Sermon 24th July 2022 – 7th Sunday after Pentecost Text: - Luke 11:1-13 – Lord teach us to pray

 Sermon 24^th July 2022 – 7^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: - Luke 11:1-13 – Lord teach us to pray

 

When there is a tragedy you often hear people respond to the victim saying our thoughts and prayers are with you. While there’s nothing wrong with that and I’m sure people appreciate the sentiment it’s concerning if that is all that we see prayer as – a sentiment reduced to something like our positive thoughts. In fact you may even hear a person say – I’m sending you positive energy. That’s NOT prayer.

 

Prayer is entering into the presence of God to seek his help and counsel. So many underestimate the power of prayer with a sort of defeatist attitude believing that if fate has decided something how can we possibly change it. But just look at our Old Testament reading today. God had decided to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness. Could Abraham really have changed God’s mind? If God has decided something then who are we to change his mind. Some believe in what is known as predestination. That the future is written by God and we cannot change it. In fact it would be blasphemous to think that we, mere mortals, could change God’s mind. But the people of Nineveh did it. God told them that in 40 days he would destroy them. But when they heard about that from Jonah the people and animals of Nineveh all repented and it says that God repented from his anger to destroy them and forgave them.

 

And, so too, here in our Old Testament reading Abraham has entered into God’s counsel to plead on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah. And so Abraham bargains with God. Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it?  And the Lord said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake."  So Abraham continues, Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?"  And God again said: "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there."  And so Adam, like being at an auction, goes down and down in increments.  What about forty – what about thirty – what about twenty. And finally, suppose ten are found there. And God answered, For the sake of ten I will not destroy it. Sadly, God couldn’t even find 10 righteous people there. But if he could, because of Abraham’s prayer, God was prepared to change his mind.

 

So we need to be bold with our prayers. But, you might ask, has prayer actually ever achieved anything. Each week we pray to God, but has it worked? We still see catastrophic events in the world. We see fire, flood, earthquakes, wars. Didn’t we pray for God to cease them? Well, yes we did. But what we don’t know is what has been averted because of our prayers. We don’t know if World War 3 was averted because we prayed for peace. We don’t know if more devastating floods were averted because we prayed about it. So we are called to pray faithfully trusting God that he hears our prayers and answers them according to his grace and mercy. But we have to match that with living in a fallen world with a free will where things happen because of the sinful circumstances our world lives in.

 

Prayer is often misunderstood as wishing for something. So when something that we pray for doesn’t happen we presume that God has not heard our prayer or has declined our prayer. Prayer is often a realignment of our lives with God’s. Like when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane as he prepared to go to the cross to die for our sins. Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Earlier Jesus had told his disciples that “with God all things are possible”. So, yes, it was possible to take the cup of suffering from Jesus but what was God’s will?

 

So often, after exhausting times, Jesus would retreat to a solitary place where he would pray to his Father in Heaven.

So quite often the answer to our prayer is not so much our will being done but a realigning of our life with God’s. But, having said that, sometimes God does intervene, like he did with Nineveh, but other times it is trusting in God’s knowledge of a situation which we cannot understand at times. As the Book of Hebrews, chapter 11 says - faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. And just because we don’t see a change when we’ve prayed about a situation doesn’t mean it is wrong to pray again about the same situation, like Abraham did – several times pushing God to save Sodom and Gomorrah – and in the end Abraham having to trust God’s judgement.

 

But on the contrary we have Jesus example of prayer to show persistence in prayer: Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' And he answers from within, `Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

We saw that persistence in the Canaanite woman: Initially Jesus rejected her request to heal her daughter. “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” But she didn’t give up: The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. Again, Jesus refused: He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” And, yet again, she persisted

 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

 

So prayer has several parts: First of all, ASK. Don’t presume God will say no. Don’t be afraid to ask God for help. Not as a last resort but speaking to him as your Heavenly Father as you would speak to your earthly parent. That’s why the Lord’s Prayer begins – Our Father in Heaven. It’s very personal.

 

Secondly, we are asked to trust. Just as Jesus trusted – not my will be done but yours. Sometimes we don’t understand why God allows things to happen or doesn’t prevent things from happening. And that’s what trust is all about. God is our heavenly Father. He created us in his own image. He loves us so much that he sent his Son to die for us. Why would he not continue to act in a loving way towards us. Remember that our perfect life is waiting for us in Heaven. Until then we live in an imperfect, fallen world with free-will.

 

What prayer helps us with in that time is to know that our Heavenly Father is with us. And that he strengthens us to cope with those situations. But there will be times when God will intervene, like the persistent widow in our Gospel reading – like the persistent Canaanite mother, like Nineveh. But there will be times like Sodom and Gomorrah where we have to trust in God. But the important thing is that we keep praying. And when we just don’t know what to pray then Jesus has given us his own prayer to pray. When you just don’t have the strength to pray then God himself, though the Holy Spirit will pray for us, as Paul says in Romans: The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

 

We don’t always understand God’s will or ways but St Paul encourages us, in his letter to the Philippians – to not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Sermon 17th July 2022 – 6th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 10:38-42 – Listen to Jesus

 Sermon 17^th July 2022 – 6^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 10:38-42 – Listen to Jesus

O for the life of Mary. To be able to have the freedom and luxury of sitting at Jesus’ feet free of the busyness of life that has captured Martha. Martha is like so many of our church families. They scramble to keep their family’s heads above financial waters with both parents working, juggling school pickups – whose turn is it to take them to Auskick – in between you have to take another child to dancing or netball.  Wouldn’t we all love the “luxury” of sitting at Jesus’ feet while everyone else is running around? Or what about the parents who work 5 days a week and Saturday is sports and house work – Sunday is our only day off.

As a Pastor I feel for them and would never make anyone feel guilty and hope that they know that being a member of our church is not just about coming to church on Sunday but about maintaining a relationship with God. Something that Martha has slipping away from her through her busyness and distractions.

Our issue is that we are tied heavily to our budget and offerings which have traditionally been received on Sunday. So there has been this mission outreach motivated by what many churches refer to as “giving units”. I really dislike that term referring to a member of the body of Christ as a “giving unit”. What we need to do and hopefully our review is going to lead us on that path is to rediscover our mission and ministry focus to our wider community which includes all of our church family.

What is sad about the Martha situation is that she is the example we are to follow when it comes to mission outreach. That might sound strange especially considering Jesus says she has become distracted. But notice that Jesus didn’t tell her to stop what she is doing and come and sit at my feet. Listen again to the start of the Gospel reading:

As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.

That’s the crux of mission – welcoming; welcoming the stranger. We want Martha in our congregation – not for the work she does – although that’s great too – but we want the welcoming nature of Martha who welcomed Jesus into her home. Mary experiences the blessings of Martha’s invitation and hospitality sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to him. If Martha had not welcomed Jesus into her home then Mary would not have had the privilege of sitting at Jesus’ feet.

But what’s interesting about this reading, particularly as we pair it with our Old Testament reading, is the welcoming of God into our midst. Remember, this was no ordinary guest she invited in.  This was Jesus. The was God.

In our Old Testament reading Abraham and Sarah are visited by 3 strangers who turn out to be 3 angels – perhaps the Holy Trinity? When Abraham sees them he doesn’t ask what they want but extends hospitality by rushing and getting food and drink for them. I wonder whether this is a lesson to us as church.

In our busyness of getting everything done – in our efforts to evangelise – have we begun by inviting God into our midst? In our meeting with Pastor Brett Kennett recently regarding our review, he said we are so used to the phrase “don’t just sit there, do something” which is often how churches evangelise. We have to do the latest mission program that everyone else is doing. Pastor Brett suggested that in church as we focus on mission and evangelism we need to turn that around. Don’t just do something – sit there. He wasn’t suggesting that we just sit on our hands – but like Mary, we need to sit at the feet of Jesus again as the foundation of our mission and ministry.

Martha’s biggest issue is that her hospitality has been distracted by her anger at her sister. Her hospitality is important. Her hospitality invited Jesus into her home.

And as the Book of Hebrews reminds us - Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. But in her anger Martha now tells Jesus what he has to do and it has nothing to do with mission or evangelism – tell my sister to help me. That’s not mission when we tell God what he should be doing in his church.

Notice that Jesus doesn’t say to Martha – just stop all your fussing and come and sit down. No. He tries to let her know that in her distraction she has shifted her focus from welcoming Jesus into her home and heart and in her anger has now sinned – she has given Satan a foothold into her life as St Paul warns against.

She now wants to tell Jesus how he should act – Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me. She is now directing Jesus’ mission. What was once a welcoming hostess has now decided how Jesus should act. Her mission began well – welcoming Jesus into her heart and home. And perhaps that’s the lesson for us as we seek to do God’s mission.

First – invite Jesus in as our guest.Allow Jesus to speak to us as we sit at his feet. Wasn’t that what God said about Jesus at his Baptism and Transfiguration – this is my Son whom I love – “listen to him”.

Secondly, as a welcoming church, perhaps that’s where we can begin our mission and ministry – by inviting. I know that inviting strangers is not that easy but we have a whole congregation of members who have not worshipped in a long time particularly since Covid. And Sunday morning church is not always the first place they have to receive an invitation.

Perhaps, like Martha, an invitation to our homes to rebuild connections or even to begin a connection. Just look at the example that Jesus left us. His invitation to have a meal with Zacchaeus. His visit to Simon the Pharisee. The constant complaint against him – he eats with sinners. Jesus didn’t say “go to the synagogue” as his mission and evangelism but lived out hospitality in his life. Even after his resurrection when he met the disciples on the beach he had breakfast waiting for them.

Let us revisit our membership directory and have a look at the names in there and how many there are that we have not seen or whom you do not know. And remember that as we invite the stranger into our homes we are inviting Jesus. As much as you did this for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you did unto me. As Martha invited Jesus into her home – and as Mary sat at the feet of Jesus to listen to him – in the words of Jesus in the parable of the Good Samaritan, let us go and do likewise.

Sermon 10th July 2022 – 5th Sunday after Pentecost Text - Luke 10:25-37 – Go and do likewise

 Sermon 10^th July 2022 – 5^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text - Luke 10:25-37 – Go and do likewise

 

I’m a fairly practical person and when I have to do something I like to have instructions. So when I’m confronted with a problem or a new situation I like to ask. What do I have to do? I like to follow instructions and I like to follow procedures. Not everyone’s like that. Some are very good at just looking at the situation and getting on with it. I’m like the lawyer in the Gospel reading today. He goes up to Jesus and asks him for the instructions and procedures. What must I do to inherit eternal life? He wants the instructions.

 

Now, Jesus knows that he is trying to test him. Jesus knows he’s a lawyer so he sends him off to the Law book with all the instructions and procedures. "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" And so he recites it: He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."  Jesus affirms him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live." That’s very straightforward for the Lawyer. But now the lawyer wants further clarification and instruction: Who is my neighbor?

 

Now it gets challenging. Now it moves from instruction and procedure to the practice of it. It goes from theory to practice.

I remember my own experience. Five years studying at the Seminary with all that theory and then your first placement and it’s nothing like what you learnt. In fact many Pastors find themselves in deep water when they get to their first Parish and start to apply what they learnt. They begin to change everything because that’s what they learnt but soon discover that life in the real world is nothing like the theory they learnt. And so today, the Lawyer, is given a life lesson. Yes, he knows the written law but does he know the life application. What it truly means to love God with all his heart and his neighbour as himself. To go and do likewise as the Good Samaritan did who looked past his personal likes and dislikes and saw a neighbour in need. Who did not discriminate against those who discriminated against him. The Priest and the Levite did not do that. Even though it was one of their own people – the rule book said they could not touch a dead body and serve in the temple because they would become unclean. So they crossed to the other side because they didn’t know if the traveller was alive or dead. And Jesus life application – go and do likewise as the Good Samaritan did.

 

We too are asked, like the Good Samaritan, to go and do likewise. To look for opportunities to help those in need. To not turn a blind eye or cross over to the other side when we see someone in need because it might inconvenience us. This is the Law of Love at work which is not followed by the letter of the law as the Lawyer sought to do but as we read in Jeremiah: The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant. It will not be like the covenant made with their ancestors declares the Lord. “This is the covenant I will make “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.

 

In the parable that Jesus told, the priest and Levite, according to their written law, were not allowed to touch a dead body. 

They thought the traveler was dead and chose to observe the written law of Moses and ignored the heart law of loving God.

And since the traveler is created in the image of God they ignored love of God with all their heart by ignoring love of neighbour. Jesus intentionally used a Samaritan as the example of love to pierce their hearts. And remember, the traveler he helped was not a Samaritan but a fellow Jew to the priest and Levite. The parable of the Good Samaritan challenges our excuses to justify why we might sometimes turn away. Or sometimes we might not turn away but intentionally ensure we don’t go to places where we might encounter the need to help someone. Sometimes we ‘cross the road’ very early before we even see the problem. We don’t have to travel too far from our home to see an opportunity and sometimes we might not even know those opportunities have presented themselves like another parable Jesus told: The righteous will say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.

 

And, as we know, it’s easy to turn that blind eye and make ourselves feel quite comfortable about it: Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. As Christians we have an opportunity to make a great difference in the world by reaching out to our neighbour in need. Who is our neighbour – anyone that God presents into our life that needs help – even our enemies.

That help can be physical help – if your enemy is hungry feed them, Jesus says. That help can be spiritual – as Jesus says – pray for those who persecute you.

 

In the business world there is a principal known as the 80/20 rule. That is that 20% of the people do 80% of the work.

In the latest census it was revealed that Christians make up 43.9% of the Australian population. Don’t despair. That’s double the 20% that do 80% of the work. That’s a big difference we can make in the world. But not if we turn a blind eye when we are needed. We live in a world where there are needy neighbors at our very doorstep.

 

It’s very easy to adopt an attitude of – there’s nothing I can do so I’ll do nothing. The Good Samaritan provides us with an example to follow. First, we must see the hurting neighbour.  We cannot dismiss this person or rationalize the suffering – for example – they deserved what they got – it’s all their own fault.  We must recognise the suffering. This is not easy,  especially in today’s world, where we are bombarded by so many images of all types of suffering, including our own.

 

Sadly we have become desensitized to all the suffering because there is so much of it.  We don’t cross the road literally but we – change the channel – delete the emails as Junk Mail, we throw out the letters from charities without even opening them because we know they will just be asking for money. But sometimes it’s not money but prayer that they need. Like Jesus and the Good Samaritan we need to feel the compassion again.  We are truly to see somebody in need. Certainly we can’t help every needy person on the planet which is often the reason we don’t help. But there will be somebody with whom we have contact with that we can help. And we will discover that we are the right person in the right place at the right time because God has led us there. And as we help, our hearts become even more aware of the person in need before us.

 

“Who is my neighbor? will be there before us, as plain as day in the one whom God has put in our path. The question, who is my neighbour, is a question we do not ask. Just as Jesus didn’t ask, whose sins am I dying for. We are all children of God. We are all created in the image of God. We are all neighbours of each other. So in as much as we ignore the needs of anyone then we are ignoring the needs of God in whose image they are created.

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.