Sermons on Simon On Cyrene:

Mary, David, Paul And Margaret: One Thing Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Sep 10, 2022

Mary, David, Paul and Margaret teach us to value One Thing above everything else. Indeed that One Thing is the only thing that's essential.

How important is Jesus in your life? QUITE important? VERY important? One of several things that are essential? Or, the ONE THING that is truly essential? Over the period to Christmas we’re mainly looking at Revelation. But we’re also having some talks about people in the Bible. In each case, ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:4, Luke 10:41-42, Philippians 3:13-14

Denomination: Baptist

In God's Throne Room Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Sep 22, 2022

A time will come when God will convene his court and pass judgement on the world. Justice will be done. God, in acting justly, will be glorified. Satan’s dominion will be destroyed, and the saints will possess the kingdom. It starts in a court room.

INTRODUCTION Revelation is a difficult book. We can’t deny that. The fact that it’s difficult might put us off reading it. But as well as being difficult, many Christians don’t like Revelation’s message. Among other things, it talks about tribulation and wrath and judgment. Other parts of the ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Talk 2. The Great Tribulation Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Sep 22, 2022

In the days before his crucifixion Jesus warned his disciples of what lay ahead. Here in Revelation, Jesus warns us of what lies ahead. The Great Tribulation will be painful. But it is a step on the way to a glorious future. Our task will be to remain faithful.

In Revelation 7, John sees ‘a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Harvest Is Bigger. God Does More.

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Oct 1, 2022

At our harvest festival we usually think of food, crops. But we need to expand our concept of harvest. We also need to recognize just how much God is involved in providing for us.

Today is our Harvest Thanksgiving service. It’s a time to thank God for the harvest. But what exactly are we thanking God for? I want to do two things today. The first thing is to encourage us to see harvest as something bigger than what the combine harvester picks up. The second thing is to ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 104:10-14, Exodus 23:16, Genesis 1:29, Deuteronomy 28:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

How To Stand Firm

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Oct 24, 2021

Paul's key charge to Timothy in his letter is to stand firm for the gospel. In chapters 1 and 2 he's focused on why we should stand firm. In chapter 3, he gives attention to the how.

[SLIDE] I’d like to start today’s talk by showing you a picture. There is a crowd, going one way, and there is a man going the opposite way. The crowd aren’t giving him a hard time; it’s all quite peaceful. In the Christian life, we sometimes have to go against the majority. Quite often, in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Preach The Word

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 1, 2021

Paul gives Timothy one of the most solemn injunctions in scripture: 'preach the word'. He is talking about preaching God's word to God's people rather than sharing the gospel with people outside the church. It's a solemn message to us too, to hold fast to God's word.

INTRODUCTION (EARLIER IN THE SERVICE) Today is our last week on 2 Timothy. Over the past three weeks we’ve looked at chapters 1 to 3. Today, we move on to chapter 4 – the last chapter in 2 Timothy. I’m going to do a short recap on what we’ve looked at so far before we turn to chapter 4 later in ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Remembering God

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 13, 2021

On Remembrance Sunday we remember conflicts and we remember members of the armed forces who gave their lives. But above all, we need to remember God.

Talk for Remembrance Sunday, 14 November 2021 Today is Remembrance Sunday. In the UK we observe Remembrance DAY on the 11th of November and we observe Remembrance SUNDAY on the second Sunday in November. On both of those days we REMEMBER members of the armed forces who gave their lives in the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

The King Long-Awaited Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 27, 2021

Old Testament prophecies build our faith that Jesus is really God's anointed. We look at prophecies which give us the where, when and who of Jesus' birth.

Today we’re starting our Christmas series of talks. I’ve given the series the title ‘NOT YOUR USUAL KING’. After Jesus was born, magi – astrologers – came from the east to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is he who has been born KING OF THE JEWS?’ [Matthew 2:2]. After the magi found Jesus, ‘they fell ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6-7, Daniel 9:25-26, Micah 5:2

Denomination: Baptist

What King Is Announced By A Star? Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Dec 4, 2021

Stars cause us to wonder. What was the star that appeared when Jesus was born? Was it a comet from a remote part of the solar system which happened to arrive at just the right time? Or was the universe itself acknowledging the coming of its creator and king?

Last Sunday we started our Christmas series of talks. I’ve given the series the title ‘NOT YOUR USUAL KING’. There are lots of ways in which Jesus is NOT your usual king. Last week we looked at some prophecies in the Old Testament that gave us the when, where and who of Jesus’ birth. No king ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Three Big Reasons To Rejoice At Christmas

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Dec 24, 2021

Jesus' birth was cause for lots of rejoicing. But wasn't it a long time ago? Is it still cause for rejoicing for us? It certainly is!

[This is a short sermon / reflection for a short Christmas Day service.] Earlier in the service we reminded ourselves of the Christmas story. Perhaps we thought: that’s a nice story. But does it really affect me? In the Christmas story in the Bible there’s a constant note of joy. Elizabeth ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:7, Luke 1:32-33, Matthew 2:10

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

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

God Of Mission

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jul 17, 2021

Talk 2 in my five-talk series on Jonah. Mission is God's mission. In the story of Jonah - and especially in view of what Jesus says about Jonah - we recognize that God is the master strategist in mission and he's breathtakingly creative.

Jonah Talk 2: God of Mission Last week I started a new series on Jonah. My major theme last week was how compassionate God is. At the time of Jonah, the Assyrian Empire was expanding. Historians of the Middle East tell us how cruel the Assyrian rulers were. I spared you the grizzly details. ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-5, Matthew 12:38-41, Luke 11:29-30

Denomination: Baptist