In Sermons:

The Parable Of The Sly Bastard (A Sermon On Luke 16:1-9)

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 24, 2007

If you want to know how to handle money, take your lead from this sleaze-bag criminal accountant in Luke 16, for he was smart enough to know the most valuable thing that you.

One of the lads at Fight Club on Tuesday night approached me with a question: "You know that parable Jesus tells about the merchant who found the pearl of great price?”, he asked. “Yeah”, I said. “Well, I want to know who is the merchant in the story supposed to be?” This is not the standard sort ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-9

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Cost Of Following Jesus

Contributed by Stuart Webb on Oct 23, 2007

’When the warm fuzzies end’. When we first meet Jesus we experience the warmth and unconditional Love of God.But as we grow in God we are confronted by the challenging call to discipleship. This requires laying down our selfish desires and doing Gods will

The Cost of following Jesus Luke 14:25-35 (New International Version - UK) Large crowds were travelling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters— yes, even his own life— he cannot be my ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Fate, Failure And Fig Trees (And Why Bad Things Happen To Good People)

Contributed by David Smith on Oct 17, 2007

It’s the age-old theological question - why do bad things happen to good people? Jesus, as ever, doesn’t give us the response we expect.

They say that philosophy deals with two sorts of questions: * Questions to which everybody knows the answer (eg. Do I really exist?). * Questions to which nobody knows the answer (eg. Why do I exist?). Religious teachers tend to deal the same sorts of questions, perhaps particularly questions ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Genuine Repentance? Series

Contributed by Alan Mccann on Oct 5, 2007

Words and actions must match if repentance is to be genuine

Hosea 6.1-7.16 Is your repentance genuine? We all know the story of the little boy who cried “wolf” and when the wolf did eventually come no one believed him and he was eaten up. I am sure you have met people who say sorry for something and then turn around and do the same thing all over again. ...read more

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

It's Not About The Money

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Oct 3, 2007

It’s not about the money. Many people hear this parable about the Rich Man and Lazarus and think that God’s got it in for rich people. But it’s not about the money. It’s about compassion.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. (Psalm 19:14) It’s not about the money. Many people hear this parable about the Rich Man and Lazarus and think ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:19-31

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Commandments

Contributed by Ian Lyall on Sep 24, 2007

Godd’s commandments are absolutes, yet they also serve another purpose. They show us our sin and our neeed of a Saviour

Some years ago the ’Times’ carried an article by Charles Bremner under the heading �Sense and Sensitivity� In it Bremner observed: The Politically Correct culture chimes with the way the country (the USA) is fleeing from risk and moral judgment into the realm of ’victimology’ Every ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:6-21

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Lost Things

Contributed by Joanna Beveridge on Sep 24, 2007

We are unhappy if we lose something precious and really glad when we find it again. God is sad when we wander away from him, but really happy when we let him lead us home again.

I really enjoy doing jigsaws – when I get the time, that is. Does anyone else here like jigsaws? What’s the biggest jigsaw you’ve ever done? The biggest one I’ve ever done is 1000 pieces. Just imagine you’d spent days and days doing a 1000 piece jigsaw and just when you thought you would ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Hoard Or Lord

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Sep 22, 2007

Jesus says we must all choose between God and our stuff. Increasing our hoard or serving our Lord; getting more space or getting more grace. The choice is ours.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. (Psalm 19:14) Joseph Valachi was a gangster who worked for various crime bosses in the Mafia during the mid-20th ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-13

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Lost And Found

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Sep 18, 2007

Sheep wander off and get lost because they’re stupid. We know better and still do it anyway, so I’m not sure just how smart that makes us.

Other Scripture used: Exodus 32:1,7-14 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Psalm 51:1-18 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. God, grant me the Serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the Courage to change the one I can, and the Wisdom to know it’s me. Naval aviation training ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Paying The Cost To Not Be The Boss

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Sep 18, 2007

Jesus demonstrates for us that there is a difference between salvation and discipleship.

Other Scripture used: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Philemon 1-20 Psalm 1 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. (Psalm 19:14) I. Intro God’s definitely got ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:25-33

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

In The Name Of Pride

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Sep 18, 2007

One of the worst characteristics, or symptoms, of pride is that it feeds off others in order to fill its host. Pride builds us up only by tearing others down.

Other Scripture used: Ecclesiasticus 10:(7-11)12-18 Hebrews 13:1-8 Luke 14:1,7-14 Psalm 112 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. (Psalm 19:14) A ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:7-14

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Heed The Warning

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Sep 18, 2007

We need to get back to the first-century approach to our walk with the Lord, caring for each other, loving each other, each individual Christian doing whatever he or she can for any child of God.

Other Scripture used: Isaiah 28:14-22 Psalm 46 Hebrews 12:18-19,22-29 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. (Psalm 19:14) In our Gospel today, Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Luke 13:22-30

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Prophets And Losses

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Sep 18, 2007

False prophets are not just an Old Testament problem. We have them in full force today, in all denominations, telling us that God is “doing a new thing,” misinterpreting Isaiah 43:19 to justify sin.

Other Scriptures used: Jeremiah 23:23-29 Psalm 82 Hebrews 12:1-14 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. (Psalm 19:14) False prophets are not just an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:49-56

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Faith In Action

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Sep 18, 2007

We all have it. Some more than others. Some people want more of it, while others try to deny having any of it at all. We rely on it to get us through each day, and it’s our key to eternal life.

Other Scripture used: Genesis 15:1-6 Hebrews 11:1-3(4-7)8-16 Luke 12:32-40 Psalm 33 or 33:12-15, 18-22 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. (Psalm ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:32-40

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Eat, Drink, And Be Merry

Contributed by Austin Mansfield on Sep 18, 2007

When our wants become more important than other people’s needs, we are no longer focused on God or following Jesus. We’re following ourselves in a meaningless cycle to get more things to leave behind when we die.

Other Scripture used: Ecclesiastes 1:12-14;2:1-23 Psalm 49 Colossians 3:(5-11)12-17 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen. (Psalm 19:14) There’s an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 12:13-21

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican