Shirley Baptist Church Solihull, Sermons

Why is the Bible important? Does it matter regarding our relationship to God? How is your faith journey enriched and blessed by the Bible? Does the Bible feel overwhelming or a daily blessing? How does the Bible point to the life of Jesus for you? Let's start by looking at the big picture.

So, how should we welcome people who are different to us? Acts 11:1–18 gives us a great pointer. At first glance, this passage appears to be about the relationship between Jews and Gentiles in the early church. But what if the greatest miracle in this story is not that the Gentiles are welcomed into the church, but that Peter is transformed by God? Let's explore Peter's remarkable journey from cer...

Reconciliation - the restoration of friendly relations after a dispute, argument, or estrangement. Often very tricky - more so than forgiveness. Why? Well, because forgiveness only takes one person's commitment, but reconciliation requires all parties to participate. So what does the Bible say about reconciliation? Thankfully, we have some great guidance in the letter that Paul wrote to Philemon i...

1st Corinthians 13 is a very well known and much loved chapter in the Bible. But what does it tell us about how to disagree well, especially in a Christian context? Well, love is the key. We often feel we know what is right and true, but sometimes another Christian, maybe a good friend, thinks differently. Maybe even diametrically opposed. In such circumstances, it is vital that the conversation i...

When was the last time (or first time) you sat around a campfire with friends and strangers and chatted, laughed and sang? Were marshmallows involved? The image of people around a campfire is such a good image of church life and community. How we talk, how we relate, what we share, and the depth of fellowship created are so important. In the book of Romans, Paul challenges the church in Rome to li...

Does disagreement between friends always have to end in tears, or can it have a positive outcome? How should we disagree within a Christian context? Let's check out what the bible has to say by looking at a couple of occasions when fellow believers in the early church fell out. We will see how, on one occasion, they managed to work through their differences and arrived at an outcome that satisfied...

What did you choose to wear today? Was it casual or smart? Was it for home, social or work? How long did it take you to choose what to wear? Whatever your fashion choices, the Bible speaks a lot about what to really clothe yourself with. Galatians 3:27 says, ‘clothe yourselves with Christ’. What a strange and weird phrase it is to clothe yourselves with Christ. What does that mean to you?

In the board game ‘Game of Life’, everyone starts off the same, with the goal being to gain the most money. That’s the prize. The accumulation of wealth and status and stuff, maximum materialism over everything and everyone. In the ‘real’ game of life, everyone also starts off the same, but the ultimate goal is not to gain money, but Christ. Discovering Jesus is so valuable that nothing compares t...

By looking at four Biblical characters, we explore our seasons of life and the unique opportunities and invitations they hold.

This is the final talk in our three-part mini series on giving. It is based on Luke 21:1-4, which contrasts the attitudes of giving between rich people and a poor woman who is a widow. The circumstances are vastly different, but Jesus notes the heart of devotion as the important and central aspect of giving. What, or rather, who, are you devoted to? Be encouraged in your devotion to God because th...

2nd Corinthians 9 says that God loves a cheerful giver. What does it mean to give cheerfully and generously, regardless of our situation? How can this inspire and transform us?

Giving in the life of the church. This is not an easy topic. Money, sex and power are often the things that cause most contention in church life, so approaching the subject of giving can be sensitive. We all experience the challenge of finances, but the Bible is clear about our shared responsibility of giving and how this is an act of worship and devotion.

Palm Sunday. A day when we celebrate Jesus as King as he rode into Jerusalem. It’s a great opportunity to offer praise and worship, thanking God for His goodness, but it’s also a great challenge. What actually is worship? And what sort of worship does God really desire from us? Jesus said true worship is in the Spirit and in truth, so what does this look like for each of us?

Baptism in water is something many of us in church have experienced. In a Baptist Church, this is through believers' baptism, while in other denominations, infant baptism is practised. But what about baptism in the Holy Spirit? What does that mean? What does it look like to be a person filled with the Spirit?

It's been said that church would be wonderful if it weren't for all the people. Paul was grappling with this as he wrote his letter to a young church in Corinth. A church split by different personalities and perspectives. He describes the church as a body with multiple parts - each one different but all needing each other. Then he breaks off with an interlude on the beauty of love shared among God...

What causes us to rejoice? In other words, what makes us joyful? Why do some people seem full of joy, even when things aren't going great? In 1 Peter, we read that even in hardship, the Holy Spirit can bring joy by enabling a focus on the salvation that Jesus brings. So, not a joy instead of hardship, but one within hardship, made possible by the Holy Spirit. Surely that is good news!

Romans 8:14-17 explains how the Spirit can give us an identity, enabling us to know God in a deep and personal way. How is your identity marked? By your job, your background, your culture, your education or something else? For Christians, we are identified as people who can call God our Father. We live in the love of Jesus, and the Spirit speaks truth that we are forever in God’s family. What a tr...

How does the Holy Spirit make us new? Well, when the Spirit enters our lives, the Bible describes this as us becoming a new creation. In John’s gospel, we read the story of Nicodemus. who knew a great deal about God, but Jesus invited him to something much more life changing – a relationship with God. This happens by receiving the Spirit, being born again, and accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour....

Both Jesus and Ezekiel tell us that the Holy Spirit has always been a key part of God’s amazing plan. But who is the Holy Spirit, what is he like, and why is he essential to the life of every Christian? Simply put, he is key to God’s strategy to transform our lives.

Our world is a turbulent place. At both the big picture level - wars, politics, natural disasters - and also at a more personal level - relationships, work, health , finances. Amongst all this, what does it mean to find hope in knowing the Prince of Peace, Jesus?

Have you ever felt rejected, marginalised or quietly judged by your own friends, family and neighbours? Imagine Jesus returning to speak in his hometown synagogue and being turned on by his own people. One minute, they were marvelling at this 'local boy made good'; the next, they sought to throw him to his death from a local cliff. Thankfully, they underestimated the power of a mighty God who step...

The prophetic words of Isaiah 9:6 are clear - we have a ‘Wonderful Counsellor’, one who offers guidance and wisdom for all that is beyond our expectations and human understanding. So let us trust in Jesus and ask for His counsel.

Christmas is over for another year. But Jesus, that small wonder we celebrate, has not gone away. Rather, He is our big hope. The world's big hope. As it says in Matthew 12 - 'His name will be the hope of all the world'. And what can we have hope in? Well, let's start with an Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6).

Have you ever had the experience of waiting for an important visitor to arrive? Maybe you've been in the crowd when a royal procession is due to pass by, or perhaps you've been part of the reception party for a celebrity visit. The anticipation builds as the moment approaches. But suppose that royal visitor or celebrity wants to get to know you, not just for a selfie or an autograph but for a genu...

The most life-changing moment showed up in the most unexpected way - a baby born in Bethlehem. His arrival brought the good news our world was missing, and it’s still the good news we depend on today. Want to explore what that means for you?