Standards for deacons

A sermon by Rod Benson 1 Timothy 3:8-13 Many people today are highly suspicious of authority. But authority itself is a necessary and good gift from God that reflects his sovereign and benevolent rule over us. With authority comes responsibility, and so in business and professional life we have codes of ethics, and professional standards, …

The church’s one foundation

A sermon by Rod Benson What books and movies did you love as a child? I seem to have spent a large part of my childhood in books. Among my favourites were The Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis, the Tom Swift science fiction series, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, mystery …

A sermon on euthanasia

Job 14:5-13; 2 Peter 1:2-4 When I was asked to preach a topical sermon on the subject of euthanasia, my thoughts turned to the tragic and mysterious Old Testament character named Job. There are many life lessons for us in the Book of Job, many opportunities to pause from frantic attempts to make a life …

What is the church? Part 2: Its purpose

A sermon by Rod Benson What is the purpose of the church? What is its reason for being? Paul says in Ephesians 3:10-11, “[God’s] intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that …

What happens when I die?

A sermon by Rod Benson There are two certainties in life: birth and death. We celebrate birth, and while we also celebrate death through carefully crafted eulogies and respectful rituals, a death is usually an occasion for sadness and sympathy, reflection, condolences and hushed voices. Death is inevitable and unavoidable, but it is not a …