Sermons on Anthony Hopkins:

The Armour Of Light

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Nov 3, 2008

Thinking more about the phrase, "the armour of light"

There’s a proverb which says, "It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness". I want to reflect, this evening, upon a phrase of Paul’s in that reading from Romans: the armour of light. As well as our usual, longer, silence after the sermon, there will some shorter silences as part of the ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:8-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Four Weddings And A Funeral

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Nov 3, 2008

1 Corinthians 13’s message about Christian community

In the film Four weddings and a funeral, during the first wedding, the reader begins the well-worn reading of 1 Corinthians 13, saying, "if I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal". As the reader pauses for breath, someone ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Remembrance And Holy Communion

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Nov 11, 2008

A sermon linking themes of Remembrance Sunday and Holy Communion - an uncommon combination in English Free churches

This evening is something rather unusual in our church. Very rarely has our calendar so fallen that we celebrate Holy Communion on Remembrance Sunday. At first sight it seems very odd to mix something so religious, Holy Communion, with something with so many secular overtones, Remembrance Sunday. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Church In Laodicea

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Nov 29, 2005

What was said to the Church in Laodicea - the seventh of the seven churches - and what it might mean for us today.

Laodicea was a very, very wealthy city, founded by Antiochus II and named after his wife Laodice. The city was strategically located, where three major roads converged, so it was highly commercial. It was well known for its banking industry, its manufacture of black wool, and a medical school ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Advent Sunday Sermon

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Nov 29, 2005

A sermon for Advent Sunday, also alluding to St. Andrew’s tide and World AIDS day.

Advent Sunday is a time that can mean so many different things to so many different people. As well as the start of Advent, it’s also the Sunday nearest to 1st December, marked as World AIDS Day, and the Sunday nearest to St. Andrew’s day, a traditional time for thinking about the mission of the ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 64:1-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Mystery Of The Incarnation Made Real

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Jan 4, 2013

A short sermon contrasting a new born baby with the depth of the wonder of God's nature.

As some of you know, my wife and I had our first baby in August - Joanna. She’s such a little thing: defenceless, can’t move very far on her own, can’t feed, drink or clothe herself, can’t talk, and doesn’t know the Christmas story. But she has got out attention, not ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Was Was Hidden Has Been Reveled

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Jan 7, 2013

A sermon for the epiphany

A man was once eating fish and chips at the bus stop, and a lady with a small dog came along to wait for her bus. The dog clearly liked the smell of the fish and chips, and kept jumping up around the man’s legs to try and get at them. In the end the man smiled at the lady and asked, “do you mind ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Keep Calm And Carry On - A Sermon For Ash Wednesday

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Feb 17, 2013

A sermon for Ash Wednesday - for a UK congregation

Joel 2:1-2 & 12-17 John 8:1-11 I’m beginning, totally unsuitably for Lent, with an expression of pride. I’m very proud of my collection of the complete set of Carry On films - it’s the earthy British humour of the 1960s and 1970s at its best (or worst, depending upon your point ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:1-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Calling In The Wilderness

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Feb 17, 2013

A sermon for the first Sunday of Lent

Luke 4:1-13 Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Romans 10:9-13 I’m told that it’s impossible to be hungry in the desert because of the sand which is everywhere. Today our readings take us into the desert, or the wilderness if you prefer (the words are the same in the Greek and Hebrew). Why is this ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Father's Day 2012

Contributed by Tyler Hopkins on Aug 31, 2012

A Father's Day sermon where I focus on Noah and how he honored God as a father.

Now I am not a father so I can't speak from personal experience about father-type things. I have worked in children's ministries for a few years, so I like to think that counts for something. The best example for fathers is, of course, found in scripture. I'm going a little unorthodox with what ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Storms Of Life

Contributed by Tyler Hopkins on Aug 31, 2012

I talk about how Jesus is with us through our storms and what we need to do in our storms.

I want to open this sermon with the scripture from Mark 4:35-41,"35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: United Methodist

Who?

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on May 26, 2013

Use of Jeremiah, John, and Luke, to bring out three persons of the Trinity, and an analogy with TV programme Dr Who - different faces and mystery.

Luke 19:1-10 Jeremiah 32:21-25 John 20:19-23 As a child, I always enjoyed Dr Who on a Saturday teatime. For me, Tom Baker was the doctor - the others who came after weren’t quite the same. Perhaps, for you it was Jon Pertwee who was the doctor, or Patrick Troughton, or William Hartnell; or ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:21-25

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

King David And His Relevance For Today

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Aug 25, 2011

A look at the life of King David, and what that might have to say to Christians today.

It hasn’t gone unnoticed that some of the MPs criticising the Murdochs and News International have a dubious track record in terms of expenses, and might therefore not be in a position to criticise the morals of others. Likewise, Stephen Fry remarked on the inappropriateness of any ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:18-29

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Paradox Of The Gospel

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Aug 28, 2011

The inherent paradox in scripture and Christian life

Exodus 3:1-15 Romans 12:9-21 Matthew 16:21-28 Which came first, the chicken or the egg? This is probably the best known paradox of all time. Here are some more light-hearted paradoxes are that you might like to consider: Computer security Political science Tight slacks Definite maybe Pretty ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Is Our Church For?

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Sep 9, 2010

How God seeks out the lost, through the only mediator - Jesus Christ.

Luke 15:1-10 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Exodus 32:7-14 There’s a story told about the boss of a big company who needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers. He dialled the employee's home phone number and was greeted with a child's whispered, "Hello?" ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed