Sermons on Dr Simon Greenleaf:

God Restores Elijah / The Heart Of The Problem

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Aug 15, 2020

To help Elijah out of his depression God needs to reach a point where Elijah is willing to listen to him. He then needs to resolve Elijah's sense of failure and hopelessness. We see how God did that.

1 KINGS 19, GOD RESTORES ELIJAH INTRODUCTION Today we’re returning to the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. 1 Kings 18 tells us about Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. In 1 Kings 19, we find that Elijah has become very depressed. He thinks he’s a failure, but God ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How Do We Respond To Easter? Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 7, 2022

John tells us that we respond to God's agape-love by loving one another with agape-love.

How do we respond to Easter? (THIS WAS A TALK FOR A FAMILY SERVICE. IT HAS SOME POWERPOINT SLIDES TO GO WITH IT. IF YOU’D LIKE THEM, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT SIMON.BARTLETT@VIRTUALITY.CO) Two weeks ago was Easter Sunday and some of us were on holiday. But Easter Sunday wasn’t the END of Easter. It ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-12

Denomination: Baptist

You Are The Salt Of The Earth Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 23, 2022

Jesus calls us to be the salt - the preservative - of the earth. He warns us against losing our sense of mission. Or, considering the Greek, perhaps he is warning us against being pushed off course. But either way, his message is: stick with it.

Today, after a bit of a break, we’re returning to Jesus’ longest recorded sermon, the Sermon on the Mount. Can you remember how Jesus starts his sermon? What was his first WORD? Jesus’ first word is ‘blessed’. ‘Blessed’ means happy or fortunate. Jesus wants us to be blessed. He is going to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13

Denomination: Baptist

Do Not Resist Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jun 25, 2022

Many Christians believe that in Matthew 5:39 Jesus is calling us to pacifism. If that was the case, he would be negating the Old Testament! Jesus does call us to nonresistance, but in certain situations only - as his examples show. He isn't pacifist and he doesn't call us to to pacifism.

INTRODUCTION I trained to become a Baptist minister at Bristol Baptist College. While I was there, a Canadian couple called Tom and Rebecca Yoder Neufeld gave a talk. The Yoder Neufelds are Mennonites. Mennonites trace their origins to the Anabaptists, and the Yoder Neufelds were at Bristol ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42

Denomination: Baptist

The Siege Of Jerusalem

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Feb 1, 2022

We probably don't like to think about God's justice. The siege of Jerusalem by the Romans, in A.D. 70, forces us to. In this event we see God's justice but we also see that God protected his people in a time of wrath.

Note: this was a talk I gave to a small afternoon congregation. I wouldn’t give it in our main morning service. INTRODUCTION We’re presently following the theme of discipleship, picking up some of the big things that are part of being a follower of Jesus. But it’s good to have some variety so ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-41, Luke 19:41-44, Luke 21:2-24

Denomination: Baptist

You Can Resist A Lion Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Feb 12, 2022

We may imagine that we could never resist a lion. But lions will cross our path and Peter tells us to resist them.

[N.B. Earlier in the service we had a short presentation on Rosa Parks.] Today we’re continuing our series of ‘Great Messages of Encouragement’. We’ve had four talks so far. We’ve remembered that God will be with us. That he will strengthen those who wait on him. That there’s a glory to come ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8-11

Denomination: Baptist

Joy In Trials?!

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Feb 18, 2022

The idea that we could find joy in trials seems very strange. But it makes sense - and it could radically change the way we respond to the trials that inevitably come.

We’ve now reached the last in our series of ‘Messages of Encouragement’. And we’ve come to a very difficult piece of teaching! ‘James’ – whoever James may be – tells us TO CONSIDER IT PURE JOY WHENEVER WE FACE TRIALS OF MANY KINDS! Wow! That sounds crazy! How can we understand it? The general ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Sermon On The Mount / The First Three Beatitudes Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Mar 3, 2022

In the Beatitudes, Jesus states eight or nine things which result in us being 'blessed' - meaning, happy or fortunate. They are right at the heart of being right with God and they are very different to the things which most people think will make them happy or fortunate.

INTRODUCTION Last week we finished our series of six talks on the theme ‘Great Messages of Encouragement’. We’re now starting a new series of talks on the Sermon on the Mount. I don’t know how many talks we’ll have on it, but it will be more than six! What is ‘the Sermon on the Mount’? Well, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Overcoming Fear

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 6, 2020

Before his crucifixion Jesus gave his disciples some instruction on how to overcome fear. His instruction to them is applicable to us too.

[Note, this series started to follow the SermonCentral ‘Fear Not’ series, but this week I went in a different direction.] Today we have the second talk in our series ‘Fear Not.’ Last week we started by thinking about healthy and unhealthy fears. [This talk was given by someone else.] A healthy ...read more

Scripture: John 14:1-4

Denomination: Baptist

The Gospel. Part 3: What Happens If We Accept Jesus?

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 15, 2020

When we accept Jesus we ARE a new creation and the old passes away. There is new birth and death. But we shouldn't imagine for a moment that the job is done. Just as a new baby needs nurturing, our new spiritual selves need nurturing. And our old selves need to be shown the door.

The Gospel, Part 3 We have now reached the third of our four talks in our series ‘the gospel.’ Part 1: The problem Part 2: The solution Part 3: What changes if we accept Jesus? Part 4: What happens if we reject Jesus? [Slide of Adam and Eve] In part 1 of this series on ‘the gospel’ we first ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Denomination: Baptist

The Gospel. Part 4: What Happens If We Reject Jesus?

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 24, 2020

Without Jesus in our lives, sin takes hold; weeds start to grow up in the garden of our lives. But the consequences for eternity are much more serious. However, does scripture really lead us to expect the 'pains of hell for ever'?

Please note. The passage for this talk is Matthew 25:31-46, however the main focus of the talk is v.46. Part 4: What happens if we reject Jesus? Today we have the fourth and last talk in my series on the gospel. We’re thinking about the question, ‘What happens if we reject Jesus?’ Quite a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 25:46

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas: Reason To Hope

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 28, 2020

Simeon hoped to see the messiah before he died and he did. His story teaches us something about why we hope and how to hope.

We’ve just sung that great song by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, ‘In Christ alone my hope is found.’ That’s quite a declaration! Getty wrote the music and Townend wrote the words. Townend isn’t merely saying that Jesus is A source of HOPE. He’s saying that Jesus is the ONLY source of hope! ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:22-35

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus, Prince Of Peace

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Dec 5, 2020

Peace is central to Christmas. Jesus came to heal the age-old fracture and bring us peace with God and he's the only one who can.

What does Christmas mean to you? What do you like best about Christmas? Spending time with family and friends? Christmas trees? Turkey roasts? Christmas puddings and brandy butter? Stockings? Santa? Presents? Carols? A season of goodwill when we put past hurts aside? I certainly like all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-10, Isaiah 9:6-7, John 14:27, Luke 2:29-30, Luke 2:14, Luke 12:50-52, John 16:32-33  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Joy To The World

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Dec 12, 2020

The angel proclaimed ‘good news of great joy.’ Sounds great! But what exactly is this good news? What kind of joy should we experience? Do you have that joy?

In the lead-up to Christmas this year we’re focusing on four great themes: hope, peace, joy and love. Many churches have Advent candles and they associate these four themes with the first four Advent candles. The fifth candle is for Jesus. The last two Sundays we looked at hope and peace; today ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-11, Luke 2:23, Luke 1:50, Luke 1:54, Luke 1:72, Luke 1:76-78  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

1 The Good Samaritan, Part 1 Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jan 17, 2020

Doing is essential for our salvation. Doing means keeping God’s law. But we can’t be justified by doing!

N.B. This talk is in two parts. This is the first. The second talk is uploaded as '3 The Good Samaritan, Part 2'. Also, I can email you the slides I used - simon@roseberypark.org INTRODUCTION [Slide 1] This is my first talk as minister of Rosebery Park Baptist Church – or as minister of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-29

Denomination: Baptist