Sermons on Jack Pearson:

Search For The Hero Series

Contributed by Jack Brown on Aug 7, 2002

Part one of the "Holding Out for a Hero" series, which examines the life of David and explores the question: "What makes a hero in God’s eyes?"

HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO “Search for the Hero” As we begin this series on superheroes, I thought it appropriate to examine a recent film that looked at the idea of a superhero in an entertaining and innovative way. The film is called “Unbreakable,” and it stars Bruce Willis as David Dunn, an ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Death Of Death

Contributed by James Jack on Mar 26, 2005

The resurrection of Christ signifies his victory over sin and death and gives us the hope of eternal life.

The Death of Death 1 Corinthians 15:1-28 A doctor in a third world country was once asked by a visiting professor, “What’s the death rate around here?” And he replied, “Same as any place. One death per person.” You’ve no doubt heard the adage that the only things that are certain are death and ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-28

Denomination: Anglican

How Majestic Is His Name Series

Contributed by James Jack on Jun 9, 2007

Our worth as human beings lies not in ourselves but in our majestic creator God.

I’m writing school reports at the moment. It’s something I hate doing. We have a system where you’re expected to write 50-100 words per student so that in the end over all your reports you’ve written tens of thousands of words most of which begin or end with “Johhny needs to be more focused in ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 8:1-9

Denomination: Anglican

The Foolishness Of Ignoring God Series

Contributed by James Jack on Jun 9, 2007

The fool says in his heart, "there is no God."

The word “fool” doesn’t get as much use now as it once did. If one of my mates does something profoundly stupid I don’t usually cry out “you fool”. I might say “you are such an idiot” or “what a goose”. I’m sure many people you know would use much more colourful language than that. Fool is one of ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 14:1-7

Denomination: Anglican

Forgiveness And The Grace Of God Series

Contributed by James Jack on Jun 9, 2007

As with David, our response to sin should involve confession, grace and transformation.

When one of my students does something bad and gets caught, there’s a number of different reactions that you can see. It depends on the student, on the teacher, and on what they’ve done. But some reactions are a lot more common than others. • There’s the “I’m really sorry sir and I won’t do it ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 51:1-19

Denomination: Anglican

Relying On God Series

Contributed by James Jack on Jun 9, 2007

In a culture which prizes self-sufficiency, we need to rely on God.

Australian males prize self-sufficiency. It’s not masculine to ask anyone else for help. It’s not macho to admit that you can’t handle something on your own. I’m probably one of the worst offenders when it comes to having this sort of attitude. I hate anyone having to show me how to do anything, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 59:1-17, Psalm 59:12

Denomination: Anglican

Is It Worth Following God? Series

Contributed by James Jack on Jun 9, 2007

Asaph asks the question - is it worth following God? When you look at life from an eternal perspective, the answer is clear.

Have you ever found yourself thinking – I wish I had what my non-Christian friends have? I wish I had the freedom they have. I wish I was able to do the things that they do without conscience getting in the way. I wish I could get up to what they get up to without feeling guilty. After all, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 73:1-28

Denomination: Anglican

Stained With Blood

Contributed by James Jack on Mar 18, 2006

An introduction to Isaiah, revealing the judgement and mercy of God.

In a lot of senses, the passage that we just heard read is a microcosm of the whole book of Isaiah. It starts out by proclaiming a judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem but it ends with a promise from the LORD to redeem his faithful people, cleanse them from sin and establish Zion as the mountain ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

The Hope Of Life

Contributed by James Jack on Dec 14, 2005

The hope we have in Christ is a living hope that will never perish, spoil or fade.

1 Peter 1:3-12 You might have heard the old saying “where there’s life, there’s hope”. That saying tells us how important hope is to people, because if we reverse it, it says “where there’s hope, there’s life” – which means that where there’s no hope, there’s death. As humans, we live on hope. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-12

Denomination: Anglican

God's Grace To Nineveh

Contributed by James Jack on Dec 14, 2005

We don’t like our enemies receiving mercy, but God is gracious to all who repent.

Jonah 3 When we read of the prophet Jonah many of us go away thinking, “what a fool!” What a selfish fool!” But what many of us don’t realise is that our reaction to the prospect of our enemies getting away with it is exactly the same as Jonah’s. There was one kid in my class at primary school ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-11

Denomination: Anglican

Punishment For God's People

Contributed by James Jack on Dec 14, 2005

God expects faithfullness from his people, so live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

When I was a kid I remember having a friend over and playing cricket in the back yard. We repeatedly hit the ball over the fence into the neighbour’s hard and trampled all over their flower beds retrieving it. We were caught mutilating the backyard flora and my mother proceeded to berate me ...read more

Scripture: Amos 3:1-15

Denomination: Anglican

Raising Children

Contributed by Jack Russell on Feb 25, 2005

Today we dedicate a child to God. What does that mean for his parents and the community of faith in which he will grow?

This morning, for the second time in three weeks, we welcome into the community of faith a new child, Lars Hickey. Two weeks ago it was through infant baptism, today through dedication. It’s not my intent this morning to debate the issues of infant baptism vs believer baptism. Rather, let me ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 78:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Faith That Works Series

Contributed by James Jack on Mar 2, 2005

Faith isn’t just an intellectual belief, it’s a trust that shows itself in a transformed life.

Faith that works James 2:14-26 As most of you would know, Sydney Anglicans tend to get a bit of a bad write-up in the secular press. We’re derided as being bigoted, intolerant fundamentalists, by more “progressive” (read heretical) Christians. Now I’m a Sydney Anglican, and I’m proud of it, but ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26

Denomination: Anglican

An Unexpected Saviour Series

Contributed by James Jack on Mar 2, 2005

Jesus brings a new age in the way people relate to God: he gives us living water and spiritual renewal that transcends place and race so that all the true worshippers may worship in spirit and in truth.

John 4:4-42 Main point: Jesus brings a new age in the way people relate to God: he gives us living water and spiritual renewal that transcends place and race so that all the true worshippers may worship in spirit and in truth. Unexpected Conversations When I inherited my classroom at school, ...read more

Scripture: John 4:4-42

Denomination: Anglican

Seize The Day

Contributed by James Jack on Mar 8, 2005

Now is our opportunity to be reconciled to God, and we need to take it.

Dead Poets Society is, I think, one of the best films of all time. In his first lesson with his senior class, the rather eccentric but very inspiring English teacher John Keating, played by Robin Williams, takes the boys into the foyer outside the classroom where he asks one lad by the name of ...read more

Denomination: Anglican