Acts 4 – Growth and Opposition
First, let’s read verses 1-22 and imagine how the defendants might have felt
Q1 What do we know about the Sadducees? Why do you think they reacted to Peter’s words in the way they did?
Q2 How did the apostles’ arrest affect the early church’s “electoral roll”? What would happen in a similar situation today?
Q3 Peter’s bold, Spirit inspired reply reminds us of Jesus’ warning and promise in Luke 21.12-15. This provision for Christian defendants is very reassuring, but is this the kind of Christianity we ‘sign up for’ today?
Q4 Is Peter right to insist on linking acts of kindness with claims about Jesus and the resurrection?
Q5 How do you evaluate the court’s decision? Should this precedent encourage us to be more bold today?
Now read verses 23-31
Q6 What was the church’s response to threats?
Q7 What is the significance of their calling God “Sovereign Lord”?
Q8 What does the way they prayed have to teach us? How do our public and private prayers compare?
Finally we turn to verses 32 to 37
Q9 Do you think God intended this experiment in Christian community living to be a model for all times and all places? Is this picture any different from the ideals of communist or humanist philosophers?
Q10 In what ways is the Christian gospel “good news for the poor”? How can we improve this area of our stewardship and witness?
Q11 In what ways does today’s session relate to the goals and purpose of St George’s Church? Do we need to make any changes?
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Christian Unity and religious rules
Mark 2.23-28
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
This sermon was first delivered at the joint service with Bonanova Catholic Church on 19th January and repeated in a slightly amended form on Sunday 24th January 2010.
In our Gospel story we find Jesus upsetting the religious authorities of his day by sharing a simple meal with his disciples. Just a few grains of corn; a snack to take the edge off their hunger, until they could share a proper meal later. But their meal was against the law as far as the religious leaders were concerned, because the disciples were harvesting grain on the Sabbath day – the day set apart for rest, for worship, for God.
I hope the simple meal we are enjoying at the Communion Table this evening won´t upset anybody, but in the eyes of some religious folk this too is an illegal meal. Our two churches are divided not just by half a kilometre but by centuries of division and disagreement and by vast libraries of rules written by men.
Jesus replies to his critics
We are swimming against the tide tonight and some would consider our display of unity to be naïve and unrealistic. But we should be encouraged by the words of Jesus, who also swam against the tide.
He answered his critics with a question:-
Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.
(In my mind’s eye version of this incident, as Jesus is saying these words he is breaking off another ear of corn, eating some and offering some to those around him, including the Pharisees!)
There is stunned silence at Jesus’s words. How dare this son of a carpenter use God’s word to criticize its expert lawyers?
But they don’t know who they are dealing with, and he goes on:-
The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
He’s saying that if someone really loves God and wants to show their love for him and their obedience to him in the way they live, they may need to break a few religious laws along the way. ‘Just watch me’, he says!
A meal of memory and anticipation
Whenever we celebrate the Mass or Holy Communion we are of course primarily remembering our Lord’s last supper and the shedding of his precious blood on the cross. We are also celebrating his resurrection and sharing in the power of his risen life.
But we are also doing something else. We are a handful of hungry Protestant and Catholic disciples of Jesus, sharing a few grains of corn; a snack in anticipation of a more substantial meal to come. Because one day, brothers and sisters, we will be seated at a banquet so great we are not capable of imagining it. We will be joined by a countless multitude of people from every tribe and tongue and nation, all saved from sin and disease and death and earthquake by our precious Lord and Saviour Jesus. And we will worship him together in complete joy and freedom and complete unity, with no rules to separate us.
We are not there yet; this is true. But we are called to live now, every day, in a way which anticipates and prepares for that great day. We are to live generous, open, humble, joyful lives which step over the walls of division to love and serve each other and together, to serve our fellow human beings in all their need.
The material and spiritual hunger and brokenness of the world we live in cannot wait for the churches to officially unite. It really cannot wait. The world needs to receive the benefits of our unity before we have that unity. And it is up to us ordinary Christians, Anglican, Catholic, whatever we are, to join forces and make it happen however we can.
My challenge to every Christian man, woman and child here tonight is this. Find a practical way in which you personally can work with Christians from other churches to demonstrate the good news of Jesus Christ in your neighbourhood. Share a few grains of corn with the hungry, in anticipation of the banquet that will come.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
This sermon was first delivered at the joint service with Bonanova Catholic Church on 19th January and repeated in a slightly amended form on Sunday 24th January 2010.
In our Gospel story we find Jesus upsetting the religious authorities of his day by sharing a simple meal with his disciples. Just a few grains of corn; a snack to take the edge off their hunger, until they could share a proper meal later. But their meal was against the law as far as the religious leaders were concerned, because the disciples were harvesting grain on the Sabbath day – the day set apart for rest, for worship, for God.
I hope the simple meal we are enjoying at the Communion Table this evening won´t upset anybody, but in the eyes of some religious folk this too is an illegal meal. Our two churches are divided not just by half a kilometre but by centuries of division and disagreement and by vast libraries of rules written by men.
Jesus replies to his critics
We are swimming against the tide tonight and some would consider our display of unity to be naïve and unrealistic. But we should be encouraged by the words of Jesus, who also swam against the tide.
He answered his critics with a question:-
Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.
(In my mind’s eye version of this incident, as Jesus is saying these words he is breaking off another ear of corn, eating some and offering some to those around him, including the Pharisees!)
There is stunned silence at Jesus’s words. How dare this son of a carpenter use God’s word to criticize its expert lawyers?
But they don’t know who they are dealing with, and he goes on:-
The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.
He’s saying that if someone really loves God and wants to show their love for him and their obedience to him in the way they live, they may need to break a few religious laws along the way. ‘Just watch me’, he says!
A meal of memory and anticipation
Whenever we celebrate the Mass or Holy Communion we are of course primarily remembering our Lord’s last supper and the shedding of his precious blood on the cross. We are also celebrating his resurrection and sharing in the power of his risen life.
But we are also doing something else. We are a handful of hungry Protestant and Catholic disciples of Jesus, sharing a few grains of corn; a snack in anticipation of a more substantial meal to come. Because one day, brothers and sisters, we will be seated at a banquet so great we are not capable of imagining it. We will be joined by a countless multitude of people from every tribe and tongue and nation, all saved from sin and disease and death and earthquake by our precious Lord and Saviour Jesus. And we will worship him together in complete joy and freedom and complete unity, with no rules to separate us.
We are not there yet; this is true. But we are called to live now, every day, in a way which anticipates and prepares for that great day. We are to live generous, open, humble, joyful lives which step over the walls of division to love and serve each other and together, to serve our fellow human beings in all their need.
The material and spiritual hunger and brokenness of the world we live in cannot wait for the churches to officially unite. It really cannot wait. The world needs to receive the benefits of our unity before we have that unity. And it is up to us ordinary Christians, Anglican, Catholic, whatever we are, to join forces and make it happen however we can.
My challenge to every Christian man, woman and child here tonight is this. Find a practical way in which you personally can work with Christians from other churches to demonstrate the good news of Jesus Christ in your neighbourhood. Share a few grains of corn with the hungry, in anticipation of the banquet that will come.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Bible Study - John 2.1-11
Bible Study – John 2.1-11
In some ways this is a strange story to find in the Gospels, but also a revealing one. Whenever and wherever Jesus is present, transformation becomes possible. The ordinary can become the extraordinary.
Q1 Jesus and his mother and the 12 disciples were all present at this wedding. Whose wedding do you think it was?
Q2 When the wine ran out, was this a matter of any importance? Would it have greater significance in Ancient Near Eastern society than in modern Western society?
Q3 Why do you think Mary encourages Jesus to take action and how can we explain his reluctance? In what sense has his time not yet come (v4)?
Q4 Why does Jesus change his mind and solve the problem?
Q5 Look at all the references to the servants in verses 5 to 9? How does their role in this story relate to the work of Christians in God’s mission today?
The next three questions focus on verse 11.
Q6 In what sense are the events of Cana ‘a sign’ and how is the glory of Jesus revealed through what happens?
Q7 Our individual and corporate lives are also ‘signs’, but what direction are they pointing in? Who is looking at these signs and what are they looking for?
Q8 What encourages the faith of the disciples and how can we encourage faith today?
In some ways this is a strange story to find in the Gospels, but also a revealing one. Whenever and wherever Jesus is present, transformation becomes possible. The ordinary can become the extraordinary.
Q1 Jesus and his mother and the 12 disciples were all present at this wedding. Whose wedding do you think it was?
Q2 When the wine ran out, was this a matter of any importance? Would it have greater significance in Ancient Near Eastern society than in modern Western society?
Q3 Why do you think Mary encourages Jesus to take action and how can we explain his reluctance? In what sense has his time not yet come (v4)?
Q4 Why does Jesus change his mind and solve the problem?
Q5 Look at all the references to the servants in verses 5 to 9? How does their role in this story relate to the work of Christians in God’s mission today?
The next three questions focus on verse 11.
Q6 In what sense are the events of Cana ‘a sign’ and how is the glory of Jesus revealed through what happens?
Q7 Our individual and corporate lives are also ‘signs’, but what direction are they pointing in? Who is looking at these signs and what are they looking for?
Q8 What encourages the faith of the disciples and how can we encourage faith today?
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Water into Wine
John 2.1-11 Sermon 17th January 2010
A strange story of an ordinary man’s dilemma being solved by the presence of the only person who could save the day. But also a story with a deeper significance:-
What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples put their faith in him. John 2.11
These words sum up the nature and purpose of the church pretty well and contain some ideas which can help us as we think about our priorities and plans for the year ahead. Let me start with a few questions:-
WHEN people visit our church or meet us around town or at work, what do they see? Do they see signs pointing towards Jesus? Or are our signs pointing in other directions?
ARE WE ‘revealing His glory’ in our lives and in our worship? Or are we hiding Him from view, under layers of tradition, formality and strange religious language?
ARE WE encouraging faith in Jesus? Or are we instead confirming people’s prejudice that he is irrelevant, weak and unworthy of faith?
HAVE WE inadvertently changed the wine back into water?
I SUSPECT that we may find these questions uncomfortable and if we are honest, in spite of our good intentions, we often fall short of what Jesus calls us to be.
So CAN WE do what Jesus did at that wedding in Cana? Not exactly! We can’t turn water into wine.
But we can go and BE WITH our friends and neighbours in the ordinary celebrations and griefs, the ups and downs of life.
WHEN CRISIS COMES – when the wine runs out, we can’t turn water into wine but we do know someone who can! And we CAN show that the resources of the Christian faith – prayer, praise, worship, the Bible, the love of other Christians, the gifts of the Holy Spirit – are EFFECTIVE in a crisis.
Beyond that we are called to BE the presence of Christ, his body, the branches of his vine, wherever we are and wherever He sends us. The wedding at Cana is just one of many gospel stories where the presence of Jesus transforms EVERYTHING. The presence of Christians, the presence of the church should be having the same effect…
THE TASK facing us is very simple, but it is not at all easy. We are called simply to MAKE SIGNS and to BE SIGNS which point towards Jesus. We are called to REVEAL HIS GLORY and we are called to ENCOURAGE FAITH in Him.
SIMPLE! But it is not easy to do all of this consistently. We need help, from each other, from the resources of the wider church, from Christians who are further along the road than we are and above all from the Holy Spirit.
May we discover the way to fulfill this great calling together, remembering that, with God, nothing is impossible.
A strange story of an ordinary man’s dilemma being solved by the presence of the only person who could save the day. But also a story with a deeper significance:-
What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples put their faith in him. John 2.11
These words sum up the nature and purpose of the church pretty well and contain some ideas which can help us as we think about our priorities and plans for the year ahead. Let me start with a few questions:-
WHEN people visit our church or meet us around town or at work, what do they see? Do they see signs pointing towards Jesus? Or are our signs pointing in other directions?
ARE WE ‘revealing His glory’ in our lives and in our worship? Or are we hiding Him from view, under layers of tradition, formality and strange religious language?
ARE WE encouraging faith in Jesus? Or are we instead confirming people’s prejudice that he is irrelevant, weak and unworthy of faith?
HAVE WE inadvertently changed the wine back into water?
I SUSPECT that we may find these questions uncomfortable and if we are honest, in spite of our good intentions, we often fall short of what Jesus calls us to be.
So CAN WE do what Jesus did at that wedding in Cana? Not exactly! We can’t turn water into wine.
But we can go and BE WITH our friends and neighbours in the ordinary celebrations and griefs, the ups and downs of life.
WHEN CRISIS COMES – when the wine runs out, we can’t turn water into wine but we do know someone who can! And we CAN show that the resources of the Christian faith – prayer, praise, worship, the Bible, the love of other Christians, the gifts of the Holy Spirit – are EFFECTIVE in a crisis.
Beyond that we are called to BE the presence of Christ, his body, the branches of his vine, wherever we are and wherever He sends us. The wedding at Cana is just one of many gospel stories where the presence of Jesus transforms EVERYTHING. The presence of Christians, the presence of the church should be having the same effect…
THE TASK facing us is very simple, but it is not at all easy. We are called simply to MAKE SIGNS and to BE SIGNS which point towards Jesus. We are called to REVEAL HIS GLORY and we are called to ENCOURAGE FAITH in Him.
SIMPLE! But it is not easy to do all of this consistently. We need help, from each other, from the resources of the wider church, from Christians who are further along the road than we are and above all from the Holy Spirit.
May we discover the way to fulfill this great calling together, remembering that, with God, nothing is impossible.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Have you seen Avatar?
Any opinions about this? We saw it in 3D (and in English) on Friday. The effects are stunning, the 3D draws you into the action so well that you duck when objects fly towards you. Some interesting ideas in the story, purging of guilt about Vietnam, Iraq, treatment of indigenous peoples... BUT also an unfortunate message (imo) that the only way to defeat violence is with even greater violence. The innocent have to lose their innocence or their lives. Hmmmm. I also bought the DVD of the film 'Gandhi' recently. Maybe not a fair comparison, but there was a man with a different strategy, which he learned from 'guess who?'
Bible Study Luke 3.15-22 Baptism of Jesus
Bible Study – Luke 3.15-22 – The Baptism of Jesus
Q1 What can you remember of your own baptism? What did it mean to you at the time and subsequently?
Q2 What do you know about John the Baptist? Why did people pay attention to him and why did his preaching have such an impact?
Q3 John contrasts the baptism he gives with that which Jesus will give. What do the symbols of water, fire and the Holy Spirit mean here?
Q4 Are we surprised that Jesus would even be baptized? Discuss in pairs the conversation which Jesus has with John in Matthew 3.13-15.
Q5 What should we make of verse 17? Do you think this verse is about final judgement or about purification, and how does your answer affect your priorities? (Compare 1Corinthians 3.10-16).
Q6 How many reasons or explanations for baptism are indicated in Luke 3.15-22?
Q7 How does the baptism of Jesus relate to his subsequent ministry, his death and his resurrection?
Q8 How does the baptism of Jesus relate to
(a) our baptism of infants?
(b) our baptism of believers?
(c) our sacrament of confirmation?
Q9 A neighbour who does not attend church asks for your advice about whether or not to have her baby baptized. How would you reply?
Q10 Are there any other lessons we can learn from the biblical account of the baptism of Jesus?
Q1 What can you remember of your own baptism? What did it mean to you at the time and subsequently?
Q2 What do you know about John the Baptist? Why did people pay attention to him and why did his preaching have such an impact?
Q3 John contrasts the baptism he gives with that which Jesus will give. What do the symbols of water, fire and the Holy Spirit mean here?
Q4 Are we surprised that Jesus would even be baptized? Discuss in pairs the conversation which Jesus has with John in Matthew 3.13-15.
Q5 What should we make of verse 17? Do you think this verse is about final judgement or about purification, and how does your answer affect your priorities? (Compare 1Corinthians 3.10-16).
Q6 How many reasons or explanations for baptism are indicated in Luke 3.15-22?
Q7 How does the baptism of Jesus relate to his subsequent ministry, his death and his resurrection?
Q8 How does the baptism of Jesus relate to
(a) our baptism of infants?
(b) our baptism of believers?
(c) our sacrament of confirmation?
Q9 A neighbour who does not attend church asks for your advice about whether or not to have her baby baptized. How would you reply?
Q10 Are there any other lessons we can learn from the biblical account of the baptism of Jesus?
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sermon - The Baptism of Jesus
All Age Service – 10th January 2010
The Baptism of Jesus. Luke 3.15-22
Intro
Story of baptism of Jesus reminds me of a little boy overheard complaining ‘my mum makes me have a bath every week, even if I’m not dirty!’
ONE way of understanding baptism is our sins being washed away by God, so we can live a new life as a christian. We ALL need this, even if we think we are not dirty. Nobody is too dirty for God to make clean, Good News!
BUT if baptism is about sins being washed away, why did Jesus insist on being baptized by John? In Mat’s version, even John the Baptist himself was shocked when Jesus came to be baptized by him. John knew that his cousin was not like other people, that he had come straight from God in a special way, that there was no sin in him at all.
Jesus was the only person ever born who did not need a bath! Actually I’m sure he did need an ordinary bath, but not the special bath of baptism. So WHY did he insist on going through with it?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Baptism is not only about sins being washed away, it is also about…
Belonging to a family
When Jesus was baptized, God’s voice was heard from heaven saying ‘you are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’. A very special moment for Jesus, even though he probably already knew from his mother that he was God’s son. The Bible teaches that our baptism is just as exciting because it is the moment of our adoption as sons or daughters in God’s family.
Looking at it the other way round, Jesus, by insisting on being baptized, showed that he was part of the human family as well as being God’s son. Because Jesus was part of both families, he made it possible for us to be part of God’s family too.
Being equipped to serve God
John the Baptist had predicted that Jesus would be far more powerful than him and the Bible makes it clear that he was given special power by God at his baptism when the Holy Spirit came down to rest on him, looking like a dove. In many churches, including the Anglican church, this part of baptism has been separated into a separate service called confirmation. When we have a conf service, the Bishop lays his hands on the heads of the people being confirmed and prays that God will send his Holy Spirit into them, to equip them to do God’s work in new and special ways. Again, Jesus’ baptism sets an example for our baptism and confirmation, so we have faith in God’s power and his desire to equip us for his work.
A Public statement about who we are
The final thing I want to mention about Jesus’ baptism is that it was carried out in a public place, for everyone to see, including the eyewitnesses whose evidence is collected in our
Bible. God could have baptized Jesus in his own little private ceremony, with nobody watching, but he must have thought it was important to do it in public. This is also a model for our bap and conf. It is important that we make our promises and receive our adoption as God’s children in public. This makes a public statement about who we are, who we belong to, and how we intend to live our lives from now on. This might not make things easier for us, but the bap of Jesus in front of all the crowds at the river Jordan, sets the example for us and he promises his protection and his blessing to all who stand up in his name.
ConclusionsI don’t know what you think about your own baptism and your confirmation, if you’ve been confirmed. Perhaps these ceremonies were a long time ago, rites of passage which your parents put you through because it was tradition or the right thing to do. The baptism of Jesus encourages us all to take baptism seriously and suggests it has at least 4 meanings:-
• Washing away of sins
• Belonging to God’s family
• Equipping by the Holy Spirit to serve God
• Making a public statement about who we are because of what Jesus has done for us
We follow the example of Jesus in all these aspects of baptism and we pray for all people who are baptized or confirmed that what we celebrate in these sacraments will truly take place in their lives. If you want to know more about being bap or conf, do see me for a chat.
And for all of us my prayer is that the bap of Jesus will help us understand our own baptism and confirmation in a deeper way, so we can be faithful and fruitful disciples.
The Baptism of Jesus. Luke 3.15-22
Intro
Story of baptism of Jesus reminds me of a little boy overheard complaining ‘my mum makes me have a bath every week, even if I’m not dirty!’
ONE way of understanding baptism is our sins being washed away by God, so we can live a new life as a christian. We ALL need this, even if we think we are not dirty. Nobody is too dirty for God to make clean, Good News!
BUT if baptism is about sins being washed away, why did Jesus insist on being baptized by John? In Mat’s version, even John the Baptist himself was shocked when Jesus came to be baptized by him. John knew that his cousin was not like other people, that he had come straight from God in a special way, that there was no sin in him at all.
Jesus was the only person ever born who did not need a bath! Actually I’m sure he did need an ordinary bath, but not the special bath of baptism. So WHY did he insist on going through with it?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Baptism is not only about sins being washed away, it is also about…
Belonging to a family
When Jesus was baptized, God’s voice was heard from heaven saying ‘you are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’. A very special moment for Jesus, even though he probably already knew from his mother that he was God’s son. The Bible teaches that our baptism is just as exciting because it is the moment of our adoption as sons or daughters in God’s family.
Looking at it the other way round, Jesus, by insisting on being baptized, showed that he was part of the human family as well as being God’s son. Because Jesus was part of both families, he made it possible for us to be part of God’s family too.
Being equipped to serve God
John the Baptist had predicted that Jesus would be far more powerful than him and the Bible makes it clear that he was given special power by God at his baptism when the Holy Spirit came down to rest on him, looking like a dove. In many churches, including the Anglican church, this part of baptism has been separated into a separate service called confirmation. When we have a conf service, the Bishop lays his hands on the heads of the people being confirmed and prays that God will send his Holy Spirit into them, to equip them to do God’s work in new and special ways. Again, Jesus’ baptism sets an example for our baptism and confirmation, so we have faith in God’s power and his desire to equip us for his work.
A Public statement about who we are
The final thing I want to mention about Jesus’ baptism is that it was carried out in a public place, for everyone to see, including the eyewitnesses whose evidence is collected in our
Bible. God could have baptized Jesus in his own little private ceremony, with nobody watching, but he must have thought it was important to do it in public. This is also a model for our bap and conf. It is important that we make our promises and receive our adoption as God’s children in public. This makes a public statement about who we are, who we belong to, and how we intend to live our lives from now on. This might not make things easier for us, but the bap of Jesus in front of all the crowds at the river Jordan, sets the example for us and he promises his protection and his blessing to all who stand up in his name.
ConclusionsI don’t know what you think about your own baptism and your confirmation, if you’ve been confirmed. Perhaps these ceremonies were a long time ago, rites of passage which your parents put you through because it was tradition or the right thing to do. The baptism of Jesus encourages us all to take baptism seriously and suggests it has at least 4 meanings:-
• Washing away of sins
• Belonging to God’s family
• Equipping by the Holy Spirit to serve God
• Making a public statement about who we are because of what Jesus has done for us
We follow the example of Jesus in all these aspects of baptism and we pray for all people who are baptized or confirmed that what we celebrate in these sacraments will truly take place in their lives. If you want to know more about being bap or conf, do see me for a chat.
And for all of us my prayer is that the bap of Jesus will help us understand our own baptism and confirmation in a deeper way, so we can be faithful and fruitful disciples.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Epiphany sermon - The Two Kings
Matthew 2.1-16
Epiphany 3rd January 2010
The Two Kings (verses 1-6)
Today is Epiphany Sunday when we celebrate the revealing of Christ to the Gentiles. It is of course a time of great celebration here in Spain and last year Billie and I were in Tordera for the street procession. I remember the crowded streets, the sense of anticipation and the excitement, especially amongst the children, as the procession came along, with the three kings throwing sweets out into the crowd. Children also queued up to meet one or other of the kings and were asked if they had been good, to see if they deserved to receive a present.
All great fun, however the Bible story is not about three kings but two. Two very different kings:-
The False King - HEROD ‘the Great’
• Cruel, unpredictable, tyrannical, even his own family were not safe from him
• His power and authority were very visible – he relied on force and brutality
• He was insecure and fearful when he heard a rumour of a true king’s birth
• He was famous for his enraged massacre of innocent children
• His power was actually temporary and limited
• His life ended in confusion & disappointment when Jesus was still a child
The True King - JESUS of Nazareth
• Appeared to be of humble origin
• Suffered danger and insecurity in childhood, like Moses
• Was destined to be a greater saviour than Moses, Joshua and David put together
• Was famous for his kind and gentle treatment of children, women and outcasts
• His power and glory were hidden at first, but real and permanent
• Proved to be the true king of all, but leading in a new and surprising way
Two kinds of Seeker (verses 7-12)
Both desperate to find Jesus but with very different motives:-
HEROD - the False Seeker
• concerned with self, position, reputation.
• Seeks out of jealousy, to master & destroy Jesus
• In spite of his power, determination & skills of deception, he fails to find Jesus. His evil plan is revealed to God and to the magi and fails – but does cause many casualties in the process.
THE MAGI – the True Seekers
• Probably a caste of wise astronomers/astrologers/scientists from Persia/ Arabia. (NB the Bible does not say that they were kings, how many there were, whether they were male or female!)
• They seek J with pure hearts and motives
• They rejoice (10) when the star guides them to him
• They worship him (11)
• They give him gifts suitable for a king (11)
• They are obedient to God’s warning not to return to Herod (12).
These WISE people were rewarded in their HONEST search for the TRUE king with an EPIPHANY; a revelation of Jesus, the Son of God.
Which kind of seekers are we? Not Herods I’m sure, but perhaps our motives are mixed…
Do I for instance-
• enjoy my good reputation as a Christian?
• hope for a payback from God?
• try to bargain with God?
• feel resentful to God when the road is hard?
• Use God’s gifts selfishly?
We probably all have mixed motives – not surprising because we are all just sinners in a recovery programme!
A New Relationship (verses 13-16)
Ultimately, what we need is a new kind of relationship with God. We see a model of this in the experience of the escape of the Holy Family to Egypt, following the angel’s warning. It only gets the briefest of mentions, but must have been a terrifying episode and a threat to defeat all God’s promises about Jesus – the promises which Joseph and Mary had committed their lives to. How would that feel for you? How much time did you have to think about your move to Barcelona? Perhaps it was a move you planned and chose, which was exciting.
But what if you had a small child under two years old and were suddenly told your lives are in danger, you have to leave the country, tonight and go to live in Morocco until further notice?
And what if Mary and Joseph had said ‘no’ or just frozen in fear and been unable to travel? How might the course of history have been affected?
But their terrifying experience was also an experience of the protection and guidance and love and power of God, even in the harshest circumstances. Faith was required, faith was tested and faith was rewarded.
The journey of faith is not easy, as we see from the journeys of the Magi and the Holy family, which were fraught with danger. But the rewards of faith are everlasting and priceless and world-changing. As we share the faith of Mary and Joseph may we also enjoy that deep relationship of trust with our Heavenly Father, which the coming of Jesus made possible.
Like the Magi, may we always:-
Seek Sincerely – longing to see Jesus for his own sake and to see his Kingdom come on earth
Worship Wholeheartedly – making our whole lives an expression of gratitude for his gift of salvation
Give Generously – offering our physical, monetary and spiritual gifts, all of which God gave us, for use in his service.
DO enjoy your Reyes celebrations – I think it is a great festival, even if some of the details might not fit what is in the Bible.
HAVE FUN, but remember the important thing about the Magi/Reyes is that they were TRUE SEEKERS of the TRUE KING. May the same be true of us and may Christ be revealed day by day, TO us and THROUGH us.
Epiphany 3rd January 2010
The Two Kings (verses 1-6)
Today is Epiphany Sunday when we celebrate the revealing of Christ to the Gentiles. It is of course a time of great celebration here in Spain and last year Billie and I were in Tordera for the street procession. I remember the crowded streets, the sense of anticipation and the excitement, especially amongst the children, as the procession came along, with the three kings throwing sweets out into the crowd. Children also queued up to meet one or other of the kings and were asked if they had been good, to see if they deserved to receive a present.
All great fun, however the Bible story is not about three kings but two. Two very different kings:-
The False King - HEROD ‘the Great’
• Cruel, unpredictable, tyrannical, even his own family were not safe from him
• His power and authority were very visible – he relied on force and brutality
• He was insecure and fearful when he heard a rumour of a true king’s birth
• He was famous for his enraged massacre of innocent children
• His power was actually temporary and limited
• His life ended in confusion & disappointment when Jesus was still a child
The True King - JESUS of Nazareth
• Appeared to be of humble origin
• Suffered danger and insecurity in childhood, like Moses
• Was destined to be a greater saviour than Moses, Joshua and David put together
• Was famous for his kind and gentle treatment of children, women and outcasts
• His power and glory were hidden at first, but real and permanent
• Proved to be the true king of all, but leading in a new and surprising way
Two kinds of Seeker (verses 7-12)
Both desperate to find Jesus but with very different motives:-
HEROD - the False Seeker
• concerned with self, position, reputation.
• Seeks out of jealousy, to master & destroy Jesus
• In spite of his power, determination & skills of deception, he fails to find Jesus. His evil plan is revealed to God and to the magi and fails – but does cause many casualties in the process.
THE MAGI – the True Seekers
• Probably a caste of wise astronomers/astrologers/scientists from Persia/ Arabia. (NB the Bible does not say that they were kings, how many there were, whether they were male or female!)
• They seek J with pure hearts and motives
• They rejoice (10) when the star guides them to him
• They worship him (11)
• They give him gifts suitable for a king (11)
• They are obedient to God’s warning not to return to Herod (12).
These WISE people were rewarded in their HONEST search for the TRUE king with an EPIPHANY; a revelation of Jesus, the Son of God.
Which kind of seekers are we? Not Herods I’m sure, but perhaps our motives are mixed…
Do I for instance-
• enjoy my good reputation as a Christian?
• hope for a payback from God?
• try to bargain with God?
• feel resentful to God when the road is hard?
• Use God’s gifts selfishly?
We probably all have mixed motives – not surprising because we are all just sinners in a recovery programme!
A New Relationship (verses 13-16)
Ultimately, what we need is a new kind of relationship with God. We see a model of this in the experience of the escape of the Holy Family to Egypt, following the angel’s warning. It only gets the briefest of mentions, but must have been a terrifying episode and a threat to defeat all God’s promises about Jesus – the promises which Joseph and Mary had committed their lives to. How would that feel for you? How much time did you have to think about your move to Barcelona? Perhaps it was a move you planned and chose, which was exciting.
But what if you had a small child under two years old and were suddenly told your lives are in danger, you have to leave the country, tonight and go to live in Morocco until further notice?
And what if Mary and Joseph had said ‘no’ or just frozen in fear and been unable to travel? How might the course of history have been affected?
But their terrifying experience was also an experience of the protection and guidance and love and power of God, even in the harshest circumstances. Faith was required, faith was tested and faith was rewarded.
The journey of faith is not easy, as we see from the journeys of the Magi and the Holy family, which were fraught with danger. But the rewards of faith are everlasting and priceless and world-changing. As we share the faith of Mary and Joseph may we also enjoy that deep relationship of trust with our Heavenly Father, which the coming of Jesus made possible.
Like the Magi, may we always:-
Seek Sincerely – longing to see Jesus for his own sake and to see his Kingdom come on earth
Worship Wholeheartedly – making our whole lives an expression of gratitude for his gift of salvation
Give Generously – offering our physical, monetary and spiritual gifts, all of which God gave us, for use in his service.
DO enjoy your Reyes celebrations – I think it is a great festival, even if some of the details might not fit what is in the Bible.
HAVE FUN, but remember the important thing about the Magi/Reyes is that they were TRUE SEEKERS of the TRUE KING. May the same be true of us and may Christ be revealed day by day, TO us and THROUGH us.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Sermon 27th December 2009
Luke 2.41-52
27th December 2009
We have ‘fast forwarded’ 12 years for our gospel reading on this first Sunday of Christmas. Billie and I were just talking about how hard it is, letting go of our children as they get older – our two youngest are both 21 years old. For Mary and Joseph this process began when Jesus was only 12, with this incident at the Temple in Jerusalem.
It seems strange to us that his parents took a whole day to notice that Jesus wasn’t with them, but they were travelling in a large, loosely organized group of relatives and friends and this could easily have happened. We can imagine how they felt when they did realize he was missing and raced back to Jerusalem to search for him.
What can we learn from Mary and Joseph?
Firstly, they were bringing Jesus up as well as they could, within a loving family environment and within their religious tradition, observing the Festivals.
Secondly, they showed great flexibility and trust in God, even when the unexpected happened.
We can also learn from Jesus, without underestimating his uniqueness.
• He is aware of his unique calling and responsibility to God, even from a very early age. He already has a special affinity with his heavenly Father and the Temple, his Father’s house.
• Obedience to his earthly parents is important to Jesus (v51), but obedience to God comes first. Notice the two uses of the word ’father’ in verses 48 and 49.
• Jesus puts himself in a place where he can learn more about his calling and be equipped to serve. Notice that he SITS AMONG teachers, LISTENS to them and QUESTIONS them.
In this episode at the Temple, we see the prophecies about Jesus starting to come true, for example:-
Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple.
Malachi 3.1
The result is amazement and astonishment (v47 and v48).
Jesus grows up, increases in wisdom and in favour with God and people (v52). We are also told that Mary ‘treasured all these things in her heart’, and indication that she is a source for Luke’s gospel.
What about us?
• We too, like Jesus, ‘must be in our Father’s house. Thanks to Jesus we are adopted children of God and His home is our home.
• We too need to discover our unique calling as early as possible, and pursue it.
• We too need to mix with people we can learn about the faith from. We need to listen to them and question them in order to know the truth and grow in wisdom.
• We need to put obedience to God first and be prepared to astonish and to be astonished.
As a new year beckons my we do all these things together at St George’s, to God’s glory.
27th December 2009
We have ‘fast forwarded’ 12 years for our gospel reading on this first Sunday of Christmas. Billie and I were just talking about how hard it is, letting go of our children as they get older – our two youngest are both 21 years old. For Mary and Joseph this process began when Jesus was only 12, with this incident at the Temple in Jerusalem.
It seems strange to us that his parents took a whole day to notice that Jesus wasn’t with them, but they were travelling in a large, loosely organized group of relatives and friends and this could easily have happened. We can imagine how they felt when they did realize he was missing and raced back to Jerusalem to search for him.
What can we learn from Mary and Joseph?
Firstly, they were bringing Jesus up as well as they could, within a loving family environment and within their religious tradition, observing the Festivals.
Secondly, they showed great flexibility and trust in God, even when the unexpected happened.
We can also learn from Jesus, without underestimating his uniqueness.
• He is aware of his unique calling and responsibility to God, even from a very early age. He already has a special affinity with his heavenly Father and the Temple, his Father’s house.
• Obedience to his earthly parents is important to Jesus (v51), but obedience to God comes first. Notice the two uses of the word ’father’ in verses 48 and 49.
• Jesus puts himself in a place where he can learn more about his calling and be equipped to serve. Notice that he SITS AMONG teachers, LISTENS to them and QUESTIONS them.
In this episode at the Temple, we see the prophecies about Jesus starting to come true, for example:-
Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple.
Malachi 3.1
The result is amazement and astonishment (v47 and v48).
Jesus grows up, increases in wisdom and in favour with God and people (v52). We are also told that Mary ‘treasured all these things in her heart’, and indication that she is a source for Luke’s gospel.
What about us?
• We too, like Jesus, ‘must be in our Father’s house. Thanks to Jesus we are adopted children of God and His home is our home.
• We too need to discover our unique calling as early as possible, and pursue it.
• We too need to mix with people we can learn about the faith from. We need to listen to them and question them in order to know the truth and grow in wisdom.
• We need to put obedience to God first and be prepared to astonish and to be astonished.
As a new year beckons my we do all these things together at St George’s, to God’s glory.
Christmas Day - All Age Sermon
Christmas All Age Sermon 2009
Luke 2.1-14
Intro
Who remembers what I used to illustrate my Christmas talk last year?
I used a pineapple and the figure of the baby Jesus from our crib scene. The pineapple represented a perfect world, the world as God intended it to be and I asked the question how do we get from this baby to this pineapple?
Today, instead of a pineapple I have a painting to show you…
What do you notice? What do you think the painting is about? The Christmas gospel story is like this painting in two ways.
1. Attention to detail
Like every good reporter or storyteller, Luke gives us lots of interesting details which help us to picture the scene, making it real for us and helping us understand how the people in the story are feeling.
Examples…
Many of our Christmas carols have picked up on these details (and embellished them!). As we sing we participate in the story and make it our own.
2. Awareness of the big picture
Even though he loves recording the details, Luke never loses sight of the big picture; the amazing place of the birth of Jesus in history and in God’s plan to save the world.
Examples…
Just like our artist fit all the details into the design of her big picture, so Luke keeps reminding us of how the details of the gospel story fit into God’s big picture.
Living a Worthwhile Life
Perhaps our artist and St Luke are both teaching us an important lesson for life – that we need to pay attention to detail AND always be aware of the big picture.
This applies to our work, our family relationships, our hobbies and interests, everything. If we want to live a worthwhile and rewarding life we need both attention to detail and awareness of the big picture.
Think about what happens if you only think about the big picture but pay no attention to the details…
Think about what happens if you spend all your effort on detail but lose sight of the big picture…
Both Luke and our painter are looking for the same result – a heartfelt response from us.
Looking back and looking forward
This principle applies especially to our efforts to live as Christians, as followers of Jesus.
Think back over the past year. How well have you done in keeping God’s big picture in mind? How well have attended to the details? Do you need to make any changes over the next year? How can the Church help you to make those changes?
(Examples – Confirmation, Roots1 or Routes2, SHAPE consultation, finding ways to serve in the community, the Church weekend away… see website for details).
The good news is that our God is the God of second chances and fresh starts!
Let’s all make 2010 a year in which we make a heartfelt response to the gospel, in all its detail and all its glory, letting it change us so that through us God can change the world.
Luke 2.1-14
Intro
Who remembers what I used to illustrate my Christmas talk last year?
I used a pineapple and the figure of the baby Jesus from our crib scene. The pineapple represented a perfect world, the world as God intended it to be and I asked the question how do we get from this baby to this pineapple?
Today, instead of a pineapple I have a painting to show you…
What do you notice? What do you think the painting is about? The Christmas gospel story is like this painting in two ways.
1. Attention to detail
Like every good reporter or storyteller, Luke gives us lots of interesting details which help us to picture the scene, making it real for us and helping us understand how the people in the story are feeling.
Examples…
Many of our Christmas carols have picked up on these details (and embellished them!). As we sing we participate in the story and make it our own.
2. Awareness of the big picture
Even though he loves recording the details, Luke never loses sight of the big picture; the amazing place of the birth of Jesus in history and in God’s plan to save the world.
Examples…
Just like our artist fit all the details into the design of her big picture, so Luke keeps reminding us of how the details of the gospel story fit into God’s big picture.
Living a Worthwhile Life
Perhaps our artist and St Luke are both teaching us an important lesson for life – that we need to pay attention to detail AND always be aware of the big picture.
This applies to our work, our family relationships, our hobbies and interests, everything. If we want to live a worthwhile and rewarding life we need both attention to detail and awareness of the big picture.
Think about what happens if you only think about the big picture but pay no attention to the details…
Think about what happens if you spend all your effort on detail but lose sight of the big picture…
Both Luke and our painter are looking for the same result – a heartfelt response from us.
Looking back and looking forward
This principle applies especially to our efforts to live as Christians, as followers of Jesus.
Think back over the past year. How well have you done in keeping God’s big picture in mind? How well have attended to the details? Do you need to make any changes over the next year? How can the Church help you to make those changes?
(Examples – Confirmation, Roots1 or Routes2, SHAPE consultation, finding ways to serve in the community, the Church weekend away… see website for details).
The good news is that our God is the God of second chances and fresh starts!
Let’s all make 2010 a year in which we make a heartfelt response to the gospel, in all its detail and all its glory, letting it change us so that through us God can change the world.
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