Showing posts with label Trinity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trinity. Show all posts

Saturday, 11 June 2022

Prayers 12th June 2022, Trinity, John 3v1-10, Acts 2v43-47, Rugăciuni 12 iunie 2022, 祈禱 2022 年 6 月 12 日,صلاة 12


Children’s material 

https://youtu.be/2F034m5Xa_8

https://youtu.be/OHeRut9R0aI

 

Song “Establish the work of our hands”

https://youtu.be/5V2_cs8gTIw

 

We believe in God, Creator of life,

We believe in Jesus Christ, resurrected from the dead

We believe in the Holy Spirit, changing and challenging

We recognise one way, the way of faith, hope and love.

 

Song “All heaven declares”

https://youtu.be/l8y86qnKkmM

 

The Lord’s Prayer in our own language

 

Song "We labour unto Glory”

https://youtu.be/cRuPZCXShg4

 

Reflection on John 3v1-10 and Acts 2v43-47

 

The gospel story in John is about Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee, representing those Jews of high office who thought Jesus is maybe ok but had problems with some of his words and actions. Jesus was regarded as a dangerous person by this time because he had cleared out the temple of people who didn’t worship God but worshipped money. “My house has become a den of robbers” he said. Do we ensure our churches, our homes, worship God rather than money?

 

Nicodemus has attitude. "We know" he says. Pharisees-speak, the royal "we". His is an academic interest in Jesus. Detached. "How can a grown man be born a second time?" he sneers. "Don't you understand these things?" responds Jesus.

 

The way to stand approved before God requires a spiritual rebirth by the power of God. It is ongoing.  We keep being born again. Eternal life is a gift of God and is given to everyone who believes in Jesus, even to a terrorist or a paedophile.

 

The early church as recorded in Acts 2 has received the Spirit. The result is that many people were converted. But then they did something very profound. They began to come together as a people, Gods people, worshipping, praying, sharing their food and belongings. They gave up materialism. You can always tell where someone’s heart is by where they put their things and their money! And the church grew. 

 

Remember this wasn’t against a backdrop of a peaceful society. The Romans under Marcus Antonius and the Jewish authorities under Herod were killing people, especially Christians. There was persecution and occupation. And the church kept growing. 

 

We have persecution today and we are at a crossroads. Persecution of people everywhere, people standing up for the truth and human dignity, People of colour, refugees, people who are different in some way. Are we detached and complacent? Passive. Are we like Nicodemus, academic, almost forensic about our engagement with these terrible events? What would Jesus do? What does God think? The Christians then were persecuted.

 

Slavery happened because white people said nothing and twelve million black people were uprooted from their homes in Africa to become slaves to white people in the US, Caribbean and South America. The Holocaust happened because good people did nothing and 6 million people perished. People are perishing today in countries around the world because they are persecuted. 

 

The early Christians were together. We need to be together. To pray. To share. To worship. To act. To be brave. To support one another. For the sake of our families, our friends, our neighbours, our country, our future, our world.  For Christs sake. Amen

 

Song “Lead kindly light” 

https://youtu.be/7g2xe7RlD9k

 

Our prayers for our world, our countries, our families

 

God beyond us, lead us forward to pray.

God beside us, teach us gently to pray

God within us, still our hearts to pray.

 

Song " Be thou my vision"

https://youtu.be/TascsWZPj8U

         

May the everlasting God shield us

East and West and wherever we go

And the blessing of God be upon us

The blessing of the Christ of Love

The blessing of the Spirit of Peace

Now and for evermore. Amen.

 

Song “Forgiven”

https://youtu.be/uUiwA1JNDig

 

Material pentru copii

https://youtu.be/2F034m5Xa_8

https://youtu.be/OHeRut9R0aI

 

Cântecul „Să stabilească lucrarea mâinilor noastre”

https://youtu.be/5V2_cs8gTIw

 

Credem în Dumnezeu, Creatorul vieții,

Credem în Isus Hristos, înviat din morți

Credem în Duhul Sfânt, schimbător și provocator

Recunoaștem o singură cale, calea credinței, a speranței și a iubirii.

 

Cântecul „Tot cerul declară”

https://youtu.be/l8y86qnKkmM

 

Rugăciunea Domnului în limba noastră

 

Cântecul „Noi muncim spre Slavă”

https://youtu.be/cRuPZCXShg4

 

Reflecție la Ioan 3v1-10 și Fapte 2v43-47

 

Povestea Evangheliei din Ioan este despre Nicodim. El era fariseu, reprezentând acei evrei cu înalte funcții care credeau că Isus este poate ok, dar avea probleme cu unele dintre cuvintele și acțiunile sale. Iisus era considerat o persoană periculoasă până în acel moment, pentru că a curățat templul de oameni care nu se închinau lui Dumnezeu, ci se închinau banilor. „Casa mea a devenit o vizuină de tâlhari”, a spus el. Ne asigurăm că bisericile noastre, casele noastre, ne închinăm lui Dumnezeu mai degrabă decât banii?

 

Nicodim are atitudine. „Știm”, spune el. Fariseii vorbesc, „noi” regali. El este un interes academic pentru Isus. Detașat. „Cum se poate naște a doua oară un om matur?” el batjocorește. — Nu înțelegi aceste lucruri? răspunde Isus.

 

Modul de a fi aprobat în fața lui Dumnezeu necesită o renaștere spirituală prin puterea lui Dumnezeu. Este în curs de desfășurare. Continuăm să ne naștem din nou. Viața veșnică este un dar al lui Dumnezeu și este dată tuturor celor care cred în Isus, chiar și unui terorist sau unui pedofil.

 

Biserica primară, așa cum este consemnată în Fapte 2, a primit Duhul. Rezultatul este că mulți oameni au fost convertiți. Dar apoi au făcut ceva foarte profund. Au început să se vină împreună ca un popor, poporul lui Dumnezeu, închinându-se, rugându-se, împărtășindu-și mâncarea și bunurile. Au renuntat la materialism. Întotdeauna poți spune unde este inima cuiva după unde și-a pus lucrurile și banii! Și biserica a crescut.

 

Amintiți-vă că acest lucru nu a fost pe fundalul unei societăți pașnice. Romanii sub Marcus Antonius și autoritățile evreiești sub Irod ucideau oameni, în special creștini. A existat persecuție și ocupație. Și biserica a continuat să crească.

 

Avem persecuție astăzi și ne aflăm la o răscruce. Persecuția oamenilor de pretutindeni, oameni care susțin adevărul și demnitatea umană, oameni de culoare, refugiați, oameni care sunt diferiți într-un fel. Suntem detașați și mulțumiți? Pasiv. Suntem ca Nicodim, academicieni, aproape criminalişti în legătură cu angajamentul nostru cu aceste evenimente teribile? Ce ar face Iisus? Ce crede Dumnezeu? Atunci creștinii au fost persecutați.

 

Sclavia s-a întâmplat pentru că albii nu au spus nimic și 12 milioane de oameni de culoare au fost smulși din casele lor din Africa pentru a deveni sclavi albilor din SUA, Caraibe și America de Sud. Holocaustul s-a întâmplat pentru că oamenii buni nu au făcut nimic și 6 milioane de oameni au murit. Oamenii pier astăzi în țări din întreaga lume pentru că sunt persecutați.

 

Primii creștini erau împreună. Trebuie să fim împreună. A se ruga. Pentru a împărtăși. Să se închine. A acționa. A fi curajos. Să ne sprijinim unul pe altul. De dragul familiilor noastre, al prietenilor noștri, al vecinilor noștri, al țării noastre, al viitorului nostru, al lumii noastre. Pentru numele lui Hristos. Amin

 

Cântecul „Lead kindly light”

https://youtu.be/7g2xe7RlD9k

 

Rugăciunile noastre pentru lumea noastră, țările noastre, familiile noastre

 

Dumnezeu dincolo de noi, conduce-ne înainte să ne rugăm.

Dumnezeu lângă noi, învață-ne cu blândețe să ne rugăm

Doamne înlăuntrul nostru, liniștește inimile noastre să ne rugăm.

 

Cântecul „Fii tu viziunea mea”

https://youtu.be/TascsWZPj8U

         

Dumnezeul veșnic să ne ferească

Est și vest și oriunde mergem

Și binecuvântarea lui Dumnezeu să fie asupra noastră

Binecuvântarea Hristosului Iubirii

Binecuvântarea Duhului Păcii

Acum și pentru totdeauna. Amin.

 

Cântecul „Iertat”

https://youtu.be/uUiwA1JNDig

 

兒童材料

https://youtu.be/2F034m5Xa_8

https://youtu.be/OHeRut9R0aI

 

歌曲建立我們手中的工作

https://youtu.be/5V2_cs8gTIw

 

我們相信上帝,生命的創造者,

我們相信耶穌基督,從死裡復活

我們相信聖靈,不斷變化和挑戰

我們承認一種方式,即信仰、希望和愛的方式。

 

歌曲《全天宣布》

https://youtu.be/l8y86qnKkmM

 

用我們自己的語言做主禱文

 

歌曲《我們為榮耀而努力》

https://youtu.be/cRuPZCXShg4

 

反思約翰福音 3v1-10 和使徒行傳 2v43-47

 

約翰福音的故事是關於尼哥底母的。他是法利賽人,代表那些認為耶穌可能還行,但對他的一些言行有問題的身居要職的猶太人。那時耶穌被認為是一個危險的人,因為他清理了那些不敬拜上帝但敬拜金錢的人的聖殿。他我的房子已經變成了強盜的巢穴。我們是否確保我們的教堂、我們的家庭敬拜上帝而不是金錢?

 

尼哥底母有態度。 “我們知道。法利賽人講,皇家的我們。他對耶穌有學術興趣。分離。 “一個成年人怎麼能重生?他冷笑。 “你不明白這些嗎?耶穌回答。

 

站在上帝面前蒙悅納的方式需要靠著上帝的力量在靈性上重生。它正在進行中。我們不斷地重生。永生是上帝的禮物,賜給所有相信耶穌的人,甚至是恐怖分子或戀童癖者。

 

使徒行傳二章記載的早期教會已經接受了聖靈。結果是很多人都皈依了。但後來他們做了一件非常深刻的事情。他們開始聚集在一起,成為一個民族,神的子民,敬拜、祈禱、分享他們的食物和財物。他們放棄了唯物主義。你總是可以通過他們把他們的東西和他們的錢放在哪裡來判斷一個人的心在哪裡!教會成長了。

 

請記住,這不是在和平社會的背景下進行的。馬庫斯·安東尼烏斯(Marcus Antonius)領導的羅馬人和希律(Herod)領導的猶太當局正在殺人,尤其是基督徒。有迫害和占領。教會不斷成長。

 

我們今天有迫害,我們正處於十字路口。對各地人民的迫害,捍衛真理和人類尊嚴的人,有色人種,難民,在某些方面與眾不同的人。我們是否超然自滿?被動的。我們是否像尼哥底母一樣,學術的,對我們參與這些可怕事件的態度幾乎是法醫?耶穌會怎麼做?上帝怎麼想?基督徒隨後受到迫害。

 

奴隸制的發生是因為白人甚麼也沒,一千二百萬黑人被趕出非洲的家園,成為美國、加勒比和南美洲白人的奴隸。大屠殺的發生是因為好人甚麼都不做,600萬人喪生。今天,世界各國的人們因為受到迫害而喪生。

 

早期的基督徒是在一起的。我們需要在一起。祈禱。分享。供奉。行動。勇敢點。互相支持。為了我們的家人,我們的朋友,我們的鄰居,我們的國家,我們的未來,我們的世界。看在基督的份上。阿門

 

歌曲《引導親切的光》

https://youtu.be/7g2xe7RlD9k

 

我們為我們的世界、我們的國家、我們的家庭祈禱

 

超越我們的上帝,帶領我們向前祈禱。

神在我們身邊,溫柔教導我們禱告

神在我們裡面,仍然在我們心中祈禱。

 

歌曲《成為我的願景》

https://youtu.be/TascsWZPj8U

         

願永恆的上帝保護我們

東方和西方,無論我們走到哪裡

願上帝的祝福臨到我們

愛的基督的祝福

和平之靈的祝福

現在和永遠。阿門。

 

歌曲《原諒》

https://youtu.be/uUiwA1JNDig

 

مواد الأطفال

https://youtu.be/2F034m5Xa_8

https://youtu.be/OHeRut9R0aI

 

اغنية "ثبت عمل ايدينا"

https://youtu.be/5V2_cs8gTIw

 

نؤمن بالله خالق الحياة

نحن نؤمن بيسوع المسيح المُقام من بين الأموات

نحن نؤمن بالروح القدس ، متغير ونتحدى

نتعرف على طريق واحد ، طريق الإيمان والرجاء والمحبة.

 

أغنية "كل الجنة تعلن"

https://youtu.be/l8y86qnKkmM

 

الصلاة الربانية بلغتنا

 

أغنية "نحن نعمل حتى المجد"

https://youtu.be/cRuPZCXShg4

 

تأمل في يوحنا ٣: ١-١٠ وأعمال ٢ ظ ٤٣-٤٧

 

قصة الإنجيل في يوحنا تدور حول نيقوديموس. كان فريسيًا ، يمثل أولئك اليهود الذين يشغلون مناصب رفيعة والذين اعتقدوا أن يسوع ربما يكون على ما يرام ولكن كان لديه مشاكل مع بعض كلماته وأفعاله. كان يسوع يُعتبر شخصًا خطيرًا بحلول هذا الوقت لأنه طهر هيكل الأشخاص الذين لا يعبدون الله بل يعبدون المال. قال: "أصبح بيتي وكر لصوص". هل نضمن أن كنائسنا وبيوتنا نعبد الله بدلاً من المال؟

 

نيقوديموس لديه موقف. يقول: "نحن نعلم". يتكلم الفريسيون ، "نحن" الملكية. اهتمامه الأكاديمي بيسوع. منفصل. "كيف يولد رجل ناضج ثانية؟" انه يسخر. "ألا تفهم هذه الأشياء؟" يستجيب يسوع.

 

تتطلب طريقة الوقوف أمام الله ولادة جديدة روحية بقوة الله. إنه مستمر. نستمر في الولادة من جديد. الحياة الأبدية هي هبة من الله تعطى لكل من يؤمن بيسوع ، حتى للإرهابي أو المتحرش بالأطفال.

 

الكنيسة الأولى كما هو مسجل في أعمال الرسل 2 قد استقبلت الروح القدس. والنتيجة هي أن الكثير من الناس قد اهتدوا. لكن بعد ذلك فعلوا شيئًا عميقًا جدًا. بدأوا يجتمعون كشعب ، شعب آلهة ، يتعبدون ، يصلّون ، يتشاركون طعامهم وممتلكاتهم. لقد تخلوا عن المادية. يمكنك دائمًا معرفة مكان قلب أي شخص من خلال المكان الذي يضع فيه أغراضه وأمواله! ونمت الكنيسة.

 

تذكر أن هذا لم يكن على خلفية مجتمع مسالم. كان الرومان تحت حكم ماركوس أنطونيوس والسلطات اليهودية تحت حكم هيرود يقتلون الناس ، وخاصة المسيحيين. كان هناك اضطهاد واحتلال. واستمرت الكنيسة في النمو.

 

لدينا اضطهاد اليوم ونحن على مفترق طرق. اضطهاد الناس في كل مكان ، أناس يدافعون عن الحق والكرامة الإنسانية ، أشخاص ملونون ، لاجئون ، أناس مختلفون بطريقة ما. هل نحن منعزلون وراضون؟ سلبي. هل نحن مثل نيقوديموس ، أكاديميون ، وكادون متخصصون في الطب الشرعي بشأن مشاركتنا في هذه الأحداث الرهيبة؟ ماذا كان سيفعل المسيح؟ ماذا يعتقد الله؟ ثم اضطهد المسيحيون.

 

حدثت العبودية لأن البيض لم يقلوا شيئًا وتم اقتلاع اثني عشر مليونًا من السود من ديارهم في إفريقيا ليصبحوا عبيدًا للبيض في الولايات المتحدة ومنطقة البحر الكاريبي وأمريكا الجنوبية. حدثت المحرقة لأن الناس الطيبين لم يفعلوا شيئًا وهلك 6 ملايين شخص. يموت الناس اليوم في بلدان حول العالم لأنهم مضطهدون.

 

كان المسيحيون الأوائل معًا. نحن بحاجة إلى أن نكون معا. للصلاة. للمشاركه. العبادة. لكي تمثل. أن تكون شجاعا. لدعم بعضنا البعض. من أجل عائلاتنا وأصدقائنا وجيراننا وبلدنا ومستقبلنا وعالمنا. لأجل المسيح. آمين

 

أغنية "الرصاص بلطف الضوء"

https://youtu.be/7g2xe7RlD9k

 

صلاتنا من أجل عالمنا وبلداننا وعائلاتنا

 

الله يفوقنا ، يقودنا إلى الأمام للصلاة.

الله بجانبنا علمنا ان نصلي بلطف

الله بداخلنا ، ولا تزال قلوبنا نصلي.

 

أغنية "كن رؤيتي"

https://youtu.be/TascsWZPj8U

         

قد يحمينا الله الأبدي

الشرق والغرب وأينما ذهبنا

وبركة الله علينا

بركة مسيح المحبة

بركة روح السلام

الآن وإلى الأبد. آمين.

 

أغنية "Forgiven"

https://youtu.be/uUiwA1JNDig

 

 

Thursday, 28 May 2015

Pentecost 1, Trinity, John 3:1-17



The passage today is the story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus late at night. Johns gospel is woven through with themes of the "I ams..I am the door, I am the good shepherd, I am the Light of the world" and signs and wonders. This story of Nicodemus and Jesus is only found in John’s gospel and is placed after the cleansing of the temple and the end-comment that “he entrusted himself to no-one” and before the encounter with the Samaritan woman.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, representing those Jews of high office who thought Jesus is maybe ok but has problems with some of his words and actions. Why did he come at night? So he wouldn’t be seen? Was it that he wanted it to be a secret that hed sought out Jesus? Did he come at night so as not to be seen and appear and disappear back into the shadows or did he come at night because it was the only time he could catch Jesus alone and have a conversation with him. Jesus, we recall has caused a disturbance in the temple so he will already be regarded as a dangerous person.

"We know" Nicodemus says. This is Pharisees-speak, the royal "we", "that God has sent you". Jesus can perform signs and therefore God is with him. Interestingly we never discover either exactly why he has made this visit or what he really wants to ask Jesus. Have you ever noticed how people who feel superior to you start with such statements? He recognises Jesus only as a teacher, as someone sent by God, but not as the Messiah.

Jesus talks to him about being "born again from above". "How can a grown man be born a second time?" Nicodemus is scathing. "How can things like this happen? "Don't you understand these things?" responds Jesus, critical of Nicodemus' inability (and Rabbinic scholarship) to understand what he is talking about. There is the reference to Moses lifting high the serpent in the desert-a symbol of healing even today. Everyone who trusts in the Son of Man will have healing, eternal life- a central concept in this gospel and used for the first time here.Jesus uses language describing a "washing of the Spirit". "Don't be surprised at what I say to you. The 'ruach' ( Hebrew) , the breath of God, blows where it wants. The Spirit of God is not controlled by Pharisees, by legalists. We cannot box it in. "The wind blows where it chooses" says Jesus. Nicodemus quite clearly does not believe in him.
Nicodemus is a typically pious Jew. For Nicodemus, entering the kingdom of God and being approved by God, is obtained by obedience to the Law (the 10 commandments and more laws in the Old Testament). As a Jew, he is one of God's chosen people (Obama challenged this view in a lecture in Cairo) but they needed to be obedient to the Law. The Law led to holiness, it restrained evil and shaped perfection in Gods people. Jesus opposes this view. The way to stand approved before God requires a spiritual rebirth by the power of God. No law-keeping can achieve this, rather it is only something God can do for us. This is Gods grace.

I remember some years ago waliking to work in Birmingham City Centre and encountering a man with beautiful blue eyes begging at St Philips Cathedral. I woke quickly from my morning state (Im not good in the mornings) and looked at him. "I can buy you breakfast" I said. To my suprise he stood up and followed me to the Victorian Restaurant in Great Western Arcade. The manager countered me saying,"He's not coming in here!" I started to think of a take away as an alternative when he relented. "But you mustn't let him go to the toilet!" All through breakfast I was on the edge of my seat. Apparently he had clogged up the plumbing with needles on a previous visit. After breakfast I was relieved to leave my companion and now fully awake went on to work. Some months later I went to my local gym for a work out. A cheery voice waved,"Hello vicar!" It was the man from the Cathedral dressed well, with a new flat and a big cross around his neck! The Spirit blows where it wishes!

The Church needs to rediscover the Spirit in whatever form. Its rituals without the Spirit are pure legalism. The call to the churches at this time is to change their way of doing things as they have always been done, maintaining the status quo, and to move to a missional stance and so to be the church for the 21st century. God is shouting at us and we are not hearing and so the church will die in its current form. We are called to follow God not institutions and to change people and communities not preserve buildings and traditions. The life we are called to live as Christians as we follow our God is unplanned, organic, unpredictable.but rooted in the two commandments Jesus gave us, to love God, love ourselves and love others. All else follows from this.To embrace the Spirit we may lose respectability, status, security but it will be the road to life!


The formulation of the Trinity in Christian doctrine took up many centuries and hot air. My own simple explanation avoiding theological debate and formulations is that in essence in the Creation we see the work of the Father or Mother which ever you prefer, I tend to use Creator now; the person of Jesus we encounter through oral and written tradition and the Spirit is practically with us in our daily, earthly journey-it is the unseen creative, inspiring, enabling, intuitive presence of God. 


Enemy of Apathy ~ by John L Bell & Graham Maule 

She sits like a bird, brooding on the waters, 
Hovering on the chaos of the world's first day; 
She sighs and she sings, mothering creation, 
Waiting to give birth to all the Word will say.

She wings over earth, resting where she wishes, 
Lighting close at hand or soaring through the skies; 
She nests in the womb, welcoming each wonder, 
Nourishing potential hidden to our eyes.

She dances in fire, startling her spectators, 
Waking tongues of ecstasy where dumbness reigned; 
She weans and inspires all whose hearts are open, 
Nor can she be captured, silenced or restrained.

For she is the Spirit, one with God in essence, 
Gifted by the Saviour in eternal love; 
She is the key opening the scriptures, 
Enemy of apathy and heavenly dove.

Saturday, 14 June 2014

Trinity Pentecost 1 June 15th 2014, The Great Commission, Matthew 28:16-20, John 3v1-10




Matthew 28:16-20

The disciples have joined Jesus in Galilee and on a mountain outside he charges them and sends them out into the world. These are the final instructions he gives to his disciples. There are similar passages at the end of the Synoptic Gospels Luke and Mark with differences.We don't know which mountain they went to. Traditionally it has been identified as  Mount Tabor, the mountain/hill of the Transfiguration. They are without Judas and had been summoned by Jesus and the angels at the resurrection. Some summons eh!

Jesus appears before them and they worshipped him, but some doubted, perhaps they didn't recognize Jesus as with many resurrection appearances or perhaps didn't believe it could be him! 

He then gave them authority, on heaven and earth, actually the word interestingly means freedom of choice (exousia).He commissions them to go on their journey and of those they meet, to make disciples to baptise (immerse despite the commentators desire to gloss this!) and to teach all nations (ethnos, ethnicities) until the end of the age, for ever.  Baptism  by immersion in water was common in the early Church. And they were to do so  "in the name" of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Trinity. They are to keep to the teachings of Jesus, the kerygma. With this Jesus promises to be with them until the end of the age/days. The end of the world.


This commission has become the cornerstone of most Western, First world mission and missiology especially North American in the twentieth century whereas the Third world churches have used Luke 4 v21 onwards and a commitment to social justice as a sign of the Spirits presence. Of course we need both and are each called to fulfil different roles in the work of Gods Spirit.

The formulation of the Trinity in Christian doctrine took up many centuries and hot air. My own simple explanation avoiding theological debate and formulations is that in essence in the Creation we see the work of the Father or Mother which ever you prefer, I tend to use Creator now; the person of Jesus we encounter through oral and written tradition and the Spirit is practically with us in our daily, earthly journey-it is the unseen creative, inspiring, enabling, intuitive presence of God. 
  

John 3v1-10

Johns gospel is woven through with themes of the "I ams. I am the door, I am the good shepherd, I am the Light of the world" and signs and wonders. This story of Nicodemus and Jesus is only found in John’s gospel and is placed after the cleansing of the temple and the end-comment that “he entrusted himself to no-one” and before the encounter with the Samaritan woman. It could be said to illustrate that Jesus was the Messiah. I am the Messiah, the Son of God.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, representing those Jews of high office who thought Jesus is maybe ok but has problems with some of his words and actions. Why did he come at night? So he wouldn’t be seen? Was it that he wanted it to be a secret that he’d sought out Jesus? Did he come at night so as not to be seen and appear and disappear back into the shadows or did he come at night because it was the only time he could catch Jesus alone and have a conversation with him? Jesus, we recall has caused a disturbance in the temple so he will already be regarded as a dangerous person.

"We know" Nicodemus says. This is Pharisees-speak, the royal "we", "that God has sent you", because Jesus can perform signs and therefore God is with him. Interestingly we never discover either exactly why he has made this visit or what he really wants to ask Jesus. Have you ever noticed how people who feel superior to you start with statements? He recognises Jesus only as a teacher, as someone sent by God, but not as the Messiah.

Jesus talks to him about being "born again from above". Nicodemus says "How can a grown man be born a second time?" Jesus uses language describing a "washing of the Spirit". "Don’t be surprised at what I say to you. The 'ruach' ( Hebrew) , the breath of God, blows where it wants. The Spirit of God is not controlled by Pharisees, by legalists. We cannot box it in!

Nicodemus is scathing. "How can things like this happen? "Don't you understand these things?" responds Jesus, critical of Nicodemus' inability (and Rabbinic scholarship) to understand what he is talking about ". "Everyone who looks to Jesus, believing in him may have eternal life". The purpose of the lifting up of Christ on the cross is that the believer may have eternal life. As Moses lifted high the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, in order that everyone who trusts in Him may have Eternal Life- a central term in this gospel and used for the first time here.
Nicodemus displays his ignorance with his sarcastic response about it being impossible to be born again. "The wind blows where it chooses" says Jesus. Nicodemus quite clearly does not believe in him.

Nicodemus is a typically pious Jew, a Pharisee. For Nicodemus, entering the kingdom of God and being approved by God, is obtained by obedience to the Law (the 10 commandments etc and more laws in the Old Testament). As a Jew, he is one of Gods chosen people but they needed to be obedient to the Law. The Law led to holiness, it restrained evil  and shaped perfection in Gods people. Jesus opposes this view. The way to stand approved before God requires a spiritual rebirth by the power of God. No law-keeping can achieve this, rather it is only something God can do for us. Eternal life is a gift of God and is given to everyone who believes even to the worst of people.


Unless the Church rediscovers the Spirit in whatever form, it will continue to die. Its rituals without the Spirit are pure legalism. The call to the churches at this time is urgently to change, to stop maintaining and to move to a missional stance and so to be the church for the 21st century. God is shouting at us and we are not hearing and so the church will die in its current form. We are called to follow God not institutions and to change people and communities not preserve buildings and traditions. The life we are called to live as Christians as we follow our God is unplanned, organic, unpredictable, dangerous but rooted in the two commandments Jesus gave us, to love God, love ourselves and love others. All else follows from this.





Monday, 21 March 2011

Lent 2b "Being born again".

The passage today is the story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus late at night. Johns gospel is woven through with themes of the "I ams..I am the door, I am the good shepherd, I am the Light of the world" and signs and wonders. This story of Nicodemus and Jesus is only found in John’s gospel and is placed after the cleansing of the temple and the end-comment that “he entrusted himself to no-one” and before the encounter with the Samaritan woman.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, representing those Jews of high office who thought Jesus is maybe ok but has problems with some of his words and actions. Why did he come at night? So he wouldn’t be seen? Was it that he wanted it to be a secret that hed sought out Jesus? Did he come at night so as not to be seen and appear and disappear back into the shadows or did he come at night because it was the only time he could catch Jesus alone and have a conversation with him. Jesus, we recall has caused a disturbance in the temple so he will already be regarded as a dangerous person.

"We know" Nicodemus says. This is Pharisees-speak, the royal "we", "that God has sent you". Jesus can perform signs and therefore God is with him. Interestingly we never discover either exactly why he has made this visit or what he really wants to ask Jesus. Have you ever noticed how people who feel superior to you start with such statements? He recognises Jesus only as a teacher, as someone sent by God, but not as the Messiah.

Jesus talks to him about being "born again from above". "How can a grown man be born a second time?" Nicodemus is scathing. "How can things like this happen? "Don't you understand these things?" responds Jesus, critical of Nicodemus' inability (and Rabbinic scholarship) to understand what he is talking about. There is the reference to Moses lifting high the serpent in the desert-a symbol of healing even today. Everyone who trusts in the Son of Man will have healing, eternal life- a central concept in this gospel and used for the first time here.Jesus uses language describing a "washing of the Spirit". "Don't be surprised at what I say to you. The 'ruach' ( Hebrew) , the breath of God, blows where it wants. The Spirit of God is not controlled by Pharisees, by legalists. We cannot box it in. "The wind blows where it chooses" says Jesus. Nicodemus quite clearly does not believe in him.

Nicodemus is a typically pious Jew. For Nicodemus, entering the kingdom of God and being approved by God, is obtained by obedience to the Law (the 10 commandments and more laws in the Old Testament). As a Jew, he is one of God's chosen people (Obama challenged this view in a lecture in Cairo) but they needed to be obedient to the Law. The Law led to holiness, it restrained evil and shaped perfection in Gods people. Jesus opposes this view. The way to stand approved before God requires a spiritual rebirth by the power of God. No law-keeping can achieve this, rather it is only something God can do for us. Eternal life is a gift of God and is given to everyone who believes even to the worst of people. This is Gods grace.

I remember some years ago waliking to work in Birmingham City Centre and encountering a man with beautiful blue eyes begging at St Philips Cathedral. I woke quickly from my morning state (Im not good in the mornings) and looked at him. "I can buy you breakfast" I said. To my suprise he stood up and followed me to the Victorian Restaurant in Great Western Arcade. The manager countered me saying,"He's not coming in here!" I started to think of a take away as an alternative when he relented. "But you mustn't let him go to the toilet!" All through breakfast I was on the edge of my seat. Apparently he had clogged up the plumbing with needles on a previous visit. After breakfast I was relieved to leave my companion and now fully awake went on to work. Some months later I went to my local gym for a work out. A cheery voice waved,"Hello vicar!" It was the man from the Cathedral dressed well, with a new flat and a big cross around his neck!

Unless we and the Church rediscover the Spirit in whatever form, the church will continue to die as we know it. Its rituals without the Spirit are pure legalism. The call to the churches at this time is to change their way of doing things to be born again! To embrace the Spirit we may lose respectability, status, security but it will be the road to life!

Saturday, 6 June 2009

Trinity Sunday 2009


The passage today is John 3v1 onwards. Its the story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus late at night. Johns gospel is woven through with themes of the "I ams..I am the door, I am the good shepherd, I am the Light of the world" and signs and wonders.
This story of Nicodemus and Jesus is only found in John’s gospel and is placed after the cleansing of the temple and the end-comment that “he entrusted himself to no-one” and before the encounter with the Samaritan woman.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, representing those Jews of high office who thought Jesus is maybe ok but has problems with some of his words and actions. Why did he come at night? So he wouldn’t be seen? Was it that he wanted it to be a secret that hed sought out Jesus? Did he come at night so as not to be seen and appear and disappear back into the shadows or did he come at night because it was the only time he could catch Jesus alone and have a conversation with him.Jesus, we recall has caused a disturbance in the temple so he will already be regarded as a dangerous person.
"We know" Nicodemus says. This is Pharisees-speak, the royal "we", "that God has sent you", because Jesus can perform signs and therefore God is with him. Interestingly we never discover either exactly why he has made this visit or what he really wants to ask Jesus. Have you ever noticed how people who feel superior to you start with statements? He recognises Jesus only as a teacher, as someone sent by God, but not as the Messiah.
Jesus talks to him about being "born again from above". Nicodemus says "How can a grown man be born a second time?". Jesus uses language describing a "washing of the Spirit". "Do'nt be surprised at what I say to you. the 'ruach' ( Hebrew) , the breath of God, blows where it wants. The Spirit of God is not controlled by Pharisees, by legalists. We cannot box it in.
Nicodemus is scathing. "How can things like this happen?"
Don't you understand these things?" responds Jesus, critical of Nicodemus' inability (and Rabbinic scholarship) to understand what he is talking about (maybe Gordan Brown would be sympathetic here!)". "Everyone who looks to Jesus, believing in him may have eternal life". The purpose of the lifting up of Christ on the cross is that the believer may have eternal life. As Moses lifted high the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, in order that everyone who trusts in Him may have eternal Life- a central term in this gospel and used for the first time here.
Nicodemus displays his ignorance with his sarcastic response about it being impossible to be born again. "The wind blows where it chooses" says Jesus. Nicodemus quite clearly does not believe in him.
Nicodemus is a typically pious Jew, a Pharisee. For Nicodemus, entering the kingdom of God and being approved by God, is obtained by obedience to the Law (the 10 commandments etc and more laws in the Old Testament). As a Jew, he is one of Gods chosen people (Obama challenged this view in Cairo this week) but they needed to be obedient to the Law. The Law led to holiness, it restrained evil (like the murder of the student Kercher in Rome) and shaped perfection in Gods people. Jesus opposes this view. The way to stand approved before God requires a spiritual rebirth by the power of God. No law-keeping can achieve this, rather it is only something God can do for us. Eternal life is a gift of God and is given to everyone who believes even to a paedophile!

I remember some years ago waliking to work in Birmingham City Centre and encountering a man with beautiful blue eyes begging at St Philips Cathedral. I woke quickly from my morning state (Im not good in the mornings) and loooked at him. I can buy you breakfast I said. To my suprise he stood up andfiollowed me to the Victorian Restaurant in Great Western Arcade. The manager countered me, saying,"He's not coming in here!" I started to think of a take away as an alternative when he relented. "But you mustn't let him go to the toilet!" All through breakfast I was on the edge of my seat. Apparently he had clogged up the plumbing with needles on a previous visit. After breakfast I was relieved to leave my companion and now fully awake went on to work.
Some months later I went to my local gym for a work out. A cheery voice waved ". "Hello vicar!" It was the man from the Cathedral dressed well, with a new flat and a big cross around his neck!
Unless the Church rediscovers the Spirit in whatever form, it will continue to die as we know it. Its rituals without the Spirit are pure legalism. The call to the churches at this time is to change and so to be the church for the 21st century. To embrace the Spirit we may lose respectability, our pensions but it will be a happier ride!

Winter

Winter

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