Proverbs 14:14

Adam Clarke in his famous commentary, asks the question: “Who is the backslider?”, he then answers it in three points: 1. The man who once walked in the ways of religion, but has withdrawn from them. 2. The man who once fought manfully against the world, the devil, and the flesh; but has retreated from the battle, or joined the enemy. 3. The man who once belonged to the congregation of the saints, but is now removed from them, and is set down in the synagogue of Satan” 

This sermon is a warning against drifting and an exhortation to recover again the ground lost in our Christian walk.

Mark 15:21-47

If I was to say to you the words, “Carmen Christi”, there’s probably very few of you if any, who would understand what I’m on about.  “Carmen Christi” is Latin, which being interpreted means “Hymn to Christ”.  Now while you most likely are unfamiliar with the language, you ought be very familiar with the content. You may better know this hymn as Philippians 2:5-11. It is believed by scholars and historians that this passage in Paul’s letter to the Philippians pre-existed Paul’s letter itself in that it was an old Christian hymn rich in theological beauty!  One author wrote: “The Church which sang this hymn proclaimed for the first time the three 'epochs' in the existence of Christ: he is hailed and confessed first as pre-existent, then as incarnate and humiliated and finally as triumphant”.  Now, whatever its historical background, one cannot cast their eyes upon this text of Scripture without being deeply impacted.  It’s theological depth is almost unrivalled, it’s Christological content is scarcely without comparison.

Join us as we survey the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, first from earth’s prospective and then from heaven’s.

Matthew 27:24-26

 First before the Jewish courts and then before the Roman courts — they lied point blank and accused Him to His face. Twice accused falsely?  Nay thrice!! Before Herod also, “...the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him” (Lk.23:10). What would you have done? What would have I? Surely we would have been quick and ready to plead our case and prove our innocence, but not the lowly Galilean.  In the presence of His enemies, HE HELD HIS PEACE! This is so alien to us and yet, to this end we have been called to suffer and to follow His example.

Matthew 26:36-46

It is my conviction, that it is in Gethsemane more than in any other place, that light is cast upon the full humanity of God our Saviour, Jesus Christ. In Bethlehem we see His birth, in Gethsemane we see His travail of His soul; in the manger we hear the cries of the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes but in the garden we hear the groans of the anguish of agonising prayer.  Consider with me, the great sorrows that His soul endured that night.  If the name Gethsemane (Lit. oil press), means anything historically, it was for this hour that it was named! 

This message is a call for God’s people to watch and pray in the hour of their vulnerability.