Sermon Central
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The User’s Guide To The Bible
Contributed by Chris Appleby on Oct 22, 2007 (message contributor)
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1. User's Guide To The Bible - Introduction
Contributed on Oct 22, 2007
Introduicing a series that helps us see how each smaller part fits into the big story of the Bible
A police inspector went to visit a primary school, where he’d been asked to take a Religious Education class. He thought he’d begin by checking what they knew about well known Bible stories. So he asked, ’Who knocked down the walls of Jericho?’ There was a long silence as the children shuffled ...read more
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2. The Pattern Of The Kingdom
Contributed on Oct 22, 2007
God’s people in God’s place, the place of his blessing, the Blessed World, living in obedience to God’s commands, in harmony with one another and caring for God’s creation as good stewards of all that God has provided. That’s as good a description of par
We noted last week that when the Biblical writers deliver their accounts of the things that happened they often shape them in particular ways in order to convey some particular aspect of the truth of the situation. Now there’s nothing deceitful or underhanded about this. They’re simple wanting ...read more
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3. The Perished Kingdom
Contributed on Oct 22, 2007
God’s perfect plan for the world was destroyed because the man and woman failed to trust him to do what he said he’d do and as a result all their relationships were broken.
One of the most exquisite pieces of sculpture created by the great artist, Michelangelo, was the sculpture called the Pieta. It depicts Mary holding a dead Christ in her arms after he was taken down from the cross. Michelangelo carved it from a single slab of marble in less than two years. It stood ...read more
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4. The Promised Kingdom - Abram - Man Of Faith
Contributed on Oct 22, 2007
God wants us to follow Abram’s example of living by faith, holding loosely to the things of this world, the things that appear to give comfort and security and to act on what God promises even when our external circumstances appear to indicate that it’s n
If you’ve been here for the last couple of sermons in this series you may remember that one of the things we noted in the account of Adam & Eve was that they were called to live by faith in God’s word alone. All they were given to go on was what God had told them about not eating of the tree of ...read more
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5. The Promised Kingdom 2
Contributed on Oct 22, 2007
God makes a covenant with Abraham that he’ll make his descendants a great nation, that he’ll give them a land and that he’ll bless all peoples through him.
(By Roy Hamer) There was a Catholic priest, an Anglican minister and a Jewish rabbi who all worked together in a little country town. Like a lot of country towns things were a little tough. So to save money they decided that they’d pool some of their resources to save on expenses. They decided to ...read more
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6. The Partial Kingdom 1 - Land Of Hope And Glory
Contributed on Oct 22, 2007
God’s promise seems to have failed, but Moses is called to remind his people that he is God and he will save them and give them the land he promised to Abraham. God can be trusted.
Can you trust God’s promises? What do you do when nothing seems to come of what you thought God had said he’d do? What if you find yourself in a place that’s the exact opposite of what you were expecting? What if God has promised that he’ll look after you, that he’ll bless you and yet you feel like ...read more
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7. The Partial Kingdom 2 - Three Kings
Contributed on Oct 22, 2007
Good leadership is more than just giftedness. It also involves faithfulness to God, a right focus and direction for God’s people.
If you go to the book shop and browse the shelves in the management area, chances are you’ll find a host of books focusing on leadership as the critical factor in the success of a business. And when you think about it, it makes sense. If the person at the top is a good leader then the organisation ...read more
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8. The Prophesied Kingdom 1 - Divided We Fall
Contributed on Oct 22, 2007
God’s people Israel failed to keep God’s covenant, to obey him. As a result they were sent into exile for a short time to bring them to repentance, and then God brought them back again because he wasn’t finished with them yet.
How many of you are old enough to remember the music of the 50s and 60s. Do you remember how popular music changed from Doris Day and Perry Como to Elvis, Col Joye, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones? But at the same time did you notice that although the music changed, the themes were fairly ...read more
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9. The Prophesied Kingdom 2 - Waiting For God
Contributed on Oct 22, 2007
God promises to bring new hope to his people by breathing his Spirit into them. This is our hope as well.
By Roy Hamer Have you ever watched a Horror movie? You know, I’m not big on horror movies, in fact most movies I get a little bored. It’s easy for me to go to bed midway through a movie if I don’t like it. If it’s a Horror movie if I don’t go to bed I’m sure to leave the room once or twice ...read more
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10. The Present Kingdom - The King Has Come
Contributed on Oct 22, 2007
Jesus comes in fulfillment of the prophecies of a new king who would restore the Kingdom of God and with the means to achieve that end.
Do you remember last week, when Roy was relating the story of Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones, how he pointed out that although much of what Ezekiel prophesied came true in the years immediately following the return from exile, it didn’t all come true. Let’s just briefly revisit the ...read more
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11. The Proclaimed Kingdom - Treasure In Clay Vessel
Contributed on Oct 22, 2007
While we wait for Jesus to return, our task is to cooperate with God in his transforming work within us, to listen and obey. And it’s to continue to share the gospel with those around us; to share the glory of God with them.
One of the things I love about travel is going to places that have a history behind them. To visit Rome, to see the Coliseum or the Roman Forum, to walk on paving stones that are 2000 years old, that maybe even Paul walked on when he was brought before Caesar. Last year I preached in a church that ...read more
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12. The Perfected Kingdom - The City Of God
Contributed on Oct 22, 2007
Jesus Return will see a new heaven and earth established where the patterns of the garden are restored, but in a city where God is central
What is your picture of heaven - fluffy clouds with angels perched on top, playing harps? Endless rounds of singing holy, holy, holy? Is it something you look forward to with great longing, or do you never give it a thought? We live in an age when people avoid thoughts of death and mortality. ...read more