Sermon 18th June 2023 - 3rd Sunday after Pentecost Text: Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7) – God’s laughable plans

 Sermon 18^th June 2023 - 3^rd Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7) – God’s laughable plans

There is an old saying – if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. In our Old Testament reading today it seems that the opposite has happened. Three visitors – 3 angels – some have suggested the Triune God – 3 persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, have come to visit Abraham. Abraham is nearing 100 – Sarah 90 – and the visitors said that they will return in due season and Sarah will have a child. God has told Sarah his plan and she has laughed. She laughed because all these years she had wanted a child and now when she is too old to care for and enjoy childbirth God has decided to honour his promise that he had made to Abraham – to give him a child and heir by Sarah. But, despite what Abraham and Sarah might think about this promise and their age, as the visitors have said - Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?

It’s almost the opposite to the situation with God and young unmarried Mary. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus. Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the one who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  Also, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”

I love these 2 comments from the angels: Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? With God nothing is impossible. Understanding God’s plans is not always in the realm of human understanding and sometimes we might laugh if we were to discover God’s plan for us. 

Just look at God’s plans that have brought disbelief to his people and maybe not laughter but skepticisms. Just think of St Paul, converted from being a murderer and persecutor of Christians to become a Christian – the very ones he was attacking. The Lord said to one of the disciples. Ananias, “Go and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”  Now, this plan seemed strange to Ananias: “Lord, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” I mean, even Paul recognized how ludicrous God’s plans seemed –  Here is a true statement that should be accepted without question: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst of them.

But what Paul saw as a ludicrous plan of God was actually a demonstration of his love, as he said in today’s reading: Rarely will anyone die for a righteous person-- though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. God’s plans for us can sometimes seem unconventional. Even if we look at what Paul says today about suffering – does it make sense? That we boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us. Or even looking at what Jesus says about what lays ahead of Christians as we go throughout the world spreading his message of love and peace; Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name.

You can understand when someone is reading things like this out of context that Christianity can seem rather strange. But, we need to look in context of all of these situations and it really boils down to a battle between good and evil that we face as Christians as we go about doing God’s will. When Jesus sends out the 12 disciples he warned them about what lay ahead of them: I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit speaking through you.

 

St Paul also acknowledged this reality that what might seem as a worldly battle we undertake is far from that: Paul says: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. So what we see happening with Abraham and Sarah fits into this context.

Firstly, God is a God of promise and he cannot break his promises. Which is what Paul later says in his letter to the Romans when he encourages his Jewish brothers and sisters so they don’t lose heart. He says - "For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable" (Rom 11:29). So, God made a promise to Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child and that through that child – Isaac, not Ishmael -  they would have descendants more numerous than the stars in the heavens, if you could count them. Sometimes those promises are challenging. Like when Abraham and Sarah believed that God had forgotten or changed his promise so took matters into their own hands and Abraham had a child with Sarah’s maid, Hagar. So even though Abraham had a child it was not God’s promised way.

Sometimes we might feel as if God has lost his way and we take matters into our own hands but that’s fraught with danger. We see examples of that with Peter who had in mind the things of man rather than God when he rebuked Jesus for saying that God’s way for him was through suffering and death. Jesus showed that even though it was tough to sometimes accepts God’s plan – he trusted and said – your will be done even though the plan seemed wrong – my God, my God, why have you forsaken me.

Maybe at times you’ve questioned God’s plan for you when you go through times of suffering. But remember that suffering is not a sign of God’s absence or failure but somehow, mysteriously, it’s is part of God’s hidden blessing in which Paul boasts.

But the 2nd part of the context in all this is that God remains in control despite what our eyes see. Abraham and Sarah looked at their age. Sarah laughed at God’s ridiculous plan. Me – 90 – giving birth. But, as the angels said to Sarah - Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? As the angel said to Mary – nothing is impossible with God.

Being a Christian does not mean our life will be perfect without any obstacles or hardships. Being a Christian means trusting in God and his promises and especially what Jesus says in response to the world hating Christians - But the one who endures to the end will be saved. God is in control and will always be in control. And when God desires something to happen it will happen in God’s timing. It doesn’t matter what anyone says or thinks about us as Paul reminds us that it’s what God thinks that matters: 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; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

It can feel quite lonely in times of struggle but Jesus reminds us that we are never alone. The Holy Spirit is with us. And Paul also affirmed that in times of suffering which leads to hope in God and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. So let us stand firm in our faith at all times and trust God’s plan with the assurance that the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Sermon 11th June 2023 – Pentecost 2 Text: Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 – Faithful interruptions

 Sermon 11^th June 2023 – Pentecost 2

Text: Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26 – Faithful interruptions

 

Do you find these days that interruptions are just nonstop? You’re talking to someone and they check their phone mid sentence because they feel it vibrate or hear it ring. Or these days they might look at their watch because it’s one like mine that connects to the phone and vibrates when someone is calling or texting. Or you’re deep in conversation with someone and there’s someone waiting in the wings because they want to talk with the person you’re talking to and you feel obliged to let them interrupt you. Interruptions can be quite annoying and frustrating. You’re trying to have lunch or dinner and the phone rings and these days it’s someone wanting to come around and change your light bulbs or shower heads or talk to you about solar panels. It always seems to interrupt your meal times. Or you’re working on something on your computer and the chat box pops onto your screen with someone wanting to chat with you and creating time wasting. Interruptions are constant and it gets to the point where you don’t want to have your phone by your bedside just for a bit of rest.

 

Today’s Gospel reading is all about interruptions in Jesus’ ministry. He’s having dinner at Matthew’s house – the Pharisees complain about it – then a synagogue leader interrupts and wants Jesus to come and heal his daughter – then on the way a woman who had a bleeding disorder comes and interrupts by touching Jesus’ cloak. Interruptions were a huge part of Jesus ministry and we need to be careful that we don’t dismiss all interruptions as nuisances. Sometimes God sends interruptions – like he did with Jesus.

 

Jesus didn’t complain that his dinner was interrupted. Jesus didn’t complain when a woman – without permission – came up behind him and touched his cloak. He could have growled at her like I’m sure many of us do when that unsolicited phone call comes and we make sure we block that number in future. He could have slammed the door on the synagogue ruler and put up a sign “do not knock” like many houses have.

Or he could have told the bleeding woman to go away and put up a “no junk mail” sign. Isn’t that how we often treat interruptions?

 

But what if that is how God sends people our way – through interruptions? And why has Matthew interrupted the story of Jesus going to the Synagogue ruler’s place? He could have written them as 2 separate stories but I believe that by doing this Matthew is wanting to have us really focus on this woman’s interruption. In fact, Mark’s account of this links these 2 situations even further in that the girl, Jairus’s daughter was 12 years old and the woman with the bleeding complaint had been ill for 12 years. This woman had suffered from a bleeding disorder for twelve years and had spent all her money trying to find a cure.  In the end, she was left penniless, alone and still diseased.

 

Mark’s version said she had spent all her money on doctors, but instead of getting better she got worse. But one fateful day, she heard about Jesus, the healer who was passing through her town. She knew she had to meet him. She thought, “If I can just touch His garment, I will be healed.” In a crowded space, she worked her way through the crowd, purely focused on touching Him. Finally, she reached Jesus from behind and touched the hem of His garment. Suddenly, she felt the flow of her blood stem and Jesus felt the flow of his healing power and the disease was gone from her body. She was afraid, but Jesus stopped and called out to her, “Who touched Me?”The disciples were surprised by Jesus’ question as people were pressing all around Him. But, Jesus knew that someone had touched Him with a faith that had healed them. Jesus' gaze searched the crowd until it rested on the woman with the issue of bleeding. She fell at His feet and told Him the truth about what she had just done. Perhaps she was afraid – would Jesus undo her healing? Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

 

This woman was healed because of her faith.  But Jesus did more than just physically heal her. He had restored her dignity by calling her "Daughter." By His love, He had transformed her life into something new, something beautiful. There are many people living without dignity in our world and most likely all around us.

Do we see them? Do we stop to help them? Maybe we’re too busy or too focused on other things, like the priest and Levite in the Parable of the Good Samaritan who crossed over to the other side of the road when they saw one of their brothers in need. Or perhaps like the older brother in the Parable of the Prodigal Son who was angry at his brother’s restoration because of how he spent his father’s inheritance in wild living.

Sometimes God calls us out of our comfort zones to think about other people.

 

And sometimes that calling out can be quite challenging. Like Abraham in our first reading. Abraham, or Abram as he was known then, was living a very settled life in Harran with his father, his wife, and his nephew when all of a sudden God interrupts his life: The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. So Abraham didn’t know where God was sending him – he didn’t know why he was sending him – he didn’t know how he would support himself or how long it would take. Abraham simply trusted God: So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.

 

Sometimes God will disrupt our comfortable lives, like he did to Abraham. Sometimes God will disrupt what we believe our mission to be – like he did to Jesus. We need to be open to those interruptions. It’s easy to just go the way we’re going but who knows whether sometime in the future God is going to place before us a mission challenge. He may send us from here to where he wants us to be. As Jesus said – it is the sick who need a doctor – and there are many spiritual sick people around us. Just as Jesus was sent to call the sinner and not the righteous maybe we need to go where the church and the Gospel is needed. I’m not saying that we’re going to sell up and move like Abraham did – but what if that challenge were put before us? Would we miss it because we’re too old – like Abraham was – 75 years old.

 

What we need to do is to listen to God’s call when it comes and sometimes that means we need to be in tune with God like Elijah was. A great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went. Let us not be afraid to listen to God’s voice even when it interrupts our routine. Let us look for those opportunities to bring God’s word of grace to those we might be missing like the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years and give hope and dignity. Let us ignore the scoffers and those who hold us back like the people who laughed at Jesus. Let us, like Abraham, trust in God and be ready to go wherever and whenever God calls us.

 

As Paul reassures us when we trust in God as Abraham did: No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore his faith “was reckoned to him as righteousness.” Friends, we are needed in so many places so let us listen to God’s call as he interrupts our lives and trust enough as Abraham and Jesus did and go where God needs us.

 

Sermon Trinity Sunday – 4th June 2023 Text: Genesis 1:1-2:4a

 Sermon Trinity Sunday – 4^th June 2023

Text: Genesis 1:1-2:4a

The question of Creation is a debate that occurs not just between atheists and Christians but even amongst Christians. Did God create the world in 6 literal days or are they symbolic days. Questions are raised that if they are 24 hour days then how were those days determined if the Sun, Moon and Stars were only created on day four as Genesis itself says - Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years. Sadly what is lost in this debate – as often happens when we debate things we disagree with - is the blessing that come from an understanding that God is our Creator who made the heavens and earth and all that exists.

Let us refresh our understanding of the significance of this first chapter of Genesis and what it means that God is our Creator: Day One – God said, “let there be light”. Let us understand what this light it as we often misunderstand it as the light that we experience during daytime. But that wouldn’t make sense as this light that we call daytime only came on day 4 when God created the sun, moon and stars to make distinction between night and day. This is the light of God’s presence in the world – the very first of God’s creation without which no creation would be possible. This light is the assurance that God’s presence is in the very world we experience each day even if we don’t realise that God is present with us. It is the glory of the Lord that was experienced by Israel with the pillar of fire to lead them out of Egypt – the glory of the Lord that descended as a glory cloud when God met with Moses. It is the fire that came upon the Apostles as tongues of fire when the Holy Spirit came upon them. This is the light where God separated the light from the darkness in John’s Gospel where John explains the same presence of Jesus Christ in the world.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all humankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John links this light with creation – the life and light of all humankind. This is the light that took the chaos in the beginning when the world was void and empty and brought order. This is the presence of God in our lives that brings meaning and purpose to life.

This is the same presence of God in our lives that brings order and harmony in our lives. And from that foundation the rest of creation begins: Even when there is turmoil and disruption in your life, God’s presence comes and returns that peace that the world cannot give – the peace that goes beyond all understanding – let there be light. The light of Christ that breaks the darkness of the world which is affirmed by Jesus when he says – I AM the light of the world – and then Jesus sends you – you are the light of the world.

And from that first day of Creation God then begins to shape that order in life just as God shapes order into our lives – creating dry land to allow the growth of trees and vegetation. Then life is possible through birds of the air – fish in the sea – animals to roam the earth. And then the peak of creation – human beings – you and me - made in his image. Human beings created to care for the world and to be blessed by the world and all it produces. Being created in God’s image means we have unity with God – oneness with God. It’s what is known as “Shalom” in the Hebrew bible. A special relationship that Satan ruined through sin through deception when he got Eve to believe that being “like” God was better than being created in the image of God.

So we too need to be aware of anything that diminishes just how special we are to God as his creation – created in his image. God has created order and peace in the world and in our lives. And the Holy Trinity examples that peace and order. And that’s what Paul says also today: Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace - shalom; and the God of love and peace will be with you. And, he says, by this, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit – the Holy Trinity - be with all of you.

 

We might feel a little disappointed if we were expecting today’s reading to explain what the Trinity is. Unlike the past few weeks where things like The Ascension and Pentecost were quite easily detected in the Bible Readings, an explanation of the Trinity falls well short in today’s readings. Instead our Bible readings talk about relationships because that is exactly what the Trinity is about – relationships. We don’t try and understand “what” the Trinity is but rather “who” the Trinity is. And that’s what we discover in our Bible readings that the Trinity is about relationships. Firstly within God and then with one another.  That God has revealed himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit – an interpersonal relationship which we describe as One God in Three Person – Trinity – Triune- Tri-Unity. And then God calls us to live that unity with one another.

So our first reading describes that interpersonal unity of relationship in the beginning of Creation. You might not initially see it but here in the first 3 verses we see the Trinity at work although not mentioned. That God created the Heavens and the Earth. That’s how our creeds begin – I believe in God the Father maker of heaven and earth. Then we see the Holy Spirit hovering over the chaotic waters of the void earth looking to bring order out of chaos which Jesus did on that day when the disciples were locked away in fear – in chaos. He stood among them and said – peace be with you – shalom. And he breathed on them and said – receive the Holy Spirit. And now the world is ready and prepared for creation: God does this through his Word: Let there be light. This light is the Word that was in the beginning as John told us: In the beginning was the Word and the word was with God and the word was God – and the word became flesh and dwelt among us. And Jesus promises that in our Baptism he dwells with us forever – I am with you always till the end of the age.

So whatever is happening in your life. Whatever is causing any turmoil or chaos – God comes to you in a relationship to bring peace. To bring Shalom. Every time we worship God invites you to share his heavenly Sabbath – his day of rest to reset your life to prepare you for the week ahead. The Trinity is a model of beauty and peace where God dwells in harmony as Father, Son and Holy Spirit and invites you to come and rest in him and live in his peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Sermon 28th May 2023 – Pentecost Sunday Text: Acts 2:1-21 – Reconciled

 Sermon 28^th May 2023 – Pentecost Sunday

Text: Acts 2:1-21 – Reconciled

 

Today we celebrate a special occasion in the church that we call Pentecost Sunday. The word Pentecost simply means 50th because it is 50 days since Easter Sunday. It is considered to be the birth day of the Church as Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, preaches the first sermon to the people that had gathered at Jerusalem. The significance of Pentecost is reconciliation and bringing unity. On that day of Pentecost something very special happened. There were many nations and languages gathered in Jerusalem. This was Peter’s opportunity to share the resurrection miracle with them. But how could he and the other apostles do that? There was no common language. But then the miracle of Pentecost occurs. All of the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. They were able to speak in a language that everyone understood to the amazement of the people gathered there. Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? — we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”  Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

 

The confusion of languages goes back to The Tower of Babel because God wanted to spread out the population as the people had disobeyed God’s command to fill the earth.  And so the way to do that was to separate people by their languages. And as we know, this separation of languages has also been the source of much division in our world with things like racism, poverty in under-developed countries with wealthier countries looking after their own. Pentecost and the Christian faith is all about – reconciliation – bringing people back together through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And this is now the task we have been given as children of God – to bring reconciliation between God and humanity. St Paul in 2 Corinthians says:  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

 

We live in a world that is very divided, and today that division is very harmful whether it’s debates on the Voice to Parliament, Stan Grant walking away from the ABC or booing at the football. It is divided by race – by religion – by political viewpoints – you’re either on the left side or right side of politics and our attacks on each other are very harmful. And, sadly, the church is not immune to division as we well know. Reconciliation is about seeing past things that divide us to what unites us. Again St Paul says that in Christ there is no division – no Jew or Gentile – no slave or free – no male or female. And yet humanity seems to find things to divide us to the point of hatred and violence which is really sad because we are all one – all created in God’s image regardless of our gender or skin colour or anything.

 

In the church there are distinctions, as Paul points out –  There are varieties of gifts, there are varieties of services, there are varieties of activities. But, in each distinction he says – it is the same Lord and same Spirit. He lists the various gifts in the church - To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits,  to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

In each case – differences but all for the common good – not division.

 

As we go through life, we often encounter conflict and hurt that is brought about by divisions.  It may be with family members, friends, work colleagues – complete strangers – but sadly, also, in the church. These conflicts can leave deep wounds, causing pain and bitterness that can linger for years. And in the church they can cause separation and even a loss of faith.

But Christians are called to a higher standard.  We are called to love one another as Jesus loves us. And the standard that Jesus has left us is to even love our enemies just as the Good Samaritan looked past his division with the Jew who had been robbed and left for dead. And this means that we must be willing to seek reconciliation when conflicts arise rather than continue it. And that can be really hard as sometimes it means giving up our rights for our own justice or our own points of view to achieve reconciliation. We are called to bridge the divide that separates us and to restore relationships that have been broken.

 

There are many examples of reconciliation in the Bible.  Perhaps the most famous is the story of Joseph and his brothers. After being sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph rises to a position of power in Egypt. When his brothers come to him for help during a famine, Joseph has the opportunity to seek revenge. Instead, he forgives them and restores their relationship. And there is the Good Samaritan. Samaritans were hated by the Jews and mistreated. And when a Samaritan comes across a Jew who has been severely hurt he stops and helps him at his own expense rather than take pleasure in his hurt.

 

These stories remind us of the power of reconciliation. The ability to look past what divides us to what unites us. As we read in Paul’s letter – the Holy Spirit is given by the one God and Spirit to all with difference gifts -  likewise this same God loved the world so much that he sent his one and only Son to unite us to him in salvation through reconciliation. This act of reconciliation by God shows us that forgiveness and mercy can heal even the deepest wounds.  And they give us hope that we too can be reconciled with those who have hurt us.

 

Reconciliation is not always easy.  It requires humility, vulnerability, and a willingness to let go of our pride. But the rewards of reconciliation are immeasurable.  When we seek to reconcile with others, we are following in the footsteps of Christ.  We are embodying his love and his grace in the world.  And we are creating opportunities for healing, for growth, and for new beginnings. So let us consider where reconciliation may be needed in our own life.  

 

Is there someone you need to forgive?  Is there someone you need to ask for forgiveness from?  Is there a relationship that needs to be restored? May we be a people who seek reconciliation, who live in peace, and who embody the love of Christ in all that we do.

Sermon 21st May 2023 – Ascension Sunday Text: Acts 1:1-11 – Mission fulfilled

 Sermon 21^st May 2023 – Ascension Sunday

Text: Acts 1:1-11 – Mission fulfilled

 

Have you ever started a project and felt like giving up? Maybe you’ve been enthused to start a jigsaw puzzle and you get all the border pieces together but then all the centre pieces look the same so you just give up or lose interest. Or maybe you’ve started a health kick and the temptations of that comfort food – or the wet weather gives you an excuse to not exercise. By now most New Year’s Resolutions have been unfulfilled.

 

The Ascension today is about Jesus fulfilling what he came to do. Despite the suffering and humiliation he kept going and didn’t give up when many others would have. In fact, God’s plan began much earlier than Jesus’ birth but right back at creation when it is believed God prophesied the coming of a Saviour when God said to the serpent: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

It is believed that God is prophesying the birth of Christ coming to end Satan’s power and authority on earth through the offspring of a woman – Jesus born of Mary. So even though it has taken thousands of years to bring this plan to fulfilment God persisted and didn’t give up. Even though God at various times showed frustration: At the flood, in Noah’s time, God said he regretted ever creating human beings. On occasions he told Moses he was going to eradicate all the stiff-necked Israelites and start again with Moses. He cast them out of his sight from the Promised Land and into exile but brought them back after 70 years of heartache watching their misery.

 

So as Jesus is about to ascend Jesus said to his disciples, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you-- that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. The birth, death, resurrection and ascension are all part of that fulfillment of God’s plan spoken from the beginning of creation and God never gave up despite humanity constantly rejecting him. In fact, Paul says that it was God’s love for us that overcame that rejection when God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

The ascension of Jesus marks the end of Jesus' earthly ministry and the beginning of a new era for humanity which is the fulfilment of God’s masterplan for humanity.  But we can imagine the emotions on that day as Jesus stood before his disciples, promising them that he would return to Heaven and send the Holy Spirit to empower them to proclaim the good news throughout the world. The disciples had walked with Jesus for three years, but they were not yet fully equipped or confident to carry on his mission.  However, Jesus reassured them that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they would be his witnesses to the ends of the earth – and the Helper, the Holy Spirit would be with them.

 

As Jesus ascended into Heaven, the disciples stood there in amazement, gazing up at the sky.  But as they stood there, two angels appeared to them and asked them why they were looking up at the sky. The angels reminded them that Jesus would return in the same way that he had ascended into Heaven. Until then they needed to go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth: Why these 4 places?

 

Jerusalem was their home. Likewise Jesus sends us to our homes. Our earthly homes and our spiritual homes – the church. Live out your faith with your households. Learn to love – to forgive – to serve – with those who are closest. Then once you have practiced and perfected – go to your neighbours – your Judea. Your work – your schools – your sports – your local community. Example your faith there – love, forgive, serve, And as Peter said – always be prepared to give the reason for the hope you have. Then we are challenged to go to our Samaria. Stretch your comfort zone – love your enemies – turn the other cheek. Make the first move to reconcile with someone with whom you have become estranged. Love them – forgive them – seek forgiveness – serve them. And then to the ends of the earth. One of the great blessings of Covid has been this last move by churches including our own. Taking the Gospel outside our 4 walls by livestreams – recordings – and the like. Invite your friends to watch the videos. Share them on your social media pages. Send links to your friends – hey check this out it really spoke to me. It’s so much easier and less confronting that inviting them to church where they know nobody.

 

As much as we would love Jesus to return today and take us away from our earthly woes, our task has not been fulfilled – to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. And we are not to give up like a thousand piece jigsaw of a blue sky where it seems impossible and complete the mission Jesus has sent us to do. The ascension began a new era for Christianity for us, as the Holy Spirit empowers us to continue Jesus' mission of proclaiming the good news of salvation and bringing God's Kingdom to earth. And remember what Jesus said a couple weeks ago: In John chapter 14 Jesus said: Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. The Ascension empowers us to do even greater things than Jesus in his earthly ministry. Jesus’ words, not mine!

 

As we reflect on the ascension of Jesus, let us remember that we are called to be his witnesses in the world. We are called to spread the message of hope and love to all those around us and to be a light in the darkness and a voice of compassion in a world that desperately needs it. May we be inspired by the example of the disciples who, after experiencing the ascension of Jesus, were filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to fulfil Jesus’ mission. Let us also be filled with the Holy Spirit and be faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ in the world today to the ends of the earth.

 

It might sound daunting – it might sound like it’s out of your ability but Jesus said also in John chapter 14 – I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. Let us ask Jesus to give us the strength, courage and the words and actions to be his light to those around us to the ends of the earth. We have the Gospel with us today because the eye witness of those 40 days Jesus walked the earth shared the Good News with others. May we, too, ensure future generations of this Good News by continue to share the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Sermon 14th May 2023 – 6th Sunday of Easter Text: Acts 17:22-31 – The Unknown God revealed

 Sermon 14^th May 2023 – 6^th Sunday of Easter

Text: Acts 17:22-31 – The Unknown God revealed

 

There is a well-known understanding that history has a tendency to repeat itself. It might be in the area of fashion or music tastes. But what we see happening in the time of Paul in our first reading has unmistakable characteristics of history repeating itself today in regards to peoples’ understanding of or rather a lack of understanding of God. What Paul sees is a society not dissimilar to our own. Don’t we often hear that people are spiritual but not religious? Well, that’s what we seem to be seeing here. Don’t we hear of a disillusionment towards institutionalized religion and churches?

 

Here in our first reading we have Paul, in Athens, standing in front of the Areopagus saying, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. He went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of their worship and found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god’ Isn’t that the challenge before us today? An “unknown god” rather than a rejection of God. Admittedly, yes there are many who reject the belief in God completely, but, I believe that there is a significant and perhaps growing search for truth and meaning in life. As people become more and more disillusioned with life many are seeking a “higher power” to give them hope of there being more to life.

 

You might disagree with me but if this is the case, if there is an openness to a spiritual awakening then how do we connect people with the One True God as Jesus said last week: I am the Way, the Truth and the Life – no one comes to the Father except through me. Well, first of all, we need to understand that this is not something we can do on our own. There is the need to have the Holy Spirit enable us: Jesus said, ”If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

 

Luther gives the same explanation in his Small Catechism: I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. Remember Peter. When he bravely and boldly declared to Jesus – even if everyone else abandons you, I NEVER WILL.

Peter was speaking on his own strength. And that’s why Jesus said to his disciples to not rush into witness their faith: Jesus said: repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” And notice the change in this frightened Peter once he had been clothed with the Holy Spirit: The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of Jesus’ blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!

 

What a difference from the one who denied Jesus 3 times now denying to keep silence. The difference – the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost. So we must pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower everything we do as we GO into the world to witness.

 

The 2nd thing we need to learn is that we cannot argue someone to faith. You’ve probably seen the street preachers accusing people of their sins on the way to work or just going about their daily lives. You’ve probably had a knock on the door and it’s either the Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses. I’m not saying anything bad about them but it’s not always that effective unless you just so happen to catch a person who is at that time looking for something.

Peter gives much better advice: In your hearts revere Christ as Lord and 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.

 

So, 3 things Peter highlights.

 

First, you revere Christ in your heart. Build up your faith – pray – read your Bibles – worship. Show your faith in all that you do every day in the way you treat others, not just at Church.

 

Secondly, as they say in the Boy Scouts – be prepared. Someone may see that your life is different.

As Jesus said before he was arrested – love one another as I have loved you and by this everyone will know that you’re my disciples. Be prepared that someone may ask you about the hope you have. Aren’t you worried about climate change – the wars in the world – the economic collapse. Or if you’re going through a tough time with your health they might ask you – aren’t you afraid of dying. As Peter said - Do not fear what they fear. Here is your opportunity to share your faith and explain how you’ve handed everything over to God who created you – who created everything that exists. That’s what Paul did in Athens at the Areopagus – He found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’

 

Paul then replied: What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to  you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. Notice Paul starts with Creation.

 

And thirdly Peter says: Do this with gentleness and respect. Don’t make them fell worse than they may already be feeling. Don’t come in with God’s Law if it’s God’s Gospel they need to hear. Now, it may not work.

You may get rejected. You may get ridiculed. But, again, remember what Peter says: But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. It’s not easy witnessing your faith and there may be an occasion where you need to preach a word of warning to someone as Paul did: God commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

But again, as Peter says – do this with gentleness and respect.

 

Friends, we have a great opportunity before us and possibly the ground has never been richer. There will be rocks and thorns and Satan against us but remember the parable of the sower – he kept sowing despite the harsh elements and some of those seeds fell on fertile ground producing a great harvest. And remember what Jesus said – the harvest is plentiful – the workers are few – therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest which is you and me wherever God sends us. But do this with gentleness and respect.

 

 

Sermon 7th May 2023 – 5th Sunday of Easter Text: John 14:1-14 – God in the driver’s seat

 Sermon 7^th May 2023 – 5^th Sunday of Easter

Text: John 14:1-14 – God in the driver’s seat

 

I’m not sure how many of you use a GPS when you’re driving your car but how much trust do you put in it? Last week I had to drive into town during peak hour and my GPS detected a traffic jam on the route I had planned to go. I don’t like it when I have worked out what I’m going to do and something changes it. It took me through side streets that I’ve never been down and I had no idea where I was or which way it was taking me and I thought of turning of the GPS and taking my chances with the traffic jam because at least I knew that route. But I persisted and fairly soon I was back onto a major road that I recognized.

 

Sometimes the GPS throws up an alternative route and says similar time or sometimes it might say 5 minutes slower but no tolls to pay – so I have to make a decision. Am I prepared to take 5 minutes longer and save some money. They are quite intelligent – I have no idea how they work – but I place a lot of trust in my GPS.  

 

Sometimes I place more trust in my GPS telling me which way to go than I do God. Which reminds me a lot of the Apostle Peter when Jesus told him the way they were going: That he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.  Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Then there was the time he decided to abandon his route and walk on the water towards Jesus but saw the traffic jam ahead –  the wind and the waves – and took his eyes off the road ahead where Jesus was and began to sink. Or the time when Jesus was about to be arrested and he said: “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” And we know that Peter turned off that route and denied Jesus 3 times – 3 times he detoured.

 

But let’s not be too critical of Peter as we can probably all recall our own times of not trusting in God to lead us out of troubling time and relying on our own navigation. As human beings we do have a tendency to want to be in control of our destiny. We learn that from an early age. Study hard, get a good education – get a good job – save – buy your own home – have a good investment strategy. This will lead your life down the right path. But what if something happens along the way – sickness, death, job loss? Don’t we often get told how much we need in order to retire – and it can sound rather frightening when it looks like we’re not in control of our future. In fear, a lot of people try to create their own destiny hoping to win the lottery to secure their future. And so you often hear people say after a win – “this is life changing”. It’s not really. It’s just money. Money has no control over your future – it just makes you feel comfortable about the future in the present time.

 

At the end of the day – rich or poor – we all face the same destiny as we hear when we attend a funeral. Dust we are – to dust we shall return. And often that is what we are really frightened about. We feel that if I can secure my earthly future I don’t have to worry about anything after that. And that’s what Jesus is attempting to teach his disciples today as he is preparing them for their future after his death. A time when they will be unsure about the future with their teacher and leader gone which has the potential to cause great distress. We see that distress after Jesus’ death when the disciples were locked away for fear of what was going to happen to them. But now Jesus assures them that they don’t need to worry about the future because he has assured it for them: Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.”

 

But Thomas, the one who will forever be known as doubting Thomas, is not convinced: Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? And that’s where Jesus gives the definitive answer – the answer by which we find true security and comfort today also: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

The need to be in control is ingrained into our human psyche. I’ve mentioned it before – Adam and Eve are the prime example. Despite having all they needed and wanted they were tricked into taking control of their life and “being like God”. The Israelites constantly grumbled and wanted to go back to Egypt where they knew where their next meal was coming from rather than the insecurity of wandering in the desert wondering where their next meal and drink would come from. Jonah actually went in the opposite direction to which God directed him because he was afraid. Maybe you’re unsure of what the future holds. Interest rates – cost of living – your health – your retirement – Maybe these are causing you to have fears and doubts. Jesus says to you today also – don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust God – Trust Jesus.

 

I realise sometimes that means letting go of the steering wheel and letting God take over. But Jesus has made a very special promise to us: Would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you if I wasn’t? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going. People try to find all sorts of paths to future security but there is only one path to true security – eternal security. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to the Father – to eternal assurance – except through Jesus.

 

Following my GPS gives me assurance of reaching my destination but if something happens while on my way – a flat tyre – an accident that has just happened = then it cannot continue to assure me of when or if I will arrive on that route it has chosen. But Jesus assures us no matter what happens in life that we will reach our heavenly destination through him and until we are there he promises “I am with you always till the end of the age”.