One off sermons

A sermon given on Remembrance Sunday 2020, from Ephesians 2:14-22

Modern Christians and the Government

Compared to many countries in the world, we have a fairly good relationship with our government.

Don’t worry, I’m not about to go all political.

A sermon given on Remembrance Sunday 2019, from 2 Peter 1:12-15

A sermon given on Remembrance Sunday 2018

We’ve come together today to remember those who gave their lives during the two great wars of the last century. Every community in England lost huge numbers of people, and we resolved never to forget. We will remember them.

A talk from 9 Lessons and Carols in 2017.

The world can be a dark place.

It’s been quite a year. I searched the internet for newspaper headlines from 2017. I got many screens full, from all over the world.

Here are some:
Suspected cop killer shot dead.
British meat in horse hormone scandal.
Carnage at pop concert.
NHS cuts 15000 beds in 6 years.
UK relations with Russia at all-time low.
Trump ready to strike Kim’s nuclear sites.
Some victims of tower blaze may never be identified.

A sermon given on Remembrance Sunday 2017.

2017 has had us worried at times. We’ve watched the tensions between the United States and North Korea ratchet up. The fear that any actual war could turn nuclear is very sobering.

Many people have two struggles with Easter.

They struggle to believe it happened. As a Christian story, part of the legend, it’s fine. But dead people don’t come back to life. It just doesn’t happen. Which means that the idea that this is more than a legend, that it actually happened – that’s just too hard to believe. Struggle to believe it happened.

I take it that we all know that Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday.

Today, I’m not going to try and convince you that the resurrection is a true story. I’m assuming you’re already convinced. You believe that Jesus really did rise from the dead. He’s alive today.

If I’m wrong to assume that, I’d love to give you a copy of {Val Grieve, Your Verdict}

Sermon from the 2017 Memorial Service at St Mary's Kemsing, where people come to remember with thanks loved ones who have died.

“Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord.”

So begins Psalm 130.

Apparently Christmas has been hijacked.

It’s supposed to be about the birth of Jesus. It’s become all about giving presents.

I’m the vicar. I’m supposed to tell people to focus less on the presents, and more on the real meaning of Christmas.

I’m not going to do that! Because the real meaning of Christmas is all about giving presents. In fact, the more you grasp what Christmas is really about, the more you’ll want to give things to other people.