Sermons on Gerard Manley Hopkins:

Church In Sardis

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Oct 30, 2005

The message to the church in Sardis and it’s relevance to us today

Over the last few weeks in the United Reformed Church, we’ve been looking at the stories of some churches, and seeing what they might have to say to us today. These stories are in the book of Revelation, and they take the form of letters that were written to these churches. Like all of the book ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 3:1-6

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Two For The Price Of One

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Nov 7, 2005

If anyone is in Christ there is a new creation - a sermon on this text for Holy Baptism and Holy Communion

I remember once listening to Radio 4, when Christine Hamilton was being interviewed, talking about the relative poverty of he life after her husband Neil Hamilton famously lost his seat in the 1997 General Election. It was the first time I heard the phrase ‘BOGOF’. She was, of course, talking ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:16-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Sermon For The Beginning Of Lent

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Aug 25, 2005

A sermon for the beginning of Lent, written for a small congregation in an English country chapel

The shortest sermon ever recorded, which you won’t be getting this morning, consisted of the preacher going into the pulpit and quoting Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death”, and adding “there has been no change in the rate of pay. Amen”. It’s not very fashionable these days to talk about sin ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Burning Bush & Our Ministry

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Aug 30, 2005

Exposition of the Burning Bush, and linkage to Ministry of all believers mentioned in Romans and Matthew

In the church where I grew up, a 1950s building, the most dominant visual feature was a huge stained glass window depicting a Burning Bush. There was a cross on the back wall of the Church, like there is here/in the United Reformed Church here, but the visual image that stuck in my mind, and I ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

When God Seems Far Away

Contributed by Marty Hopkins on Sep 26, 2005

A message for those who have serious questions for God as to why things happen the way they do.

“When God Seems Far Away” (Habakkuk chapter 1) I have a message this morning that I think every person here can identify with. And as I prepared this message, I really wrestled with what to say and how to say because I don’t want anything to be taken wrong or misunderstood. I just want you to ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Describing God In One Word

Contributed by Marty Hopkins on Sep 27, 2005

There are so many different words that can be used to describe God. But if you had to use just one, that word would be Holy.

“Describing God in One Word” (Psalm 99) Have you ever had to look for the right word to describe something? A place (Man, that’s beautiful, it’s breathtaking), A smell (ugh, that’s awful, it’s horrible), How about a taste? (uuumm, good, rich, yummy) Sometimes it’s hard to put into words when ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 99:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

How To Minister To The Minister

Contributed by Marty Hopkins on Sep 27, 2005

A message for the church that relates to ministering to those who teach us God’s Word every week.

“How to Minister to the Minister” (I Timothy 5:17-25) Well, this morning we are continuing in our series from the Pastoral Epistles we are calling “Footsteps of the Faithful.” Now let me recap some of what’s been covered in this series of messages. In chapter one we talked about the church and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:17-25

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

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

Are There Limits?

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Oct 8, 2010

The scripture reading show that God has no limits in the way that humans perceive them, and challenges listeners to consider their own limits.

2 Kings 5.1-15 2 Timothy 2.8-15 Luke 17.11-19 I wonder if you’ve ever watched I’m a celebrity…get me out of here? Selected celebrities are expected to face things most of us would rather avoid, like putting one’s arm into a tank full of writhing snakes, or handling a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-15

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Don't Assume

Contributed by Michael Hopkins on Oct 14, 2010

A sermon for a school service of teenagers, not necessarily believers.

I want to begin this morning thinking about assumptions. If I asked you what is about six inches long and produces a white, frothy substance when rubbed back and forth and in and out, I’m sure you’d all make an assumption, when the answer is in fact a toothbrush. Assumptions cause all ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed