Sermons on Simon The Sorcerer:

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

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

The Armour Of God, Part 2

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Sep 27, 2025

We're in a war. God has provided us with armour. We need to think about it carefully if we're going to use it correctly. This second talk looks at the last four pieces of armour.

I’d like to start by reading two short passages from Sir Walter Scott’s novel, Ivanhoe. Ivanhoe is set in the 12th century, a time when soldiers fought with swords and arrows and knights wore chain mail armour. Ivanhoe is a young Saxon knight. He’s fighting alongside Sir Robin Locksley, who turns ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:13-20

Denomination: Baptist

Paul’s Charge To The Ephesian Elders Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Oct 14, 2023

Paul sees the elders of the Ephesian church for the last time. He gives them a charge: 'Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock.' It's a message the church needs to hear today.

Today’s passage has a lot to tell us about the job of a minister or pastor or elder. Maybe you think, ‘I’m not a minister or pastor or elder. This doesn’t apply to me’! But all of us have responsibilities towards other people. This passage has something to say to all of us. Before I get ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:17-38

Denomination: Baptist

Would You Have Gone? Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Oct 29, 2023

God leads Paul to Jerusalem. It doesn't seem to make sense. It will be costly. Friends advise against. Would you have gone? We see God's priority is mission.

INTRODUCTION Have you ever been in a situation where you felt that God was asking you to do… Something that DIDN’T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE to you? Something that was COSTLY? Something that all your friends URGE YOU NOT TO DO? That was the situation the apostle Paul was in. Many years previously ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

How To Survive A Storm Series

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Nov 25, 2023

Three important strategies for surviving a storm. They're all not-so-common common-sense.

The book of Acts is 28 chapters long. In Chapter 28, Paul finally gets to Rome. But chapter 27 is the chapter where the last major drama of the book of Acts happens. It’s the story of Paul in a storm. Luke, who wrote the book of Acts, gave a lot of space to this story. He must think it’s ...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

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

A Gift For Jesus

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Dec 13, 2025

At Christmas, we celebrate Jesus's birthday. He gave US a great gift! What was it? And what gift would he like from us?

This was the talk for our 2025 carol service. The children would stay in, and it needed to be a maximum of ten minutes. On a particular day every year, my family makes a big fuss of me. They blow up balloons. They get a cake and put some candles on it. They sing a song. They give me cards. They ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:10-11, Mark 10:45

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

Jesus On Adultery And Lust

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Feb 10, 2024

Jesus teaches on lust. It isn't something preachers generally like to speak about but it's really important. Jesus shows how God's commandment on adultery needs to be practised and he tells us how we can do it.

Western society is completely comfortable talking about sex. Most people think a lot about sex. Especially men. The Bible talks a lot about sex too. Most preachers, however, do not like to talk about sex. When preachers preach on the Sermon on the Mount, they talk about the Beatitudes. There ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:27-30

Denomination: Baptist

God's Awesome Plan

Contributed by Simon Bartlett on Mar 16, 2024

At Easter we think of how Jesus, by dying on the cross, freed us from our slavery to sin. But we can't think, 'I'm saved and that's all that matters to me.' God saves us for a purpose. We need to grasp God's purpose and engage with it.

Do any of you like watching movies? Do you like action movies? How about prison escapes? There are two kinds of prison-escape movies. There are movies like Escape from Alcatraz or The Great Escape. In these movies the hero’s goal is to escape. There is no bigger goal. Then there are movies ...read more

Scripture: 1 John 2:2, John 8:34, Romans 7:6, John 1:29, Revelation 19:9, 1 Corinthians 2:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Baptist