Selected Sermons Notes From Autumn 2023
It is always good to remind ourselves of recent Sunday ministry.
This page is a record of what we heard this Autumn
10th December. Our Sunday Worship service was led by our very own Mr Andrew Richards.
In the early part of the service Andrew focussed on his love for the work of the great Cornish composer Thomas Merritt - and in particular his famous Christmas Hymns and carols.
Andrew then took the text, from Luke Chapter 4: where Jesus, speaking in Nazareth synagogue quotes Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
This prophecy of deliverance, hundreds of years old, whose fulfilment was desperately needed, was coming true before their eyes, yet they then then tried to kill Jesus by throwing him over a cliff. (Verse 29)
Jesus brings us great news: spiritual freedom, illumination, release from the oppression of a sinful nature and the experience of God's grace. We cannot be indifferent to this gospel; we either accept it with faith, or we treat Jesus as those in Nazareth tried to do.
Worship on the 3rd December 2023, the start of Advent, was led by our friend, Mrs Rachael Carbis.
Rachael took, as a text, the name given to Jesus in Matthew's gospel: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). This is a prophecy from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 7:14)
Immanuel means that Jesus is God. It insists on the divinity of Jesus - who at twelve years of age was at the centre of a family crisis because "He had to be about His Father's business" - listening to and questioning the Jewish temple teachers. (Luke 2:41-52).
All the fulness of the Godhead dwells in Him, bodily; He has the authority to forgive sins; He said "before Abraham was, I am"; there is a judgement day coming when He is the Judge of the earth. We cannot 'pick-and-mix' what we care to believe about Him; we either accept or reject what Jesus said about Himself.
Immanuel means that Jesus is Man. He is literally God and literally man. J. I. Packer said of this: "we accept the incarnation of God, despite all the difficulties." Simeon and Anna recognised this when they first saw Jesus when a baby. (Luke 2:22-38) He was misunderstood by those Jews he came to: they expected Messiah to be a military leader to fight against the Roman oppression; they got a suffering servant who died for sinners
Immanuel means that Jesus is with us. It is 'not good for us to be alone', anymore than it was for Adam before Eve. Today we can expect His grace, but He looks for repentance from our unbelief and sin. He will give, to those who believe on Him, life with new horizons - and heaven forevermore!
19th century representation of The Broad and Narrow Ways
26th November 2023. We welcomed back Mr Brian Hayward of Twelveheads.
Brian brought to us a practical lesson: if the Bible sometimes seems too big a book to know where to start, we may need to be aware that we do not have to start with the Big Picture.
Illustrating his point with a succession of maps: World map, Southern England, Cornwall and the Bissoe area, Brian led us to zoom-in on: The New Testament, The Gospels, Matthew's Gospel, then to a couple a verses with a simple gospel message of good news.
Jesus' words, reported in Matthew 7:13-14 say,: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it..."
Like Squeeze Guts Alley in Truro, Jesus sets before us a narrow way that leads to life. Few find this narrow way, but it is promised to those who seek the Lord Jesus Christ. It is for those who see their need to be 'Ransomed, Healed, Restored and Forgiven'. And it leads to Life! - not to Destruction.
12 November 2023. Remembrance Sunday: Thank you to the Ladies Fellowship who organised a most appropriate service of hymns and reflections.
On display at the entrance to the chapel drive were nearly 1000 woollen poppies that had been crafted in the preceding months.
The final message led us to consider men who had left Hicks Mill to fight in the first and second world wars. In particular, two who did not return: William Thomas Trevery (b. 1889), and Jack Pope (b. 1917).
If any who left Hicks Mill to fight could return today how different they would find it! The familiar smell of oil lamps and heaters disappeared with the coming of electricity in the 1920s. The schoolroom staircase changed position with the remodelling of the 1960s. Even the main entrance was changed from the side to the front of the building.
What has stayed the same is the gospel message and the Bible that reveals it. Although there is still a prominent display Bible, donated in 1937, the translation of the Bible read aloud today is more likely to be translated more recently.
To demonstrate this we heard part of John chapter 3 read, alternately from the King James Bible and the New international Version.
John 3:16-17 from the King James Version
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:16-17 from the New international Version
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
5th November 2023, Sunday worship: Roy Davey spoke to us about being spiritual millionaires. We Have, we Are and we Will be.
We Have. Roy referred us to particularly to Hebrews Chapter 4, verse 14: "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess". Because He became a human, Jesus is supremely able to sympathise with our weakness. He was strongly tempted, yet he did not sin. We may have confidence to approach Him for mercy and grace in our spiritual need.
We Are. Romans 8:17. " Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory ". We have become children of God. Indeed, heirs of God and co-heirs with our Lord Jesus Christ. But only because we have a share in His suffering on the cross for our sins may we have a share in the glory that is also His.
We Will Be. Malachi 3:17. "They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him. " Believers are God's treasured possessions; we are spiritual millionaires now; this is not always obvious, but it will be, we will be like Him.
We are spiritual millionaires indeed!
22nd October 2023: Harvest Thanksgiving Service led by Mark Pellow.
Mark spoke to us about three harvests.
The first harvest is the natural one that God has promised will continue while the earth remains: fields of waving seeds and trees burdened with fruit.
The second harvest is seen in the life of those who have turned in repentance to Jesus Christ: who have experienced new life from Him and in whom the Holy Spirit now dwells.
Referring to Galatians chapter 5, verses19 to 22, Mark reminded us that there are many signs of an non-Christian life; some are heinous, others, like jealousy and selfish ambition, are more common. When God changes someone the Holy Spirit will produce His fruit - evidence of His life within. These include love, joy, peace and patience.
The passage in Galatians is well worth reading carefully.
The third harvest is that foretold by Our Lord Jesus Christ - when He comes back again in authority, splendour and eminence; no one will be able to ignore this judgement. Many who have rejected Jesus will despair that the opportunity for faith is over. The Bible tells us of a new heaven and a new earth, focussed on righteousness; a time for those who love God to enjoy Him forever. The time to turn to Jesus is now.
15th October 2023. A call from our friend Jeff Lacey to take heed to the message found in the words of our Lord, from Luke 10:41: “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Martha had invited Jesus to her home, shared with Mary and Lazarus. Much work and worry would be created offering hospitable to the thirteen, or more, visitors. As Martha's frustration level rose she called on Jesus to rebuke her sister Mary for not helping with the hospitality. Mary was giving her time entirely to listening and taking in what Jesus' taught. Jesus understood Martha's issues, but commended Mary's desire to learn more from Him.
8th October 2023: Thank you to Colin Woolcott for your ministry today:
Isaiah 5:1-7 The song of the vineyard: "I sing for the one I love, a song about his vineyard... ...He looked for righteousness, but heard cries of distress."
God had made every provision for His people, pictured as a vineyard. He chose a fertile site, prepared the ground, removed stones, planted it with prize vines... And it only produced wild grapes. What else cold He have done!? He is not unjust to remove all His kindnesses.
Matthew 21:33-44: The parable of the evil vineyard tenants:
The master prepared a vineyard and let it to tenants. When no fruit was returned to the master he sent servants, who were killed, more servants (also killed) and then his son! Who was also killed by the tenants. Not only did Israel of old persecute, and even kill, God's prophets; but the Son of God was not recognised when He came. He was crucified and killed. God's goodness is now open to everyone. ("other tenants": verse 43) His gospel goes to Gentiles as well as Jews now.
He needs to see His Spirit producing in us the fruit that He is seeking: Love, Joy, Peace, etc. [Galatians 5:22-23] If we are as dead to God as the 'tenants' there is a serious warning in these two Bible passages.
24th September 2023: Thank you to Colin Hares of Carnhell Green Christian Fellowship for leading our worship and for your ministry to us:
From the early part of Acts Chapter 3; A lame beggar is being carried to Gate Beautiful of the temple.
HAPPINESS: The healed beggar was 'walking and jumping and praising God'. After his encounter with Jesus' healing, his life was changed.
OPPORTUNITY: What if he had not responded to the message 'in the Name of Jesus'? Would he ever get another opportunity? What if we don't respond?
PROMISE: He could trust what he was told for his healing. We can trust God's promise of forgiveness through the cross of Jesus.
EXPECTATION: Healing was a life-changing event. Becoming a Christian has that effect too. The Christian who keeps close to the Saviour, through prayer and study of God's word, can expect their life to go on changing.
Homework: How many Bible events that took place at three o'clock in the afternoon (the ninth hour of the day) can you discover?