Sermons on Simon The Sorcerer:

Reflection B.19 / Does God Have A Purpose In Coronavirus? / Summary So Far. Do We Imagine God Has Something To Say?

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 11, 2020

This is a summary of the Reflections on coronavirus so far (series A and B). I will follow with a series based on the New Testament excluding Revelation, and then another on Revelation, in the coming weeks.

Today we’re at a milestone in our Reflections. We’ll be leaving the Old Testament! Do I hear ‘hooray’? 🙂 After a short break we’ll move on to the New Testament. A milestone is a good place to take stock. It’s probably impossible to summarise 23 Reflections in a short space but I’m ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:12

Denomination: Baptist

Reflection C.1 / Does God Have A Purpose In Coronavirus? Two Wrong Goblets

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 23, 2020

There is a danger of prematurely imagining that we are in ‘End Times’. There is also a danger of failing to recognize ‘End Times’ when they are on us.

There’s a great family film called ‘The Princess Bride’. It’s definitely worth watching if you enjoy a romance with lots of action and humour. A farmhand, Westley, is in love with a beautiful young woman called Buttercup. A Sicilian named Vizzini kidnaps Buttercup; Westley, wearing a mask, goes ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:4

Denomination: Baptist

Reflection C.2 / Does God Have A Purpose In Coronavirus? End Times Will Be Tough

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 23, 2020

Jesus' disciples asked a question about 'End Times'. But before answering, Jesus warns them that 'End Times' will be tough.

We want to know if God could be behind coronavirus. Could it be connected to God’s judgement or to ‘End Times’? To answer that we want to know what judgement from God looks like and what ‘End Times’ will be like. We started in the Old Testament and we’ve now moved on to the New Testament – ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:9-11

Denomination: Baptist

Reflection C.3 / Does God Have A Purpose In Coronavirus? The Gospel Reaching All Nations

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 23, 2020

Has the gospel reached all nations? I think so!

Today we continue to look at Matthew 24. On Monday we noted Jesus’ warning of the danger of ‘premature eschatological excitement’. (‘Eschatology’ is another word for ‘End Times’.) Yesterday we noted Jesus’ warning that ‘End Times’ will be tough. As part of his warning, Jesus said this: ‘…you ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:14

Denomination: Baptist

Reflection C.4 / Does God Have A Purpose In Coronavirus? Destruction Of Jerusalem By The Romans – Still Relevant To Us

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 23, 2020

Jesus' prophecy regarding the abomination of desolation relates to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. However that event is still relevant to our enquiry about 'End Times'.

We have two more Reflections to do on Matthew 24. Today, we look at verses 15-22. So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:15-22

Denomination: Baptist

Reflection C.5 / Does God Have A Purpose In Coronavirus? Israel Is An Important Indicator

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 23, 2020

When Jesus refers to a fig tree in Matthew 24, he is thinking of Israel. Israel is relevant to 'End Times'.

Today, we’re on to our last Reflection on Matthew 24! This Reflection contains some relatively complex arguments. I just can’t make it shorter. Sorry. If you’re in the mood for something stretching, read on! As Jesus starts to wind up his answer to his disciples’ question, he says this: 32 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:32-34

Denomination: Baptist

Reflection C.6 / Does God Have A Purpose In Coronavirus? Waves?!

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 27, 2020

Matthew, Mark and Luke have a lot in common. But only Luke mentions waves in connection with 'End Times'. It sounds strange. But perhaps it isn't.

Luke 21:25 says the following: And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves… The first part of the verse has a parallel in Matthew and Mark: ‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not ...read more

Scripture: Luke 21:25

Denomination: Baptist

Reflection C.7 / Does God Have A Purpose In Coronavirus? Antichrist

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on May 27, 2020

Antichrist is a mysterious figure. But scripture gives us some important pointers regarding antichrists in the past and the future antichrist.

Today we are going to look at the mysterious figure of ‘antichrist’. The word ‘antichrist’ only comes in John’s letters. However, there are other passages of scripture which seem to be about antichrist even though they don’t use the word ‘antichrist’. Historically, there have been many views ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:18-27

Denomination: Baptist

2 A Cup Of Coffee

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jan 28, 2020

Jesus sees what we’re doing; he values our service to him, even in things that might seem very small to us; and he will reward our service.

A cup of coffee *** Background: my second service as minister; the interim minister is leaving. At the start of the service I make a cappuccino coffee and cut a piece of cake. I invite Jo, the church secretary, to come to the front and then serve the coffee and cake, explaining that it is a ...read more

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44, Luke 12:35-37

Denomination: Baptist

3 The Good Samaritan, Part 2

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jan 30, 2020

The lawyer asks, 'Who is my neighbour?' We should not take 'neighbour' to include everyone! But Jesus' parable warns us against excluding people from the group of people we regard as 'neighbour'.

3 The Good Samaritan, Part 2 Note: this talk is the continuation of ‘1 The Good Samaritan, Part 1’, which is also available on Sermon Central. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the expert in the law in the story had two questions. His first question was, ‘What must I do to inherit eternal ...read more

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Denomination: Baptist

4 The Parable Of The Talents

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jan 30, 2020

What does this parable mean? Who is the man with the servants who goes on a journey? What are the talents he gives his servants? And how does the parable apply to us?

Matthew 25:14-30 What does this parable mean? Who is the man with the servants who goes on a journey? What are the talents he gives his servants? And how does the parable apply to us? What does the parable mean? An important rule when we’re looking at Scripture is to look at the context. ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Denomination: Baptist

5. Is Baptism Important?

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Jan 30, 2020

We often don't give baptism the importance we should. We look at why baptism is important.

5 Is Baptism important? Mark 1:1-13 Mark's gospel starts with John the Baptist baptising and then goes straight onto Jesus being baptised. So, it’s natural to talk about baptism! Baptism is a somewhat controversial subject as different churches and denominations hold different views on ...read more

Scripture: Mark 1:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

6. The First Preacher And The First Sermon

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Feb 6, 2020

The message Jesus drew from the story of Noah is that his coming will be as unexpected as the flood was for the people of Noah’s day. But most people don't believe his coming will be like the flood.

6. The first preacher and the first sermon Sermon on 29 Sept 2019 PM, at Rosebery Park Baptist Church, Bournemouth, UK. According to the Bible, who was the world’s first preacher? And what was his sermon? The answer is Noah! We know Noah was a preacher from this verse in 2 Peter: ‘…if he did ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:36-39

Denomination: Baptist

All Evil Turns In To Good Series

Contributed by Caleb Simon on Oct 17, 2013

The plan which was planned by Satan of crucifying Jesus, the same plan was used in heaven to bring victory

God gave me a good thought about changing all evil in to good, and i am glad to share it with all the children of God. For thousands of thousands years Satan was fearful about a prophecy said by GOD about him. Scripture says in Genesis 3:15 " I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 3:15

Denomination: Pentecostal

God Restores Elijah / The Heart Of The Problem

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Aug 15, 2020

To help Elijah out of his depression God needs to reach a point where Elijah is willing to listen to him. He then needs to resolve Elijah's sense of failure and hopelessness. We see how God did that.

1 KINGS 19, GOD RESTORES ELIJAH INTRODUCTION Today we’re returning to the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. 1 Kings 18 tells us about Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. In 1 Kings 19, we find that Elijah has become very depressed. He thinks he’s a failure, but God ...read more

Denomination: Baptist