Sermons on Simon On Cyrene:

Paul’s Charge To The Ephesian Elders Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Oct 14, 2023

Paul sees the elders of the Ephesian church for the last time. He gives them a charge: 'Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock.' It's a message the church needs to hear today.

Today’s passage has a lot to tell us about the job of a minister or pastor or elder. Maybe you think, ‘I’m not a minister or pastor or elder. This doesn’t apply to me’! But all of us have responsibilities towards other people. This passage has something to say to all of us. Before I get ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:17-38

Denomination: Baptist

Would You Have Gone? Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Oct 29, 2023

God leads Paul to Jerusalem. It doesn't seem to make sense. It will be costly. Friends advise against. Would you have gone? We see God's priority is mission.

INTRODUCTION Have you ever been in a situation where you felt that God was asking you to do… Something that DIDN’T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE to you? Something that was COSTLY? Something that all your friends URGE YOU NOT TO DO? That was the situation the apostle Paul was in. Many years previously ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How To Survive A Storm Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 25, 2023

Three important strategies for surviving a storm. They're all not-so-common common-sense.

The book of Acts is 28 chapters long. In Chapter 28, Paul finally gets to Rome. But chapter 27 is the chapter where the last major drama of the book of Acts happens. It’s the story of Paul in a storm. Luke, who wrote the book of Acts, gave a lot of space to this story. He must think it’s ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Addressing Sin In The Church

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Apr 29, 2024

Jesus has just told the Parable of the Good Shepherd. The shepherd goes after the straying sheep. Then Jesus spells out what WE need to do when we see a member of our church falling into sin and straying.

INTRODUCTION We sometimes hurt people. I can think of times when I’ve hurt people. And people sometimes hurt us. I can think of times when I’ve been hurt. It happens in families, in workplaces and in churches. There was a time when Paul was planning to visit the church in Corinth. But he was ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-17

Denomination: Baptist

Forgive!

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 5, 2024

Jesus tells us that we MUST forgive. We have a fundamental moral obligation to forgive. There is a terrible consequence if we don't forgive. But what does it mean to forgive?

INTRODUCTION Today we’re looking at a passage about forgiveness. It may be the longest passage about forgiveness in the Bible and it’s extremely important. Forgiveness is a God-quality. It’s at the heart of what God is like. We find it very tough to do. But in this teaching, Jesus demands that ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

Denomination: Baptist

Isaiah's Vision Of Jesus' Coming

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Dec 6, 2024

At Christmas, Christians often look forward to Jesus' second coming. Isaiah's vision relates both to Jesus' first and second comings. He tells us one thing about Jesus (an example for us); one thing Jesus does (a warning to us); and one result (an encouragement for us).

INTRODUCTION How optimistic are you about the future? For a number of years, a market research company, IPSOS, has been doing a survey at the start of the year. One of the questions they ask is whether people expect the coming year to be better for them than the previous year. In Britain, about ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Cut Out The Light Pollution!

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Dec 7, 2024

At Christmas, Christians need to cut out the light pollution - the many things which can prevent us from focusing on the Light of the World.

INTRODUCTION WHILE THE CHILDREN ARE WITH US: ‘HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS!’ Somewhere around about the beginning of 1957, Dr Seuss started to write the story, ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’ It was published later that year. That was almost 70 years ago! Today, ‘How the Grinch Stole ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Most Important Thing About Christmas

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Dec 21, 2024

The most important thing about Christmas is that Jesus entered the world as king. And when we remember the humble circumstances of his birth, we remember that Jesus - although the great king - was committed to being Immanuel, 'God with us.'

In 1717, King Louis XIV of France died. When he was alive, Louis XIV demanded that he be addressed as ‘Louis THE GREAT.’ It’s said that he once declared, ‘L’État, c’est moi’ – meaning, ‘I am the State!’ Louis XIV’s court was the most magnificent in Europe and his funeral was the most ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:7, Luke 1:30-33

Denomination: Baptist

The Word Became Flesh

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Dec 24, 2024

At the beginning of John's gospel John makes many striking claims about Jesus. One is that he was Logos, the word. Another is that he became flesh. Isn't 'the flesh' bad? Why did Jesus take on flesh? And should we do anything?

At Christmas, Christians think of the fact that Jesus, though he was God, became man. But John expresses things differently. Rather than saying that God became man, John tells us that THE WORD – in Greek, Logos – became FLESH. John starts his gospel by talking about ‘Logos’ – the word. John ...read more

Scripture: John 1:14

Denomination: Baptist

A Storm Called Fear

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jan 4, 2025

Fear is one of the most common things Christians have to face. We need to distinguish between the enemy or danger and the fear that the enemy or danger produces, and know how to deal with the fear.

INTRODUCTION Today is the first Sunday of 2025. Happy New Year! I thought that at the start of the year I would review a couple of the most basic aspects of Christian life. I have given the title of today’s talk, ‘A storm called fear.’ It’s about fear, worry and anxiety. Next Sunday, we’re ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 64:1, Isaiah 41:10

Denomination: Baptist

Anointed Fugitive Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Aug 23, 2024

Samuel anointed David. But now, he's a fugitive, holed up in a cave! He isn't happy. But he does exactly the right thing. We can learn from him for the times when we feel everyone has abandoned us, when we're in a dark, damp, smelly metaphorical cave.

Last week we started a new series looking at David in the Old Testament. I made two very simple points. First, David is a huge figure in the Bible. There is loads about him in the Old Testament. That alone means that David must be really important. But even more significant is the way the New ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus The Rock Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Aug 24, 2024

The Old Testament knows God as the Rock. But Jesus is also The rock. He is the only firm foundation to build our lives on. But we need to learn from the ancient Israelites. They were unfaithful and most were destroyed. We must not make the same mistake.

INTRODUCTION We’re in a series looking at descriptions of Jesus. The Bible is full of descriptions of God the Father, of Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit. Last week, we looked at one of Jesus’ descriptions of himself. He said, ‘I am the good shepherd’ [John 10:11]. We looked at what shepherds were ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:4

Denomination: Baptist

David: Man Of Prayer Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Aug 30, 2024

In this talk we look at how David prayed when he faced enemies or storms in his life. He cried out to God. But he also remembered vital things about God - things that enabled him to overcome his enemies and stand firm in the storms.

INTRODUCTION How do we pray? Could we pray better? If I asked you, who in the Bible is an expert in prayer, who would you say? You might say David. The psalms are prayers and at least 75 of the 150 psalms in the Book of Psalms were written by David. We’re in a series on David, the shepherd ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 56:3-4

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus, The Bread Of Life Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Aug 31, 2024

Jesus is the bread of life. He is our daily sustenance and this bread gives eternal life. And although his claim sounds unbelievable, too good to be true, we have reason to believe it. Jesus had just fed 5,000 people.

INTRODUCTION We’re doing a series on ‘Titles of Jesus.’ We’ve done two so far. My first talk was on Jesus the Good Shepherd. Then, last week, we looked at Jesus the Rock. It’s wonderful to know that Jesus is our Good Shepherd and our rock. Both of those descriptions of Jesus have their roots in ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

David The Musician Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Sep 7, 2024

In this talk we look at why music and song are so important for Christians.

Note: this was a family service in which children stay in the service. We have a ‘main’ children’s item earlier in the service but also a short talk later in the service. This is to give something for the adults but which is hopefully not too difficult for children. Because it was about music ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 105:2

Denomination: Baptist