Sermon 3rd July 2022 – 4th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 – Upholding God

 Sermon 3^rd July 2022 – 4^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 – Upholding God

 

Have you ever been out somewhere and all of a sudden the topic of conversation changes to religion? Do you hope that no one asks your opinion as you hear the criticism of Christians being hypocrites and it’s just a pack of lies made up by people years ago to control us? Have you felt uncomfortable around someone when you hear them use Jesus’ name in a way that is cursing? Or do you have a favourite show your really love to watch but every now and then it makes fun of Christians and the church? Should you stop watching it? Are you sinning if you have a laugh?

 

I remember when The Life of Brian came out and many Christians thought it was blasphemous to watch and particularly to laugh at. And some of you may remember the movie release of The Last Temptation of Christ and The Da Vinci Code that questioned the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Many churches protested outside cinemas. I even remember hearing on the news that the Da Vinci Code would rock the very foundations of the Christian church and what it believes and holds sacred. Should we be concerned when things like this happen? And believe me there’s been worse and more blasphemous than these. Or how do we feel when we hear the latest census results that reveal that Christians now, for the very first time in Australian history, have Christians less than 50% of the population – 43%.

 

First of all we hear from Paul that there is legitimate concern. He says - Do not be deceived; God is not mocked. But it’s the question of what is our role when he is. How do we defend God? It’s hard sometimes when you’re in a group and you begin to feel uncomfortable. Do you walk away? Do you speak up and say something? Do you try and change the subject? First of all – remain positive about God and uphold him.

 

Look at our Psalm: Be joyful in God, all you lands; sing the glory of his Name; sing the glory of his praise. Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! Because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you. And remember, no matter what anyone says about God to put him down – we know the truth. We know the love he has for us and everyone. We know the power and authority he has given to Jesus. Listen to the report of the 70 that returned home after being sent out by Jesus. The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" Jesus said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.

 

What we need to remember is that God doesn’t need us protecting and defending him – he needs us upholding him. Again, as we see in the Psalm - Be joyful in God, all you lands; sing the glory of his Name; sing the glory of his praise. Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! I know very few people who have been argued into believing in God. But I know many who have become Christians because they have seen the blessings of God. Even Jesus says the same - let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. And Peter - in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, And James too, doesn’t say to fight the devil for God but rather - humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

When the disciples came back to report to Jesus they were over the moon because the demons submitted to them. Jesus didn’t want that to be the focus of their attention because that was not what their mission was. Their mission was to take the Good News out to the people. The demons submitting to them was a byproduct not the mission. And so Jesus says to them - do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. We don’t want or need people going around smiting Satan. No – Jesus did that on the cross already.

Jesus wants us taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth so that everyone has an opportunity to have their names written in the Book of Life. Paul encourages us to look for opportunities to show the world how much we love this world and all God provides. He says - whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. It’s interesting that he points out doing good especially for those of the family of faith. Why? Does he want us to show favouritism for Christians? No. He wants us to show the world how great it is to be a part of the family of faith. If the world sees us bickering and arguing – why would they want to be part of our family? If you went past a gym or a café or any other institution and you saw friendly cheerful people – would you be inquisitive and perhaps think of joining?

 

We want the world to see the joy of being in a relationship with God – again, as our Psalm said - Be joyful in God, all you lands; sing the glory of his Name; sing the glory of his praise. Jesus encourages us to do that in our daily lives –  Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace to this house!' And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide. And know this: the kingdom of God has come near. He didn’t tell them to cast out demons – no – their joy in the Lord naturally caused that. Their joy cast out demons and replaced their presence. You won’t be well received everywhere you go - I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. But regardless, wherever you go – the kingdom of God goes with you – even if they reject you.

 

So whatever you do with your daily life- work, school, sport, shopping, U3A – anything – be the presence of God. Be the presence of the Kingdom of God. Work for the good of all and let the peace of God remain wherever you go. And here – in our family of faith, let us be an example of true family – a family of love and joy singing the glory of God and being prepared to give the reason for the hope and joy we have when anyone asks. And they will.

 

Sermon 26th June 2022 – 3rd Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 9:51-62 – Dealing with problem makers

 Sermon 26^th June 2022 – 3^rd Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 9:51-62 – Dealing with problem makers

 

Last week I began by asking you a question of how do you deal with your problems. The context was the demon possessed man who was deemed too difficult to deal with so they dealt with their problem by putting him in shackles and then sent him off into the tombs to live. Out of sight out of mind. Today a different question is put to us – how do we deal with problem makers. When Jesus was confronted with rejection, his disciples, James and John, wanted to deal with the problem maker in their unique way – "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"  But Jesus did not agree with their solution and turned and rebuked them.

 

Jesus rejects retaliation or violence as a response to problem makers and calls on us to do likewise. And in this reading we can see the real problem when we become judge, jury and executioner. The problem – when Jesus arrived the people did not welcome him. James and John’s response – let’s command fire to come down from heaven and destroy them. This is always the problem with human response by responding with retaliation.

How can you compare being not accepted with having fire coming down from heaven and destroying you. Jesus deals with this in the Sermon on the Mount when he says - “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell … if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.  Because it doesn’t usually end up being one eye for one eye. Even if retaliation could be meted out equally it doesn’t solve the problem. You hit me – I hit you back: It doesn’t stop there. As we find in war situations – that’s only the beginning. You come in with soldiers – we’ll come in with tanks. You see it in sport so often. A footy player roughly tackles his opposition player. He retaliates – and next moment every player on the field runs over and gets involved. That’s human nature – that’s what James and John example.

Again, we see in Paul’s writings concerning retaliation and warning against human retaliation: In Roman’s 12 he writes: Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

 

Paul knows that God’s wrath is justice and not revenge. How amazing it would be if this is what the church was known for? Being at peace with everyone. If our enemy is hungry, feed him and give him drink for his thirst. It’s interesting that Paul doesn’t say – you shouldn’t have enemies. I guess that’s something that is part of our fallen world – but we don’t have to live as enemies but live in peace and love. As Jesus said before his arrest – a new Commandment I give to you – love one another as I have loved you and by this everyone will know that you are my disciples. And that’s exactly what Paul said today - "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

That’s how we end wars and fighting and “devouring one another” – through love. And that’s not the end of it, Paul says.

 

When we move away from the standard of love it is replaced by destructive behaviour such as -  fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. Love was put in place by God to give us protection. God has given us love as a means to control our evil and destructive behaviours. And we’re not talking about the airy fairy love that we hear in our pop songs or the Hollywood image of love. No, this is a serious and deep life changing love that we are called to example: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Note that Paul refers to them as the fruit of the Spirit – not fruits of the Spirit. We don’t choose one of them – they are all part of the life of a growing Christian.

Just like fruit continues to grow and ripen so too these are to continue to grow in us but once a fruit drops from the tree – the source and energizer of love - it begins to decay and rot. And so too we are to continue to remain in Christ because our human nature will want to continue to move us back to those destructive behaviours that Paul listed. And we saw that in James and John and their response that didn’t show love or joy. It didn’t show peace or patience in those who rejected them. It didn’t show kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness – and certainly not self-control.

 

Love is hard work. Just look at love at work: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always  perseveres. Love never fails. Again, James and John did not show that to those who rejected Jesus. Love shows itself in ways that go way beyond human behaviour. As Paul says – God demonstrates his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. As Jesus exampled on the cross to those crucifying him – forgive them Father for they know not what they are doing. So different to Zechariah’s dying words in the Old Testament - Zechariah’s last words as he died were, “May the Lord see what they are doing and avenge my death!”

 

We don’t want to go back to that thought of thinking. Jesus has freed us from that desire for comeuppance.

And thankfully Christ has freed us from receiving our comeuppance – what we deserve. As Paul says - For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. As Jesus went to the cross he called on his disciples, you and me to pick up our cross and follow him. And sometimes that cross is to bear the burden of forgiveness for the sake of the Gospel, as Jesus exampled from the cross. Sometimes our best efforts are ignored and rejected and when that happens then Jesus also gave us the example in today’s Gospel reading: they went on to another village. The book of Proverbs has very sound advice in this situation also: Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you. Or as Paul says in 1 Corinthians - Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?

What would James and John have achieved by calling down fire and consuming them?

 

Now they have another opportunity to go back later and share the Gospel when the time is right. Now they have something to pray about. Let us also see rejection and injustice as an opportunity to pray and give an example of love and, as Peter says, always be prepared to give the reason for the hope we have with gentleness and respect.

Sermon 19th June 2022 – 2 Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 8:26-39 – Out of mind out of sight

 Sermon 19^th June 2022 – 2 Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 8:26-39 – Out of mind out of sight

 

How do you deal with your problems? Many people like to sweep them under the carpet – out of sight out of mind. But just because you can’t see the dirt doesn’t mean it’s not there. It’s still under the carpet. So too, if we turn off the TV news, stop reading the newspapers and listening to others, especially on Social Media, you could almost have lived your life normally over the past couple of years. But it doesn’t mean the Covid crisis didn’t exist. If you don’t drive a car, have a mortgage or enjoy eating lettuce you might not even know there’s a cost-of-living crisis. But it still exists for many. If you just looked at the weather over the past week or so you wouldn’t consider climate change or global warming to exist. It’s winter- it’s cold. And that’s how many people deal with their problems.Out of sight, out of mind. If it doesn’t effect me, I don’t care.

 

It was certainly how the people of the Gerasenes dealt with their problems. There was one of their citizens possessed by evil spirits – a legion of them. They couldn’t control him so their solution was to keep him under guard, bound with chains and shackles. Out of sight, out of mind. Problem solved. But the problem didn’t go away. He would break the bonds and be driven by the demons into the wilds.

 

Society also works in similar ways at times. If we don’t see the homeless then they don’t exist. In fact at times we’ve heard of councils moving people on from their homeless shanties to clear up the streets – problem solved. In Jesus’ times that’s how they dealt with other problems. Lepers were cast out of the town so they wouldn’t infect us. When the woman was caught in adultery – let’s drag her out of here and stone her to death. Problem solved – she won’t commit adultery again.

Not sure what ever happened to the male in that situation. In fact when Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors they were shocked. Why would you do that? So too when the disciples came back from getting supplies they were shocked to see Jesus speaking with a Samaritan woman – why would you do that? Jesus had a ministry of inclusion especially of the outsiders and disenfranchised.

 

And that’s what Paul speaks about also in our 2nd reading from Galatians: As many of you as were baptized into Christ you have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. In Jesus there is no division. We don’t cast people out or remove them from society.  We include them. There is no sending away but rather inviting in. This poor man who was chained and sent away would never get better, only worse. He would never get to experience the compassion and love needed to feel welcomed.

 

Then Jesus shows up in the place of the tombs, the place of the dead.  For starters Jesus shouldn’t have been there. It was Gentile territory. It was in pig farming territory, remembering that pigs were considered to be unclean. The demon possessed man presumes Jesus will be no better than his fellow neighbours.  “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” But Jesus is not there to torment him but to help him. And he begins by giving him his identity back. Instead of being the crazy person who runs around naked and tormented, Jesus says to him: "What is your name?" Not “what’s wrong with you” or “how long have you been like this”. “What is your name?”

 

Just like Jesus we too are to be a place where people come to find their identity. Not based on whether they are male or female, Jew or Greek, slave or free. But given an identity as a child of God. And with that identity given to him by Jesus he resumes his life again. The people who had banished him to the tombs find the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And so too we are charged with that ministry of restoration. Not once a person has got their life back on track but in the midst of their turmoil as Jesus did. Jesus didn’t send him away to sort out his life but gave him his dignity back by accepting him as he was. But in that acceptance his life didn’t stay the same. Just like the woman caught in adultery who was told to go and sin no more. Or Zacchaeus who changed his life, not because Jesus condemned him but accepted him when others wouldn’t. The people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner. Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

 

We too, as redeemed children of God, are given the ministry of acceptance of the person. And let us always remember - God demonstrates his own love for us in this While we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus deals with his demons by casting them into a herd of pigs. Notice in that Jesus distinguishes between the sin and the sinner. To the sinner Jesus offers acceptance. But to the sin he casts it out. Like the woman caught in adultery – go – and sin no more.

 

That’s our challenge. To distinguish between sin and sinner. As the old saying goes – love the sinner hate the sin. But I know that’s not always easy as the sin is so intrinsically part of the sinner as it was in this person. But it was Jesus love and acceptance of the sinner that cast out the sin and demons – not judgement and condemnation. The demon possessed man had lived a lifetime of judgement and condemnation which saw his condition grow worse. Perhaps beginning with one demon he became a person who had a legion of demons in his life. And just look how that love and acceptance changed him – not only his life but his love for God. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might go with Jesus;

He begged him. But notice Jesus’ response and that too will become our mission field. Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you."

 

As much as we need people to serve the church and become missionaries overseas – Jesus reminds us of the greatest mission field before us. Return to your home and tell how much God has done for you. We all have friends and family who we would love to see in a relationship with God and the church. Let’s begin with sharing how much God has done for us.

Let’s begin with a ministry of acceptance of the person. So often our mission has been – you should come to church and get right with God. You need to repent of your sins before it’s too late. Turn or burn as the street preacher would blast out on his bullhorn. But here Jesus encourages the man to share his experience with others. Do your friends and family know what God has done for you? Or do they just know what God demands of them? Do they know the peace and acceptance you have? Or are we living under and sharing what Paul refers to as the work of the law before Christ came: The law was our disciplinarian until Christ came. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.

 

Just like the demon possessed man was locked up in chains, so too we have often locked our church with chains excluding entry until you’ve met the standard we expect. But Jesus never set any standard - There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.

 

Let us be people – let us be a church where people are accepted and welcomed and allow the transforming love of God to do its work not our judgement.

 

Sermon 12th June 2022 – Trinity Sunday Text: John 16:12-15 – Trinity - Best left unexplained.

 Sermon 12^th June 2022 – Trinity Sunday

Text: John 16:12-15 – Trinity - Best left unexplained.

The Holy Trinity is an interesting teaching of the Christian church. The word “Trinity” doesn’t appear in the bible so it has been disputed by many  denominations like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christadelphians. Many of the heresies from the early church were created by well meaning Christians wanting to explain the mystery of One God, three Persons. As a result the Creeds were written to keep the teaching pure and if you’ve never taken notice they are in 3 parts – I believe in God the Father almighty … I believe in Jesus Christ his Son … I believe in the Holy Spirit.

As the church grew the creeds had to become more descriptive as we see in the Nicene Creed to protect the teaching of Jesus being equal in the Godhead. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the father. Through whom all things were made. A church Father by the name of Athanasius went even stronger writing what is known as our 3rd Creed, the Athanasian Creed which begins: Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith unless every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the catholic faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Essence.

Muslims reject Christianity for worshipping more than one God or that God could have a son. Jews reject Christianity for suggesting that Jesus, a mere human, could be the Son of God and the promised Messiah. So you can understand that the Trinity has been an important doctrine of the Christian Church. But what is the importance of it for our everyday Christian faith? Do we have to fully understand it in order to believe it?

I believe in today’s readings, even though there is no reference to The Trinity, that we can understand that it’s the relationship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit and through Jesus’ death and resurrection the extension of that relationship is now given to us which is of vital importance and comfort.

First of all we see in Jesus’ words: All that the Father has is mine and that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. Whatever God the Father has he gives to Jesus his Son through the Holy Spirit is now given to us because we are children of God. There we see the unity of the Trinity at work but it doesn’t end there. The Holy Spirit takes what is Jesus’ and give it to us.

So not only is there unity in the Trinity, Father, Sona and Holy Spirit – BUT – we have been included in that unity because through Jesus’ death, as Paul says – we are heirs – everything Jesus has, we have. And that’s what Paul is describing in our 2nd reading: Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand. We have access to God. And that’s what the Book of Hebrews also describes: We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body.

The Curtain? You may recall that at his death it says that the curtain in the temple was torn in two. The curtain that divided the temple and would only allow the High Priest to enter the Most Holy Place once a year – on the Day of Atonement. But now, we can enter that Holy Place always. Not just at church – no, the Christian faith goes well beyond our worship on Sundays. But in our prayers, in our reading of the Word – the HOLY Bible – we have confidence that we come into the presence of God.

This relationship we now have through the Trinity means that we can truly “know” God. And there are differences in “knowing”. As we celebrate the Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, as you look at all the celebrations throughout the Commonwealth and beyond – there are millions, if not billions of people who know the Queen. But that doesn’t give you access to the Queen nor does she know you. But “knowing” God is on a whole different level. God invites you to speak to him – to touch him – and he knows you and in fact knows the very hairs on your head.

Understanding God as Trinity is not about holding the correct opinion on God’s nature.  It is the starting place for truly knowing him.  To believe in and have a relationship with God, building a real friendship with God.

It enables us to worship our Heavenly Father and know that we stand, not as peasants or unimportant mortals, but as his beloved children, as coheirs of his Heavenly Kingdom: as the beloved creatures to whom he gives all that he has – As Psalm 8 says: - When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?

This is to truly know God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Not getting the explanation right but getting the relationship right. And the amazing thing about leaving the details and explanations to God is that we don’t limit God to our explanation. That’s the beauty of leaving it as a mystery. And that’s what Jesus said in our Gospel reading. "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth;

Too often we limit God by our limitations. Think of when Paul was taken into heaven and given a glimpse of Paradise in 2 Corinthians: I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. Was it because Paul was told a secret and wasn’t allowed to tell us or was it because there were no words in our limited vocabulary and understanding that could give proper understanding of what he saw and heard. Was it too much for us to bear right now?

The amazing thing about our relationship with God is that it is only limited by us. So when we pray, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us – it is saying that our understanding of God’s forgiveness in our lives is limited to our forgiveness of others. It’s not limited by God The love we experience from God is only limited by the love we show others. That’s why Jesus says – love one another as I have loved you. And, love your enemies. And that’s why the Trinity is not to be explained or described but rather experienced. Always you’ll find that Jesus wants us to experience what he has experienced from his Father. Love one another as I have loved you. As the Father has sent me so I am sending you. The Father and I are one.

In Jesus Christ, we see everything there is to see about a Father’s love.  And in Jesus we experience everything there is to experience of the Father’s love.

And, as Paul says, God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. That’s the Trinity at work. Whether we understand it or not. Whether we can explain it or not. Sometimes the best things are left unexplained. Because as soon as we explain something then we limit it to that explanation. But when it comes to the mystery of God – the Holy Trinity – Jesus says that he has more to give to us than we can possibly bear and that includes the love of God that he pours into our hearts.