Sermons on Josephs Process:

Week Prayer For Christian Unity 08

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 8, 2008

Full service for ecumenical service - Praying about unity is a waste of time if we do not work for unity too; we have to be people who value variety & difference in one another.

Welcome CTW - HP 882 Psalm 133 HP 252 All hail the power of Jesus’ name Prayers of adoration Prayer of thanksgiving Reading 1 Thessalonians 5: 12a, 13b-18 SOF 303 Jesus stand among us Sermon SOF 43 Bind us together SOF 388 May the fragrance of Jesus Intercessions HP 758 In ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18

Denomination: Methodist

Turn The Power On

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 17, 2008

We can’t find meaning & proclaim truth if we are not plugged into the Holy Spirit, yet so many Christians try to live without any relationship or even contact with the Spirit of God.

Mark 1:4-11 & or John 1:29-36 Some things are just obvious aren’t they? Yet sometimes we act in a way that seems to deny common sense. For instance we drive sometimes without thinking properly about where we are going, almost on automatic pilot; do you know what I mean? Sometimes I’ve got in the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:29-36

Denomination: Methodist

More Undignified Than This!

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 17, 2008

The sad truth is that many never worship instead they watch.

2 Samuel 6:12-23 In the reading from 2 Samuel we see two contrasting positions that I think impact on how we worship God. We find David getting excited & passionate about God, his wife Michal the daughter of Saul watching & getting angry with her Husband. She tells him off in no uncertain terms ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:12-23

Denomination: Methodist

Judging Like Jesus

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 17, 2008

God looks beyond the outward appearance and He wants us to be the same.

James 2:1-10, 14-17 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 The problem with human beings is that too often we judge things by how they appear and miss the bigger picture. We take notice of all sorts of things like what colour people are, where they were born, how they talk, how much money they have, what car ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7

Denomination: Methodist

The Cost And The Coin

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 17, 2008

We should never play down the joy and peace of the relationship Jesus wants with us, but equally we should never underestimate cost.

Luke 15:8-10, 14:25-35 Today if you will follow me we shall walk backwards through Luke’s story and I pray encounter something of the power of God’s message for us today. The lost coin parable is a wonderful lesson for us. In it we find a woman who represents God loosing a day’s earnings. The ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Parable Of The Sower

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 18, 2008

Its not all about the soil - its about the sower too.

Matthew 13:1-9 (The Message) Parables are stories Jesus told that tell us something about the Kingdom of God. They are though about concealing and not just revealing the truth. If you want to understand the message you have to be prepared to delve deeper than the simple story. But the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Methodist

The Sacrament Of Holy Communion

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 18, 2008

Too many people in Church have never understood that HC is such a powerful mission event. In this celebration we don’t just proclaim Jesus we meet Him so the rail is the safest place on earth

The Sacrament of Communion 1 Corinthians 11:17-29 I have talked about many times how we encounter God in all things but also in specific things. Our experience of love isn’t of love in general, but rather it is specific; like the affection & love of a child or parent or partner for instance. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-29

Denomination: Methodist

The Widow & The Judge

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 18, 2008

Its obvious what this is all about – yes, no. Another challenging way of reading this passage.

The widow & the judge Its obvious what this is all about – yes? Actually just in case we didn’t get it, Luke tells us Jesus gave His own interpretation. So, its a story about persistence in prayer and God’s compassion and responsiveness. Isn’t it? Well let’s just think a little about it. There ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Methodist

Transfiguration

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 30, 2008

Transfiguration means change or metamorphosis, & clearly it was an event that informed Peter’s theology, & that of the early Church. So what was it that the early Church saw because though they attached great importance to it, we in the modern Church don’

Streetly 11 a.m. Kingstanding 6.30 p.m. HP 484 Angel voices ever singing Prayers Readings HP 304 Holy Spirit, hear us Notices & Collection Intercessions HP 745 O thou who camest from above Sermon HP 610 I come with joy to meet my Lord Holy Communion HP 762 May the grace of Christ our ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:2-12

Denomination: Methodist

Emmaus - Surprising God

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Mar 24, 2008

Do we understand our calling to be Christ to the needy & poor? Francis of Assisi & Mother Theresa are illustartions in this message that links the parable fo teh sheep & goats to the Easter Emmaus story.

Luke 24:13-35 Matthew 25:31-46 Isaiah 53:1-3 This Emmaus scripture is a strange one isn’t it? Friends walking with not just a close friend but their leader; yet despite knowing him so well they fail to recognise Him. Yet it is not just a case of the risen Christ being so different to the Jesus ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

Denomination: Methodist

Rediscovering Our Voice - Stephen

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Apr 16, 2008

Look at Stephen the martyr & how we are called likewise to rediscover our voice in sharing our faith & speaking prophetically too

2 Peter 2:1-10 Acts 7: 51-60 Summary prior to Acts reading Stephen is in Jerusalem around AD 30. He is one of the most trusted men in the Church; a very good man who the Bible says was full of both the Holy Spirit and love. The early Christian community trusted him & chose him to be treasurer of ...read more

Scripture: Acts 7:51-60

Denomination: Methodist

Getting What You Ask For From God

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on May 6, 2012

Based on the Lectionary readings for the 5th Sunday in Easter (Acts 9:26-31; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8). Jesus says that we can ask anything from God and receive it. 1 John explains it, and Acts shows the consequence.

Jesus said to his disciples: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in ...read more

Scripture: John 15:1-8

Denomination: Catholic

On Loving God

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 20, 2012

God will ask us if we love Him, and we answer, not with our mouths, but with our lives.

A time will come, whether we believe it or not, when we will stand before God and God will ask us just one question–only one. And he will not ask us how many times we have gone to church, or how many times we have read the Bible, or how many times we have received holy communion, how much ...read more

Denomination: Catholic

Palm Sunday

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 22, 2011

Jewish Scriptural context for understanding Jesus' entry into Jerusalem

The reign of King David was coming to an end. To put it plainly he was old. He was definitely tired. The first half of his life was spent building a kingdom; the second half of his life was spent trying to hold that kingdom together. God had promised that David would never lose his throne, and as ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-10

Denomination: Catholic

It's My Party And I'll Cut Off The Head Of John The Baptist If I Want To

Contributed by R. Joseph Owles on Jun 22, 2011

Who among us is better than Herod? Who among us has not twisted events, facts, details, to suit our own purposes? Who among us has not placed more value on our image than on human need? Who among us has not intentionally given in to easier of the two choi

I'll admit to you all that I had a difficult time with this passage. I spent weeks staring at it , researching it, praying about it, looking for that point of brilliance that would dazzle and amaze you all, once more showing off my preaching skills, once more being the "golden boy." But I drew a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:14-29

Denomination: Catholic