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Honor to whom honor is owed

Sunday 29th October 2023

Read: Matthew 13:24-30,36-43; Judges 4:1-5:31

Sermon: Judges 4:1-5:31

4:1-3 A-B-C again

4:4-24 Yahweh’s surprising deliverance

5:1-31 The work of God celebrated in song

5:2-3 The song’s theme and audience

5:4-5 Yahweh’s awesome power

5:6-11c Israel’s desperate plight

5:11d-23 Israel’s mixed report-card

5:24-30 Triumph and tragedy: the perspective of two women

5:31 The prayer of God’s people

Conclusion: waiting for the sunrise (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

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Living among the Canaanites in the Promised Land

Sunday 8th October 2023

Read: Joshua 2:1-24; Judges 1:1-2:5

Sermon: Judges 1:1-2:5

Judges 1:1-2 The LORD’s word of covenant confirmation


Judges 1:3-21 The Southern tribes ‘go up,’ defeat and drive out the Canaanites (mostly)
1:3-8 starting well in getting rid of idolatry and evil from the land and Jerusalem


1:9-17 strong examples and co-operation


1:18-21 darkening skies


Judges 1:22-36 The Northern tribes ‘go up,’ defeat and do not drive out the Canaanites
1:22-26 spying out the land – again


1:27-36 …. did not drive out the inhabitants of ….


Judges 2:1-5 The LORD ‘goes up,’ and gives a word of covenant judgment

 

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How to wait for the glorious future

Sunday 24th September 2023

Read: Psalm 44:17-26; Isaiah 65:17-66:2; Romans 8:18-39

Sermon: Romans 8:18-39

Romans 1-7 The Gospel of grace

8:18-30 How to live with suffering while we wait
18-25 groaning while we wait for redemption

26-27 the Spirit helps us in our weakness while we wait

28-30 the Father works out every detail for our good while we wait

8:31-39 How shall we respond to what God has done for us?
31-32 What shall we say?

33-34 Who will bring charge against the elect?

35-39 What can separate us from the love of Christ?

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Objections to justification: How does it relate to the law?

Sunday 10th September 2023

Read: Psalm 119:9-16; Deuteronomy 5:1-29; Romans 7:1-25

Sermon: Romans 7:1-25

Romans 1-6 Saved from sin by Christ, not the law

Romans 7:1-6 Freed from law to be fruitful

Romans 7:7-25 The blame for the human predicament is sin, not the law
7:7-13 Israel’s historical experience with the law: death not life

7:13-20 Israel’s ongoing experience with the law: it cannot be done

7:21-25 The impact of the law: wretched person that I am!

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Objections to justification: How can it control sin?

Sunday 27th August 2023

Read: Ephesians 4:17-32; Romans 6:1-14

Sermon: Romans 6:1-14

Romans 1-5 The Gospel as the only means of right standing with God

Romans 6:1-2 Questions about justification: should we just go on sinning?

Romans 6:3-11 No, because we have been united to Christ

     6:3-4 United with Christ in baptism

     6:5-11 United with Christ in death and resurrection

Romans 6:12-14 Don’t let sin reign in your life