Sermons on Neil Armstrong:

Easter Day

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Feb 22, 2008

Mark’s original ending has been seen as controversial yet it is so powerful & real & full of challenge.

The Easter resurrection story in Mark offers us a different slant in a way on old story. It offers us an ending where the feeling is not spontaneous joy & praise, but fear & confusion & doubt. It is a ending that has troubled the Church for generations, indeed it made the people who put together ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Denomination: Methodist

Easter - Ghosts

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Feb 22, 2008

A message thinking about life, death, resurrection & ghosts because that lie the devil has used about Jesus not being really alive but just a ghost must be dispatched back to hell.

Ghosts Luke 24:36b-48 Perhaps because we hear this Easter story so often we loose some of the power. We loose something of the sense of how fantastic & ridiculous an idea this truly is - Jesus dead now alive. How can that be because dead people stay dead, we all know that to be true don’t ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:6-48

Denomination: Methodist

The Vision Thing

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Feb 25, 2008

An ecumenical message in 2 parts for Pentecost - my last one in my last appointment.

Pentecost 2006 Ecumenical Service : The Vision thing CTW – Acts 2:1-13 PP 31 Come on & celebrate PP 35 Father God Prayers Wildfire x2 Reading - Isaiah 43:14-21 Talk 1 PP 69 Holy Spirit we welcome you Testimony – Good news slot?? The Peace Jane - Father Spirit Jesus Reading -2 Corinthians ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

Denomination: Methodist

Is It Nothing To You?

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Feb 25, 2008

Good Friday address with the text - Lamentations 1:12“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around & see. Is any suffering like my suffering that was inflicted on me, that the Lord brought on me in the day of His fierce anger”

In parts Matthew’s passion & death narrative is read throughout the service which had the sermon very near the end & was followed with an extended period of silence. Text - Lamentations 1:12“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around & see. Is any suffering like my suffering that was ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Maundy Thursday - Judas & Peter

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Feb 26, 2008

A message for Maundy Thursday which compares Peter & Judas.

(Matthew 26: 17 – 35 or John 13) Text - Luke 22:31-32 (NRSV) ‘Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers & sisters.’ We focus today maybe ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 26:17-35

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

Chrstmas - Disappointment & Joy

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Dec 29, 2007

So often Christmas is a let down instead of full of joy - could it be because our focus is on us not Him?

There is a story told of a young lad who wrote a more unusual letter to Santa, not asking for this toy or that one but saying: ‘you didn’t bring me anything good last year or the year before. This is your last chance’! You know a bit like that boy we all know that often Christmas often can be a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:7-20

Denomination: Methodist

Go, Don't Stay

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Dec 31, 2007

Evangelism - not about inviting peeople to our events but about us going to meet teh people where they are.

Matthew 28:16-20 Ephesians 3:14-21 Each & every one of us who seeks to be a follower, a disciple of Jesus is called to be about what the Methodist Church calls our calling, which is: 1. Worship – within the local Church & regularly partaking of Holy Communion & being personally at prayer ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20

Denomination: Methodist

Trinity : Shaping Your Faith

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Dec 31, 2007

People tend to think the Trinity doesn’t matter & is an hindrance & obstacle to real faith, but this is not true - sincerity is no substitute for truth.

Psalm 8 2 Corinthians 13: v 5-14 A story is told of a little girl drawing, when her mother asks what it is she is sketching. ‘I am drawing a picture of God’ she said. The Mother tells her this is impossible, as no-one knows what God looks like; when the girl says ‘Well they will when I’m ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 13:5-14

Denomination: Methodist

Covenant Sunday - Future Our Friend

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Dec 31, 2007

A message for Covenant Sunday thinking about how the new year can be held back by fear, using Joshua, Caleb & John Wesley to show a better way where the future is seen as our friend..

Jeremiah 31.31-34 Numbers 13 It is natural at times like the turn of a new year to think about how time passes – well of course it flies! It is 28 years since Maggie came to power. 41 since England won world cup and 7 whole years have passed since the millennium celebrations. I remember the ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-34

Denomination: Methodist

If It Hadn't Have Been For God

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Dec 31, 2007

Some us too have been dealing with life’s problems, situations that have left/leave us feeling helpless, hopeless and alone. How do we keep going when life is a pain in the butt?

Psalm 124 Genesis 39:1- 21 Life has a habit of getting up and biting you doesn’t it?! Even when things are going well as they were for Joseph bad things do happen to good people. Some us too have been dealing with life’s problems. There have been, maybe are now situations that have left / ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 39:1-21

Denomination: Methodist

Test Me In This

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 1, 2008

I felt challenged to preach this because of the un-biblical approach to giving in my largest Church, & try to explain that our giving either honours or dishonours God.

Proverbs 3:1-18 Malachi 3:6-12 Texts: Proverbs 3:9 -10 ‘Honour the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. ’ Malachi 3:10 ‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:1-18

Denomination: Methodist

Faith Fear & The Holy Spirit At Pentecost

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 1, 2008

Jesus told us to wait for the Holy Spirit because He knew that faith alone would not be enough.

Acts 2:1-13 Acts 1:1-17, 21-26 Like Easter or Christmas we know exactly what will hear today don’t we?! Pentecost is the pivotal point in history of Church; it is the birthday of the Church, the day when the powerful Spirit of God was infused into early Church. Today I want us to think about the ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-13

Denomination: Methodist

Pentecost - Withdrawing

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 1, 2008

We sometimes picture the Holy Spirit as fire, chaos & activity, but the Spirit is about withdrawing & silence too.

Ezekiel 37: 1 – 14 Acts 2:1-13 Two very famous readings today. The Old Testament lesson from Ezekiel 37 tells of the powerful wonderful vision of the Holy Spirit bringing life to that which was dead, & of course how could we not have Acts 2, Luke’s account of the Spirit falling that first ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:1-14

Denomination: Methodist

The Older Brother

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 1, 2008

A message that takes a look at the prodigal son parable from the perspective of the other son.

(This message was preached at a United Service with Anglican’s & URC from our town - including my old College Principal!) Luke 15 : 11 - 32 Religious people criticized Jesus because he ate with sinners & so He told this story. A story so familiar to us who have been attending churches – yes? ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Denomination: Methodist