Christ the King Newton Sermons

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” — Romans 1:16-17 Thirst for Justice (Habakkuk 2:1-20) Rev. Bruce Cooke Habakkuk 2:1-20

“Mercy is the highest art and the shield of those who practice it. It is the friend of God, standing always next to him and freely blessing whatever he wishes. It must not be despised by us. For in its purity it grants great liberty to those who respond to it in kind. It must be shown to those who have quarreled with us, as well as to those who have sinned against us, so great is its power. It bre...

“Give me the grace to be impatient for the time when I shall see You face to face and need no stimulus than that to adore You.” — Flannery O’Connor, A Prayer Journal Seeking His Face (James 1:19-27) Rev. Nathan Barczi James 1:19-27

Nicodemus: “Rabbi, we all know you’re a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren’t in on it.” Jesus: You’re absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it’s not possible to see what I’m pointing to—to God’s kingdom.” Nicodemus: “How can anyone be born who has already been born and grown up? You...

“Put away doubting and do not hesitate to ask of the Lord. Do not say to yourself: ‘How can I ask of the Lord and receive from him, seeing that I have sinned so much against him?’ Do not reason with yourself like this, but turn to the Lord with all your heart and ask of him without doubting, and you will know the multitude of his tender mercies, that he will never leave you but fulfi ll the reques...

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”   —Author unknown, Lam.3:21-24 Two Ways to Interact with Jesus (Luke 10:38-42) Rev. Bradley Barnes Luke 10:38-42

God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform; he plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines, of never-failing skill; he fashions up his bright designs, and works his sovereign will. Ye fearful saints fresh courage take, the clouds that you much dread, are big with mercy and will break in blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble s...

“Thy Mercy is more than a match for my heart, which wonders to feel its own hardness depart; dissolved by thy goodness, I fall to the ground, and weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found.” — John Stocker, Thy Mercy My God Jesus Turns the Test (Luke 10:25-37) Rev. Bradley Barnes Luke 10:25-37

The Mission of God (Luke 10:17-24) Rev. Nathan Barczi “Christians go into the world as witnesses of the kingdom (Acts 1:6-8). To spread the kingdom of God is more than simply winning people to Christ. It is also working for the healing of persons, families, relationships, and nations; it is doing deeds of mercy and seeking justice. It is reordering lives and relationships and institutions and comm...

“He left His Father’s throne above, so free, so infinite his grace! Emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race. ‘‘Tis mercy all, immense and free, For Oh my God, it found out me!” — Charles Wesley, d.1788 On Mission (Luke 10:1-16) Rev. Bradley Barnes Luke 10:1-16

The cross was not an accident. It was planned in eternity, and it was for this, Jesus said, that he had come. He had come to die. And in his moment of death the holiness of God and our sin collided. This is what called forth his cry of dereliction. ... The truth is that Christ’s death is simply incomprehensible if we do not start with the demands of God’s holiness, which cannot tolerate sin’s viol...

“Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up;they are together lighter than a breath.” —Psalm 62:8 The Disciples (Luke 9:46-50) Rev. Bradley Barnes Luke 9:46-50 

“Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.” -Psalm 22:30-31 Listening to Jesus (Luke 9:37-45) Rev. Nathan Barczi Luke 9:37–45

“Do you believe your faith? Do you believe this I am telling you? Do you believe a day is coming, really coming, when you will stand before the throne of God, and the angels will whisper together and say, ‘How like Christ he is?’ That is not easy to believe. And yet not to believe is blasphemy. For that, not less than that, is what Christ promises.” — Robert Rainy, Principal, New College, Edinburg...

“Talk to me about the truth of religion and I’ll gladly listen. Talk to me about the duty of religion and I’ll listen submissively. But don’t come talking to me about the consolations of religion or I shall suspect that you don’t understand.” — C.S. Lewis “Th e whole idea that there is a privileged era for being a Christian is a strange one.” — Rowan Williams Who Is This? (Luke 9:18-27) Rev. Natha...

“We cannot present a reason for Christ to finally close off his heart to his own sheep. No such reason exists. Every human friend has a limit. If we offend enough, if a relationship gets damaged enough, if we betray enough times, we are cast out. The walls go up. With Christ, our sins and weaknesses are the very resumé items that qualify us to approach him. Nothing but coming to him is required—fi...

“‘Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.’” — Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30, The Message The How,...

“Those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” — Jesus, Luke 5 All Eyes on Jesus (Luke 8:40-56) Rev. Bradley Barnes Luke 8:40-56

“On the whole, I do not find Christians, outside of the catacombs, sufficiently sensible of conditions. Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies’ straw hats a...

“Whate’er my God ordains is right, Holy his will abideth. I will be still whate’er He does, and follow where he guideth. He is my God, though dark my road. He holds me that I shall not fall, wherefore to him I leave it all.” — Samuel Rodigast (d.1708) Discipleship 101 (Luke 8:22-25) Rev. Bradley Barnes Luke 8:22-25

“The Scripture stories do not, like Homer’s, court our favor, they do not flatter us that they may please us and enchant us — they seek to subject us, and if we refuse to be subjected we are rebels.” — Erich Auerbach “In the self-assured world of modernity people seek to make sense of the Scriptures, instead of hoping, with the aid of the Scriptures, to make some sense of themselves.” — Nicholas L...

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” — Hebrews 3:15 The Sower Is a Giver (Luke 8:4-15) Rev. Bradley Barnes Luke 8:4-15

“…God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. …while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son…” — Romans 5:8, 10 Entering Through Christ (Luke 7:36-8:3) Rev. Nathan Barczi Luke 7:36-8:3

“Following, then, the holy Fathers, we all unanimously teach that our Lord Jesus Christ is to us One and the same Son, the Self-same Perfect in Godhead, the Self-same Perfect in Manhood; truly God and truly Man… One and the Same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten; acknowledged in Two Natures unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the difference of the Natures being in no way removed b...

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” — The Letter to the Hebrews Components of Exemplary Faith (Luke 7:1-10) Rev. Bradley Barnes Luke 7:1-10