Naracoorte Presbyterian Church

Baptism: Sign and seal of God’s grace in Jesus Christ

Declared mercy Scripture Readings Acts 8:26-40 Colossians 2:8-15 Introduction My dear brothers and sisters, when it comes to grace and salvation, there is sometimes this sinful appreciation of the self. Captain George Von Trapp in the Sound of Music, finds in Maria, the governess, his new love. The two of them sing a song, Something…
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What is a sacrament?

Definition In secular world: Something that binds or brings under obligations In the Bible: An ordinance instituted by God representing the work of Christ 1. In Protestant Churches only two Baptism Communion 2. God instituted sacraments to accompany the Word they have no meaning apart from the message of Jesus Christ visible “pictures” of Christ’s…
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Inescapable Opposition

So that you may believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah the Son of God Scripture Readings Psalm 35:1-20 John 15:18-16:4 After killing six million Jews and countless fellow Germans who resisted the Nazi Regime in Germany under Hitler, trails where held to bring to justice the perpetrators. At one stage the trails were brought…
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So that you may believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah the Son of God

Bearing fruit in Christ to the Father’s glory Scripture Readings Psalm 80 John 15:1-8 Every farmer understands that his existence hangs on the fruit of the crop he plants. Farmers are not known for what they plant, but for what they harvest. A cotton farmer is not someone who plants cotton seed; he is someone…
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Obedience to Christ through love brings joy and fruit

So that you may believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah the Son of God Scripture Readings Micah 6:6-8 John 15:9-17 Introduction When God created the world in the beginning, He created everything, and yet, He also created mankind to be under-creators: God appointed them to be fruitful and fill the earth and subdue it. …
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The Prince of Heaven versus the prince of this world

So that you may believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah the Son of God Scripture Readings Psalm 2 John 14:28-15:4 The prophets and Jesus Christ Isaiah For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,…
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The Father’s home with us

So that you may believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah the Son of God Scripture Readings Exodus 19:1-6 John 14:15-24 Introduction Dear friends in the Lord, Let’s begin this morning with a wild statement, “I think religion is dangerous.” The person who practices religion invariably finds himself somewhere on a road to find some…
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The way into the Father’s home

So that you may believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah the Son of God Scripture Readings Deuteronomy 18:14-22 John 14:5-14 Most of us have had the experience where a loved one was about to be pushed into an operation theater in hospital. For the best part of it, those circumstances are not something we…
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Conquering, binding love

So that you may believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah the Son of God Scripture Readings 1 John 3:10-24 John 13:33-38 Introduction On 6 June 1944, members of the 2nd Ranger Battalion under Cptain Miller fought ashore to secure a beachhead. Amidst the fighting, two brothers are killed in action. Earlier in New Guinea,…
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The battle lines drawn: God is glorified

That you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God Scripture Readings Psalm 41 John 13:18-32 Introduction I remember vividly the warning of one of my professors, “Be on your guard”, he said, “every heresy in the history of the church started in the study of a manse.” I will not forget…
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