Sermons - St. Luke's, Ramsgate

Zeal (Romans 12:3-13)

15/9/2019

How does the idea of zealous Christians make you feel? Zeal carried out in the wrong way can be quite destructive, but without zeal the church becomes lifeless and ineffective.

Jesus calls us to a zealous response to the gospel. We are to be living sacrifices. Yet, he also calls us to renewed minds. We need passion and enthusiasm, but channelled by a mind formed through the gospel.

Sunday 10:30 am

Sunday 6:30pm

Responding to the Good News (Romans 12:-12)

8/9/2019

This week many children have returned to school and colleges. Hopefully, they are ready to learn as step by step they grow in their abilities and talents and are equipped to be successful members of society.
As Christians, there is a sense that we never grow up. We are always wanting to develop our thinking, understanding and attitudes in the light of the good news of Jesus Christ. The aim is that we to live lives that please God.

Sunday, 10:30am

Sunday, 6:30pm - Going Deeper

Ask! (Luke 11:5-13)

1/9/2019

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus starts by teaching them what to pray for (the Lord's prayer), then he encourages them to pray by reflecting on how we relate to God.

Sunday, 10:30am

What makes you happy? (Luke 10:17-24)

4/8/2019

What makes you happy? Adverts often tell us that their product will make us happy, but the truth is material things or one-off experiences never lead to a settled happiness.

Christianity, however, calls us to a real joy despite the problems and struggles of life. What can we learn from this teaching of Jesus about reasons to be happy?

Sunday, 10:30am

Sharing God's Kingdom (Luke 10:1-16)

1/8/2019

As Christians, like the 72 in this passage we are called to share God's Kingdom with others.

However, when we do so we will be welcomed by some and rejected by others. How do we respond to that? This is the issue Jesus tackles in this team talk to the 72 he is sending out.

Sunday, 10:30am

Elisha and the Desperate Siege (2 Kings 6:24-7:20)

21/7/2019

How do you interpret times of desperate suffering? How do you understand God's salvation?

In this story as Shechem is experience all the suffering of a terrible siege, the king blames Elisha and by implication God. Yet, God is the one who provides a deeply unexpected salvation.

Sunday, 10:30am

Elisha and the angelic army (2 Kings 6:8-23)

14/7/2019

The Bible and Old Testament are full of comedy and in this story, the King of Aram, the one who in theory is the most powerful political force around is the butt of the humour.

Yet, this is more than a story that laughs at kings. It is a story that shows us the deeper reality of where power really lies...

Sunday, 10:30am

Gratitude for the Gospel (Colossians 1:1-8)

7/7/2019

Do you have an attitude for the gospel or are you looking for more? The Christians in Colossae have welcomed the good news about Jesus and have been transformed through it, but they are in danger of looking for more.

Paul, however encourages them to see that the gospel gives them all they need.

Sunday 6:30pm, Going Deeper

Elisha and the Foreign General (2 Kings 5:1-19)

7/7/2019

Is God an inclusive God? What is a Biblical vision of inclusivity?

In this story a general of the enemy of God's people who has a polytheistic belief system is pointed by a slave girl to go the man of God in Israel. He is remarkably healed of his skin disease, but more than that his beliefs are transformed.

Sunday, 10:30am

Elisha and life for a child (2 Kings 4:8-37)

30/6/2019

Do we live in a world that cares for children? It's a big question ask. In some ways the protection and rights of children are better than ever before. Yet, the incidents of mental health in children suggests that maybe the focus of our culture is not as child-friendly as we would like to think.

Back in the time of Elisha, in the Middle East, child sacrifice was common (see 2 Kings 3:26-27). Yet, in this passage we see that the God of Israel is deeply concerned to give for the welfare of children.

Sunday, 10:30am

Sundays, 6:30pm, Going Deeper