Posts Tagged "Jesus"

Questions for Muslims #3

Posted by Hugh on Jan 4, 2010 in Apologetics | 0 comments

So, at Cornhill today we were thinking about Cross-Cultural Mission… and I should say I haven’t had a chance to reference in a Qu’ran

One of the things that came up in passing was about Final Judgement…

Isa (Jesus) according to Islam is the one who will execute final judgement. For the Muslim, as I understand (I may well be wrong), they hope (uncertain hope) that Muhammed will intercede, will give a good word to Isa.

So the question is quite simple…

Why follow the mediator (Muhammed), when you can be friends with the judge himself (Jesus)?

…it seems like a more certain way to approach final judgement?

Rich and Poor

Posted by Hugh on Dec 14, 2009 in Grace, Sermons/Talks | 0 comments

About 10 days ago I spoke at an International Carol Service… a traditional English Carol Service put on for the local international students with an evangelistic message.

I spoke on 2 Corinthians 8:9  -  “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich”

• Jesus was rich before His birth, but chose to became poor
• We are poor and need to become rich
• Jesus became poor so that we might become rich

Points shamelessly stolen from Christopher Ash, but the talk is mine.

Talk notes (doc)

Jars of Clay

Posted by Hugh on Nov 18, 2009 in Sermons/Talks | 0 comments

Apparently Ben Southall has “The Best Job in the World”… he’s the guy who is the caretaker of a tropical island off the coast of Australia. But the Apostle Paul would beg to differ… clearly the ministry of reconciliation, of bringing God’s New Covenant, the good news about Jesus to the world is the best job ever!

That’s the back drop for 2 Corinthians 4… where we get God shining light in people’s hearts and using weak people (clay pots) to do his work.

I spoke on this passage a couple of weeks ago, bit of a last minute .com job for Kingston CU who hadn’t got a weekend away speaker.

Talk notes here (pdf)

Year of Jubilee

Posted by Hugh on Sep 14, 2009 in Sermons/Talks | 0 comments

On Sunday night I preached at church on Leviticus 25. Felt pretty unprepared, but it came together on Sunday afternoon! Here are my three main points:

• Sabbath Year  -  looking at the theme of Rest

• Jubilee Year  -  looking at the theme of Redemption

• Grace  -  looking at how we respond to God’s grace…

You can listen to the sermon here  -  download MP3

You can see my notes here  -  download PDF

You can see my Powerpoint here  -  download PPT

Some thoughts on Ali al-Megrahi

Posted by Hugh on Sep 3, 2009 in Theological Ramblings | 1 comment

Well it looks as though the fuss over the Lockerbie bomber, Ali al-Megrahi is slowly dying down. But while it’s still in the news I wanted to pen a few thoughts that have been brewing over the last few weeks, that perhaps show some inconsistency and hyperbole in what’s going on:

• I wasn’t on the jury that convicted al-Megrahi (surprisingly), but the evidence presently looks somewhat tenuous…
• If al-Megrahi was indeed guilty, then it seems likely that he was sponsored or in some way directly or indirectly supported by the Libyan regime. With that in mind is it fair to make al-Megrahi a scapegoat while we make friends with Colnell Gadaffi…?
• Ronnie Biggs (a Great Train Robber) was also released from a prison sentence earlier this year on compassionate grounds… sure he didn’t kill 270 people, but he was English and didn’t upset any Americans, which also helps his case. But no-one that I heard claimed it was wrong to release Biggs.
• There’s talk of Brown making concessions to Libya for oil and trade deals… David Cameron came out stronly against this, saying he wouldn’t have released al-Megrahi. The reality is that if this was the case, Cameron would have, and he would have been right to if it was in the interests of the UK.
• Why should mercy be contradictory to justice?

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.”  -  Zechariah 7:9

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face”  -  Psalm 89:14

The Mercy and Justice of God is most wonderfully displayed at Calvary… Jesus is crucified, he dies, taking the punishment for your sin and my sin – justice is served, but it’s also merciful, God pours his just anger at sin on himself, letting you go free into new life! Amen