Sermons on Simon The Leper:

Joy In Trials?!

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Feb 18, 2022

The idea that we could find joy in trials seems very strange. But it makes sense - and it could radically change the way we respond to the trials that inevitably come.

We’ve now reached the last in our series of ‘Messages of Encouragement’. And we’ve come to a very difficult piece of teaching! ‘James’ – whoever James may be – tells us TO CONSIDER IT PURE JOY WHENEVER WE FACE TRIALS OF MANY KINDS! Wow! That sounds crazy! How can we understand it? The general ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2-12

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

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

A Great Message Of Encouragement

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jan 8, 2022

At the start of 2022 most of us probably feel that the future looks very uncertain. We want to hear God's message of encouragement. As the Israelites prepared to enter the Promised Land, God had a great message of encouragement for them.

THE SCENE I’d like you to imagine a scene. It’s about 1500 B.C. We’re in a wilderness a little to the south of the Dead Sea in what was then Moab and is now Jordan. Around us there are people, tents, and animals. The people look tough, weather-beaten. For forty years they’ve been living as ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

Great Messages Of Encouragement #2: Strength To The Weary

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jan 15, 2022

In Isaiah's day Judah was invaded by Assyria, threatened by Babylon and ridden with sin. And yet, Isaiah offers a wonderful message of encouragement: 'they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles.' How is that possible?

Last week we started a series on ‘Great Messages of Encouragement’ in Scripture. Today we’re going to look at a great message of encouragement in Isaiah. It’s at the end of Isaiah 40. Isaiah writes: “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:27-31

Denomination: Baptist

The Glory To Be Revealed Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jan 22, 2022

Paul tells believers in Rome that ‘the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us’. But what is this glory?

PRE-TALK OR CHILDREN’S TALK Before Priscilla and I got married I used to keep a scrap book. In 1988 I cut out this picture from a newspaper. It’s of Linford Christie at the Seoul Olympics. He had never before competed in the Olympics but at Seoul, he won the silver medal. Four years later, he ...read more

Scripture: Romans 8:18-25

Denomination: Baptist

The Siege Of Jerusalem

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Feb 1, 2022

We probably don't like to think about God's justice. The siege of Jerusalem by the Romans, in A.D. 70, forces us to. In this event we see God's justice but we also see that God protected his people in a time of wrath.

Note: this was a talk I gave to a small afternoon congregation. I wouldn’t give it in our main morning service. INTRODUCTION We’re presently following the theme of discipleship, picking up some of the big things that are part of being a follower of Jesus. But it’s good to have some variety so ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-41, Luke 19:41-44, Luke 21:2-24

Denomination: Baptist

Ackowledge Your King Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Apr 10, 2022

Palm Sunday reminds us that the message of the cross, the message of salvation, must be set in the context of Jesus being king. And we must recognize Jesus as the king he is, not the king we might like him to be.

In a typical year about 3.5 million people visit Jerusalem. It’s one of the most historic cities in the world. It has been continuously inhabited since about 1,800 B.C. So it’s been worth visiting for a VERY long time! But in the time of Jesus, there were certain times of the year when Jews had ...read more

Scripture: John 12:12-16

Denomination: Baptist