Sermons on Neil 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

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

Circumstances Changed Character's Concepts Series

Contributed by Mack Armstrong on Jul 6, 2010

Naomi undergoes a changed perspective.

RUTH 1:20-22 CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGED CHARACTER’S CONCEPTS I. CHANGE: RUTH 1:20 A. Concepts. B. Character. C. Continuum. II. CIRCUMSTANCES: RUTH 1:21 A. Comparative. B. Charging. C. Constructive. III. ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22

Denomination: Methodist

Fortunate Foreigner Finds Future Fulfillment

Contributed by Mack Armstrong on Aug 3, 2010

Ruth Finds happiness by working and obeying God

RUTH 2:1-3 FORTUNATE FOREIGNER FINDS FUTURE FULFILLMENT I. FAMILY: RUTH 2:1 A. Fortune. B. Famous. C. Forlorn. II. FOREIGNER: RUTH 2:2 A. Fervor. B. Fearless. C. Favor. III. ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 2:1-3

Denomination: Methodist

Trinity And Controversy Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Aug 10, 2010

A sample of trinitarian controversy in church history and its application to Jehovah’s Witnesses and the book "The Shack".

I remember a less than flattering incident when I was young. My sister and I wanted to watch different programs on TV. I think she wanted to watch ‘The Patty Duke Show’ and I wanted to watch ‘Lost in Space’. This was before the days of remote controls. So we sat in front of the TV for a whole hour ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Trinity In Salvation Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Aug 10, 2010

The persons of the Trinity working for our salvation.

On Saturday May 15, 2010, Jessica Watson arrived in Sydney after sailing around the world. It was a wonderfully inspiring effort. I once got sea sick sitting on a surf ski waiting for waves off Warriewood Beach. So you can imagine how I feel even thinking about sailing through huge seas on a yacht ...read more

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Trinity In Worship Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Aug 10, 2010

After considering some reasons why the Trinity is not always central in our tradition, discussing how the Trinity shapes liturgical substance.

‘Glory be to God the Father’, sings the church, ‘glory be to God the Son, glory be to God the Spirit, great Jehovah, Three in One’. What is this? we ask—praise to three gods? No, praise to one God in three persons. This is the God whom Christians worship—God in three persons. At the heart of  the ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-26

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Trinity In Relationships

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Aug 10, 2010

How the Trinity shapes our relationships.

Today we come to our last study on the Trinity. Three things we shall be doing (1) looking at the Trinity as a model for understanding ourselves; (2) then the Trinity as the foundation for building godly relationships; (3) the priority of trinitarian love.   opening prayer   ‘I’m not a ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:15-25

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

Truth That Leads To Godliness Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Nov 21, 2010

Introduction to the Letter to Titus.

Culture is constantly knocking at our door. ‘Which bank’? ‘Oh what a feeling’! ‘It puts a rose in every cheek’, ‘The fresh food people’, ‘My Dad picks the fruit to make the cordial, that I like best’, ‘Oh what a feeling’, ‘My store’, ‘For the most important person in the world’, and ‘Aussie kids ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:1-4

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Leadership That Matters Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Nov 21, 2010

Talk 2 in a series from Titus. The importance and characteristics of church elders.

Mark McCrindle is social researcher from the University of NSW who is interested in the changing face of our country. Recently he sampled 5,000 people for their views on leadership (report 16 September 2010). Who is the leader you most admire in history? Winston Churchill was on top with 8.2% of ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:5-7

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Elders On The Run Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Nov 21, 2010

Talk 3 in series. Strong leaders are needed to deal with false teaching.

‘I am certainly not one of those who need to be prodded. In fact, if anything, I am the prod’, says the most popular of all leaders. During World War II, Winston Churchill was forced to make a painful choice. The British secret service had broken the Nazi code and informed Churchill ...read more

Scripture: Titus 1:8-16

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed