Bethesda Shalom

The 19th Century has been rightly identified as the cults' spawning ground. Many of the major cults with us today were born at the later end of the 19th century, which saw a literal explosion of false prophets and teachers carried through to the last century. Joseph Smith, Charles T. Russell, and Ellen G. White are just a handful of such false teachers and prophets to rise out of the 19th Century...

Matthew 21:28-32 In commenting upon James 1:22-25, Albert Barnes noted the following which we must take to heart: "It is implied here, that by merely hearing the word but not doing it, they would deceive their own souls. The nature of this deception was this, that they would imagine that that was all which was required, whereas the main thing was that they should be obedient. If a man supposes tha...

Dr. David Donovan brings an update on the precious work of New Foundations, a medical mission to the Niger Delta. Following the update, David brings a word from Scripture to the hearts of God's people.

Proverbs 14:14 Adam Clarke in his famous commentary, asks the question: "Who is the backslider?", he then answers it in three points: 1. The man who once walked in the ways of religion, but has withdrawn from them. 2. The man who once fought manfully against the world, the devil, and the flesh; but has retreated from the battle, or joined the enemy. 3. The man who once belonged to the congregation...

Mark 15:21-47 If I was to say to you the words, "Carmen Christi", there's probably very few of you if any, who would understand what I'm on about.   "Carmen Christi" is Latin, which being interpreted means "Hymn to Christ".   Now while you most likely are unfamiliar with the language, you ought be very familiar with the content. You may better know this hymn as Philippians 2:5-11. It is believed b...

Matthew 27:24-26   First before the Jewish courts and then before the Roman courts — they lied point blank and accused Him to His face. Twice accused falsely?   Nay thrice!! Before Herod also, "...the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him" (Lk.23:10). What would you have done? What would have I? Surely we would have been quick and ready to plead our case and prove our innocenc...

Matthew 26:36-46 It is my conviction, that it is in Gethsemane more than in any other place, that light is cast upon the full humanity of God our Saviour, Jesus Christ. In Bethlehem we see His birth, in Gethsemane we see His travail of His soul; in the manger we hear the cries of the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes but in the garden we hear the groans of the anguish of agonising prayer.   Consid...

John 6:60-69 When our Lord walked the earth, some 2000 years ago, without apology, He   laid down the cost to any potential would-be disciple!!   You see, it's one thing to have intent and it's another thing to follow through on that intent with an well-informed decision.   Both of these together will carry a man a long way, but these alone will never keep the disciple in the day of trouble.   The...

Hebrews 12:1-2   I've watched a number of races in my time from 100m to 10,000m. I've seen runners fall unexpectedly and get back up to win gold!   I've seen runners have their dreams shattered by an injury mid-way through the race — I've seen them get back up and hobble the final lap to cross the finish line.   For sure, I've seen disappointments and setbacks on the track, but there's one thing t...

2 Timothy 2:3-4 No amount of preparation or training can fully prepare a soldier for war.   He'll see and experience things on that battlefield that no college classroom or training expedition can ever replicate!   In the classroom, he'll learn about tactical strategies and the theory of war; on the training expeditions, he'll be given the necessary tools and skills to equip him for combat. But wh...

1 Samuel 16:1-7 Of all the many things that God can do that we humans cannot, the one that I have been pondering this week in preparing for this sermon is the omniscience of God!   Man is limited in his knowledge, he has present knowledge and past knowledge based on what he can and has observed and experienced around Him.   Much of this knowledge I dare say, he's gleaned from other men.   God on t...

Hebrews 5:12 The clear command and expectation for us as believers, is that having been saved, we ought to grow up unto a place of Christian maturity!  What does Christian maturity look like?  In part, it looks like maturity in our understanding of doctrine!  This is no small matter.  Paul rebuked the Hebrew believers because he had truths to impart to them concerning the person of Christ that the...

1 Peter 5:7 In Peter's first epistle, he writes; "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you".  One might ask the question, how do I throw my care upon the Lord?  Of course, the language here is metaphorical!  Peter doesn't mean that we are to physically do this, that would be an impossibility.  His language is figurative.  We are to cast our care/burdens upon Him by committing them int...

Psalm 94:17-18 Hear the Word of God to your heart and take comfort O ye saints of His!   Maybe you've never been to rock bottom avenue, but when you get there and every crutch of support has been taken away such that you're left with only one option, to cast yourself upon the mercy of God and to make Him your support; then, you'll be able to say as the Psalmist said; "Unless the LORD had been my h...

John 12:20-26 Many will gladly come to receive of the benefits of Christ's redeeming sacrifice so long as it doesn't require any sacrifice on their part. They'll gladly own Him as their Saviour but deny Him the right to be Lord.   As I understand the language of the New Testament, the full name of our Saviour is not Jesus Christ — there's a inseparable title that's missing!   Do you know what it i...

1 Corinthians 13 Dr. David Donovan brings an update on the precious work of New Foundations, a medical mission to the Niger Delta. Following the update, David brings a word from Scripture to the hearts of God's people.

Of all the chapters in the NT, Romans 6-8a, are amongst the most misunderstood. Yet, when properly understood, these same three chapters become some of the most liberating in all the Word of God! For so many professing Christians, Romans chapter 7 offers a supporting crutch for them to continue living in sin — after all, didn't Paul struggle in the battle against sin, failing miserably every time?...

The doctrine of justification by faith (the imputed righteousness of Christ) is the cardinal pillar upon which Christianity stands. Take this pillar away, and the whole faith comes crashing down in ruin. Positionally, we stand righteousness before a holy God, not on the basis of our works (plural), but because of HIS work (singular), and our faith in that finished work, and in His son the Lord Jes...

Isaiah 31:1 If I was to ask you this morning to tell me where the strength of the Church lies at this critical juncture in history, I wonder what you'd say?   Ah, I know what you'd like to say, you'd like to say the strength of the Church lies in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!   However, if the Evangelical Church in Britain was to answer this question by her actions alone, I fear that it wou...

Psalm 78:23-32 I've had the joy over the years of tasting a number of delicious world cuisines.   Greek and Italian, Chinese and Cantonese, Indian and Himalayan, Jamaican and of course English — the flavours and the tastes are enough to make your mouth water!   Yet of all the dishes I've ever had the privilege of eating, there's one dish that to date I've yet to try, and that's angels' food.   You...

Luke 19:11-27 We have great need to remember that we no longer belong in this world, we are citizens of another Kingdom.   We live in an age and a generation where living is all about living for me!   My ambitions, my dreams, my desires!   We're so taken up with self and self's things.   Yet, when we get our hearts right, we'll get our priorities right; and when we get our priorities right, the fr...

1 Kings 13:1-10 As one peruses the pages of the New Testament, there stands on record a clear and visible warning to believers against the dangers of deception.   When asked by His disciples, "...what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world" (Mt. 24:3); before ever our Lord made mention of wars and rumours of wars, before ever He spoke of famines, pestilences and earthquakes i...

Sermon 4 of 4  Preached @ 10th Anniversary of Bethesda Shalom 14th April 2024

Sermon 3 of 4  Preached @ 10th Anniversary of Bethesda Shalom 14th April 2024

Sermon 2 of 4 Preached @ 10th Anniversary of Bethesda Shalom 13th April 2024