ENC Sermons

Praise the Lord (Psalm 150)

1. We praise the Lord in a two dimensional way 2. We praise the Lord inside the community of the church 3. We praise the Lord outside the community of the church

More and More (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12)

1. Knowledge - a vital base 2. Behaviour - an inescapable reality 3. Maturity - God’s goal for each of us

10. Praying for the Wanderer (James 5:13-20)

1. Prayer that leads to spiritual healing 2. Prayer that leads to spiritual renewal

9. Battle of the Heart Part 2 (James 4:13-5:12)

1. Warning: establish your hearts the Lord is coming 2. Comfort: establish your hearts the Lord is coming

A Future Longing (1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13)

1. Depth of relationships leads to huge angst in the present day 2. Growth of the gospel leads to many trials throughout. all days 3. Strength of heart leads to blameless believers on the last days Like the brothers

8. Battle of the Heart Part 1 (James 4:1-12)

1.Jesus wants to be the desire of our hearts 2. Jesus will be the judge of our hearts

7. Working by Wisdom (James 3:1-18)

1. The tongue is a small tool used for big things (1-12) I. The tongue is something that guides (v.2-4) II. The tongue is something that is powerful (v.5b-8) III. The tongue is something that produces different things (v.9-12) 2. The tongue is a great tool used in the right way (13-18)

6. Working by Faith (James 2:14-26)

1. A Disconnected Faith in Danger of Death 14-17 2. A Connected Life Working by Faith 18-26

Living the Blessed Life (Matthew 5:1-12)

Psalm 133: Beardy Blessings

1. God is a joy best shared (v1) 2. God’s blessings pour down when we do (v2-3) • Like sacred oil, that belongs in no-one else’s beard • Like life-giving dew, that belongs nowhere else on earth

12. Saviour of the Superficial (John 4:43-54)

1. The strangest ‘So’ in the Bible: 43-48 When mankind is at its most superficial and selfish, Jesus gives himself. 2. The kindest ‘No’ in the Bible: 49-54 When life is at its most real and raw, Jesus gives his word.

11. Ripe Rejoicing (John 4:27-42)

1. What the uncertain evangelist has (27-30, 39-42) 2. What the unpromising apostles lack (31-38) — Look at the love willed in eternity — Look at the calendar written into your Bible — Look at the joy waiting for you in the world

10. The Well is Deep (John 4:1-26)

If only you knew the Gift of God! • “Living water”? • Satisfaction? • Cleansing? • Eternal life? • The Holy Spirit? • True, spiritual worship? 1. What Jesus gives to us: Not just benefits, but a bridegroom The Gift: Christ himself, though his Spirit, with every blessing in his hands • Christ alone possesses the Spirit “without measure”, and every gift of the Father is placed in his hands (3:34-35) • God himself is “living water” his people need (Jer 2:13) • Drink from Christ, rece...

9. Here Comes the Bride! (John 4:1-26)

Listen for the wedding bells… A shocking bride, and a shocking gift: from heaven he came and sought her… …to be his holy bride! So how wide is Jesus’ great ‘whoever’?  (3:16) The scandalous bride Christ loves and redeems: - Discarded - Disgraced - Disinterested - Desperate - Dirty Water that brings beauty out of brokenness (Ezek 47:1-12)

5. Living in the world and loving God's people (James 2:1-13)

1. Love born of desire shows partiality (1-7) 2. Love born of mercy shows mercy (8-13)

4. Living in the world and loving God

1. God’s word leads to living in purity and truth (19-21) 2. God’s word leads to a special selfless love (22-27)

8. How to be less, and still have more (John 3:22-36)

1. Rejoice when only Jesus gets the bride (22-30) 2. Rejoice in what only Jesus can give her (31-36)

2. The Dawn Overcomes (Lam 3)

1. Hope Buried: 15-18 When God is angry, human hope is stifled in the grave 2. Hope Remembered 19-24 Because God is God, hope can always be found in Him 3. Hope Shared 25-27 Because Jesus rose, we can trust God’s goodness to us

1. The Enemy Has Triumphed (Lam 1)

A soundtrack to the suffering of exile 1. The Crimson Stain • Lonely isolation • Shameful degradation • Bitter realisation “Is there any sorrow like my sorrow?” (v12) 2. The Crucified Saviour • Departed majesty • Desecrated temple • Deriding foes

7. The most shocking verse in the Bible (John3:16-21)

1. “For” | The shocking result of God’s love (16a) - The giving over to death of his only Son 2.“World” | The shocking reach of God’s love (16a) - This entire, dark, God-hating world 3. “Whoever” | The shocking reason for God’s love (16b-17) - The salvation of anyone… who looks with faith at the cross • A very moral man? (3:1-15) • A very immoral woman? (4:7-42) 4. “Loved” | The shocking response to God’s love 18-21 - The rejection of goodness, or the embrace of exposure

7. The most shocking verse in the Bible (John 3:16-21)

1. “For” | The shocking result of God’s love (16a) - The giving over to death of his only Son 2.“World” | The shocking reach of God’s love (16a) - This entire, dark, God-hating world 3. “Whoever” | The shocking reason for God’s love (16b-17) - The salvation of anyone… who looks with faith at the cross • A very moral man? (3:1-15) • A very immoral woman? (4:7-42) 4. “Loved” | The shocking response to God’s love 18-21 - The rejection of goodness, or the embrace of exposure

6. What Jesus sees in our hearts (John 2:23-3:15)

1. Whoever we are, the night claims us 2:23 – 3:3 Our heart, mind and will are darker than we know 2. Only Christ’s Spirit can change us 3:4-8 We cannot give birth to our own spiritual life 3. So cry to the one sent to save us 3:9-15 Jesus alone knows the way to new life, and makes it possible • Guide • Guarantee

5. Love that Burns: What Makes Jesus Angry? (John 2:13-22)

1. Consumed by zeal: 13-17 Jesus burns for his Father’s honour • Malachi 3:1-3 (A God who will purify Israel’s sacrifices) • Psalm 69:9 (A king rejected through his zeal for God’s temple) 2. Consumed for zeal: 18-22 Jesus’ body is the place we can honour him • A demonstration: Jesus has authority to judge his temple • An invitation: Jesus is the true and final temple (Rev 21:22)

The true family of God, born of the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:6-16)

Like a mother Like a father Like the brothers

4. The Bringer of Joy (John 2:1-12)

What sort of God shows his glory like this? (v11) 1. The Crisis: a people starved of joy (v1-5) • Where is the Bridegroom? • How things should be in the promised land (Song of Songs 5:1) • “My Hour” (4:21,23; 5:25,28; 7:6,8,30; 8:20; 12:23,27; 13:1; 16:2,21; 17:1) • “That Day” – a promised messianic banquet (Isa 25:6-9; Amos 9:11-15) Follow the Sign: 2. Rich rejoicing waits for the Bridegroom’s hour (v6-12) The sign itself (6-8) • Lavish provision • Water and cleansing (1:33; 2:6 3...

3. The opener of hearts and of heaven (John 1:35-51)

Who is seeking who? 1. The Lamb who opens hearts Day two: vv35-42 - John the Witness points two disciples to Jesus: Andrew & (John?) - Andrew finds, tells & brings: Simon Peter Day three: vv43-51 - Jesus himself searches out Phillip - Philip finds, tells & brings: Nathaniel 2. The King who opens heaven - Jacob’s dream: Genesis 28:10-22 - The Son of Man: Daniel 7:13 So come and see, and stay with Jesus!

3. Being Tempted and Trusting God (James 1:13-18)

1. God’s will is to deliver us from evil (13-15) 2. God’s will is to raise us by his word (16-18)

2. Look at the Life-Giving Lamb! (John 1:19-34)

1. Look away from the servant in the lime-light… (v19-28) 3 deflected questions: - Who do you think you are? - Who do you think you are? - What do you think you’re doing? Background: A voice preparing the way for God (Isa 40:1-5) 2. …And look at the life-giving lamb (v29-34) 3 destiny-shaping answers: - Lamb - Lord - Life-Giver Background: The Spirit-filled Messiah (Isa 11:2, 42:1, 61:1)

1. Love Eternal Speaks (John 1:1-18)

A Prologue: Not Just Words. 1. Love Eternal: The God with God behind time 2. Love Shared: The God sent to search through the darkness Sent: - to the world, v10-11: Ch 1-12 (Public ministry, faith, believe”) - to claim his own, v12: Ch 13-21 (Private ministry, “love”) 3. Love Known: The God of all Glory and Grace

What Does God Think About Abortion?

1. Who is my neighbour? When does life begin? What makes us valuable? 2. What is happening to my neighbour? What takes place during an abortion? 3. What must I do for my neighbour? What does a truly Christlike response to abortion look like?

2. Under Trial and Trusting God (James 1:1-12)

1. The steadfast under trial know it’s joy for the soul 2. The steadfast under trial trust God’s gracious wisdom 3. The steadfast under trial fall deeper in love with God

1. Beware the Double-Minded Path (Jas 1:1-4; 5:19-20)

1. God’s people live as exiles from their true home  2. God’s truth is wild, so we are prone to wander  3. God’s forgiveness awaits those who return

In him we live and move and have our being: The doctrine of participation in the Christian life (Acts 17:16-34)

1. Participation 2. Three pitfalls: • Paganism • Pantheism • Pelagianism 3. Payoff

1 Thessalonians 1

The Cradle that Rocked the World (Haggai 2:1-9)

God in the manger: the smallest of temples 1. Worth less than nothing in our earthly eyes (v1-3) 2. Worth more than all our earthly treasure (v4-9)

Merrily Rested (Lessons and Carols 2021)

1. A weary world: humanity longs for rest and rejoicing 2. A Suffering Saviour: Jesus was born to shoulder your burden …So come, and Rest Merrily with us!

Merrily Rested (Christmas Carol Service 2021)

7. Our Father: Sovereign, Strong & Wonderful (Matthew 6:13)

Prayer changes us… (…but should we be praying this bit?) 1. Prayer argues: We pray because we delight in our Father 2. Prayer praises: We delight in our Father as we pray 3. Prayer trusts: The more we delight, the more we’re encouraged to pray

6. 'Til Dawn Appeareth (Matthew 6:13)

1. Lead us: When I fear the paths are slippery, hold my hand 2. Deliver us: When it feels like darkness has swallowed me, snatch me away

6. 'Til Dawn Appeareth

1. Lead us: When I fear the paths are slippery, hold my hand 2. Deliver us: When it feels like darkness has swallowed me, snatch me away

5. The joy we run from (Matthew 6:12)

1. A daily mercy: the rich released from debt 2. A daily mirror: the reconciled released from bitterness

4. Extravagant Enoughness (Matthew 6:11)

Our daily bread... 1. Grace for what we cannot grab: “give us” • A forfeited right • A fatherly providence • Recognise our dependence on His grace 2. Trust for what we cannot hoard: “this day” • Ask expectantly — trusting his love • Receive thankfully — trusting his wisdom • Share joyfully — trusting his generosity

3. The Gospel Time-Warp (Matthew 6:10)

Putting the end of the story into our hearts today: too ambitious to pray? 1. Your kingdom come: Win our hearts for heaven (v10a) 2. Your will be done: Rule in our hearts on earth (v10b)

2. The strangest thing we ever pray (Matthew 6:9c)

Jesus’ very first petition: 1. The weirdest prayer 2. The faintest growl 3. The truest purpose

Joyful Living (Proverbs 15:13-17)

1. Who am I to you? (Matthew 6:9b)

Who you are clinging to shapes how you will pray 1. Father: We pray because we are loved 2. Our Father: we pray because we are loved together 3. Our Heavenly Father: we pray because we are loved by a Lord, not a Daddy

Nothing is too hard for the Lord (Genesis 18:1-15)

1. Cutting the callus of faithless despair;  Sarah 2. Do you believe there are things God can’t do? 3. Courage - God is good for what he’s promised

28. Pucker up, buttercup (1 Corinthians 16)

1. Follow me: love with a cost (V1-9) 2. Follow them: the love right under your nose (v10-18) 3. Follow us: love with a kiss (19-24)

27. The Life of the Dead (1 Corinthians 15:35-58)

On meaning and emptiness 1. What an astonishing world teaches (v35-41) 2. What an astonishing Gospel confirms (v42-49) 3. What an astonishing God gives (v50-58)

26. The League of the Dead (1 Corinthians 15:12-34)

How to win: Paul’s answer 1. Your hope is pitifully small (v12-19) 2. God’s project is wonderfully big (v20-28) 3. So fall in with the league of the dead! (v29-32)