But Servants

We long for a perfect world. And yet everywhere around us, it is clear that that our world is not perfect. We live in a fallen world – where our dreams are often not realized, where pain and suffering is a reality, and where injustice is more common than integrity. And that is especially clear as we consider the reality of death, which robs us of our loved ones, destroys our dreams, and devastates...

Introduction: Hypocritical Christians Context 1. The Shape of Godliness (2:1-10) a. Older Men (2) b. Older Women (3) c. Younger Women (4-5) d. Younger men (6) e. Christian Leaders (7-8) f. Slaves (9-10) 2. The Motivation for Godliness a. The appearing of grace Grace that saves Grace that trains b. The appearing of glory c. Sound teaching 3. The Goal of Godliness a. Adorning the Gospel b. Hypocrite...

Who goes to heaven? What will it be like? Will I get there? Or not? In Numbers 26-30, Israel stands poised at the edge of the promised land, ready to attempt their second entry. We too are on the edge of the promised Land of heaven. Will we be like the first generation of Israelites who missed out, or the second generation who successfully entered? 1. Introduction: Preparing again! Context 2. Anot...

Is there such thing as an unforgivable sin? Is there a sin that God cannot, or will not forgive? A sin that will prevent me from getting to heaven? Will I do it? Have I done it? How will I know if I have? And if I have, is there no return? To answer those questions, we turn to Numbers 15. Introduction: The Unforgivable Sin Context & Structure 1. Pleasing Offerings (1-21) a. A word of comfort (...

In our world it is always tempting to live for the moment. To seek short term pleasure. To live for honour and prestige and success. And to use the world’s twisted means to get them. Because in the short term – those things promise joy and satisfaction and society’s praise. But Esther 5-7 warn us - there has already been a dramatic reversal in world history. So that how we live now, will determine...

Are you prepared for persecution? Throughout history, God’s people have found themselves on the end of brutal persecution by the Kingdoms of this world. What will help us to stand firm that day comes? What will help us to endure? To not give up our faith in Christ, when everything else is against us? When all seems hopeless, Daniel 7 shows us we need a bigger perspective. Introduction: Surviving P...

I wonder what you think of the concept of an angry, jealous God. For many people in our world - the idea of a jealous, avenging, angry God is a repulsive concept. And so in many churches the theme each Sunday is God’s love, and blessing, and forgiveness. But words like anger, wrath and vengeance are banned. And books like Nahum – that insist on the jealous, avenging, wrath of God are left aside. B...

The wallet is a window to the soul. What you do with your money reveals what you love with your heart. What you treasure will reveal what you love, for you will give to what you love. If we have really treasured God's kingdom we will give to it. If we have really appreciated God’s generosity to us, we’ll be generous to others. God’s desire is that we would willingly, joyfully and wholeheartedly se...

Every book you’ll ever read on leadership, whether Christian or secular, will emphasise that a crucial part of leadership is to know where you are headed. If you know what the vision is – and you believe in it – then you’ll throw yourself into something – in a way that you never will if you don’t understand the point of what you’re doing. When it comes to a vision – it seems that in general – the...

What we pray for reflects a lot about what we value. Often, in the time when we’re young in our Christian faith, our prayers mostly revolve around our immediate needs. But there is something profound about listening to the prayers of a mature Christian. What do your prayers say about you? Do you pray, “Your Kingdom come”? Introduction: What do you pray for? Context 1. Building God A House? (1-6) 2...

There is no doubt that praising with a joyful and thankful heart ought to lie very close to heart of the Christian experience. Christians serve a God who is worthy to be praised. Christians serve a God to whom they owe a debt of thanks. Christians serve a God who has done great things for them. And yet, we struggle in the Christian to put the experience of praise in its rightful place. Why do we p...

What cause is great enough to give your life to it? What cause is great enough that you would look to it and it alone as the cause for your joy and celebration? Life in this world is tragically short. Whether we die in tragic circumstances at a young age, or whether we live to a “good old age”. Life is too short to be wasted on irrelevancies. We want our life to count. We want to live for somethin...

One of the challenges of living as a Christian is that we must live by faith not sight. We’re told our sins are forgiven because of Jesus’ death on the cross. But forgiveness is not something that you can see. We’re told that Christ has risen from the dead and ascended to the throne of heaven. But we can’t see his heavenly rule right now. We’re told that Christ will return one day, as the living a...

It’s not how you begin; it’s how you end that counts. In Genesis 46-47, we learn that wherever God may take us, and whatever situation he may put us, God is the faithful God, who always keeps his promises to the very end. That means that we too can live with a firm trust in God’s promises all the way to the end. Will you go on trusting in our faithful God? Introduction: It’s not how you begin… it’...

This sermon was preached at St Mary's Cathedral KL on 25th March 2018. Check out our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ButServants Check out our YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCcGLBzrqjVIVOus62ejMbg/

Justice is something that we all care about. We want a just society, that is fair for all. But true justice is often very difficult to find. We are used to living with injustice, so much so that we may not even know what constitutes real justice. We may ask, “Is God committed to justice? Will he do anything about the injustice of this world?" Deuteronomy 16-21 tells us that God is committed to bri...

If you went out on the streets and asked people what God might demand of his people, I wonder what answers you might receive? Jesus explains using Deuteronomy, what God demands is our love: total, undivided allegiance expressed in willing, wholehearted obedience. And so these chapters are absolutely foundational to understanding what it means to be the people of God, who truly love him. Introducti...

Few of us would have predicted that this year would have been as challenging as it has been. As Christmas approaches, hope and joy may not be our dominant emotions. We may instead feel anxious, tired, insecure, or even hopeless. So, where can we find real hope and joy this Christmas? In Luke 1, we see Mary's heartfelt joyous response to the angel’s announcement of Christ’s birth. It's a song that...

James wants us to have an undivided faith. A single-minded faith, where what is on the inside matches what is on the outside. In James 1:1-12, he wants to us to be undivided in trials, to have a distinctively different perspective on suffering, that imitates our Lord Jesus. Introduction: What difference does Jesus make? 1.  Context (1) a. Who is James? b. Why does he write? 2. Joy in sufferin...

There’s something wonderful about coming to a new year. Whether it has been a good year or a bad year, there is the chance to look back and reflect, but there is also the chance to look forward in hope: · The promise of a fresh start · The hope of moving forward. · To succeed where we’ve failed As we turn to the book of Deuteronomy, that is very much the experience of the people of Israel. The boo...

Introduction: Putting God first… Context 1. Putting God second (1:1-11) a. The temple lies in ruins b. The people stand under judgment 2. Putting God First (1:12-15) a. The people return b. God returns 3. God’s Glorious Future (2:1-23) a. God’s Temple (2:1-9) b. God’s Blessing (2:10-19) c. God’s King (2:20-23) 4. God’s glorious future arrives a. Now Matthew 1:1, 12 John 1:14, 2:18-22 Luke 24:50-53...

How will you fare on judgement day? If Jesus returned today - would he welcome you to heaven? Or condemn you to hell? The answer as we will see from Zephaniah is... it all depends... Introduction: Are you sure? Context 1. A Possibility of Escape (2:1-3) 2. Judgement on the Nations (2:4-15) a. Desolation for God’s Enemies     i. Philistines (4-7)    ii. Moabites &...

In this episode, we continue our series in the Five Solas of the Protestant Reformation. Today we consider what it means that "Scripture Alone" is our ultimate authority in the Christian life, above reason, experience and tradition. Check out our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ButServants Check out our YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCcGLBzrqjVIVOus62ejMbg/

Our world is obsessed with thinking about the end of the world. Christian thinking on the topic has often focussed on the meaning of the millennium (or 1000 years) in Revelation 20. How are we meant to understand the millennium? And more importantly, how can we make sure we're ready for judgement day? Check out our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ButServants Check out our YouTube Channe...

What does a spiritual church look like? Experiencing God's presence in worship? Miracles and healings? Spiritual Gifts? In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul deals with the issue of what true spirituality looks like. Introduction: What is a spiritual church? 1. The truly spiritual person knows Christ as Lord (12:1-3) 2. The truly spiritual person uses their gifts to serve (12:4-26) 3. The truly spiritual p...