Sunday Message – 13th May
Written on May 16, 2012 at 8:19 am, by andrew.clark
Sermon Series: At the Table
Theme: Enacted Mission
Scripture: Luke 14
Isn’t it fascinating that in spite of the fact that we can be a bit harsh about the Pharisees, Jesus spends a lot of time in open and frank discussion with them? There was nothing about Jesus mission that was threatened by their questions. Here in this passage in Luke’s gospel, we see Jesus expounding the concept of the meal as enacted mission, combining not only thoughts about future hope, but as a way of living out that future hope in the here and now.
We consider the invitation of Jesus to engage in His mission to embrace all around the table.
For further reflection
Take a look at Luke 19: 1 – 10. Can you trace signs of enacted grace, enacted community, enacted hope and enacted mission in the familiar story of Zacchaeus? Have you been willing and able to welcome people around your table in these weeks?
Sunday Message – 6th May
Written on May 8, 2012 at 10:47 am, by andrew.clark
Sermon Series: At the Table
Theme: Enacted Hope
Scripture: Luke 9:10-17; Ephesians 1:15-23
Today we look at the story of Jesus feeding the 5000 and explore how Jesus meets the needs of the people in an incredible way. We consider how this story points to something much bigger – the eternal Christian hope in Jesus. We will explore this hope and then discuss what this means for how we live today. We are invited to meet with others, share in the feast of the Kingdom as a prophetic sign of our future hope in heaven and to welcome others to that experience.
For further reflection:
Read Colossians 1:3-13. How does this hope help us in all the ups and downs of life? How are we sharing the Good News of Jesus and how it has changed our lives?
Sunday Message – 29th April
Written on May 1, 2012 at 10:19 am, by andrew.clark
Sermon Series: At the Table
Theme: Enacted Community
Scripture: Luke 7: 36 – 52, Acts 2: 42 – 47
We gathered around the table at Simon’s house and explore how Jesus defines hospitality as love over formality. We considered the lavish welcome of the uninvited ‘sinful woman,’ emphasising the scandalous guest list once again. Simon was someone who should have known the simple principles of hospitality and yet he didn’t extend them to Jesus and if he couldn’t show hospitality to him, then there was no way that he’d show hospitality to the woman. Yet, as Jesus points out, the issue here is not principally how they are relating to each other. Jesus says by his parable that if they knew forgiveness and mercy in him, then they’d begin to see the need each other had, and that would be the basis of community.
We too can be quick to see the faults in others, always willing to make judgements and point a finger, but we must remember that the grace that initiates our relationship with Jesus is the same grace we need to show to sustain healthy community. This is all the more important if we are looking to welcome people who do not yet know Jesus.
The challenge for the Christian community is to come around the table as those who need to give and receive grace, only then can true community happen. Who do we need to sit around the table with?
For further reflection
Explore Acts 4: 32 – 37. How did the disciples develop their new community and what can we learn today from their example?
Sunday Message – 22nd April
Written on April 22, 2012 at 12:14 pm, by andrew.clark
Sermon Series: At the Table
Theme: Enacted Grace
Scripture: Luke 5: 27 – 32
Today we gathered around the table in Levi’s house and watch as Jesus displays the radical nature of grace in the Kingdom of God to his unsuspecting dinner guests. We listen to the voice of Jesus critics and ask ourselves about our own response to grace. The Pharisees idea of being part of God’s people had become to be about meticulous standards instead of loving hearts which is why they couldn’t understand why Jesus would sit and eat with ‘tax collectors and sinners’ in a society where who you ate with was a socially fixed experience.
Elsewhere in Luke’s Gospel, we don’t just see Jesus transforming the guest list to the feast, but even the ettiquet…he sits at the table with hands unwashed and makes the point that outward cleanliness is nowhere as important as our hearts. The think that makes out practical expression worth, is when our ‘cups and plates’ are clean in order to honour others.
We must confess that our own tables aren’t always as embracing and that our outward appearance can be cleaner than our inward parts, but we learn from Jesus that we are all invited to come just as we are and enjoy life in the Kingdom of God.
For further reflection
Read Luke 15 and consider the ways in which Jesus expands on radical grace. What do these passages say to the ‘sinner’ and ‘the Pharisee’?
Sunday Message – 15th April
Written on April 19, 2012 at 9:34 am, by andrew.clark
Sermon Series: Easter – Jesus the King
Theme: The Road to Emmaus, the Road to Jerusalem
Scripture: Luke 24
Mary Bellshaw shared reflections on the journey of the two disciples after their experiences of witnessing the trial and execution of Jesus when they are joined by a new Companion on their road. Jesus listens to their sorrows and concerns and begins to slowly reveal the plan of God through the scripture to the men before breaking bread and revealing who he is.
We are reminded that the road to Emmaus was also the road back to Jerusalem and how easy it is to remain in the place of our grief, dejection and disbelief. As we go on our Christian journey, we simply need to come to the point where we see Jesus beside us, and recognise him for who he is. This ensures that our path to wards ‘Emmaus’ is a forward journey. We see Jesus on the cross in Jerusalem, his salvation provided, that we might move from there into life in the Kingdom of God.
For further reflection: Look again at today’s scripture and see the process that Jesus takes these disciples through. Take time to explore in scripture for yourself the way that God promises a Messiah to his people throughout the generations.
