Sermons and videos from the life of the Northern Beaches Christian Reformed Church

Northern Beaches Christian Reformed Church

In our series through the book of Judges, we have met a wide variety of hero's, men and women who were chosen by God to be the deliverers, or more literally, the messiah's of his people. Some of these Judges are small and unknown but others, like our Judge today, are some of the most famous Old Testament figures. 
 
In our last sermon, we simply looked at Samson's miraculous birth, being born to a mother who was unable to have children after a powerful visit by a heavenly messenger. Samson's birth set him up for a life of significance and significant he was, yet what we will see in this chapter of his story, is that his rise to power is anything but moral and his choices are anything but wise. This is a man who does whatever is right in his own eyes.

In our series through the book of Judges, we have met a wide variety of hero's, men and women who were chosen by God to be the deliverers, or more literally, the messiah's of his people. Some of these Judges are small and unknown but others, like our Judge today, are some of the most famous Old Testament figures.

In our last sermon, we simply looked at Samson's miraculous birth, being born to a mother who was unable to have children after a powerful visit by a heavenly messenger. Samson's birth set him up for a life of significance and significant he was, yet what we will see in this chapter of his story, is that his rise to power is anything but moral and his choices are anything but wise. This is a man who does whatever is right in his own eyes.

Service 4 September 2022 - Sermon: The Rise of Samson - Judges 14:1-15:20

Last week we read a looooot of text, covering the second half of the Gideon story. We looked at Gideon's demise and the repercussions that flowed into the next generation. Where Gideon, despite his fears and doubts, still listened to God. His son did not. Things in Israel were getting worse and worse. 
 
This week though you get a week off from the usual voice, instead you get to hear the wise words of a professor, Dr Kit Barker. Dr Barker is an Old Testament lecturer who has a keen interest in the book of judges and he will be opening up for us the story of our next judge: Jephthah, the son of a prostitute.

Last week we read a looooot of text, covering the second half of the Gideon story. We looked at Gideon's demise and the repercussions that flowed into the next generation. Where Gideon, despite his fears and doubts, still listened to God. His son did not. Things in Israel were getting worse and worse.

This week though you get a week off from the usual voice, instead you get to hear the wise words of a professor, Dr Kit Barker. Dr Barker is an Old Testament lecturer who has a keen interest in the book of judges and he will be opening up for us the story of our next judge: Jephthah, the son of a prostitute.

Service 7 August 2022 - Sermon: Dr Kit Barker - Judges 10:6-12:15 - Jephthah

Two weeks ago we saw the rise and triumph of Gideon as God's chosen judge. Despite his constant questioning and nagging need for proof, he did in fact deliver the people from the oppressive rule of the Midianites. We left the story with this foreign army fleeing, having imploded at the sound of trumpets and the breaking of pottery. 
 
With this foreign force fleeing with it's tail between its legs, our story continues with the final destruction of the army and the tension that arose within Israel in the midst of it. The following chapters then outline the demise that proceeded this victory, firstly in Gideon's own life but then more fully and graphically in the generation that came after it. Israel, as the introduction warned, is simply getting worse and worse.

Two weeks ago we saw the rise and triumph of Gideon as God's chosen judge. Despite his constant questioning and nagging need for proof, he did in fact deliver the people from the oppressive rule of the Midianites. We left the story with this foreign army fleeing, having imploded at the sound of trumpets and the breaking of pottery. 

With this foreign force fleeing with it's tail between its legs, our story continues with the final destruction of the army and the tension that arose within Israel in the midst of it. The following chapters then outline the demise that proceeded this victory, firstly in Gideon's own life but then more fully and graphically in the generation that came after it. Israel, as the introduction warned, is simply getting worse and worse.

Service 31 July 2022 - Sermon: Gideon Part 2 - Judges 8:1-10:5

Last week in the opening chapter and a bit of the book of Judges, we were introduced to the history and violence of the time. Judges is set in the land that God had promised to Abraham, a promise that had taken generations to be fulfilled. Having escaped slavery in Egypt, a generation of wandering in the wilderness and the historical battles upon their arrival, the next step was simple. Drive out those in the land, drive out the people, their practices and their Gods. 
 
From the opening chapters we saw Israel's failure, a failure to believe and a failure to act. In this second introductory passage, we get another perspective on this failure, this time previewing how the words uttered by the Angel of the Lord in 2:1-5 would become a painful and repeated reality for Israel.

Last week in the opening chapter and a bit of the book of Judges, we were introduced to the history and violence of the time. Judges is set in the land that God had promised to Abraham, a promise that had taken generations to be fulfilled. Having escaped slavery in Egypt, a generation of wandering in the wilderness and the historical battles upon their arrival, the next step was simple. Drive out those in the land, drive out the people, their practices and their Gods.

From the opening chapters we saw Israel's failure, a failure to believe and a failure to act. In this second introductory passage, we get another perspective on this failure, this time previewing how the words uttered by the Angel of the Lord in 2:1-5 would become a painful and repeated reality for Israel.

Service 26 June 2022 - Sermon: Judges 2:6-3:6 - God Has No Grandchildren

Over the last few weeks, we have touched on some of the biggest challenges to our life and faith, namely sexuality, consumerism and busyness. These are things that touch our everyday lives but none of them shape us in the way our topic this week does. Food. 
 
The Christmas period is often defined by parties which are almost always centred around food and drink. We need food and drink to survive. Yet food is more than just fuel, it's also a source of deep satisfaction and joy. How then do we use food, or does it use us? How does the message of our world differ from the message of Jesus on this issue? Well, those are the questions we will consider this week as we ask ourselves the question: Is there room for Jesus in the way we use food?

Over the last few weeks, we have touched on some of the biggest challenges to our life and faith, namely sexuality, consumerism and busyness. These are things that touch our everyday lives but none of them shape us in the way our topic this week does. Food.

The Christmas period is often defined by parties which are almost always centred around food and drink. We need food and drink to survive. Yet food is more than just fuel, it's also a source of deep satisfaction and joy. How then do we use food, or does it use us? How does the message of our world differ from the message of Jesus on this issue? Well, those are the questions we will consider this week as we ask ourselves the question: Is there room for Jesus in the way we use food?

Is There Room? - Food - Rebellion vs Worship - Luke 2:1-77, 1 John 2:15-17 & 1 Corinthians 10:23-31

We all know that stories can have more than one meaning, fairy tales for example, fairy tales usually bury within their events a moral point or lesson. In some instances the point is obvious, in others it can take time to see, but sometimes it takes someone else pointing it out to make sense. In our passage today, Paul dives into a well known historical story from Israel's past. 
 
In this story, the story of Abraham and his two sons, Paul finds a meaning and a lesson that both challenges the thoughts and values of his opponents while at the same time encouraging and comforting the church. It's a tricky passage, but one that presents the real challenge we face in understanding and accepting the gospel.

We all know that stories can have more than one meaning, fairy tales for example, fairy tales usually bury within their events a moral point or lesson. In some instances the point is obvious, in others it can take time to see, but sometimes it takes someone else pointing it out to make sense. In our passage today, Paul dives into a well known historical story from Israel's past. 

In this story, the story of Abraham and his two sons, Paul finds a meaning and a lesson that both challenges the thoughts and values of his opponents while at the same time encouraging and comforting the church. It's a tricky passage, but one that presents the real challenge we face in understanding and accepting the gospel.

Galatians 4:21-31 - A Gospel Allegory

With Easter just over two weeks away, our Easter series will be messages that focus on the cross, or more accurately the characters that surrounded it and it's proceedings. This week we focus in on one particular group of people who played a central role in Jesus trial and crucifixion, the religious leaders of Jerusalem. 
 
Jerusalem was a deeply religious city with the temple being the heart of the Jewish religion. This means that those responsible for the leading and guiding of the people had immense power and responsibility. When this Nazarite teacher named Jesus arrived, the religious leaders were suspicious, sceptical and even jealous. All of this led them to a simple conclusion, he had to die. Of all people they should have known better.

With Easter just over two weeks away, our Easter series will be messages that focus on the cross, or more accurately the characters that surrounded it and it's proceedings. This week we focus in on one particular group of people who played a central role in Jesus trial and crucifixion, the religious leaders of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem was a deeply religious city with the temple being the heart of the Jewish religion. This means that those responsible for the leading and guiding of the people had immense power and responsibility. When this Nazarite teacher named Jesus arrived, the religious leaders were suspicious, sceptical and even jealous. All of this led them to a simple conclusion, he had to die. Of all people they should have known better.

People Around The Cross - Matthew 27:39-44 - The Religious Elite

Last week in Obadiah we saw that God has something to say to the people of Edom, a nation who like Israel, were descendants of Abraham and Isaac. The charge against the Edomites was that they were proud, they have placed their hope and faith in what they had rather than in who God was. They, like we often do, placed their faith in themselves. 
 
This week though we see what this pride led them to, what is God's specific charge against them? They failed to love, care and protect their own family, their brother nation Israel. This was not the first time either we will see, but it was enough for God to promise that their sin would not go unpunished.

Last week in Obadiah we saw that God has something to say to the people of Edom, a nation who like Israel, were descendants of Abraham and Isaac. The charge against the Edomites was that they were proud, they have placed their hope and faith in what they had rather than in who God was. They, like we often do, placed their faith in themselves.

This week though we see what this pride led them to, what is God's specific charge against them? They failed to love, care and protect their own family, their brother nation Israel. This was not the first time either we will see, but it was enough for God to promise that their sin would not go unpunished.

Obadiah 1:10-14 - Am I My Brother's keeper?

Have you ever read the book of Obadiah and if you have can you remember what it was about? Most of us know very little about Obadiah, but don't be ashamed scholars don't know much about him either. So what place does it have in the Old Testament and what does it add to the story of redemption? 
 
To understand Obadiah you have recognise the context. We know very little about the author and the actual date of it's writing is also vague. What we know for certain is who the book is about: Edom. This letter confronts the nation of Edom but is written for the people of Israel. To understand the heart of this book we first need to understand the origins and history of these two nations and that is exactly where we begin this week.

Have you ever read the book of Obadiah and if you have can you remember what it was about? Most of us know very little about Obadiah, but don't be ashamed scholars don't know much about him either. So what place does it have in the Old Testament and what does it add to the story of redemption?

To understand Obadiah you have recognise the context. We know very little about the author and the actual date of it's writing is also vague. What we know for certain is who the book is about: Edom. This letter confronts the nation of Edom but is written for the people of Israel. To understand the heart of this book we first need to understand the origins and history of these two nations and that is exactly where we begin this week.

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