Sermons on Predatory Birds:

Empires In Collision: Christ And Caesar

Contributed by Michael Bird on May 11, 2003

This sermon sets out to examine Mk 12:13-17 not in terms on Church-State relationships but rather by illucidating its socio-religious context and its application for God’s image bearers today.

EMPIRES IN COLLISION: CHRIST AND CAESAR Mark 12:13-17 13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:13-17

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

A Fool For Christ And An Idiot For Everybody

Contributed by Michael Bird on Feb 8, 2002

This sermon outlines the two main ideas of 1 Cor 1:18-25 as (1) The Cross divides and Unifies; (2) The Cross fulfills God’s plan to outwit human wisdom.

1 Cor 1:18-25 Introduction [Illustration] I would like you all to play make believe with me for a moment. Pretend that my name is Jose Samblanco and I have just arrived off the boat from Peru and I’m proclaiming to you the good news that a Peruvian peasant by the name Carlos Hernandez was ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, 1 Corinthians 1:18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Still Sufficient And Supreme

Contributed by Michael Bird on Feb 8, 2002

Deals with the text of Col 1:15-20 by expositing its rich Christological significance.

Col 1: 15-20 - Still Sufficient and Supreme (full text) In our survey of Col 1:15-20 we are now up to course five of this amazing Christological feast of the person and work of Christ. Course Five: Christ the Pope v.18a In 1376 John Wycliffe, a lecturer at Oxford University, wrote a ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Transformed Into Living Sacrifices Series

Contributed by Warren Bird on Feb 11, 2003

Exposition of Romans 12:1-2. What does it mean for us to be "living sacrifices" and how are our minds to be "transformed"?

INTRODUCTION What does being a Christian, being someone who has received God’s mercy, mean for the way we live our lives? How does being a Christian make a practical difference, day to day, for you and for me? In my next few talks I am going to work through the answers that Paul gives to that ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Transformed Thinking About Myself Series

Contributed by Warren Bird on Feb 11, 2003

If you are a transformed and renewed Christian, how ought you to think about yourself? Soberly, neither too high nor too low; and as a servant of others.

Introduction I start this week with a brief reminder of the theme of these last few chapters of Romans – putting our faith into practice, applying God’s will in our lives. To do this properly requires us NOT to let the world squeeze us into its shape, but to have our minds shaped by God Himself. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:3-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Transformed Love Series

Contributed by Warren Bird on Feb 11, 2003

What is the nature of Christian love? It looks out for what is best; it persists; and it is practical.

Context/Reminder Romans 12:1-2 - the Christian mind is a transformed mind, not slipping easily into the same pattern as the world around us, but renewed by our relationship with our almighty and merciful God. Romans 12:3-8 - how that principle works out in the way we think about ourselves: ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:9-18

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Transformed Payback Series

Contributed by Warren Bird on Feb 11, 2003

Loving our enemies? Don’t payback evil with evil? What is going on here? Have you christians lost your mind?! We’ve gotta get even, haven’t we?

Introduction I have a confession to make. Some of you are already aware of what I am about to reveal, but to most of you it will be a new insight into my character. It is not a sin that I am going to confess, but an obsession. I am, right now, at this point in my life (when you would think I had ...read more

Scripture: Romans 12:17-21

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Gospelizing 101

Contributed by Michael Bird on Jan 14, 2002

Gives an exposition of Rom 3:21-26 including all the technical terms. Seeks to apply the text by arguing that the Christian life is the process of gospelization.

Rom 3:21-26 In 1759 William Cowper was 28 years old, he had a total mental breakdown and tried three different ways to commit suicide. He became convinced that he was beyond hope. In December, 1763, he was committed to St. Alban’s Insane Asylum, where the 58-year-old Dr. Nathaniel Cotton tended ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:21-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Supremacy And Sufficiency Of Christ

Contributed by Michael Bird on Jan 15, 2002

This sermon outlines the main ideas of Col 1:15-20 emphasising the pre-emminence of Christ over the cosmos.

Col 1:15-20 (Part 1) Intro [Illustration] When I was in the Army me and a few mates were tasked with piqueting a truck laden with ammunition on a Friday night. Well, as you can imagine most young men had other things planned rather than guarding a truck on a Friday night. So we sat around ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Andrew Lloyd Weber, A Journalist And 3 Guys Called 'jesus'

Contributed by Michael Bird on Jan 15, 2002

Examines various depicitions of who people say Jesus is and gives and exposition of Mk 8 concerning the confession of Jesus’ Messiahship

Mark 8:27-9:1 – Andrew Lloyd Weber, a Journalist and Three Guys Called Jesus. Introduction The odd sermon title is a smoke screen for a question I’d like to ask: “Who is Jesus?” It is the same question that the disciples asked when Jesus’ calmed the waters. Whether you’re an atheist or a ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Facing A Hostile World

Contributed by Warren Bird on Jul 24, 2003

The world is hostile to God and His people. It was to David, son of Jesse, also. How did he face spiritual opposition and what can we learn for the battle we are called to fight today?

Introduction I read something this week that reinforced a conviction that has been growing in my mind over the past several months. What I read was a news item about a plaque that has been taken away from a tourist centre at the Grand Canyon in the USA. Have any of you been to the Grand ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 26:1-12

Denomination: Independent/Bible

God's Unique Sign

Contributed by Warren Bird on Dec 15, 2002

Why did the shepherds get excited when told that a baby had been born? Why did Simeon and Anna get excited when they saw the baby Jesus? A baby!! So what? So everything - this was the hopes and fears of all the years meeting in Bethlehem that night.

Introduction When a baby is born the new parents get all sorts of different reactions from family and friends: • “Oh, how lovely!” • “Look, he’s got his dad’s eyes!” • “Doesn’t she look just like her mum?” • or, simply, “oh!” But when Mary gave birth to her first son in a stable in Bethlehem ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Guidance

Contributed by Warren Bird on Dec 15, 2002

How does God guide us in the decisions we have to make? This sermon provides an outline of a Biblical model of guidance, using Colossians 3.

Introduction I don’t suppose many of you are old enough to remember the original TV Quiz Show, “Pick-a-Box”. It was hugely successful back in the very early days of television in Australia in the 1950’s and 60’s – so, yes, all the episodes were in black and white. The big moments in “Pick-a-Box” ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-17, Psalm 25:1-22

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Marriage - A Special Relationship

Contributed by Warren Bird on Dec 15, 2002

Transforming our attitudes to marriage to conform with Christian teaching

Introductory Discussion The relationship of marriage seems to be a pretty popular topic here at Padstow, with goodness knows how many engagements we have at the moment and maybe some more to come if what I see going on is any indication. And this is a really good thing. The lifelong commitment of ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:22-33, Matthew 19:1-6

Denomination: Independent/Bible

You Can't Mean That, God? Overview Of Habakkuk

Contributed by Warren Bird on Dec 15, 2002

When Habakkuk asked God to eradicate evil he got an answer he never expected. His reflections on that answer help us to consider how to respond to evil, how to understand why God allows evil to cause great suffering and draws us closer to our Lord.

Introduction One of the great literary achievements of the 20th Century has become one of the great cinematic achievements of the 21st Century. The first instalment of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy is quite simply a phenomenal film that has brought to life a phenomenal book. And that is a ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible