This past Sunday we approached the parable Jesus told in Luke 16:19-31, about the rich man and Lazarus, as a play in 3 Acts. Discover the drama for yourself here.
During our Childrens Time we thought about Paul’s word to his young friend Timothy that ‘’the love of money was the root of all kinds of evil”. It may well pay dividends to reflect further on the wealth issue! We can note the following things:-
Wealth is transitory. The rich man’s wealth is gone in Hades (16:23). Last Sunday we looked at a crooked manager who suddenly faced bleak prospects (16:3). Elsewhere in Luke Jesus tells us of a farmer whose retirement savings goes to others on the night he dies (12:20). The point is clear. Money, possessions, and the good life that they bring with them are temporary in character and in the end completely untrustworthy.
Wealth obscures moral vision. The rich man knows Lazarus by name, but he looks past him day after day. As long as he is wealthy and self-sufficient, he has eyes only for himself and cares nothing for the welfare of others. Our comfortable situations can blind us to those less fortunate.
Wealth creates chasms between people. Wealth can be an impassable barrier that separates people one from another and prohibits meaningful interaction. The rich man’s moral blindness toward Lazarus during his lifetime isolates him from human contact and comfort in his own time of need.
The problem is not in wealth itself, but in the power of money to become an idol that completely controls our lives. Whenever we allow our money… or even our lack of it… to determine our joy, then we are allowing the values of this world, rather than God’s Kingdom, to determine how we live our lives.
Prayer: Lord, help us to be satisfied with what we have and use all that we are to help others discover the joy of Your Kingdom. In this way our lives will truly be rich. Amen.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Tony Malonely
‘Tony Malonley’ is an imaginary character I created this past Sunday to illustrate the parable of the dishonest manager in Luke 16:1-13. You can enjoy the sermon for yourself here.
To set our meditations in a slightly different direction, commentators note that Luke has a number of parables in which people of status are brought low and need help from those in a less fortunate position.
A traveler on the road who is set upon by thieves receives help, not from his Jewish contemporaries, but from a Samaritan. (Luke 10:25-37). A son who squanders his inheritance begs to become as one of the hired hands. (Luke 15:11-32). In our parable a manager of dubious character seeks help from his debtors.
Elsewhere scriptures teach us to be modest in our self-apraisal and to ‘Humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord”. Jesus suggests that it is better to be engaged in taking the plank out of our own eye, than seeking to take the speck out of the eye of another.
Greg Carey, Professor of New Testament at Lancaster Theological Seminary
comments “Perhaps this is why the Lord praises the corrupt manager. The manager's sagacity lies in his ability to discern his own situation. He may be "ashamed to beg" (16:3), but he is prudent enough to recognize when his status has evaporated”
Our traditional denominations no longer occupy the lofty role they once played in society. As we seek to discern our own situations, there is a lesson here for us. The old ways of doing and being just don’t work in todays world. As individuals the same can also apply. It’s not so much about who we were. It is who we are seeking to be in the current moment that will define our future.
Prayer: Lord, we confess our tendency to cling to our status and hold onto that which we know best. Changing days call for changing ways. Help us have humble hearts eager to be directed by Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
To set our meditations in a slightly different direction, commentators note that Luke has a number of parables in which people of status are brought low and need help from those in a less fortunate position.
A traveler on the road who is set upon by thieves receives help, not from his Jewish contemporaries, but from a Samaritan. (Luke 10:25-37). A son who squanders his inheritance begs to become as one of the hired hands. (Luke 15:11-32). In our parable a manager of dubious character seeks help from his debtors.
Elsewhere scriptures teach us to be modest in our self-apraisal and to ‘Humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord”. Jesus suggests that it is better to be engaged in taking the plank out of our own eye, than seeking to take the speck out of the eye of another.
Greg Carey, Professor of New Testament at Lancaster Theological Seminary
comments “Perhaps this is why the Lord praises the corrupt manager. The manager's sagacity lies in his ability to discern his own situation. He may be "ashamed to beg" (16:3), but he is prudent enough to recognize when his status has evaporated”
Our traditional denominations no longer occupy the lofty role they once played in society. As we seek to discern our own situations, there is a lesson here for us. The old ways of doing and being just don’t work in todays world. As individuals the same can also apply. It’s not so much about who we were. It is who we are seeking to be in the current moment that will define our future.
Prayer: Lord, we confess our tendency to cling to our status and hold onto that which we know best. Changing days call for changing ways. Help us have humble hearts eager to be directed by Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Lost without Knowing it
I was traveling down the road, so busy talking to the person sitting in the passenger seat that I failed to notice that there was an intersection. The road I wanted went one way, the way I went was the other way. It was only when we came upon a shopping mall and a set of traffic lights that I realized our error. I had become so preoccupied that I had become ‘lost without knowing it.’
As we reflected on Luke 15: 1-10 and the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin this past Sunday we thought about the dangers involved in being lost! That sermon can be found here.
What are some strategies we can turn to when we feel lost?
Look at a map.
The Scriptures can be a great guide to help us through our problems. As we read of how different bible characters dealt with the issues of their day, we can often find guidance for ourselves. Some of the greatest sayings of Scripture can give a framework in which to find the way. ‘Treat others in the way you would like them to treat you’ ‘Pray for your enemies’, ‘Be Patient’… these little nuggets can help us navigate many moral dilemmas.
Ask Directions.
I know what they say…. real men never ask for directions! Yet Christian doctrine has always insisted that Jesus was a ‘real man’. And He found it very necessary to carve out a place in His life for prayer. So have His disciples across the centuries. When we are feeling lost, we seek God for direction.
Help others.
Becoming involved in a cause outside of ourselves can often bring answers to questions we didn’t even realize we were asking. Seeing things from another persons perspective. Maybe walking a while in their shoes. Such experiences can provide the sort of purpose and meaning that we may be missing in our day to day routines!
Prayer: Lord, when we are feeling lost help us to find our way through Your Holy Spirit being our guide. Guide us as we listen. Guide us as we serve. Guide us as we pray. Guide us through the Scriptures. This we ask in Jesus name. Amen.
As we reflected on Luke 15: 1-10 and the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin this past Sunday we thought about the dangers involved in being lost! That sermon can be found here.
What are some strategies we can turn to when we feel lost?
Look at a map.
The Scriptures can be a great guide to help us through our problems. As we read of how different bible characters dealt with the issues of their day, we can often find guidance for ourselves. Some of the greatest sayings of Scripture can give a framework in which to find the way. ‘Treat others in the way you would like them to treat you’ ‘Pray for your enemies’, ‘Be Patient’… these little nuggets can help us navigate many moral dilemmas.
Ask Directions.
I know what they say…. real men never ask for directions! Yet Christian doctrine has always insisted that Jesus was a ‘real man’. And He found it very necessary to carve out a place in His life for prayer. So have His disciples across the centuries. When we are feeling lost, we seek God for direction.
Help others.
Becoming involved in a cause outside of ourselves can often bring answers to questions we didn’t even realize we were asking. Seeing things from another persons perspective. Maybe walking a while in their shoes. Such experiences can provide the sort of purpose and meaning that we may be missing in our day to day routines!
Prayer: Lord, when we are feeling lost help us to find our way through Your Holy Spirit being our guide. Guide us as we listen. Guide us as we serve. Guide us as we pray. Guide us through the Scriptures. This we ask in Jesus name. Amen.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
The Call and the Cross
As we met around the communion Table this past Sunday we considered the topic of our calling of Jesus to take up our own Cross and follow Him. The text of the sermon can be found here.
In a world were we like to take things easy… why on earth would we willingly take on the kind of commitment that Jesus asks of us?
All is not well with our world. Whilst we enjoy the benefits of freedom, health and bountiful resources, we are the fortunate ones. The same cannot be said for many with whom we share our planet. It seems not simply a religious principle, but a humanitarian one, that we who have much should not rest easy whilst many have so little.
History teaches that progress rarely happens without struggle. The great freedoms we enjoy are not accidental. Laying behind our privileges are the historical acts of those who selflessly pursued higher goals… often to the point of surrendering their own lives. Struggles against slavery, for equal rights for women, for just labor practices… the list goes on and on.
We seek a higher goal. If we dare take the name ‘Christian’ then we intimate that we are taking on the mantle of Christ-like living. We state our belief that His way of doing things is the ‘WAY’, that His life represents what ‘LIFE’ should be, that His truth is the ‘TRUTH’ regarding what really counts for something.
Prayer: Lord, we hear Your call to take up a Cross and follow. We may not want to hear it… but You keep calling. Help us to recognize that You call us to bring positive change to this world we share with so many others less fortunate than ourselves. Amen.
In a world were we like to take things easy… why on earth would we willingly take on the kind of commitment that Jesus asks of us?
All is not well with our world. Whilst we enjoy the benefits of freedom, health and bountiful resources, we are the fortunate ones. The same cannot be said for many with whom we share our planet. It seems not simply a religious principle, but a humanitarian one, that we who have much should not rest easy whilst many have so little.
History teaches that progress rarely happens without struggle. The great freedoms we enjoy are not accidental. Laying behind our privileges are the historical acts of those who selflessly pursued higher goals… often to the point of surrendering their own lives. Struggles against slavery, for equal rights for women, for just labor practices… the list goes on and on.
We seek a higher goal. If we dare take the name ‘Christian’ then we intimate that we are taking on the mantle of Christ-like living. We state our belief that His way of doing things is the ‘WAY’, that His life represents what ‘LIFE’ should be, that His truth is the ‘TRUTH’ regarding what really counts for something.
Prayer: Lord, we hear Your call to take up a Cross and follow. We may not want to hear it… but You keep calling. Help us to recognize that You call us to bring positive change to this world we share with so many others less fortunate than ourselves. Amen.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Calling
Our summer series on “Repeating themes” concluded by looking at the theme of “Calling”. The text of the final sermon can be found here.
Matthew 4:17-22 gives us the account of Jesus calling fishermen as His first disciples, redirecting their fisher skills to be used in service of the Good News.
What skills have you accumulated over the years? We are all different, working in different places, gathering differing skills. Have you ever sat down and thought about what you fill your days with? It can be a valuable thing to take some time out and take a personal skills inventory. It can also be quite surprising!
How can your skills be used to promote good news? Jesus took fisher skills and harnessed them for the work of the Kingdom. Such is a calling He invites us all to embrace… namely using ‘who we are’, for the purpose of extending to others His loving invitation to encounter God. The greatest tool God can use is our willingness to be the people God intends for us to be!
Prayer: Lord, I thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am Your unique creation, different to any other. You have led my life thus far and equipped me with many skills. Help me to allow You to use who I am to share the message of Your love with others. Amen.
Matthew 4:17-22 gives us the account of Jesus calling fishermen as His first disciples, redirecting their fisher skills to be used in service of the Good News.
What skills have you accumulated over the years? We are all different, working in different places, gathering differing skills. Have you ever sat down and thought about what you fill your days with? It can be a valuable thing to take some time out and take a personal skills inventory. It can also be quite surprising!
How can your skills be used to promote good news? Jesus took fisher skills and harnessed them for the work of the Kingdom. Such is a calling He invites us all to embrace… namely using ‘who we are’, for the purpose of extending to others His loving invitation to encounter God. The greatest tool God can use is our willingness to be the people God intends for us to be!
Prayer: Lord, I thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am Your unique creation, different to any other. You have led my life thus far and equipped me with many skills. Help me to allow You to use who I am to share the message of Your love with others. Amen.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Living
In Worship this past week we looked at the theme of living. The sermon for the day can be found here. Biblically speaking… what is life? An all to brief survey follows. Life is….
The breath that is God breathed into every soul.
Symbolized by a Tree of life
Saved in Noah.
Restored by Elisha.
The path of blessing for the righteous.
Praised in the Psalms... as God redeems, guides, protects,
... a fountain, a joy, a blessing.
The reward for humility (Proverbs)
In the prophets, a way to pursue.
Become as a 'watered garden'
A covenant of life and well-being.
A river that flows through the temple.
For Jesus...
Something God will take care of. Don't worry.
Something defined by more than life on earth.
For John...
In Christ is life
Whoever believes has eternal life
John 3:16!
Jesus is the Bread of life... to be consumed.
In Acts
Jesus is the author of life.
Repentance leads to life.
In Romans
Seeking brings life
We are saved by His life... to walk in newness of life.
All die in Adam, all live in Christ.
In Corinthians
The Spirit gives life.
Life is at work in us.
Our true life hidden in Christ.
In Titus
We are encouraged to take hold of life
In 1 John
Life is manifest in the love we have for God and each other.
In Revelation
We eat from the Tree of Life
Our names are in the Book of life.
We drink from the Water of life
And the Spirit and Bride say “Come”…
Prayer: Lord Our God we thank You for the gift of life. Teach us this day to embrace the abundant life that Jesus offers to us. As we glimpse Your purposes in our daily lives may we be renewed to serve one another. Amen.
The breath that is God breathed into every soul.
Symbolized by a Tree of life
Saved in Noah.
Restored by Elisha.
The path of blessing for the righteous.
Praised in the Psalms... as God redeems, guides, protects,
... a fountain, a joy, a blessing.
The reward for humility (Proverbs)
In the prophets, a way to pursue.
Become as a 'watered garden'
A covenant of life and well-being.
A river that flows through the temple.
For Jesus...
Something God will take care of. Don't worry.
Something defined by more than life on earth.
For John...
In Christ is life
Whoever believes has eternal life
John 3:16!
Jesus is the Bread of life... to be consumed.
In Acts
Jesus is the author of life.
Repentance leads to life.
In Romans
Seeking brings life
We are saved by His life... to walk in newness of life.
All die in Adam, all live in Christ.
In Corinthians
The Spirit gives life.
Life is at work in us.
Our true life hidden in Christ.
In Titus
We are encouraged to take hold of life
In 1 John
Life is manifest in the love we have for God and each other.
In Revelation
We eat from the Tree of Life
Our names are in the Book of life.
We drink from the Water of life
And the Spirit and Bride say “Come”…
Prayer: Lord Our God we thank You for the gift of life. Teach us this day to embrace the abundant life that Jesus offers to us. As we glimpse Your purposes in our daily lives may we be renewed to serve one another. Amen.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Dying
In our summer worship services we’ve been examining reoccurring themes that weave in and out of the Bible’s 66 books. This past week we looked at the theme of dying. The sermon for the day can be found here.
As Christians we should not be afraid to talk about death. We are mortal and somewhere along the line death will be our destiny. We confess to believing that death is not the end but part of a process that leads us home. On what grounds dare we make such bold assertions?
We first and foremost have the witness of Jesus Christ. It is a pillar of our faith that “He died and He rose again”. The work of Jesus began long before He was born and will continue long after we have gone. He raised Lazarus from the tomb. He spoke about eternal life as a fact. He demonstrated to His disciples both in His resurrection appearances and through His ascension that the boundaries we place upon life do not apply. God raised Him from the dead!
We have the witness of countless saints who across the centuries died in the hope of Christ. The first Christian martyr, Stephen, declared in his dying moments; “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts7: 56). The conviction that this life is not all that there is has led many to stand firm as intimidators threatened to take their lives. They have glimpsed something beyond the boundaries death seeks to contain us within.
We have the witness of Scripture. Paul writes in Romans 6:8 “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.” Spiritual growth involves dying to our self and living for Christ. As we share in His death, so we are promised we will share in His life (both in the now and beyond the now).
Through our faith in Jesus Christ we are given an opportunity to glimpse beyond the barriers of space and time, and invited to believe that “we ain’t seen nothing yet!”
Prayer: Lord, help me to see death as part of Your plan for our lives. Let us not be fearful of its power nor be in dread of its inevitability. Remind us that there is more to life than life on earth. Help us not to live only for alone but live everyday in the light of eternity. Amen.
As Christians we should not be afraid to talk about death. We are mortal and somewhere along the line death will be our destiny. We confess to believing that death is not the end but part of a process that leads us home. On what grounds dare we make such bold assertions?
We first and foremost have the witness of Jesus Christ. It is a pillar of our faith that “He died and He rose again”. The work of Jesus began long before He was born and will continue long after we have gone. He raised Lazarus from the tomb. He spoke about eternal life as a fact. He demonstrated to His disciples both in His resurrection appearances and through His ascension that the boundaries we place upon life do not apply. God raised Him from the dead!
We have the witness of countless saints who across the centuries died in the hope of Christ. The first Christian martyr, Stephen, declared in his dying moments; “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts7: 56). The conviction that this life is not all that there is has led many to stand firm as intimidators threatened to take their lives. They have glimpsed something beyond the boundaries death seeks to contain us within.
We have the witness of Scripture. Paul writes in Romans 6:8 “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.” Spiritual growth involves dying to our self and living for Christ. As we share in His death, so we are promised we will share in His life (both in the now and beyond the now).
Through our faith in Jesus Christ we are given an opportunity to glimpse beyond the barriers of space and time, and invited to believe that “we ain’t seen nothing yet!”
Prayer: Lord, help me to see death as part of Your plan for our lives. Let us not be fearful of its power nor be in dread of its inevitability. Remind us that there is more to life than life on earth. Help us not to live only for alone but live everyday in the light of eternity. Amen.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Covenanting
We have been looking in our summer worship services at reoccurring themes that flow through the Scriptures. This past Sunday we spoke about covenanting. A sermon on that very topic can be found here.
One of the things we touch on in the sermon is the idea that to covenant with God means agreeing that God knows best! How can we build that notion into our daily lives? (This may well be an exercise in ‘back to basics’ but it is good to remind our selves of simple things!)
Seek God through prayer. Prayer is not about getting God to do what we want, but getting ourselves to do what God wants. Spending some time each day with God in prayer is therefore an important part of keeping covenant with God.
Seek God through Scripture. We see throughout scripture people who both disagree and agree with Gods actions in their lives. It goes without saying that things usually turn out best for the ones who agree with God. Scripture informs our faith journey in so many ways!
Seek God through worship. Being part of a community of faith is important. Christianity has little room for lone rangers. God does not want us to go it alone. We can do so much more together than we can ever accomplish on our own.
Prayer. "Lord; help us to be people of new covenant faith, who know Your ways because of time spent in Your presence. Help us to live lives that show they agree that Your way is the best way! Amen."
One of the things we touch on in the sermon is the idea that to covenant with God means agreeing that God knows best! How can we build that notion into our daily lives? (This may well be an exercise in ‘back to basics’ but it is good to remind our selves of simple things!)
Seek God through prayer. Prayer is not about getting God to do what we want, but getting ourselves to do what God wants. Spending some time each day with God in prayer is therefore an important part of keeping covenant with God.
Seek God through Scripture. We see throughout scripture people who both disagree and agree with Gods actions in their lives. It goes without saying that things usually turn out best for the ones who agree with God. Scripture informs our faith journey in so many ways!
Seek God through worship. Being part of a community of faith is important. Christianity has little room for lone rangers. God does not want us to go it alone. We can do so much more together than we can ever accomplish on our own.
Prayer. "Lord; help us to be people of new covenant faith, who know Your ways because of time spent in Your presence. Help us to live lives that show they agree that Your way is the best way! Amen."
Monday, July 19, 2010
Creating
A reoccurring theme that flows through the 66 books of the Bible is that of ‘Creating’. Such was our meditation during Sunday worship this past weekend. The sermon can be found here.
One of the verses we reflected upon was 2 Corinthians 5:17 ”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Note the following things.
Creating is in Christ. The biblical notion of creating involves the work of God. Sometimes people ‘take a break’ or try and ‘get away from it all’ in their quest for renewal. Christian renewal is not getting away from anything, but immersing our selves deeper into the love of Christ. Without the action of the Holy Spirit the creating process is incomplete.
Creating brings change. Paul simply says that ‘the old is gone’. So often we put up with the same old ways. The creating work Paul has in mind is of a different level altogether. It involves a break with our past. We can struggle with that because we resist change! We must bear in mind then that this a change that we are called to make ‘In Christ’. That Christ died to set us free from sin and bring about a change in us!
Creating is in the here and now. ‘The New has come’. The work of creating is happening. We don’t have to wait to for the program to start. Rather we are called to cooperate with the action of God in the now! In practice that means prayerfully seeking where the Holy Spirit is at work within us and around us.
Prayer: Lord God, You are the creator of all that it is good. In Christ You have created the way for us to be free from sin and live creative lives. Renew us through the work of Your Holy Spirit and help us to discover new ways of being faithful. Amen.
One of the verses we reflected upon was 2 Corinthians 5:17 ”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Note the following things.
Creating is in Christ. The biblical notion of creating involves the work of God. Sometimes people ‘take a break’ or try and ‘get away from it all’ in their quest for renewal. Christian renewal is not getting away from anything, but immersing our selves deeper into the love of Christ. Without the action of the Holy Spirit the creating process is incomplete.
Creating brings change. Paul simply says that ‘the old is gone’. So often we put up with the same old ways. The creating work Paul has in mind is of a different level altogether. It involves a break with our past. We can struggle with that because we resist change! We must bear in mind then that this a change that we are called to make ‘In Christ’. That Christ died to set us free from sin and bring about a change in us!
Creating is in the here and now. ‘The New has come’. The work of creating is happening. We don’t have to wait to for the program to start. Rather we are called to cooperate with the action of God in the now! In practice that means prayerfully seeking where the Holy Spirit is at work within us and around us.
Prayer: Lord God, You are the creator of all that it is good. In Christ You have created the way for us to be free from sin and live creative lives. Renew us through the work of Your Holy Spirit and help us to discover new ways of being faithful. Amen.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Now… about the Bible
Our worship service this past Sunday focused on the central documents of the Christian faith contained within the Bible. The sermon can be found here.
Here are some helpful hints to guide our scripture reading.
Pray. If there is a God, and that God inspired the people who wrote down their experiences in the pages of scripture, then it is going to be helpful to tune into that God as we approach a time of reading and contemplating!
Be methodical. In order to get a view of the overall message of such a huge collection of writings then a little organization is required. There are things such as reading plans and ‘Through the Bible’ resources available all over the internet. There may even be one in the back of your bible.
Be random. The many books of the Bible make awesome material just to dive into and read whatever you find. And if you are involved in prayerful diving it may even be that the Holy Spirit will guide you to exactly what you need to be hearing right now!
Be serious. Seriously! Intentional application always brings awesome results.
Move on. If you are bogged down in a particular section… then don’t be. Move on. It’s O.K not to understand the relationship between Aaron’s priestly robes and some random verse from a book you find it hard to pronounce! If you make your bible reading a life long journey… you’ll get there one day.
Enjoy. Scripture is meant to give us life not a headache. Meditation should offer joy not frustration. It’s only when we admit we’re floundering that we start to float. And swimming is better than sinking.
Prayer “Lord, Thank You for the books of the Bible. Help me to discover each day truth that will guide me and words that inspire me. Amen”
Here are some helpful hints to guide our scripture reading.
Pray. If there is a God, and that God inspired the people who wrote down their experiences in the pages of scripture, then it is going to be helpful to tune into that God as we approach a time of reading and contemplating!
Be methodical. In order to get a view of the overall message of such a huge collection of writings then a little organization is required. There are things such as reading plans and ‘Through the Bible’ resources available all over the internet. There may even be one in the back of your bible.
Be random. The many books of the Bible make awesome material just to dive into and read whatever you find. And if you are involved in prayerful diving it may even be that the Holy Spirit will guide you to exactly what you need to be hearing right now!
Be serious. Seriously! Intentional application always brings awesome results.
Move on. If you are bogged down in a particular section… then don’t be. Move on. It’s O.K not to understand the relationship between Aaron’s priestly robes and some random verse from a book you find it hard to pronounce! If you make your bible reading a life long journey… you’ll get there one day.
Enjoy. Scripture is meant to give us life not a headache. Meditation should offer joy not frustration. It’s only when we admit we’re floundering that we start to float. And swimming is better than sinking.
Prayer “Lord, Thank You for the books of the Bible. Help me to discover each day truth that will guide me and words that inspire me. Amen”
Sunday, July 4, 2010
The Real Thing
In John 6:55 we hear Jesus saying “For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.” Last Sunday’s sermon focused on this verse and can be found here.
The sixth chapter of John is a meaty theological discourse. It begins with Jesus miraculously feeding the crowds with literal bread before walking on water, moves onto Him speaking of Himself as ‘Bread from heaven’ and concludes with words about who will betray Him. There are so many images and themes interwoven into the narrative that one could pursue an endless series of reflections. Hence the need to isolate a verse.
So I am sticking with the flesh as ‘true food’ and the blood as ‘true drink’. And whilst images of communion naturally spring to mind maybe there are other ways to consider this verse.
True Food
Good food is the sort of food that truly brings us nourishment and growth. There are endless amounts of folk who tell us what we should and shouldn’t be eating. Sometimes we take notice. Other times we go our own way.
Likewise in our spiritual journeys. There are practices that help us grow. There are many advisers offering us their insights, and some of it works for us and some of it leaves us cold.
By speaking of Himself as true food the implication is that to truly grow spiritually we must feast on the teachings that Jesus came (in the flesh) to offer us. Putting it ever so simply … Jesus offers good teaching that can make us whole.
True Drink
Connoisseurs of fine wine know the difference between a mature full-bodied vintage and a bottle of cheap plonk from the supermarket. That difference will be reflected in the price tag.
Jesus paid the ultimate price for our salvation, the shedding of His blood on the Cross of Calvary that we may live free and forgiven! To truly drink in what God has done for us in Christ is a life-changing experience. As we come to appreciate the significance of what God has done, so we seek to be channels of God’s love to others.
Prayer: “Lord, help us to feast our lives upon the love You offer to us through the Holy Spirit. May we know Your teaching as the authentic pattern by which to order our lives. May we carry with us the awareness that Jesus died for us so as we can live for others. Amen.”
The sixth chapter of John is a meaty theological discourse. It begins with Jesus miraculously feeding the crowds with literal bread before walking on water, moves onto Him speaking of Himself as ‘Bread from heaven’ and concludes with words about who will betray Him. There are so many images and themes interwoven into the narrative that one could pursue an endless series of reflections. Hence the need to isolate a verse.
So I am sticking with the flesh as ‘true food’ and the blood as ‘true drink’. And whilst images of communion naturally spring to mind maybe there are other ways to consider this verse.
True Food
Good food is the sort of food that truly brings us nourishment and growth. There are endless amounts of folk who tell us what we should and shouldn’t be eating. Sometimes we take notice. Other times we go our own way.
Likewise in our spiritual journeys. There are practices that help us grow. There are many advisers offering us their insights, and some of it works for us and some of it leaves us cold.
By speaking of Himself as true food the implication is that to truly grow spiritually we must feast on the teachings that Jesus came (in the flesh) to offer us. Putting it ever so simply … Jesus offers good teaching that can make us whole.
True Drink
Connoisseurs of fine wine know the difference between a mature full-bodied vintage and a bottle of cheap plonk from the supermarket. That difference will be reflected in the price tag.
Jesus paid the ultimate price for our salvation, the shedding of His blood on the Cross of Calvary that we may live free and forgiven! To truly drink in what God has done for us in Christ is a life-changing experience. As we come to appreciate the significance of what God has done, so we seek to be channels of God’s love to others.
Prayer: “Lord, help us to feast our lives upon the love You offer to us through the Holy Spirit. May we know Your teaching as the authentic pattern by which to order our lives. May we carry with us the awareness that Jesus died for us so as we can live for others. Amen.”
Monday, June 28, 2010
The Perils of Procrastination
In our sermon based on Luke 9:51-62 we identified three unwelcome characters who have a habit of hindering our spiritual progress, ‘Mr. Knowitall’, ‘Ms. Promise’ and ‘Uncle Hangon’. To discover more about them you’ll have to read the sermon found here.
To take things a little further I wanted to consider what Jesus says in verse 62 “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Why is ‘looking back’ such a hindrance to discipleship?
Looking back focuses us on what we may lose rather than what we may gain.
We hear something that sounds worth pursuing. But then we get back into our usual routine and we look around and start with the ’But what if?’ and the “But I’m not so sure” questions. And there are plenty of visionless souls around us to confirm all our fears for us! The vision fades and procrastination takes over.
Looking back binds us to responsibilities we may need to let go!
The image of ‘plowing’ is an image of hard graft. Jesus asks some hard things of us. ‘Take up your cross” isn’t exactly a party invitation. “Let the dead bury the dead” doesn’t roll easily off the tongue. We reach points in our spiritual journeys that are really tough! Do we take this course (which is hard) or do we take this one (which will be even harder)? But we cannot take on the responsibility of building God’s Kingdom till we let go of our own little empires.
Looking back causes us indecision rather than prompting us to action.
“‘Let me say my good-byes first” is one of the responses made to the invitation to follow Jesus. To put it another way… ‘Before I can follow you I need to put everything else in order so that there is no element of risk involved in my faith journey.’ If we are seeking order and clarity then we are not hearing what Jesus is asking of us. Faith is a risky business. It can be a messy business. The positive side is that through faith we discover that God is able to do greater things for us than we ever dared imagine!
Prayer: “Lord, I confess my indecision. You called. I said “Hold On”. Teach me not to look back to the comfortable places but look forward to the great adventures. Amen.”
To take things a little further I wanted to consider what Jesus says in verse 62 “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." Why is ‘looking back’ such a hindrance to discipleship?
Looking back focuses us on what we may lose rather than what we may gain.
We hear something that sounds worth pursuing. But then we get back into our usual routine and we look around and start with the ’But what if?’ and the “But I’m not so sure” questions. And there are plenty of visionless souls around us to confirm all our fears for us! The vision fades and procrastination takes over.
Looking back binds us to responsibilities we may need to let go!
The image of ‘plowing’ is an image of hard graft. Jesus asks some hard things of us. ‘Take up your cross” isn’t exactly a party invitation. “Let the dead bury the dead” doesn’t roll easily off the tongue. We reach points in our spiritual journeys that are really tough! Do we take this course (which is hard) or do we take this one (which will be even harder)? But we cannot take on the responsibility of building God’s Kingdom till we let go of our own little empires.
Looking back causes us indecision rather than prompting us to action.
“‘Let me say my good-byes first” is one of the responses made to the invitation to follow Jesus. To put it another way… ‘Before I can follow you I need to put everything else in order so that there is no element of risk involved in my faith journey.’ If we are seeking order and clarity then we are not hearing what Jesus is asking of us. Faith is a risky business. It can be a messy business. The positive side is that through faith we discover that God is able to do greater things for us than we ever dared imagine!
Prayer: “Lord, I confess my indecision. You called. I said “Hold On”. Teach me not to look back to the comfortable places but look forward to the great adventures. Amen.”
Monday, June 21, 2010
Dealing with Demons
Luke 8:26-39 was the scripture for our service this past Sunday. It is a passage that deals with a confrontation between Jesus and a man known as ‘Legion’ because he was possessed by so many demons. A sermon on the passage can be found here.
Thankfully most of us have not become so overwhelmed by the evil in our world that we are in the situation of the unfortunate man whom Jesus delivered. But I suspect we all wrestle our own demons… though we may not call them by such a name. We may prefer terms like habits, compulsions or addictions. We may see them as illnesses of mind or body or simply human failings. Yet like the demons that possessed the unfortunate man in the graveyard, they haunt us and could destroy us unless we are delivered from them.
The Good News in the passage is that Jesus is the One who can deliver us. It is worth noticing the process by which deliverance takes place.
Confrontation. When the light of Christ’s presence falls upon the man his need is revealed. As through worship and prayer we open our lives to God, the dark places of our own lives can be revealed. We may not like what we see. We may feel like the man that such places are left well alone! But Christian growth involves dealing with those parts of life we’d rather forget about as well as functioning from our strong places.
Naming. Jesus is quite specific in seeking to identify the mans problem. “What is your name?” he asks the demons. So we need to be specific when dealing with things that threaten our spiritual growth. Name them and claim Christs victory over them. We try and work with God as we seek for the Holy Spirit to recreate what is currently in chaos! If our problem is ‘lust’, then we call it what it is. If its ‘avoidance’ then we acknowledge that when faced with our problems we try and run from them rather than deal with them! We name it so God can deal with it!
Sharing. The chances are that whatever we battle others are having the same battles. The existence and success of such groups as Alcoholics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous testify that we oftentimes can best fight our demons in the company of others. The man Jesus delivers is invited to ‘tell others what God has done’. Christian life is meant to be communal. We are encouraged to bear one and others burdens!
Prayer: “Lord, we don’t like to consider ourselves as possessed of demons, yet we see in our lives habits and practices that seem to control us. We pray for Your deliverance from all that would hinder our spiritual growth and prevent us sharing Your love with others. Amen.”
Footnote – At F.P.C. Baldwin groups for both AA and GA are in operation. Further information can be found at the following web sites.
A.A.
Camblers Anonymous
Thankfully most of us have not become so overwhelmed by the evil in our world that we are in the situation of the unfortunate man whom Jesus delivered. But I suspect we all wrestle our own demons… though we may not call them by such a name. We may prefer terms like habits, compulsions or addictions. We may see them as illnesses of mind or body or simply human failings. Yet like the demons that possessed the unfortunate man in the graveyard, they haunt us and could destroy us unless we are delivered from them.
The Good News in the passage is that Jesus is the One who can deliver us. It is worth noticing the process by which deliverance takes place.
Confrontation. When the light of Christ’s presence falls upon the man his need is revealed. As through worship and prayer we open our lives to God, the dark places of our own lives can be revealed. We may not like what we see. We may feel like the man that such places are left well alone! But Christian growth involves dealing with those parts of life we’d rather forget about as well as functioning from our strong places.
Naming. Jesus is quite specific in seeking to identify the mans problem. “What is your name?” he asks the demons. So we need to be specific when dealing with things that threaten our spiritual growth. Name them and claim Christs victory over them. We try and work with God as we seek for the Holy Spirit to recreate what is currently in chaos! If our problem is ‘lust’, then we call it what it is. If its ‘avoidance’ then we acknowledge that when faced with our problems we try and run from them rather than deal with them! We name it so God can deal with it!
Sharing. The chances are that whatever we battle others are having the same battles. The existence and success of such groups as Alcoholics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous testify that we oftentimes can best fight our demons in the company of others. The man Jesus delivers is invited to ‘tell others what God has done’. Christian life is meant to be communal. We are encouraged to bear one and others burdens!
Prayer: “Lord, we don’t like to consider ourselves as possessed of demons, yet we see in our lives habits and practices that seem to control us. We pray for Your deliverance from all that would hinder our spiritual growth and prevent us sharing Your love with others. Amen.”
Footnote – At F.P.C. Baldwin groups for both AA and GA are in operation. Further information can be found at the following web sites.
A.A.
Camblers Anonymous
Monday, June 7, 2010
Breaking Bread amidst the Storm
As we came to the communion table this past Sunday we looked at a passage in Acts 27:27-44 where Paul is threatened with shipwreck, but encourages his fellow travelers to break bread with him and be encouraged. The sermon for the day can be found here.
Here’s some further thoughts on how communion can encourage us amidst the storms of life.
Sharing communion during stormy days reminds we are not alone.
The whole thing about the word ‘communion’ is that involves more than one. It’s not just about us. At the very least it involves two parties… God and ourselves! As we break bread and drink wine we do so at the invitation of Jesus… an invitation that is offered with the words, “Do this in remembrance of me”. Whatever may come our way today let us try and remember we do not face it alone.
Breaking Bread reminds us that we are all broken.
We have this inbuilt tendency in the the midst of storms to look out only for ourselves. The person who falls overboard doesn’t cry out ‘Help us!’ but ‘Help Me!’. Scripture teaches that we are all sinners who fall short of God’s glory, or to put it another way, we are all drowning in our own false notion of self sufficiency. We all need God’s help and mercy, and that grace comes to us through Jesus Christ, who at the Cross totally identifies with our brokenness! As we face today's problems let us recall that we are all broken!
Sharing wine reminds us that God love is poured out for us all.
God’s love pours out of an empty tomb. Death is revealed to be a loser. The last word is not defeat but victory. We are saved by grace through faith. Paul broke bread amidst the storm and all were encouraged. Let us seek this week to allow the peace of Christ to carry us through!
Prayer: “Lord, it can be a mad mad world that brings many storms our way. In the midst of the confusion help us to find Your peace and so be an encouragement to our fellow travelers!” Amen.
Here’s some further thoughts on how communion can encourage us amidst the storms of life.
Sharing communion during stormy days reminds we are not alone.
The whole thing about the word ‘communion’ is that involves more than one. It’s not just about us. At the very least it involves two parties… God and ourselves! As we break bread and drink wine we do so at the invitation of Jesus… an invitation that is offered with the words, “Do this in remembrance of me”. Whatever may come our way today let us try and remember we do not face it alone.
Breaking Bread reminds us that we are all broken.
We have this inbuilt tendency in the the midst of storms to look out only for ourselves. The person who falls overboard doesn’t cry out ‘Help us!’ but ‘Help Me!’. Scripture teaches that we are all sinners who fall short of God’s glory, or to put it another way, we are all drowning in our own false notion of self sufficiency. We all need God’s help and mercy, and that grace comes to us through Jesus Christ, who at the Cross totally identifies with our brokenness! As we face today's problems let us recall that we are all broken!
Sharing wine reminds us that God love is poured out for us all.
God’s love pours out of an empty tomb. Death is revealed to be a loser. The last word is not defeat but victory. We are saved by grace through faith. Paul broke bread amidst the storm and all were encouraged. Let us seek this week to allow the peace of Christ to carry us through!
Prayer: “Lord, it can be a mad mad world that brings many storms our way. In the midst of the confusion help us to find Your peace and so be an encouragement to our fellow travelers!” Amen.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Trinity Sunday
I find the doctrine of the trinity one of the most baffling yet somehow ‘seemingly right’ aspects of Christian theology. ‘Baffling’ because no matter how we try and fathom it we never really get our heads around it. ‘Seemingly Right’ because it crystalizes the New Testament disciples experience of God into a simple formula.
They had understood God as Father yet come to see how in Jesus that God stood with them. They felt the presence of Christ within them and around them through the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke of His inter-relation both with the Father and the Spirit. There is a wonderful sense of community and understanding and relationship tied up with the whole thing that is at the same time mysterious and beautiful.
Understanding with our minds and actually living out our faith are of course two different things. My reflections for Trinity Sunday can be found in a sermon titled ‘Living the Trinity’ here.
A prayer: “Lord God, our Creator and Father, help us live in a way that reflects the wonder of Your creative genius! Jesus Christ, Savior and Redeemer, help us to seek always to live in the light of Your teaching; Holy Spirit, inspirer, comforter and guide, create within us both the will and the strength to be a part of Your work of transformation! Amen!”
They had understood God as Father yet come to see how in Jesus that God stood with them. They felt the presence of Christ within them and around them through the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke of His inter-relation both with the Father and the Spirit. There is a wonderful sense of community and understanding and relationship tied up with the whole thing that is at the same time mysterious and beautiful.
Understanding with our minds and actually living out our faith are of course two different things. My reflections for Trinity Sunday can be found in a sermon titled ‘Living the Trinity’ here.
A prayer: “Lord God, our Creator and Father, help us live in a way that reflects the wonder of Your creative genius! Jesus Christ, Savior and Redeemer, help us to seek always to live in the light of Your teaching; Holy Spirit, inspirer, comforter and guide, create within us both the will and the strength to be a part of Your work of transformation! Amen!”
Monday, May 3, 2010
Transformation
The breakout of Christianity from its Jewish roots was a momentous occurence. The earliest disciples were not convinced that embracing all the world was God’s plan. But the actions of the Holy Spirit convinced them otherwise. (See Acts 11:1-18). A sermon on just such a topic can be found here.
Consider the experience of Peter.
It was against everything Peter had been brought up to believe to go to the house of a Gentile and eat with him without going through all the rituals that were expected of a Jewish believer. But God had called Peter to embrace a more inclusive way of being, one that pushed him beyond his comfort zone. Who are we excluding? Who are the ‘untouchables’ in our experience? Whom may God be calling us to reach out to who is not currently on our radar?
Consider the experience of Cornelieus.
He was not a Jew. He was not familiar with the ways of the Jews or the conceptions of a Messiah. He believed in his God in his own way. Yet God heard his prayer and pushed him beyond his comfort zone. There would be a steep learning curve ahead! Where are the unfamiliar areas in our own spiritual walk? What will the learning curve look like if we are to enter into a better understanding of our faith? And how do we attack that curve?
Consider the experience of the Council.
For a church body to accept such radical change… without a lengthy process of meetings and discussions… was truly a miracle. It meant a total refocus. But such was the change they allowed the Holy Spirit to work amongst them. And the results were… to say the least… spectacular. As we consider our own church structures there is certainly something to chew on right here!
Prayer: "Lord, we need Your Holy Spirit to change our focus. Like Peter You call us to embrace those we have dismissed. Like Cornelius You call us to be listeners and learners. Like the council in Jerusalem You call us to allow our structures to be transformed that we might embody the mission incentive of going into all the world with Your gospel. Transform us Lord! Amen"!
Consider the experience of Peter.
It was against everything Peter had been brought up to believe to go to the house of a Gentile and eat with him without going through all the rituals that were expected of a Jewish believer. But God had called Peter to embrace a more inclusive way of being, one that pushed him beyond his comfort zone. Who are we excluding? Who are the ‘untouchables’ in our experience? Whom may God be calling us to reach out to who is not currently on our radar?
Consider the experience of Cornelieus.
He was not a Jew. He was not familiar with the ways of the Jews or the conceptions of a Messiah. He believed in his God in his own way. Yet God heard his prayer and pushed him beyond his comfort zone. There would be a steep learning curve ahead! Where are the unfamiliar areas in our own spiritual walk? What will the learning curve look like if we are to enter into a better understanding of our faith? And how do we attack that curve?
Consider the experience of the Council.
For a church body to accept such radical change… without a lengthy process of meetings and discussions… was truly a miracle. It meant a total refocus. But such was the change they allowed the Holy Spirit to work amongst them. And the results were… to say the least… spectacular. As we consider our own church structures there is certainly something to chew on right here!
Prayer: "Lord, we need Your Holy Spirit to change our focus. Like Peter You call us to embrace those we have dismissed. Like Cornelius You call us to be listeners and learners. Like the council in Jerusalem You call us to allow our structures to be transformed that we might embody the mission incentive of going into all the world with Your gospel. Transform us Lord! Amen"!
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