Victor's sermons

Please click on any of the links below to find a selection of original sermons by Victor Hulbert. We hope you find them to be a blessing.

Scripts:

What Kind of God? An exploration of the kind of God we serve and what makes him unique.

Hope in a Crisis. Tsunami, Hurricane and earthquake. The punishment of God? A Sermon based on Luke 13

Come and have breakfast: John 21.

What's in a Name? A Philadelphian Visits Laodicea.

Hope in Hiroshima. Finding Hope and Forgiveness 60 years on.

Happy New Year

Celebrating Winterfest

Celebrating Sabbath

Of the Reading of Books

Audio Recordings.

Beautiful Feet (podcast from Belfast Adventist church website)

Questioning Jesus: CSI (Christ Scene Investigation) with Victor Hulbert & Kirsten Oster Lundqvist from the Newbold Church Contemporary Service, Easter 2009.

TV Programmes.

As well as hosting "In Conversation" on the Hope Channel, Victor has recently debated Adventist Beliefs on the Christian Channel, Genesis TV (on the Sky Sattellite). You can view these programmes on the UK Adventist Website.

Positive Communication - A devotional thought from a Communication Director.

And behold, a Daily Mirror journalist was following Jesus and reported on him casting a demon out of a man who could not talk. And in his report he stated, " Matthew 9:34 (NIV) "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."

And paparazzi photographed Jesus with a woman, alone at a well. He overheard Jesus checking her out, telling her, "Go, call your husband and come back." "I have no husband," she replied. John 4:16-18 (NIV)

A feature writer from the Guardian took Jesus to one side and asked about 7 brothers: "The first one married and died without leaving any children. The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?" Mark 12:19-23 (NIV)

The Financial Times questioned Jesus business sense when he commended a poor widow for giving everything to the temple when it was only 2p and for telling a wealthy young merchant banker to sell everything and follow him.

A News of the World team set up a sting for Jesus near the temple. Posing as righteous religious leaders they dragged an adulterous women in front of him as said, John 8:4-5 (NIV) "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"

John 8:6-7 (NIV) "But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

The Daily Mail complained about foreigners getting preferential treatment from Jesus. The Sun pointed out he ate with Prostitutes and sinners , and the Daily Telegraph bemoaned his lack of respect for established leadership.

And Jesus? Jesus said, Luke 7:22 (NIV) "Go back and report … what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

And turning to Christians facing the media he said Matthew 10:16 (NIV) "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

The thing I really admire about Jesus is he always had the perfect answer for every situation. I wish I was like that. I wish I always knew what to say – and when I said it then it was always the right thing. I wish I never lay in bed at night pondering on whether I could have said it better.

Mark Twain wrote: " If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed."

That puts me in a difficult dilemma – both as someone who reads newspapers – and takes a keen interest in the media – and someone who produces media as well! (www.adventistnews.org.uk).

How much can we rely on the media? I remember coming across a headline a while back that jumped out at me: "Half of all pupils admit breaking the law". It was a survey of 11 to 16 year olds. One third of 14 and 15 year olds admit criminal damage, and a quarter admit shoplifting in the past year. A quarter of 13 and 14 year olds have indulged in binge drinking, downing five or more alcoholic drinks in a single session.

The report made depressing reading – even though it was produced by "Communities that Care", an organisation seeking to build safer neighbourhoods and to help young people achieve their potential. So I wanted to find out more. Get to the story behind the news. See how bad it really is. So I searched the web, found the survey, and discovered that the headlines could be been written differently.

Teen illegal drug use rare.

Young people generally well-supervised and supported by parents.

Schools set and enforce clear rules for teens.

Most youth feel safe where they live.

I guess those headlines might not have made the front page. They're not dramatic enough. But they do emphasise a point my son makes -- that teens are given a bad press – they're not half as bad as we think they are.

While there are serious problems that need to be dealt with the survey did discover positive protective factors even for children growing up in the most difficult circumstances

It discovered that having strong bonds with family, friends and teachers, and having healthy standards set by parents, teachers and community leaders could make a real difference. The words of Proverbs 22:6 are correct: "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

Another protective factor reported was opportunity for involvement in family, school and community. It is where organisations like the church, pathfinders and many others can make a real difference. A few years back Luisa and I tried an experiment in our church – actually something we've consistently done for a number of years. Here's a quote from my records:

"We've just noticed the difference in our church where the 11 and 12 year olds were invited to organise and lead out in the Easter Service. Some our outgoing. Some are very shy. All were nervous. But they did a tremendous job. The adults were blessed. The Juniors really felt they had achieved something – and over the last couple of weeks we have seen that group bond closer together, simply as a result of doing things together."

It's something I love to see encouraged. It's good news for them – and it puts into action the principle of Deuteronomy 6:4-7: "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

Involvement becomes a lifestyle. And as it involves participation it allows children to learn skills and to be recognized and praised for positive behavior and for achievements – the two other areas that build a fence of protection around them.

Adults and youth working together can change communities for the good. To paraphrase the words of the apostle Paul:

"Children, work with your parents in everything, it pleases the Lord and helps you grow. Parents, do not be hard on your children, or they will become discouraged, but encourage them and stand alongside them in doing what is right. Give them praise when you can." [A very liberal interpretation of Col. 3:20-21]

Being positive can make a difference. And to come back to our scripture readings at the beginning. In all of them – Jesus was being positive. He was making a difference. He may have been misunderstood – intentionally or unintentionally – but does that matter?

When people criticise I think of those words of Jesus:

Luke 7:22 (NIV)

"Go back and report … what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

I think of the Good News he shared in the synagogue Luke 4:16-19 (MsgB): 16 He came to Nazareth where he had been reared. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, 17 he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling he scroll, he found the place where it was written, 18 God's Spirit is on me; he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free, 19 to announce, "This is God's year to act!"

Don't you like that translation: KJV "To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. NIV: To proclaim the year of the Lord's favour. Message: "This is God's year to act"

May it be our day/our week/ our year to act for God as well!

You are welcome to share these sermons for your own personal devotion or to adapt them for use in your church or fellowship. However, in giving this freely to you we reserve all commercial copyright. You may not reproduce this elsewhere for commercial gain without our express written permission.