Sermons on Simon On Cyrene:

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

The Characters In Jesus's Birth

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Dec 20, 2025

This is a short talk in the context of a Nativity service in which we look at the characters in Jesus's birth and find many great examples to follow.

This talk follows a children’s presentation of the Nativity story. You children did a brilliant presentation of what happened at Jesus’s birth. Thank you so much! Let’s spend a few minutes now looking at the people who were part of that first Christmas and thinking what their stories mean for us ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:38, Matthew 1:20, Philippians 2:5-7, Revelation 3:20, Luke 2:10, Luke 2:15, Matthew 2:2  (view more)  (view less)

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

Dealing With Disagreements

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jan 31, 2026

Paul entreats Euodia and entreats Syntyche to agree in the Lord. We look at just two verses but find in them a great example of how to deal with disagreements at church.

INTRODUCTION Some years ago, a minister named Chuck Thomas was invited to preach at a church in Oklahoma. This is the story I read. Thomas noticed that the church was split down the middle, with each side having its own communion table and elders who prayed and served their respective halves of the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:2-3

Denomination: Baptist

Learning From Jonah

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Feb 7, 2026

The story of Jonah teaches us that God is a God of second chances and God of the impossible. When we do what God tells us to - as Jonah eventually did - God can bring about an amazing result. The story of Jonah is also a picture, a foreshadowing, of Jesus and God's great plan of salvation.

This was for a family service, meaning that the children stayed in. We had chairs set in the shape of a boat in the centre of the church. Jonah, sailors etc., were dressed for their parts and we had a short participatory reading of some of the key moments in the story of Jonah earlier in the ...read more

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

Don't Let The Grinch Steal Christmas

Contributed by Simon Rundell on Jan 19, 2001

Adapted from another sermoncentral sermon, this reinterpretation of "The Grinch who stole Christmas" Movie and Dr Seuss book encourages us to look for the real meaning of Christmas. Given at Midnight Mass 2000

In the name of the living, incarnate God, +Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Everyone down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot… But the Grinch, did not! The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! Now, please don’t ask why. No one quite knows the reason. It could be his head ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Go, Your Faith Has Saved You

Contributed by Simon Rundell on Jan 19, 2001

Prayer: it works.

“Go, your faith has saved you” Given at St John the Evangelist, Rishworth and Christ Church, Barkisland, West Yorkshire, England, 29th October 2000 In the name of the living God, +Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Once upon a time (and doesn’t it fill you with dread when a sermon begins with ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

If You Can't Stand The Heat... Series

Contributed by Simon Rundell on Jan 19, 2001

Given in a young adult’s prison, this sermon challenges the temptation to violence and intimidation and take the braver option: to walk away and come to Christ

Given at HM Prison Moorland, Doncaster, 27th August 2000 In the name of the +Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. You have probably heard the saying “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”. Now, this is not a reference to the way I cook, but if you like things done crispy on ...read more

Scripture: John 6:60-71

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Pick Up Your Cross And Follow Me Series

Contributed by Simon Rundell on Jan 19, 2001

Examines the call to vocation of everyone, whether to the priesthood to be a Christian in Society. Written for a young audience in a very open style.

How Does the Gospel Affect Our Lives? Given at the Chichester Diocese Youth Summer Camp, August 2000. Texts: Romans 12: 1-13; Luke 9:23-28 Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all, `If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me’. Well, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:23-28, Romans 12:1-13

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Footballer's Kiss Series

Contributed by Simon Rundell on Jan 19, 2001

When viewed from one angle, some things can look quite strange, but when viewed from another they can be quite different: as it is with the Mass. Given in a Young Offender’s Prison.

Given at HM Prison Moorlands, Doncaster, 20th August 2000 In the name of the +Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. There has been a bit of fuss and bother in the newspapers recently about goal celebrations. Have you seen it? Time was when a goal was scored there would be a polite round of ...read more

Scripture: John 6:51-58

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

The Log In Your Eye

Contributed by Simon Rundell on Feb 28, 2001

About Sin, about Lenten Preparation, most especially about the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) with a neat little prayer by Ephraem the Syrian (4th Century)

Sermon: Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Luke 6:39-45 Given at St John the Evangelist, Rishworth, Diocese of Wakefield, 25th February 2001 “The log in your eye” In the name of the +Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Sin. Nasty. Unpleasant. The last thing you want to hear preached about ...read more

Scripture: Luke 6:39-45

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Witnessing To The Angels

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 24, 2025

Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:10, 'So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.' What does this mean?!

INTRODUCTION Today, we’re moving on to Ephesians 3. In my first talk, I showed you this picture. It’s produced by the BibleProject and it presents the structure of Ephesians. Ephesians 1 and 2 both get a lot of space. But look at Ephesians 3! It just gets a little corner! It seems that the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 3:10

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