Sermons from Sweet Home

Thanksgiving: An Attitude of Gratitude

It is amazing to see how your attitude changes when you live thankfully. When you look at what you don't have you see shortcomings. When you look at what you do have, you see abundance. What if you had today only those things you thanked God for yesterday?  

Winter is Coming: Cuddle!

In this second lesson in the series based on Matthew 24:12 the practice of church attendance is addressed. What does Hebrews 10:24-25 say church attendance is really about? The truth is that we can stay at home and watch a sermon, read our Bibles, sing a song, partake of the Lord's Supper...all of these from our comfortable lounge sets. But the one thing we cannot do from our couches is to love someone, encourage someone and spur someone on to love and good works.
We can be present at church without participating. We can walk in and walk out without making loving contact with anyone. According to Hebrews 1:24-25, that is a big mistake and defeats the objective. Perhaps it is time that we understand the assembly for what it really is supposed to be: A time when one encourage another instead of simply getting together to fulfil a set of religiously stiff performances followed by a Ted talk.  

Acts 15:20-35 Loaders or Lifters

The elders in Jerusalem came to a conclusion regarding what is necessary for Gentiles to do in order to be faithful Christians. It turns out that the leaders of the first church was not interested in loading people up with all kinds of rules to follow, but lifted the load that was imposed by some false teachers. 

Acts 15:1-19 The Separatists Awaken

As the ministry of the Gospel made progress throughout the Gentile world, Satan's plans were bound to bring a halt to it. some false teachers arrived at Antioch with a different Gospel: Gentiles will have to be circumcised if they want to be saved. This teaching brought the apostles in sharp dispute with them which eventually moved the Apostles to go to Jerusalem and enquire of the apostles there what they had to say on this issue. 

Winter is Coming: Introduction

Jesus said that as the end of Earth draws near there will be wars, droughts, earthquakes and great deception. These are the beginning of birth "contractions". It is during this time that Jesus says "the love of most will grow cold". The closer we get to the end, the less people will love each other.
A cold winter is approaching, a world in which people avoid each other, dislike each other and even detest each other. In many ways we are already there. To the Christian this is very hard, because his whole faith is based on a love towards his neighbors. How can we prepare ourselves to not become cold as well? How do we remain loving in a world where people are difficult to love?

Acts 14:21-28 The Derby/e is Over

Not much is said of the last city (Derbe) Paul and Barnabas visited, except that they wont a large number of disciples there. The Apostles then decided to go back the way they came to visit all the new converts and to put elders in place for the churches. When they arrived back in Antioch at their sending church, they gave a report back of he great work God had done among the Gentiles. 

Acts 14:8-20 The gods are here!

Paul and Barnabas arrive in Lystra and perform an extraordinary miracle: They heal a man who was lame from birth. The city goes into such an uproar that the people think Paul and Barnabas are gods. Within  a wink they make catering arrangements to sacrifice animals to the Apostles. But soon, the worshippers of the Apostles turn into the killers of the Apostles and stoned Paul to semi-death.

Acts 14:1-7 The Side of Truth

In the city of Iconium Paul and Barnabas preach so effectively that many people came to Christ. But there were enemies of the cross and before long the town as split in two: Those who sided with the truth, and those who sided with the lie. 

The Evil of Laziness

In a great country of great wealth it is so easy to become lazy. There are so many ways to get food and everything that you need that you don't really have to work. But is laziness a Christian virtue? Or the opposite? Or is laziness just neutral behavior's?
In this lesson the Bible is explored from Proverbs to the church in Thessalonica on the topic of laziness. It seems like working and resting are good ideas, but there is no place for laziness. 

Communion, what’s the deal?

The partaking of the Lord's Supper or the Communion have been experienced by most people who attend church to some extent. It is one physical meal that Jesus commanded us to participate in. Why? 
Is it just a simple ritual with no real significance? What was the purpose of meals in the days of Jesus? How can we have the correct mindset as we partake of his meal?