All Nations Presbyterian Church: Morning Sermon Series

On Sunday morning, we looked at the start of James 5 together. Rich landowners were getting richer, but their workers were not getting paid. James was harsh to the wealthy here: it makes no sense to build up wealth in the last days. Riches are to be used to serve God and others, not to build up comfort and luxury. On the other hand, those who suffered injustice faced other issues. They were tempted to grumble, to sin, and to fail to trust in God in their troubles. The reality is that God cares deeply about injustice. We see it in Jesus who suffered unjustly in our place, and the cost paid to deal with sin. The overall instruction here is to wait for God. Whether our situation is comfortable or unjust, we can trust that God is compassionate, he will deal with justice, and Jesus is coming back. Cast your concerns before God in prayer, knowing he hears you and cares for you.

On Sunday morning, we looked at the end of James 4. James addressed traders who had planned out what their future looked like, but who had not included God in their plans. He pointed out how foolish this was, for we are never actually in control of what happens next in our lives. We are unsubstantial compared to God and need to act to honour and serve him, whatever our lives might look like right now. It is not wrong to plan. Yet if we plan without God in our mind, we are acting just like those who don't know the gospel. If we truly believe that Jesus is the King, and eternity is real, then it makes no sense to live like these things are not true. How do we live this out? It is more than just adding "the Lord willing" to the end of sentences. It is planning to serve God as we know how, and to be prepared for our lives to be different to how we might have chosen them to be. God is in control, and we are not.

We returned to the book of James together on Sunday morning, looking at James 4:1-12. The readers of James were divided, and often due to their teachers looking to their own interests instead of the good of the church. James is very strong in his rebuke of the situation. He called on the readers to show humility, and to realise that we are all sinners who have been shown grace. We should pray for and live in such a way that honours God instead of only our own personal interests. Jesus died for the church; we must think bigger than just our own interests. When you pray this week, don't only pray for your own issues and those of your family. Think bigger. Pray for the church family, for God's work in the world, and more. Let's do all we can to be friends with God and not only self-interested people.

On Sunday morning, we finished our short topical series on the God who speaks. We looked at the Bible, the great place where God tells us about himself. We saw that this book is the word of God and the word of the human writers, consistent, and focused on the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is a book that shows grace to us over and over again. It can be relied upon, even in its smallest details. Yet there are many challanges to this from our culture today. People complain it is very big and complicated, and yes it is detailed, but the core message is clear to all who want to hear it. God gives us all we need for life and godliness, answers we cannot find in science, and guidance even for modern issues. The outcome of all of this is that we have an incredible gift in the Bible. Like the Psalmist of Ps 119, we should thank God and rejoice in this gift, and use it well and consistently. We should be people of the book who love to learn more about God through his Word.

On Sunday morning, we looked at the issue of authority. This was part of our sermon series on 'the God who speaks'. We all live under authority in our lives, some obvious and some not. We have to obey the government, our employer, and of course God. Yet our decision making is also influenced by factors like the culture around us, what feels good, and what has always been done. We explored the way that other authorities influence us and how the Bible needs to be ultimate over all of these. For this to be true, we need to know our Bibles. We cannot simply rely on the internet or AI for everything. We want to be people who submit to the One who loves us. Consider today how the Bible might be the ultimate authority over the decision you are thinking about right now.

On Sunday morning, we looked at the idea of God speaking personally to us. We thought about dreams, which God used at some important times in the Bible. Or prophecies in the New Testament, mentioned in 1 Corinthians and demonstrated in those like Agabus in Acts. We concluded that we cannot expect God to speak to us with direct advice for our lives, though of course he could if he chose. We need to weigh these things against the Bible. We need to ensure we are centred on Jesus, which is the focus of the Bible, and not only on our personal decisions and lives. It is easy to become very individualistic and not have God's priorities in mind. Take some time to thank God for his Word, and consider what principles of the Bible might be helpful for the decisions you currently face.

On Sunday morning, we started a new sermon series on 'The God who Speaks'. We considered the truth that we cannot just think of God as we'd like, or even discover what he is like by our own efforts. We need God to tell us what he is like. And he has! Creation declares the glory of God to us, but God in his grace has told us far more in his word. He has told us what he is like, what we are like, and what his plans for the world are. And the climax of what God has to say to us is the person and work of Jesus Christ. God's message is one of grace, of us getting what we do not deserve. We are also called to live a certain way and respond well to God's grace. All of these riches have been given to us through God's word. So we should read it, think about it, and live it out. God is speaking to us; let's listen well.