In Sermons: showing 1-15 of 17

Harvest Thanksgiving, Even In Suffering

Contributed by Matthew Oliver on Mar 18, 2016

A reflection on the appropriateness of thanksgiving and glorifying God, even in the midst of intense personal suffering. Contrasted with the First World expectation of self-actualization.

Genesis 2:4-25, Ps 126, Matthew 6:25-33 “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? 6:31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, —What shall we eat?’ or —What ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-33

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Remembrance Sunday

Contributed by Matthew Oliver on Mar 18, 2016

A meditation on the place of violence in the world, and the Christian encounter with that and the soldier

Daniel 2:1, 26-28, 31-45; Psalm 2; John 18:33-19:11 We are pausing for a moment today as a community of faith to consider those who have suffered the violence of conflict. Our national day of Remembrance, November 11, is specifically focused on the memory of soldiers, but as Christians our call ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Advent The Coming Of Christ The Tiger

Contributed by Matthew Oliver on Mar 18, 2016

Sermon for Advent 4

Advent 4 Year C Preached 20 Dec 15 Micah 5:2-5a, Psalm 80:1-7, Luke 1:39-55 (The Magnificat) We are here at the last feast day in our march to the celebration of Christ’s nativity. We stand on the precipice of an event that literally reordered the entire creation, the coming of the Christ. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:39-55

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

For We Do Not War Against Flesh And Blood. Series

Contributed by Matthew Oliver on Oct 20, 2012

Ephesians 6:10-16 charges us to engage in the direct warfare with Satan and his apostate angels, protected by the whole armour of God, and carrying the battle forward with constant prayer for all the Saints.

SJE Tools for the Apprentices of Christ sermon series Ephesians 6:10-18 Pray. Good morning – we have a slightly reduced community today, and I’m all on my own up here, as our men are on retreat . As we gather as the Body of Christ, we do so in union with them, as we’re unified ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

God's Eternal Yes And Yes! Series

Contributed by Matthew Oliver on Oct 20, 2012

2 Corinthians 1:12-24. God's eternal 'yes and yes' states a truth which dispells the relativism and lies of the post-modern era, where each person claims the right to their truth. Christians are called to rebut this split world view with the true unity

We just starting out on our sermon series through Paul’s second letter to the Christians at Corinth. This week we hear Paul as he engages a Christian community that is living out the fruits of a cultural context that was more of Greek philosophy than of God. I always wonder how it is we ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:12-24

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Controlled By Christ Series

Contributed by Matthew Oliver on Oct 20, 2012

2 Corinthians 5:9 to 6:2. St Paul, rather than boasting about his special place as an apostle instead submits himself entirely to the control of Christ. What does that mean to us?

Pray. We’re continuing our series walking through St Paul’s second letter to the Christians at Corinth. In today’s selection we are hearing Paul recite the history of our salvation, and indeed the redemption of the totality of the creation, along with our very high calling in ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

A Fool For Christ

Contributed by Matthew Oliver on Oct 20, 2012

2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10 It is in our weakness that we find the true strength of Christ - St Paul addresses those who considered themselves

SJE sermon series: 2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10, 26 August 2012 This is our second last installment in our series through Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth. What we are hearing this week is Paul’s use of irony and the startling conclusion – it is in weakness that the ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Bread For Dogs

Contributed by Matthew Oliver on Oct 20, 2012

Mark 7:24-37 expository sermon on the encounter between Jesus and the Syrophonecian woman, even the dogs eat the crumbs under the children's table.

Preaching in a different pulpit Sunday, filling in for a friend. This is a re-work of a sermon from earlier this year. Bread for dogs. 9 September 2012, Mark 7:24-37, Trinity 14 We are going to specifically look at a couple of the themes emphasized in this portion: bread, being filled completely ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:24-37

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Trusting God

Contributed by Matthew Oliver on Jun 24, 2002

The experience of Abraham and Ishmael and Christ’s words tell us that we are to trust God, even to death.

5th Sunday after Pentecost Trusting God. Preached at Saint John the Evangelist, Cold Lake, Holy Eucharist 23 June 2002 Genesis 21:8-21; Romans 6:1-11; Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17; Matthew 10:24-39 O Lord, we pray, speak in this place, in the calming of our minds and in the longing of our hearts, by ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 21:8-21, Matthew 10:24-39

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Pride - The Greatest Sin

Contributed by Matthew Oliver on Jun 20, 2002

Many of the failures of todays world to enact the gospel are the result of human pride. Only by God’s grace through self-denial can we hope to overcome

20 June 2002 Evening Prayer St John the Evangelist Cold Lake Psalm 85 1 Samuel 2:27-36 Matthew 18:10-20 An anonymous man of God prophesies to Eli about his fate and the fate of his sons for their failure to follow God – you see Eli’s Sons are taking more than their share of the sacrifice and are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:10-20, 1 Samuel 2:27-36

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

God Calls Us All To Vocation.

Contributed by Matthew Oliver on Jan 19, 2002

Through Isaiah’s call to Israel to become the light of the world, and John’s recognition of the Christ, we see a model of vocational call that we can follow. God calls us all to different vocations, but one we are all called to is to pray.

2nd Sunday after Epiphany God Calls us All to Vocation. Preached at Saint John the Evangelist, Cold Lake, Morning Prayer 20 January 2002 Isaiah 49:1-7, Psalm 40:1-12, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42 Collect: Almighty God, your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ is the light of the world. May ...read more

Scripture: John 1:29-42, Isaiah 49:1-7, 2 Timothy 2:14-26

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Does Evil Come From God, Or From Us?

Contributed by Matthew Oliver on Jan 10, 2002

The death of the innocent children in Bethlehem tells us much about evil in the world, and what we can offer the non-believers.

The Holy Innocents (The Eve of) Does Evil come from God, or from Us? Preached at Saint John the Evangelist, Cold Lake Octave of Epiphany, Evening Prayer, 10 January 2002 Matthew 2:13-18, Revelation 21:1-7 Collect: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, whose children suffered at the hands of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-18, Revelation 21:1-7

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

A Church In Exile, And Our Response

Contributed by Matthew Oliver on Jan 7, 2002

In many ways the Christian church is a church in exile as many of our traditional power bases have been lost. We are not to focus on things of man, but things of God, in prayer and faith. Perseverance in prayer is the key.

A Church in Exile, and our Response. Sermon for Proper 29, Year C 21 October 2001 St John the Evangelist, Cold Lake Jeremiah 31:27-34 Psalm 119:94-104 2 Tim 3:14-4:5 Luke 18:1-8 One of the joys of being a Lay Reader is the privilege of preaching God’s word before His people. The other part ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8, Jeremiah 31:27-34

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

How Good Is Good Enough?

Contributed by Matthew Oliver on Jan 7, 2002

If we define goodness in human terms we will always fall short of Christ’s example. God calls us to give our concerns over to him in faith and trust.

Sermon for the Feast of Pentecost 3 June 2001 Preached at St John the Evangelist, Cold Lake Acts 2:1-21 Romans 8:14-17 John 14:8-27 Psalm 104:24-35 How Good is Good Enough? What a wonderful day to raise our voices in praise of the Most High God on the Day of Pentecost. It is this day that we ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21, John 14:8-27

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Good Defeats Evil Through Might!

Contributed by Matthew Oliver on Jan 7, 2002

How do we answer evil as humans compared to how God answers evil? We are called to meet evil with love and compassion, as God met evil with Jesus.

A Christmas Eve Service of Carols and Lessons Preached at Saint John the Evangelist, Cold Lake 24 December 2001 May the words of my lips and the meditations of all our hearts be ever pleasing to thee, O Lord most high. Amen. Tonight we join together to anticipate the imminent birth of Jesus. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-52

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican