Sermons
Perfect humility
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- Written by Pastor Mathew Ker
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost – James 3:13-4:3
Grace, peace and mercy to you from God our Father and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Humility is an unusual thing to define and a much more difficult thing to grasp hold of as a way of going about your life. Peter writes after James that all of us should cloth ourselves with humility (1 Peter 5:5). And yet whenever we see or hear of people serving with humility, there is such a fine line before humility becomes pride in one's own ability to lead a humble life. If the person next to you said, "I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested," how would you react? Would we be tempted to tell them to put a 'lid on it' and stop big-noting themselves? Well this is what Paul said to the elders of the church in Ephesus (Acts 20:19).
Humility may be difficult to live out but this is the life that God's Word calls us to as we hear James describe in our New Testament reading, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom."
Heavenly Father, fill us with your Holy Spirit so we may serve your creation with your wisdom. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
The power of speech
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- Written by Pastor Mathew Ker
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost – James 3:1-12
Grace, peace and mercy to you from God our Father and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Words contain great power. They convey our ideas, our desires, our emotions. Words convey who we are and how we see ourselves in the world and in our relationships with one another, and with God.
This amazing day
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- Written by Pastor Mathew Ker
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost – Mark 7:31-37
Grace, peace and mercy to you from God our Father and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
It can be difficult to share our faith, the reason we put our hope in God's plan of salvation, with other people, especially those who are not Christian. In these days of political correctness we might worry about offending people. It could be that we are worried someone might ask a question we just can't answer. Maybe we just don't think the Christian faith that amazing anymore. How on earth can Christianity compete against so many other options, all of which may appear so much more entertaining, relevant or exciting?
The Law of Liberty
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- Written by Pastor Mathew Ker
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost – James 1:19-27
Grace, peace and mercy to you from God our Father and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Today’s reading from the New Testament is an invitation to look into the mirror of our lives with intent. This may sound okay but you see, for me, I celebrate my birthday in a few weeks time. Unfortunately I’ve reached an age when as I approach my birthday, I don’t look forward to it quite as much as I used to. The excitement of anticipating what gift I might be lucky enough to receive has been replaced by the anxious looking into the mirror and remembering what used to be. My vanity allows me to think that I am not turning so grey, nor have I put on so much weight and maybe I’m still reasonably fit. Looking into the mirror intently reveals a reality I’m not always so comfortable with. God’s Word invites us to look not into a mirror which reflects us back to ourselves, but instead God draws us into himself so we see him and his will for us.
Heavenly Father, sanctify us in the truth, your Word is truth. Amen.