Word of Salvation – Vol. 46 No. 47 – December 2001   Comfort for My People   Sermon by Rev. R. Adams on Isaiah 40:1-2 Scripture Readings: Mark 1:1-8; Isaiah 39:1-8 & 40:1-11 Suggested Hymns: BoW 146; 252; 193; 490; 530   Congregation of the Lord Jesus, On any Sunday in Advent, it's fitting to remember John the Baptist.  He emerges from the Jordan wilderness as 'a voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD..." (vs.3).  Thus, he announces the advent... the coming... of God's Son into the world.  All the Gospels are unanimous in ascribing...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 47 No. 03 – January 2002   The Challenge to Faith   Sermon by Rev. R. Adams on Joshua 1:2-3 Scripture Readings: Hebrew 13:1-9; Joshua 1:1-9 Suggested Hymns: BoW 135 (vss.1, 2, 3, 5 & 10); 450; 149; 314; 533   Congregation of our Lord Jesus. The book of Joshua is concerned with new beginnings for God's people.  Forty years of wandering in a wilderness was drawing to a close.  Under Joshua's leadership, Israel was poised to enter the land of promise.  The Israelites could cease their wandering.  At last, Israel can begin to think ahead...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 42 No. 43 – November 1997   A Focus On A Secure Faith   A Sermon by Rev. R. Adams on Colossians 3:1-17 Scripture Readings: Colossians 3:1-17 Suggested Hymns: BoW 285; 357; 434; 435   Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Why are you here in church this morning/afternoon?  You could be down at the beach... or slurping a 'tinny' around some 'barbie'... like almost everyone else.  Do you think it's simply because you believe... while other people don't?  Well, where does your faith come from? That's Paul's concern in this letter to the Colossian Christians. ...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 42 No. 39 – October 1997   Fruitful Branches In The Healthy Vine   A Sermon by Rev. R. Adams on John 15:1-17 Scripture Readings: John 15:1-17 Suggested Hymns: BoW 205; 153; 380; 385   People of God. Someone once said a very profound thing: "A picture paints a thousand words."  Something in that rings true.  As a kid I couldn't read the family newspaper – but I knew where to find the comic pages.  I mightn't have been able to read words too well – but I could read the pictures. Maybe that's why the...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 40 No.11 – March 1995   What About The Weeds?   Sermon by Rev. R. G. Adams on Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Suggested Hymns: BoW 22A 25:1-5 218:1,2,5 452 500:1-3 500:4 (Dox)   Dear Congregation. People find many excuses for not believing in Jesus Christ.  Just about the most common objection would have to go something like this: "If God is true, why doesn't He help people in need, like people in Africa who are starving and dying?" Any person who asks this wants to know "why God doesn't do something about evil in the world."  ‘Not...

Word of Salvation – Vol. 50 No.35 – September 2005   God Permitting, We Will Mature Sermon by Rev R Adams on Hebrews 6:3 Scripture Readings:  Hebrews 5:11-6:12 Suggested Hymns:  PsH 180; 453; 459; 20; 452; 493                                BoW 92; 450; 1a; 210; 533   Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we're young we can get away with infantile behaviour. We can do foolish things that show our immaturity, and our self-centredness. When we're young, people are prepared to be tolerant with us... but as we grow up, we're expected to learn the difference between behaviour that is acceptable and...

Word of Salvation – Vol.50 No.31 – August 2005   Naboth's Vineyard   A Sermon by Rev. R. Adams on 1 Kings 21 Scripture Readings:  Colossians 1:9-14 Suggested Hymns:  PsH 184; 110; 68; 220; 493                                BoW 95; 62; 401; 157; 533   Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ... It has been said, and rightly so, that Ahab was the worst king Israel ever had. He led his people into idolatry like none other before him. He actually took a leading hand in trying to silence the Lord's prophets... including Elijah. Ahab's reign was characterised by a pervading wickedness of which...

Word of Salvation – Vol.50 No.27 – July 2005   The Lord is God   A Sermon by Rev R. Adams on 1 Kings 18:19-41  Scripture Readings: 1 Kings 16:29-34 Suggested Hymns: PsH 181; 7; 281; 150; 488 BoW 157; 34a; 25; 135; 78a; 532   Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ... In this story from the First Book of Kings, we meet two men: Elijah and Ahab. Ahab was the seventh king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Ahab was a contemporary of Asa and Jehoshaphat, kings of Judah round about 850 BC. Importantly for our purposes, the Bible says...

Word of Salvation – Vol.50 No.15 – April 2005   To Him Be Glory Sermon by Rev R Adams on Ephesians 3:14-21   Scripture Readings:  Philippians 2:1-11; Ephesians 3:14-21 Suggested Hymns:  BoW: 48; 51a; 138; 116a; 92; 150b; or                                PsH: 89; 94; 286; 230; 180; 310   Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ. As we come to this passage we are hit by the words, "For this reason..." And it's a bit like a footy match... the player with the ball has slid over the try line to score... and all eyes are on him... he has everyone's attention. In...