Matthew
Fake Faith
Mt 7:13-29. Fake religion. Sermon by Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 19 Mar 2023. How do you pick a fake? An engineer friend needed a special tool for cutting mortises into metal. His old German tool was getting worn after many years and he found a copy on the internet. They looked identical. But the new one cracked the first time it was used – it was good for nothing. Read more
Mt 7:13-29. Fake religion. Sermon by Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 19 Mar 2023. How do you pick a fake? An engineer friend needed a special tool for cutting mortises into metal. His old German tool was getting worn after many years and he found a copy on the internet. They looked identical. But the new one cracked the first time it was used – it was good for nothing. Read more
Attitude
Matthew 7:1-12. Attitude. Sermon by Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 12 Mar 2023. I rang my friend. She said, Did you hear that Harry wants to be reincarnated as an elephant? What foolishness! But I don’t need religion, she said, I’m a contented atheist. How can I reply? Should I just give up on her? Maybe I should pray, but I really don’t expect God to do anything. Oh, and what did she say about trouble with a neighbour. Read more
Matthew 7:1-12. Attitude. Sermon by Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 12 Mar 2023. I rang my friend. She said, Did you hear that Harry wants to be reincarnated as an elephant? What foolishness! But I don’t need religion, she said, I’m a contented atheist. How can I reply? Should I just give up on her? Maybe I should pray, but I really don’t expect God to do anything. Oh, and what did she say about trouble with a neighbour. Read more
Worry
Matthew 6:25-34. Worry. Sermon by Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 26 Feb 2023. Worry. We all do it. All the time. Should I wear a tie today. Does anyone still wear ties? Is the knot right? Is it too long? Is it too formal? Is this one too flippant? What hidden messages do these laughing faces send out? Do dots go with checks? Does it match my shirt? Or maybe my shoes at least? Read more
Matthew 6:25-34. Worry. Sermon by Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 26 Feb 2023. Worry. We all do it. All the time. Should I wear a tie today. Does anyone still wear ties? Is the knot right? Is it too long? Is it too formal? Is this one too flippant? What hidden messages do these laughing faces send out? Do dots go with checks? Does it match my shirt? Or maybe my shoes at least? Read more
Choices
Matthew 6:19-24. Choices. Sermon by Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 12 Feb 2023. We are overwhelmed with choices. Will you have almond or soy or skim or lactose free? What sort of sweetener? Will there be a marshmallow with that? And we haven’t even started on what type of coffee! Many choices don’t matter – although coffee snobs may disagree! But some choices do matter – and not necessarily the big issues like career or marriage. Read more
Matthew 6:19-24. Choices. Sermon by Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 12 Feb 2023. We are overwhelmed with choices. Will you have almond or soy or skim or lactose free? What sort of sweetener? Will there be a marshmallow with that? And we haven’t even started on what type of coffee! Many choices don’t matter – although coffee snobs may disagree! But some choices do matter – and not necessarily the big issues like career or marriage. Read more
The Christians’ prayer
Matthew 6:7-15. Theme: The Christians’ prayer Sermon by Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 5 Feb 2023. Why don’t we pray? Prayer is a problem for us. Prayer meetings are the worst attended of all church meetings. Some never pray, or only as a last resort. Very few are content with our prayer life. Yet – we have the privilege of prayer – of praying to our Maker, our Saviour and our Judge. Read more
Matthew 6:7-15. Theme: The Christians’ prayer Sermon by Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 5 Feb 2023. Why don’t we pray? Prayer is a problem for us. Prayer meetings are the worst attended of all church meetings. Some never pray, or only as a last resort. Very few are content with our prayer life. Yet – we have the privilege of prayer – of praying to our Maker, our Saviour and our Judge. Read more
Living rightly or Faking Faith?
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18. Theme: Living rightly or Faking Faith? Sermon by Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 29 Jan 2023. Ever cooked something that came out perfectly – but then it got spoiled. Our lives can be like that. For once, I do the right thing, but immediately pride comes in and spoils it. Pride turns good motives into bad ones. It is a problem we all face. How may I love God and my neighbour? Read more
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18. Theme: Living rightly or Faking Faith? Sermon by Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 29 Jan 2023. Ever cooked something that came out perfectly – but then it got spoiled. Our lives can be like that. For once, I do the right thing, but immediately pride comes in and spoils it. Pride turns good motives into bad ones. It is a problem we all face. How may I love God and my neighbour? Read more
Radically right.
Matthew 5:21-47. Sermon: Radically right. Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 22 Jan 2023. What is right and wrong? No other question has caused more conflict in our society and in our homes in this century. Old systems of right and wrong – of morality – are not just seen as outdated but as oppressive, as harmful. Most people now believe – as a given – that no-one and no god can tell me what is right and wrong. Read more
Matthew 5:21-47. Sermon: Radically right. Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 22 Jan 2023. What is right and wrong? No other question has caused more conflict in our society and in our homes in this century. Old systems of right and wrong – of morality – are not just seen as outdated but as oppressive, as harmful. Most people now believe – as a given – that no-one and no god can tell me what is right and wrong. Read more
Christ is the Key
Mt 5:17-20 Theme: Christ is the Key. Sermon by Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 11 Dec 2022. We had an old door that hadn’t been opened in living memory. The keys were in a large jar. You patiently tried one after another. Of course, the door was out of plumb so one hand pulled up the handle while your knee kept the door flat. After an hour or so in this contorted position you were left with one last key. Read more
Mt 5:17-20 Theme: Christ is the Key. Sermon by Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 11 Dec 2022. We had an old door that hadn’t been opened in living memory. The keys were in a large jar. You patiently tried one after another. Of course, the door was out of plumb so one hand pulled up the handle while your knee kept the door flat. After an hour or so in this contorted position you were left with one last key. Read more
Blessed? Now and Not Yet.
Sermon Mt 5:1-12. Blessed? Now and Not Yet. Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 13 Nov 2022. How to find true happiness? Is it possible. Is it even the right question? Let’s look at the Beatitudes to find some answers. 1. Clues 2. Blessings 3. Persecution Background Jesus was the new Moses. On Mount Sinai, Moses gave the law to Israel – to show them how to live as the people of God. Read more
Sermon Mt 5:1-12. Blessed? Now and Not Yet. Pastor David Williams. Strathalbyn Church of Christ. 13 Nov 2022. How to find true happiness? Is it possible. Is it even the right question? Let’s look at the Beatitudes to find some answers. 1. Clues 2. Blessings 3. Persecution Background Jesus was the new Moses. On Mount Sinai, Moses gave the law to Israel – to show them how to live as the people of God. Read more