Category: Bible talks

  • Listening to the law without being under the law (a sermon on Exodus 20:22-23:19)

    Preached at Kurrajong Anglican Church on 26 August, 2012. Our problem with the law A few days after we got back to Australia from England, my wife had an experience that made us realize that we were well and truly back home. She was driving along Redbank Road in North Richmond, and a car coming…

  • Speech and Salvation: Conference Package

    I recently led a series of talks and discussions at our church’s weekend conference. I’ve put the whole conference together here into one package for others to use (it would work with a small group or a larger church group). To kick off, I started with the question, “Are all Christians commanded to evangelise?” But…

  • God’s Word versus the Kingdom (1 Kings 21)

    This sermon is part 3 in a 3-part series on 1 Kings 17-22. Outline: The manic street preacher Who rules Israel? (vv. 1-16) God’s word versus the king (vv. 17-29) God’s word, God’s kingdom and us

  • God’s Word versus the Prophet (1 Kings 19)

    This sermon is part 2 in a 3-part series on 1 Kings 17-22. Outline: Looking for a revelation? Things fall apart (vv. 1-3a) Elijah: back to the Fathers (vv. 3b-7) Elijah: back to Moses (vv. 8-14) Elijah: back to work! (vv. 15-18) Looking for a revelation?

  • God’s Word versus Religion (1 Kings 17-18)

    This sermon is part 1 in a 3-part series on 1 Kings 17-22. Outline: What do you need? Scene 1: God’s word alone meets Elijah’s needs (17:1-7) Scene 2: God’s word alone meets the needs of his enemies (17:8-16) Scene 3: The man of God’s word brings life (17:17-24) Scene 4: Obadiah is afraid (18:1-16)…

  • God’s word, God’s people (Romans 11)

    Part of a series on Romans 9-11 Outline When God lets you down… God’s word is being preached (Rom 11:1-4) God’s word has not failed (Rom 11:5-10) God’s word will achieve greater things (Rom 11:11-15) God’s word cannot be taken for granted (Rom 11:16-24) God’s word will be fulfilled (Rom 11:25-32) God’s ways are greater…

  • Doing, Believing and Preaching (Romans 10)

    Part of a series on Romans 9-11 Outline The doorknocker The gospel that is preached (Rom 10:1-13) Israel’s problem (Rom 10:1-3, Rom 10:5) Christ is the end of the law (Rom 10:4, Rom 10:6-8) Believing and speaking (Rom 10:9-10) For everyone who calls (Rom 10:11-13) The preachers of the gospel (Rom 10:14-21) Paul’s success (Rom…

  • God’s plan, Israel’s failure (Romans 9)

    Part of a series on Romans 9-11 Outline Paul’s anguish (Rom 9:1-3) Israel’s privileges (Rom 9:4) Israel’s purpose (Rom 9:5) Israel’s existence constantly depends on God’s calling (Rom 9:6-13) Israel, an instrument in God’s hands (Rom 9:14-23) Israel’s existence constantly depends on God’s calling (Rom 9:24-29) Israel’s failure and God’s plan (Rom 9:30-33)

  • Doctrines Under Threat 3: Nowism

    See also my articles: Nowism and Countering Nowism.

  • Doctrines Under Threat 2: Union with Christ

    Outline (Reading from Romans 6) Intro: Faith and Works Union with Christ in Philippians 3 Righteousness by law is rubbish (2-7) Knowing Christ (8a) Gaining Christ (8b) Being in Christ (9a) Righteousness through faith in Christ (9b) Living in Christ (10-11) What is Union with Christ? Fundamental To be loved by God as Sons For…

  • Doctrines Under Threat 1: Nothing’s Right without Justification

    I preached this three-part series recently at a church weekend away for those in their twenties and thirties. Thanks to Sandy Grant for the title and idea for the series. Outline Martin Luther—”The Doctrine by which the Church stands or falls” Righteousness and Justification in the Bible Righteousness (Psalm 7:8-9, Proverbs 24:24) To justify =…

  • Is God Green Part 2: God and the Future of the World

    I’m grateful to Byron Smith who made a few critical comments about a previously published version of this sermon (in five parts: #1, #2a, #2b, #3a, #3b) and helped me to speak more clearly and helpfully in this subsequent version. Talk Outline The story of the world so far… Creation Curse Christ The future of…

  • Is God Green Part 1: God, the World and Jesus

    I’ve preached this series a number of times over the years – here’s the latest edition (this time with a slightly croaky voice). Before you listen to the talk, you might find it helpful to read this introductory piece which contains the things I didn’t have time to include in the sermon. Thanks to Sandy…

  • Isaiah in 7 hours – Isaiah 56-66

    In September, 2010, I gave a series of 7 talks on the book of Isaiah at “Word Works”, a conference organised by the Malaysia Gospel Growth Fellowship. The aim of the talks was to give an overview of Isaiah with a view to helping people read this part of the Bible for themselves. Here is…

  • Isaiah in 7 hours – Isaiah 51:12-Ch. 55

    In September, 2010, I gave a series of 7 talks on the book of Isaiah at “Word Works”, a conference organised by the Malaysia Gospel Growth Fellowship. The aim of the talks was to give an overview of Isaiah with a view to helping people read this part of the Bible for themselves. Here is…

  • Isaiah in 7 hours – Isaiah 40:1-51:11

    In September, 2010, I gave a series of 7 talks on the book of Isaiah at “Word Works”, a conference organised by the Malaysia Gospel Growth Fellowship. The aim of the talks was to give an overview of Isaiah with a view to helping people read this part of the Bible for themselves. Here is…

  • Isaiah in 7 hours – Isaiah 28-35 and 36-39

    In September, 2010, I gave a series of 7 talks on the book of Isaiah at “Word Works”, a conference organised by the Malaysia Gospel Growth Fellowship. The aim of the talks was to give an overview of Isaiah with a view to helping people read this part of the Bible for themselves. Here is…

  • Isaiah in 7 hours – Isaiah 13-27

    In September, 2010, I gave a series of 7 talks on the book of Isaiah at “Word Works”, a conference organised by the Malaysia Gospel Growth Fellowship. The aim of the talks was to give an overview of Isaiah with a view to helping people read this part of the Bible for themselves. Here is…

  • Isaiah in 7 hours – Isaiah 1-12

    In September, 2010, I gave a series of 7 talks on the book of Isaiah at “Word Works”, a conference organised by the Malaysia Gospel Growth Fellowship. The aim of the talks was to give an overview of Isaiah with a view to helping people read this part of the Bible for themselves. Here is…

  • Isaiah in 7 hours – Introduction to Isaiah

    In September, 2010, I gave a series of 7 talks on the book of Isaiah at “Word Works”, a conference organised by the Malaysia Gospel Growth Fellowship. The aim of the talks was to give an overview of Isaiah with a view to helping people read this part of the Bible for themselves. Here is…

  • Talks on the Authority and Sufficiency of the Bible

    Here are two talks I recently gave on the doctrines of the authority and sufficiency of Scripture. Unfortunately the more detailed application is missing from the first talk because the laptop that was recording the talks ran out of battery partway through my talk! However, there’s still about 50 minutes of material in both talks.

  • John Calvin on Union with Christ

    Contrary to some modern caricatures, predestination is not at the centre of Calvin’s teaching on the Christian life. Calvin, whose 500th birthday we’ve just celebrated, certainly taught and defended predestination; but the biblical heartbeat of his teaching about the Christian life is Union with Christ. Preached at St Michael’s Anglican Cathedral, Wollongong, on 19 July…

  • Funeral Message for Angela Janice Richards, aged 1½

    On Tuesday 14th July at 11am, I had the sad privilege of speaking the message at the funeral for my 1½-year old niece. The funeral was held at Kurrajong Anglican Church. Angela (1 November, 2007 – 9 July, 2009) had been suffering from a serious chromosomal abnormality all her life. You can read some of…

  • Learning How to Talk (Ephesians 5:3-20)

    Christians have a special way of speaking, that might sound strange to outsiders. Ephesians 5:3-20 tells Christians how to talk. Preached at St Michael’s Anglican Cathedral, Wollongong, on 14 June 2009.

  • Walking Together (Ephesians 4:1-16)

    Unity is very important. But what is it really, and how is it achieved? Sermon preached on 24 May, 2009, at St Michael’s Anglican Cathedral, Wollongong at 7pm.