Shirley Baptist Church Solihull, Sermons

Wherever we are and wherever we go, God is present and at work. Everyone is made in God's image and that is a beautiful thing. The truth is, however, that although each of us is gloriously made by God, we are tragically fallen too. So, how do we model God's character when we are imperfect and fallen? The answer to this is to live a life by the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and SELF-CONTOL. Our frontline everyday life is to be characterised by these fruits. Not one or two, but all of them. This is a challenge, not just inside the church walls but outside them too!

We are so excited to start our series on Growing on the Frontline. Join us as we explore 'The Big Picture' — the reality that we, as Christians, walk in every day.

What does it mean to welcome someone who is 'not one of us'? This question is at the heart of Paul's most personal letter to Philemon, his family and the church in Colosse. He writes, '... so if you consider me your partner, welcome him (Onesimus the slave) as you would welcome me'. It is clear what Paul is saying and asking of the church. You should expand your welcome beyond your imagination. Paul aligns Onesimus, the runaway slave who has stolen and wronged Philemon, with himself. You couldn't get two more different people, yet Paul says to Philemon and the whole church, treat us the same. What is going on here? Every church wants to be welcoming until, perhaps, it becomes too uncomfortable. Welcome was never meant to be an easy characteristic of church life. Welcome is costly, it is challenging, it disturbs and for some, it is plain frightening. But welcome is also at the heart of the gospel because welcome says you belong, and to belong is the invitation of Jesus to all. Now that is good news!

In the second talk in our mini-series on Paul's letter to Philemon, we piece together the puzzle of how Paul walks the talk of relational leadership in this deceptively graceful letter. And we ask ourselves the question, 'So what?'. So what if Paul, two thousand years ago, facilitated the reconciliation of the former slave, Onesimus, and his former master, Philemon? How does that speak to us today as followers of Jesus Christ? What does it mean for how we treat each other today as brothers and sisters in Christ? The clue to these questions lies in realising one shocking truth - we are all Onesimus! We are all Onesimus. We are all runaway slaves and we all need a second chance!

Question – Are you willing to do a bit of preparation before you listen to this sermon? The mission, should you choose to accept it, is to read the letter of Philemon. It's the shortest letter written by the apostle Paul - only 25 verses long - and comes just before Hebrews towards the end of the New Testament. The heart of the letter is about the health of the heart. It involves human relationships, gospel transformation, inspiring challenge and change in action and attitudes, and about living in such a way that honours Jesus by refreshing the lives of others. Wow, so much packed into such a short letter. Go on, give it a read. It'll both warm and soften your heart, which is never a bad thing!

Holy Week is that moment in the year when we pause to remember that “Christmas is important but Easter is decisive”* Why? Well, because Jesus showed us the full extent of his love on the cross. How He forgave us and set us free to experience the fullness of life. How He rose from the dead and so offered hope for the world. A lot happens in Holy Week. It is decisive. Have you made a decision to follow Him? *Apparently quoted by the former Arsenal Football manager Arsene Wenger regarding winning the English Football Premier League, but hey, it's a good line for the Christian faith too!

The apostle Paul sometimes gets so carried away by what he is trying to communicate that his whole style and tone of writing changes. In Philippians 2 he launches into a beautiful poetic hymn of praise as he reflects on the servant heart of Jesus. As we conclude our mini-series on servant leadership, we share Paul's wonder and see how he encourages the Philippian church to show humility in the pursuit of unity.

'Jesus loved them to the end'. This is one of those phrases in the Bible that stops you in your tracks. What does it mean for Jesus to love them to the end? As we explore the second topic on Servant Leadership, our focus will be on when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples - a symbolic act that displays ‘loving them to the end'. Jesus knows who he is. He knows why he has come into the world. He knows what is about to happen to him on the cross, and the foot washing is an act of selfless, sacrificial, servant love. Wow! It is sometimes hard for us to receive such love. We may be resistant, or feel unworthy or uncomfortable at being served. It is humbling to receive such love. Leadership is about learning to answer the question that Jesus asks 'Do you understand what I have done for you?' As we learn to answer, we are invited to follow and also wash the feet of others - meaning to love as Jesus loves. 'It is when we love one another, that the world might believe' (John 13:34-35).

What do you most admire in a leader? There are many answers to this. Some might say they admire clear thinking and straight talking, others competency, whilst others look for character. What was Jesus' model of leadership? He has certainly has authority and power. He teaches in a way that inspires some and turns others away. He acts in a way that both provokes and heals. That said, the standout attribute of Jesus the leader is his position of servanthood. What does it mean to follow Jesus the servant leader? Let's explore this by looking at Mark 10:32-45 and the request of James and John, who needed to learn a lesson from Jesus about what it means to lead. It is a lesson that applies to every follower of Jesus.

As we continue through Luke's gospel, we are looking at and thinking about how Jesus does and says new things, transforming lives and breaking new ground; and how he is drawing us all to doing the right thing over and above doing things right! The question is, are we willing to break out beyond what is right and proper and known into the unknown life-giving way that Jesus offers?

It's clear from Luke's gospel account that Jesus is making quite an impression as he spreads his message across Judea. People are amazed at his teaching, astonished by his miracles. Some are attracted, others affronted - but what is it that he offers? What is the 'new thing' at the core of his message? Well, something so new that he says it will burst the old wineskins. Powerful stuff!

In Luke 5:1-12 Jesus invites fishermen to drop their nets and catch more fish than they can imagine, and then He says '...from now on you will fish for people.' But what does fishing for people mean? It is what some people call evangelism. But evangelism, like fishing, is not everyone's cup of tea. For many people it is a word with negative connotations. So, is there a different way to view evangelism? Perhaps as something relevant to everyone, because it is a way of life and not simply an activity that you turn on and off like a tap?

Jesus' actions and words cause people to stand up in amazement. When was the last time you were shocked into belief? When did your faith in Jesus cause you to be amazed and surprised? In Luke chapter 4 we see a day in the life of Jesus. He encounters evil, speaks sternly against the powers of darkness, heals lots of people and then demons shout at him and he rebukes them. It is exciting, terrifying and life changing stuff. The question is, how do we follow a Saviour with such authority? What might it mean for us to spread the word of his salvation?

Jesus read the scriptures and delivered a sermon in his home synagogue in Nazareth. By this time he had already been on a preaching tour of Galilee and had established a reputation as an exciting new preacher and healer. His local community were bound to be eager to hear him and so the synagogue is likely to have been full. Surely Jesus could expect a warm and enthusiastic welcome...but no! Rather, what he said caused such offence that he was run out of town and nearly killed. Why? What can he have said that caused such fury?

Social media, exams, peer pressure. In this world crammed full of external voices, how do our young people connect with the church and God? During His time in the wilderness, Jesus was also subject to external voices. What can we learn from this, particularly how it relates to our young people and dealing with the pressures they are under?

God is always at work. So along with giving thanks for His faithfulness for things He has done for us in the past, it is also important to consider the new things He is doing. What new things is God revealing to you? How do you perceive the actions of God around you? Discover afresh the work of the Holy Spirit and look forward with an openness towards God's mighty, saving works. Works that bring about the possible where things may appear impossible.

You never hear much about Jesus's life as a teenager, and there is good reason. It isn't mentioned much in the Bible. But in Luke's gospel chapter 2, we glimpse those teenage years. He went AWOL when his parents lost him in the big city of Jerusalem. Joseph and Mary searched for him, and it was a moment of great anxiety and tension. Jesus was eventually found, and we read he grew in character and reputation. What were your teenage years (or are) like? How might your life might relate to the teenage years of Jesus?

Who were you, crazy Anna? All that time that you waited, fasted and prayed in the temple. All day and all night. Waiting to see salvation. Who were you, crazy Anna? One of Luke's lowly, marginalised outcasts. Shunned by all the wealthy and important people. Dismissed as a rambling widow who had strange visions. And yet you knew who was coming, didn't you, Anna? And you got to see the face of salvation. After all that faithful waiting, you met the baby Jesus. And you knew. You knew! You weren't crazy at all. So what can we learn from Anna to help us see the face of salvation?

Simeon - someone moved by the Spirit. And what a huge blessing he had as a result! As we delve into this passage, it becomes clear that the question we must ask ourselves is whether we recognise when the Holy Spirit is working in our lives. What do we potentially miss if we are not open to the work of the Holy Spirit each day?

What's going to be the No.1 song this Christmas? Or, what has Spotify wrapped up for you? Music and Christmas go hand in hand. We love to sing at this time of year. The Christmas story in Luke's gospel has two famous songs - the first by Jesus' mother Mary and the second by Zechariah, the Father of John the Baptist. Zechariah sang his heart out. He was filled with the Spirit and praised God. What makes you sing out loud? For Zechariah, there were some amazing things! It was the plan of God to save and rescue the world. It was the miracle of the birth of his son, John, who was to prepare the way for Jesus' arrival. It was the forgiveness of God, the tender mercy of God, the light of God and the peace that only God can bring. Wow! What brilliant lyrics! Come and join in the song of celebration this Christmas. Jesus saves!

Sometimes, we are so familiar with stories in the bible that we can skim over them and miss important truths. Gabriel's visit to Mary to tell her she will give birth to a baby boy is one of those. But when we spend a little bit of time looking into the story, we can see that this birth was the coming to fruition of many prophecies in the Old Testament that refer to Jesus's time on earth as a servant king and also looking forward to His second coming - when 'Seeing Salvation' will be revealed in all its glorious fullness.

We begin Advent focussing on the opening of Luke's Gospel and the incredible moment that prepares the way for Jesus' birth. We often jump straight into the nativity story but this year we're slowing down to focus on what happened before Jesus came to earth. Before Jesus there was Theophilus, Zechariah & his wife Elizabeth, King Herod, the angel, John the Baptist and 18,000 priests! Weaving all these relationships together was the Holy Spirit, moving and acting in awesome ways. So how does the Holy Spirit work amongst our relationships within the church? That's a question to ponder anew (what the almighty can do) throughout our ordinary, everyday lives.

Simon Harry from Bewdley Baptist Church shares his research on encouraging intergenerational connections in church life. Simon explores 1 Samuel 3 in the Old Testament and speaks about the challenge of how we can grow in getting to know one another better.

Communion. Eucharist. Mass. Just three of many names used to describe something familiar to some of us but foreign to many. Why do we do it? And what does it mean?

Silence is a rare thing these days. We are often surrounded by noise and bustle so it is good to take a couple of minutes to pause and be thankful for those who have given their lives to protect our country. But what other thoughts and emotions will pass through your mind in that reflective silence? We live in troubled times but are not the first to do so. In Romans 8, Paul talks about 'our present suffering', so let's explore his thoughts to see how, as present-day followers of Jesus, we might respond to the problems around us.

Church. God's community. Different characters, personalities and life experiences, but gathering to grow in faith and follow Jesus. This is what belonging to a church is about. Do you belong to a church, and if so how?

One of the blessings of community life at church is the wide range of ages often present when we get together. It's probably one of the distinct characteristics of church life. While we gather from different generations, how well do we know one another? We speak a lot about friendship, but is that possible across generations? The Bible says a lot about an older generation investing in the younger and the younger ones inspiring those in their elder years. In the last of our series on friendship, we look at the story of Moses as an inspiration for friendship between generations.

SBC is growing in cultural diversity, but this is also true of our town and wider community. What does it look like to build friendships among different languages, faiths and cultural differences? How can the good news of Jesus be shared within those friendships?

Jesus had 12 close friends, His disciples, at the age of 30. Some people might consider that His greatest miracle! Joking aside, what does the Bible say about Jesus's friendship among the 12 disciples? What happens when 12-15 meet up regularly to share life and grow in faith, and how does this benefit friendship?

Do you ever feel the pressure of friendship? If so, why? This pressure can be for many reasons - a lack of spare time or what is or isn't being said on social media are just two examples. But it is important to realise that spiritual opposition is fundamental in this pressure. The devil's goal is to isolate us. God's desire is for us to find community and flourish in our friendships.

What makes someone your best friend? That can be a tricky question regardless of whether you are 5, 25 or 85, as sometimes you just don't know! So instead perhaps we should consider what are the best kinds of friendships, and how does Jesus show us in his own life this kind of friendship?

“Good friendship changes everything” says author Phil Knox in his book, ‘Best of Friends'. More than that, he explains how vital friendship is when we follow Jesus because we cannot follow him alone. Church life can mean many things to many people, but at its heart is friendship with God and people. What does friendship mean to you? Who are your friends both inside and outside the church? What does true friendship look like? These questions and more will be explored over the coming weeks as we go deeper into a biblical understanding of friendship.

We are all on the road to learning, growing and maturing in Christ-likeness. What an adventure that is! But even better - we are not told to do this alone. Ephesians 4:1-16 speaks about all Christians playing their part to encourage others to grow in maturity in Christ.

How many of you have picked up the bible, read a few verses, put it down again, looked into the distance and said quietly to yourself, 'I just don't get it'? This is what the disciples of Jesus thought when he spoke to them after the miracle of feeding the five thousand. Some of them got so confused and bewildered by Jesus's teaching on the 'bread of life' that they drifted away and left him. We might be tempted to do the same when we don't get it. But don't do that! It is better to choose Jesus, whom we don't understand rather than the world we do. Why? Because the world we do understand gives us pain, whereas the Jesus we don't understand takes the pain away!

Feeding 5000 people sounds like a mammoth job, and with few resources, it seems an impossible problem! But Jesus pulled it off, and it became one of his most famous miracles. What do we do when we are facing a tricky situation? Do we look to Jesus to help us? If not then perhaps we should because, as this story shows, Jesus can be the solution to any problem!

The book of Nehemiah is a great place to look when searching for a story of hope, joy, grace and renewal. The joy of the Lord was their strength and can be ours today!

Does life sometimes feel like a rollercoaster?! In the ups and downs that we face, where can we turn for help? Psalm 46 has the answer! It tells of an unshakeable God who offers us his power, presence and peace.

Everyone loves a wedding! But would you be willing to go out into the streets and extend an open invitation to anyone who would come? As we come near the end of our series about the Kingdom of God, we see an open invitation to any who will respond to be the people of the Kingdom. No matter our background, culture or nation, we are all invited to come and be a part of the Kingdom of God, but are we willing to make the sacrifices to enter into a life of complete commitment to Christ?

This week the UK has been to the polls to decide which political party will be in power for the next 5 years. In other countries, similar elections have recently taken place or will soon be held. Around the world, governments exercise power with varying degrees of wisdom, integrity and competence. As Christians, we are also citizens of another kingdom, the Kingdom of God. But what is the source of power in the Kingdom of God and who exercises it? Perhaps you have more power than you think!

What is the parable of the Sower all about? The seed? The types of earth? No! The clue is in the name - it's about the Sower, who represents God. A God that spreads his love (the seed) across all types of soil (our hearts), regardless of whether they are hard, stony, chocked with seeds or fertile.

Kingdom Peace comes through having a different vision - the vision of Isaiah, one of the Old Testament's greatest prophets. The apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, implores us to be ambassadors of this Kingdom Peace. But how can we do that when every day we look upon conflict between people and nations? It seems impossible to us. But maybe our judgement is wrong and God's vision is correct. If that were true, it would give us something significant. It would provide us with HOPE.

Do religion and politics mix? Some may want to view them like oil and water - things that separate themselves out. But the Bible shows us that God is always concerned for the welfare of humanity and good governance. Leadership and social issues are very much part of the faith and life and how we engage with politics matters.

How does one participate in the Kingdom of God? Well, in His parables, Jesus gave examples - something that could grow from small beginnings, like a mustard seed, or something that could affect great change, like yeast in flour. And how best to action this? Check out 2 Peter 1:5-7 - there is a clear answer!

"Surely the Lord was in this place, and I was not aware of it…How awesome is this place!". This is what Jacob said in Genesis 28. There are places where God seems closer than normal. Celtic Christianity speaks of “thin places” where the distance between heaven and earth collapses. Was this the experience of Pentecost when the Spirit came and moved among the followers of Jesus? And where is your “thin place”? Maybe walking on the beach, on top of a mountain, in a religious building or even at church on Sunday?

What was the greatest theme that Jesus spoke about during his three years of ministry on Earth? It might surprise you that it wasn't the church but the Kingdom of God. Jesus spoke loads about this topic. It could be compared to a bar of soap - slippery to handle, but it makes you clean! Okay, maybe that analogy is a bit rubbish - but there are so many ways Jesus explained the Kingdom and described it. Some people got it, others didn't. Over the next few weeks, we'll dive deeper into this amazing topic and catch a glimpse of the Kingdom here on Earth.

'Do you love me?'. It's a big question. It's a question Jesus asked the disciple Peter three times at the end of the greatest story ever told. 'Do you love me?' As one story was ending, another was beginning. 'Feed my sheep'. Jesus had been crucified and he had resurrected. He was giving Peter a big job. 'Feed my sheep'. How do these verses change things today - for you and the church? How do we love him? How do we feed his sheep?'

Baker, Le Tissier, Patel, Vale. Names often have meaning, telling us about family origins - perhaps their trade or status or where their house could be found. Similarly, the name of the Lord our God tells us very much who He is. His name is Yahweh in the Hebrew. It is often translated to 'I am who I am', but it is a phrase without any tense. So it can also mean 'I've always been who I've always been' or 'I will always be who I will always be.' Therefore, it is a name that embraces any situation and reminds us that in these, God - if called upon - will be sufficient for anything and everything we will need.

Breakfast. The experts say it is the most important meal of the day. What does yours typically consist of? When the resurrected Jesus invites his followers to ‘Come and have breakfast', it is an invitation to recognise Jesus, to identify him, to know him and to be present with him. So not only the best meal of the day but the best meal of their lifetime! And the good news is that this is an invitation open to all of us. Join Him!

Easter has happened, and Christ has risen! Just as the disciples continued to be amazed in the days and weeks that came after, we too can continue to learn and be astonished as we continue this journey with Jesus.

Easter is about rising from the dead, rising from the ashes of lost hope and rising from a life of loneliness and separation to a life of joining God and living with him forevermore. The cross is the greatest act of love where forgiveness reigns and reconciliation rules. Jesus is Lord. He is Risen. Hallelujah! This Easter, commit to Jesus and celebrate lives transformed and changed. In a world of such bad news, we need the Good News more than ever!

James concludes his letter by writing about the ups and downs of community life and how PRAYER and PRAISE need to be woven throughout our relationship with God and one another. James' final sentence focuses on people who may have wandered away from FAITH. Because James is about doing faith, not just having faith! Why not act now to pray and encourage people in their faith journey! Especially friends you might know. As J.R.R. Tolkien said, “Not all who wander are lost”!