Sermons on Chris Seay:

The Council At Jerusalem Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Oct 25, 2005

At the first Council of teh Church, held in Jerusalem it was affirmed that the preaching of the gospel brings freedom because the gospel is all about the grace of God, the freely given forgiveness won by Christ on the cross.

What are we on about as a Church? How do we decide what’s central to our life together? What is there that we must have if we’re to be a truly Christian Church? What are the guiding principles that govern our life together? They’re the sorts of questions that arise out of today’s passage from ...read more

Scripture: Acts 15:1-35

Denomination: Anglican

How God Uses Human Weaknes To Bring About His Purposes Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Oct 25, 2005

GOd used Paul and Barnabas’ disagreement over John Mark to expand the work of the gospel. In his sovereignty he can even use our weaknesses to further his ends.

By Camille Lang Have you noticed the world and people in it are just … well, out of control? A life lived seems messy … even off the rails at times…. However it seems to me that today people seem to be showing even less tolerance … more impatience and more anger and I seem to be coming ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Thessalonica And Berea Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Oct 25, 2005

Paul centres his message on the historic Jesus, arguing from Scripture that he’s the Messiah. He persuades people by careful argument, opening the Scriptures to allow people to discover the truth for themselves. And he works as a leader of a team, includi

It’s interesting that we think of Paul as someone who stands out on his own. He’s the great apostle to the Gentiles, a man who stands head and shoulders above the rest. Yet in reality he was a man who loved to work as part of a team. He started out with Barnabas, then joined up with Silas, then he ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:1-15

Denomination: Anglican

The Gospel Is Preached At The Areopagus Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Oct 25, 2005

Paul takes the context of a pagan city and uses their apparent spiritual thirst to tell them about Jesus and his rescue from the judgement to come.

Here’s Paul, left alone in Athens, the cultural capital of the world. How do you think he’d be feeling? Overwhelmed? Excited? Fascinated? Imagine this is you, not in Athens, but in New York or Paris or Rome or Berlin? How would you be feeling? Like you couldn’t wait to get out and start exploring? ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34

Denomination: Anglican

Paul In Corinth Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Oct 25, 2005

we can be confident in sharing the gospel with our friends and neighbours because we know that God has already called out people to hear and respond when they hear the good news of salvation.

I want to finish this part of our series on Acts by reflecting on the way God continued to encourage and support Paul in his preaching of the gospel, despite the great opposition he faced. God’s empowering was such that many people came to believe in Jesus. Paul was able to keep going despite the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-17

Denomination: Anglican

Just For You -- For The Common Good

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Oct 26, 2005

Encouragement to explore and develop the gifts of the Spirit—not as a responsibility to weigh you down, but as a way for you to love and honor the God who loves you.

I have a few questions for you. You don’t have to answer out loud. No show of hands required. You don’t need to nod your head. You don’t need to shake your head. But these are not rhetorical questions. They are real questions, serious questions, important questions. What do you think God ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

How (Questions In The Aftermath Of Hurricane Katrina)

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Oct 30, 2005

How could God have let this happen? How can we speak to God of what has happened? How can we respond to the need before us?

Lamentations 2:11-13, 18-19; 3:19-23, 40-42, 46-57 The Lamentations were written by someone, probably Jeremiah, who observed the devastation of Jerusalem following the Babylonian invasion in 586 BC. Jerusalem was literally leveled. The temple was destroyed. Anybody who was anybody was carried ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Reflections On Halloween

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Oct 31, 2005

How does a Christian deal with Halloween in a way that glorifies God?

Halloween can be a troubling holiday. Many of us carry fond memories of Halloweens long ago, back when we were growing up. Many of us remember it as innocent fun—a special day just for children. I remember dressing up in silly costumes and going door to door begging for candy. When I was ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:8-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Between Two Worlds

Contributed by Chris Tiller on Nov 1, 2005

The values, priorities, and expectations of the kingdoms of this world are completely at odds with the values, priorities, and expectations of the Kingdom of God. Conflict is inevitable.

During his last night with his disciples, before his arrest, Jesus concluded his teaching with these words: “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) In his Second Letter to the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 9:19-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Thanksgiving For The Spread Of The Gospel Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Nov 2, 2005

The Church that receives the Gospel has a responsibility to pass it on. The Church that passes on the gospel must first embody it. It’s no use speaking the words if the actions that go with the words don’t agree.

Today we start a new series, on Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. This is probably the first letter Paul wrote, although the date of Galatians could be either a few years before or after the date of this letter. In any event, it seems to have been written while Paul was in Corinth. You’ll ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Denomination: Anglican

How To Serve The Church Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Nov 2, 2005

The way to serve the church, the way to serve God in the church, is to build it up by proclaiming the gospel, by helping those who come to faith to grow, and by encouraging them to become mature believers who in turn can bring others into the kingdom.

Bill is a 19 ½ year old Uni Student. He’s been a Christian for some 5 or 6 years, having been converted through his youth group. He volunteers as a leader of the youth group on a Friday night. His friends call him Blue because he has red hair. Violet is a 67 year old retiree. She’s still ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Denomination: Anglican

Delegation Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Nov 2, 2005

Jesus return is the motivation for remaining holy and blameless to be ready when he appears so we can join him, so we’re worthy of him. Paul’s prayer is that Jesus would provide the power to do it.

As we read this section of 1 Thessalonians we get a real sense of Paul’s love for the people he ministered to. There’s no sense of this being made up, no pretence. Rather it feels quite genuine. He really misses them. He’s distressed that he’s had to abandon them just as they were becoming a stable ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Final Instructions - How To Be A Gospel Church Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Nov 2, 2005

How to be a gospel church; how to live lives that are appropriate for people who are waiting for Christ to return to take us to be with him forever.

We’re going to be thinking today about how to be a gospel church; how to live lives that are appropriate for people who are waiting for Christ to return to take us to be with him forever. Last week you were reminded that even if we don’t know exactly when Jesus will return, he is coming and that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:12-28

Denomination: Anglican

Behold What Manner Of Love Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Nov 2, 2005

God’s love is a powerful love. It’s a love that reaches out to us even while we’re being unfaithful. It’s a love that willingly pays the cost to win us back. But in the end it’s a love that must be taken up by those to whom it’s offered.

I’ve known a number of men over the years whose wives have left them. I remember one man who came home from work one day to discover his wife had had the removalists in and they’d taken everything apart from his personal belongings. I remember one man whose wife left him and his children for ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

Hosea's Love - Betrayal And Judgement Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Nov 2, 2005

Hosea gives a picture not only of the way God hurts when his people are unfaithful, but about the real power of his love. Here is a love that expects a response of single-minded faithfulness, and that won’t rest until it gets it.

If you’re familiar with the story of Les Miserables, then you’ll know that the story begins with Jean Valjean, a convict on parole, coming to a town where the only person who’ll give him a room and a meal is the local bishop, Bp Myriel. The bishop welcomes him into his house, feeds him and gives ...read more

Denomination: Anglican