Sermons – St Bart's Anglican Church

Sermon & Small Group ResourcesThis is the tenth sermon in our series on God’s Kingdom and also our message for Easter Day. This sermon is ‘Risen King’. Preacher: The Rev’d Adam Lowe. Bible Reading: Luke 24Download the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF). Next Steps this Week BIBLE READING: Luke 24:1-12 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS Download in PDF format.CONNECT: How can you both demonstrate and tell others about the peace that Jesus brings on your frontlines this week?WARM-UP Did you do anything different to celebrate Easter this year? How was it?What was most significant, or helpful, in your celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection this year?READ Luke 23:26-49How does verse 34 point to Jesus’ ultimate purpose? How has it been fulfilled?What was the irony in the mocking of Jesus, “he saved others, let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah the Chosen One”? Do you think we can ever mock Jesus with our lives?How do the responses of the two criminals hanging alongside Jesus contrast? What is amazing about the insight that the criminal shows about the nature of Jesus’ Kingdom?What is significant about darkness coming over the land? How about the curtain being torn in two?All throughout the Gospel of Luke people have been confused about who Jesus is. Do you have confidence about who Jesus is? What is your response to this?READ Luke 24:1-12Other than Jesus’ resurrection, what is the most outrageous claim you have ever heard?What is the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection? (Try to brainstorm as a group.)How is Jesus’ resurrection the defeat of death and the beginning of life? When will death be destroyed?What’s significant about the declaration of the messengers in verses 5-7? Why do you you think the women were afraid? Why did Jesus’ words then make sense?How does Jesus’ resurrection secure our future? As we trust in Jesus, what sort of future do we have?How does Jesus’ resurrection change how you live today? In priorities, trouble, and joy?The disciples were not “poised on the brink of belief”, but utterly sceptical. It took some of them time to believe. What changed their hearts and minds? Who do you know that is sceptical? How can you invite them to ‘come and see’?The women go and tell all they had seen. How is this a great model for us? Who can you tell this week?APPLY: What is something about your Easter that you could share with someone on your frontline this week? Who could you invite to Alpha? PRAYER Heavenly Father, thank you so much for the Good News of Easter. Thank you for your phenomenal love poured out for us, and for your defeat of sin and death. Help us to never take the Gospel for granted but to revel in it, proclaim it, and be transformed and renewed in it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. GOING DEEPER On Your Frontline This Week: Who on your frontline could you invite to Alpha?Listen, Watch, and Read: “The Evidence of Resurrection” by Dick Lucas“The Resurrection” by Alistair Begg“Lifting the Lid on Easter” by Centre for Public ChristianityAUDIO: Remember Me… by William TaylorAUDIO: John Lennox on where to find God amidst crisisAUDIO: John Dickson on debunking Easter mythsSeries Resources:Some helpful resources for our Series:OUTLINE: for Series with key verses, big ideas, and reflection questions: https://bit.ly/39w5GgkFOR FAMILIES: Download the St Bart’s Kids Lego Devotional Guide: https://bit.ly/2YrP3MfWEBSITE: “Gospel of the Kingdom of God” by the Bible Project: https://bit.ly/2NFP2SJBOOK: “Goldsworthy Trilogy: Gospel & Kingdom, Gospel & Wisdom, the Gospel in Revelation” by Graeme GoldsworthyBOOK: “Luke for Everyone” by Tom WrightCourse: “The Bible Overview” as part of the Ridley Certificate (6-week online course). https://bit.ly/3pGDVH7 (We’ll also be offering this in Term 3 of 2021 a

Sermon & Small Group ResourcesThis is the sermon from Good Friday 2021. Bible Reading: Luke 23. Preacher: The Rev’d Michael Calder. Download the Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Sermon & Small Group ResourcesThese are the three reflections from Maundy Thursday 2021. Preacher: The Rev’d Dr Daniel Rouhead.Download the Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Sermon & Small Group ResourcesThis is the ninth sermon in our series on God’s Kingdom. This sermon is ‘Entering King’. Preacher: The Rev’d Michael Calder. Bible Reading: Luke 19:28-44Download the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF). Next Steps this Week BIBLE READING: Luke 19:28-44 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”They replied, “The Lord needs it.”They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS Download in PDF format.CONNECT: How can you maximise your gifts in service of the returning King?WARM-UP What comes to mind when you think of a grand entrance?What does Jesus’ entrance indicate about the type of King he is?READ Luke 19:28-40What was the significance of the Mount of Olives?Why did Jesus choose to enter into Jerusalem on a donkey? How would this have been different to the entrance of other Kings into their cities?What did the disciples do with their cloaks and clothes? What does this show about their relationship to Jesus?In V37, why do the disciples praise God and lift their voices? What do the miracles tell us about the significance of Jesus?Read Psalm 118:25-29. How does Jesus fulfil this Psalm? What does it mean for Jesus to come ‘in the name of the Lord’?Read Luke 2:13-14 and compare to V38. What type of peace does Jesus bring? How do we experience this peace even in the midst of this broken world?What should the experience of this peace ultimately lead to in our lives?Why were the Pharisees not happy with the cries of the crowd? How did they react?What could you do to remind yourself both of the kingship of Jesus and the peace that he brings? What could you do to help you rest in this knowledge?READ Luke 19:41-44What do Jesus’ tears show us about his character and his heart for the lost?What would have brought Jerusalem ultimate peace? What ultimately happened to Jerusalem around 40 years later?What happens when people reject the offer of peace that God has won for us? How is your heart for those who haven’t turned to Christ?APPLY: How can you both demonstrate and tell others about the peace that Jesus brings on your frontlines this week? PRAYER Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus who demonstrated, declared, and won the ultimate peace of being reconciled with you. Help us to continually recognise him as king in our lives. Give us the same mind of Christ Jesus that we may have compassion for the lost and share your good news with them. Amen. GOING DEEPER On Your Frontline This Week: As you share about your Easter long-weekend plans, can you also share about how the news of Easter shapes your life?Listen, Watch, and Read: AUDIO: “The Human Face of God” by Alistair BeggAUDIO: “The Triumphal Entry” by William TaylorVIDEO: “Jesus' Resolve to Head Toward Jerusalem” by Don CarsonAUDIO: “Luke 19-20” by Gary MillarSeries Resources:Some helpful resources for our Series:OUTLINE: for Series with key verses, big ideas, and reflection questions: https://bit.ly/39w5GgkFOR FAMILIES: Download the St Bart’s Kids Lego Devotional Guide: https://bit.ly/2YrP3MfWEBSITE: “Gospel of the Kingdom of God” by the Bible Project: https://bit.ly/2NFP2SJBOOK: “Goldsworthy Trilogy: Gospel & Kingdom, Gospel & Wisdom, the Gospel in Revelation” by Graeme GoldsworthyBOOK: “Luke for Everyone” by Tom WrightCourse: “The Bible Overview” as part of the Ridley Certificate (6-week online course). https://bit.ly/3pGDVH7 (We’ll also be offering this in Term 3 of

Sermon & Small Group ResourcesThis is the eighth sermon in our series on God’s Kingdom. This sermon is ‘Returning King’. Preacher: The Rev’d Adam Lowe. Bible Reading: Luke 19:11-27Download the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF). Next Steps this Week BIBLE READING: Luke 19:11-27 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’“He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.“The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’“ ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’“The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’“His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’“Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’“His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’ “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’“ ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’“He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’ ” SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS Download in PDF format.CONNECT: How can you invite the lost in to hear more of the Good News of Jesus?WARM-UP How often do you think about Jesus returning? Does it change your priorities when you do?What is the recent regional history that Jesus is likely alluding to in this parable? If Jesus is not saying that he is like Archelaus in character, what is the parallel that he is drawing?READ Luke 19:11-15What were people expecting of Jesus as he arrived in Jerusalem? What was actually going to happen?How is it evident in the parable that the gifts ultimately belong to the master?What gifts do you think God has entrusted to you? What does it mean to you to recognise those gifts as ultimately belonging to God?What is the ultimately purpose to which we are to put our gifts to work? What do you think that looks like on one of your frontlines? (You might even be able to offer suggestions to one another.)How was the third servant’s failure to act really an act of disobedience and rebellion?How do you think God could be leading you to grow or focus your gifts more intently for his Kingdom purposes? Are there any gifts, time, or resources that you resist using for God’s purposes?If Jesus is returning, how do you think it should shape your approach on one of your frontlines?Which do you think you’re ever most in danger of: (a) underestimating the value of God’s gifts entrusted to you; (b) failing to recognise that those gifts belong to God; or (c) being risk-averse with what God has entrusted to you? What could help you avoid whichever you are most susceptible to?READ Luke 19:16-27What most surprises or confuses you about this part of the parable? What were the lasting effects?How could we read this part of the parable incorrectly as pointing to a Gospel of works?To what extent are the rewards disproportionate to the acts of obedience? How is this God’s grace?How do you think God multiplies out his gifts through our obedience? How do have you witnessed God’s gracious multiplication (for his glory) at St Bart’s? What could that look like in the future?How does accepting Jesus as Lord mean that we are recipients of his grace? How does rejecting Jesus mean that we face judgment on our own?APPLY: How can you maximise your gifts in service of the returning King? PRAYER Heavenly Father, thank you so much that Jesus went to the cross for us, rose from the dead, and is coming back again. Please help us to be aware of the gifts that you have entrusted to us, motivated to use those gifts for your Kingdom purposes, and mindful of the account we will give when you return. Amen. GOING DEEPER On Your Frontline This Week: What is distinctive about how you see others serving Jesus on their frontlines? Make time to enco