TOMS Anglican Churches

TBW 2013 - Tough Questions for Dummies - Talk 4 - Answering Tough Questions (continued)

A sermon by Stuart Pearson at St Tom’s Big Weekend 13. This is the last in a series of four talks on the topic of 'Tough Questions for Dummies'.

This talk is entitled 'Answering Tough Questions (continued)' and was delivered on the 8th of September 2013.

Outline:

• Can I trust the New Testament documents?
• Assumption 1: They are biased, but not distorted
• Assumption 2: They are historically suspect
• Assumption 3: They haven't been transmitted accurately
• The Qur'an and the Bible
• Islam is in the line of Judaism and Christianity
• The Bible is God's revelation
• The Qur'an and Christians
• The Qur'an and the Bible
• Dealing with the barriers: Christian doctrine
  The resurrection of Jesus from the dead
• Evidence 1: The tomb was empty
• Evidence 2: Women were the first witnesses
• Evidence 3: Similarities and differences in accounts
• Evidence 4: The disciples' transformation
• Dealing with the barriers: Personal barriers

TBW 2013 - Tough Questions for Dummies - Talk 3 - Answering Tough Questions

A sermon by Stuart Pearson at St Tom’s Big Weekend 13. This is the third in a series of four talks on the topic of 'Tough Questions for Dummies'.

This talk is entitled 'Answering Tough Questions' and was delivered on the 7th of September 2013.

Outline:

• Three broad approaches to Christian apologetics
• From what God has revealed
• From what God has done
• From what I have experienced
• What does the Bible have to say?
• What method should we use?
• Apologetics in action and the existence of God
• The cosmological argument
• The teleological argument
• The moral argument
• The religious experience argument
• Apologetics and the existence of God

TBW 2013 - Tough Questions for Dummies - Talk 2 - Gearing Up for Tough Questions

A sermon by Stuart Pearson at St Tom’s Big Weekend 13. This is the second in a series of four talks on the topic of 'Tough Questions for Dummies'.

This talk is entitled 'Gearing Up for Tough Questions' and was delivered on the 7th of September 2013.

Outline:

• Socrates, Plato and the Apostle Peter
• A definition of Christian apologetics
• The characteristics required
• Personal characteristics:
• Real
• Credible
• Prepared to fail
• Perseverance
• Christian characteristics
• Persuasive (Acts 18:4)
• Dependence on God (Acts 13:46-48)
• Flexibility - able to change approach (1 Cor 9:19-23)
• Principled - not trying to trick, coerce or force (1 Thess 2:3-4)
• Love (2 Cor 5:11-15)
• Conclusion

TBW 2013 - Tough Questions for Dummies - Talk 1 - Introduction to Tough Questions

A sermon by Stuart Pearson at St Tom’s Big Weekend 13. This is the first in a series of four talks on the topic of 'Tough Questions for Dummies'.

This talk is entitled 'Introduction to Tough Questions' and was delivered on the 6th of September 2013.

Outline:

• Some barriers and roadblocks to the Christian faith
• Key Bible verse - But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
  1 Peter 4:15-16
• Two key points:
1.  
2.   

TBW 2012 - Resurrection Power - Is There a Christian Spirituality? - Phil 3:4-16, Eph 5:8-21

A talk by Andrew Barry at The Big Weekend 2012 on the topic of 'Resurrection Power in the Life of the Believer'. This talk is entitled 'Is There a Christian Spirituality?' (Philippians 3:4-16, Ephesians 5:8-21) and is the third in the three-talk series. Talk outline:

1. What are the spiritualities "out there"?
2. Which ones affect the church?
3. What activities would be called "Christian spirituality"?
4. What is Christian "spirituality"?
5. Is there a difference between Christian "spirituality" and Old Testament spirituality?
6. Is there a right and wrong approach to spirituality?
7. How would you respond to this? "I'm not a Christian, but I'm a spiritual person!"
8. How are you going to live differently in light of what we have discussed?

TBW 2012 - Resurrection Power - Resurrection Power in the Life of the Believer - Eph 1:15-23

A talk by Andrew Barry at The Big Weekend 2012 on the topic of 'Resurrection Power in the Life of the Believer'. This talk is entitled 'Resurrection Power in the Life of the Believer' (Ephesians 1:15-23) and is the second in the three-talk series. Talk outline:

1. The resurrection of Christ and the power of God
2. An ordinary foundation for living for Christ
3. The extra-ordinary foundation for life with Christ
   1. Our salvation includes our new life
   2. Let gratitude increase
   3. We live in light of reality
   4. We live by faith
   5. It's the basis of Christian ministry
   6. We're not alone

TBW 2012 - Resurrection Power - Exploding our Understanding of the Resurrection - Acts 2:22-41

A talk by Andrew Barry at The Big Weekend 2012 on the topic of 'Resurrection Power in the Life of the Believer'. This talk is entitled 'Exploding our Understanding of the Resurrection' (Acts 2:22-41) and is the first in the three-talk series. Talk outline:

1. The weekend talks I need to give, and perhaps you need to hear
2. The resurrection
   1. A grave-side truth, not an everyday truth?
   2. A proof in argument?
   3. Finishing off the loose ends?
3. The resurrection: the gospel (Romans 1:1-4, 2 Timothy 2:8, Acts)
4. What does the resurrection of Jesus accomplish?
5. Jesus' resurrection and other raisings (easier or harder?)
6. The power of God
   1. Compared to His raw power
   2. The power of God in the resurrection: why so powerful?
7. Let God explode our understanding and experience of the power of God in the resurrection of Jesus Christ

TBW 2011 - Perfection: The Goal of God's Plan - Presenting Perfect - Colossians 1:15-29

A talk by Joe Wiltshire at St Tom’s Big Weekend 2011 on the topic of 'Perfection: The Goal of God's Plan'. This talk is entitled 'Presenting Perfect' (Colossians 1:15-29) and is the last in the four-talk series. Talk outline:

• Where have we come so far?
• The 'M' word
• Counting the cost
• God's plan is our work
• Implications
  1. Always be looking outside the present group
  2. Ministry requires both personal and corporate sacrifice
  3. There is no magic bullet
  4. False teachers are the ones who look for ease and popularity
  5. Not all of us are teachers
  6. For those that are teachers, teach the negative as well as the positive
  7. For anyone to be saved and grow as a Christian, they have to hear the word of the Gospel
  8. We've got to have the right expectations:
     • The world to be against you
     • That God will work
  9. Give up your life for the sake of the glory of God, for the sake of Jesus, for the sake of others and for your own sake

TBW 2011 - Perfection: The Goal of God's Plan - Being Perfect - Matthew 5

A talk by Joe Wiltshire at St Tom’s Big Weekend 2011 on the topic of 'Perfection: The Goal of God's Plan'. This talk is entitled 'Being Perfect' (Matthew 5) and is the third in the four-talk series. Talk outline:

• The impossible expectations
• The kingdom of heaven
• Why is it that we can't just darn well obey?
• Jesus' sermon and the Law
  • It shows us how sinful we really are
  • It points us to the need for a Saviour
  • It shows us the right way to live as people who are on the side of righteousness
• Sinless perfectionism?
• Implications
  1. Keep reading the Bible with a self-critical eye, not a Bible-critical eye
  2. Keep putting sin to death
  3. Confession is important
  4. There's a danger of moralising
  5. We need to have very realistic expectations of others
  6. We need to set an example in both righteousness and confession for others
  7. The danger of pride
  8. We need to devote our whole life to the service of Christ and work on being perfect

TBW 2011 - Perfection: The Goal of God's Plan - The Perfect Son - Hebrews 4:14-5:10

A talk by Joe Wiltshire at St Tom’s Big Weekend 2011 on the topic of 'Perfection: The Goal of God's Plan'. This talk is entitled 'The Perfect Son' (Hebrews 4:14-5:10) and is the second in the four-talk series. Talk outline:

• The central event in God's perfect plan: The perfecting of his Son
• How can God be made perfect? Some observations...
  • Without this...
  • What perfection doesn't mean
  • What perfection does mean
  • How Jesus was made perfect
• How can Jesus 'learn obedience'?
  1. He learned the cost of obedience
  2. He learned what it was to be tempted
  3. He learned that obedience to his Father's will and perfect plan would mean the ultimate price
  4. He desired his Father's will more than his own life
  5. Jesus' prayer is heard because of his reverence
  6. Jesus' death is how he achieved salvation for mankind
• Implications:
  1. The only proper response is awe and thanksgiving
  2. It ought to lead us to repentance and trust
  3. We must not harden our hearts and become disobedient
  4. Know that Jesus can help you in your temptations and sympathises with you
  5. There is no other way of salvation
  6. We need to be aware of the danger of 'works'

TBW 2011 - Perfection: The Goal of God's Plan - The Perfect Plan - Psalm 64

A talk by Joe Wiltshire at St Tom’s Big Weekend 2011 on the topic of 'Perfection: The Goal of God's Plan'. This talk is entitled 'The Perfect Plan' (Psalm 64) and is the first in the four-talk series. Talk outline:

• Perfect Planning
• God: The Perfect Planner
• God's Perfect Plan
• What it affects
• Implications
  1. "The Will of God"
  2. Guidance from God
  3. Suffering and evil
  4. Prayer
  5. Immortality
  6. Come voluntarily under the Lordship of Christ
  7. Get your priorities worked out
  8. St Tom's in 2012
• Conclusion: What's it all about?

TBW 12 - Talk 4 - 4 Christ

A sermon by Adam Taylor at St Tom’s Big Weekend 12. This is the last in a series of four talks on the topic of 'Our Vision'. This talk is entitled '4 Christ' and was delivered on the 31st of October 2010.

All 4 Christ and His glory!

Sermon outline:

• Where we've been so far...
• Where we're going now (Philippians 1:12-21)
• Where we'll finish

TBW 12 - Talk 3 - Serve and Outreach

A sermon by Adam Taylor at St Tom’s Big Weekend 12. This is the third in a series of four talks on the topic of 'Our Vision'. This talk is entitled 'Outreach and Serve' and was delivered on the 30th of October 2010.

With the result that under God TOMS will be multiplying discipline-making disciples who are:

• pursuing Mature-ity in Christ
• Serve-ing one another in love
• active in Outreach to their communities and beyond

Sermon outline:

• Remember... (Colossians 1:9-14)
• Pursuing Mature-ity in Christ (Colossians 1:28-29, 2:6-7)
• Serve-ing one another in love
• Active in Outreach to their communities and beyond

TBW 12 - Talk 2 - Mature

A sermon by Adam Taylor at St Tom’s Big Weekend 12. This is the second in a series of four talks on the topic of 'Our Vision'. This talk is entitled 'Mature' and was delivered on the 30th of October 2010.

We are prayerfully planning to: Mature people as faithful followers of Jesus, through the Word of God.

Sermon outline:

• God-dependent plans
• We plan to Mature faithful followers of Jesus (Matthew 28:16-19)
• We plan to Mature them through the Word of God (Matthew 28:20)

TBW 12 - Talk 1 - Together

A sermon by Adam Taylor at St Tom’s Big Weekend 12. This is the first in a series of four talks on the topic of 'Our Vision'. This talk is entitled 'Together' and was delivered on the 29th of October 2010.

We believe: God is calling Together disciples for himself through the gospel of Christ

Sermon outline:

• The God who calls (1 Corinthians 1:9)
• God calls Together disciples (1 Corinthians 1:24-30)
• God calls through the gospel of Christ
• God has called us Together (1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 12, 18-20)

TBW 11 - Session 3 - How are the Lost found?

A sermon from St Tom’s Big Weekend 11 by Ray Galea. This is the third in a series of three talks on the topic of ‘The Lost’. This talk, from Romans 9-10, is entitled ‘How are the Lost found?’ and was delivered on the 24th of October 2009. There is no outline for this sermon.

TBW 11 - Session 2 - How loved are the Lost?

A sermon from St Tom’s Big Weekend 11 by Ray Galea. This is the second in a series of three talks on the topic of ‘The Lost’. This talk, from Luke 15, is entitled ‘How loved are the Lost?’ and was delivered on the 24th of October 2009. There is no outline for this sermon.

TBW 11 - Session 1 - How lost are the Lost?

A sermon from St Tom’s Big Weekend 11 by Ray Galea. This is the first in a series of three talks on the topic of 'The Lost'. This talk, from Ephesians 2:1-10, is entitled 'How lost are the Lost?' and was delivered on the 23rd of October 2009. There is no outline for this sermon.

TBWA 10 - Session 4 - Dying to be Content

A Sermon from St Tom’s Big Weekend Away 10 by Steve Jeffrey. This is the fourth in a series of talks from the book of Philippians called ‘Dying to Live’. This talk, from Philippians 4:2-20, is called ‘Dying to be Content’ and was delivered on the 26th of October 2008. Sermon Outline:

• Coveting is still a sin
• The secret of contentment (v10-13, 19-20, 4-6)
• Gospel partnership (v14-16)
• Three-dimensional giving (v17-18)
• Contentment and fellowship

TBWA 10 - Session 3 - Dying to be there in the End

A Sermon from St Tom’s Big Weekend Away 10 by Steve Jeffrey. This is the third in a series of talks from the book of Philippians called ‘Dying to Live’. This talk, from Philippians 3:1-4:1, is called ‘Dying to be there in the End’ and was delivered on the 25th of October 2008. Sermon Outline:

• Danger ahead!
• Enemies of the cross of Christ (v18-19)
• Citizens of heaven (v20-21)
• Pressing on to home base
• Be there!