Lenten Loving - Sermon

This is the text from my sermon preached at Pudsey Parish church last night, 9 March 2014, for the 1st Sunday of Lent. The texts were Deuteronomy 6:4-9,16-25 and Luke 15:1-10. Inevitably, my actual preach included stuff not here, and certainly didn't include everything present, but here it is.

Picture the scene, it’s late on a Thursday night, and I’m calling in at Pudsey Asda for a few bits, including a card for Jen, my wife. I travelate downstairs and discover the card aisle full of men, jostling for position to find a last minute card. The date, the 13^th February. What were we all doing there: desperately trying to find a last minute Valentine’s card.

Now I must confess to being habitually inept at birthdays, anniversaries and Valentine’s day. But I was peculiarly struck at the scene. Here we all were, apparently forgetful and (dare-I-say-it) unromantic souls, worried about upsetting our significant other by failing to provide a token of our love on the most romantic day of the year. Woe betide any man who fails to produce the goods. I chatted with another chap in the same boat. We complained that we had been duped by the media and card manufacturers, but also our partners. After all, we’d often been told: let’s not worry about Valentine Cards this year, which of course is a trap. You should always buy a card!!

For many, Valentine’s Day is not spontaneous: it’s a requirement, a law – you shall love your partner. And something in us resents being told what to do, especially being told to love someone. After all, you can’t force some to love – can you?

As Christians, we read in Deuteronomy, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deut 6:5)

Lent is often a time when we berate ourselves for our lack of heart, soul and strength. We commit to trying harder, to digging deep. Whether sacrificing a vice, or taking up charitable behaviour, we earnestly commit ourselves to following this ‘greatest commandment’ to love God. As Eugene Merrill suggests, it as a call to love with all our “essence and expression.”

But it is our experience that we are incapable of living up to this standard. The Apostle Paul writes the law “instead of giving life, brought condemnation; instead of producing holiness, it stimulated sin” (Rom. 7:10).

Our struggle with sin, with keeping our Lenten fasts, is entirely bound up in forgetting that “everything is predicated on Yahweh’s love and faithfulness” (p.57 Fee & Stuart 2002). We think it starts with us: that we have to muster some loving devotion from nothing, that we should simply ‘try harder’, when in reality we are simply asked to respond to God’s love. Saint John understood this better than most:

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10)

“We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19)

If Lent’s focus is the cross of Christ, then it is a focus on the love of God, for the cross is God’s great banner of love.

And before we think this idea of God loving us is a New Testament innovation, hear these words from Deuteronomy: “The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you” (Deut. 7:7-8). The Old Testament goes on to speak of this love in human terms: as the love of a husband and wife, as the love of a father and son.

Thus, our response to the command to ‘love the LORD your God’ is one of “gratitude and devotion”.

Which rather begs the question – what makes us hold back from loving God 100%?

Our reading from Deuteronomy 6 presents three practices that might help us avoid a cooling in our relationship with God.

Firstly, a call to RECITE GOD’S WORD

Verses 6-9 are preoccupied with preserving and passing on the truth of God. Loving God is a matter of teaching and encouraging others and ourselves, in order to maintain devotion: a devotion that should permeate all areas of our life.

Verse 6 asks that God’s word be “upon your hearts”. Hebrew thought considered the heart to be the seat of thinking and meditation. I know it’s a well-worn refrain but how well are we doing at keeping God’s instruction on our minds? Eugene Merrill talks about reflection: how much do you reflect on what you’ve learnt about God? Paul recently referred to ‘reflective practice’ in nursing, and how Christians are generally quite good at thinking about how we’re doing, but how often do we reflect on what we’ve learnt about God?

We’re then told to “Impress them” – the commandments that is. The word is associated with the work of an engraver – how the words are made permanent. Are God’s words engraved on our hearts?

This work of engraving should include our children. We are blessed to have a cracking Youth Worker, a wide team of volunteers, developing relationships with local schools, and the Church of England expends vast amounts of money and energy on their schools.

But we must be wary of using these ministries as an escape from the responsibility to teach.

Elijah [my 3 year old] has just joined the toddler group and I’m keenly aware that I do not want him to only learn about Jesus there. It is a shame to think we and our children should study on only one day of the week. “Eternal truths are most effectively learned in the loving environment of a God-fearing home.”

It’s worth noting that an engraver has to chisel stone over and over for real success. So it is with faith, we are asked to talk about God day and night, when active (walking) and inactive (sitting), all throughout our life. There is the encouragement to surround ourselves with reminders, symbols of our faith on our bodies, but also in our homes and towns. When we love someone it should be a central and absorbing interest. The book of Deuteronomy is not primarily concerned issues of church politics and rules for liturgy, but “it sees faith and obedience to God as much a matter for the home as for the sanctuary. In sum it ‘domesticates’ the spiritual life.”

Are we actively engraving God’s word into our lives and the lives of our children? And is this being done everywhere?

 

Secondly, a call to RESIST DISOBEDIENCE, verses 16-19.

We read here of Massah – the place of testing – as recorded in Exodus 17. The Israelites are wandering in the wilderness and have begun to question whether God was really with them. The demand for water wasn’t so much about physical nourishment, as spiritual curiosity, but it showed their doubt in God’s promises. They called into question God’s faithfulness.

We too, in many and various ways, do the same. We complain to God and question His methods, motives and presence.

These calls for God to ‘prove himself’ showed a lack of understanding in God’s nature and character.

The opening verses of this passage are called the ‘Shema’ by Jews. But there is much debate about how the phrase in verse 4 should be translated:

“The LORD our God, the LORD is one”, or

“The LORD our God is one Lord”, or

“The LORD is our God, the LORD alone”

It is safe to say that the two aspects of God’s nature that are being revealed are his oneness and his uniqueness: Oneness in that he alone is the energy behind creation and history; Uniqueness in that there is no other. Or as one commentator says: Yahweh our God is the unique!

Having a clear sense of who God is makes the call to diligent obedience easier. Obedience does not come from “barren legalism based on necessity and duty. It [arises] from a relationship of love.” Obedience is critical, for imposing conditions and making petty demands of God is contrary to faith.

 

Thirdly, a call to REMEMBER YOUR STORY, verses 20-23

And so once more, we are asked to consider children, for they are “bound to enquire sooner or later why it is that their parents live a certain kind of life in contrast with the life of those about them”.

Well…. would they? Do they? This is a potentially embarrassing issue: does our behaviour at home undermine the words we say and sing in church? And not just for our children, but our wider family, our neighbours?

Here in Deuteronomy, the call is to retell the Exodus story; the moment when the unique bond between God and people was established.

When was that moment for you? What is your story of faith? When did you first encounter the love of God?

For many here tonight, this love was revealed to us when Jesus Christ came and found us while we were lost. Despite our sinfulness he reached into our lives and called us to him.

This is why the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin resonate so deeply.

Have you noticed, by the way, that the parable of the sheep has two moments of joy?

The first joyful moment is when the Shepherd puts the wayward creature on his shoulders. This is the moment of FINDING, but the second joyful moment happens once he is home, surrounded by his friends and family. Now maybe I’m reading too much into this, but it seems to me that if I lost a sheep and found it, despite initial joy, it would quickly give way to grumbling and complaining as I hoisted the beast back. I wouldn’t want a party but a bath!

I wonder whether we fail to recognise the carrying that Jesus implies he will do, and the joy that will accompany our arrival in heaven; surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses? We are saved, yes – but so much more, we are called to live with Jesus.

Corporately, our great act of remembrance is Communion, where we recount God’s past mercies and declare a fresh the covenant demands. This is another moment to explain to children and young people what we’re doing: why do we eat bread and drink wine? Perhaps this Lent will be a time to reflect on communion – what does it mean to you?

But most importantly, I would like to encourage you to remember your story.

People understand a story, not just children. Most of us have developed quirky, interesting, but often brief stories about how we met our significant other or closest friends. But many struggle to speak of coming to faith in similar terms.

So let me ask you, ‘how did you fall in love with Jesus?’

If you haven’t thought on this question much recently, take some time to reminisce. When we forget to stay thankful for God’s salvation we can quickly lose a sense of our history and meaning. And much like the parables, we are invited to remember with joy that moment of being found. This is the key in our story – it is this love and joy we find in Jesus the world should see.

 

In conclusion, these three principles are a general call to RIGHTEOUS LIVING, verses 24-25

The passage draws the themes together with a refrain to obey and fear God. It concludes with the words, “if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.”

The word translated as ‘righteousness’ is complex. When used as here it describes being in right relationship with someone, that a person has been delivered or justified.

But the word could also refer to a way of behaving, rather than an outcome. This sense of being made right, or living-right is summed up perfectly in the Message translation:

“It will be a set-right and put-together life for us if we make sure that we do this entire commandment in the Presence of God, our God, just as he commanded us to do.”

 LENT

Concluding, there are different approaches to Lent.

I would encourage you to consider this season as an opportunity to re-learn how to love God. Yes, this is a love that is commanded, but only in response. Ronald Clements describes this love as “a consistent concern to point to the loving, compassionate and life-affirming nature of God, which demands that those who worship should do so with a warmth and joy that recognises a loving Father-God who is always more generous in giving than in receiving.”

Coming back to Valentine’s day, it’s certainly possible that the expectation of a card can lead to dry duty, but for me, I need Valentine’s Day and the card-buying process to remind me of vows I took, to remember all that we’ve been through, to show Jen I love her, and strangely, of course, the effect is not to create resentment, but it opens us up to more love.

The same is true with God. Over time our awareness of God grows, and, with knowledge, should “develop into a deepening love.” You may have been lost and found many years ago but God is always calling us deeper in.

Loving God is a matter for our entire lives, our entire selves. God’s call to love Him is nothing but a call to “the deepest and truest fulfilment of human life.”

May we respond to this call.

What's a priest? (Hebrews - Day 21)

Sermons are tricky beasts...they can get away from you sometimes. And with the kindest respect to our vicar, Paul, I think his sermon back in October on Hebrews 7:23-28 rather got away from him. As I've read back through my notes of the sermon, and as I re-read the passage I'm forced to conclude he tried to say too much..breaking my personal rule that a sermon should be summarisable in one sentence (see here for a rather brutal critique of a service I attended).

I think Paul was trying to summarise a number of Hebrews-related themes:
1. The High Priest
2. Sacrifice
3. Sin
4. Exaltation and Acension

Now as it happens I've already picked up the theme of ascension in Hebrews here. And I've spoken about sacrifice here, amongst other references. And sin get's an expose in other places too. (This is why it's useful to do a journey through the book - not an edited highlights approach of the lectionary)

This then leaves us with the High Priesthood to consider.

(It's certainly worth saying at this point that I have, as someone who is seriously interested in ordination, found this study of Hebrews very helpful in deepening my understanding of the priestly function of a vicar...who's other main functions might be seen as pastor and prophet...or is that chaplaincy?...)

It's worth, while we're thinking about Priests to pause and consider what Hebrews notes they do:
- They represent the people (Heb 5:1) and in a sense vicars do still do that. They are not mediators - Hebrews streses this later in the letter - Jesus is the only mediator. But priests stand alongside people, almost like a union rep, petitioning and standing up for them.
- Intercessions (Heb 7:25): we see Jesus in heaven offering prayers for us, and so priests on earth would be expected to do the same.

- Sacrifices...perhaps of praise (Hebrews 5:1; 13:15), but also the role of our priests is to preside at communion which is an enactment of Christ's sacrifice. They are recounting the passion of Christ.
- Gifts: I think priests do unlock our potential and talents, but they also practically receive and offer to God our monetary offerings (Heb 5:1)
- Pastoring (Heb 5:2) is part of being a priest - like Jesus the shepherd - where the ignorant and those going astray are cared for by the priest.
- Worship (Heb 8:1-2) is part of making God present to us. We are brought more consciously into the very throne room of God when our priests lead us in worship of God.

But Hebrews makes it very clear that Jesus is a FAR superior High Priest to those who served in the Tabernacle, or in the Temple.

In these six verses in Hebrews 7:23-28 we review six ways in which Jesus is shown as totally adequate to meet our needs:

Hebrews 7	Jesus	The High Priests
v.23	One	Many
v.24	Permanent	Temporary
v.25	Saves completely	Saves incompletely
v.26	Holy, blameless, pure, set apart, exalted	Earthly, sinful, profane
v.27	Once-for-all	Repeated
v.28	Perfect	Weak

There is only one JESUS, but he is totally sufficient.

Our response?

Come to Jesus, through God (Heb 7:25) and he WILL save you completely. That's a promise!

Remembrance: Sin, Sacrifice and Salvation (Hebrews - Day 26)

Remembrance Day is not about glorifying war.
Remembrance Day is about an act of celebration. Celebrating the peace that came at the end of the 'war to end war' in 1918. That armistice which was commenced on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of that year.

Paul Ayers took up the text for today's reading, Hebrews 9:23-28 (although he didn't have v.23 as part of the Sunday reading), for his sermon yesterday morning, delivered to a packed Pudsey Parish Church. There were representatives from civic bodies, counsellors, and hundreds of armed and uniformed organisations, as well as members of the public who come to church on Remembrance Sunday as a mark of respect.

I think Paul argued persuasively that we must be careful that Remembrance Day does not become it was never intended to be. It was not about patriotism - which it often is now. Consider carefully the truth that petty nationalism was the root of much that flowered during 1914-18. Indeed, we confessed the sin of "evil divisions and hatred" during the service. Remembrance Day is not even a celebration of death...we reflect on the lost lives, the words spoken at the cenotaph reflect this:

"They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn"

Remembrance Day is about remembering the SACRIFICE.

A sacrifice of life - we remember the dead.

And so it is entirely appropriate to use this passage to reflect on the biggest question of all: Why are we here? What happens when we die?

²⁷ Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Using these verses (27 and 28), we face three facts:

1. SIN

Whether in war or in peace, all men die. Death comes to everyone. Always and inexorably.
But the Bible says we do not go to nothingness, a silent sleep for all eternity. No.
We die to face judgment.
Why judgement - and what is judged? Sin.
The Bible's testimony, and the record of our lives shows that all men sin (Romans 3:23).  I have sinned every day of my life, and this topic of sin preoccupies much of the writer of Hebrews.

But there is great hope in the fact that our sin will be judged.

If there is no judgment, then our misdeeds, and especially the gross sins of humanity - those perpetrated by individuals and nations - will not have mattered. Consider that!
If there is no judgment, then whether I sin or not, whether I live a life marked by goodness or evil...well noone actually cares; noone is going to sit me down and appraise my life.

It would be as though I were an employee of a business who fails to do anything I am paid to do, but gets away with it.

Can you sense the deep injustice in the core of your being, a sense of injustice common to all humans.

Justice. We, You, I deserve justice. And most especially God deserves justice.

Some argue that justice and recompense are to be sought in this life. This is why we hear, so often, the cry for revenge. But time and again we see life is a cruel mistress - those who deserve punishment live and die in contented happiness, while the 'righteous' suffer. Just read Psalms and Job and you face the sobering truth that this has marked mankind's existence since the beginning.

We are hard-wired for justice. And we can have hope that justice will come.

- Do you know your sinfulness?
- Do you ever stop to consider your mortality?

2. SACRIFICE

While the war to end war was a failure - we live with the fact of war today - there was a death to end death - Jesus'.

We celebrate the sacrifice of armed men and women - those who died in wartime and peacetime.

Jesus sacrificed himself for us. Earlier parts of Hebrews have explored the reasons for this sacrifice - the necessity of blood - the role of the High Priest - the once-for-all nature of his sacrifice.

But in the context of JUSTICE his sacrifice takes on an additional meaning. We are enslaved to a cruel master: sin and death. Jesus went to war with sin and death. And by his sacrificial death he won for us victory over sin and death. We are purified from sin; and released from death's power.

We ourselves cannot liberate or redeem our lives - only Jesus can do that.

And unlike the hoped for peace that was looked for after World War I - we have a sure and steadfast peace with Christ (Hebrews 6:19)

- Do you know your need of a Saviour?
- Do you ever think about the enormity of Jesus' sacrifice?

3. SALVATION

By now, "So what?" say most Christians...yes, really!

The truth of God's holiness, our sin, his judgment and salvation are taken for granted on an obscene level. Do you get blase about the truth that God has redeemed you, saved you, forgiven you?? Are you thankful? Many of us are not sufficiently preoccupied with God's great mercy, I'd contend.

But sin and sacrifice is not the whole picture for Hebrews, oh no! Indeed, irrespective of indifference we should all be stirred by the very end of this passage: He is coming back - he is returning. (I've blogged a bit on this theme: here, here, and here)

Jesus' return is not to deal with sin - that's done.

No, His return is to "bring salvation to those who are waiting for him" (v.28)

This is the climax of Hebrews 9...He is coming for those who have waited for him, coming to bring salvation...the promise of life eternal with God...


And so we are forced to ask:
- Are we waiting eagerly for his return? Do you even care that he's coming back?
- Is your life marked by service to this fact?

Courtesy of Mike Wrigglesworth 2012

While stood beside the cenotaph in Pudsey yesterday, looking up at the lone soldier on the plinth, and as I held my toddler, I was moved (as I always am) that these soldiers unknown to me were prepared to lay down their lives...when I was 19 years old I was so selfish...but these men sacrificed so much.

How much more does Jesus deserve in response to his great sacrifice?

I honestly hoped (and continue to pray) that those men and women who heard Paul preach yesterday will have sensed God's call...a call to see the sin that lurks within...our desire for justice....a justice seen on the cross...and to accept Jesus as Saviour.

Hebrews - Week 1

So that was a spectacular fail, wasn't it?!

I committed to blogging every day for the eight week's Hebrews project...oops! I managed the first day.

Sorry everyone.

But can I add anything by way of overview of the first two chapters of Hebrews (Hebrews 1:1-2:18)?

I think so...

Firstly - these two chapters, as we heard from Paul Ayers in church, are deeply Christological. (Christology is the part of theology (which is the study of God) which looks at what it means for Jesus to be Christ - the saviour, the King.... what it means for Jesus to be Jesus. When you ask a question like 'Was Jesus God?', or 'What was Jesus' birth all about?', or 'Did Jesus really get tempted?'...you are asking a Christological question). But secondly, these chapters are about worship, which is our response to God.

When I stop and really think about who Jesus is one thing happens - I want to worship him.

I want to worship him because of his NATURE. He is so amazing: so different to me, and yet so like me. In these two chapters we think of Jesus' divinity - how he is God (see my blog on Heb 1:1-4); but we also consider his humanity - how he is a human, like you and me. In Hebrews 2 it says: "he (Jesus) shared their humanity" (Heb 2:14), and "he had to be made like his brothers in every way" (Heb 2:17), and "he himself suffered when he was tempted" (Heb 2:18).

But I also want to worship him because of what he has ACHIEVED. The passage doesn't just say - Jesus was God, and Jesus was human. It says something about what he's done for us.

I don't know how your average week pans out, but there's one rule about every week for me. I will always stuff up, somehow...and usually because I have given in to temptation. These passages tell me that the awesome God, has stepped into my shoes and knows about this struggle - he knows precisely how this feels. And yet he is now "crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death" (Heb 2:9). Yes he was human and divine - but this has had an impact on what he DID.

It's not just about his nature, but about his accomplishments, and chief amongst these is that God "left nothing that is not subject to him" (Heb 2:8b). In saying 'God left nothing not subject', means he has made all things subject to Jesus - everything. There is nothing, absolutely nothing Jesus is not Lord over. The writer to the Hebrews has already said this in chapter one: Jesus is the "heir of all things" (Heb 1:2) - ALL THINGS!

Finally, in this passage I'm told that I am CREATED FOR GOD. The writer to Hebrews slips in the simple, but beautiful phrase, "God, for whom and through whom everything exists" (Heb 1:10). My desire to worship God may, in fact, be something God has hard-wired into me to do...?

WOAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stop what you are doing - please!

In these chapters we are told clearly: that God made us for himself; that his Son, Jesus, is God completely; that Jesus is also completely human; and that as a result his death is for everyone (Heb 2:9) by making us clean - purifying us (Heb 1:3) from our sin (Heb 2:14-17).

This is such GOOD NEWS.

I am made for a purpose.
Jesus made me for a purpose.
And although I've failed to keep myself clean for that purpose, Jesus has come (as a Human) to die so that I might be kept for that purpose.


Can you begin to understand why the writer sticks the following in the middle of the two chapters:
"How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?" (Heb 2:3)

Yes, indeed. It is a GREAT SALVATION. What's your response?

Worship Leading

I have two immensely fulfilling and rewarding roles in church that take up a good chunk of my time: worship leading, and cell facilitation.

I've decided I should write more about how and why worship is so important to me: some of it’s quite biographical, some theological, some practical. I don’t know if it’ll help anyone other than me, but I have come to realise that I've spent large chunks of the last 19 years involved in worship, for last 12 years leading.

These days I then to lead at Pudsey Parish Church (my home church) at our evening service. For a few years now our evening service has been café church (style) buuuut it’s gone through a number of revised formats to keep it alive. We appear to be somewhat rare in the diocese as an Anglican church with an evening congregation – although most attendees are morning folk who want more, there are a few evening-only folk.

On occasion I lead at the morning service, which is GREAT fun and a very different dynamic.

I'm also called upon by my good friend Robin Gamble for events, most recent was the Hope & Gamble events at Bradford Cathedral.

It’s fair to say that I’m given a lot of freedom to pick songs, arrange them, rehearse them as I want, and then essentially suggest to the vicar/leader the running order/order of service. It’s also fair to say that I am pretty conservative with my suggested batting orders, although I do have a preference for periods of sung worship (I might have to comment at some point about the pedants who keep forcing me to say ‘sung worship’)

I really enjoy leading worship, it's a massive privilege. Hope you enjoy my perspectives.

Ministry...where you are?

Are you doing your part today?

Or are you patiently waiting for your vicar, pastor, or priest to start preaching the gospel to all who would hear - and those who won't!!

I've had to re-learn (and am going to keep re-learning) a valuable lesson this week. And my cell group is mostly to thanks.

What?

We are all involved in the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:20) - but we can all learn how to minister when we look at Paul.

This week we were exploring 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 (the passage from Sunday morning, which I blogged on here). The original sermon had presented the passage as an explanation of Paul's ministry - the pattern of his life. The point wasn't made emphatically that this wasn't just a ministry for apostles, but everyone. We should all pattern our lives around Paul's motifs of URGENCY, AUTHENTICITY, and VULNERABILITY.

So what?!

I particularly enjoyed the discussion we had on Tuesday night and want to record some of the more salient points:

We must be urgent. But let us be specific about what it is we're urgent about. Firstly, we must always be urgently seeking to declare the gospel to those around us. There is an evangelical impreative here - "Now is the Day of Salvation!" (2 Cor 6:2). But lest we get wrapped up in a world of incessant proselytism, we must heed the warning to not receive grace in vain. This stopped us short - it can, surely, only be a Christian who receives grace in vain. We must never take for granted or devalue the glory of grace - nor must we cease working with God to see change and growth in our lives. We must be urgent not only for more Christians, but urgent that we be more Christian - we need to be more Christ-like.

The issue for many in cell is how to encourage this growth. Certainly the usual Christian jargon tripped off our lips: we need more prayer, more Bible, more quiet, etc, etc...but how?? There was an acknowledgement that it is entirely possible to become a Christian but you carry on regardless, no transformation takes place. [I would want to explore this idea though - isn't the mark of genuine faith the transforming presence of the Spirit?]

As a cell we all agreed with the second point, that of authenticity. In fact, cell is one of the places par excellence where the rough and the smooth are seen together. If your experience of Christian fellowship was restricted only to church services then, yes, you might get the impression that Christians are people who have it together - who don't get rocked by the storms of life.

When a non-Christian encounters the Christian community of cell they quickly realise that real faith is marked by the struggles and hardships, not just the blessings. As we discussed this point, we wondered whether the idea of 'life is a bed of roses for Christians' has been defeated in church - I've certainly not experienced that in all the churches I've attended. Is it not, therefore, one piece of baggage a non-Christian might bring to church with them. We have to challenge these opinions that we're immunised from life's troubles.

Within our own community we have people who are being pushed to the limits of their strength...and as a result our family feels more authentic and real than if we pretended God only wants to bring us strawberries and cream (much as we'd like that!!)

Fascinatingly, when we thought through the gospel reading (Mark 4:35-41) and the disciples' reactions to the storm, we realised that their expectation was simply that Jesus not be asleep. They had no idea he'd still the storm - just look at their reaction. So, if we're asked 'would Paul have responded in the same way?' obviously he would not have. Paul's EXPECTATIONS differed to the disciples because of the KNOWLEDGE Paul has about Jesus, who he is, and what he achieved on the cross and by his resurrection.

The real question might be: how might our responses to a storm differ to Paul's?

And then in conclusion, Paul shows his vulnerability - his need for love. Some translations of vv.11-13 might give the impression that Paul is in fact asking these Christians to not hold back - but jump into more of God. Other translations give the sense that Paul is saying - I've opened my heart to you, please open your heart to me.

This is a vital part of the threefold nature of ministry. If we simply look to the urgency and authentic lifestyle of Paul we might quickly say, "Well...obviously...Paul was a one off, a first century apostle with a very unique role in the history of the church. Look at me and my gifts/abilities - God clearly wants me to act differently!"

Knowing that Paul wasn't a super-human means we too can step into this type of ministry. Paul was not impervious to the emotional (and physical) drain of his struggles, and he desperately longed for human company and love (cf. 2 Tim. 4:9-13) - just like us.

Certainly, we have in the church a group of individuals who are set-apart for the important role of priests. But we must NEVER forget that we are all called to imitate Paul, as he imitated Jesus. When we reach out to the world (as we must) we should do so with urgency, honesty, and love.

Now what?

When we turned our minds to living this stuff out, and we considered our witness we were confronted by two questions:

1. In what ways is God calling us to minister - urgently, authentically, and with vulnerability - in our present situation?

2. What one thing could we do this week to ensure we are growing as Christians - taking the urgency of growth seriously?

Yesterday was an Ember day - a day to pray about and for ministry/those preparing for ordination/those who are priests...

The prayer book I use had the following prayers in them:

Loving God,

from birth to death you hold us in your hand:

make us strong to bear each other's burden

and humble to share our own

that, as one family,

we may rest in your strength

and trust in your love;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This first prayer, for me, gets to the heart of growth - bearing one another's burdens (a further mark of cell community as well). When we share our burdens with others we grow...



Almighty and everlasting God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church
is governed and sanctified:
hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people,
that in their vocation and ministry
they may serve you in holiness and truth
to the glory of your name;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

This second prayer focuses on our universal ministry of reconciliation - we are all called to serve God. As Peter reminds us, "you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you might declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (2 Peter 2:9)

Lest we get ahead of ourselves though...we must note that in this latter prayer it is the Spirit's work to enable us to minister. Indeed, when Paul lists his many hardships in the passage we looked at he suddenly starts referring to the various blessings he received.

I encourage you to think and pray through this list - asking God to bless you with these fruits/gifts:

Purity

Knowledge

Patience

Kindness

Holiness of Spirit

Genuine Love

Truthful Speech, and

Power of God

(2 Corinthians 6:6-7)

True Ministry (for the masses)

"Don't receive God's grace in vain"

"Now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation"

"Having nothing, and yet possessing everything"

"Open wide your hearts"

I'm loving the current series at church on Sunday mornings - 2 Corinthians. We're simply following the lectionary readings, but it gives a greater sense of purpose knowing we're familiarising ourselves more with some slightly less well-known books of the New Testament. The series is called, 'Making True Disciples'.

Yesterday, 24 June, 3rd Sunday after Trinity, we read 2 Corinthians 6:1-13.

As I approach the passage I think I might have taken a very straightforward approach: God is seeking to be reconciled to each and everyone of us (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17-21). This great grace is on offer now - receive it. Have you received it? If not - receive it. If you have and you've blown cold, why? Step back into God's great plan for you. Perhaps you've encountered hard times - great! That's the moment when we most realise what we have in Christ. Open your hearts to the life God has for you.

Evangelistic and Encouraging - and probably shallow. Sure...these themes are here.

However, I was really rather taken with Phil Arnold's approach (Phil is our curate).

1. URGENCY (vv.1-2)
2. AUTHENTICITY (vv.3-10)
3. VULNERABILITY (vv.11-13)

Paul's purpose in writing is (in part) to justify his apostleship - the church in Corinth (that he helped found) considers him a less than impressive specimen of apostleship in comparison to others. In fact, some might suggest Paul's experiences of hardship are signs he was not a great apostle at all.

[As I write this, I can see how easily even I think this of certain leaders. How quickly I judge a person's success based on the relative ease with which they maintain their ministry]

Phil argued that the passage showed three ways in which Paul's ministry was characterised, and so in turn should mark all Christian ministry.

1. Urgency (vv.1-2)
So often in our lives we use all manner of excuses concerning our service to God. We can't find the time, or make sacrifices...or particular tasks will take too much time.

Or we are easily distracted from a legitimate task: that suddenly urgent chore, or the latest news article about this-or-that celebrity, or a website we've meant to look at for some time, and so the procrastination goes...

Or we are enslaved to the tyranny of the urgent. We are forced to fire-fight, to prioritise the urgent but sadly unimportant...

Paul was NOT a procrastinator, was NOT distracted, nor was he prone to focusing on the unimportant.

GRACE-FAVOUR-SALVATION

This is Paul's focus. Is it ours?

2. Authenticity (vv.3-10)
Real ministry is often done in secret. Either it's the tasks we do that are unseen, or the challenging people we chose to tolerate. Inauthentic ministry is marked by the tendency to put obstacles in other people's way. I was challenged to think that my bitching about another Christian, or work colleague could in fact be a cause of stumbling to another true friend.

I watched Frasier recently (Episode 17, Season 3, 'High Crane Drifter') in which he bemoans perceived rudeness of people around him. Something he says struck a chord, "Your rudeness will in turn cause me to be discourteous to another, and so on..."

Real ministry seeks to stop the chain-reaction of rudeness and discourtesy.

This happens because we see ourselves, always, as SERVANTS of GOD (v.4).

A life of service commends God's grace because real lives are marked by a balance between struggles/challenges and blessings/provisions.

There are, Phil contended, two problems if you see life as either only blessings, or stuggles:
i) if life is ONLY happiness and blessings, well you're either in denial or else likely to be very disappointed, or
ii) if life is ONLY struggles and challenges, well life is nothing but an endless stream of mishaps and soul-destroying battles.

The first is in plain denial of the experiences of every man, woman and child.
The second is in plain denial of the truth of the resurrection. God comes to bring life, joy and peace now.

Christian's are most attractive when they possess both (challenges and blessings)...in balance. I am more able to draw others to God if they see an authentic life... [I LOVED this point by Phil...] How many of us try to hide what God is doing...do we stress the struggles, or do we ignore the pain believing that Christians can't see us in need?? One is a problem about witness, the other is a problem with fellowship.

3. Vulnerability (vv.11-13)
Which is why, perhaps, Paul ends this passage with a reference to his own emotional needs. He is no superhuman, who faces the slings and arrows of life with a mere shrug of the shoulder. We might find his list somewhat intimidating - giving the impression of a hero (vv.4-5; cf. 11:23-27). Instead, Paul says - please love me?!

We may be called to a tough life - but this should weather us - not harden us [great point!]

We never get to the point where we don't need the love of other people.

True ministry involves all three elements: a life or urgency, lived with authenticity, and in relation to others in a spirit of vulnerability.

This is - after all - the life Jesus lived. He strained for the gospel, being with those around him in the good and bad, never pretending to be happy when he wasn't...our great servant King.

Phil's final point was simply to say that in ministry (a task that isn't actually for the professional Christians, but for all) we are commending ourselves to others. When we reach out to others we are saying - Accept me...my life, my message, my love.

For when another accepts me, they are, in fact, accepting Jesus.

Explorers in Prayer Day

Prayer life a bit dry? Fancy a shot in the arm for this essential aspect of our Christian walk?

Check out the Explorers In Prayer Day. This is an exciting opportunity to pause and reflect on our prayer lives...it's a one day event on Saturday 16 June at Pudsey Parish Church.

After the excitement and busy-ness of Hope & Gamble, I pleased to have been invited to lead worship by Jonathan Walker, who's leading this day. Jonathan's story about Prayer Eleven can be read here. The worship will be much more intimate and stripped away - me and a piano at present.

But I'm looking forward to it!

Call the next witness - 2.The Witness of the Father (5/9/10)

The Witness of the Father

Sunday 5 September 2010

The second part of the ‘Call the next witness’ series at Cafe Church.

John 5: 30-47

Paul Tudge, from Farsley, was leading the service in Paul Ayers’ absence, which was somewhat unfortunate given the complexity of the passage. Nevertheless, Paul encouraged those present to grapple with the theme of both the Father’s witness and our witness.

We used the song 'Why does my heart feel so bad' by Moby as our confession.

Come the sermon, part of the challenge was to consider the words of the poet Jude Simpson, 'You won't find Jesus on Myspace'. Although some people were somewhat puzzled as to what Myspace is: follow this link.

Paul's talk was fairly brief, desiring the groups to try and unearth some truths from the passage. To this end he gave us six questions:

1. Spend 3 minutes thinking alone. What do you speak about? Think of your conversations before the service began. What about the rest of today? What about last week? Try to put your words into categories e.g. work, hobbies, religion, domestic arrangements, chat about friends, Jesus, stories of the past, questions, arguments, ...
2. Share briefly what you have discovered
3. (esp vv 31-40) From what is in THIS passage what/who speaks about Jesus (testifies about him)? Nb. This is quite a complicated passage so don't worry about getting it wrong or missing something out!
4. How does your life testify about Jesus? How might it?
5. What question(s) do you want to ask about this passage?
6. What would you put on Jesus' MySpace page?

In our group, we found the passage quite confusing, however, here are some general conclusions.

Jesus is concerned to speak of himself (as a man) and Him (God). Jesus states that anything he (the man) says about himself is not true - it is God's (another v.32) testimony that is true.

This seems crucial to Jesus. John the Baptist's testimony is important and valid (vv.33-35), but it is not necessary. Rather God himself proves who Jesus is. Knowing Jesus was speaking to Jews his words are challenging, for he accuses them of not knowing God: "His teaching does not live in you, because you don't believe in the One the Father sent" (v.38).

It's this issue again of God verifying who Jesus is to us only when we take the step to believe in Jesus, which is more than Biblical knowledge (v.39) but relationship. It is the process of relating to Jesus that gives us the life (v.40) promised by Jesus.

The challenge is whether we allow God to testify to us about Jesus? Do we try to relate to Jesus on our own? This is a hopeless exercise (v.30)

Our walk with Jesus will be effective when done trusting God, for then God will testify to Jesus through and in us also. We do not testify simply by quoting Scripture (v.39), nor do we speak for ourself (v.43). We are asked to believe in the One.

Today - right now - am I actively seeking a personal, living relationship with Jesus? Am I seeking an encounter with him in my reading of Scripture? If so, am I then allowing the transformation of my life to give God glory, and the world the opportunity to hear God's testimony about Jesus - the way!

CALL THE NEXT WITNESS

In John's Gospel there is a strong emphasis on witness. The writer is keen to make sure we know that those who testify about Jesus are reliable.

He also reminds us that the job of the apostolic church is to continue to witness to Jesus. The power to do this comes from the Spirit.

'Cafe Church' provides a safe space for us to practice witnessing to each other. We share food and drink, sit at table together, and have conversation with each other about the gospel and how it relates to our lives.

This is the blurb on the church flier for the latest series for the evening service at Pudsey Parish Church, in Pudsey, West Yorkshire. Cafe church is a fascinating beast. It is steadily becoming more defined, although it is a shame so few people come. The worship tends to be more intimate and prolonged. There is food provided at 6pm to give plenty of time to eat and drink before the service starts properly at 6.30pm, although tea, coffee, etc are available throughout. Here are the dates/themes/readings for this latest series:

29/08/10
Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
The Witness of John
Isaiah 33.13-22
John 3.22-36

05/09/10
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
The Witness of the Father
Isaiah 43.14 - 44.5
John 5.30-47

12/09/10
Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
The Witness of the Bread
Isaiah 60
John 6.51-69

19/09/10
Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
The Witness of Moses
Ezra 1
John 7.14-36

26/09/10
Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity
The Witness of Abraham
Nehemiah 2
John 8.31-38,48-59

03/10/10
Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
The Witness of a Healed Man
Nehemiah 5.1-13
John 9

10/10/10
Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
The Witness of Apostles
Nehemiah 6.1-16
John 15.12-27

17/10/10
Twentieth Sunday after Trinity
The Witness of the Counsellor
Nehemiah 8.9-18
John 16.1-11

Call the next witness - 1.The Witness of John (29/8/10)

The Witness of John

Sunday 29 August 2010

The first part of the ‘Call the next witness’ series at Cafe Church.

John 3:22-36

Paul Ayers preached on two points:

1. Who John the Baptist is not
John explicitly states he is NOT the messiah (Jn 3:28)
Application: All people should point away from themselves to Jesus. Do I, by my actions, try and claim the glory for myself, failing to give Jesus the honour due him?

2. Who Jesus is
John points to Jesus as the bridegroom of his people. Three great claims:

a. Universal REVELATION (v. 34)
“The one whom God has sent [Jesus] speaks the words of God”
There is a fullness to the revelation of Jesus, both his words and life. There is no one else on earth we might turn to; it’s not ‘Jesus +’. The key word: UNDERSTANDING
Application: As revelation we can learn new things about Jesus and from Jesus, in his word. We should also be deepening our understanding of his thing. Are we receiving fresh revelations? Are we deepening our understanding?

b. Universal AUTHORITY (v.35)
“The Father…has placed everything in his hands”
(cf. Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:1-3)
Jesus has been given authority in creation, in judgement, but also in everything between. God in Jesus is at work in events now. The key word: PROVIDENCE.
We show our belief in God’s activity by a) Thanking Him, and b) praying to Him.
Application: Do we act in full belief that Jesus is in control of every circumstance, situation and crisis. Or do we act as though we are unwittingly tossed about by the storms of life waiting for heaven?

c. Universal SALVATION (v.36)
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life”
Having eternal life is not a transaction. I turn up to heaven with a card proving that I believe Jesus and am therefore saved. I do not get saved because I had faith in Jesus. The act of believing in Jesus is the act of salvation, for it is by grace we are given the faith to trust Jesus. Key word: RELATIONSHIP.
Therefore, to have a relationship with Jesus is to be saved.
Application: Do I see my salvation as a by-product of my beliefs, or do I seek to cultivate a relationship with Jesus?

In conclusion, it is important that we are reminded that the words quoted above are John the Baptist’s. It is as though he is stood before us saying: “The one whom God has sent [Jesus] speaks the words of God. The Father…has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life”. We are called to respond to this witness.