Friday, August 28, 2015

A Spiritual Check-Up from the "Epistle of Straw"

Picture credit

Two great theologians, Luther and Wesley, walk into a pub. The one says to the other: "Let's talk about James" ... as some of you might know, this joke doesn't have a funny ending! For Luther, brilliant reformation theologian, James is nothing more than an epistle of straw which he didn't believe even belongs in the Bible, for Wesley, brilliant revivalist theologian, this epistle "reproves that antinomian (we don't have to keep the law anymore) spirit, which had even then infected many, who had perverted the glorious doctrine of justification by faith into an occasion of licentiousness (ie lacking moral or legal restraint)."

Friday, August 21, 2015

Intimacy with God

This week's lectionary readings include Psalm 84. A few week's ago I was asked to preach at Meadow Way Chapel in Norwich and they asked me to use Psalm 84 as my text and to preach on Intimacy with God. I am thus preaching the same sermon this Sunday at AMC.

Friday, August 14, 2015

Has the Church Lost the Fear of the LORD?


Psalm 111
Can I start this evening by asking: What do you fear? Perhaps take it one step further and ask: What is the primary fear in your life right now?
Our fears often determine the way we live and the plans we make for the future.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

How is Your Soul?

This past weekend was a quite awesome worshipful weekend. We had a worship and testimony evening on Friday, with folk sharing testimony based on a favourite worship song, and then we would sing the song ... it gave so much more meaning to already beautiful songs. During our time of worship, our worship artist, Kerryn Stopforth, painted this picture, using only coffee! On Sunday it was used as a pulpit drop while I preached on How is Your Soul?

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Consequences

 I think I am once again going to use both the OT and Gospel readings this week and look at Consequences. The OT reading continues with the consequences of David's sexual abuse of Bathsheba, while the Gospel reading has the consequences of Jesus feeding the multitude, which has this eventual result: On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” .... From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Preaching Truth to Power and Preaching people Away



This week's readings have Nathan confronting the king with the Truth: "You are the Man," and Jesus confronting the people with the Truth: "I am the Bread of Life."
David repents and turns back to God, the people object to Jesus' teaching and many, including disciples, turn away.
Here are this week's readings

Would You write straight with my crooked lines?

As we look at God confronting David and his sin with Bathsheba this Sunday, as well as Jesus' teaching on the Bread of Life, this prayer, which I think is attributed to Francis of Loyola, is very appropriate and I will probably use it as part of the invitation to the Lord's Table.

O God,
I cannot undo the past,