Sermons on Annie Armstrong:

Trinity In Salvation Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Aug 10, 2010

The persons of the Trinity working for our salvation.

On Saturday May 15, 2010, Jessica Watson arrived in Sydney after sailing around the world. It was a wonderfully inspiring effort. I once got sea sick sitting on a surf ski waiting for waves off Warriewood Beach. So you can imagine how I feel even thinking about sailing through huge seas on a yacht ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Trinity In Worship Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Aug 10, 2010

After considering some reasons why the Trinity is not always central in our tradition, discussing how the Trinity shapes liturgical substance.

‘Glory be to God the Father’, sings the church, ‘glory be to God the Son, glory be to God the Spirit, great Jehovah, Three in One’. What is this? we ask—praise to three gods? No, praise to one God in three persons. This is the God whom Christians worship—God in three persons. At the heart of  the ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-26

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Trinity In Relationships

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Aug 10, 2010

How the Trinity shapes our relationships.

Today we come to our last study on the Trinity. Three things we shall be doing (1) looking at the Trinity as a model for understanding ourselves; (2) then the Trinity as the foundation for building godly relationships; (3) the priority of trinitarian love.   opening prayer   ‘I’m not a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:15-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Four Seasons

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Jan 7, 2010

A Christmas sermon from the angle of Vivaldi's four seasons.

Poets and artists have always been interested in depicting the seasons of the year. There’s a beauty known only to each season which engages and sparks the imagination to creativity. In 1725, Vivaldi composed his most known work The Four Seasons, the texture of each concerto resembling its ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Changing The Future

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Oct 11, 2009

A gospel presentation originally for a baptismal service.

Channel 7 recently launched a new series called, ‘Flash Forward’. It’s a science-fiction-action-romance show that wants to satisfy everyone. In the first episode, the whole world passes out for about 2 minutes, but time keeps on ticking away. So helicopters fly into buildings, there are huge ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Life In The Kitchen (Husbands And Wives) Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Oct 11, 2009

Heavenly realities working themselves out in marriage.

It’s been said that in the FIRST YEAR of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. But in the SECOND YEAR, the woman speaks and the man listens. Then in the THIRD YEAR, they BOTH speak and the NEIGHBOURS listen. Others say that marriage is like undertaking a LEGO project without instructions. ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:18-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Truth That Leads To Godliness Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Nov 21, 2010

Introduction to the Letter to Titus.

Culture is constantly knocking at our door. ‘Which bank’? ‘Oh what a feeling’! ‘It puts a rose in every cheek’, ‘The fresh food people’, ‘My Dad picks the fruit to make the cordial, that I like best’, ‘Oh what a feeling’, ‘My store’, ‘For the most important person in the world’, and ‘Aussie kids ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:1-4

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Leadership That Matters Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Nov 21, 2010

Talk 2 in a series from Titus. The importance and characteristics of church elders.

Mark McCrindle is social researcher from the University of NSW who is interested in the changing face of our country. Recently he sampled 5,000 people for their views on leadership (report 16 September 2010). Who is the leader you most admire in history? Winston Churchill was on top with 8.2% of ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:5-7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Elders On The Run Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Nov 21, 2010

Talk 3 in series. Strong leaders are needed to deal with false teaching.

‘I am certainly not one of those who need to be prodded. In fact, if anything, I am the prod’, says the most popular of all leaders. During World War II, Winston Churchill was forced to make a painful choice. The British secret service had broken the Nazi code and informed Churchill ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:8-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Power Of Sound Doctrine Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Nov 21, 2010

Talk 4 in in series. A look at how sound doctrine orders relationships within the church family.

It’s amazing what persistent teaching and training can do. Geoff Huegill (a successful Australian swimmer) lost 40 kg to win the 100m butterfly at the recent Commonwealth Games. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that ‘Huegill had feared disappearing under a pile of beer cans and pizza boxes before ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:1-5

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Grace That Empowers Us Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Nov 21, 2010

Talk 5 in series. A further exploration of church relationships in the light of the gospel.

What is the thing you most want in life? Perhaps its that new car or long overdue holiday. Lower interest rates on your home loan. Maybe a short break from the children or the prospect of a stress free Christmas. One researcher, Max-Neef, classifies fundamental our human needs as follows: ...read more

Scripture: Titus 2:6-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Rising To The Occasion Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Nov 21, 2010

Talk 6 in series. How the gospel shapes our relationship with the world. Dealing with a divisive person.

It hasn’t been all good news for QANTAS lately. There was the A380 incident with an uncontained engine failure. Other incidents include another engine failure, smoke in the aircraft, a bird strike and one aircraft hit by lightening. These incidents have hurt the QANTAS brand and how the ...read more

Scripture: Titus 3:1-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Why Religion Doesn't Work

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Aug 3, 2009

The folly of false religions. Only fullness and freedom are found in Christ.

The setting is the front of a small church. The pastor says from the pulpit, ‘I’ve misplaced my sermon notes, so I’m just going to read from this devotional—if I can find it here. While I look, maybe the choir can lead us in a hymn’. He glances at the choir which has one person.   The choir ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:16-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What In The World Are We Doing?

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Sep 1, 2009

Designed as a short, punchy talk to challenge Christians about mission.

What in the world are we doing? Sometimes I catch the start of the Ray Hadley show on 2GB. He usually begins by summing up the major news of the day. Last Thursday (28 August, 2009) wasn’t a good day. A family tragically killed on the F3 after a large semi-trailer ploughs into the back of the car. ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Truth About The Resurrection

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Apr 6, 2010

An Easter Sunday message on the resurrection from a worldview perspective.

[play mini-movie called 'Spiritual Cafeteria' produced by Floodgate Productions]. One time at University I spent all night finishing an assignment despite having a major exam the next day. So I hadn’t done an ounce of study. All my friends had a good night sleep and were in the library ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:1-35

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed