Sermons on Simon On Cyrene:

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

John Eats A Scroll Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Oct 29, 2022

God's purposes in Revelation are reaching a climax as the seventh trumpet is about to be sounded. A mighty angel declares, 'There will be no more delay.' And then, he gives John a scroll to eat and tells him he must prophesy. Why?

N.B. This is the fourth of a series of talks on Revelation. The first three talks are titled: In God’s Throne Room The Great Tribulation Environmental Devastation in End Times INTRODUCTION Today we’re continuing in our series on Revelation. I’ve called the series ‘Revelation: The Hard Parts.’ ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

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

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

Hungry – But Not For What's Really Important Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Feb 26, 2023

In John's gospel, after feeding 5,000 people with bread and fish, Jesus goes on to say what true bread is. Actually, true bread isn't a what, it's a who. It's Jesus. He is our sustenance.

PRE-TALK earlier in the service Three pictures / slides (1) Israelites collecting manna in the wilderness ~1450 or 1270 B.C. ‘Manna’ = ‘what is it?’ The people of Israel had fled slavery in Egypt. They travelled eastwards, crossed the Red Sea and entered the Sinai Peninsula. There isn’t a lot ...read more

Scripture: John 6:22-35

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

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 Tears Of Jesus Series

Contributed by Simon Measures on Jul 19, 2025

What does it mean that Jesus wept? This sermon explores the humanity of Christ, the purpose of shared sorrow, and the healing power of empathy within the church community. It offers practical encouragement for ministers and believers alike in how to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).

The Tears of Jesus by Pastor Simon Measures July 6th 2025 Preface This message was preached at Harvest Field Church, Cheltenham on July 6th 2025, in the days immediately following the graveside committal and memorial celebration service for my wife, Ruth, who passed away quite suddenly. It was a ...read more

Scripture: John 11:35, John 19:24-27, Romans 12:15

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Old Self And New Self

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Aug 17, 2025

God is changing us. But we have work to do too.

CHILDREN’S SLOT EARLY IN THE SERVICE Three visual aids Have you heard the phrase, ‘Out with the old in with the new’? Let me give you some examples. 1. These are some pictures of Meghan Markle. In 2018, she married Prince Harry. She became Duchess of Sussex and a member of the royal family. ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24

Denomination: Baptist

Old Self To New Self: Five Key Areas

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Aug 23, 2025

God wants to transform us into his image. It's his work but it's our work too. Paul gives five areas we need to address in putting off the old and putting on the new.

INTRODUCTION In several of Paul's letters to the churches, Paul starts with theological teaching and then moves on to practical instruction. He lays the theological foundations and sets out key theological truths. After that, he talks about how believers should live in the light of these ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-32

Denomination: Baptist

Ephesians 5 On Marriage

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Aug 30, 2025

The Biblical view of marriage is very different indeed to the contemporary world's view of marriage. The Bible demands a huge amount from us. But through a Christian marriage, we can model Christ's relationship to the church!

INTRODUCTION After our relationship to God, marriage is the most important relationship we get into. But society’s view of marriage has changed dramatically over the past half century or so. What I would like to do today is give you two pictures. The first picture is what I’m calling the ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 5:18-33

Denomination: Baptist

What The Angel Told The Shepherds

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Dec 6, 2025

Do you believe that Jesus’ birth is ‘good news of great joy’? When we hear about some offer, we often subconsciously ask three questions. ‘Is it good?’ ‘Is it true?’ And, if it is good and true, ‘What should I do? We ask what Jesus' birth means.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, there were some shepherds out in the field, watching their flock in the night. An angel appeared to them and told them: ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David A ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-11

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 8, 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