Dromore RP Church - Sermons

After the big event come the reactions. Our world loves to hear from everyone about what they think when there's an election, a great team victory, an incident that has an impact on society. This passage tells us about the reactions of King Saul, his family and his nation to the rising star, David. How do you respond to God's King?

David vs Goliath - a story well-loved the world over. But is it well-known, really?! The surprising truth of this passage is: you CAN'T face your giants; but there is a Saviour who has faced them for you.

The Spirit of God rushes on David, equipping him for his service as king; meanwhile the Spirit departs from Saul. Here we see a contrast between those filled with God's Spirit and those who, sadly, are without him.

We don't approach heads of state or VIPs any way we like; nor can we approach Jesus that way. There is a right way and a wrong way to come making demands of the King of kings.

What the people of Israel looked for in a king - a handsome warrior, like all the other nations - led them to disaster, with King Saul. Now, God chooses his King - and he does so by looking on the heart. It's the heart that matters most!

'Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.' So says Jesus, the uncompromising Messiah. Our world is often too polarised about too many issues, but Jesus makes clear here that when it comes to him and his kingdom, there can be no sitting on the fence.

As the crowds and religious leaders give their verdict on Jesus and his ministry, Matthew reminds us of the verdict of heaven. We are to see Jesus as the Father sees him: 1. Chosen, Perfect Servant 2. Spirit-Filled Preacher 3. Compassionate Shepherd 4. Hope of the Nations

Two ditches to be avoided when it comes to observing the Sabbath. Ditch Number 1 is legalism: adding on our own rules and restrictions, and expecting everyone else to comply with them, to the point of making this commandment a burden. Ditch Number 2 is liberalism: treating this one, holy day as though it were just like any other. Jesus helps us to avoid both. He is the Lord of the Sabbath!

This short passage includes some of the most important, and the most precious, words of Jesus in the whole Bible.

Some of the most serious, solemn words in all Scripture are spoken here, by the Lord Jesus Christ, to people who had the privilege of seeing and hearing him preach right in front of them - but who did not repent.

Jesus calls John the Baptist the greatest man who ever lived - but then says there are many more who are greater than him! What does this mean? And is it ok to be a Christian and have doubts?

The conclusion of Jesus' sermon is not exactly a gentle one. In no uncertain terms, he spells out the cost of serving him. However, he also makes clear that those following him on his mission will be rewarded in the end.

So many of the psalms describe periods of great hardship in the psalmist's life. Here, some of David's hardest experiences serve as a prophecy of what the Lord Jesus himself would endure for poor, needy sinners to received salvation.

"Nobody said it was easy; no one ever said it would be this hard." We are sometimes tempted to think that when the going gets tough. But it is not a complaint we can make if we are on mission for the Lord Jesus; he has told us exactly how hard it will be, even that we will face persecution for proclaiming him. Yet, he also gives us good reasons not to fear, and to endure.

Christ himself needed deliverance, from death and hell on the cross. Because he was the perfect, sinless but sin-bearing servant of God, he has been delivered! He now offers deliverance to all who call on him. Like Christ, once we have experienced deliverance, we ought to declare it.

1. The Personnel on Messiah's Mission 2. The Purpose of Messiah's Mission 3. The Pressing Urgency of Messiah's Mission 4. The Peace Offered - and Warning Given - of Messiah's Mission

Sometimes we get so caught up in the enjoyment and good things of life that we forget how fleeting and brief our existence is. Equally, times of sorrow and pain can feel never-ending - and again, we forget that our days are numbered. This psalm helps us to regain the right perspective, and to call to the God of eternity to give us hope beyond this fleeting life.

In Matthew 10 the Lord Jesus will speak at length to his twelve disciples/apostles about the short-term mission he is about to send them on. Before that we consider three requirements or anyone preparing to serve him on mission.

Matthew concludes this mini section of his gospel, in which he gives examples of Jesus' miraculous healings, with two final, particularly dramatic examples: Jesus raises a dead girl to life and gives sight to the blind. These miracles, even more than the others, would have had thoughtful Jewish onlookers recalling the prophecies concerning the Messiah. Has he opened your eyes, and given you new li...

Matthew continues laying out the evidence of Jesus' unique authority. As he does so, we are confronted with a question, one that Matthew himself was confronted with: will we follow this Messiah?

Psalm 38 takes us to the cross. It powerfully describes the experience of Christ, bearing our sin on the cross. It also warns us of the torment awaiting any who do not trust in Christ to bear their sin, and so have to bear it themselves in eternity.

Matthew continues laying out the evidence of Jesus' unique authority - over his followers, over nature and over evil.

Matthew lays out the evidence for Jesus' authority to teach and preach in the Sermon on the Mount (chs 5-7). He now lays out the evidence for Jesus' authority over sickness, evil and death. Jesus both speaks and acts as the Messiah promised in the Old Testament Scriptures.

The Christian life is a journey. No matter our age or stage, a healthy believer's attitude must always be to 'press on' - more of Christ to know, more scope for faith to grow!

'Fret not,' says the psalmist. Easy for him to say? Not necessarily. King David faced a world of threats and trials, as did his greater son, the Lord Jesus. They minister to us in this psalm, explaining how it is that we can avoid fretting and worrying at the state our world is in.