Sermons on Lance Armstrong:

A Big Wake Up Call Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Feb 17, 2019

The Book of Joel is a wake up call. God is good but he is not safe.

The challenge of national tragedy. In his poem, The Four Quartets, T.S. Eliot writes, Go, said the bird, for the leaves were full of children, Hidden excitedly, containing laughter. Go, go, go, said the bird: human kind Cannot bear very much reality. People can only accept reality in very small ...read more

Scripture: Joel 1:1-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What Sort Of Day? Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Feb 17, 2019

The Day of the Lord is a day to prepare for and this is done by trusting in Jesus.

Clear and present danger. When there’s danger, the alarm usually sounds—more than once. Sydney has a CBD emergency warning system. There are 98 speakers throughout the city and 13 messaging signs at key transport hubs. The system is designed to manage lots of people needing to be moved in the ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:1-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Spirit Is Coming! Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Feb 17, 2019

Joel promises restoration through his Son and the sending of his Spirit. God promises to renew people who repent and turn to him.

For all the talk about forging our own brave, new world, the evidence seems to the contrary. People are despondent and the world seems a mess. Every day the ideological battles play out in the public square are they are prising apart public opinion and fragmenting society. Climate change—gender ...read more

Scripture: Joel 2:18-32

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Swing The Sickle Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Feb 17, 2019

God's judgement is fearful. God will call to account those who reject him. Don't say you weren't warned. Return to the Lord.

The great and terrible day of the Lord. Are you afraid of God? Do you secretly harbour a fear of him? Maybe in your upbringing you were introduced to a god who scared you and this was reinforced as you read those violent stories in the OT. Does a fear of God turn you away him? The language that ...read more

Scripture: Joel 3:1-21

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Fanaticism Taken Too Far?

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Apr 22, 2019

A Good Friday talk from the point of view of Jesus and religious fanaticism.

Fanaticism Taken Too Far? Israel Folau (an Australian Christian sporting personality) has been in the news lately for expressing unpopular views—for quoting an unpopular part of the Bible on his personal Instagram page. Is his belief in heaven and hell fanaticism taken too far? Is Australian Rugby ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 1:7-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Seriously, Someone Rising From The Dead?

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Apr 22, 2019

An Easter Sunday talk which touches on the evidence for the resurrection before explaining its significance.

Seriously, someone rising from the dead? I was doing some research recently on the longest anyone has ever been dead before being brought back to life. Some of the stories seemed a little far-fetched. But The Daily Telegraph in the UK ran a headline on 19 April 2019, “Lazarus Syndrome: man comes ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Pain Of Truth Decay

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Sep 2, 2019

Understanding Biblical truth in a post-truth world

The 2018 notable quote of the year came from Rudy Giuliani, an American politician who said, “Truth isn’t truth”. He meant that there are lots of versions of the truth, different versions called “alternative facts”. We live in a post-truth world. Unfortunately “truth” in the 21st century has a very ...read more

Scripture: John 18:28-38

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Scripture And Truth

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Sep 2, 2019

A talk intended to increase confidence in Scripture, regarding it as a source of truth and considering its historical features.

There’s a saying that goes like this, “A Bible in the hand is worth two in the bookcase”. C.H. Spurgeon wrote: "I would recommend you either believe God up to the hilt, or else not to believe at all. Believe this book of God, every letter of it, or else reject it. There is no logical standing ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

I'm Too Proud To Be Humble Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Dec 17, 2018

A simple Christmas Day sermon around the theme of humility. A little shorter than normal and I tried to be jargon free.

Introduction—humility. Someone once said, “Swallow your pride occasionally, it’s non-fattening”. I wish on a day like today that fruit cake, chocolate and pavlova were non-fattening. One of my favourite humility sayings is, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, its thinking of yourself ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:46-56

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Trinity And Creation Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Jun 24, 2010

The Trinity foreshadowed in creation.

The well known Christian author, Jim Packer, lectures in systematic theology at Regent’s College in Vancouver. One of his former students says that Packer started every class by saying, ‘Arise, friends, let us sing the Doxology!’ After singing and a word of prayer, he would then say to his ...read more

Scripture: Romans 1:18-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Trinity In The Scriptures Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Jun 24, 2010

Scriptural support for the Trinity. The contribution of Tertullian.

Augustine said, ‘if you deny the Trinity you lose your soul, if you try to explain it you lose your mind’. The hope today is to avoid both of these pitfalls. But in order to do this, you will need to put your thinking caps on. And you’ll need to think because we are moving around the Bible and ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Subversive Christianity Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Aug 30, 2020

This is Talk 1 in a 13 talk series from Colossians. Alternative philosophies, learning thankfulness, a letter to our church.

I’d like to read to you a letter written from prison written in 2004. From a father to a son …. “Hi my boy. Thankyou for coming to see me. It made me feel so good to see you that it hurt because I really do miss you. I am proud of you, Nolan. Please be good at school and listen to your mother, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Simply Obey! Series

Contributed by Maurice Armstrong on Aug 6, 2023

As Obedient Children...

In John Chapter 8:11, Jesus said to the woman, “Go and sin no more….” She was about to be stoned to death for her adulterous act. But, in his compassion, Jesus forgave her and encouraged her never to let this happen again…He said, “Go and Sin No More.” Her obedience will keep her from future ...read more

Scripture: John 8:11, 1 Peter 1:14, Romans 6:18

Denomination: Apostolic

He Cannot Lie. Series

Contributed by Maurice Armstrong on Aug 19, 2023

"hath he said it and shall he not do it..."

God Is not a man; He cannot lie; therefore, whenever He speaks, obedience is the only expected response. God has no limits or boundaries, and He can do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can ask or think. “…Hath, he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken and shall he not make ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 18:14, Luke 1:38, Hebrews 6:13-18

Denomination: Apostolic

What Is Wisdom? Series

Contributed by Maurice Armstrong on Aug 19, 2023

"Wisdom usually comes with age, but age often shows up--alone."

Wisdom is not about a high IQ, and growing older is no guarantee you'll be wiser. Oscar Wilde, the Irish poet, wrote, "Wisdom usually comes with age, but age often shows up alone." While researchers in psychology and philosophy have for several years been debating the empirical and ...read more

Scripture: James 1:22, Deuteronomy 4:5, Proverbs 4:7

Denomination: Apostolic