Sindlesham Baptist Church Sermons

Salt and Light Matthew 5:13-16 (6.5.12.) 1. Pour on the Salt: Matthew 5:13

2012-05-06T10:00:00Z

Jesus’ only plan for the continuation of His work on earth is THE CHURCH. There’s no back up plan,
because He believes we will not Fail. He said to His followers ‘You are the salt of the earth’. What does that mean for us today?

1. YOU ARE the salt of the earth: Jesus makes it clear if you belong to Him then you are to be the salt the people in the world need. because you belong to Him.

2. But if the salt loses its saltiness: The salt around the Dead Sea contained minerals as well
as salts not pure sodium chloride therefore on occasions the salt could be dissolved and left something which looked the same but had no taste. We are all like grains of salt we cannot stay safe inside the church just as the grains of salt are bought to be poured out of the salt cellar and used so The Lord wants us to pour out of the church His flavour into the lives of the people around us.

3. It is No longer good for anything: most things can be recycled but a Christian that has lost the flavour of Christ is good for nothing. Salt was used to confirm treaties we have become part of the New covenant not through eating salt but through Jesus blood.” What difference does your life make to the people around you?”

Series on Colosians 5 - 4:2-18...

2012-04-22T10:00:00Z

Are we putting on a show living FOR Jesus or are we really living IN Jesus? If we do the latter, the first will flow out from us automatically. Paul in this last chapter speaks of 3 areas we need to make sure we are not putting on a show.

1. Prayer (2-4). Ronseal “It does what it says on the tin” Nike “Just do it” God delights in us bringing the desires of our hearts to Him He commands it.

2. Witness (5-6) “walk in wisdom to outsiders” creativity, tact, thoughtfulness do we speak of Jesus seasoned with salt? Its more about how we say things than content.

3. Encourage (7-18) 2/3 of this section on encouragement Paul holds up the value of living and
working in community and how we need to treat other Christians friendship, faithfulness encouragement…..”Grace be with You” If we do this then this part of Berkshire will be radically transformed.

Road to Emmaus Luke 24:13...

2012-04-15T10:00:00Z

Often, we miss the value of the people around us and sometimes Christ’s presence just like Cleopas
and his brother experienced on that journey. The Resurrection has happenned - do we recognise The Risen Jesus and if so do we allow this fact to do 3 things to us?

1. The Resurrection Transforms us: They had erected a wall of hopelessness around them, defeated, dejected and scared. The Risen Jesus Himself came to them where they were and transformed them.

2. The Resurrection Convicted them: After Jesus reminded them of the truths revealed in the O.T. they were given an assurance of the reality of the new life Jesus offered through His death and resurrection “our hearts burned within us.”

3. The Resurrection made them witnesses: They returned to Jerusalem confident, excited and full of
joy to tell everyone the Good news.

Palm Sunday Luke 19:28-47...

2012-04-01T10:00:00Z

Gene Smith wrote a biography of the life of US President Woodrow Wilson. Following WW1, he was hailed as an icon of hope but only 2 years later he was a defeated, broken man. Jesus also rose to great acclaim and popularity, which reached its peak on that 1st Palm Sunday. But then all the cheering stopped. Why?

1) They did not recognise His purpose. Too often the desire is for God to change our circumstances, instead of changing us in those circumstances. We lose sight of Him and just go through the motions of praise and service. Jesus came to deliver them not from Roman rule but from The power of death and sin. In wanting their own image of peace the way they wanted it, they missed The Prince of Peace Jn.16:33.

2) They Refused to Accept His Terms. Luke 14 - Jesus spoke of the cross and the way of His followers. Jesus offered them Peace in conflict. A king riding a donkey signified that Peace prevailed. Jesus didn’t do what they wanted He paid tribute to Caesar and spoke of servant hood. When things go our way its easy to cheer God but what about when they don’t? Then there are people who want salvation on their terms when they are ready but Jesus says He is the only way to The Father. There is no other name under Heaven by which we must be saved. Now is the day of Salvation. Prov.14:12..

3) They did not realise refusal brought Judgement. vv.42-44… Jesus prophesied of the coming destruction of Jerualem in 70AD by Titus, when Josephus recorded how over 1 million Jews perished in the revolt, and the city and Temple destroyed.

We also should accept Christ and serve Him in the way He wants according To His Terms and conditions.

Series on Colossians 4. 3:17-4:1 Family & Work

2012-03-11T11:00:00Z

You can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family, unlike M&S you can’t take them back for a refund or an exchange. Two of the hardest areas of our lives where it is difficult to live consistently as a Christian are in the family and at work. Paul spells out clearly here in the light of 3:17 that God expects us to be a Christian in these areas of our lives no matter how difficult it is, and we have no excuse for not acting as a Christian here.

1. Family vv18-21… Paul begins with the call for wives to submit to their husbands but notice this is addressed to wives not to husbands or anyone else and just as its illegal to open anyone else’s post so husbands cannot demand submission. Paul says that wives do this as part of their obedience to the Lord, so that the family can run according to God’s rules. He then commands husbands to love (agape) their wives in the supernatural power of the Lord to sacrifice their desires and live to protect and sacrifice, for their wife, and be tuned into her needs. Children are called to obey their parents and parents to take care in bringing up their children by not exasperating or discouraging them. The home is to be bound together by Love which weaves its way into every relationship in that family.

2. Work vv22-4:1… Paul says in v.22-23 we are working not for people and their approval or rewards but for God; work is an integral part of our worship and service and this attitude must be clearly demonstrated in our dedication and quality of work “we live to serve an audience of one” in this we are to cultivate a spirit of Thankfulness to God and we should seek to be known at work by our colleagues and bosses as the optimistic, humble, thankful person.