Sermons on Simon On Cyrene:

God's Power At Work Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Sep 18, 2023

Luke starts Acts with, 'In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus BEGAN to do and teach...' Now he's going to talk about what Jesus CONTINUED to do. In Acts 16 we have a great example of Jesus witnessing to himself - and Paul and Silas fitting in.

Acts 16 God’s power at work Let’s suppose you hear God speaking to you, telling you to do something. You do what God tells you. But then, within a short time, the situation looks a complete mess. What would you think? Did you hear wrong? Has God let you down? Let’s suppose God calls you to ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

What Motivated Paul Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Sep 23, 2023

Paul was extraordinarily determined to take the gospel to the Gentile world. He was full of passion and drive. He got knocked down but he got up and kept going. Why? What motivated him?

WHAT MOTIVATED PAUL We live in a world where a lot of people don’t believe in God. But not only that, many people who do believe in God are not exactly passionate about telling those who don’t believe in God about him. What will motivate us to tell people about Jesus? That’s our subject ...read more

Scripture: Acts 17:16-21

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus The Bridegroom

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 9, 2024

We don't talk enough about Jesus the bridegroom. It's one of Jesus' most wonderful titles. It helps us to understand who he is, the kind of relationship he wants with us, and who we are.

Some of us have been Christians for a long time and we’ve heard that Jesus is sometimes called the bridegroom. But perhaps some of us have never heard this title of Jesus. I don’t think churches talk about it often enough. It’s one of the most important and wonderful titles of Jesus. When we ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 54:5-6, Isaiah 62:5, Hosea 2:16, Mark 2:18-22, John 3:25-29, Revelation 19:6-7, Revelation 21:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Remembrance Sunday - What We Should Remember

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 9, 2024

On Remembrance Sunday let's remember, first, that there are things to SACRIFICE for. Second, that there are things to FIGHT for. And third, that there are things to HOPE for.

INTRODUCTION EARLIER IN THE SERVICE Today is Remembrance Sunday. It’s a time for remembering. In Britain, I think we’re good at remembering the people in the armed forces who gave their lives in conflicts over the past century or so. Yesterday, the Royal British Legion held Festivals of ...read more

Scripture: John 15:13, Micah 6:8, Micah 4:1-4, Hebrews 6:19

Denomination: Baptist

David: Zealot For God's House Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 16, 2024

David and Jesus were both zealots for God's house. What did that look like in practice for David? And are WE willing to be zealots for God's house?

INTRODUCTION Earlier in today’s service I showed the video, ‘David the worshipper’ [Angel Studios]. I’ve really liked all the videos in this series but I especially liked this one. Young David in the video loves to sing praise to God! He’s joyful, exuberant! His joy and exuberance are ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 69:9, John 2:17

Denomination: Baptist

Philemon

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 22, 2024

Paul's letter to Philemon is short but it has some wonderful lessons for us, especially about how we address something that's wrong.

I’d like you to imagine a scene. It’s about 60 A.D. We’re in the home of a wealthy man named Philemon. Philemon lives in the city of Colossae, in the south-east of what is now Turkey. Some time back, he met the apostle Paul and became a Christian, and he’s now one of the leaders of a church. ...read more

Scripture: Philemon 1:1-25

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 Story Of The Wise Men

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jan 10, 2026

The wise men are a great example to us today, to be SEEKERS, WORSHIPPERS and, when necessary, REBELS.

PART 1: INTRODUCTION People have been intrigued by the story of the wise men who visited the infant Jesus from the earliest days of the church. Long ago, people carefully kept the bones of the wise men. They’re now in a huge, gilded shrine in Cologne Cathedral. Some of the greatest painters in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

Six Things To Learn About The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jun 7, 2025

This is a talk for a family service on Pentecost Sunday, reminding us of some of the most important things about the Holy Spirit, with lots of visual aids.

THIS IS A FAMILY SERVICE SO THIS ‘TALK’ IS MEANT TO BE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN AND QUITE INTERACTIVE. The scripture quotations are from the International Children’s Bible. Today’s an important day in the Christian calendar. It’s day for celebrating! It isn’t Christmas. It isn’t Easter. So, what ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

The Philippians' Giving

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Feb 28, 2026

The Christians in Philippi were great givers. In this talk, we look at six things we can learn from them as we consider our own giving.

Introduction Today is my fifth and last talk from Philippians. In the passage we’re looking at, Paul reflects on the Philippians’ support for him. He has some slightly complicated things to say, along the lines of, ‘I didn’t actually need your gifts, but I’m rejoicing that you gave them’! I’m going ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-20

Denomination: Baptist

Our Greatest Passion

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Apr 13, 2024

Are we clear on what our greatest passion must be?

NOTE: This was a family service. Early in the service I tell the children’s story ‘Wherever you go, I want you to know’ by Melissa Kruger. You can download the images for the story free from the Good Book Company. I made them into a PowerPoint to accompany the story. EARLY IN THE SERVICE: Today ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:37-38

Denomination: Baptist

The Supreme Fact Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Mar 22, 2025

Jesus' resurrection is the supreme fact of history. We need to grasp it firmly as a truth. Everything else builds on it.

Easter talk, No.1 Let’s suppose some components arrive in a factory. They’re inspected. They pass the inspection and they continue into the factory. There was a fact: the components passed the inspection. The fact led to a decision: the components are received. We may not work in business or ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:36-43

Denomination: Baptist

The Necessity Of The Cross Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Mar 29, 2025

Jesus is the key - the only key - which can release us from our imprisonment to sin.

THE NECESSITY OF THE CROSS Charles Wesley was born in 1707. He was the 18th child! His parents had one more child after him. If it was today, the Wesleys would have been in the news! 19 children is exceptional. Charles Wesley’s father, Samuel Wesley, was the rector of the local church. ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 1 John 2:1, Genesis 3:24, John 8:34, Genesis 2:16-17, Romans 6:23, Isaiah 53:6, Exodus 26:31, Exodus 26:35, 2 Chronicles 3:14, 1 Peter 2:24, Hebrews 2:10, Philippians 2:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist

Welcoming The King Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Apr 12, 2025

On Palm Sunday Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey and in doing so, presented himself to the people of Jerusalem as king. We also come to similar defining moments. We too must decide how we will receive Jesus -- and the consequence of our decision is incalculable.

Last week, King Charles and Queen Camilla visited Italy. They met the president of Italy. They met the prime minister of Italy. They met the pope. Then King Charles was invited to give a speech to the Italian parliament. Then King Charles and Queen Camilla were invited to a state banquet ...read more

Scripture: Zechariah 9:9

Denomination: Baptist