I teach the Bible, theology, Christian life, mission and ethics in churches and elsewhere. Here are the titles and links to the transcripts of some of my sermons:
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)
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