Bible Study – Mark 1.29-39
Q1 What does the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law teach us about Jesus’ priorities and powers? Can we learn anything from her response?
Q2 What did the crowds of people who came for healing or deliverance understand about Jesus?
Q3 Mark records Jesus’ early morning prayer routine. Why do you think this was necessary for Jesus and to what extent is it a pattern for us?
Q4 In verses 37 to 38 there is a conflict of expectations between Jesus and the disciples. Why do you think this happened and what can we learn from it?
Q5 How is Jesus’s ministry of proclaiming the gospel related to his healings and deliverances? Charismatic Christians like John Wimber (founder of Vineyard Church and author of Power Evangelism) argued that the healings/deliverances come first, opening people up to hear and respond to the gospel. Others argue that the healings/deliverances are signs which follow the preaching of the gospel. Which view do you tend to agree with?
Q6 In this early part of his ministry, is Jesus primarily concerned (a) with people’s guilt and responsibility for sin and evil or (b) with their brokenness and captivity by the power of sin and evil? How does this relate to his later ministry, the cross and resurrection?
Q7 What does Mark add to our understanding of Jesus (in comparison to the other gospels?
Q8 What should we believe about the existance and activity of demons in New Testament times and today? What do we need to know and do about evil as individuals and as a church?
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Unity Service sermon - Mark 3.31-35
Mark 3.31-35 – Joint Service with Bonanova RC Church
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, 24th January 2012
Two simple ideas and a challenge are suggested by tonight’s gospel reading.
1. Theory of six degrees of separation (Explain the theory of Hungarian writer Karinthy 1929). My recent example – Alex S, Aussie internet friend, intro to English children’s book author Nick B via me and my old college Principal Mike B in only 3 steps. I guessed Nick and Mike might be related and they turned out to be brothers. Mike forwarded my email and Nick emailed Alex – QED!
2. Jesus Christ is alive and is the Saviour of the World. That’s why we’re here.
Put the two together and every person on the planet is 6 steps or less away from being introduced to Jesus Christ; the Saviour of the World. We are probably all agreed that it would be a very good idea for these introductions to be made without delay. God thinks it would be a very good idea too (see for example 1 Timothy 2.3-6), but how?
It is fairly unlikely that people will bump into Jesus themselves these days. But they are quite likely to meet one of his relatives:
“Who are my mother and my brothers?” Jesus asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3.33-35)
That means you and me and anybody else who is a doer of God’s will. You may object that you are not skilled or called to be an evangelist, that you don’t have the right gifts or personality for it. But perhaps as a brother or sister of Jesus your role will be as simple but vital as passing on a message – like my old College Principal Mike was prepared to do. He took a risk in introducing this stranger to his brother, and he did so because he trusted me and he knew that I trusted Alex.
We all need reminding regularly, that when we gather in the presence of our Lord Jesus to worship him that we do so for the benefit of all people, not just for ourselves. And the challenge tonight is that we should all be prepared to take the risk Mike took and introduce a stranger to our brother and our Lord. Because when a person who needs to meet Jesus meets you … they are only one degree of separation, one step away from meeting him.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, 24th January 2012
Two simple ideas and a challenge are suggested by tonight’s gospel reading.
1. Theory of six degrees of separation (Explain the theory of Hungarian writer Karinthy 1929). My recent example – Alex S, Aussie internet friend, intro to English children’s book author Nick B via me and my old college Principal Mike B in only 3 steps. I guessed Nick and Mike might be related and they turned out to be brothers. Mike forwarded my email and Nick emailed Alex – QED!
2. Jesus Christ is alive and is the Saviour of the World. That’s why we’re here.
Put the two together and every person on the planet is 6 steps or less away from being introduced to Jesus Christ; the Saviour of the World. We are probably all agreed that it would be a very good idea for these introductions to be made without delay. God thinks it would be a very good idea too (see for example 1 Timothy 2.3-6), but how?
It is fairly unlikely that people will bump into Jesus themselves these days. But they are quite likely to meet one of his relatives:
“Who are my mother and my brothers?” Jesus asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3.33-35)
That means you and me and anybody else who is a doer of God’s will. You may object that you are not skilled or called to be an evangelist, that you don’t have the right gifts or personality for it. But perhaps as a brother or sister of Jesus your role will be as simple but vital as passing on a message – like my old College Principal Mike was prepared to do. He took a risk in introducing this stranger to his brother, and he did so because he trusted me and he knew that I trusted Alex.
We all need reminding regularly, that when we gather in the presence of our Lord Jesus to worship him that we do so for the benefit of all people, not just for ourselves. And the challenge tonight is that we should all be prepared to take the risk Mike took and introduce a stranger to our brother and our Lord. Because when a person who needs to meet Jesus meets you … they are only one degree of separation, one step away from meeting him.
Sermon John 2.1-11
John 2.1-11
When a FOOTBALL PLAYER moves to a new club, he hopes he will score a spectacular goal in his first match. This would bring instant popularity with the supporters and raise hopes of great days ahead.
I’m not sure what the equivalent would be for a CHURCH LEADER; maybe to perform an amazing healing or preach a sermon that causes loads of people to fall down on their knees and repent – that kind of thing! It would show the people in church that this leader really has God’s anointing and would raise hopes that a spectacular revival is about to begin.
According to the writer of the 4th Gospel (John), Jesus did something pretty amazing at the start of his public ministry – he went to a wedding with his mum and some friends (not so amazing?) – but when the wine ran out, he changed a few stone jars of water into a large quantity of good quality wine (wow!).
Pretty spectacular and guaranteed to amaze everybody present; except that NOBODY KNEW what had happened, except his mum, a few disciples and the waiters. What a missed opportunity!
The other 3 gospel writers didn’t even record this story – perhaps they thought it was not much more than a little party piece, compared to the great parables and healings and sermons which were to come. But for John, after perhaps 40 years reflection, it was the first (preeminent) sign which revealed Jesus’s glory; his value, his brightness which defeats every shadow of darkness; a revelation which caused his disciples to put their faith in him.
What did John see here that the others missed?
• The NATHANAEL Link. End of Ch 1, Nathanael, sceptical that anything good could come out of Nazareth, is won over by the fact Jesus saw him sitting under a tree before Philip called him. Jesus promises Nathanael he will see greater things than this, in fact he will see heaven being opened and angels going up and coming down on the Son of Man (referring to Jacob’s “ladder” dream, Genesis 28.12). The very next thing the gospel writer records is a wedding feast in Nathanael’s home town (see John 21.2) of Cana. Looking back, John can see that what happened at this wedding was already fulfilling the promise to Nathanael. A greater and more important marriage was anticipated here – heaven/earth – and was already happening in the marriage of human and divine in Jesus himself.
• NEW WINE better than OLD. The wine ran out – the word we translate “ran out” really means “fell short”. The old covenant or agreement between God and man failed (on the human side). John and Mary point to Jesus and say to the servants “do exactly what he tells you”. Jesus uses the stone purification jars of the old covenant and his presence transforms their contents from water (we are 60% water) into wine. When Jesus is present, the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
• A person deserving dishonour (bridegroom who did not provide wine of sufficient quantity/quality) is honoured, because of Jesus.
• The saving work of Jesus is seen only by the servants who follow his instructions – but is for the benefit of everybody. The new wine is to be SERVED, not hoarded.
• John even hints at a link to the final sign, resurrection, also “on the third day” and revealing Jesus’s glory, leading disciples and witnesses to faith, new life.
• A passage packed with rich symbolism which repays meditation and helps us understand the gospel.
What does this sign mean for us?
• Earlier in the service we sang “come on in and taste the new wine, the wine of the kingdom” (One shall tell another by Graham Kendrick). Shouldn’t this be the message we are giving to the people around us? How can this happen?
• Are people receiving through us the wine which reveals Jesus and encourages them to put their faith in him? (John 2.11)
• 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?
• 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.
When a FOOTBALL PLAYER moves to a new club, he hopes he will score a spectacular goal in his first match. This would bring instant popularity with the supporters and raise hopes of great days ahead.
I’m not sure what the equivalent would be for a CHURCH LEADER; maybe to perform an amazing healing or preach a sermon that causes loads of people to fall down on their knees and repent – that kind of thing! It would show the people in church that this leader really has God’s anointing and would raise hopes that a spectacular revival is about to begin.
According to the writer of the 4th Gospel (John), Jesus did something pretty amazing at the start of his public ministry – he went to a wedding with his mum and some friends (not so amazing?) – but when the wine ran out, he changed a few stone jars of water into a large quantity of good quality wine (wow!).
Pretty spectacular and guaranteed to amaze everybody present; except that NOBODY KNEW what had happened, except his mum, a few disciples and the waiters. What a missed opportunity!
The other 3 gospel writers didn’t even record this story – perhaps they thought it was not much more than a little party piece, compared to the great parables and healings and sermons which were to come. But for John, after perhaps 40 years reflection, it was the first (preeminent) sign which revealed Jesus’s glory; his value, his brightness which defeats every shadow of darkness; a revelation which caused his disciples to put their faith in him.
What did John see here that the others missed?
• The NATHANAEL Link. End of Ch 1, Nathanael, sceptical that anything good could come out of Nazareth, is won over by the fact Jesus saw him sitting under a tree before Philip called him. Jesus promises Nathanael he will see greater things than this, in fact he will see heaven being opened and angels going up and coming down on the Son of Man (referring to Jacob’s “ladder” dream, Genesis 28.12). The very next thing the gospel writer records is a wedding feast in Nathanael’s home town (see John 21.2) of Cana. Looking back, John can see that what happened at this wedding was already fulfilling the promise to Nathanael. A greater and more important marriage was anticipated here – heaven/earth – and was already happening in the marriage of human and divine in Jesus himself.
• NEW WINE better than OLD. The wine ran out – the word we translate “ran out” really means “fell short”. The old covenant or agreement between God and man failed (on the human side). John and Mary point to Jesus and say to the servants “do exactly what he tells you”. Jesus uses the stone purification jars of the old covenant and his presence transforms their contents from water (we are 60% water) into wine. When Jesus is present, the ordinary becomes extraordinary.
• A person deserving dishonour (bridegroom who did not provide wine of sufficient quantity/quality) is honoured, because of Jesus.
• The saving work of Jesus is seen only by the servants who follow his instructions – but is for the benefit of everybody. The new wine is to be SERVED, not hoarded.
• John even hints at a link to the final sign, resurrection, also “on the third day” and revealing Jesus’s glory, leading disciples and witnesses to faith, new life.
• A passage packed with rich symbolism which repays meditation and helps us understand the gospel.
What does this sign mean for us?
• Earlier in the service we sang “come on in and taste the new wine, the wine of the kingdom” (One shall tell another by Graham Kendrick). Shouldn’t this be the message we are giving to the people around us? How can this happen?
• Are people receiving through us the wine which reveals Jesus and encourages them to put their faith in him? (John 2.11)
• 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?
• 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.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Bible Study - John 2.1-11
Bible Study – John 2.1-11
Q1 What is the funniest thing you have ever seen happen at a wedding?
Q2 If you could choose any miracle at the start of your new job or ministry, what would it be?
Q3 Why do you think Jesus went to the wedding?
Q4 What do verses 3-5 reveal about Jesus’s relationship with his mother? In what ways is this a turning point in their relationship?
Q5 Why do you think Jesus went about solving the problem in the way he did? How might you have done it differently, assuming you had Jesus’s powers?
Q6 What part does the size and purpose of the jars play in the story?
Q7 What does the quality and quantity of the wine produced say about Jesus? In what sense is his glory revealed?
Q8 How does this sign relate to the “time” or “hour” that Jesus refers to?
Q9 Why do you think Jesus performed his first sign at a wedding feast? Did this have any special significance?
Q10 How is the quality and quantity of wine in your life, or the life of your church or family? What would you like Jesus to transform or renew?
Q1 What is the funniest thing you have ever seen happen at a wedding?
Q2 If you could choose any miracle at the start of your new job or ministry, what would it be?
Q3 Why do you think Jesus went to the wedding?
Q4 What do verses 3-5 reveal about Jesus’s relationship with his mother? In what ways is this a turning point in their relationship?
Q5 Why do you think Jesus went about solving the problem in the way he did? How might you have done it differently, assuming you had Jesus’s powers?
Q6 What part does the size and purpose of the jars play in the story?
Q7 What does the quality and quantity of the wine produced say about Jesus? In what sense is his glory revealed?
Q8 How does this sign relate to the “time” or “hour” that Jesus refers to?
Q9 Why do you think Jesus performed his first sign at a wedding feast? Did this have any special significance?
Q10 How is the quality and quantity of wine in your life, or the life of your church or family? What would you like Jesus to transform or renew?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Bible Study - John 1.29ff
Bible Study 11th January 2012 – John 1.29 - end
Q1 What do you think is most notable about John the Baptist’s character as he prepares the way for Jesus? How well do you think John the Baptist understood who Jesus was and why he had come (see also Matthew 11.2)?
Q2 What did John the Baptist mean when he referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God? (Hint: Here are some significant OT lamb references:- Exodus 12.3-5, Isaiah 53.7, Jeremiah 11.19, Genesis 22.8).
Q3 Responding to John’s signal the first two disciples (Andrew and probably John the gospel writer) follow Jesus. What do you notice about their opening conversation and actions?
Q4 Why do you think Andrew’s first priority is to find Simon and bring him to Jesus? What would the word “Christ” or “Messiah” have meant to them?
Q5 Why does Jesus rename Simon? What other Bible characters can you think of who were given a new name?
Q6 In what ways do the calling of Philip and Nathanael differ from those of Andrew, John and Peter? How about your own journey to faith; were you called by Jesus directly, brought to Jesus by someone else, or did you find him through your own searching? How does your story compare with others?
Q7 Philip appeals to the Jewish tradition, in explaining who Jesus is (verse 45). How can we explain Jesus to people now, when the Jewish/Christian heritage is either forgotten or rejected by so many people? (Is the approach taken by Paul in Acts 17 or Daniel in Daniel chapters 5 and 6, any help?)
Q8 Verses 47 and 51 allude to the OT story of Jacob (Genesis 32.24-29 and 28.12-13). What is a true Israelite? What kind of attributes did Jesus look for in his first disciples? How about today; who is he calling and what qualities is he looking for?
Q9 What do you think are the biggest barriers preventing people coming to faith in Jesus today? What can we do to overcome these barriers?
Q1 What do you think is most notable about John the Baptist’s character as he prepares the way for Jesus? How well do you think John the Baptist understood who Jesus was and why he had come (see also Matthew 11.2)?
Q2 What did John the Baptist mean when he referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God? (Hint: Here are some significant OT lamb references:- Exodus 12.3-5, Isaiah 53.7, Jeremiah 11.19, Genesis 22.8).
Q3 Responding to John’s signal the first two disciples (Andrew and probably John the gospel writer) follow Jesus. What do you notice about their opening conversation and actions?
Q4 Why do you think Andrew’s first priority is to find Simon and bring him to Jesus? What would the word “Christ” or “Messiah” have meant to them?
Q5 Why does Jesus rename Simon? What other Bible characters can you think of who were given a new name?
Q6 In what ways do the calling of Philip and Nathanael differ from those of Andrew, John and Peter? How about your own journey to faith; were you called by Jesus directly, brought to Jesus by someone else, or did you find him through your own searching? How does your story compare with others?
Q7 Philip appeals to the Jewish tradition, in explaining who Jesus is (verse 45). How can we explain Jesus to people now, when the Jewish/Christian heritage is either forgotten or rejected by so many people? (Is the approach taken by Paul in Acts 17 or Daniel in Daniel chapters 5 and 6, any help?)
Q8 Verses 47 and 51 allude to the OT story of Jacob (Genesis 32.24-29 and 28.12-13). What is a true Israelite? What kind of attributes did Jesus look for in his first disciples? How about today; who is he calling and what qualities is he looking for?
Q9 What do you think are the biggest barriers preventing people coming to faith in Jesus today? What can we do to overcome these barriers?
All Age Sermon - Baptism of Jesus
All Age Service – 8th January 2012
Mark 1.4-11 (and Acts 19.1-7) Baptism.
Intro
Today’s subject is baptism and first of all I’d like you to turn to the person next to you and compare your own baptism stories. When, How and Why were you baptized?
(+ offer my story, Billie’s, Martin and Rachel’s as examples…)
… Lots of variety in those stories! Most Christians are agreed that baptism is very important, perhaps the most important ceremony to go through, so why is there such variety in our answers to When, How and Where it should be done?
Because although Jesus and the apostles commanded their followers to do it, they didn’t leave very clear instructions. So churches have discussed it and fought and fallen out about it ever since – which is a real shame!
Perhaps the story of Jesus’s own baptism can help us out, give us some guidelines we can agree on.
Baptism of Jesus
I’m reminded of the story of a little boy who was 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. The Bible also teaches that nobody is too dirty for God to make clean, which has to be Good News!
BUT if baptism is about sins being washed away, why did Jesus insist on being baptized by John? In Matthew’s version, even John 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, and that there was no badness or sin in him at all.
You could say 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?
(elicit reasons for Jesus being baptized and jot them down…)
(say something about each suggestion, then go on to give my suggestions and explain them as below)
SO baptism is not only about sins being washed away, it is also about (your suggestions and…)
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 J 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 B 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 confirmation 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’s 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’s baptism is that it was carried out in a public place, for everyone to see, including the eyewitnesses whose evidence is included in our Bible. God could have baptized J in his own little private ceremony, with nobody watching, but he must have thought it was important to do it in public. We do the same because we think it is important that we make our promises and receive our adoption as God’s children in front of our friends and family and the other members of our church; the people who love us and can help us keep our promises.
Doing this makes a public statement about who we are, who we belong to, and how we intend to live our lives from now on – or how we intend to bring up our children. This might not make things easier for us, but the baptism of J in front of all the crowds at the river Jordan, sets the example for us and he also promises his protection and his blessing to all who stand up in his name.
Conclusions
I 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 of their beliefs, or 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
• Being equipped by the Holy Spirit to serve God
• Making a public statement about who we are and how we intend to live, with God’s help.
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. Its all about responding to God’s incredibly wide, deep and generous love for us and agreeing to live God’s way.
If you want to know more about being baptized or confirmed, do see me for a chat.
And for all of us my prayer is that the baptism of Jesus will help us understand our own baptism and confirmation in a deeper way, so we can be faithful and fruitful followers of Jesus and so our Father can be well pleased with us too.
Mark 1.4-11 (and Acts 19.1-7) Baptism.
Intro
Today’s subject is baptism and first of all I’d like you to turn to the person next to you and compare your own baptism stories. When, How and Why were you baptized?
(+ offer my story, Billie’s, Martin and Rachel’s as examples…)
… Lots of variety in those stories! Most Christians are agreed that baptism is very important, perhaps the most important ceremony to go through, so why is there such variety in our answers to When, How and Where it should be done?
Because although Jesus and the apostles commanded their followers to do it, they didn’t leave very clear instructions. So churches have discussed it and fought and fallen out about it ever since – which is a real shame!
Perhaps the story of Jesus’s own baptism can help us out, give us some guidelines we can agree on.
Baptism of Jesus
I’m reminded of the story of a little boy who was 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. The Bible also teaches that nobody is too dirty for God to make clean, which has to be Good News!
BUT if baptism is about sins being washed away, why did Jesus insist on being baptized by John? In Matthew’s version, even John 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, and that there was no badness or sin in him at all.
You could say 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?
(elicit reasons for Jesus being baptized and jot them down…)
(say something about each suggestion, then go on to give my suggestions and explain them as below)
SO baptism is not only about sins being washed away, it is also about (your suggestions and…)
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 J 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 B 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 confirmation 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’s 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’s baptism is that it was carried out in a public place, for everyone to see, including the eyewitnesses whose evidence is included in our Bible. God could have baptized J in his own little private ceremony, with nobody watching, but he must have thought it was important to do it in public. We do the same because we think it is important that we make our promises and receive our adoption as God’s children in front of our friends and family and the other members of our church; the people who love us and can help us keep our promises.
Doing this makes a public statement about who we are, who we belong to, and how we intend to live our lives from now on – or how we intend to bring up our children. This might not make things easier for us, but the baptism of J in front of all the crowds at the river Jordan, sets the example for us and he also promises his protection and his blessing to all who stand up in his name.
Conclusions
I 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 of their beliefs, or 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
• Being equipped by the Holy Spirit to serve God
• Making a public statement about who we are and how we intend to live, with God’s help.
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. Its all about responding to God’s incredibly wide, deep and generous love for us and agreeing to live God’s way.
If you want to know more about being baptized or confirmed, do see me for a chat.
And for all of us my prayer is that the baptism of Jesus will help us understand our own baptism and confirmation in a deeper way, so we can be faithful and fruitful followers of Jesus and so our Father can be well pleased with us too.
New Year Sermon - Secret Millionnaires?
New Year’s Day 1.1.2012 Sermon Galatians 4.4-7
I don’t know if any of you have seen any of the “Secret Millionaire” TV programmes on the British Channel 4. I saw one of them “by accident” as I usually hate reality television. I actually found it surprisingly moving, and could see connections and contrasts with the Christmas story…
Here’s how “Secret Millionaire” works:-
• Multi-millionaire goes undercover in deprived community
• Lives on breadline for 2 weeks, gets to know locals
• Identifies a few “worthy” groups or individuals whose lives could be transformed by a cash gift
• Reveals true identity & gives gifts £10K, £15K, £25K !!
• Returns to see how it worked out
Comments
• A bit of a gimmick – publicity seeking TV producers & rich folk “playing at” having a social conscience
• Giving cash to a few who have impressed the Secret Millionnaire in 2 weeks, may cause more harm than good
But
• Some of the millionaires have clearly been deeply moved and changed by the experience, like the time a poor man used his last £3 to buy the millionaire a kebab!
• Some found their prejudices exposed and were forced to radically change their views on “spongers” etc.
• Some like Charan Gill, Curry and property tycoon from Glasgow who featured in the programme I saw – have gone back and continued to mentor and support their beneficiaries.
On the whole I think this is a worthwhile series of programmes which has made real improvements to a few lives and informed and pricked the consciences of many more.
In Galatians Ch4 we learn how, at exactly the right moment in human history, God sent his own Son into the world to bring healing, forgiveness and reconciliation. God humbled himself to come and live amongst ordinary people, bringing gifts which could transform lives. There are obvious comparisons between the story of Jesus and that of the secret millionaire, but also contrasts.
1. (a) The secret millionaire is somebody very rich who believes they have a duty to use some of their wealth to help others
(b) Jesus was present with and equal to God from the beginning, infinitely rich and powerful, the Word through whom all things came into being, including life itself.
2. (a) The secret millionaire came down from Glasgow to Thetford, giving up his luxury for 2 weeks to live in temporary poverty.
(b) Jesus came down from Heaven to Earth, leaving his glory and power to live as a human being in a poor and ordinary family. He gave himself completely and eventually gave his life on the cross.
3. (a) The secret millionaire took an interest in the struggles of poor and disadvantaged people, choosing a few who were “worthy” to receive his gifts. He finally revealed himself and gave gifts which gave the recipients a chance of a better life.
(b) Jesus also took a special interest in the poor and disadvantaged, but considers everybody a worthy cause and makes his gifts freely available to all. The way he lived and died revealed him to be the very Son of God and Saviour of humanity. He is the source of life, light and love and he freely gives the gift of ADOPTION into God’s family.
4. (a) The secret millionaire returns to see how his cash gifts have helped and he may offer additional support and advice of his own freewill, but this goes beyond the requirements of the programme.
(b) Jesus will return, but in another sense he never leaves those who have received his gift. He stays with them and lives inside them, by his Spirit, as the guiding light and power of their lives.
5. (a) The secret millionaire could be accused of having mixed motives, of being a lover of publicity, as much as a lover of people.
(b) Jesus consistently showed his love to be pure and true and unconditional, without any false motives. In the end, the “Secret Millionaire” is a piece of entertainment. Entertainment with a conscience, but still entertainment. The coming into the world of Jesus brings REAL hope, REAL life, REAL love and REAL commitment from God to you and to me. At the beginning of a New Year, the world needs more than ever to receive him and listen to him.
I don’t know if any of you have seen any of the “Secret Millionaire” TV programmes on the British Channel 4. I saw one of them “by accident” as I usually hate reality television. I actually found it surprisingly moving, and could see connections and contrasts with the Christmas story…
Here’s how “Secret Millionaire” works:-
• Multi-millionaire goes undercover in deprived community
• Lives on breadline for 2 weeks, gets to know locals
• Identifies a few “worthy” groups or individuals whose lives could be transformed by a cash gift
• Reveals true identity & gives gifts £10K, £15K, £25K !!
• Returns to see how it worked out
Comments
• A bit of a gimmick – publicity seeking TV producers & rich folk “playing at” having a social conscience
• Giving cash to a few who have impressed the Secret Millionnaire in 2 weeks, may cause more harm than good
But
• Some of the millionaires have clearly been deeply moved and changed by the experience, like the time a poor man used his last £3 to buy the millionaire a kebab!
• Some found their prejudices exposed and were forced to radically change their views on “spongers” etc.
• Some like Charan Gill, Curry and property tycoon from Glasgow who featured in the programme I saw – have gone back and continued to mentor and support their beneficiaries.
On the whole I think this is a worthwhile series of programmes which has made real improvements to a few lives and informed and pricked the consciences of many more.
In Galatians Ch4 we learn how, at exactly the right moment in human history, God sent his own Son into the world to bring healing, forgiveness and reconciliation. God humbled himself to come and live amongst ordinary people, bringing gifts which could transform lives. There are obvious comparisons between the story of Jesus and that of the secret millionaire, but also contrasts.
1. (a) The secret millionaire is somebody very rich who believes they have a duty to use some of their wealth to help others
(b) Jesus was present with and equal to God from the beginning, infinitely rich and powerful, the Word through whom all things came into being, including life itself.
2. (a) The secret millionaire came down from Glasgow to Thetford, giving up his luxury for 2 weeks to live in temporary poverty.
(b) Jesus came down from Heaven to Earth, leaving his glory and power to live as a human being in a poor and ordinary family. He gave himself completely and eventually gave his life on the cross.
3. (a) The secret millionaire took an interest in the struggles of poor and disadvantaged people, choosing a few who were “worthy” to receive his gifts. He finally revealed himself and gave gifts which gave the recipients a chance of a better life.
(b) Jesus also took a special interest in the poor and disadvantaged, but considers everybody a worthy cause and makes his gifts freely available to all. The way he lived and died revealed him to be the very Son of God and Saviour of humanity. He is the source of life, light and love and he freely gives the gift of ADOPTION into God’s family.
4. (a) The secret millionaire returns to see how his cash gifts have helped and he may offer additional support and advice of his own freewill, but this goes beyond the requirements of the programme.
(b) Jesus will return, but in another sense he never leaves those who have received his gift. He stays with them and lives inside them, by his Spirit, as the guiding light and power of their lives.
5. (a) The secret millionaire could be accused of having mixed motives, of being a lover of publicity, as much as a lover of people.
(b) Jesus consistently showed his love to be pure and true and unconditional, without any false motives. In the end, the “Secret Millionaire” is a piece of entertainment. Entertainment with a conscience, but still entertainment. The coming into the world of Jesus brings REAL hope, REAL life, REAL love and REAL commitment from God to you and to me. At the beginning of a New Year, the world needs more than ever to receive him and listen to him.
Friday, January 6, 2012
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