All Nations Presbyterian Church: Morning Sermon Series

Ephesians 2:11-22 - Celebrating God's Growth and Unity

We looked at Ephesians 2 in our combined 30th anniversary service on Sunday morning. This passage described our 'before' and 'after' states. Before we came to know Jesus, we were outsiders, with no hope for eternity. After Jesus saved us, we are insiders, citizens, belonging and with future hope. This has all kinds of implications for us, with one being the church. All in the church are equally important to God. All of us are involved in God's building project. We must maintain God's strategy when it comes to our church: staying faithful to God's message in the Bible, centred on the work of Jesus. Church growth and unity is not due to our cleverness or strategies but due to God's work among us. There is a lot to thank God for, and we should also pray for God's work among us now and into the future.

Genesis 12:10-20 - Abram the Imperfect

On Sunday morning, we looked at the second half of Genesis 12. Abram and Sarai went to Egypt to find refuge from a famine in the land. While there, Abram lied to try to save himself, only to find the situation out of his control anyway. Despite his sin, God rescued Abram and Sarai, even enriching them and bringing them back to the promised land. This reinforced to us what God is like, showing us a pattern we see repeatedly in the Bible. God doesn't save good people who deserve it; he saves bad people who deserve punishment. This passage reminds us that we are never worthy of God's love; it is always grace to the undeserving. Take some time this week to confess anything you need to before God, and to thank him for his grace in Jesus that we do not deserve.

Genesis 12:1-9 - The Call of Abram

On Sunday morning, we looked at the golden passage at the start of Genesis 12. God called Abram to the land, giving him such incredible promises for the future. And Abram obeyed, despite being 75 years old and not having any children. This passage showed us God's grace in calling someone out of the worship of other gods to be his special person; Abram didn't deserve any of this. And it also revealed what obedience looks like, trusting in God's promises even if we cannot see how they might all happen with our eyes right now. God's promises to Abram were fulfilled in stages, with some aspects coming true even in Genesis, but focused ultimately on Jesus and his coming to pay for our sins. We can rest in the fact that we also have been shown such grace and are called to obedience. This week, reflect on the great promises of God, of salvation, of forgiven sins, and of glorious hope. Spend time thanking Him for the grace shown to you.

Habakkuk 2:1-4 - Learning How to Wait

Last Sunday morning, we heard from Habakkuk 2:1-4 together. We especially saw that to deal with the agony of unanswered prayer, we need to learn how to wait. Although we like to get everything we want right away in our modern world, often prayer requires us to wait in faith for God to act, because God’s timing is different from ours. Habakkuk’s prayers were not answered until 15 years and 60 years after he prayed. In fact, Habakkuk may have actually died before he saw the full answer to his prayers. This encourages us to continue praying and trusting in God’s perfect plan and timing, because God may choose to work in 15 or 60 years later, or even long after we are dead. Even when we do not see the full answer to our prayers right now, our prayers ultimately make us wait for the return of Jesus Christ, when all will be made right and the agony of unanswered prayer will be over forever. This week, take some time to ask God for a patient, trusting heart to wait for God’s perfect timing, to persevere in your prayers, and to wait for the return of Jesus Christ.

Genesis 11 - The Lure of Security and Importance

On Sunday morning, we looked at Genesis 11, which starts with the account of the Tower of Babel. This is a story of the human condition and shines a light into what we are all like. Instead of dispersing across the world and honouring God, we saw this group of people gathering together and building their own reputation. They were seeking their own security and belonging in themselves instead of in God. God frustrated their efforts, and they ended up dispersed and known for their futility and not their achievements. All of us seek security and belonging in the wrong places; it is just as much sin to seek our own reputations as it is to live a life of crime. This passage shows us how futile this is; none of us are powerful enough to bring about a secure life. We need Jesus. Jesus offers us the security in being one of God's children that we can never find ourselves. Consider how much of your money and life is spent on achieving security and reputation and confess anything you need to before God.

Genesis 8:20-9:17 - A New Beginning

On Sunday morning, we returned to the book of Genesis, looking at the covenant with Noah. After Noah, his family, and the animals left the ark, Noah sacrificed to God. He realised his unworthiness and God's grace, and God accepted the sacrifice despite Noah's sin. God reinforced that people should be fruitful and multiply as in the creation, with the addition of meat to the menu. And God promised that he would not send another great flood to destroy the world. The rainbow is the covenant sign, marking God's act of peace and his glory int he darkness. As we reflect on this, we should note the deep grace and hope expressed in this passage. Because of God's work for us in Jesus, we have hope for the future that otherwise we would not have. We have hope despite our undeserving, and hope that we need especially in dark times like the rainbow appears in dark clouds. Thank God for his provision of hope to us who don't deserve it!

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus our Priest

Acts 17:16-34 - The Wonder of Future Hope

On Easter Sunday, we considered the good news all Christians believe by looking at Paul's sermon to the people of Athens in Acts 17. This sermon was aimed at people with no background of knowing the true God and no knowledge of the Bible. Paul explained that there is one God, and he wants to connect with us. He doesn't need us or depend on us in any way; we need him and are called to come to him on his terms. Those terms centre on trusting in the person of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again. It is the resurrection that is the key. Connecting with God is not about being good, or religious, or nice. It is about trusting that God's way is right and God's sacrifice for your sins has worked. Easter reminds us that it is all about God's work and not ours, and is the key to us celebrating God's goodness in us and the world. Happy Easter!

Genesis 22:1-14 - God Will Provide the Lamb

On Good Friday, we heard the story of Abraham and Isaac from Genesis 22 together. We saw that the story itself is the true story of God providing salvation and a substitutionary sacrifice to die in place of Abraham’s son, his only son Isaac. At the same time, Genesis 22 is part of a bigger story in the Bible. In particular, many years later, Solomon built the temple on the same mountain where Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac. Just as God provided salvation for Isaac on Mt. Moriah, God also provided salvation for the Israelites through the animal sacrifices offered on the temple mount. Yet, even the temple is not the end of the story. The biggest story of all is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, His only Son on the Mount of Calvary. In the greatest love we can ever imagine, God the Father did not spare His own Son but offered Him as the perfect sacrifice and payment for our sins. How do we respond? Like Abraham, we are meant to trust in God’s perfect provision of salvation for us in Jesus Christ. This week, take some time to re-read Genesis 22:1-14 and thank God for the provision of Jesus Christ for sinners like us.

James 3:13-18 - True Wisdom Means Humility Not Selfish Ambition

On Sunday morning, we looked at the end of James 3 together. While the world thinks that selfish ambition and jealousy are positive attributes, James tells us that they are very destructive for us. If the motivations that drive us are selfish and comparison, we will end up in chaos with everyone wanting the best for themselves. Instead, we are to seek wisdom from above, from God. This will lead us to seek the good of the body with humility, and to honour God with our lives. The result will be peace, not disorder. This is more in line with a community formed by Jesus, who through his humble sacrifice broke down the barriers between people. Instead of seeking honour from others, look around the church family at how you can use your gifts to serve. That is using wisdom from above rather than only seeking our own benefit.