Revelation – Salisbury Baptist Church

Unpacking the Millennium

29th September 2024

Post-millennialism is one of three major theories about the Biblical millennium, the other two being Pre-millennialism or A-millennialism. These three descriptors are actually adjectives describing the Return of Christ with reference to the timing of the 1000 years of the “Millennium”. Post-Millennialism pictures the 1000 years as being a successful period of Church influence such as to bring about the dawn of a better world. Initially, in times of conservative Christianity, this was seen as due to the success of Christian mission introducing “a bright new world of peace and happiness”. Later Post-millennialism, still with an optimistic note, but with more liberal understanding of the influence of the Church, explained the expected uplift as due to scientific advancement, ethical improvement of society and/or evolution. Post-millennialism of this sort sees the societal uplift due to causes such as evolution or technological advancement. Post-millennialism today sometimes seeks to fit in with Liberal theology reinterpreting the Gospel, with the uplift as caused by social or technological progress. Finally, when focus is taken back to what the Book of Revelation actually says, Revelation 20:4-6 describes events that seem to contradict post-millennial interpretations.

The Love That Holds Us Fast: Awakening to Christ’s Constraining Grace

11th August 2024

God's love for us precedes our love for Him. This truth is central to understanding spiritual awakening and growth in the Christian life. Many believers struggle to live out their faith fully, but there is a deeper work of the Holy Spirit available—an awakening that leads to spiritual vitality. This awakening often begins with prayer and a renewed awareness of Christ's constraining love. His love holds us fast, like a safety cord for mountain climbers, allowing us to persevere in our spiritual journey despite our weaknesses and failures. The Western Church is in great need of such an awakening to rekindle its love for Christ and experience His transformative power.

The Church: Christ’s Home on Earth

21st July 2024

The sermon explores the concept of the Church as Christ's home and possession. It emphasises that Jesus considers the Church His dwelling place on earth, even as He resides in heaven. The speaker challenges common misconceptions about church ownership, stressing that neither pastors nor congregants own the Church—it belongs solely to Jesus. He highlights the importance of recognising Christ's authority in building and directing His Church, and calls for a deeper, more personal relationship with Jesus within the context of church life. The message encourages listeners to view church attendance not as a mere ritual, but as an opportunity to encounter and fellowship with Christ Himself.

Where does Jesus call His home?

21st July 2024

Jesus considers the Church His current home on Earth, but He has gone to prepare a place for believers in Heaven. At the Second Coming, Christ will return to collect His followers - both the dead and the living - in an event known as the Rapture. We will then be eternally united with Him in our heavenly home. This promise offers great comfort and hope, but it also emphasises the urgency of ensuring a personal relationship with Jesus now, before His return. The Church isn't just a building or tradition, but a family of those who do the Father's will and know Christ personally.

The heart awakened to the love of Christ

14th July 2024

The sermon explores the deep, intimate relationship between Christ and believers, using the Song of Songs as a metaphor. The speaker emphasises that Christianity is not merely about doctrines or duties, but rather a loving relationship with Jesus. He shares personal experiences of powerful prayer meetings and encourages listeners to find their unique calling in partnership with Christ. The key message is that true Christian life involves actively seeking and responding to Jesus' presence, leading to a joyful, purposeful walk with Him.

Opening the Door to Christ

7th April 2024

This sermon explores the profound meaning of Revelation 3:20, addressing a debate on its interpretation and extending its application beyond conversion to the fervent love and fellowship Jesus desires with each believer. It challenges the notion that Christ's knocking at the door is solely an invitation to non-believers, emphasising also His call to believers to rekindle their first love and commit to a deeper relationship with Him. By juxtaposing this with references to the Song of Solomon, the preacher illuminates the mutual love between Christ and the believer, advocating for a personal response to Jesus' gentle but persistent invitation. This call to both conversion for non-believers and renewal for the lukewarm believer underscores the sermon's core message: Jesus seeks a passionate, loving relationship with each of us, inviting us personally to open the door to a more profound fellowship with Him.

Steps to the new beginning

31st December 2023

"I think a New Year's resolution often is when we come to a place of realising we need to make a decision as to direction. And we don't need to necessarily carry it all out or know everything about it, but we sometimes do need to take one step. And if I can help you today to take a step, an important step that the Scriptures help us to see is a part of what it is to be a disciple of Jesus."

Discerning Miraculous Signs

29th October 2023

"He said, 'not just because there are signs should you necessarily believe they're from God'. And he had a list of Bible verses which were actually telling of how some signs are not from God. And I thought gee that's something that we all should learn more about. And so that's where I've gotten this idea of a message tonight and we'll start a very obvious place in the book of Exodus."

Christ calls individuals to respond

24th September 2023

"I particularly had in mind the fact that I wanted to speak this morning on the verse in Revelation 3.20, a very famous verse where Jesus says, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come on in to that one and fellowship with him and hear with me, or I'll eat with him and hear with me."

The Tree of Life

28th May 2023

"It's a terrific thing to come together and know that we have connections broader than just our local church. It's very Baptist-like, you know, to see the centre of the church life being the local church, but it's also something in our heritage that we can have associations at a broader level."