Tag: preaching

In the Old Testament the Sabbath Day was a significant part of Jewish religious experience. The idea of setting aside one day as holy to the Lord was a pattern set up in the creation story in Genesis. Observance of the Sabbath Day is then written into the ten commandments found in Exodus.

How should 21st Century Christians relate to the Sabbath Day? Are Christians bound by the Old Testament law? Should Christians observe the Sabbath Day?

In Luke 6:1-11 some Pharisees rebuke Jesus because his disciples have apparently done what is not lawful on the Sabbath. This sermon [player below] considers Jesus’ response to them and what we can learn about the Sabbath.

The sermon finishes with 5 ways that Christians should apply the Sabbath principles to their life:

1) The Sabbath is about the heart
2) The Sabbath is for worship
3) The Sabbath is for our good
4) The Sabbath acknowledges that God is sovereign
5) The Sabbath looks forward to eternal rest

Continue reading “SHOULD CHRISTIANS OBSERVE THE SABBATH DAY?”

Who is Jesus? If you were to ask that question on your street or your facebook page, you may receive a great variety of answers. How would the locals in Jesus’ hometown, Nazareth, have answered it? I’m sure many would have respected him, others knew he was a good man, still others would consider him to still be Mary and Joe’s boy – working as a carpenter.

But how does Jesus answer that question? “Who is Jesus” according to Jesus? In Luke 4, Jesus returns home and reveals from the Old Testament who he understands himself to be.

The sermon below explores what Jesus says in Luke 4:14-30.
Continue reading “JESUS BRINGS SALVATION & JUDGEMENT”

Social networks are a significant part of life in the our world: Facebook; Twitter; Instagram; Snapchat; MySpace; Google Plus; LinkedIn. And whatever comes next! However, social networks are not a new invention. A group of men that have swum in the same location at the same beach for the last 40 years who have no interest in digital networks, are still part of a social network.

Social networks show us that we have a deep desire for connection, community and relationship. It shows we are human.

What is it to be human? Relationship is important. It really matters.

What does the Bible say about relationship?

Listen to sermon below…

Here is the structure:

We have a deep desire for relationship
1) MADE FOR RELATIONSHIP
2) BROKEN RELATIONSHIP
3) RECONCILED RELATIONSHIP
4) PERFECTED RELATIONSHIP
Life Under God

Continue reading “WHAT IS IT TO BE HUMAN?”

I’ve recently launched a Preaching Podcast. I have a whole bunch of preaching series’ recorded that, if time and demand permits, I will upload. The first series is from the start of 2013 at St Faith’s Youth Community (SOULIES) on Ecclesiastes. It was a 3-part series for our mission month. These are good for Christian teenagers and their friends. If you’re a little older, I’m sure they will still be relevant enough. Check it:

FOR WE ARE YOUNG AND FREE

PODCAST UPDATES: RSS // SOUNDCLOUD // ITUNES // EMAIL // PODCAST

The gospels record 7 sets of words that Jesus spoke from the cross. One of those is found in John 19:30 when Jesus says “It is finished”. What could Jesus mean by these words? Is it that he has had enough? Is it that he has been defeated? The following is my sermon from St Faith’s Narrabeen Good Friday 2014. In it I suggest that when Jesus says “It is finished” it’s not a cry of defeat but a cry of victory. Have a listen to find out more…

Here is the structure of the sermon:

Famous Last Words
Jesus’ Last Words: It is finished
How is Jesus victorious at the cross?
1) JESUS HAS VICTORY OVER SIN!
2) JESUS HAS VICTORY OVER SATAN!
3) JESUS HAS VICTORY OVER DEATH!
Your Last Words

Dave Miers preaching John 19:30 “IT IS FINISHED” (Right click download)

Image from here

Jesus has street cred. He’s respected by all the major world religions. And even the average person who isn’t particularly religious respects Jesus.

In pop culture, Jesus is often presented as a likeable figure.

Hollywood celebrities including Ashton Kutcher, Brad Pitt, Madonna, Pamela Anderson and Ben Affleck helped to make famous a t-shirt declaring that JESUS IS MY HOMEBOY. You know, we hang together, roll together, he’s got my back, I’ve got his back. Word.

Then there is BUDDY CHRIST. Originally from a movie no-one can actually remember, Buddy Christ is a parody trying to show a friendly, Jesus-is-my-buddy type of Jesus. This particular image was then made into a bobble head, what’s not to love about a Bobble Head Christ! Jesus is my buddy, my pal and good for a laugh.

But the ultimate example of Jesus as a likeable figure is from the classic 1986 Aussie movie, Crocodile Dundee. Mick Dundee responds to the question of whether he was afraid of dying after being attacked by a crocodile…

I read The Bible once. You know God and Jesus and all them apostles? They were all fishermen, just like me. Yeah, straight to heaven for Mick Dundee. Yep, me and God, we’d be mates.

Most Aussies would believe that, if there is a God, then just like Mick Dundee “me and God, we’d be mates”.

Is it right to refer to God and Jesus this way? Is Jesus your mate?
Continue reading “JESUS IS MY MATE // #JESUSIS”

Have you ever been in a social setting where you have stuck out like a sore thumb? Perhaps you have felt like every eye in the room is on you for turning up under-dressed for the occasion. Some people enjoy the spotlight and crave attention. But for most of us most of the time, we’d rather not stand out but simply be normal like everyone else.

The call of Christianity is to standout. To be different. Not by wearing the wrong clothes to a function, but by displaying godly character traits. The sermon below considered what should motivate a Christian to pursue holy living.

DAVE MIERS SERMON ON 1 PETER 1:13-2:3 (right click to download etc)

Here is the outline:

Continue reading “HOPE LEADS TO HOLINESS”