As we start a new year and all that it may hold, and all we may be looking forward to or be concerned about, remember that the blessing was spoken before the Israelites set off to the desert. Blessing belongs to the moment of departure, not the moment of completion; it cannot be earned and is not dependent on outcomes. God's favour is not a reward for getting it right; it is the ground on which we stand and the place we move out from.
Following the reading Luke 9:57-62, where there are three responses to Jesus' invitation to follow him.
The first man may not even have been asked directly, but seems gung-ho to get involved.
The second seems to be bound by duty and "doing the right thing" in wanting to bury his father first.
The third wants to go back to sort out things with his family first.
Jesus appears to be harsh in his responses, but is emphasising that there is a cost to following him. What is it in our lives that is holding us back?
Because Jesus is our Great High Priest and has opened the way to God through his sacrificial death on the cross we must:
Draw near to God
Hold fast to the faith.
Support each other
The examples of the Heroes of the Faith should provide encouragement.
Some people will fall away because they haven't really understood/committed to Jesus.
Other of us will not, because we trust in Jesus alone for salvation.
Epiphany readings shed light on the purpose of Jesus's coning. Piecing together the picture is like doing a jigsaw puzzle. But as we add more pieces (throughout our lives), we come to see that the picture is bigger and more wonderful than we thought...
The third in a series of miracles where Jesus heals someone from a minority or disadvantaged group - a leper, a Roman servant, a woman. Matthew tells us that the Servant that Isaiah speaks of is here - there is a God of compassion and power at work in the world and Jesus shows us what this looks like.
Andrew taking his brother to meet Jesus. Epiphany is not only about the big revelation that the good news is for all, but helping those around us towards their own epiphany.
Do we believe our storms are too big for God to handle or that God is asleep and can't see them? Jesus is there in the storm and we are never alone in it.
“Where are you staying?” -“ Come and see.”
More people are brought to Christ thorough friendship than words.
The priest was the incumbent about 30 years ago. He told a true story of a group of young people who loitered in the churchyard. A PCC member tried to chat with them, a one-sided conversation, and offered the use of the building after school once a week, with tea and sandwiches provided, no strings attached.
Nobody came.
I’m not quite sure how this illustrated his point.
“Where are you staying?” -“ Come and see.”
More people are brought to Christ thorough friendship than words.
The priest was the incumbent about 30 years ago. He told a true story of a group of young people who loitered in the churchyard. A PCC member tried to chat with them, a one-sided conversation, and offered the use of the building after school once a week, with tea and sandwiches provided, no strings attached.
Nobody came.
I’m not quite sure how this illustrated his point.
My sermon was on how simple but effective the invitation "Come and See" really is. Last night, I went through the sermon with my wife. She reminded me how she started going to the Lutheran Church. She had a friend who invited her to come and see. I had to use her story as part of my sermon.
We had a retelling of the Passover story from Exodus in the context of explaining what John meant by "Lamb of God"--that Jesus is God's own supplied lamb that saves us from death and evil.
Jesus meets two broken men among the tombs and in one word, "Go", he calms another storm. Setting people free from the captivity of Satan was central to Jesus' ministry; he sought out and saved those who were lost, broken, oppressed and in need.
Comments
As we start a new year and all that it may hold, and all we may be looking forward to or be concerned about, remember that the blessing was spoken before the Israelites set off to the desert. Blessing belongs to the moment of departure, not the moment of completion; it cannot be earned and is not dependent on outcomes. God's favour is not a reward for getting it right; it is the ground on which we stand and the place we move out from.
The first man may not even have been asked directly, but seems gung-ho to get involved.
The second seems to be bound by duty and "doing the right thing" in wanting to bury his father first.
The third wants to go back to sort out things with his family first.
Jesus appears to be harsh in his responses, but is emphasising that there is a cost to following him. What is it in our lives that is holding us back?
Because Jesus is our Great High Priest and has opened the way to God through his sacrificial death on the cross we must:
- Draw near to God
- Hold fast to the faith.
- Support each other
The examples of the Heroes of the Faith should provide encouragement.Some people will fall away because they haven't really understood/committed to Jesus.
Other of us will not, because we trust in Jesus alone for salvation.
The third in a series of miracles where Jesus heals someone from a minority or disadvantaged group - a leper, a Roman servant, a woman. Matthew tells us that the Servant that Isaiah speaks of is here - there is a God of compassion and power at work in the world and Jesus shows us what this looks like.
Jesus Christ: a better hope - Going the Distance
We can find encouragement to continue our Christian life in looking towards
Do we believe our storms are too big for God to handle or that God is asleep and can't see them? Jesus is there in the storm and we are never alone in it.
More people are brought to Christ thorough friendship than words.
The priest was the incumbent about 30 years ago. He told a true story of a group of young people who loitered in the churchyard. A PCC member tried to chat with them, a one-sided conversation, and offered the use of the building after school once a week, with tea and sandwiches provided, no strings attached.
Nobody came.
I’m not quite sure how this illustrated his point.
My sermon was on how simple but effective the invitation "Come and See" really is. Last night, I went through the sermon with my wife. She reminded me how she started going to the Lutheran Church. She had a friend who invited her to come and see. I had to use her story as part of my sermon.
Jesus meets two broken men among the tombs and in one word, "Go", he calms another storm. Setting people free from the captivity of Satan was central to Jesus' ministry; he sought out and saved those who were lost, broken, oppressed and in need.