Sermons on Neil Armstrong:

An Excellent Reputation Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Apr 26, 2009

The power of the gospel in the world and especially in the lives of the Colossian saints.

Imagine writing a letter to a pigmy living in the deepest, darkest parts of Africa. In your letter you must describe life in the Lower Blue Mountains. What would you say? How would you describe the fabric of our society? What is our reputation?   There’s lots of good things to write about: ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:3-8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Teach Me To Pray Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Apr 26, 2009

The purpose of prayer complemented by a model on how we should pray.

I hope you remember the Peanuts cartoons. One day Lucy and Linus had a chicken wishbone and were going to pull it to make a wish. Lucy was explaining to Linus that if he got the bigger half his wish would come true. Linus said to her, ‘Do I have to say the wish out loud?’  Lucy said, ‘Of course, if ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

A Life That Counts Series

Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Apr 26, 2009

The atttributes of a meaningful Christian life.

Almost everyone is determined to make their life count for something. Steve Fossett was a well known adventurer who was the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in a balloon. He also sailed around the world five times non-stop, he also a powered aircraft license. On September 3, 2007, ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:10-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Innocous Intruder Inspires Instruction Series

Contributed by Mack Armstrong on Aug 10, 2008

Siomon the Pharisee wanted to prove Jesus a charlatan and a fake. He invited Him for a meal at his house to prove his point, only to find that Jesus was real and he, simon, was the fake.

LUKE 7:36-50 INNOCUOUS INTRUDER INSPIRES INSTRUCTIONS I: THE INTELLECTUAL: LUKE 7:36 A. Interest. B. Intimidate. C. Indulgence. II. THE INTRUDER: LUKE 7:37-38 A, Irony. B. Invisibility. C. Indelible. III. THE INCARNATE: ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Methodist

Social Saviour Starts Superior System Series

Contributed by Mack Armstrong on Aug 18, 2008

Jesus is invited to a very important social event-a Wedding in Cana. While there, He preforms His first miracle, tuning water into wine. The best was saved to the Last-a type of the Church: "God saved the Best (Salvation) to the last Dispensation."

JOHN 2:1-11 SOCIAL SAVIOUR STARTS SUPERIOR SYSTEM I. THE SETTING: JOHN 2:1-2 A. Social. B. Summoned. C. Success. II. THE SUPPLY: JOHN 2:3-10 A. Suddenness. B. Simplicity. C. Surpassing. III. THE SYMBOLISM: ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-10

Denomination: Methodist

Plotting Plotters Provide Personal Pitfalls Series

Contributed by Mack Armstrong on Sep 10, 2008

A Dinner invatation given by one of the chief Pharisee to publicly humilate Jesus failed miserably

LUKE 14:1-6 PLOTTING PLOTTERS PROVIDE PERSONAL PITFALLS I. THE PLOT: LUKE 14:1, 2 A. Premeditated. B. Participants. C. Plant. II. THE PRAGMATISM: LUKE 14:3, 4 A. Proposition. B. Procedure. C. Parting. III. THE ...read more

Scripture: Luke 14:1-6

Denomination: Methodist

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

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

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

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

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