What to do? 27 April 14
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- Written by: Administrator
- Category: Weekly Reflections
What to do?
Easter is over. The great story of death and resurrection has reached its climax. Seems a long time ago now. But it would be a mistake to think this was the end of the story. In fact it is only the middle of the story.
And the story gets even more interesting. Because it involves us. This may sound like bad news. Not all of us want to get too involved. Salvation and forgiveness are good. Heaven after death and answers to prayer are also good. But joining in Jesus' big kingdom plan might be a bit much.
“As the Father sent me, so I'm sending you.” He meant the twelve (or eleven), didn't he? Yes obviously. But later disciples like us too? Debatable. Not!
One of the most serious deficiencies (ie failures) in the modern church is not its confused views on morality and sexuality, as bad as that is. It is the lack of making disciples. The lack of telling people about repentance and forgiveness of sins.
Why is this?
Wise Fools 1 Corinthians 1.10-25
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Christmas and Epiphany
Wise Fools 1 Corinthians 1.10-25
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 26 January 2014
How the cross is an answer to the problem of "preference groups" in the church; and how the cross is the best response to human demands to accommodate the message to their beliefs
Fishers? 26 Jan 14
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Fishers?
Fishing for people. It's an idea that fishers could understand. No longer looking for fish. Now looking for people. But for what purpose? Presumably not to kill and eat.
Fishing as part of Jesus' consortium. Looking for people to join him. Fish that would turn into fishers. Or farmers. Or lamps. Or salt – but not pillars of salt.
So many ways to picture what it means to follow Jesus. What would he say to the writer (the scribe)? To the teacher? To the engineer? To the nurse?
Of course fishing for people was not the only thing these fishers did. Some of them became famous writers. One in fact wrote some of the most profound books written in any language - ever.
All of them became speakers. Sometimes quietly in ones or twos and others to large crowds and powerful rulers.
But becoming fishers of people involved a few steps.
Encouraging those in trouble 19 Jan 14
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Encouraging those in trouble
This week the Monday Bible Study group had a look at the first chapter of Revelation. They are a keen group, champing at the bit to get their teeth into this apparently complex book. Maybe later in the year we will do some studies in it.
The book certainly starts in a dramatic way. A very loud voice, sounding like a trumpet, tells John to write down what he sees and to send it to seven churches nearby. The voice is behind John, and he turns to see it. What he sees makes him fall down and pass out. At first he sees seven golden lamp holders. Probably tall ones. But in the middle of them he sees a human-like figure who is brilliantly and splendidly glorious. Frighteningly so. Dressed like some of the important people in the Old Testament and resembling some of the descriptions of God himself.
It turns out it is Jesus. Jesus unlike anyone had ever seen him. Maybe they got a hint of it on the mountain when he was transfigured and became blindingly white. But that was only a hint of this. This was truly splendid and scary. One of the things John saw was Jesus holding seven stars in his right hand.
We are told what the stars and the lamp-stands mean.
The Four Baptisms of Jesus Matthew 3.13-17
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Christmas and Epiphany
The Four Baptisms of Jesus Matthew 3.13-17
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 12 January 2014
Why Jesus was baptised by John and what happened next, and next, and next, and now.
Is Baptism any use? 12Jan14
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Is Baptism any use?
If you can only do it once, can you be sure it worked? And how would you know if it worked? What are the signs that it worked?
It depends on what we think we are doing in baptism. Is the church doing something? Is the minister doing something? Is the person being baptised doing something? Is God doing something? Yes to all the above. But what?
The person being baptised is asking God for something. They are asking for what the baptism represents: cleansing from sin, and new life after burial. The washing with water represents clearly enough the request that God will wash away our sin. If we did the baptism properly we would put the person under the water - representing the death and burial of the old life- and raise them out of it representing new life with God. In this way they are asking God for a spiritual rebirth.
The minister is asking the person whether they really want to live for Christ: do they turn away from their sin, turn to Christ to serve him as his disciple, reject their old way of life. The person being baptised publicly declares their faith and intention to follow Christ.
The minister also prays on behalf of the church that God will answer the person’s requests.
The church welcomes the baptised person as a fellow member of the body of Christ.
And God?
Notes on Matthew 3.13-17 The Baptism of Jesus 12 January 2014
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Notes on the Gospel readings from Matthew
Notes on Matthew 3.13-17 The Baptism of Jesus 12 January 2014
Jesus and his family returned from Egypt and settled in Nazareth, in Galilee (2.23). John the Baptist ministered in the wilderness of Judea and baptised people in the Jordan river (3.1,6). Jesus then came from Galilee to the Jordan (about 120 km) to be baptised by John (3.13). After the baptism Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tested (4.1). After the testing in the wilderness, when he heard that John had been arrested, he returned to Galilee (4.12). This seems to be a special trip south and focusses our attention on the two big events that happened there.
The baptism and testing of Jesus come at the beginning of Jesus ministry. This helps us understand what happened at his baptism. We have been told already that John was calling on people to repent, to confess their sins and to be baptised (3.2,5). Jesus wants to be baptised as well. But John has told the crowds that Jesus will baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire (3.11). John doesn’t think Jesus should be baptised in water by John. Especially since John’s baptism is about repentance.
This is one of our problems with it too. Why would Jesus, who did not sin, want to be baptised? What sins would he have to repent of?
There are two important things in this passage.
First, Jesus says his baptism is to “fulfill all righteousness” (3.15). John has already begun the task of bring the people back into the righteous ways of the kingdom (3.2-3). But true righteousness will need more than repentance and baptism. It will need what baptism points to: a death to the sinful life and a resurrection to a new life. And it will need a sinless person to take the whole race to that death and resurrection. Jesus is showing, in advance, by way of an acted picture, what he will do to fully bring God’s people to the righteousness of the kingdom of God.
Second, the baptism is the occasion when the Holy Spirit comes on Jesus. This is also a puzzle. The voice from heaven says, “This is my Son…” But if he is the Son of God, why does he need the Holy Spirit to come on him? From one point of view he doesn’t. However from the point of view of being the Messiah, he does. This could be understood as the anointing of the Messiah (Messiah, and Christ mean “anointed”). The Spirit will be the one who leads and gives power to his ministry. Straight after this we are told that the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tested (4.1). In this case Father Son and Holy Spirit are all involved at the start of Jesus’ ministry. What he will do is being done together with Father and Holy Spirit.
Dale
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