Sermon 3rd October 2021 – 19th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Mark 10:2-16 – Childlike faith

 Sermon 3^rd October 2021 – 19^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Mark 10:2-16 – Childlike faith

 

Why is it that life gets more complicated as you get older? As a child you really don’t have a lot of things to worry about. Your parents look after you – provide your food – clothe you – give you free accommodation – educate you – protect you – and a whole range more. In fact, according to Luther’s explanation of the Apostle’s Creed, our parents are God’s gift to us to do his work for us as his children: He explains the first article in this way:

I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them. He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife/husband and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, even though I do not deserve. For all this I will thank and praise, serve and obey Him.

 

All the things God promises to do for us, parents do for their children. But as we get older life becomes complicated. And I wonder if that is because the older we get the more responsibility we take for our life and preservation and less reliant on others including God. And that’s understandable. We can’t take out a mortgage and tell the bank – God’s going to pay for it. No, part of our free will is that we take responsibility for our life and we see that in our Old Testament reading. A man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. Now we don’t want to get caught up in the patriarchal wording of this – but we understand what Genesis is saying: That eventually we leave the family nest and take responsibility for ourselves. That’s part of God’s plan for us and the purpose of creating us in his own image.

 

Notice in our Old Testament reading the rite of passage of God handing over responsibility to his children:

Out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them; and whatever Adam called every living creature, that was its name. Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; Not God – Adam.

 

The problem for human beings will come in the following chapter of Genesis when Satan will turn things around that the responsibility that God gives is no longer a blessing but becomes the curse as Adam and Eve’s eyes are opened to know not just the good of creation but good and evil. Responsibility is a blessing that God gives to us but because of our fallen creation and the influence of evil now in the world, that responsibility now sees us replacing God as the giver and preserver of all things to us now taking control. That was Satan’s plan – disobey God and you will be like God. So now, instead of responsibility being a blessing of our free will and image of God – we now take the place of God and we worry about everything.

 

Unlike children who receive from their parents without a care in the world, we now worry about tomorrow and always wonder if we have enough. And this is what God works very hard to reassure us to not worry about. Jesus says: do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life. “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

It’s really hard to let go of concern. It’s inbred into us at an early age. But God is wanting to assure us that even though we chose to disobey him Even though we chose to know good and evil that he has not abandoned us. This is where God wants us to return to our childlike faith and trust him just as we trusted our parents when we were children. Jesus says: Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.

 

In our 2nd reading and in our Psalm the writers could not understand why God would continue to care for us even though we rejected him – but he does: What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them? You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honour, subjecting all things under their feet. God could have abandoned us and focused on the rest of what he created, as our Psalm said: When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you have set in their courses, what is man that you should be mindful of him? And that’s what God wants us to understand so that we trust him particularly in these difficult times.

 

In difficult times the temptation is to take control of our own lives. That’s not what God intended when he gave us a free will. Through Jesus Christ God has shown just how intimate our relationship with him is. We might not have that “one on one” relationship that people like Adam and Eve or Moses had. But we have a closeness that the people of the Old Testament did not have as Hebrews says: Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.

In the old days the people of God were not permitted to look at God and live. They could not enter into his presence unless they were the designated priests and high priests.

 

I’m often reminded of the story in 2 Samuel chapter 6 of a well-meaning and God devoted man called Uzzah:

Uzzah was guiding the cart with the ark of God on it. Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act of touching God’s Holy Ark of the covenant; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.

That’s the relationship the people of God had with God in the Old Testament. But we, because of Jesus reach out our hands and receive God’s body and blood into our hands. We reach out our hands and take God’s Holy Word in our hands. We come into God’s presence and hear his word and assurance of our forgiveness. This is what it means to have a child-like faith. Faith as a child of God. A child who trusts in their Heavenly Father even when the world around them is in turmoil. And we can do that because we know that even though God has given us the responsibility for the world, he is still the creator. And we are God’s glory and honour and he does care for us in all our needs.

 

So let us come to Jesus just as the children came to Jesus in our Gospel where he reached out and blessed them and so too now reaches out and blesses us and assures us that we are God’s joy joined to him through Jesus Christ our lord and what God has joined together, no one can separate.

 

Sermon 26th September 2021 – 18th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Mark 9:38-50 – Moving forward

 Sermon 26^th September 2021 – 18^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Mark 9:38-50 – Moving forward

 

Someone once commented to me that they were surprised that we don’t see more one eyed, one armed Christians hobbling along on peg legs. I looked at them puzzingly to which they then quoted today’s instruction by Jesus: If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell.

 

Fortunately this is one of those texts that we do not take literally but look at what teaching lies behind Jesus’ metaphor. What Jesus is wanting us to discover in our lives is what it is that affects our faith in God and to remove it. So it’s not about plucking out our eyes so we don’t watch or read inappropriate things. Or cutting of our hands to stop us from stealing. Or cutting off our foot so we don’t attend places that we shouldn’t. Because this won’t change our heart. They just change our ability to do the things our heart wants us to do. But it does recognise that sometimes in our lives that the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak and it’s about removing the things in our lives that lead us into sin – those places where the flesh is weak.

It’s simply applying the same principles that parents often apply to their children. If they believe a certain friend is a bad influence on their child they will say that you’re not allowed to play with them. If they’re spending too much time on their computer playing games or watching TV instead of studying for a test they might limit their screen times. But the parent won’t stop there – they will teach their child why they are doing these things – otherwise the child will just sneak behind their back and keep doing it in secret.

 

So what we need to do is identify those things in our lives that are affecting our relationship with God and they might not be that much different to when we were children – the people we associate with – how we spend our spare time on our computers or phones – the shows we watch, the music we listen to. But we must also seek to change our lives – spend time with God in prayer, worship and our bibles. That’s what we call repentance. When we turn around and turn to God. Both are important.

 

But even as Christians we know that there will be times where we slip back into our old ways. So God has given us a way out – a way forward with God that comes through confession of sins and seeking God’s grace and mercy. Otherwise we will simply be on a merry go round. We will do something wrong – feel bad about it – vow never to do it again – and then we do it again.

 

In our Old Testament reading we see how Israel, were on a merry go round when they came into strife. They struggled to move forward and simply wanted to go back to where their bellies were filled: Back to what they were used to rather than facing the unknown challenges ahead. The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the Israelites wept and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”

 

Two problems strike us in this scenario. Firstly, “the rabble” forgot how Egypt had mistreated them. The fish they used to eat was not “for nothing” but was for back breaking slavery. The hard slavery and punishment when they failed to meet their daily quota. But secondly, they rejected God’s blessings and complained about “this manna” – forgetting that this manna was God’s gift to them. “This manna” was God’s love and grace to them.

 

As we go through life we know that we are going to face difficulties. We are going to face times of suffering. But we need to understand that like a loving parent God wants us to keep moving forward with him and growing in our faith. God was leading Israel to the Promised Land, away from the 400 years of slavery in Egypt. Was it an easy path forward? No. They faced enemies – they faced famine – they faced drought – they faced all the challenges of living in a fallen world. But God was leading them forward.

 

Likewise, God is leading us forward to our home in heaven. Is it an easy way forward? No. Do we know what’s around the corner? No. Is God with us? YES – you bet he is. And so God has given us the way forward with him as St James reveals:

Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. The problem is that when we face those difficulties we want to go back. Back to the way things were. Back to the good old days.

 

I miss the freedoms we had – our gathered worship – time with friends and family – walking without a mask  - and I’m sure there are things you miss – going to school – playing with friends – going to work. But let’s not give up hope in God. Let’s keep praying. Let’s keep supporting one another. Let’s keep trusting in God. We are all in this together. And if you’re in a position to help someone, anyone, let me encourage you to do so? If you wake in the middle of the night thinking of someone – that may be the Holy Spirit speaking to you. If someone is on your heart – that may be the Holy Spirit speaking to you. And if someone offers to help you don’t be ashamed because it is very likely that God has put in on their heart to help you even if you think you don’t need help. There is no shame in accepting a gift, especially in these times. There might be someone who needs it more – but God has put it on their heart to help you.

 

Jesus himself encouraged both the giving and receiving of gifts to help grow our giving hearts. This is what he was trying to teach his disciples. “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

 

Sometimes, one of the things we need to cut out of our life is pride. That we can do this on our own. I’m too proud to receive a gift – I’m not a charity case. I don’t want to appear weak. But what we might not realise is that God has moved that person’s heart to give – for whatever reason. Jesus closes his teaching by saying we are being salted by God. We know that salt can sting when it is put on an open wound. But that sting is actually a sign of the salt healing. Yes it stings – but that sting is leading to healing. At present life is really stinging for so many people but let us keep praying to God – and each time we pray we actually become stronger in our prayer life.

 

I have to admit that 19 months ago life was pretty easy. And when life is easy we sometimes don’t pray that much. As we get to the end of this pandemic – which will happen – let us not forget what got us through. Our prayers – our faith – our time with God in his word. And let us not pack them away until next time. Life with God is in good times and in difficult times as James points out: Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise.

Let us keep up that discipline with God in our life and move forward even further during the good times and know that God is ever leading us on to our promised land where there will be no more suffering and death for the old order of things will have ended.

 

Sermon 19th September 2021 – 17th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Mark 9:30-37 – Being the best God has made us to be

Sermon 19^th September 2021 – 17^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Mark 9:30-37 – Being the best God has made us to be

 

Tomorrow night, one AFL player will be crowned the best and fairest player of the year – the highest individual accolade awarded in Australian Rules Football.  Apart from 2017 I could not tell you who has won in previous years – and yet this is the highest award in the game and as you know I really enjoy watching football. Next Saturday one team, either Melbourne or Western Bulldogs will be the toast of the town as they are crowned Premiers for 2021 But how long does that last? For the team that loses next Saturday, the emotions of losing are completely opposite to the jubilation they experienced last week as they won their way into the Grand Final.

 

Coming 2nd is sometimes worse than coming last because you judge yourself – if only I had put in that little bit more.

Or think of the sportsperson who got silver in the Olympics by only a fraction of the second and the anguish – if only.

It’s probably harder coming 2nd than third. Or spare a thought for the one who came in 4th – Fourth best in the world in that sport and they get nothing. And yet this is our constant temptation – to want to be the best. Wanting to be the best is very different to wanting to be the best we can. I’m sure God would want that too – for us to be the best we can.

 

I want to be the best Pastor that I can be. But that is very different to wanting to be the best Pastor. Wanting to be the best puts us in a competitive mode where in order for us to be the best we have to hope that others fail. But in order to be the best we can does not rely on anyone else failing – it doesn’t matter if you’re number one – you are simply being the best God has made you. The problem with needing to be the greatest is there is always someone behind you wanting to take your place. And that’s a problem that goes right back to Adam and Eve who were the best God had made them but were convinced by the Devil that God was holding back from them. Eat the forbidden fruit because God doesn’t want your eyes open. Eat the forbidden fruit and YOU will be like God. But they went from being in the image of God – to now competing with God himself. A sin which continues today and why Jesus says the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart – and love your neighbour as yourself.

 

Greatness is outward looking – not inward focused So when Jesus gets wind that his disciples were secretly chatting amongst themselves he knew that there was something going on.  What were you arguing about on the way?

They were caught out – embarrassed – and didn’t say a word. Much like Adam when he was caught out and hid from God.

Adam, wanting to be number one, blamed Eve instead of submitting to God and his mercy. But Jesus knew they had argued with one another who was the greatest. Notice they didn’t “discuss” with one another – they argued with one another. And that’s what needing to be number one does – instead of accepting what God has done for you.

 

And so, as Jesus always does, he teaches them about the Kingdom of Heaven which always turns things on their head. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all. Jesus is not suggesting that a person deliberately place themselves last in order to be first. But it is about allowing God to do his work in us and accepting that wherever God has placed us – whatever we have achieved in life – is God’s plan for us and therefore the best we can be. Remember what St Paul says in Ephesians chapter 2 - For we are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

God has our life mapped out for us and has prepared our future for us. We don’t want to be like Peter last week when he heard about Jesus’ plan could not accept it. He wanted to leap to the front and take charge to which Jesus said – get behind me Satan. Interesting that Jesus didn’t address Peter himself but Satan. Because he knew that Satan is the one who convinces us that our life can be better than what God has planned for us and we need to take control.

He did that to Adam and Eve – he did that to Peter. He tried it on Jesus tempting him to take control of his hunger – turn these rocks into bread. Tempting Jesus to make God prove his love – jump from this ledge and see if God will really catch you. Tempting Jesus to turn his back on God and worship the devil and he would receive all the kingdoms of the world.

Instead Jesus places before them a child. A vulnerable child who cannot fend for themselves but must rely on their parents to feed, clothe and protect them.

In these times the devil is also making us feel helpless. As if God has lost control. Despite the lockdowns, the vaccinations, the restrictions we keep seeing the numbers go up and up. What are we going to do??? Keep trusting in God. Keep praying to God.              Do not lose hope. Do not give up ground and feel that we have to do this. James warns us that when we want to take control that it leads to conflict and we see that amongst our different states at Premiers who all want to blame each other. And collectively want to blame the Prime Minister.

 

James says - Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? Instead James says to stay firm in your faith and trust in God no matter how bad it seemingly gets. He says; Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. It is very tempting in times of uncertainty to want to take control rather than keep trusting God.

But that’s exactly what we are asked to do because fear makes us look away from God and to our own strength.

When the disciples feared and wanted to take control Jesus would say – why were you afraid. Like Peter when he could not control the wind and the waves and sank into the water. When the disciples thought they were going to drown and blamed Jesus – don’t you care that were’ going to drown, and then saw that even the wind and the waves must obey Jesus.

 

We too will come to the point and ask ourselves, why didn’t we trust God in this. He said he would walk with us and get us through this. So friends, let us stand firm in our faith. Let our faith be childlike that trusts in our Heavenly Father to provide for us all that we need. And like a frightened child runs to their parents who with a cuddle and reassuring word removes all their fear, let us also run to God’s embrace and his comforting word - “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. And, I am with you always till the end of the age when you will receive God’s Kingdom.

Sermon 12th September 2021 – 16th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Mark 8:27-38 – A very heavy Cross

 Sermon 12^th September 2021 – 16^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Mark 8:27-38 – A very heavy Cross

 

Children love to hear fairy-tales – I think we can still call them that. Most fairy-tales usually start and end the same way –

The beginning - Once upon a time – And the ending – and they lived happily ever after. The story of Jesus is thought by many to also be a human made fairy tale but it doesn’t fit the criteria – or does it?

 

In our Gospel reading it sounds anything but a fairy tale where they live happily ever after: Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. To us who know the true ending it does end up with not only Jesus living happily ever after but all those who put their faith and trust in him. The problem is how we get there. There is no sleeping beauty woken with a kiss from prince charming. There is no Cinderella with a prince rescuing her from her evil step-mother. This has our hero of the story undergoing great suffering – being rejected and killed.

 

But it’s those last words that strike hope – after three days rise again. But it’s those last words that are difficult to understand. Because to get to that point is literally hell for Jesus. And up to that point – when you were dead, you were dead – end of story. Peter couldn’t get past the suffering and death and rebuked Jesus for putting such a morbid situation before the people. Do you really think people are going to join us if that is what you are forecasting? And after rebuking Peter Jesus puts it to the people - He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Anyone who thinks that being a Christian is about a trouble free and unchallenged life has not understood the life that Jesus placed before us.

 

Now, what we are experiencing at present is not easy. We cannot gather for worship. We cannot gather to receive Holy Communion. I cannot visit you when you are sick. We cannot visit our relatives in nursing care. Our children cannot attend Sunday School, Bible Song, youth group and confirmation. And that is on top of the secular struggles we all face – children cannot attend school with friends in class; we could not visit family to celebrate Father’s Day, many weddings and baptisms on hold – funeral restricted to 10; people not able to attend their workplace and, sadly, in many cases, having no work or pay. But it’s these challenges that will define our faith.

 

We are somewhere like 220 days in lockdown – that’s 30 Sundays we have not been able to attend church. And yet, here we are, still broadcasting with something like 150 views each week on our 2 services – which could take the attendance to over 200 if we consider some households with multiple viewers. That’s around double our usual Sunday attendance.

Now I know it’s not the same but we hope and we pray that this time of carrying our cross will make us stronger – will make us hungrier for our gathered worship – will make us hungrier for the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. None of us are enjoying what we are going through and none of us would choose this path in order to increase our viewing audience.

But neither did Peter want the path that Jesus had laid out for discipleship. He tells Peter - Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.

 

Peter wanted a resurrection without a cross – impossible. And this is what it means to pick up our cross and follow Jesus.

To accept the path that is laid before us even when that path is hard. Just think what Jesus underwent for YOUR salvation.

And remember, he went this path for you – not for himself. He had the glory of Heaven which he gave up when he emptied himself and became a servant – obedient to his Father all the way to the cross – for YOU.

 

For many of us we have never been challenged in our faith like this before. Some who went through world wars and great depressions can remember times where their faith was severely challenged. And while they still had their churches they didn’t not have the safety and comfort that we have of being able to still worship albeit in our homes. But let us also spare a thought for those who do not have the facilities to watch and participate at home with technology.

For many of them things like Songs of Praise and Mass for you at Home and watching St Pauls Box Hill on channel 44 on the TV is the extent of their worship – and again we give thanks for that.

We may have to carry our crosses a bit longer yet and it gets heavy, as it did for Jesus who not only had to carry his own cross to his death but had to endure being whipped and humiliated – spat upon and a crown of thorns place on his head.

But he did it all for you. And now he asks you to carry your cross a little longer – although we do not know how much longer. And part of that cross is to continue to support your church in this time and for that I am truly grateful as are our Ministry Staff.

 

We are here only because of your continued generosity with your offerings and your prayers. How easy it would be at this time to hold your offerings for your own needs but you don’t. You continue to support the work of God by supporting his church and that’s a cross that you are carrying – and I thank you. And maybe I haven’t been in touch enough with you.

Maybe I could have rung you or messaged you more and for that I am truly sorry. I do not take my responsibilities lightly and I know that I am accountable to God:

 

I hear what James says with great fear and trepidation: he says, you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. But please be assured that I have not forgotten or neglected you.

I am here for you – I’m not taking holidays. I’m in the office 6 days a week but available 7 days a week, 24 hours. I am your Pastor, I am your Shepherd and I too am bearing an extremely heavy cross knowing that I cannot fully serve you in the way that I wish to. I want to close my message to you by reading our Psalm again.

 

I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.

The cords of death entangled me; the grip of the grave took hold of me; I came to grief and sorrow.

Then I called upon the Name of the Lord: "O Lord, I pray you, save my life."

Gracious is the Lord and righteous; our God is full of compassion.

The Lord watches over the innocent; I was brought very low, and he helped me.

Turn again to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has treated you well.

For you have rescued my life from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling.

I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

 

The cross is heavy but let us be Simon of Cyrene to one another and help to carry each other’s cross. Together we can carry our crosses and when that cross seems like it is getting too heavy to bear let us hear Jesus’ invitation, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”