Genesis – Salisbury Baptist Church

The God Who Steps In

20th October 2024

The principle of uniformity—the idea that natural processes have always operated as they do today—stands in direct opposition to the Christian understanding of a God who actively intervenes in His creation. From the very beginning in Genesis, through to Christ's incarnation and sacrifice, to the promised new heavens and new earth, God demonstrates His supernatural involvement in human history. This truth forms the foundation of Christian faith and experience, where God continues to step into individual lives, offering forgiveness and relationship through His Son Jesus Christ.

The Sun and Shield: God’s Blessings for the Upright

13th October 2024

God is both a sun and a shield to those who walk uprightly, bestowing favour and honour. He withholds no good thing from His faithful followers. The Old Testament, far from being obsolete, provides valuable instruction on how to navigate life according to God's design. By meditating on God's Word and learning His statutes, we gain wisdom more precious than gold or silver. Though we may face afflictions, these often serve to draw us closer to God and deepen our understanding of His ways. Ultimately, the Lord calls us to trust Him completely, resting in the assurance of His goodness and guidance.

Finding God’s Will

22nd September 2024

God is capable of guiding His people, both through sovereign intervention and in response to our seeking His will. The story of Abraham's servant finding a wife for Isaac illustrates key principles in discerning God's guidance. These include taking practical steps, praying specifically, watching for God's response, and being willing to follow His lead. While God may not always answer in the way we expect, He honours those who earnestly seek His direction. Ultimately, finding God's will involves a balance of divine providence and human responsibility, underpinned by a life of prayer and trust in the Lord's steadfast love.

The Mystery of Choice

11th August 2024

God's prior action in loving and choosing us forms the foundation of our salvation and relationship with Him. While Scripture clearly teaches God's sovereign election, it also calls for human response. This seeming paradox is resolved in the work of the Holy Spirit, Who awakens sinners to their need for Christ and enables them to respond in faith. God's love is not merely an emotion but a choice that precedes and enables our choice of Him. This understanding applies not only to salvation but also to areas such as relationships and church leadership. The power of God's Word and the Holy Spirit's work are crucial in bringing about true spiritual awakening and transformation.

Almost Saved: The Peril of Looking Back

28th July 2024

Salvation is not automatic, even for those seeking to obey God. The story of Lot's wife serves as a powerful warning that one can be on the verge of salvation yet still perish. Like Abraham interceding for Lot, Christ intercedes for us, but we must respond to His call. Our heart's treasures can hinder our response to God. Some have felt God's call but did not fully commit. Now is the time to look to Jesus, not back at worldly attachments, and to take hold of the incomparable riches found in a relationship with Him.

Covetousness and the Christian Walk

30th June 2024

In this sermon, we explore the nature of covetousness through the lens of Joseph's trials in Egypt and the later teachings of Jesus and Paul. Highlighting the deep nature of the intentions of the heart, the sermon illustrates how covetousness extends beyond mere sight to encompass a deeper, wrongful desire to have what is not rightfully ours. By examining Biblical passages, the sermon provides guidance on overcoming such temptations and stresses the importance of aligning our desires with God’s will to lead a righteous Christian life.

Costs and Blessing of Motherhood

12th May 2024

In this Mother's Day sermon, we explore the unique challenges and blessings of motherhood through a biblical lens. By examining passages from 1 Timothy and Genesis, the sermon delves into the concept of the curse from the fall of humanity and its impact on women, particularly experienced through childbearing. It clarifies that salvation for mothers comes not through the act of childbearing itself but through faith in Christ who took the curse upon Himself. This message celebrates the sacrifice and resilience of mothers while pointing to the hope and redemption available in Jesus Christ. By Eve, the “mother of all living” beginning the journey of women across history in suffering bringing children into the world, Christ was born as the result. By His coming on the mission to be our Saviour and this including His death of the cross for our sins, the curse on humanity due to the all was lifted and salvation was available for all. Motherhood was a vital link in the answer of God to the curse of the Fall.

Remember Lot’s Wife

10th March 2024

The sermon explores the concept of salvation as depicted through biblical stories, particularly focusing on the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. This narrative emphasises faith, judgement, and God's grace. Abraham's intercessory prayer for Lot is used as an example of how faith and prayer play crucial roles in salvation of others. The sermon warns against complacency and the dangers of ignoring God's call, using Lot's wife as a poignant reminder of the consequences of looking back. It encourages the audience to embrace a full commitment to faith, akin to Abraham, and to be mindful of the generational impact of their spiritual lives. The key point is that salvation is not automatic but requires a responsive heart to God's grace and a willingness to separate from the world's values in the outworking of sanctification.

The judgement of Sodom and Gomorrah

26th November 2023

"The judgement of God falling upon a particular place, two towns, Sodom and Gomorrah and their sin had come up before the Lord and so in the way the Bible expresses God to us God says let us go down and have a look or let us go and make a visit and there is a way of using language in the scriptures that talks about God coming and doing a visitation."

The Light Beyond Sight

5th November 2023

"It's talking about things that are not physical, but they're more in the realm of existence, but not necessarily something with your eyes to see. But it's also what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches that this world is made up of more things than just the ones that can be analysed by the professors at university. This world is made up by more than all the principles of education. And there's more than the learning to be done, that is good learning."