Sermons on Simon A Tanner:

Environmental Devastation In End Times

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Oct 29, 2022

The scientists tell us that the world is headed for environmental catastrophe. That's what Revelation says too. What should we think about it?

INTRODUCTION Today we’re returning to Revelation after a month’s break. This is my third talk. I’ve called the series ‘Revelation: The Hard Parts.’ I’m consciously diving into some of the hard parts of Revelation – the parts that preachers generally avoid. But these hard parts are in the Bible ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 8:6-12

Denomination: Baptist

God Of Second Chances

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 5, 2022

Jesus' restoring Peter after he denied him shows that he's in the business of giving second chances. He's also given us an example to follow.

BACK STORY In our children’s story we heard about Peter denying Jesus. Peter failed. But Peter shouldn’t have been the one to fail. He was Peter the rock. He was supposed to be the strong one, the solid one. But Peter had brought it on himself. Jesus told his disciples what would happen to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Now For The Real Enemy... Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 30, 2022

In Revelation 12 the wraps are taken off our greatest enemy the great red dragon, Satan. He is defeated. Not dead yet, but he is definitely defeated. Christ won the victory on the cross. Michael and the angels in heaven fought. And we, God's people, also play a part.

We’ve come to the last of our talks in our present series on Revelation. Today we’re looking at a passage in Revelation 12. Revelation has 22 chapters, so we’re only half way through the book. Many commentators think that Revelation 12 is one of the key chapters in Revelation. In this chapter, ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 12:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Witness And Prayer

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jul 10, 2023

Prayer is essential to witnessing. Only God can change other people's hearts. Only God can give us the strength and courage we need.

This was a fairly short talk in the context of a family service Back in March I got an email through our church website. It was from an American called Tagg Wolverton. He works for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Tagg Wolverton explained that Billy Graham’s son Franklin would be ...read more

Scripture: John 1:41, Acts 1:14, Ezekiel 37:1-10, Matthew 9:37-38

Denomination: Baptist

The Eighth And Ninth Beatitudes Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Mar 26, 2022

Like it or not, being persecuted is in Jesus' list of the characteristics of the Christian. If we follow Jesus, it's inevitable that we'll be persecuted. But the persecution proves the genuiness of our faith. And it leads to great reward.

Jesus starts the Sermon on the Mount with nine Beatitudes – sayings that start ‘Blessed are’. Jesus wants us to be blessed – meaning, happy or fortunate. In the Beatitudes, Jesus presents us with the key characteristics of the Christian. Some people have said they’re the blueprint of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12

Denomination: Baptist

Ackowledge Your King Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Apr 10, 2022

Palm Sunday reminds us that the message of the cross, the message of salvation, must be set in the context of Jesus being king. And we must recognize Jesus as the king he is, not the king we might like him to be.

In a typical year about 3.5 million people visit Jerusalem. It’s one of the most historic cities in the world. It has been continuously inhabited since about 1,800 B.C. So it’s been worth visiting for a VERY long time! But in the time of Jesus, there were certain times of the year when Jews had ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-16

Denomination: Baptist

Maundy Thursday Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Apr 14, 2022

Maundy Thursday reminds us of Jesus 'mandate' - his new commandment. Not just to love one another, but to love one another as he has loved us. It can be humiliating, demeaning and messy. But it brings blessing.

The Friday when Jesus was crucified is called Good Friday. On Good Friday we remember that Jesus offered himself as the final, complete sacrifice for our sins, freeing us from a slavery we could never have freed ourselves from. The day before Good Friday is called Maundy Thursday. That Thursday, ...read more

Scripture: John 13:34, John 13:14-15, John 13:17

Denomination: Baptist

Stand Firm And Work Hard Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Apr 16, 2022

'Stand firm and work hard' might seem a very strange Easter message. But it's Paul's key message in 1 Corinthians 15 - the longest passage on the resurrection in the Bible. The resurrection gives us hope - and that hope gives us reason to stand firm and work hard.

Easter Sunday is the day when we celebrate the fact that God raised Jesus from death. When I say WE celebrate the fact that God raised Jesus from the dead, I mean, WE IN THIS CHURCH celebrate it. Clearly, a lot of other people DON'T celebrate it. A few years ago the Daily Telegraph conducted ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, 1 Corinthians 15:58, 1 Peter 1:3

Denomination: Baptist

God's Awesome Plan

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Mar 16, 2024

At Easter we think of how Jesus, by dying on the cross, freed us from our slavery to sin. But we can't think, 'I'm saved and that's all that matters to me.' God saves us for a purpose. We need to grasp God's purpose and engage with it.

Do any of you like watching movies? Do you like action movies? How about prison escapes? There are two kinds of prison-escape movies. There are movies like Escape from Alcatraz or The Great Escape. In these movies the hero’s goal is to escape. There is no bigger goal. Then there are movies ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:2, John 8:34, Romans 7:6, John 1:29, Revelation 19:9, 1 Corinthians 2:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

A Warning And A Promise

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Mar 23, 2024

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, he wept. His coming to Jerusalem would be a 'career-ending moment' for Jerusalem. There's a serious warning here for us. But there's also a promise. Jesus fulfilled Zechariah's prophecy - and Zechariah has more prophecies.

Today is Palm Sunday. It’s the Sunday in the year when we remember that a week before Jesus was crucified, he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. People took palm branches and shouted out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’ It seems like a very ...read more

Scripture: Luke 19:41-44, Zechariah 9:9

Denomination: Baptist

The Sermon On The Mount / The First Three Beatitudes Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Mar 3, 2022

In the Beatitudes, Jesus states eight or nine things which result in us being 'blessed' - meaning, happy or fortunate. They are right at the heart of being right with God and they are very different to the things which most people think will make them happy or fortunate.

INTRODUCTION Last week we finished our series of six talks on the theme ‘Great Messages of Encouragement’. We’re now starting a new series of talks on the Sermon on the Mount. I don’t know how many talks we’ll have on it, but it will be more than six! What is ‘the Sermon on the Mount’? Well, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Sermon On The Mount / The Second Three Beatitudes Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Mar 5, 2022

In the fourth, fifth and sixth Beatitudes, Jesus continues to describe the child of God. He or she hungers and thirsts for righteousness, shows mercy and offers God a pure heart. We consider what Jesus is asking for.

INTRODUCTION Last week we started a new series on the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount starts with nine statements that Jesus made which begin, ‘Blessed are.’ ‘Blessed’ means ‘happy’ or ‘fortunate’. We often call these statements ‘the Beatitudes.’ If we asked people in the world ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

The Sermon On The Mount / The Seventh Beatitude Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Mar 12, 2022

'Blessed are the peacemakers.' We all too easily think in terms of fight or not fight. But Jesus gives us a clear goal when we are in or see situations of conflict.

Note: this was a talk for a family service which children come to. So we’re only covering one Beatitude and it’s fairly simple. Over the past two weeks we’ve started to look at the Sermon on the Mount. This is a sermon preached on … you guessed it! … a mountainside. It’s the longest of Jesus’ ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:9

Denomination: Baptist

A Disturbed Woman Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jan 29, 2023

Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well. Jesus is absolutely willing to break cultural norms. He is led by scripture. And the meeting brings great results.

We’re in the third talk in our series on ‘Encounters with Jesus in John’s gospel.’ Last week, we looked at a passage in John 3. A man called Nicodemus met Jesus. He was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. In short, he was a very respectable man. Jesus told him that he needed ...read more

Scripture: John 4:1-26

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus' Resurrection: The Supreme Fact

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Apr 8, 2023

Jesus' resurrection means our resurrection. Jesus' resurrection shows us what our resurrection will be like. And our redemption paves the way for the redemption of all creation. It's a wonderful prospect!

What does Easter Sunday mean to you? Does it mean a lot or a little? Does the fact that Jesus rose from the dead change very much for you? THE RESURRECTION IS THE SUPREME FACT OF HISTORY When I was at school, I read a little booklet called ‘The Evidence for the Resurrection’. It’s by someone ...read more

Denomination: Baptist