Date archive for October, 2007
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Sermons – 2007 Week 43
The Power of the Master’s Touch
Luke 8:40-56
It has been aptly stated that the Lord Jesus ministered with a “word, a look and a touch.” In these verses in Mark and parallel verses in the synoptic Gospels, Matthew and Luke, the issue of Jesus’ “touch” comes to the fore.
The sermon looks at Jesus’ “touch” in ministering to a father, a woman and a child. To summarise, Jarius, a father, sought out Jesus as his child lay dying. On the way to see the child, Jesus was waylaid by the throng of followers and a woman with a haemorrhagic illness steals a touch of Jesus’ garment. Both Jarius and the woman had a problem for which they sought Jesus’ help. They were rewarded with fulfilment of their wishes. It was faith that was the key to the results.
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Sermons – 2007 Week 42
The Most Excellent Way
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
This chapter is often known as the “great love chapter”. It is also often misunderstood and mis-applied in sentimental sermons.
Paul used hyperbole to make a point. He used exaggeration in order to convey his message. This technique was used in these first three verses. In each verse, he concluded “but have not love”, it is all “nothing”. The message, then, is whatever you do, do it with love; not for one’s self satisfaction, not for one’s own glory, but always for the love of your fellow Christians, of your neighbours, of the unsaved and of God.
Question: If you have two conflicting loves, one of whom is not God, how do you prioritise?
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Sermons – 2007 Week 41
The Interdependence of the Body
1 Corinthians 12:20-31
The emphasis, like in the previous week’s sermon, was on the unity of the members in the church. The human anatomy analogy was used again. This time, the emphasis shifted to the importance of each and every part of the body. No group of members is more important than another. There cannot be an independent sub-body existing. There is no such thing as a free lance Christian. To be a Christian is to be a member in the body of Christ.
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Sermons – 2007 Week 40
Unity in Diversity
1Corinthians 12:12-19
The title of this sermon is an oxymoron of sorts because diversity can hardly lead to unity. Yet, in 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses this issue. This is an issue that is prevalent in any organisation that has diversity.
How then does the church view diversity?
The sermon begins with verse 12 in that there is first and foremost unity in Christ. Having set this premise, the reason is given. For it was by one Spirit that all are baptized into one body regardless of whether one was a Jew or Gentile, slave or free. In effect, all are welcomed into the body of Christ which is the church. The head of the church is Christ. Various verses project this truth including Romans 12:5, Ephesians 4:4, 12 and 16, Col 1:18.
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