Sermon 28th April 2013

Rev Anthony Buckley preached on 1 John 1 v 5 to 10. These are just notes, so do listen to his sermon on the podcast at http://hernehillparish.org.uk/podcast.html if you would like to hear it all.

1 John 1:5

Elvis Presley: Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain’t goin’ away

1)     Message – where did we hear the message of the good news of God’s love from?

How are we going to pass it on?

2)     God is light

A Holy God – good, not safe, but good

We can trust him…

3)     Walking by the light – two paths in the woods, one dark, one light

Let us be honest about the attraction of the darkness – people cannot see what we are doing. We don’t have to see much of anyone else.

But there is attraction of walking in the light –

We can see clearly, around us, we notice things & people and where we are going

You can’t hold hands with someone unless you know where they are

It speaks of warmth

4)     What does walking in the light mean?

Being honest about ourselves

Acknowledging our sins - stop pretending.

And confessing our sins

"I know all about the despair of overcoming chronic temptations. It is not serious, provided self-offended petulance, annoyance at breaking records, impatience etc. don't get the upper hand. No amount of falls will really undo us if we keep on picking ourselves up each time. We shall of course be very muddy and tattered children by the time we reach home. But the bathrooms are all ready, the towels put out, and the clean clothes in the airing cupboard. The only fatal thing is to lose one's temper and give it up. It is when we notice the dirt that God is most present in us; it is the very sign of His presence."

C. S. Lewis, Letters (20 January 1942)

5)     We are going to win… John 1:5

The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it.

Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain’t goin’ away