Lossiemouth Church of Scotland

In this week’s sermon (29 January 2017), Rev. Geoff McKee looks at Matthew’s Gospel (5:1-12). With just one week to consider this dense and famous passage (which could provide material for several sermons), he takes a step back and considers what principles underpin the Beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The Scripture follows immediately below and then the sermon. You can download the sermon transcript in PDF format if you wish, by clicking on this text.

Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV)

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes
He said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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For the Third Sunday after Epiphany (22 January 2017), Rev. Geoff McKee continues his discussion of epiphanies (revelations) about Jesus by reference to Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 4:12-23).

He looks at how Jesus’ first preaching and the calling of his first disciples reminds us how and why Christians should fulfil their kingdom responsibilities joyfully. As usual, the Scripture is at the beginning, with the text of the sermon below that. You can download the sermon as a PDF file by clicking HERE. [Read more…]

Rev. Geoff McKee’s sermon for 15 January 2017 takes John 1:29-42 as its scriptural basis.  Geoff discusses how the season of Epiphany must not obscure the fact that there are many epiphanies (great revelations) to be had about Jesus. This section of the Bible includes epiphanies for John the Baptist, Andrew (Scotland’s patron saint) and Andrew’s brother, Simon Peter. Find out how St Andrew was first-called by Jesus and how the simple revelations from the story perhaps have greater meaning for our daily Christian lives than the high, theological ones.

As usual, the Scripture is immediately below (New International Version). After that, comes Geoff’s sermon. You can download the sermon as a PDF by clicking on this text.

John Testifies About Jesus
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptising with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptise with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

John’s Disciples Follow Jesus
35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

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When John the Baptist was in prison, he sent his followers to ask Jesus if he (Jesus) was the promised Messiah. This seems a strange question when you consider what John had already witnessed in relation to Jesus. It seems John was in that place of doubt and insecurity – when you wonder if your life as a Christian has been a waste of time. In this sermon, based on Matthew 11:2-11, Rev. Geoff McKee draws parallels between John and other notable Christians from the more recent past. He also discusses what this means for our own lives.

The Scripture (Matthew 11:2-11; New International Version) follows immediately below. After that comes the sermon. You can download a copy of the sermon in PDF format by clicking here. [Read more…]