St Matthews Anglican Church 6pm Sermons St Matthews West Pennant Hills

20240526 6PMp RI Don’t Look Back. Choose Jesus.
4th in our current series on Luke’s Gospel.
Bible passage: Luke 9:51-62
Using an illustration of the disadvantage of looking back when running a race, “Don’t look back” is the key message when following Jesus.  When Jesus sets his mind resolutely to go to Jerusalem. Where death on the cross awaits him.  Multiple examples on this resolute path help to make clear just what it means to take up one’s cross daily to follow Jesus.
Speaker: Ron Irving.

20240519 6PMp RI Check your baggage
Third sermon in our series in Luke’s Gospel, On the road with Christ.
Why do we follow Jesus? As we seek to follow Jesus, we need to check our baggage, to check our motives, our desires. If our motive is simply eternity I comfort,
Bonhoeffer says, “Discipleship is not an offer that man makes to Christ”, and also, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
We go on the road with Jesus, because we get to follow the king, even to the cross.
Humble service is a way of checking our desires.
Check our passports, our “tribal links”. What of people who are not one of us!
God’s kingdom is defined by the king. Come on the road and discover what this king is all about.
Speaker: Ron Irving.

20240512 6PMp CD Who do you say Jesus is?
Second in our series: Walking with Jesus. On the road with the King.
Questions, Questions, Questions.
Do you like questions? What questions do you like?
There are many questions asked and many to be answered.
Who does the crowd say Jesus is?
Who do the disciples say Jesus is?
Jesus says who he is: that he is to suffer death, and on the third day rise again.
From the cloud God the Father says who Jesus is.
Jesus says anyone who wants to follow must take up his cross daily, and follow him.  
Who do you say Jesus is?
Who does your life say Jesus is?
Speaker: Chris Donald.

 20240504 6PMp CD Walking with Jesus
We resume our series in Luke’s Gospel, ch 9., where Jesus calls his disciples together, gives them power to cast out demons, and to heal, and he sends them out to proclaim the kingdom of God.  Herod, the tetrarch hears about at what is happening.   When the disciples return, they withdraw to a quiet place, but the crowds find out and follow them.   Jesus welcomes the crowd, teaches them about the Kingdom, heals them and despite the disciples’ concerns, they are then fed. 
What are the lessons we can learn from these events?
Speaker: Chris Donald.

20240428 6PMp DT Facing Trials alone
Being alone and feeling alone is something many people may experience and this may be especially true for people who are Christians. Christian ministry is often doing something for someone else.  But often this means being alone.  True for Jesus and true for his followers. 
Paul has been through many trials, yet Paul held the view that God is faithful.  Paul was facing trial in Rome, he said that all had deserted him, and no one stood up for him, but yet the Lord stood by him, and at his defence, he was able to explain the gospel message to the Gentiles.
God has shown himself faithful throughout history of his people.  Jesus declared that he will be with his disciples even until the end of the age.  Paul knew God’s faithfulness explained in the Old Testament scriptures.  Paul was empowered to stand before the Roman authorities and declare the gospel, to testify about Jesus, that he died and rose again to deliver us from our sins.
The situation can happen to us. What will we do? Will we stand firm and testify for Jesus?
We have been given a Hope, to be with Jesus, in the heavenly kingdom. 
Speaker: David Tyndall. 

20240421 6PMp RI Paul advises Timothy on Preaching God’s Word.
What do you long for? 
Paul’s word to Timothy is to preach the Word of God, (not just what people might want to hear!).
Teach in patience and perform the whole duty.
Advice to us, from the passage, is: Long for the appearing of Jesus.  And be open to hearing the message from God’s Word. 
Look for a preacher who you can trust. Look for the preacher of good character. 
The faithful minister will prepare you for the Lord Jesus’s appearing. 
The posture of our heart will influence the impact of God’s Word on our lives. 
Reading: 2 Timothy 4:1-6.
Speaker: Ron Irving.