audio by speaker neil ryan

Date: August 6, 2006

Passage: Matthew 5:1-12

Message: Blessed are the Desperate

Series: The Be-Attitudes [1]

Ted Turner is American Media mogul.

Founder of TBS [Turner Broadcasting System]  and CNN [Cable News Network].

His penchant for making controversial statements earned him nickname - ‘The Mouth of the South'.

Just a sample -

"I'd rather go to hell. Heaven has got to be boring."

Date: August 13, 2006
Passage: Matthew 5:1-12
Message: Blessed are the Broken Hearted
Series: The Be-Attitudes [2]

One of the things I loved about having children was telling stories before they went to bed. You can say anything in a story. It doesn't have to be realistic, doesn't even have to make sense. So long as it is exciting, lots of action, some suspense, a bit of fun and in the end, everything works out well!!!

It's a pity life were not more like a bed time story!

Date: September 3, 2006
Passage: Matthew 5:1-12
Message: Blessed are the Vulnerable
Series: The Be-Attitudes [3]

There are many bland words in the English language.
Words like –
Nice: Wife asks you if you like the new hair do and you say
“It’s nice!” She get’s the opposite message!
Fine: You ask someone how they are and they say
‘I’m fine” You know they’re holding out on you!!

Well this word we come across this morning in Matthew 5:5 is one of those words that immediately brings a sense of blandness and nothingness to our minds when we hear it!

Meek

Date: September 10, 2006
Passage: Matthew 5:1-12
Message: Blessed are the Hungry
Series: The Be-Attitudes [4]

There is a little ritual that is played out in our family whenever we all go out to dinner.
I have theory when it comes to ordering your meal.

You know what its like.
Everybody scours the menu looking for that meal that leaps out at you – eat me!!
Most times you have to go through the menu two or three times.
Then you change your mind two or three times.

Date: September 24, 2006
Passage: Matthew 5:7; Luke 1025-37
Message: Blessed are the Merciful
Series: The Be-Attitudes [5]

At first glance this 5th beatitude of Jesus almost seems the wrong way around.
It should read …..blessed are those who are the recipients of mercy
It’s one of life’s great blessings when someone shows mercy on us.
But it’s not seen so much as a blessing to the one who has to show mercy!

I had a lady run into back my car this week.
We pulled over. It was not serious but I wanted to check for damage.

Date: October 22, 2006
Passage: Matthew 5:8
Message: Blessed are the Uncomplicated
Series: The Be-Attitudes [6]

I want to do the visiting missionary thing this morning. I want to share from God’s Word and to refer to some of the things I saw in India.

…..blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God
[Matthew 5:8]

There is in this one verse the simplicity and the complexity of Christian faith.

Jesus speaks to a group of people who are well aware that their law is full of a whole range of things they had to do to keep themselves pure.

Date: October 22, 2006
Passage: Matthew 5:9
Message: Blessed are the Peacemakers
Series: The Be-Attitudes [7]

…..blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God [Matthew 5:9]

Peace is an abstraction and as such is not easy to talk about.
We are all in love with the notion of peace, but it’s only when you put flesh on it that it becomes difficult!

It’s like we all want peace until it costs me something and then peace takes on a different meaning!

The truth is we live in a world of un-peace.
[Created word: un = absence]

Date: November 12, 2006
Passage: Matthew 5:10-12
Message: The Blessing Nobody Wants
Theme: The Be-Attitudes [8]

I want to say from the outset that I feel a little uneasy talking about this subject this morning. Not because I have a problem with it, or because of the reality of it, but because I don’t want to talk ELOQUENTLY about something I know so little about EXPERIENTIALLY.

There is a fine line here.
On one side, we must be educated, aware of and moved by the reality of the horrific suffering many Christians endure for their faith.

Sermon

There’s something about this lion story that just won’t let me go!
I just feel we need to stay a bit longer here.
I got two very contrasting emails this week that have something to say about the challenge of living life of faith.

In the year 2006, the Lord came unto Noah, and said, "Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me."

Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing along with a few good humans."

Sermon

This time of year can get a bit rough. Sometimes instead of peace and goodwill we feel a bit ragged. I came across an eight-step stress management technique recommended in the latest psychological texts.

1. Picture yourself near a stream.

2. Birds are softly chirping in the cool mountain air.

3. No one but you knows your secret place.

4. You are in total seclusion from the hectic world.

5. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a cascade of serenity.

6. The water is crystal clear.

Sermon

When did you last do something crazy?
Life is funny – We are born into a world where we don’t know what’s crazy and what’s not.

Then between about 2 and 25 we do all sorts of crazy things.
Comes under various headings like ‘childishness, adolescence, immaturity’ etc

Then about that time we grow up we start the process of SETTLING. We become more mature, more predictable, often more boring!

Romans part 42

Track 41

Neil Ryan

part 39

Neil Ryan

part 38

part 33

part 31

part 28

part 25

part 24

part 23

part 17

part 2

part 22

part 11

part 14

part 4

part 5

part 9

part 10

Neil Ryan