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”.

Sermon 30th April 2023 - 4th Sunday of Easter Text John 10:1-10 – more than a number

 Sermon 30^th April 2023 - 4^th Sunday of Easter

Text John 10:1-10 – more than a number

 

Do you get frustrated like I do with having to remember so many numbers. What’s your mobile phone number? What’s your customer number? What’s your PIN number? What’s your licence number? What’s your medicare number? And with so many scams these days even with your Password protecting your bank and other accounts they have what’s called “2 step verification”. What that means is after you’ve put in your account number and password you get a text message with a separate number you need to enter as a 2nd password. Gone are the days when your name was your identity. When your name was trusted.

 

Names are important. God’s name was given to Moses as his protection against Pharoah. Jesus was given the name that is above all names that at the NAME of Jesus every knee would bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. Not at his NUMBER. In fact in the Book of Revelation warns about the Beast who would be identified by his NUMBER – 666. How comforting to know that as Christians we are not numbers to God but baptized into the name of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It’s interesting to compare that with our pets that we call them by name – we assign them a name.. It’s only humans that are being reduced to numbers and those numbers become very impersonal.

 

We constantly hear how our population number is getting too big as our population number edges towards 8 billion. We devalue the importance of human beings by referring to humanity in number tolls. We have to reduce our population because of climate change and overuse of resources – but isn’t every person a child of God? We have to get the road toll down to an acceptable number. Even if we get it down to ONE – that’s ONE too many especially if it’s your loved one.

 

God’s relationship with us is personal. We are brought into God’s family through our Baptism. And as a result, our relationship with one another is described as family – brothers and sisters in Christ. And we see an example of how that looks in our first reading from Acts: All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.

And what we discover through this is that this is the secret of mission. This is the secret of church growth. There is no point going out into the world and inviting others to become part of a fractured family that doesn’t get along. A family that argues with each other and puts one another down.

 

No – we see how this family of disciples through their “family love” drew people into their family as day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. Did you hear that – THE LORD added to their number. They didn’t add to their number; the LORD added to their number. It wasn’t a program or worship style – they broke bread – they prayed – they shared. In fact Jesus revealed that very same secret to his disciples before he was put to death: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. Again, did you hear that “By this” – by loving one another – everyone will know you are my disciples.

 

Jesus calls us into a very special relationship with himself as our Good Shepherd which is a very protective relationship against those who seek to do us harm. He is quite specific about the harm these “false shepherds” intend calling them a thief and a bandit with the intention to steal and kill and destroy. On the other hand, Jesus calls us to have life, and have it abundantly. We get an image in our Psalm of that abundant life: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters. He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake. Did you hear that – for his NAME’S sake.

 

It doesn’t mean our life is without difficulty as Christians. No, our Psalm speaks about the valley of the shadow of death but in those time we won’t be afraid because our Good Shepherd will be with us. And sometimes our Good Shepherd disciplines us when we go off track – his rod and his staff – they comfort us. A rod and staff were used for correction to lead back to safety. Much like a lead on a dog can be uncomfortable when used to disciple a dog that wanders toward the road and you have to yank them back. Sometimes our Good Shepherd prunes which can be harsh but produces new and lush fruit. In fact, St Peter says similar about those times:

It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.

 

As our Good Shepherd, Jesus is leading us forward to the place he knows we need to be. Sometimes that requires a lot of faith and trust and sometimes a harsh rebuke when we wander away like Peter did – get back behind me Satan. Peter wanted to lead the way which was not the way Jesus spoke of and was told to fall back in line behind the shepherd. And that’s because he is protecting us from the things that lay ahead.

They have to go through him – much like a hero in a movie protecting his loved one who stands in the way and says “you have to go through me first”. Or even more appropriate – over “my dead body” – which is exactly what Jesus has done to protect us. He has placed his crucified and risen body in front of us to protect us: He says - “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.

 

As our gate he is both the one through whom we enter our eternal rest and the one through whom the enemy must go to get to us – who only want to kill, steal and destroy – but they can’t. Because Jesus has defeated them and won the battle for us. By his wounds you have been healed.  For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. You are not a number – you are a child of God for whom Christ has died.

 

So may the peace of God that surpasses our understanding watch over you now and forever. Amen

 

 

 

Sermon Easter Sunday – Main Service Text: Matthew 28:1-10

 Sermon Easter Sunday – Main Service

Text: Matthew 28:1-10

A blessed Easter to all of you! Today, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This is the greatest day in the Christian calendar, and it reminds us of the hope, forgiveness, and salvation that Christ has brought to us. As we gather together to celebrate this joyful day, let us remember the meaning of the resurrection and what it teaches us about our faith and our lives.

First and foremost, the resurrection proves that Jesus is the Son of God.  He was not just an ordinary man or a great prophet, but he was truly divine, and his resurrection testified to that fact.  The empty tomb was a powerful sign that Jesus had triumphed over the greatest of all enemies - death and sin, and that his sacrifice on the cross was not defeat but victory for us.

But the resurrection is not just about Jesus, it is also about us, because, as St Paul says in Romans chapter 6 - just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too will live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.  The resurrection means new life that we have through Christ. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, we too can rise from the deadness of our sins and be reborn in the likeness of Christ. We are forgiven, cleansed, and empowered to live a new life in Christ.

Today's gospel passage from Matthew tells us the story of how the women who had come to the tomb found it empty, and how they were met by an angel who proclaimed to them the good news that Jesus had risen from the dead. The women who discovered the empty tomb and heard the angel's message did not keep the news to themselves. They immediately went and told the disciples, who also encountered the risen Lord.  They too were commissioned to go and share the news of Jesus' resurrection with the world. As followers of Christ in today's world, we too are called to share this good news of the resurrection in a world that is desperately in need of Good News.

We are commissioned like the women and the disciples who were bold and unafraid to proclaim the truth of God's love and the hope of salvation that is made available through Jesus Christ. And as we hear in the Great Commission later in the chapter we are commissioned to go to all nations with this Good News. Now that might sound overwhelming but we have the promise of Jesus that he will be with us everywhere and at all times until the end of the age.

We live in a world that is in desperate need of hope and healing and we have the Good News for that – the Good News of Easter Day where Jesus is victorious over death – the worse the world can do to us. A world where fear, uncertainty, and division are prevalent.  But the good news of the resurrection calls us to courage and faith, knowing that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead can transform our lives and bring us hope and peace. So let us celebrate today the hope and joy that only the resurrection of Jesus brings us.

Let us be inspired to share this good news with all those around us, offering them the chance to experience the transforming power of God's love in their lives as we have received. May the risen Lord be with you always, and may his peace fill your hearts today and always. So, on this Easter Sunday, let us remember that the resurrection invites us to live for Christ, to spread his Gospel as Mary did and the Apostles. We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves.

And what better way to show love than to share with them the Good News of Easter to  bring them hope of eternal life in Heaven. And to forgive those who have wronged us, and to show kindness, mercy, and compassion to all people. So, let us celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with joy and gratitude, and let us be inspired by his example of love and service. Let us live each day as a witness to his resurrection.

Let us share the good news of salvation with all those we meet. And may God bless you abundantly, and may you have a blessed Easter with your friends and family. Amen.

Easter Sunday – Dawn Service Text: John 20:1-18

 Easter Sunday – Dawn Service

Text: John 20:1-18

 

Given our hindsight we presume we would have acted differently to Mary at the open grave.

“Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

But Mary was caught up in grief and trauma.  Where is he?   “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

 

As she returns she misses even the obvious – that, as Jesus promised, he would rise from the dead. She misses the angels, dressed in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been laid. “Woman why are you weeping?” “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” And even after that when she senses another person behind her and turns around her grief  culminates. She assumes this man she is speaking to is the gardener, maybe even the guilty thief:

“Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

 

These first words spoken to the resurrected Christ certainly are a long way from how we greet him  today: Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.” You see, Mary was caught up in what St Paul calls “the Old Adam”. The Old Adam afflicts all of us.  It is seeing the world with Jesus hidden which makes us think that Sin and Death are in charge. The Old Adam convinces us into wanting to go back to the past, to the good old days much like Israel kept wanting to go back to Egypt even though it was back-breaking slavery.  Mary was wanting to go back to the Old Jesus – looking for dead body of Jesus rather than the risen glorified body. The Old Adam keeps looking to the world to make us secure – our possessions, our careers, our money.  The Old Adam says the world is filled with winners and losers, firsts and lasts, and we’d better do everything we can to be winners.

 

Mary was caught up in the Old Adam, and she can’t get past that Jesus had died and therefore that he has risen..  She was blaming everyone: Who took his body?!  She couldn’t see that the linen cloths were rolled up so nicely in the corner of the tomb meaning something special has happened.  If you’ve ever had your house broken into, thieves don’t leave things nice and tidy. She couldn’t see the angels in front of her trying to reveal the truth of what happened. Mary couldn’t even recognize the resurrected Jesus Christ in front of her because she was still caught up in what Jesus’ calls “the old order of things”. But Jesus has come to make all things new.

 

And then he calls her by name “Mary” And now, like Peter at the transfiguration “let me build 3 shelters” she wants to keep Jesus to herself and remain in that moment.  But Jesus is not just for her but for the whole world. “Do not hold on to me… but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ And then the old Adam is drowned – falling away, like the scales on St. Paul’s eyes, and she saw for the first time with resurrection vision of the New Adam.

 

The New Adam looks away from ourselves and all of our problems to take in the beauty of Jesus’ resurrected presence everywhere. Resurrection vision enables us to trust that all things work together for good for those who are called by God. Resurrection sees the world as God’s world  – no winners or losers: Where the first are last and the last first. Resurrection vision sees the opposite.

Where God uses the least qualified, least educated, least righteous, least “good” people to be his witnesses in the world; People like Moses, a man who had a fear of public speaking. People like David, the youngest of all the brothers who used a slingshot and a pebble to defeat evil. People like Paul, who had been a violent persecutor of Jesus’ people. People like Thomas who refused to believe that Jesus rose from the dead unless he could see and touch him personally. Or Zacchaeus, despised by everyone except Jesus.

 

Resurrection vision sees that God sent his only Son into the world, not to condemn the world – that’s the Old Adam – the Old Order of things – but that the world might be saved through him. Let us go from here with that Resurrection Vision knowing that with God, all things are possible. That money, possession, fame and careers aren’t the centre of the universe but God. Let us go knowing that whatever is before us that God has promised to be with us always till the end of the age. And let us remember that God also sees us with Resurrection Vision as created in his image, redeemed by Jesus, despite what the world makes of us.

 

God will look out for you just as he did the lost sheep, the Israelite slaves in Egypt, the woman at the well, the despised Zacchaeus. Because of the resurrection God is at work, in you and through you to bring resurrection hope to the world as did Mary and the disciples. So, like Mary, let us go and tell the others that Jesus is alive.

 

That Christ is risen – he has risen indeed.