Trying to see the big picture

A lovely walk

by nannyogg ^Pro @ 2008-05-31 – 14:08:29

S & I managed about 5 miles today, and it was wonderful to spend Saturday morning away from the rush and bustle of shops and the noise of traffic and people.

Now we've moved to the country, even a small market town can seem too busy when you need to de-stress and relax. I'm not complaining though, it's far better that living in London.

The best bit about walking in the countryside is that it's completely free. It costs nothing to get out as see what's in nature's gallery.

So I though I'd share some of God's creation with you.

Where to find God

by nannyogg ^Pro @ 2008-05-25 – 13:23:33

I believe God is found in what he created.

I feel closest to God whenever I can appreciate what's around me.

Moving to Lincolnshire has been a real blessing in this.

Sadly, I haven't yet found a church where I feel comfortable (The Anglican one is too traditional and set in it's ways for both of us).

But I have found spiritual peace in our surrounding and here is a taste of that for you.

Inspirational windows

by nannyogg ^Pro @ 2007-07-18 – 08:08:31

Lincoln cathedral has some beautiful stained glass.

I could have sat and looked at them for hours...

From the outside

by nannyogg ^Pro @ 2007-02-21 – 08:08:32

I look in from the outside
Yet I’m in the midst of the crowd.

I am in a glass box sealed by noise
The roar of talking drowns the conversation
I see lips move, but hear no words.

I catch a phrase;
A sentence crumb from which I grasp some meaning
Through expressions on faces
And the gestures of hands

A chat with someone near
That quickly fades into the pneumatic drill sound of chatter
When others join in with the small talk.

I am in the midst of the crowd
But look in from the outside

Commuters

What if?

by nannyogg ^Pro @ 2007-02-20 – 08:04:59

What if I gave you all my hopes
The things I've been counting one to make life right
Would you take care of them?

What if I handed over my dreams
The desire for my own home,
A fulfilling job,
Good health
A man to love me
Would you tear them up and throw them away?

What if I handed you my fears
Of insecurity
Of being dependent
Of being alone
Of having to trust
Would you take them from me?

What if when I called out in the night you answered,
Would I hear you?

What if when I reached out my hand to touch you
Would you take it?

What if I asked you to help me
Would you listen?

What if I could not trust
Would you give me the faith to believe you?

Mist lake

Driftwood

by nannyogg ^Pro @ 2007-02-20 – 07:57:15

Discarded
Unwanted
Rubbish
Cast away

Smoothed
Polished
Formed into beauty by the power of storms
Into a work of art,

Beach 5

Sermon - Luke 9:1-9

by nannyogg ^Pro @ 2007-02-20 – 07:34:24

Luke 9: 1-9 – sending out the disciples

Warning - this is not going to be a sermon for those who take Christianity as a hobby or leisure activity, turning up every Sunday for a spiritual work out and leave their faith on the pews as they walk out.

Luke 9:1-9 is an all action passage – and it needs an all action response.

Are you sitting comfortably? You won’t be at the end of this….

What would you do if Jesus commanded you to leave everything and go out of West Ealing, out of London, out of the country…to spread the news about God’s kingdom and heal people; to do it immediately, without any resources, training or travel expenses?

I know what I’d do…

I’d make every excuse under the sun not to go…

- Where will I stay?

- I haven’t got a passport

- I need to take at least one change of clothes

- What about my medication?

- I need to work my resignation

- I’m not trained

- I’ve never done that sort of thing before

- I’m not the right person ask….

Yet in this passage we see Jesus telling his disciples to do just that.

They are to go on a mission…
So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

So what persuaded them to obey Jesus?

Why didn’t they appear to make excuses and debate the issue?

It was the power and authority of Jesus.

Jesus must have had a truly charismatic personality.

For a start he’d got them to leave their jobs, families, day to day responsibilities and follow him.

Now he was commanding them to do something more than just follow – and they obeyed.
It’s powerful stuff…

At the time of Jesus most people never left the safety and security of their community.

Today we think nothing of getting on a plane and doing a long haul flight to the other side of the world. We think nothing of moving away from where we were born and brought up to start life somewhere else – most people move away when they go to university of college. We think nothing about leaving our family house and getting our own place – we think it odd when some cultures chose to live 2 or 3 generations in a house.

But then….then you would live, work, marry, raise children within the community where your family had lived for generations.

The community gave you protection and purpose.

To leave the community was to enter dangerous areas and face the unpredictable.

To be a stranger was entering such a community….

We’re talking serious commitment here – there was something about Jesus that made the disciples willing, not just to follow, but to obey.

Firstly it was Jesus who commanded them to go.

They’d already obeyed his command to follow him, do doing what Jesus was telling them to do just required another act of obedience.

In for a penny, in for a pound sort of attitude.

Secondly, Jesus gave them his authority and power

They weren’t stepping out into the unknown - they’d seen Jesus in action and knew first hand what Jesus could do.

They’d seen Jesus heal people, they’d heard him teaching, they knew that what Jesus was doing was getting talked about.

So when Jesus gave them the authority and power to do his work, they believed they could do it.

Jesus didn’t just tell the disciples to go, he empowered them.

Thirdly, it was a commission

It was a commission not a suggestion.

Jesus didn’t say “I think it would be a good idea if you did a bit of preaching and healing…”

It was a commission not delegation of duties

Jesus didn’t say “I think we should spread the workload between us”

It was a commission not evasion of duties

Jesus didn’t say “You go out and I’ll sit back and put my feet up.”

Commissions demand action.

Why?

Because the person who commissions you to do something is more often or not doing it with you.

And Jesus continued preaching God’s kingdom and healing at the same time as the disciples were sent out.

Before we to the traditional sermon move to see how this passage applies to us as Christians I just want to focus on a few more things, hidden away, which are useful to know.

Firstly, what is Jesus telling them to do?
Verse 2: the commission is to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

The first aim is to preach God’s kingdom, the second is to bring healing.

It is not the other way round…

The healing is a secondary command, not the primary command.

If the disciples healed first then people would not be focussed on what they were teaching, but on the act of healing itself. The healing of people would have no purpose other than to make people well. People would be gathering to be healed rather than here God’s message.

Yes, Jesus wants people to be physically healed, but above all he wants spiritual healing.

The disciples preach God’s kingdom but in order to make their word real to those they are teaching they are empowered to heal.

As Don (vicar) said last week - telling people is one thing, showing people is when they begin to get it.

Secondly, it is not the disciple’s problem if people reject God’s message.

Verse 5: “If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them. “

The disciples are not to feel that they have failed God is people don’t listen, neither are they to waste time trying to get them to accept God’s kingdom.

If people choose to reject God’s message it is THEIR choice. You’ve sown the seed, given them the opportunity and they’ve made the decision.

Yes, it can hurt when the message you’ve been commissioned to teach, and the healing you’ve been empowered to bring is rejected.

It does feel like you have done something wrong – and often reiterates those feelings that you aren’t good enough to do what Jesus commands.

But that is untrue – the rejection is ultimately against God not the disciples. Those who reject God’s message may be shooting the messenger, but in the end their action is against God

The fact is that there are others who will hear the message and accept God, and we need to move on and reach those people, to bring the kingdom of God to their lives and with that, healing.

Thirdly, preaching God’s kingdom and healing the sick has an effect.

It makes people wonder what is going on.
Look at the reaction of Herod and others in verses 7 to 9: “Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed, because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. But Herod said, I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about? And he tried to see him.

Following Jesus’ commission has an effect on the world around you.

If you live a life that reflects God’ kingdom; if your actions mirror what you believe; if you practice what you preach then people will sit up and take notice.
People will want to know what makes you tick.

If what is making you tick is your Christian faith, then they will want to know about it.

If we as a congregation preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick then it will have an effect on people around us.

So now let’s see how all this applies to us today.
This is where things start to get uncomfortable.
Why?

Because Jesus’ commission is for each one of us today
Each one of us is called to preach God’s kingdom, to proclaim God’s message.

Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

It isn’t an option or a suggestion.

It isn’t a commission for the chosen elite, the movers & shakers of the Christian faith.

It is a mission we are all called to do.

As Christians we are all representatives of God’s kingdom.

We are the physical embodiment of Christ on earth – the body of Christ.

We are all the means by which Jesus’ mission will be continued on earth.

What are we commissioned to do?

We are told to go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded us to do.

Each one of us has been created to make a contribution to God’s kingdom – we all have a place, purpose, role and function.

We can’t leave it to others and get on with our own lives – we’re part of the body of Christ and if we don’t do out bit then the whole body suffers.

Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 12 – which I would advise you to read, especially if you don’t think you have a part to play in the body of Christ.

God needs each one of us in order that he can fulfil his purposes

God has a ministry for each one of us in his church

God has a mission for all of us in his world.

Service is not optional – it is at the heart of our faith.

Where are we commissioned to go?

The answer to that is anywhere God calls us.

Remember that the purpose of our commission is to preach the kingdom of God

It could be that God calls us to leave our community, our family and friends, and head out to who knows where…

It could be that God calls us to live in our community with our family and friends

The fact is that God calls us to be active wherever there is the need for people to hear about his kingdom.

But don’t think that staying where you are is an easy option…

It will be difficult to preach God’s message on your own doorstep.

People you have known for years may turn against you. They may write you off as a fruitcake - a total nutcase. You may lose friends, and face rejection by your family.

Then again, through God’s authority and power you will influence people.

What you say and do will have had an effect - even if people reject you and God’s message,

With Jesus there are no half measures – you are either for Him or against Him. People can’t pick and chose which bits of God’s kingdom they chose to accept – it’s all or nothing.

Who are we commissioned to preach to?

God’s message is to everyone.

It is comprehensive, all embracing and inclusive.

God doesn’t pick and choose who He wants to hear about his kingdom - we are told to go and make disciples of all nations.

We often have a misconception about mission - that we should only go to the poor, or the sick, or those in the developing world.

But EVERYONE needs to hear about God, and see the kingdom of God in action.

No matter how much money someone has; who physically fit and well they may be; how economically developed their country is…

They will still be spiritually poor, spiritually sick and spiritually undeveloped if they never have the opportunity to hear about God’ kingdom, and see God’s kingdom in action.

Every person should have the opportunity to hear the Christian story in a way they can understand.

It is up to each one of us to give people that opportunity.

When are we commissioned?

Know what? I’d love it if, when I’m dead, people could look back on my life and say “What a lovely person. She lived her live with a purpose. There was something special about her. I wish I knew what her secret was…”

If I could have that said about me then I think I would have fulfilled my purpose on earth.
How wrong can I be?

My purpose on earth, the reason I live, is not so that people can look at me and wonder what the secret is…

My purpose on earth, the reason God created me, is to be a way in which God’s kingdom can be revealed to others.

God created me with a role to play.

There is a part in God’s big picture which is me-shaped.

Without me, the big picture would not be complete.

It’s not just me – it’s all of us.

Each one of us has a part for play in God’ picture – that is to reveal God’s kingdom to others and bring healing through God’s power.

But when does my commission start?

It can start from our physical birth – our actual presence on earth.

But although God has created us to fulfil a physical commission, going out and preaching His kingdom, it is most importantly a spiritual commission.

We can’t fulfil the commission of Jesus unless we recognise who Jesus is; the authority of Jesus; the power of Jesus.

The disciples knew Jesus – it was that knowing who he was, his authority and the power he displayed, which made them drop everything and follow him.

We can’t be commissioned unless we recognise who Jesus, accept his authority and know his power.

If we try to follow Jesus without knowing this we’ll be doing it in our own strength – and that is not enough. We’ll fail because this is a spiritual commission.

It is only through Jesus’ authority and power that the disciples were able to preach God’s kingdom and heal the sick.

So when do we get our commission?

When we personally recognise who Jesus is, when we personally accept his authority and when we personally experience his power in our lives.

And our commission is immediate.

There’s no training course; no waiting for an appropriate vacancy; no looking for guidance as to what our gifts and talents are.

We’re just told to go.

It’s not optional – it’s part and parcel of our faith.

And it doesn’t happen once in our life – we can’t sit back and say we’ve done our bit whilst there are still people who need to hear about God’s kingdom.

Our commission is for life - but life changes. For a start we get older, and with that there are all the accompanying niggles of ill health; slowing down; of not having energy.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t fulfil Jesus’ commission – we just need to be more creative about the different ways in which we can serve God.

Our commission is for life, but where we are called to go will change. It could well be that God calls you to take his kingdom to another part of the world, and that could be permanent.

Look at this passage again, but in the context of the whole Gospel – the disciples didn’t stay in these towns for all the rest of their life. They returned, to Jesus – verse 10 “when the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida”

Then, in Luke 10 they were sent out again, but later on in that chapter we read that they were back with Jesus, visiting Martha & Mary.

The commission hadn’t ended, they still had the authority to go and preach God’s kingdom, it was just in another time, another place, another stage in their lives.

How can I fulfil Jesus’ commission?

Jesus doesn’t send his disciples out into the unknown with nothing.

Jesus empowers his disciples - Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”

In the same way Jesus empowers us – he gives us the Holy Spirit through whom we can fulfil his commission.

It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we reveal God’s kingdom to the world, and bring healing.

For us to accept Jesus’ commission we need to take a step of faith.

We have to trust God.

Let go and let God.

Don’t try and do things in your own strength and in your own way.

Be prepared to let God provide for your daily needs, and let go of your independence

We have to move out of our comfort zone

Be willing to launch out from the shallows into deeper water.

Be available for God

Trust God to provide for your daily needs

We have to be committed to God’s kingdom

God must be the heart of our lives

The Holy Spirit must live and breathe inside us.

We must take our faith seriously, and not be Sunday Christians.

We have to listen to God

Pray

Read the bible

Meet with other Christians

We have to be obedient.

Don’t make excuses.

Don’t think you haven’t the ability to serve God.

Don’t give up.

We all have the opportunity to preach God’s kingdom in the next few weeks.

Here are a few hints:

Why are we as a church looking to be environmentally friendly?

Why are we collecting coins for water aid this Lent?

Why do we give up things for Lent?

Why do we go to church on a Sunday morning?

Why Jesus…..?

The Celtic Cross

by nannyogg ^Pro @ 2007-01-27 – 14:11:51

The cross is the symbol at the heart of Celtic Christianity

The circle of the Celtic cross is held in the arms on the cross - the world is held on the cross.

It symbolises that the world and the cross are interlinked; that
Jesus crested the world and died on the cross to save the world he created; that Christ the creator is the centre of God's world.

If you want to know the God the Creator, then you need to observe creation.

Cross 4