Word of Salvation - June 2018   Come back!   Sermon by Rev. David Waldron on Zechariah 1:1-6 Scriptures:  Matthew 7:21-27; Haggai 1:1-15; Zechariah 1:1-6 Suggested song of response: STTL455 We have not known thee as we ought            Series:  Zechariah - Sermon 1 of 19 Theme: Through his appointed prophet Zechariah, the Lord calls his people to return to Him, which they do in repentance, acknowledging God's sovereign justice. Fallen Condition Focus (FCF): we tend to stray from the Lord and not to learn spiritual lessons from the history of God’s people. Proposition:  Our ongoing repentance is essential for building the...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   Returning to Compassion   Sermon by Rev. David Waldron on Zechariah 1:7-17 Scriptures:  Zechariah 1:7-17; Revelation 21:10-18 Suggested song of response: STTL234 Comfort, comfort ye my people Series:  Zechariah - Sermon 2 of 19 – First night vision Theme:  The Lord Almighty returns to his people to promise abundant future prosperity and peace Fallen Condition Focus (FCF): We struggle with the yet-to-be-fully-realised covenant blessings which God has promised to us Proposition:  Be encouraged, Our God has returned to us in Christ and will return again!   Introduction We come now to 8 nocturnal visions...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   Look up again! The Chariots are coming!   Sermon by Rev. David Waldron on Zechariah 6:1-8 Scriptures: Zechariah 6:1-8; Revelation 6:1-10 Suggested song of response: STTL308 The strife is o’er, the battles done Series:  Zechariah - Sermon 3 of 19 – Last (8th) night vision Theme:  God is coming to judge the nations and bring final victory for his people when His peace finally reigns throughout the earth, Fallen Condition Focus (FCF): We can become weary and discouraged and ready to cease serving the Lord Proposition:  Continue to labour for the Lord, rest is...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   Down with the Terrified Horns!   Sermon by Rev. David Waldron on Zechariah 1:18-21 Scriptures:  Zechariah 1:18-21; Mark 5:1-20 Suggested song of response: STTL308 ‘The strife is o’er, the battle done’ Series:  Zechariah - Sermon 4 of 19. 2nd night vision Theme:  The complete conquest of the enemies of God’s people; unexpectedly by skilful, gifted, craftsmen who bring terror to those who have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem Fallen Condition Focus (FCF): We can be terrified by our enemies and forget that Christ has won the final victory. Proposition:  Christ, the humble craftsman, has...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   Our Wickedness is Taken Away   Sermon by Rev. David Waldron on Zechariah 5:5-11 Scriptures:  Zechariah 5:5-11; Revelation 7:9-14 Suggested song of response: STTL273 ‘A purple robe’ Series:  Zechariah - Sermon 5 of 19. 7th night vision Theme:  God’s complete removal of wickedness from the covenant community FCF:  We tend not to see the need to eradicate sin from our own hearts Proposition:  The only way to finally deal with evil is to eradicate it completely   Introduction Our family has had the privilege of living in the country for much of our lives....

Word of Salvation - June 2018   Building the Super City   Sermon by Rev. David Waldron on Zechariah 2:1-13 Scriptures:  Zechariah 2:1-13; Revelation 21:1-5; 22-27 Suggested song of response: STTL429 ‘Jerusalem the golden’ Series:  Zechariah - Sermon 6 of 19. 3rd night vision Theme:  God’s rebuilding of Jerusalem to be an enormous glorious city in which He dwells together with His chosen people from all the nations of the world FCF:  We try to build our own protective walls and to generate our own prosperity Proposition:  Christ has come and is coming. He dwells within the church now, protecting and...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   Life Under the Scroll   Sermon by Rev. David Waldron on Zechariah 5:1-4 Scriptures: Deuteronomy 28:1-6; 15-20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Zechariah 5:1-11 Suggested song of response: STTL277 ‘And can it be that I should gain’ Series:  Zechariah - Sermon 7 of 19. 6th night vision Theme:  The judgement of God on specific sins of His people FCF:  We tend to think that sin can be hidden from God’s sight Proposition:  God cannot dwell with his people if there is sin in the camp   Introduction Have you ever looked up to the sky and...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   Jesus, The Cleansing Servant Branch   Sermon by Rev. David Waldron on Zechariah 3:1-10 Scriptures: Hebrews 9:11-15; Zechariah 3:1-10 Suggested song of response:  STTL439 ‘God of grace’ Series:  Zechariah - Sermon 8 of 19. 4th night vision Theme:  Zechariah sees a vision of Joshua the high priest, justly accused by Satan of sin, being symbolically cleansed and forgiven by God foreshadowing the Branch yet to come FCF:  We can believe that our sin is too great to be forgiven by God in Christ Proposition:  In Christ, our sin is removed and we are clothed...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   How will the light keep shining?   Sermon by Rev. David Waldron on Zechariah 4:1-14 Scriptures: Zechariah 4:1-14; Revelation 2:1-7 Suggested song of response: STTL318 ‘The head that once was crowned’ Series:  Zechariah - Sermon 9 of 19. 5th night vision Theme:  God encourages his people, in particular Joshua and Zerubabbel, to rebuild the temple using His divine resources FCF:  We can easily be discouraged by what appear to us to be small and seemingly insignificant progress or growth Proposition:  Christ keeps the light from His church burning!   Introduction If you hear the...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   The Priest-King Is Crowned   Sermon by Rev. David Waldron on Zechariah 6:9-15 Scriptures:  Hebrews 7:1-3; 11-28; Zechariah 6:9-15 Series: Zechariah - Sermon 10 of 19. Theme:  The symbolic crowning of Joshua the priestly king (‘He will be a priest on his throne’) bringing harmony between the church and state FCF:  The battle between church & state Proposition:  Christ, the Branch, the priestly King has been crowned with glory and is now building His church   Introduction ISIS is a word which we have come to know in recent times. It stands for “The...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   Sadness To Celebration   Sermon by Rev. David Waldron on Zechariah 7-8 Scriptures: Zechariah 7 and 8 Series:  Zechariah - Sermon 11 of 19. Theme:  Following a question about memorial fasting, the Lord warns his people not to repeat the mistakes of the past. He promises to return and bless his people, exhorting them to be faithful in justice, to persevere and to expect a great ingathering of peoples from the nations into the covenant community. FCF:  Our natural desire for outward religion, not a heartfelt love for the Lord which then flows into...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   The Coming King Has Come!   Sermon by Rev. David Waldron on Zechariah 9 Scriptures: Zechariah 9 Series: Zechariah - Sermon 12 of 19 Theme:  The Lord’s future royal triumph and rule over the nations for the sake of his people as a humble king FCF:  We can lack joy amidst the trials of this life Proposition:  Rejoice and be encouraged today because in powerful humility, Christ has conquered the world and brought lasting peace   Introduction So far (in the first 8 chapters of the book of Zechariah) the focus has been very...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   Your Greatest Need - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Zechariah 10 Scriptures: Zechariah 10 Series: Zechariah. Sermon 13 of 19 Theme:  The redeeming work of the Shepherd-King FCF:  We can forget (or not know) that our greatest need is for a Saviour Proposition:   Continue to follow Jesus because His flock is transformed when their Lord is with them   Introduction What is your greatest need? If your greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If your greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist;...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   Hope for the Vulnerable - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Zechariah 11 Scriptures: Zechariah 11 Series:  Zechariah. Sermon 14 of 19 Theme:  The vulnerability of sheep without a shepherd FCF:  We naturally detest Christ (we all like sheep have gone astray) Proposition:   Do not follow false shepherds, follow Christ   Introduction As human beings living in a fallen world we are all vulnerable. We may be attacked and sustain injury to body and/or soul. Our bodies, physically and mentally, are open to the ravages of disease/sickness in a groaning creation. Spiritually we are...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   The Great Work of the Lord (1) - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Zechariah 12:1-9 Scriptures: Zechariah 12:1-13:6; Revelation 19:11-16 Series:  Zechariah. Sermon 15 of 19 [part 1 (part 2 is designed for an evening sermon the same day but could be read on a consecutive Lord’s Day). Part 1 has one sermon point, part 2 has two points.] Theme:  The final war at the end of this age FCF:  We can be anxious and fearful of the future yet to come Proposition:  Do not fear, but have certain hope, because Christ is the...

Word of Salvation - June 2018   The Great Day of the Great Lord (2) - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Zechariah 12:10-13:5 Scriptures: Zechariah 12:10-13:5; John 19:31-37 Series:  Zechariah. Sermon 16 of 19 (part 2 of a 2 part sermon) Theme:  Zechariah prophesies of the coming Day of the Lord when the sacrifice and grace of God in Christ will be seen by all FCF:  We can loose heart in the midst of our own sin and struggles in this life Proposition:   Press on – Christ is coming!   Introduction Militant Jihadist Islam seeks to dominate the world by...

Word of Salvation June 2018   What Next? – The Shepherd and His Flock - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Zechariah 13:7-9 Scriptures: Matt 26:31-35; Zechariah 13:7-9 Series: Zechariah. Sermon 17 of 19 Theme: God promises to strike his own shepherd, causing the sheep to be scattered and his own people to be tested and refined FCF:  We may think that following Jesus is easy Proposition:   Following the Good Shepherd brings both suffering and comfort Points: The Shepherd is struckHis Sheep are refinedHis covenant is confirmed   Introduction Opening question to those who have recently professed their faith – what...

Word of Salvation June 2018   The Coming Day of Complete Fulfilment (1) - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Zechariah 14:1-15 Scriptures: Zechariah 14:1-15 Series: Zechariah. Sermon 18 of 19 (part 1 of a two-part sermon) Theme:           On the last day, all the promises of God come to complete fulfilment as the final battle is fought, peace is won, great numbers celebrate from all the nations and everyone and everything remaining is completely holy. FCF:               There are times in the Christian life when we can feel like giving up Proposition:   Persevere today in the certain hope that all...

Word of Salvation June 2018   The Coming day of Complete Fulfilment (2) - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Zechariah 14:16-21 Scriptures: Zechariah 14:16-21, Revelation 19:6-16 Series: Zechariah. Sermon 19 of 19 (part 2 of a two-part sermon) Theme:           On the last day, all the promises of God come to complete fulfilment as the final battle is fought, peace is won, great numbers celebrate from all the nations and everyone and everything remaining is completely holy. FCF:               At times we can feel like giving up in the Christian life Proposition:  Persevere today in the certain hope that all God’s promises...

Word of Salvation June 2018   Calling on the Name of the Lord - by Rev. David Waldron Text: Romans 10:13 Readings: Romans 10:5-13 Theme: The Apostle Paul summarises the only means of salvation for all people in the act of calling on the name of the Lord. Proposition: Calling on the name of the Lord does result in salvation for everyone who calls.   We are all familiar with passwords which we use to gain access to our phones, online bank accounts and a myriad of internet websites and applications. Later model devices allow voice activated passcode entry. Just say...