just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[b] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

What Came Next? - Luke 2:22-40

Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[a]), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[b]
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,    you may now dismiss[c] your servant in peace.30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,31     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,    and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[d] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

Philippians 4:10-23 - Joy in partnership

Philippians 4:10-23
Reading:
10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Following Paul’s Example
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
 
Sermon Notes
Intro: gospel and religion
Religion: I obey; therefore I’m accepted
Gospel: I’m accepted; therefore I obey
Religion: Motivation is based on fear and insecurity
Gospel: Motivation is based on grateful joy
Religion: I obey God in order to get things from God
Gospel: I obey God to get God – to delight and resemble him
 
Intro: gospel and religion
Religion: When circumstances in my life go wrong, I am angry at God or myself, since I believe, like Job’s friends, that anyone who is good deserves a comfortable life.
Gospel: When circumstances in my life go wrong, I struggle, but I know that while God may allow this for my training, he will exercise his fatherly love within my trial.
 
Intro: gospel and religion
Religion: When I am criticized, I am furious or devastated because it is essential for me to think of myself as a “good person.” Threats to that self-image must be destroyed at all costs.
Gospel: When I am criticized, I struggle, but it is not essential for me to think of myself as a “good person.” My identity is not built on my performance but on God’s love for me in Christ.
 
Intro: gospel and religion
Religion: My prayer life consists largely of petition and only heats up when I am in need. My main purpose in prayer is to control circumstances.
Gospel: My prayer life consists of generous stretches of praise and adoration. My main purpose is fellowship with him.
 
Intro: gospel and religion
Religion: My self-view swings between two poles. If and when I am living up to my standards, I feel confident, but then I am prone to be proud and unsympathetic to people who fail. If and when I am not living up to standards, I feel humble but not confident - I feel like a failure.
Gospel: My self-view is not based on a view of myself as a moral achiever. In Christ I am at once sinful and lost, yet accepted. I am so bad he had to die for me, and so loved he was glad to die for me. This leads me to deeper humility as well as deeper confidence, without either sniveling or swaggering.
 
Intro: gospel and religion
Religion: My identity and self-worth are based mainly on how hard I work or how moral I am, so I must look down on those I perceive as lazy or immoral. I disdain and feel superior to others.
Gospel: My identity and self-worth are centered on the One who died for his enemies, including me. Only by sheer grace am I what I am, so I can’t look down on those who believe or practice something different from me. I have no inner need to win arguments.
 
Intro: gospel and religion
Religion: Since I look to my pedigree or performance for my spiritual acceptability, my heart manufactures idols—talents, moral record, personal discipline, social status, etc. I absolutely have to have them, so they are my main hope, meaning, happiness, security, and significance, whatever I say I believe about God.
Gospel: I have many good things in my life—family, work, etc., but none of these good things are ultimate things to me. I don’t absolutely have to have them, so there is a limit to how much anxiety, bitterness, and despair they can inflict on me when they are threatened and lost.
 
Where there’s salvation there’s…
Giving
• As Brian Jones used to say, you can tell the health of a church by the prayer meeting and the offering bag.
• He’s not wrong…
• Just look at Zacchaeus
• As a reaction to Zacchaeus change in heart to money, Jesus says: Luke 19:9 ‘Today salvation has come to this house…’
• Paul rejoices in the Philippians’ gift
• It shows that they are the real deal
 
Where there’s salvation there‘s:
Contentment
• Paul is not angling for another gift
• He has learned contentment
• The ability to live in both humble and exalted circumstances
• I can do all this in him who makes me able
• Knowledge of Jesus grabs the heart
• Example of Jesus shows the way
• Power of Jesus makes it possible
 
Where there’s giving there’s:
Reward
• Every earthly resource is vulnerable
• It can be lost
• Our giving will come back to us with heavenly compound interest
• Our giving will come back to us as heavenly assistance on earth
2 Cor 9:6-15
 
Where there’s giving there’s:
Partnership
• Partnership is all the way through…
• Partnership in the gospel - Phil 1:5
• Partnership in grace - Phil 1:7
• Partnership in the Spirit (Phil 2:1) leading to humility
• Partnership in Jesus’ sufferings - Phil 3:10
• Partnership in giving and receiving Phil 4:14
 
In practice
• Do you believe the gospel?
• Or are you stuck in a religion of your own making?
• Start with thankfulness
• Then get giving!
• Cheerfully, regularly, generously and proportionately
• To the church and to the poor
• Whilst you live and after you die
 
Summing up…
• Come and be a member of our joyful partnership!
• This is church

Phil 4:1-9

Reading - Phil 4:1-9
Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity
4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Final Exhortations
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
 
 
Sermon NotesJoy in partnership
Intro• Have you ever entered a conversation or read a long email that starts out by praising you…• And you think: when is the hammer going to fall?• Imagine Euodia and Synteche listening to this letter being read out for the first time?• Oh no! He has me in mind!• E and S are right!• This is the point of the letter• It’s done from friendship…• He can’t bear to seeing them being unfruitful• He doesn’t take sides• He mentions them by name• Maybe it is Luke who is called to help out• Women are really significant to the church• They are equals to men• But men are called to headship• We believe this (in theory)• But maybe we need to come to one mind(set) in practice• Unity is where the anointing is• It enables women
1. Rejoice in the Lord! Phil 4:4• Christians have a joy that is independent of circumstances• So rejoice!• But it is easy to fool ourselves• You need God’s help even to understand your own heart
2. Gentleness Phil 4:5• Under pressure don’t get vicious, angry, slanderous, short tempered• Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit• The Lord is near
3. Don’t be anxious Phil 4:6-7• Don’t be anxious…• No circumstances excepted• Ask God what you need• Get to the point!• There is a promise of peace but…• Get to the point!• There is a promise of peace but…• It is community activity• It is a continuous activity
4. Think carefully Phil 4:8-9• You can get involved in culture but..• Is it godly?• Is it worthy of honour?• Does it reflect God’s character?• Is it tainted?• Does it have artistic value?• Does it enhance your record?• Emulate Paul• And the saints of the past
Summing up…• Paul has got to the point• Our strength is in our single-mindedness• What is the point for you?• Don’t be knocked off-course by…• Misery (rejoice!)• Ferocity (be gentle)• Anxiety (keep asking)• Conformity (question yourself)

Psalm 16

Psalm 16
A miktam of David.
1 Keep me safe, my God,    for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;    apart from you I have no good thing.”3 I say of the holy people who are in the land,    “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.    I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods    or take up their names on my lips.
5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;    you make my lot secure.6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;    surely I have a delightful inheritance.7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;    even at night my heart instructs me.8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord.    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;    my body also will rest secure,10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,    nor will you let your faithful one see decay.11 You make known to me the path of life;    you will fill me with joy in your presence,    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

The Widow's Son

Luke 7:11-17
 
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son
11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.