Sermons on Owen Bourgaize:

A Christian Olympic Champion

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Aug 11, 2004

The story of Eric Liddle who won the gold medal for the 400 metres in the Paris olympics of 1924 and remained true to his Christian faith, featured in the film "Chariots of Fire".

A CHRISTIAN OLYMPIC CHAMPION Here’s a symbol I’m sure you’ll recognise: it’s the Olympic Rings ( http://farrer.riv.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/APOL9/olympic.gif ) I wonder if you know what they represent? It’s the five continents – Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe. You see how they’re all ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:30

Denomination: Baptist

The Secret Of True Happiness

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Apr 20, 2003

The psalmist uses the contrasting illustrations of a tree and chaff to share the Secret of True Happiness, telling us what it is, where it’s to be found and why we need it.

THE SECRET OF TRUE HAPPINESS If the mythical man or woman in the street was asked what he or she longed for most, I expect the answer, in many cases, would be “happiness”. Jesus had something to say about this in His great Sermon on the Mount when He said: “happy”: "Blessed are ... the poor in ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-5

Denomination: Baptist

Riding The Waves Of Life

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Apr 20, 2003

The stilling of the storm on Galilee is a parable demonstrating that life is a roller-coaster experience but with Jesus in command allis well, requiring us to repond in faith.

RIDING THE WAVES OF LIFE I once heard a minister use a memorable phrase in his prayer and it stays with me: it was "our short and uncertain earthly life and pilgrimage". Life is uncertain. This is true for the Christian as well, as we don’t live in some magic or charmed circle just because we’re ...read more

Scripture: Luke 8:22-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Amazing Grace Of God

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Mar 5, 2004

Exploring the Grace of God by asking Why it’s so necessary; What has it done for us?; Why it’s so amazing; and What are the obligations in response to God’s grace.

One of the most frequently used words in Christian worship is the word ‘Grace’. We bring our services to a close with what we call ‘the grace’. It’s a wonderful benediction because it sends us out into the world with the assurance that God has been with us and will be with us until we meet again ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Seven Words From The Cross

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Mar 16, 2004

The Seven Words of Jesus from the Cross are a wonderful commentary in his own words of Forgiveness, Salvation, Love, Atonement, Suffering, Victory and Security.

The Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is the corner stone of our faith. It is the chosen symbol of the Christian faith. Thank God, we see it now as an empty cross because the seeming tragedy for good and apparent victory for evil was overturned by the power and purposes of God into the triumph of ...read more

Scripture: John 19:26-30, Luke 23:34-43, Luke 23:46, John 19:29-30

Denomination: Baptist

The Tower Of Babel

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Aug 26, 2003

The Tower of Babel is a life parable telling of the dangers of the Spirit of the Age - Poverty of Spirituality and Pride of Life - and the chaos it brings which only Christ’s redemption can right.

The story of the Tower of Babel is a sad description of breakdown of fellowship, growing isolation and confusion. It all results from human beings’ failing to live in dependence on God, becoming proud of their achievements and determined to be the source of their own security. That was the root ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

The Yellow Ribbon

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Aug 26, 2003

A modern story of the Prodigal Son from the song: ’Tie a Yellow Ribbon Around the Old Oak Tree’

Jesus told a story of a man who had two sons. The younger son was discontented with life at home and he said to his father, ’Father, I want right now what’s coming to me.’ So the father divided the property between his sons and the younger packed his bags and left for a distant country. He was a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:18-24

Denomination: Baptist

Ichthys - The Symbol Of A Fish

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Aug 26, 2003

The symbol of a fish - <>< - was a code message to tell a stranger that the person who drew it was a Christian.

ICHTHYS - THE CHRISTIAN FISH SYMBOL I’ve got a picture here - <><. Do you know what it is? Yes, it’s a symbol of a fish. But it’s more than that, it’s a Christian symbol going back to the time of the first years of the Christian church. In the first century Christians were a persecuted ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:17-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Magnet

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Sep 29, 2003

A children’s ilustration of the power of a magnet to attract iron as a parable telling that Christians have a similar response to God.

THE MAGNET I was doing a repair job out of doors when unfortunately I dropped a tin of small nails on the gravel driveway. It was important that none be left mixed up in the gravel as I didn’t want the car to get a puncture! But it was difficult to find them among the loose gravel. Then I ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 5:11-12

Denomination: Baptist

Jonah - His Message Then And Now Series

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Dec 19, 2004

Jonah’s real life story is on him as a Runaway from Duty, his Repentantance of Sin, his Restoration to Fellowship and Recommissioning for Service

My first encounter with Jonah was when I was in my teens. Perhaps the preacher was parading his modern scholarship or talking “tongue in cheek”, but he certainly startled his congregation by saying that he wasn’t concerned “if Jonah was swallowed by a whale or if Jonah swallowed the whale!” He ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Lamb Of God

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jan 4, 2005

The astonishing vision of the throneroom of heaven portrays Jesus as Lamb of God as also the Lion of Judah, giving the Description, the Identity, the Achievements and Worship of the Lamb.

A young undergraduate at Cambridge who had never read the Bible before was given a New Testament to read. When he had done so, he commented, ‘It was a bit repetitious at the beginning, but I did enjoy the science-fiction at the end!’ Well, I think most of us would say it’s rather more than that! ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Micah - Prophet Of The Messiah's Advent Series

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Jan 17, 2005

Micah is the Prophet of the Messiah’s Advent, presenting the Salvation history of mankind - through Ruin caused by sin, temporary Reformation, proving the absolute need for Redemption by Jesus and Restoration of God’s Kingdom.

The book of Micah isn’t one that springs to mind except perhaps at Christmas when we remember the well known verse, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you be small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will rule over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient time” ...read more

Scripture: Micah 5:2-5

Denomination: Baptist

Festival Of Lights For Jews And Christians

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 6, 2002

Christians celebrate a Festival of Lights at Christmas and the Jews have Hanukkah, both pictures of the Spirit of God shining out in a dark world - see picture of Menorah.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS FOR JEWS AND CHRISTIANS This Christmas the lights in town and on houses have been better than ever. I expect you had Advent candles in church to remind you of the Christmas festival. But it’s not only Christians who celebrate with lights - the Jews do so as well. I’ve got ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 4:1-6, Revelation 1:12-20

Denomination: Baptist

Don't Be Like The Chameleon

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 6, 2002

The chameleon is an unclean creature. Christians should avoid its characteristic of changing opinions to suite our environment.

THE CHAMELEON When the new nation of Israel was getting ready to go into the land that God had promised them, their leader, Moses, gave them instructions on how they should live as God’s people. God wanted them to prosper, but for this to happen, they had to avoid certain animals that could harm ...read more

Scripture: Leviticus 11:30

Denomination: Baptist

New Year - Fresh Start

Contributed by Owen Bourgaize on Nov 10, 2002

The Roman god Janus - a man with two faces - has given the first month of the year the name of January, from whom we can learn much - see picture

JANUS A few days ago we entered a New Year. Who can tell me the name of the month that starts the year? January. Do you know how it got its name? It comes from the Roman god, Janus. Look at his picture. Isn’t it strange - he’s got two faces! He’s looking both forward and backwards - at the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:13-14

Denomination: Baptist