In Sermons: showing 16-30 of 45

The Widow & The Judge

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 18, 2008

Its obvious what this is all about – yes, no. Another challenging way of reading this passage.

The widow & the judge Its obvious what this is all about – yes? Actually just in case we didn’t get it, Luke tells us Jesus gave His own interpretation. So, its a story about persistence in prayer and God’s compassion and responsiveness. Isn’t it? Well let’s just think a little about it. There ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8

Denomination: Methodist

The Sacrament Of Holy Communion

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 18, 2008

Too many people in Church have never understood that HC is such a powerful mission event. In this celebration we don’t just proclaim Jesus we meet Him so the rail is the safest place on earth

The Sacrament of Communion 1 Corinthians 11:17-29 I have talked about many times how we encounter God in all things but also in specific things. Our experience of love isn’t of love in general, but rather it is specific; like the affection & love of a child or parent or partner for instance. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-29

Denomination: Methodist

Parable Of The Sower

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 18, 2008

Its not all about the soil - its about the sower too.

Matthew 13:1-9 (The Message) Parables are stories Jesus told that tell us something about the Kingdom of God. They are though about concealing and not just revealing the truth. If you want to understand the message you have to be prepared to delve deeper than the simple story. But the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-9

Denomination: Methodist

The Cost And The Coin

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 17, 2008

We should never play down the joy and peace of the relationship Jesus wants with us, but equally we should never underestimate cost.

Luke 15:8-10, 14:25-35 Today if you will follow me we shall walk backwards through Luke’s story and I pray encounter something of the power of God’s message for us today. The lost coin parable is a wonderful lesson for us. In it we find a woman who represents God loosing a day’s earnings. The ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

Judging Like Jesus

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 17, 2008

God looks beyond the outward appearance and He wants us to be the same.

James 2:1-10, 14-17 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 The problem with human beings is that too often we judge things by how they appear and miss the bigger picture. We take notice of all sorts of things like what colour people are, where they were born, how they talk, how much money they have, what car ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7

Denomination: Methodist

More Undignified Than This!

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 17, 2008

The sad truth is that many never worship instead they watch.

2 Samuel 6:12-23 In the reading from 2 Samuel we see two contrasting positions that I think impact on how we worship God. We find David getting excited & passionate about God, his wife Michal the daughter of Saul watching & getting angry with her Husband. She tells him off in no uncertain terms ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:12-23

Denomination: Methodist

Turn The Power On

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 17, 2008

We can’t find meaning & proclaim truth if we are not plugged into the Holy Spirit, yet so many Christians try to live without any relationship or even contact with the Spirit of God.

Mark 1:4-11 & or John 1:29-36 Some things are just obvious aren’t they? Yet sometimes we act in a way that seems to deny common sense. For instance we drive sometimes without thinking properly about where we are going, almost on automatic pilot; do you know what I mean? Sometimes I’ve got in the ...read more

Scripture: John 1:29-36

Denomination: Methodist

Week Prayer For Christian Unity 08

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 8, 2008

Full service for ecumenical service - Praying about unity is a waste of time if we do not work for unity too; we have to be people who value variety & difference in one another.

Welcome CTW - HP 882 Psalm 133 HP 252 All hail the power of Jesus’ name Prayers of adoration Prayer of thanksgiving Reading 1 Thessalonians 5: 12a, 13b-18 SOF 303 Jesus stand among us Sermon SOF 43 Bind us together SOF 388 May the fragrance of Jesus Intercessions HP 758 In ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18

Denomination: Methodist

The Silence Of God

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 7, 2008

God speaks to us in a still small voice - but how good are we at hearing Him in the silence?

The silence of God 1 Kings 19:1-18 & Psalm 42 We pick up the story of Elijah just after his most amazing moment. He has stood for God against the prophets of Baal, & proved that God alone is the true God as the Lord poured fire down to consume his offering. But then the prophet hears that Jezebel ...read more

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:1-18

Denomination: Methodist

The Arrow

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 7, 2008

A Family all age message about practicing our faith, leaning on the Spirit & staying close to Jesus.

The Arrow 2 Peter 1: 3- 11 WORD # 1 I want to suggest that being a Christian is lot like being an arrow. Now I’m no expert on arrows, though have seen them used, I can remember Errol Flynn - Robin Hood, anyone else? I can remember hours spent as a child imagining life as Robin Hood firing pretend ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3-11

Denomination: Methodist

Covenant 08

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 6, 2008

We often get carried away thinking everything is all about us & our own personal Jesus, but the Holy Spirit wants us to understand that we do not exist in isolation. Just as when we get to heaven we will be part of a huge family, there is a corporate side

Promises are made to be broken. That’s what it seems like in the world isn’t it? It’s what seems to be going on in scripture too. A Covenant is of course just a promise, like in the covenant of marriage, & it can be between human beings alone or God & human beings. A very important part of a ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 10:23-25

Denomination: Methodist

Covenant Family Service 08

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 6, 2008

Full service - Family Covenant Service with Holy Communion. All have sinned BUT GOD in His immense mercy & amazing love . . .

Sutton Coldfield Family Covenant Service Jeremiah 31:31-34 HP 10 Let all the world in every corner sing Prayers & Intercessions Ephesians 2:1-10 (The Message) Talk 1 Notices & Collection during HP 31 Come let us all unite & sing John 1:11-14 Talk 2 SOF 138 God of grace I turn my face SOF ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Denomination: Methodist

Ambassadors Of Christ

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 3, 2008

Christ has reconciled us to God in such an amazing way - not so that we can sit & feel good but so that we might be ambassadors of Christ

2 Corinthians 5:11–6:2 The Message ‘We’re Christ’s representatives, God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their defences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now.’ Today I want us to follow Paul’s line of thought in this ...read more

Denomination: Methodist

John - Full Of Christmas Cheer

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 3, 2008

An advent message thinking about what John the baptist has to do with this season.

Luke 1:3-18 The season of Christmas is upon us, but I wonder at what point did this realisation hit you? When you saw the decorations going up in shopping centres - something which always seems to happen way too early (i.e. October)? When you received your first card? In the Church Advent ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:3-18

Denomination: Methodist

It Isn't Fair Lord

Contributed by Joseph Neil Adams on Jan 3, 2008

A meditation in 2 parts - a Christian complaining about how awful Christmas has become, & God’s response. I included the Christmas story from Luke in the service.

A CHRISTIAN AT PRAYER Lord it just isn’t fair the way they treat us at Christmas time. We’d worked hard to put on the specials this year. Harder than ever perhaps. Did they come – did they heckers like. And the crowds down in town this year seemed bigger too Lord. From the moment they switched ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-7

Denomination: Methodist