Whittlesey Baptist Church Sermons: Recent Episodes
Whittlesey Baptist Church
How does Jesus fit into God’s plan of salvation? How significant is he? An important question and one where we need to ask whether our lives match what God says.
Revelation shows us there’s a chaos to life in this world. It’s broken and out of our control. Yet, there is one place we can turn to find confidence in the chaos.
What happens when we substitute material wealth for Jesus? It’s not pretty, actually it’s so bad it makes Jesus sick!
Discouragement hits hard and can knock us off balance. Here we look at Jesus’ words to a discouraged church? How does he encourage them and spur them on to continue?
How important is it that Jesus went to the cross? Is it really the ‘crux of the matter’, or something less than that?
Complacency kills. It blinds us to problems and makes us over confident in dealing with them. It’s a threat to faith and witness. So, how can we avoid it?
To be an effective church for Jesus Christ we need to be good going forward and in defence. Here we look at how to defend against the threat of false teaching.
Can we dilute Jesus to make him a bit more palatable? What might that look like and why does it matter.
To a church in the crusher Jesus says, ‘Do not be afraid…. be faithful to the point of death’. How can anyone do that?
What is our greatest need today? What do we need more than anything else if we are to live in this broken world with hope, joy, peace and certainty? What is it we need if we are to continue in confident faith in Jesus whatever happens?
2000 years ago Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Mary, Joseph, Angels, shepherds, wise men; they all have a part in the events. But why was born? Why is it so important?
What would it look like for you to put growing in godliness as the main thing in your life? What would have to change?
In a work of art, literature or music it is very often possible to tell the author or creator of the piece by listening and seeing what is produced. The same is true for a Christian. God, the author and source of our faith can be seen in the life that is lived out. In this passage John shows us how that will materialise.
You can’t switch faith on in an instant. If you leave it dormant, it won’t be ready for when you need it. Here we look at three ways we can grow a faith that’s ready.
When we go through painful times we are faced with a choice: look to God or turn away from him? How can we keep our eyes on God in the middle of the trial?
Why is the covenant so important in the Bible? What does it tell us about God and the relationship we can have with him through Jesus?
Genesis 16 is one of those car crash chapters where just about everything is messed up. Yet, what can we learn from it?
Do you ever find yourself doubting what God has promised? Forgiveness? Love? Care? Protection? Am amazing life? You’re not alone. Here we look at how God reassures and encourages faith when the doubts creep in.
Friendship with Jesus might sound nice, but do we need it? Here we dive in to Matthew 1:21 and see that Jesus is no ordinary friend.
Would a king be interested in you? What does Jesus day? Here we look at some incredible words of Jesus and what they mean for us today.
Jesus is God! Can you really be his friend? Listen to hear what the Bible has to say and the amazing claim it makes.
It’s tough being different, yet that’s what it means being a Christian. Here we look at how to live our lives centred on God rather than shaped by the world.
At the heart of this chapter is a contrast between two men, Lot & Abraham. Which do you most look like? The answer really matters!
In life we get used to people letting us down. Will that ever be the case with God and the gospel?
You wouldn’t give a small child a burning branch to play with, would you? It’s dangerous for them and for others. But what about false teaching, how should we handle that?
Is the good news of Jesus really believable? Rising from the dead; God come to earth; forgiveness: do I really need that?
What’s the best invitation you’ve ever received? How does it compare to the one God give us through the cross?
Jesus is the king! How do we respond? Would we be shouting and praising on the roadside like they did as Jesus came to Jerusalem? Are we rejoicing?
‘Greet one another with a holy kiss!’ What is that all about and how are we supposed to live that out in church today?
How can you know if you have a gospel heart? In this message we look at 3 test questions and an encouragement to make knowing, living and sharing the good news of Jesus our priority.
Paul gives us in these verses a look behind the scenes of his life and calling. We see into his heart, what motivates him and how he has given himself up to God to as an instrument, to use as he sees fit. We will do well to follow his example.
Living with hope is important. Yet, where can we find a hope that can endure all the ups and downs of life?
A biblical church is a welcoming church? Is that true? What does it look like? How can we do it?
It’s right to want people to enjoy their liberty in Christ. Yet, anything done without faith is sin. How should that affect us as we encourage each other to grow in the gospel?
What is Christianity all about? What is church all about? What is baptism all about? In this passage we see the answer and it might not be what you expect!
It’s easy to get on with people who agree with you, but what about those who don’t? How should we handle this in the church?
It’s easy to get on with people who agree with you, but what about those who don’t? How should we handle this in the church?
At the start of 2023, what would John say to us as a Church? These verses tell us the answer “love one another”.
How does the birth of Jesus rank compared to the other events of the Bible? Is it just one thing among many, or is it more significant than that?
The Bible tells us that Jesus is coming again. How should that change how we live today?
Love: four letters that stand for action. Can we love without putting it into practice?
What is love? Is it summed up with the kiss at the end of a letter or an emoji at the end of the text or does it go deeper than that?
We know the good news - Jesus has paid it all! Yet we owe something to the stranger in the bus queue and our colleague at the next till…
Wrecking balls break and destroy, but God’s wants his people to work for peace. How can we make sure we’re doing that?
What’s the difference between fake love and real love? Why’s that an important question if we want to live for Jesus?
Paul says here that a community of Christians, a church, is the body of Christ. But what will that body look like, how will the members be, how will they relate to one another? These verses help us understand how to offer ourselves as living sacrifices in the context of the local church.
How can we know what God wants us to do? Is there a list of dos and don’ts or is it something more than that?
God sent Jesus, His Son, to die for our sin so we could be forgiven. And that’s just the start of it. What can we do to say thank you?
Is God tolerant? Is he forever patient with our rebellion and sin? What does the book of Daniel say?
It easy to crop God out of our view of life; to forget that he is an integral part of each day. Yet, is that a wise thing to do?
Each day we’re faced with a choice: who will we live for? Will it be the god’s of this age, or will it be the one true living God, the God of the Bible?
Who shines brightest on the pages of Daniel? Whose the main character and what do we see about him?
Following can mean we have to make hard choices; choices with consequences. Are we ready to stand?
A great painting tells us there is a great painter. What does the good news of Jesus tell us about God?
Good news! God tells us how we can be right with him, and it’s something within reach of us all.
Individuality can be a good thing. It’s often ok to do things your own way. But what about life with God? Can we come any way we choose?
Is the doctrine of election something to treasure, or should we object to it? Should it be something we are ashamed of, or should we rejoice in it? What does the Bible say?
Easter is a time to celebrate life; Jesus rose from the dead and promises life to all who believe in him. But what life is he talking about?
When people reject Jesus, is that proof that God is weak? Or is there something else at work?
How do we know when we’ve grasped the Gospel? How do we know when the good news of Jesus has really sunk in? Has it happened when we can explain it, or is there something more?
Having confidence makes a huge difference as we seek to live for God and share the good news of Jesus in this world. Where should we look for it and where can we find it?
Suffering around us, suffering within us. How can we be honest about that, without it gripping us and making us despair of life? Here we see how life with God through Jesus makes a difference.
If you’re a Christian you have the Holy Spirit living within you. Now, here’s your choice! Do you ignore him, or do you intentionally live to know his help, power and all the blessings he wants you to enjoy?
It’s happened again. In the ring with sin and hit with a knock out blow. Why bother getting up and trying again? Three words, ’the Holy Spirit’.
Sin is wrong, God hates it and we can’t stop doing it. Truths that should should make us despair. But is there anywhere we can turn for hope?
Sin is real in the life of a Christian. We know we will not be free from it until we receive our new bodies in heaven. A healthy Christian will experience a battle within, this is to be expected. But that battle should always make us turn to Jesus for forgiveness and to be changed through his Holy Spirit, rather than trust in our own efforts through obeying the law. In this passage Paul shows what the law was intended for, what it can and cannot do. Through this we can see the need of Jesus and his power to save, change and free us from sin.
It’s grace not law! That’s the point of Romans chapter 6. But where does that leave the law today? Should we tear it up and throw it away, or does it still have a role to play?
Remove the rules and everyone does what they want. Result: total mayhem. How can a message where getting right with God is a free gift, not the result of keeping the rules be anything but a recipe for anarchy?
Grace is magnified where sin is multiplied, so shouldn’t we sin as much as we can to show how big God’s grace is? How does the Bible answer that?
How would you answer this question: What do you need for 2022 to be a better year than 2021? No more Covid? Freedom to travel? More money? People to be kinder? How many of us would give the answer that God gave to Isaiah?
The big things in life are we sing about. One of the biggest is the birth of Jesus. What reasons does it give us to sing?
Do you have to wait till Christmas day to open your presents? The Bible speaks of a gift we can unwrap any day of the year. Come and discover more?
Pinning your hope on God, is that really wise? How do you know he won’t let you down or change his mind? Can you really be sure he’ll come through for you? Is there anywhere we can look for a rock solid guarantee?
Hope matters for joy. We can’t know true happiness when we have nothing to look forward to? Does life with God make any difference?
Do we need people in our lives? Do we need something more than that? Here we explore the place of community and the Bible’s promise of a something much deeper.
God’s light, shining into the life of the Christian, must have an impact on it as that light is reflected. In this passage John shows us three reflections of love that will result, each of which can be used as a test to make sure we are abiding in the light.
How do you view suffering and hardship? Is it purely heartache to be avoided, or is there another perspective we can have?
Abraham is an old guy who lived and died a long time ago. How can anything God said about him have anything to do with me?
At harvest time we say thank you to God for the material gifts he gives us. How are we supposed to handle them though? What attitude should we have towards them?
2 + 2 = 4. That’s it! There’s only one answer and no alternatives? It’s the same if we want to be right with God. There’s only one way, but what is it?