Faith

As a lay preacher since 1986, and an ordained minister since 1999, I’ve notched up over 800 sermons. Some should never have been born, others have had their day. These are what I regard as some of the best. Let me know what you think. I’ve also added transcripts of shorter devotional talks, and Bible study notes. Click on the underlined titles to link to the full-text transcript.

Mountains of Scripture

• • Mount Sinai (coming soon)
  • Mount Eden (11 Apr 2023)

Occasional addresses at Moore Theological College

• • Five ways the Bible shapes our work practices (27 Mar 2023)
  • What is the mission of God? (6 Feb 2023)

Ministry advice from Paul to Timothy

• • Discern, flee, pursue! (7 Feb 2022)
  • Serve, play, work (31 Jan 2022)
  • Grasp the word (24 Jan 2022)
  • Rekindle the flame (17 Jan 2022)

Exploring themes in Luke’s Gospel (Bible study notes)

• • The preface and purpose of Luke’s Gospel (12 Jul 2021)
  • The structure of Luke’s Gospel (27 Jun 2021)
  • Did Luke write Hebrews? (22 Jun 2021)
  • Who wrote the Gospel of Luke? (19 Apr 2021)
  • What is distinctive about Luke’s Gospel? (2 Apr 2021)
  • Why are there four Gospels? (28 Mar 2021)
  • The origins of the Gospels (21 Mar 2021)
  • Basic features of the four Gospels (14 Mar 2021)
  • What is a Gospel? (12 Mar 2021)

Managing changes in our lives

• • The winds of ultimate change (Php 3:20f; 1 Mar 2021)
  • The winds of change and renewal (Mt 11:28f; 22 Feb 2021)
  • The winds of change and me (various; 15 Feb 2021)
  • Jesus and the winds of change (Heb 13:8; 8 Feb 2021)
  • God and the winds of change (Mal 3:6; 1 Feb 2021)

Significant sentences of Scripture

• • The very hungry mediator (Matt 4:2; 20 Jan 2020)
  • And also the stars (Gen 1:16; 13 Jan 2020)
  • Whatever they do prospers (Psalm 1:3; 6 Jan 2020)

Help for troubled emotions

• • Abandoned by God (Psalm 10:1; Lithgow Baptist Church, 29 Sep 2019)
  • Overwhelmed by negative feelings (1 Jn 1:9; Lithgow Baptist Church, 22 Sep 2019)
  • Underwhelmed by lack of feelings (2 Cor 5:7; Lithgow Baptist Church, 8 Sep 2019)

When Jesus returns

• • The return of the King (Rev 19:11-21; Lithgow Baptist Church, 6 May 2018)
  • The end of history (Rev 21:1-6; Lithgow Baptist Church, 20 May 2018)
  • The hope of glory (Rev 22:1-5; Lithgow Baptist Church, 27 May 2018)

Thinking with Malachi about God

• • The love of God (Mal 1:1-14, Lithgow Baptist Church, 10 Dec 2017)
  • The justice of God (Mal 2:1-17, Lithgow Baptist Church, 17 Dec 2017)
  • The judgment of God (Mal 3:6-18, Lithgow Baptist Church, 24 Dec 2017)
  • The promise of God (Mal 3:1-5, Lithgow Baptist Church, 25 Dec 2017)
  • The salvation of God (Mal 4:1-6, Lithgow Baptist Church, 31 Dec 2017)

Fuel for a Reformation II: Reflections on Romans 4-6

• • The richness of God’s grace (Lithgow Baptist Church, 5 Nov 2017, Rom 4:1-25)
  • The benefits of justification (Lithgow Baptist Church, 12 Nov 2017, Rom 5:1-11)
  • The process of justification (Lithgow Baptist Church, 19 Nov 2017, Rom 5:12-21)
  • Here in the grace of God I stand (Lithgow Baptist Church, 26 Nov 2017, Rom 6:1-14)
  • A change of allegiance (Lithgow Baptist Church, 3 Dec 2017, Rom 6:15-23)

The story of Jonah

• • Man on the run (Lithgow Baptist Church, 3 Sep 2017, Jonah 1:1-3)
  • Man overboard! (Lithgow Baptist Church, 10 Sep 2017, Jonah 1:4-16)
  • I believe in miracles! (Lithgow Baptist Church, 17 Sep 2017, Jonah 1:17)
  • Salvation belongs to the Lord (Lithgow Baptist Church, 15 Oct 2017, Jonah 2:1-10)
  • The power of repentance (Lithgow Baptist Church, 22 Oct 2017, Jonah 3:1-10)
  • The wideness of God’s mercy (Lithgow Baptist Church, 29 Oct 2017, Jonah 4:1-11)

Making peace: Tips for resolving personal conflicts

• • The good side of personal conflict (Lithgow Baptist Church, 9 Jul 2017, 1 Cor 10:31)
  • Taking the sting out of disagreements (Lithgow Baptist Church, 16 Jul 2017, Mt 7:5)
  • How to turn blame into blessing (Lithgow Baptist Church, 23 Jul 2017, Gal 6:1)
  • How to restore a damaged relationship (Lithgow Baptist Church, 30 Jul 2017, Mt 5:24)
  • Cultivating a culture of peace (Lithgow Baptist Church, 6 Aug 2017, Jas 3:18)

Selected Lithgow mid-week sermons 2016-2017

• • Our freedom in Jesus Christ (Lithgow Baptist Church, 6 Jul 2017; Gal 1:1-12)
  • The making of a kingmaker (1 Sam 1:1-28; Lithgow Baptist Church, 1 Feb 2017)
  • The display of God’s splendour (Isa 61:1-4; Lithgow Baptist Church, 2 Nov 2016)
  • Participation in the divine nature (2 Pet 1:1-4; Lithgow Baptist Church, 5 Oct 2016)
  • What’s in a benediction? (Jude 24-25; Lithgow Baptist Church, Wed 7 Sep 2016)
  • A biblical history of praise (Lithgow Baptist Church mid-week service, 6 Jul 2016)
  • Praying the prayers of Jesus (Lithgow Baptist Church mid-week service, 7 May 2016)
  • The consolation of Job (Lithgow Baptist Church mid-week service, 7 Apr 2016)

Fuel for a Reformation I: Reflections on Romans 1-3

• • What is the gospel? (Lithgow Baptist Church, 30 Apr 2017, Rom 1:1-7)
  • Paul’s missionary strategy (Lithgow Baptist Church, 7 May 2017, Rom 1:8-15)
  • The gift of righteousness (Lithgow Baptist Church, 14 May 2017, Rom 1:16-17)
  • God’s wrath and God’s love (Lithgow Baptist Church, 21 May 2017, Rom 1:18)
  • The peril of pagan religion (Lithgow Baptist Church, 28 May 2017, Rom 1:19-32)
  • The futility of enlightened religion (Lithgow Baptist Church, 4 Jun 2017, Rom 2:1-16)
  • Practice what you preach (Lithgow Baptist Church, 11 Jun 2017, Rom 2:17-29)
  • The faithfulness of God (Lithgow Baptist Church, 18 Jun 2017, Rom 3:1-8)
  • The human condition (Lithgow Baptist Church, 25 Jun 2017, Rom 3:9-20)
  • How God makes us good (Lithgow Baptist Church, 2 Jul 2017, Rom 3:21-31 – with guest speaker Prof John Dearin)

Easter sermons 2017

• • The glory of the cross (Good Friday, 14 Apr 2017, Gal 6:14-16)
  • Do not be afraid (Easter Sunday, 16 Apr 2017, Rev 1:9-18)

The message of 1 Samuel 1-17

• • A quiet achiever (Lithgow Baptist Church, 29 Jan 2017, 1 Sam 1:1-2:1)
  • The good, the bad, and the ugly (Lithgow Baptist Church, 5 Feb 2017, 1 Sam 2:2-36)
  • When God calls you (Lithgow Baptist Church, 12 Feb 2017, 1 Sam 3:1-21)
  • Journey of the ark (Lithgow Baptist Church, 19 Feb 2017, 1 Sam 4:1-7:2a)
  • A leader’s job description (Lithgow Baptist Church, 26 Feb 2017, 1 Sam 7:2b-17)
  • Give us a king! (Lithgow Baptist Church, 5 Mar 2017, 1 Sam 8:1-21)
  • Good beginnings (Lithgow Baptist Church, 12 Mar 2017, 1 Sam 9:1-11:15)
  • A covenant, a king and a prayer (Lithgow Baptist Church, 19 Mar 2017, 1 Sam 12:1-25)
  • A rebuke, a rout, and a rejection (Lithgow Baptist Church, 26 Mar 2017, 1 Sam 13:1-15:35)
  • Rise of a new leader (Lithgow Baptist Church, 2 Apr 2017, 1 Sam 16:1-23)
  • Swords, spears, and one smooth stone Lithgow Baptist Church, 9 Apr 2017, 1 Sam 17:1-58)

Keys to effective personal discipleship and mission

• • The way of transformation (Lithgow Baptist Church, 1 Jan 2017, Psalm 1)
  • Why am I here today? (Lithgow Baptist Church, 15 Jan 2017, Rom 12:1-21)
  • Blooming where I’m planted (Lithgow Baptist Church, 22 Jan 2017, 1 Cor 12:1-31)

Before Bethlehem: Sermons for Advent 2016

• • The pre-existence of Christ (Lithgow Baptist Church, 4 Dec 2016 – Jn 3:13; 6:62)
  • The identity of Jesus (Lithgow Baptist Church, 11 Dec 2016 – Jn 1:1-3, 14)
  • Preparations for incarnation (Lithgow Baptist Church, 18 Dec 2016 – Mt 11:2-3; Lk 24:13-27)
  • The virgin conception of Christ (Lithgow Baptist Church, 25 Dec 2016 – Lk 1:26-38)

Mission 2017: Reflections on Luke 10:1-12

• • Getting our hands dirty (Lithgow Baptist Church, 30 Oct 2016)
  • Learning to travel light (Lithgow Baptist Church, 6 Nov 2016)
  • Becoming a person of peace (Lithgow Baptist Church, 13 Nov 2016)
  • Discerning where God is at work (20 Nov 2016)
  • Being part of the solution (Lithgow Baptist Church, 27 Nov 2016)

Walking Together with God: Deuteronomy 1-11

• • On the plains of Moab (Deut 30:11-20; Lithgow Baptist Church, 3 Aug 2016)
  • Time to move forward (Deut 1:1-8; Lithgow Baptist Church, 7 Aug 2016)
  • The tragedy of missed opportunities (Deut 1:9-46; Lithgow Baptist Church, 14 Aug 2016)
  • The power of past victories (Deut 2:1-3:29; Lithgow Baptist Church, 21 Aug 2016)
  • Loyal and true (Deut 4:1-31; Lithgow Baptist Church, 28 Aug 2016)
  • God is great, God is good (Deut 4:32-49; Lithgow Baptist Church, 4 Sep 2016)
  • Striking the balance (Deut 5:1-33; Lithgow Baptist Church, 11 Sep 2016)
  • Loving God with my whole person (Deut 6:1-25; Lithgow Baptist Church, 18 Sep 2016)
  • God’s sovereignty and my responsibility (Deut 7:1-26; Lithgow Baptist Church, 25 Sep 2016)
  • Our Father in heaven (Deut 8:1-20; Lithgow Baptist Church, 2 Oct 2016)
  • Sinners in the hands of a gracious God (Deut 9:1-10:11; Lithgow Baptist Church, 9 Oct 2016)
  • Saints in the hands of a holy God (Deut 10:12-22; Lithgow Baptist Church, 16 Oct 2016 – guest preacher)
  • The choices we face (Deut 11:1-32; Lithgow Baptist Church, 23 Oct 2016)

Christian basics: What do Christians really believe?

• • Who is God? (Lithgow Baptist Church, 8 May 2016)
  • What does God do? (Lithgow Baptist Church, 15 May 2016)
  • Who is Jesus Christ and what does he do? (Lithgow Baptist Church, 22 May 2016)
  • Who is the Holy Spirit and what does he do? (Lithgow Baptist Church, 29 May 2016)
  • What are angels and what do they do? (Lithgow Baptist Church, 1 Jun 2016)
  • What is the church? Part 1: Its nature (Lithgow Baptist Church, 5 Jun 2016)
  • What is the church? Part 2: Its purpose (Lithgow Baptist Church, 12 Jun 2016)
  • What is the church? Part 3: Its activities (Lithgow Baptist Church, 19 Jun 2016)
  • What is communion or the Lord’s Supper? (Lithgow Baptist Church, 26 Jun 2016)
  • What happens when I die? (Lithgow Baptist Church, 3 Jul 2016)
  • Is there a heaven and hell? (Lithgow Baptist Church, 10 Jul 2016)
  • The scope of salvation (Lithgow Baptist Church, 17 Jul 2016)
  • The certainty of salvation (Lithgow Baptist Church, 24 Jul 2016)

What makes us who we are? Five Baptist distinctives

• • A passion for reading the Bible (Lithgow Baptist Church, 3 Apr 2016)
  • A passion for conversion and baptism (Lithgow Baptist Church, 10 Apr 2016)
  • A passion for costly discipleship (Lithgow Baptist Church, 17 Apr 2016)
  • A passion for shared ministry (Lithgow Baptist Church, 24 Apr 2016)
  • A passion for the local church (Lithgow Baptist Church, 1 May 2016)

Easter sermons for 2016

• • What is justification? (Rom 4:25-5:2; Lithgow Baptist Church, 27 Mar 2016)
  • In the shadow of death (Rom 5:6-8; Lithgow Baptist Church, 25 Mar 2016)

Connecting with God

• • Praying when God is silent (Mk 15:21-39; Lithgow Baptist Church, 20 Mar 2016)
  • Praying when evil is near (Eph 6:10-26; Lithgow Baptist Church, 13 Mar 2016)
  • Praying when life is unfair (Lk 18:1-8; Lithgow Baptist Church, 6 Mar 2016)
  • Praying when church is boring (Mt 6:5-15; Lithgow Baptist Church, 28 Feb 2016)

Proverbs in the life of the church

• • Wisdom for church conflict (Prov 29:20; Lithgow Baptist Church, 21 Feb 2016)
  • Wisdom for church planning (Prov 21:5; Lithgow Baptist Church, 14 Feb 2016)
  • Wisdom for church health (Prov 15:8; Lithgow Baptist Church, 7 Feb 2016)

Being Christian today

• • Being old, being Christian (Lithgow Baptist Church, 31 Jan 2016)
  • Being Australian, being Christian (Lithgow Baptist Church, 24 Jan 2016)
  • Being single, being Christian (Lithgow Baptist Church, 17 Jan 2016)

Four first-person sermons from the Book of Ruth

• • A happy ending (Ruth 4:1-22; Lithgow Baptist Church, 20 Dec 2015)
  • A planned meeting (Ruth 3:1-18; Lithgow Baptist Church, 13 Dec 2015)
  • A chance meeting (Ruth 2:1-23; Lithgow Baptist Church, 6 Dec 2015)
  • An odd couple (Ruth 1:1-22; Lithgow Baptist Church, 29 Nov 2015)

The message of 1 Timothy (series 2 of 2)

• • Investment advice you can trust (1 Tim 6:17-21; Lithgow Baptist Church, 22 Nov 2015)
  • Things worth fighting for (1 Tim 6:11-16; Lithgow Baptist Church, 15 Nov 2015)
  • The path to peace and tranquility (1 Tim 6:1-10; Lithgow Baptist Church, 8 Nov 2015)
  • The fine art of managing leaders (1 Tim 5:17-25; Lithgow Baptist Church, 1 Nov 2015)
  • Wisdom for life in community (1 Tim 5:1-16; Lithgow Baptist Church, 25 Oct 2015)
  • On lifelong Christian learning (1 Tim 4:11-16; Lithgow Baptist Church, 18 Oct 2015)
  • Foundations for human flourishing (1 Tim 4:1-10; Lithgow Baptist Church, 4 Oct 2015)

Knowing God in the Psalms

• • Knowing a majestic God (Psalm 113; Lithgow Baptist Church, 27 Sep 2015)
  • Knowing a just God (Psalm 94; Lithgow Baptist Church, 20 Sep 2015)
  • Knowing a gracious God (Psalm 78; Lithgow Baptist Church, 13 Sep 2015)
  • Knowing a faithful God (Psalm 62; Lithgow Baptist Church, 6 Sep 2015)
  • Knowing a holy God (Psalm 15; Lithgow Baptist Church, 30 Aug 2015)

The message of 1 Timothy (series 1 of 2)

• • The church’s one foundation (1 Tim 3:14-16; Lithgow Baptist Church, 23 Aug 2015)
  • Standards for deacons (1 Tim 3:8-13; Lithgow Baptist Church, 16 Aug 2015)
  • Standards for pastors and elders (1 Tim 3:1-7; Lithgow Baptist Church, 9 Aug 2015)
  • Standards for men and women (1 Tim 2:8-15; Lithgow Baptist Church, 2 Aug 2015)
  • Experiencing God’s grace and mercy (1 Tim 1:12-17; Lithgow Baptist Church, 19 Jul 2015)
  • The purpose of Christian preaching (1 Tim 1:1-11; Lithgow Baptist Church, 12 Jul 2015)

The social mission of the church

• • Care (Eastwood Baptist Church, Sydney, 25 Nov 2012)
  • Justice (Eastwood Baptist Church, Sydney, 18 Nov 2012)
  • Generosity (Eastwood Baptist Church, Sydney, 11 Nov 2012)

Occasional sermons 2002-2016

• • Why forgive? (Mt 18:21-35; Lithgow Baptist Church, 10 Jan 2016)
  • Guess how much God loves you (Gal 4:1-7; Lithgow Baptist Church, 25 Dec 2015)
  • Sex, marriage and social change (Frenchs Forest Baptist Church, 26 Jul 2015)
  • Stop the boat! (Springwood Baptist Church, 22 Feb 2015)
  • A pastoral response to same sex marriage (Toongabbie Baptist Church, 28 Sep 2014)
  • Living counter-culturally in the world (Lake Joondalup Baptist Church, 21 Sep 2014)
  • The heart of Christian ethics (Batemans Bay Baptist Church, 20 Oct 2013)
  • Getting to know the Holy Spirit (Mosman Baptist Church, Sydney, 23 Jun 2013)
  • Should we design our descendants? (Morling College Chapel, Sydney 28 May 2013)
  • Three men and a mission (Faith Bible Baptist Church, Castle Hill, 30 Sep 2012)
  • The new way: Romans 12:3 (Eastwood Baptist Church, Sydney, 15 Jan 2012)
  • The new day: Romans 12:1-2 (Mosman Baptist Church, Sydney, 13 Nov 2011)
  • What Jesus would say about immigration (Hornsby Baptist Church, 9 Oct 2011)
  • How to be like God (Pendle Hill Baptist Church, 9 Jan 2011)
  • A biblical view of death (New College, University of NSW, Sydney, 27 Mar 2010)
  • Choosing the butter (Morling College Chapel, Sydney, 29 May 2007)
  • Reflection for Good Friday (Compass Church, Sydney, 18 Apr 2003)
  • Gandalf, Galadriel and God  (Thornleigh Community Baptist Church, 5 Mar 2003)
  • Reading Harry Potter with Christian eyes  (Blakehurst Baptist Church, 6 Jan 2002)

Sermons on consumerism, for Advent 2001

• • Away from the manger (Blakehurst Baptist Church, Sydney, 16 Dec 2001)
  • Joy to the mall (Blakehurst Baptist Church, Sydney, 9 Dec 2001)
  • Land of the spree (Blakehurst Baptist Church, Sydney, 2 Dec 2001)

The message of Job

• • A walk with God (Job 42:7-17; Blakehurst Baptist Church, Sydney, 18 Nov 2001)
  • A word from God (Job 38:1-42:6; Blakehurst Baptist Church, Sydney, 11 Nov 2001)
  • A young person’s wisdom (Job 32, 36-37; Blakehurst Baptist Church, Sydney, 28 Oct 2001)
  • Where Job got it right (Job 9:32-35; Blakehurst Baptist Church, Sydney, 2 Sep 2001)
  • Where Job got it wrong (Job 16-17; Blakehurst Baptist Church, Sydney, 19 Aug 2001)
  • When theology meets reality (Job 4-26; Blakehurst Baptist Church, Sydney, 12 Aug 2001)
  • Thin red line – part 2 (Job 1:1-3:26; Blakehurst Baptist Church, Sydney, 22 Jul 2001)
  • Thin red line – part 1 (Job 1:1-3:26; Blakehurst Baptist Church, Sydney, 22 Jul 2001)

Selected early sermons

• • Reflections on ordination (1 Tim 4:14; Blakehurst Baptist Church, 10 Oct 1999)
  • Why was the death of Jesus unique? (Mt 27:50; Flinders Baptist Community Church, Ipswich, Queensland, 28 Mar 1997)
  • Racism and reconciliation (Ac 10:1-11:18; Murri Evangelical Church, Ipswich, Queensland, 2 Mar 1997)
  • Finding God in the most unlikely places (Gen 28:10-22; Flinders Baptist Community Church, Ipswich, Queensland, 8 Jan 1995)

 

Writings from my Grandfather John McCrindle

• • One coalminer to another
  • First steps: Letter to a young Christian