Monthly Archives: July 2013
Sunday sermon 28 July – When you pray…
Reading:
Luke11:1-13
Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Luke 11:2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
Luke 11:3 Give us each day our daily bread.
Luke 11:4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'”
Luke 11:5 Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
Luke 11:6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’
Luke 11:7 “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’
Luke 11:8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
Luke 11:9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Luke 11:10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Luke 11:11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
Luke 11:12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
Luke 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Sunday Sermon @ BBP
Story:
Learning to Pray (Bruce Larson)
There is a story that I hope is true about a man working the four to midnight shift every night. He walked home and his route passed a cemetery. One night he was in a particular hurry, and since the moon was full, he decided to take a short-cut through the middle of the cemetery. The route lopped five minutes off his walk, and soon it became his regular path. But on one particularly black night, he had an unfortunate mishap. He fell into a freshly dug grave. He wasn’t hurt but the hole was so deep he was unable to get out. He began to yell, but nobody heard him. Resigned at last to simply wait for morning, when his plight would be discovered, he pulled his coat up around his neck and huddled in a corner to try to sleep.
He was awakened in an hour or so by the noise of a falling body. A second unfortunate man had stumbled into this unexpected hole. Sleepily, the first arrival watched his companion trying frantically to crawl out. After a few minutes, he felt obliged to comment, “You’ll never get out that way.” Well—he did!
The story illustrates whimsically that all of us have undiscovered and unexpected powers—powers we didn’t know we had. One of the most effective ways to appropriate that power is through prayer.
This passage today is my favourite passage. Together with dozens of other favourite passages! Sorry – I can’t help it. The Bible is a treasure, is it not? Remember these:
“How I love your Law” says the Psalmist. “I meditate on it day and night”. (Psalm 1)
And Psalm 119:111 says this: Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.
Learning to pray from Jesus – is seen in this wonderful passage in Luke 11.
The pattern for prayer called the Lord’s prayer – well we know it all too well – and probably need to spend weeks digging into it. It’s worth a whole sermon series really.
For today – what we really need to hear is about the nature and character of God.
Jesus doesn’t even go through the whole of the Lord’s prayer here. We have to turn to Matthew chapter 6 (from verse 9) to get our longer version.
And it’s not surprising. Either Jesus got carried away on this occasion or Luke got carried away in the writing of his version of events!
This whole passage is about one thing!
The nature and character of God – specifically as FATHER.
Jesus leaps from the model of prayer to stories about the Father and fathers in general.
Yes he talks about a friend arriving at midnight asking for bread – emergency rations.
But that doesn’t get stuck on the responsibility of friends either. Remember that hospitality was normal and expected in that culture. Both from the guy who had his friend show up (at midnight!)and his friend whom he goes to for help.
In verse 8 Jesus says that friendship is not the reason for the man eventually getting out of bed to get bread
It’s about boldness. Listen again:
Luke 11:5 Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
Luke 11:6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’
Luke 11:7 “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’
Luke 11:8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
Boldness is key to the relationship children have with their Fathers. Good fathers whom they trust at any rate.
With parents in general there is the freedom to ask what are called BIG ASKS!
So when the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray – the first words are key.
Our Father, (in Matthew – a corporate prayer together which is what we do) or following Luke, simply Father. In both cases the word is ABBA – Father – which is intimate and personal.
“He invites his disciples to call upon God as children call upon a loving parent, trusting that they belong to God and that God wants for them what is good and life giving.” (Elisabeth Johnson)
It is a radical shift fundamental to this new people of the Way – which became the Christian Faith we know today.
It’s about intimate love.
A wonderful platform onto which we can attach our theology – our beliefs about God’s love, forgiveness and patience. And also his commitment to truth and wanting the best for His children.
And Boldness in prayer is Jesus’ pattern – and it is linked to this intimate love. Because God is a father you can ask the world! He won’t always give it to you and he may say wait and trust me! But boldness is an antidote to fear and timidity!
And remember that all of this is not just linked to God’s love but it is grounded in God’s love – as the Apostle John writes in his first letter:
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.
Then – linked to this too – is Trustworthiness. It comes close to Integrity.
The next story he tells is actually funny and powerful all at once.
You rotten old sinful fathers won’t give their children a snake when they ask for fish and a scorpion when they ask for an egg!
Come on people! Yes there are wicked dads but this is about FATHERHOOD.
Man its great when people become parents for the first time! Did you watch Baby prince George come out of hospital?
Did you see that dad? Did you hear what he said?
William – looking a very happy dad – was going on about the baby being tardy – and how he would have a word with him about it later! But he was all smiles – and I loved it when he took the baby from his wife. There’s a film clip of his dad doing that when he was a baby – taking him on one of those first public viewings – and cradling him so lovingly and proudly.
It’s tough being a royal and living in the public eye and under the spotlight. A bit like Pastors kids – no paparazzi for them – just well-meaning church folk!
Parenthood is a wonderful gift.
Knowing God as Father is more wonderful. Knowing his nature and character is really important.
So remember
- Intimate love
- Boldness
- Trustworthiness (the old term – faithfulness)
That last one – faithfulness – reminds me of the traditional hymn: “Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee!” The scripture that underlies the hymn is James 1:17:
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
May you grow in leaps and bounds in your relationship with God our Father – in your conversations with him – especially the honest ones where you pour out your heart – where you persist shamelessly like the man waking up his friend to get bread – with confidence, knowing he won’t give you something dangerous when you ask for the things you need.
Let me pray for you using Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-18
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Let’s save more time today and each day to pray more.
Amen.
Sunday sermon 14 July – There’s more than one neighbour in the street
Reading: Luke 10:25-37
Message:
Okay this is an easy one today! Early tea – more time to chat and then go shopping.
I mean what’s to discuss – the guy got it right!
- Love God
- Love Neighbour
- end of story!
The simplest explanation is the easiest – that everyone in need is in fact your neighbour.
Not that people – Christians – necessarily get involved in helping people in need. We do walk on by quite a bit. Like walking through a bazaar or market –or in a shopping centre – we dare not make eye contact with someone trying to sell us something. You can’t get away from a sales pitch that easily.
We easily look away from those in need.
So reminder number one today is simple. If you’re making notes:
1. Note to self – anyone in need is my neighbour.
Love God and love your neighbour go together.
Of course it’s a three way street!
God <———-> Us ————–> Neighbour
Knowing the love of God – experiencing it – sharing Jesus compassion (read Tuesday’s sermon on line for those who didn’t make it) – having a message and commodity of peace with God to trade with (for that read last Sunday’s sermon on line!) means that we are actually empowered to do this!
2. Note to self – the Samaritan was an unexpected neighbour to the half-dead mugged neighbour.
God ———————> Samaritan —————————-> mugged man
3. Note to self – Jesus speaks about prejudice, anger, rage and things that separate us here.
Add another layer and it gets interesting:
God
Samaritan ————————–> mugged man/Jew
Samaritans <———————–> (not good) < ———————-> Jews
Jews and Samaritans clearly did not get on!
I found this poem by a famous Israeli poet this week which really helped me on this one. Frederick Buechner posted this on his website – his articles and books are profound. Here it is:
The Place Where We Are Right
Yehuda Amichai
From the place where we are right
Flowers will never grow
In the spring.
The place where we are right
Is hard and trampled
Like a yard.
But doubts and loves
Dig up the world
Like a mole, a plow.
And a whisper will be heard in the place
Where the ruined
House once stood.
It’s about hard hearts versus soft hearts really!
Something was happening in the Samaritan that smacked of a real faith and compassion – but the Jewish listeners would have hated the idea of a Samaritan being a hero – because their theology was wrong – their racial mix wrong – their temple wrong.
Sound familiar?
1. Note to self – anyone in need is my neighbour.
2. Note to self – the Samaritan was an unexpected neighbour to the half-dead mugged neighbour.
3. Note to self – Jesus speaks about prejudice, anger, rage and things that separate us here.
Of course the lawyer’s response is accurate – as you are when you deal with law. Listen again:
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise. (Luke 10:36-37)
How are we doing so far?
Will you remember this?
Oh of course – you know this already.
David Lose suggests and alternative reading to this text altogether.
This really spoke to me. Listen to what he says: But then Jesus goes and does something different, right at the end. He doesn’t ask who was the Samaritan’s neighbour; rather, he asks, who acted like a neighbour. The answer, of course, is obvious to the lawyer and to us: it is the Samaritan, the one who went out of his way to help another. But do you notice how this changes things? Suddenly the neighbour isn’t simply the one in need, but rather the one who provides for our need, the one who takes care of us.
He goes on. Listen carefully: Which raises an interesting – and often uncomfortable – question: who has been our neighbour by caring for us of late? This is uncomfortable because we spend so much of our time, energy, and money trying to be invulnerable, trying precisely to need as little as possible from those around us. Perhaps it’s a fear of being a burden, or a concern about “owing” others, or that we are just afraid of being vulnerable because if we show our need that need may not be met. Whatever the reason, however, so many of us are absolutely mortified by the idea of showing our deepest needs to others and have a hard time receiving a compliment let alone serious aid or help.
4. Note to self – I need to let people be a neighbour to me too
In my own life I have had to learn to let people be a neighbour to me as well. I am telling you this because I know that some of you are also like me. You don’t want to be vulnerable. You sometimes think that you have to manage – cope – be tough. I am learning to depend more on others.
Being dependent on others is not easy for most of us. And as we get older it gets harder.
Nothing is worse than feeling that it’s all out of control – when simple becomes impossible and normal a mystery.
I have learnt that I need to let people be a neighbour to me.
That does not mean I will deliberately make myself vulnerable.
Not at all.
But the point is – that we are created for community and we do need each other.
I am so grateful for the people who are supporting me at this time – especially Sheilagh, my wife, and our staff here.
Listen again to the extract from David Lose – the question is:
(Which raises an interesting – and often uncomfortable – question) – who has been our neighbour by caring for us of late? This is uncomfortable because
- we spend so much of our time, energy, and money trying to be invulnerable, trying precisely to need as little as possible from those around us.
- Perhaps it’s a fear of being a burden, or a concern about “owing” others, or that we are just afraid of being vulnerable because if we show our need that need may not be met.
- Whatever the reason, however, so many of us are absolutely mortified by the idea of showing our deepest needs to others and have a hard time receiving a compliment let alone serious aid or help.
Paul – speaking about his thorn in the flesh – writes these words in 2 Corinthians 12:9 and 10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Okay personally I think that he overstates things here. I am not really thrilled with “insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.” I am less than thrilled. Delight is a strong word here. Sometime when I have the energy I will investigate the root of the word “delight” here and hopefully it will make more sense. (If you were here on Tuesday you will remember that words studies can be fun – Jesus when moved with compassion – well the word is to do with a bowel sensation. Tricky but it makes the point of a deep feeling!)
So let’s go back to our diagram then. There are various directions that the arrows point.
What travels along those lines? Love, blessing, thanksgiving, encouragement, worship and praise – in a dynamic relationship. Compassion and help clearly apply along the human continuum.
God <———————————–>Us <————————— > Neighbour
There are various possibilities where hard hearts need to be softened so that life can appear. Look at the list:
Us <—————————> Neighbour
Samaritan <—————————> Jew
Black <—————————> white
Male <—————————> female
Old <—————————> young
Friend <—————————> stranger
Pastor <—————————> parishioner
The list goes on!
So to recap… Somewhere in this list something applies to each of us:
1. Note to self – anyone in need is my neighbour.
2. Note to self – the Samaritan was an unexpected neighbour to the half-dead mugged neighbour.
3. Note to self – Jesus speaks about prejudice, anger, rage and things that separate us here.
Clearly love here means wanting the best for them – not that we are in love with them or even like them! Jesus’ compassion for the world of people is our foundational principal here.
Cleary we have work to do about our attitudes!
But this last one is a word in season really:
4. Note to self – I need to let people be a neighbour to me too
Don’t be afraid of depending on others – asking for help – asking for prayer – asking for counselling – asking for a lift – asking for a friend.
Mentoring others – journeying with them is the most crucial thing.
Pride is a killer.
One of my struggles here – as a leader – is that a lot of people are proud. They’ve made up their mind on things that are really important – and they are not necessarily allowing the Lord to work in their lives.
I reckon it would be good to sit in on the conversation between the recovered Jewish victim and the compassionate and generous Samaritan – if you can use your imagination.
It’s the kind of inspiration that comes from the pictures of amazing people in our generation:
There are plenty of other examples.
And there are those of you who really do care for your neighbours in every possible way – here in this place and community.
So much happens behind the scenes – following Jesus’ recipe for giving in general: But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing (Matthew 6:3)
So a gentle reminder:
4. Note to self – I need to let people be a neighbour to me too
It’s okay to be vulnerable. We are cursed by self-help schemes. They don’t work in the same department as faith, trust, and dependence, all of which are Christian virtues and blessings.
The basic framework for all of this is GRACE – the undeserved gift of salvation, new life, the new creation, a new heart, a renewed mind –unmerited favour shown in Jesus.
And – to put in a word for what is in fact a foundational belief I have – we make ourselves vulnerable and receive the love of neighbours especially in our home groups – where we allow them to be places of life and not just theoretical knowledge. It requires honesty – integrity – and openness to grow as people. That is God’s will for us. Amen!
PS – here’s a great summary in a visual form. We need to be the solid citizens – doing the stuff that the solid line indicates!
Tuesday church sermon 9 July – Compassion
Reading: Matthew 9:32-38
Sermon
I was intrigued a while back by a conversation I heard – when a member of our local church here at BBP spoke about “strangers” coming to church on a Sunday – how they didn’t know these strangers.
We can be a bit clubby sometimes.
Years ago – in 1996 – I was privileged to go to Argentina for an international conference run by “Harvest Evangelism”.
There was a revival going on the cities of Argentina at that time – through church unity and cooperation and intense prayer and intercession, local churches were getting together to reach every street in their towns with a prayer cell – and connecting with their neighbours in mission.
I recall the main speaker – the head of Harvest Evangelism – speak on this text from Matthew 9.
It’s the gospel reading for today and it follows on quite well from Sunday – where we read the Luke account of this business of the harvest being great and the workers few.
Ed Silvoso said this – or words to this effect: When you are in a crowd – say in a shopping centre – and you see the masses or encounter their shopping trolleys – or get stuck behind them when you are in a hurry and they seem to have all day – what do you feel?
Are you like Jesus?
The key verse is of course this one:
Mat 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Σπλαγχνίζομαι – splagchnizomai is the word. It’s one of the richest Greek words in the Bible. Literally it is something like a bowel movement – oops. That sounds wrong. Thayer’s Greek dictionary explains it like this:
Thayer Definition:
1) to be moved as to one’s bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity)’
One 18th century commentator put it like this:
(John Gill) … he was moved with compassion on them: his bowels yearned for them, he was touched with a feeling of their infirmities, as the merciful high priest, the good shepherd, and faithful prophet; being heartily concerned for the souls of men, their comfort here, and everlasting happiness hereafter…
It’s about something that churns inside of you.
Compassion is the key. Is that the feeling you have? What Jesus felt?
It is such an interesting verse – in fact all the words are rich – so rich that the various translations sound like this:
(AOV) En toe Hy die skare sien, het Hy innig jammer gevoel vir hulle, omdat hulle moeg en uitgeput was, soos skape wat geen herder het nie.
(ESV) When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
(MSG) When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd.
(KJV) But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Jesus is moved by the masses. We sometimes avoid them – as the world is so different from what we grew up with.
The best sense of this that I have experienced was not at a shopping centre – but going with the crowds to watch the Springboks play the All Blacks one night at the Cake tin – the Westpac stadium in Wellington. They came in their droves – and it was so gloomy. OK they were all wearing black – but there were thousands. Streaming towards the stadium – emerging out of the station, off buses, or along the sidewalks. I had a real sense that day – that this is what Jesus is interested in. All those people. Okay that particular group was a bit obsessed with the religion of rugby, so we have to be especially compassionate towards them.
The heart of Jesus is for those who are harassed and helpless.
Back to Matthew 9:37 – Jesus he tells them to pray to the Lord of the harvest:
Mat 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Mat 9:38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
In Mark we read this:
Mar 6:34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
And in that passage he goes on to feed them – with five loaves and two fish.
Dear friends – there is work to be done.
It begins with compassion. And compassion goes together with love. Paul said this of his passion to reach people in his first letter to the Corinthians:
1Co_9:16 Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! And then in 2 Corinthians he says this: 2Co 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
Of course that verse precedes the one we have mentioned on a couple of Sundays: 2 Corinthians 5:17
2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
May you and I find a new compassion for the masses. This city is a reflection of the world we live in. All shapes, sizes, ethnicities (nations literally) and many, many people who are so different from us.
Yet they are the same us us. Without Christ the good shepherd – harassed and helpless, confused and aimless, in short – LOST.
We are called to be part of this plan to introduce them to Jesus the good shepherd. Amen.