Category: Sermons

The shepherds were the first to hear of Jesus’ birth and they believes God’s message through the angels. They went to see for themselves and their simple faith was rewarded as they became the first to see the Saviour. May God help us to go and see for ourselves what God has done in giving us his Son. May we respond like the angels and shepherds, with wonder and praise, giving glory to God.

Without Jesus, there is no true peace with God. There is no security or hope beyond the grave. But if we trust he died for us and give him his rightful place as the King over our lives, if we bow before him, he promises us peace and security forever. This is our Christmas hope. This is the true significance of the one born in insignificant Bethlehem.

Part of being a disciple of Jesus is like a tug-of-war experience. We need to pray for help to resist wrong desires. We need to understand that lust never delivers what it promises. And we need to believe that true and lasting joy and satisfaction only come through living within our Maker’s boundaries.

Let us take a moment to pause and think: is there someone we need to put things right with? Do we have to stay stuck in our anger? We need to repent of whatever is feeding your anger and pray to God for a godly attitude towards the person who has wronged you.

‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.’ (  (Ephesians 4:32)

Before salvation, God’s law is something external and burdensome. After salvation, we understand more of its depth and we have a God-given desire to keep it, fuelled by our love for Jesus and motivated to please him.

Will you go into the coming days determined to love those around you and to help them? Even if you are in a time of stress and trouble. You are still watched at such times as to how you will react. If you can maintain a love for others at such times, your light will be powerful and impactful. May the Lord help us all to shine for him as we do good to others.

Jesus issue the most astonishing invitation; ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’   (Matthew 11:28)

Stop carrying the heavy load of sin and guilt and meaninglessness and rebellion. Instead, come to Jesus in prayer. Ask for forgiveness. Learn from him. And you will know rest.

Scripture makes it plain that there will be a day when we are all brought to account for how we have lived. We cannot live any way we please and ignore God with impunity. Judgement will come and we need to be ready for it, by becoming followers of Jesus.

However challenging it can be to witness our faith to believers, God uses the witness of his people in a powerful and often far-reaching way.