Sermons on Ceasarea Philip:

Transfiguration And The Three Monuments To Fundamentalism

Contributed by Philip Gill on Mar 17, 2003

On the Mount of transfiguration Peter wanted to freeze the moment by building three dwellings or monuments. We are called to transformation and must therefore resist the three monuments to fundamentalism.

Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. (Mark 9:2 NRSV) As ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:2-9, Psalm 8:1-9

Denomination: Anglican

Why I Am A Christian

Contributed by Philip Gill on Mar 29, 2003

I am a Christian because of the mysterious movement of the spirit of God in my life, the encouragement and teaching of my parents and my response to the void that only conscious discipleship of Christ could fill. This only begins the story!

Why I am A Christian The picture on the front of the pew bulletin sums up the journey before us. There is the central image of the cross with several symbols of holy Week. The palms are for the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem as the King riding on a colt rather than in a chariot. The ...read more

Scripture: John 3:14-18, 1 Corinthians 6:12

Denomination: Anglican

The Good News: Revisit, Repent, Renew

Contributed by Philip Gill on Jan 25, 2003

Jesus’ message was and is one that demands a response. Even more than a response we are challenged to make a commitment that requires that we revisit and if necessary repent and renew our faith.

Believe the Good News - Revisit, Repent and Renew. Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." Mark 1.14-15 I was a big thing - for Andrew and Simon, James and John and ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:14-15

Denomination: Anglican

Ways Of Prayer - "Who Is Like You O Lord?"

Contributed by Philip Gill on Feb 7, 2003

What is prayer and more specifically, what is prayer for us? There are guide posts that the Church has provided for us,forms of prayer known as adoration, confession, intercession, confession, thanksgiving and petition.

Ways of Prayer - "Who is like you, O Lord?" Some time ago, a former Prime minister of our nation got into a bit of trouble when he was overheard to utter the name of our Lord as some said "in vain". He retorted that he was actually offering an involuntary prayer. His detractors found it hard to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:35-39, Exodus 15:11

Denomination: Anglican

What Are Your Expectations Of The Messiah?

Contributed by Philip Gill on Feb 9, 2003

If John the Baptist had to make sure Jesus was the Messiah it may well have been because there were several examples upon which the expected messiah could be modelled. What are our expectations of the Messiah?

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 11:2-5

Denomination: Anglican

Bringing The Paralytic To Christ: A Witness To Compassion, Faith, Courage

Contributed by Philip Gill on Feb 26, 2003

We pray for a peaceful resolution to the tensions between the US and Iraq and support those working towards that end, but we must consider that for the longer term, military action could be the most compassionate, faithful and courageous response.

Bringing the Paralytic to Christ: a witness to compassion, faith and courage Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let ...read more

Scripture: Mark 2:3-4

Denomination: Anglican

God's Faithful Messengers Series

Contributed by Philip Kruis on Dec 17, 2001

God uses his faithful messengers, both throught their presence and their message, to assure that message sent is message received.

God’s Faithful Messengers Luke 1:26-38, 2:8-14 Introduction: "I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant." Wow! How many times do we communicate like that? Far too often I imagine. I’m currently doing premarital ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14, Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

God And Our Suffering

Contributed by Philip Gill on Jan 8, 2003

A response to suffering is to follow a process found in psalm 22 (among others): Pour the situation before God, come to realization that God is with us, enter again into a relationship of praise.

God and Our Suffering When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Matthew 2.16 The murder of the innocents ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:7-16, Psalm 22:1-31

Denomination: Anglican

"I Am Baptised"

Contributed by Philip Gill on Jan 11, 2003

To make the affirmation "I am Baptised" is to bring the reality of our baptism into the present making us vitally aware that we are Children of God, disciples of Christ and members of the Church.

Sermon for the Baptism of Our Lord I am Baptised! Apparently Martin Luther, the great 16th figure of the reformation used to take great comfort from these words. When it seemed to him that the whole church had left the precepts of the Gospel, when he was under scrutiny from Church officials as to ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:4-11, Genesis 3:8-11

Denomination: Anglican

Minding God's Business

Contributed by Philip Gill on Jan 13, 2003

We are called to go about the business given to us by God and while we may be challenged by the parable of the sheep and goats we should not be fearful, having faith that as we love our Lord, he even more deeply loves us.

Going about God’s Business "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. {32}All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, {33}and he ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46, 1 Samuel 17:34-36

Denomination: Anglican

Faith And Hope - Much More Than Coke

Contributed by Philip Cairns on Feb 1, 2002

Understanding the difference between ’wish lists’ and ’hope’ as the Scriptures teach it.

TITLE: "Faith and hope - much more than Coke" SCRIPTURE: James 1:2-12 AIM: Through an understanding of ‘suffering’, challenge my hearers about their faith and how they would stand when tested. INTRODUCTION: In 1 Corinthians Paul talks about the three things that will remain - faith, hope and ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-12

Denomination: Holiness

What The Bible Says About Heaven And Hell

Contributed by Philip Cairns on Feb 1, 2002

What the Bible says about heaven and hell rather than what popular opinion might suggest.

TOPIC: What the bible says about heaven and hell SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 1:3-9 AIM: To have my hearers be clear on the biblical concepts of heaven and hell, and to do something positive to be sure that their destiny is heaven. INTRODUCTION. Do you want the good news or the bad news first? Let me give ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Denomination: Holiness

God Makes No Mistakes

Contributed by Philip Makari on Oct 19, 2002

A biblical view of what it means to be chosen by God and be called to his service

“14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Sneak Preview

Contributed by Philip Makari on Oct 19, 2002

There is more to the transfiguration of Jesus than the actual event.

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS is another of those major events in the Bible that speak directly to us of his divine nature and point us strongly to the truth that he was indeed God’s unique and personal revelation of himself. Transfiguration Sunday therefore, is an important day on the Church ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 34:29-35, Luke 9:28-36

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Beyond Human Imagination Series

Contributed by Philip Makari on Jan 8, 2001

Nothing surpasses the mystery of Christ’s Incarnation.

BEYOND HUMAN IMAGINATION Luke 2:8-20 There are several reasons as to why the shepherds’ episode of the Christmas story could not have been a story of human imagination, or a man-made story. 1. If you or I were to make up a story about the birth of the long anticipated Messiah, it ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed