WHAT DO YOU BUY JESUS FOR HIS BIRTHDAY?

JOY HAS DAWNED

How are you tracking with your Christmas shopping? Started? Finished? Almost finished? Perhaps you’ve only got those people left to buy gifts for. You know the ones… those that are hard to buy for. They’re picky or they’ve already got everything! Good luck with that. What about Jesus? How would you go if you had to buy a gift for him? He’s the creator of all things – how do you give to the Creator something that doesn’t already belong to him?!??

In this sermon in our Joy Has Dawned series I explore the 3 gifts given by the Magi to baby Jesus. Traditionally these gifts have been seen to symbolise something about the identity and mission of Jesus. This was first suggested by Origen in the 3rd Century. Is this a good reading of the text? Have a listen below to hear what my thoughts.

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WHAT DOES EVERYDAY LIFE LOOK LIKE WITH JESUS AS LORD?

I’ve really enjoyed preaching 4 of the 5 weeks of our series on Colossians. Many suggest, and I agree, that Colossians 2:6-7 are the key verses in this book. “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” The way you begin the Christian life – with Jesus as Lord – is the way you continue the Christian life. The Lordship of Jesus is a big deal in Colossians. In chapter 1 Jesus is revealed as the Supreme LORD. Chapter 2-3 shows how the Christian can be raised with Christ and shows how our new identity in the Lord should change how we live. Then in chapter 3-4 Paul speaks about how Jesus as Lord will impact everyday life and relationships. This sermon explored those relationships.

DAVE MIERS SERMON ON “RELATING FOR CHRIST” (right click to download etc)

Here is the structure:

THE COPERNICAN REVOLUTION
CONTEXT + KEY VERSE: COLOSSIANS 2:6-7
1) JESUS IS LORD OF YOUR HOME LIFE (Colossians 3:18-21)
2) JESUS IS LORD OF YOUR WORK LIFE (Colossians 3:22-4:1)
3) JESUS IS LORD OF YOUR PRIVATE LIFE (Colossians 4:2-4)
4) JESUS IS LORD OF YOUR SOCIAL LIFE (Colossians 4:5-6)
JESUS IS LORD OF ALL!

HOW DO YOU AVOID LOSING THE GOSPEL FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT?

remain-in-christ

I’ve outlined previously the danger of Christian culture. One generation preaches the gospel of Jesus and within a few small steps later generations have assumed, neglected and then denied the good news of Jesus. How do you avoid this? In Colossians 2:6-7 Paul urges his readers to continue in Christ. See the Colossians sermon below to see how I unpack this idea of remaining in Christ.

DAVE MIERS SERMON ON “REMAINING IN CHRIST” (right click to download etc)

Here is the structure:

ONE GENERATION AWAY FROM LOSING THE GOSPEL
KEY VERSE: COLOSSIANS 2:6-7
1) FULLNESS IS FOUND ONLY IN CHRIST (Colossians 2:8-15)
2) FREEDOM IS FOUND ONLY IN CHRIST (Colossians 2:16-23)
KEY VERSE: COLOSSIANS 2:6-7
ONE GENERATION AWAY FROM CHANGING THE WORLD

WHAT DOES JESUS SAY ABOUT LEISURE?

JESUS & LEISURE

During October at St Faith’s we have been working through a series on “JESUS &”… Friendships, Marriage, Leisure and Work. This weekend I spoke from various passages of Scripture on the topic of LEISURE. I looked at the idea of REST in the bible from Creation to New Creation. Have a listen and let me know what you think.

DAVE MIERS SERMON ON “JESUS & LEISURE” (right click to download etc)

Here is the structure:

AUSTRALIANS ARE LEISURE LOVERS
1) THE GOAL OF CREATION IS REST (Genesis 1-2)
2) SIN & THE FALL BRING UNREST (Genesis 3)
3) GOD REDEEMS PEOPLE FOR REST (Exodus 20, Mark 2, Matthew 11)
4) LONG FOR ETERNAL REST (Revelation 21, Hebrews 4)
DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE

What do you think it looks like to have Jesus shape your view on rest and leisure?

Feel free to leave a comment…

GOD IS MY HELP // A SERMON ON PSALM 40 FOR HSC STUDENTS

Pic from http://www.creationswap.com/media/2056

At St Faith’s Narrabeen we are deliberate in the way that we seek to care for our year 12s in their final year of schooling. This week is our HSC Study Hall and on the weekend we had a year 12 church service. It’s got the normal night church crowd, but we give a little bit of love to the year 12s. We thank their leaders, meet them, pray for them, give them a gift and then have a sermon with particular application for them. See below for my sermon.

GOD IS MY HELP // PSALM 40 // DAVE MIERS SERMON (right-click etc to download)

Feel free to pass it on to anyone about to do their exams. But likewise anyone who is currently going through a time of stress and distress.

Here is the outline:

WHERE DO YOU TURN IN TIMES OF STRESS & DISTRESS?
1) REMEMBER GOD HAS RESCUED YOU ONCE (Psalm 40:1-10)
2) REMEMBER GOD WILL RESCUE YOU AGAIN (Psalm 40:11-17)
YOU ARE MY HELP

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JESUS VS. HYPOCRISY // MATTHEW 23

jesus-vs-hypocrisy

Below is my sermon from this past weekend on Matthew 23:1-22. Is the church full of hypocrites? It’s an accusation often levelled against the Christianity. Here is a really useful article from R.C. Sproul that I found useful in preparation.

Dave Miers Sermon on Matthew 23 JESUS VS. HYPOCRISY (right click etc to download)

Here is the structure:

THE CHURCH IS FULL OF HYPOCRITES
1) HYPOCRISY IS NOT PRACTISING WHAT YOU PREACH? (Matt 23:1-7)
2) JESUS CONDEMNS HYPOCRISY (Matt 23:13-22)
3) FIGHT HYPOCRISY WITH HUMBLE SERVICE (Matt 23:8-12)
TAKE OFF YOUR MASK

CHECK OUT MORE OF MY PREACHING HERE

JESUS BUILDS HIS CHURCH // MATTHEW 16

Next month we will be beginning a series at St Faith’s Narrabeen in Matthew 23-28. For the next few weeks we are recapping the first two thirds of the book. Today I spoke on Matthew 16. It was good to think through Jesus and the mission of the church. See below for MP3

JESUS BUILDS HIS CHURCH

Dave Miers Sermon on Matthew 16 JESUS BUILDS HIS CHURCH (right click etc to download)

Here is the structure:

MISSION CREEP
1) WHO IS JESUS? (Matt 16:13-16)
2) WHAT IS JESUS DOING? (Matt 16:17-20)
3) HOW DOES JESUS DO IT? (Matt 16:21-23)
4) WHAT DO WE DO? (Matt 16:24-28)
KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING

CHECK OUT MORE OF MY PREACHING HERE