2. Two Emperors Luke 2.1-7
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Luke
{podcast id=201}
The Two Emperors Luke 2.1-7
Sermon preached on Christmas Eve, 24 December 2011 at Christ the King Willetton
Bible Readings: Isaiah 9.2-7; Psalm 98; Titus 2.11-14; Luke 2.1-7
Why Luke gives so many details about the birth of Jesus - so we can be certain about what we have been taught concerning who Jesus is.
Our Saviour is the Lord
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Our Saviour is the Lord
Did you listen to the Queen’s Christmas Message? For some people this is a must. For others, “What message?” This year the Queen seemed to strengthen the way she expresses her Christian faith. It is a wonderful example of plain English conveying profound truths for ordinary minds.
How about this from the end of the speech?
“Finding hope in adversity is one of the themes of Christmas. Jesus was born into a world full of fear. The angels came to frightened shepherds with hope in their voices: 'Fear not', they urged, 'we bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
'For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.'
Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves - from our recklessness or our greed.
Back with God? 25 Dec 11
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Back with God?
Jesus was born during the reign of Caesar Augustus, the greatest ruler Rome had seen up to that time, and maybe the greatest until Constantine in the 4th century. He was so respected for unifying and prospering the Republic that in 27 BC he was given the title Augustus by the Senate. “Augustus” meant he was revered as “something more than human”. Revered and worshipped.
The Romans were happy to declare that some of their Emperors were divine (usually they acknowledged the divinity after his death). The idea of a human who had gained some kind of divine power or status was quite acceptable and helped focus their devotion to the state as well as to the person concerned.
Some people are happy to think of Jesus in that way.
1. The pregnant cousins who sang Luke 1.26-55
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Luke
{podcast id=202}
The pregnant cousins who sang Luke 1.26-55
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on Sunday 18 December 2011
Bible Readings: 2 Samuel 7.1-17; Psalm 89.1-8; Luke 1.26-56
Mary and Elizabeth's response to what they heard about Jesus - and our response
Christmas in the Shopping Centre? 18 Dec 11
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Christmas in the Shopping Centre?
All Saints Anglican Church in Jakarta is running a Christmas Scavenger hunt, under the auspices of one of the local glossy magazines. The objective of the scavenger hunt is to find the shopping mall in Jakarta with the most images and displays of the story of the birth of Christ. The winning entry will get a prize and the mall itself will get the All Saints Christmas Star award 2011. There will also be a prize for the entry showing the shopping mall with the least number of images of a Christian Christmas in their public spaces and the most outrageous images of the modern secular Christmas. The winning mall in this category will get the All Saints Christmas Razza Award. So church members are out with their cameras to submit their entries. You can even follow it on Facebook (search for "All Saints Christmas Scavenger Hunt 2011").
7. The Woman who didn't do housework Luke 10.38-42
- Details
- Written by: Dale
- Category: Luke
{podcast id=203}
The Woman who didn't do housework Luke 10.38-42
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 11 December 2011.
Bible Readings: Luke 10.38-42
Martha and Mary, listening to Jesus and what was good about what Mary did?
Do we need clergy? 11 Dec 11
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Do we need clergy?
So what is the use of another member of the clergy? The pomp and spectacle of an ordination service may lead us to think it is a splendid thing. As long as the priests can do something like it out in the parishes, of course.
But only if you are distracted by the spectacle. The ordination service contains weighty charges and promises. It sets some of the people apart for a particular role. While at one level their job appears to be focussed on church services, they are actually commissioned to the ministry of word and sacraments. They are set aside to be able to lead, teach, train, equip all the believers for the work of ministry. Their work is directed to what was once called the “invisible church” as well as to the visible church. Article 19 defines the visible church – the one anyone can turn up to. The invisible church is the one known only to God. It is made up of those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
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