As we start a new year and all that it may hold, and all we may be looking forward to or be concerned about, remember that the blessing was spoken before the Israelites set off to the desert. Blessing belongs to the moment of departure, not the moment of completion; it cannot be earned and is not dependent on outcomes. God's favour is not a reward for getting it right; it is the ground on which we stand and the place we move out from.
Following the reading Luke 9:57-62, where there are three responses to Jesus' invitation to follow him.
The first man may not even have been asked directly, but seems gung-ho to get involved.
The second seems to be bound by duty and "doing the right thing" in wanting to bury his father first.
The third wants to go back to sort out things with his family first.
Jesus appears to be harsh in his responses, but is emphasising that there is a cost to following him. What is it in our lives that is holding us back?
Because Jesus is our Great High Priest and has opened the way to God through his sacrificial death on the cross we must:
Draw near to God
Hold fast to the faith.
Support each other
The examples of the Heroes of the Faith should provide encouragement.
Some people will fall away because they haven't really understood/committed to Jesus.
Other of us will not, because we trust in Jesus alone for salvation.
Epiphany readings shed light on the purpose of Jesus's coning. Piecing together the picture is like doing a jigsaw puzzle. But as we add more pieces (throughout our lives), we come to see that the picture is bigger and more wonderful than we thought...
The third in a series of miracles where Jesus heals someone from a minority or disadvantaged group - a leper, a Roman servant, a woman. Matthew tells us that the Servant that Isaiah speaks of is here - there is a God of compassion and power at work in the world and Jesus shows us what this looks like.
Andrew taking his brother to meet Jesus. Epiphany is not only about the big revelation that the good news is for all, but helping those around us towards their own epiphany.
Do we believe our storms are too big for God to handle or that God is asleep and can't see them? Jesus is there in the storm and we are never alone in it.
“Where are you staying?” -“ Come and see.”
More people are brought to Christ thorough friendship than words.
The priest was the incumbent about 30 years ago. He told a true story of a group of young people who loitered in the churchyard. A PCC member tried to chat with them, a one-sided conversation, and offered the use of the building after school once a week, with tea and sandwiches provided, no strings attached.
Nobody came.
I’m not quite sure how this illustrated his point.
“Where are you staying?” -“ Come and see.”
More people are brought to Christ thorough friendship than words.
The priest was the incumbent about 30 years ago. He told a true story of a group of young people who loitered in the churchyard. A PCC member tried to chat with them, a one-sided conversation, and offered the use of the building after school once a week, with tea and sandwiches provided, no strings attached.
Nobody came.
I’m not quite sure how this illustrated his point.
My sermon was on how simple but effective the invitation "Come and See" really is. Last night, I went through the sermon with my wife. She reminded me how she started going to the Lutheran Church. She had a friend who invited her to come and see. I had to use her story as part of my sermon.
We had a retelling of the Passover story from Exodus in the context of explaining what John meant by "Lamb of God"--that Jesus is God's own supplied lamb that saves us from death and evil.
Jesus meets two broken men among the tombs and in one word, "Go", he calms another storm. Setting people free from the captivity of Satan was central to Jesus' ministry; he sought out and saved those who were lost, broken, oppressed and in need.
Lack of forgiveness prevents the Church being a signpost to the New Creation which Jesus has inaugurated.
We should forgive - because if we don't, we aren't forgiven.
We should forgive - to show people a hint of the New Creation and the Way of Salvation
We can forgive - because of the love the Jesus has shown to us in his atoning sacrifice
Presentation in the temple. It must have happened thousands of times in the temple but this one is overtaken by cosmic significance. In the temple that day are brought together the oldest and the youngest in the Christmas story. Two faithful and devout believers, Simeon and Anna, and two young parents with the little child. It might almost have been designed as a paradigm of the church.
Anna's time in the temple was revealed as what it truly was: not the religious habit of an old woman with nothing better to do, but a real service of prayer and worship, precious to God. Simeon's life too was drawing to a close, yet it was through these two aged people that God chose to speak and we know their names to this day.
Jesus goes back to his home town, having been in pagan/gentile land. He did the same things in both places; he is for everyone, with no boundaries. A man's friends do the work of bringing him to Jesus, as we can do in intercessory prayer for those we know. Jesus never drew a straight line between sickness and sin, but for this man something other than his physical illness had to be addressed. Jesus, the Son of Man, the one Daniel saw in Daniel 7:13, is the one with authority over sickness, darkness, storms and spiritus of death: these never have the last word.
The sermon included showing a video of Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speech, acknowledging Black History Month. It was powerful, and of course, the timing is good, as we see progress rolling backwards in some places. Now we need to hear how the church can help us get back on track.
Martin Lloyd-Jones preached on the book of Romans for 15 years so we make no apology for the grindingly slow pace at which we are progressing through Matthew's gospel.
God comes amongst us in compassion and love, so it is not appropriate for the disciples to fast. The spiritual life begins with presence, not practice. We are welcome before we try to prove anything; thus, prayer becomes a conversation and Bible reading becomes a listening and engagement with God.
Jesus reveals himself as the Messiah and one who cares about our physical and social needs
The people of Nazareth reject him because
they can't accept the Incarnation
they take an exclusive view of God's grace
The widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian knew their need and recognised the only one who could help.
Do we know our need for salvation from sin and recognise that Jesus is our only source of help?
We had a sermon on the raising of Lazarus. To my joy this was preceded by a discussion about death as taboo and the need for more openness on the subject. I am hoping this will lead to more discussion on this within the church as I think we need to do more to prepare our membership in this area.
(Disclosure: I lecture in death, dying and bereavement)
Search me. Today was one of our Sundays for a visit from the AD's spy approved locum and this one excelled himself by reading in a dull monotone for 14 minutes on ?? I didn't bother to listen but those of the choir who are normally attentive were also baffled.
Matthew 5:17-37
The homily was in two parts.
Firstly the Law isn't abolished but we should try to move from keeping rules to forming a relationship with God.
The second part was an appeal for funds to train priests. The preacher was an Indian missionary, a member of a religious order that supplies a number of clergy for UK parishes. They are much loved in the next door parish where there are two.
I related the power of the transfiguration in Peter's voice, as his character. Got the idea of doing it that way since the second lesson was from the 2nd Letter of Peter. People seemed to like it.
Our rector admitted that this was the first time he had preached from Song of Songs (3: 8-17), despite several years in ministry.
We had the usual two ways of reading this book:
(1) A sensuous love poem extolling the virtue of intimate love between "a married man and woman" (I don't think his theology would see virtue in any other sort of intimate sexual relationship)
(2) An allegory of the intimate love between God and God's people.
We have a healing God but what do we do when people we pray for are not healed? It is a journey - sometimes we are plucked out of the muddy pit, sometimes God walks through the waters with us. Jesus was interrupted on his way to do something: can we be sensitive to what may be divine interruptions in our lives?
I think I was so astonished at hearing a sermon which not only linked the two readings with each other as well as a broader Biblical context and a present-day take
( which I haven’t heard since I last heard my late husband preach) that I failed to digest it fully.
Comments
As we start a new year and all that it may hold, and all we may be looking forward to or be concerned about, remember that the blessing was spoken before the Israelites set off to the desert. Blessing belongs to the moment of departure, not the moment of completion; it cannot be earned and is not dependent on outcomes. God's favour is not a reward for getting it right; it is the ground on which we stand and the place we move out from.
The first man may not even have been asked directly, but seems gung-ho to get involved.
The second seems to be bound by duty and "doing the right thing" in wanting to bury his father first.
The third wants to go back to sort out things with his family first.
Jesus appears to be harsh in his responses, but is emphasising that there is a cost to following him. What is it in our lives that is holding us back?
Because Jesus is our Great High Priest and has opened the way to God through his sacrificial death on the cross we must:
- Draw near to God
- Hold fast to the faith.
- Support each other
The examples of the Heroes of the Faith should provide encouragement.Some people will fall away because they haven't really understood/committed to Jesus.
Other of us will not, because we trust in Jesus alone for salvation.
The third in a series of miracles where Jesus heals someone from a minority or disadvantaged group - a leper, a Roman servant, a woman. Matthew tells us that the Servant that Isaiah speaks of is here - there is a God of compassion and power at work in the world and Jesus shows us what this looks like.
Jesus Christ: a better hope - Going the Distance
We can find encouragement to continue our Christian life in looking towards
Do we believe our storms are too big for God to handle or that God is asleep and can't see them? Jesus is there in the storm and we are never alone in it.
More people are brought to Christ thorough friendship than words.
The priest was the incumbent about 30 years ago. He told a true story of a group of young people who loitered in the churchyard. A PCC member tried to chat with them, a one-sided conversation, and offered the use of the building after school once a week, with tea and sandwiches provided, no strings attached.
Nobody came.
I’m not quite sure how this illustrated his point.
My sermon was on how simple but effective the invitation "Come and See" really is. Last night, I went through the sermon with my wife. She reminded me how she started going to the Lutheran Church. She had a friend who invited her to come and see. I had to use her story as part of my sermon.
Jesus meets two broken men among the tombs and in one word, "Go", he calms another storm. Setting people free from the captivity of Satan was central to Jesus' ministry; he sought out and saved those who were lost, broken, oppressed and in need.
Forgive one another.
Lack of forgiveness prevents the Church being a signpost to the New Creation which Jesus has inaugurated.
We should forgive - because if we don't, we aren't forgiven.
We should forgive - to show people a hint of the New Creation and the Way of Salvation
We can forgive - because of the love the Jesus has shown to us in his atoning sacrifice
Anna's time in the temple was revealed as what it truly was: not the religious habit of an old woman with nothing better to do, but a real service of prayer and worship, precious to God. Simeon's life too was drawing to a close, yet it was through these two aged people that God chose to speak and we know their names to this day.
Jesus goes back to his home town, having been in pagan/gentile land. He did the same things in both places; he is for everyone, with no boundaries. A man's friends do the work of bringing him to Jesus, as we can do in intercessory prayer for those we know. Jesus never drew a straight line between sickness and sin, but for this man something other than his physical illness had to be addressed. Jesus, the Son of Man, the one Daniel saw in Daniel 7:13, is the one with authority over sickness, darkness, storms and spiritus of death: these never have the last word.
Jesus is the only person qualified and able to free us from the guilt and shame of sin, therefore:
By calling Matthew to follow him Jesus broke down a social barrier. What kind of church does Jesus have in mind?
Martin Lloyd-Jones preached on the book of Romans for 15 years so we make no apology for the grindingly slow pace at which we are progressing through Matthew's gospel.
God comes amongst us in compassion and love, so it is not appropriate for the disciples to fast. The spiritual life begins with presence, not practice. We are welcome before we try to prove anything; thus, prayer becomes a conversation and Bible reading becomes a listening and engagement with God.
A Great Revelation and a Tragic Rejection
Jesus reveals himself as the Messiah and one who cares about our physical and social needs
The people of Nazareth reject him because
- they can't accept the Incarnation
- they take an exclusive view of God's grace
The widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian knew their need and recognised the only one who could help.Do we know our need for salvation from sin and recognise that Jesus is our only source of help?
(Disclosure: I lecture in death, dying and bereavement)
The homily was in two parts.
Firstly the Law isn't abolished but we should try to move from keeping rules to forming a relationship with God.
The second part was an appeal for funds to train priests. The preacher was an Indian missionary, a member of a religious order that supplies a number of clergy for UK parishes. They are much loved in the next door parish where there are two.
? Archdeacon.
The call to follow is rooted in the authority of Jesus and
Sometimes known as Archdemon 😈
We had the usual two ways of reading this book:
(1) A sensuous love poem extolling the virtue of intimate love between "a married man and woman" (I don't think his theology would see virtue in any other sort of intimate sexual relationship)
(2) An allegory of the intimate love between God and God's people.
We have a healing God but what do we do when people we pray for are not healed? It is a journey - sometimes we are plucked out of the muddy pit, sometimes God walks through the waters with us. Jesus was interrupted on his way to do something: can we be sensitive to what may be divine interruptions in our lives?
( which I haven’t heard since I last heard my late husband preach) that I failed to digest it fully.