Sermons on Lance Armstrong:

Why Religion Doesn't Work

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Aug 3, 2009

The folly of false religions. Only fullness and freedom are found in Christ.

The setting is the front of a small church. The pastor says from the pulpit, ‘I’ve misplaced my sermon notes, so I’m just going to read from this devotional—if I can find it here. While I look, maybe the choir can lead us in a hymn’. He glances at the choir which has one person.   The choir ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 2:16-23

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

What In The World Are We Doing?

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Sep 1, 2009

Designed as a short, punchy talk to challenge Christians about mission.

What in the world are we doing? Sometimes I catch the start of the Ray Hadley show on 2GB. He usually begins by summing up the major news of the day. Last Thursday (28 August, 2009) wasn’t a good day. A family tragically killed on the F3 after a large semi-trailer ploughs into the back of the car. ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Changing The Future

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Oct 11, 2009

A gospel presentation originally for a baptismal service.

Channel 7 recently launched a new series called, ‘Flash Forward’. It’s a science-fiction-action-romance show that wants to satisfy everyone. In the first episode, the whole world passes out for about 2 minutes, but time keeps on ticking away. So helicopters fly into buildings, there are huge ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Life In The Kitchen (Husbands And Wives) Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Oct 11, 2009

Heavenly realities working themselves out in marriage.

It’s been said that in the FIRST YEAR of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. But in the SECOND YEAR, the woman speaks and the man listens. Then in the THIRD YEAR, they BOTH speak and the NEIGHBOURS listen. Others say that marriage is like undertaking a LEGO project without instructions. ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:18-19

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Four Seasons

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Jan 7, 2010

A Christmas sermon from the angle of Vivaldi's four seasons.

Poets and artists have always been interested in depicting the seasons of the year. There’s a beauty known only to each season which engages and sparks the imagination to creativity. In 1725, Vivaldi composed his most known work The Four Seasons, the texture of each concerto resembling its ...read more

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Pray, Give, Go

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Feb 22, 2010

Designed as a short, punchy talk to motivate people for mission.

Naomi Reed writes a regular column in ‘The Pulse’ magazine. The article is called, ‘Pray, Give, Go’. We ought to be praying for mission, we ought to be giving to mission, and we ought to be sending workers into the field.   I think Naomi has missed the most common response ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 4:19-31

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

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

The Lord Is Good

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Jan 6, 2019

A short sermon for a funeral service. I wrote this talk for the funeral of a Christian person.

In Nahum 1.7—a book in the Bible not often heard—the prophet Nahum says, “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him” (Nahum 1:7). It may seem counter-intuitive to consider this verse at a funeral when death is clearly on our minds. How can we say that the ...read more

Scripture: Nahum 1:7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

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