Scriptural passages on Sunday, for Pentecost 15, taken from Ezekiel 18:25-32 which focused on individual responsibility for sin; Philippians 2:1-13 which tells us about Christ's willingness to submit to the conditions of the law for our sake; and the Gospel reading from Matthew 21:23-32 where the question is asked which son obeyed the father ...
The message could be summarized as: Options, Choices, and Responsibilities!
Ever heard of the book title 'A Tale of Two Cities'? Well, the story told by Jesus is a tale of two brothers. One who is quick to agree (or give the appearance of cooperation), while the other resisted at first but after some thought acted appropriately. Here is the challenge for us in the church today: 'the road to hell is paved with good intentions!'
What am I getting at? I believe that the most destructive and misleading lie told by the church as doctrine is: 'once saved, always saved.' I don't think you can back that up with scripture! Yet most Christians live their lives as if that is gospel truth ... and the way they express it is through their absence from church as they follow like puppy dogs their false gods and idols.
This is most acutely felt at nearly every baptism. After going through a pre-baptism course and agreeing with the basic premise behind the gift of baptism, we hardly ever see them again, if ever. What is wrong with this picture? We are creating a horde of baptized heathens, who treat the church more like a spiritual insurance agency, and devalue the relationship they have with God onto a level of the worst kind of consumer bargain basement.
There is a reference in Matthew we need to keep in mind - it tells us of all these people who come to Jesus claiming that they have done wonderful things in his name, only to be turned away with these sobering words: 'go away, I don't know you.' Man, that would be a shock to the system.
The gift we have received from God is so clearly articulated in Philippians 2; the total identification with us in order to communicate salvation into our reality. The gift goes on to facilitate the total identification with Christ in order to be lifted up into the presence of God. Is it possible to walk away from that? You bet ya! And many so-called Christians are doing just that - walking away from their salvation and connection with God. Where does that leave them? ... well, the road to hell is fill with good intentions!
Again, Jesus says that if we deny him before our generation, then he will deny us before the Father. Is he speaking about the unbelievingly world? Nope. Guess again.
Ezekiel already sets it out: we are going to have to take responsibility for our own actions of spiritual neglect. Our own congregation consists of about 500 members, with only about a fifth in attendance on Sunday. Didn't Jesus say that if you loved him you would keep his commandments ... Ever seen the one about worship and the holiness of God? Actions speak louder than words among Christians ... and it's not looking good!
This Sunday we want to begin a concerted effort to pray for our Christian membership, Christian family members and friends who have become absorbed into the crowd happy to walk into hell. The amazing reality is that modern evangelism is now about reaching out to baptized lost souls, whereas the church should be full and strengthened by the masses of people baptized around the world to reach out to a cynical and atheistic world that cannot see the relevance and reality of God. If we cannot see it in the church, then what on earth have we got to offer an unbelievingly world?
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
23 September, 2011
21 September, 2011
Moving our Church forward
We are creating cultural change for Living Word Lutheran Church.
At our half-yearly meeting in August the VISION2022 was launched with unanimous support. This endorsement opened up the opportunity to explore our vision with actual commitments. The first workshop held in September focused on a major change in how we are going 'to do church': from now on we are engaging the home as the primary location for faith-formation. In October, the second workshop will address our understanding of membership. The year of preparation will conclude with a congregational meeting in November to elect the new leadership whose goal it will be to facilitate our move forward to implement the 10 year plan in 2012.
After the summer holidays and Christmas festivities, our Annual General Meeting in February will update the congregation and set out the path from here on. In March, workshop number three will expand on the concept of participatory worship. Workshop #4 will address discipleship and gifts discovery. After Easter, we will aim to hold one significant workshop per month: resourcing individuals in their faith exploration, families in their role to provide faith-formation conversations, and how we as Christians can relate the Gospel to our everyday experiences living in the context of our 21st century secular and atheistic Gold Coast environment.
Stay tuned for ongoing updates ...
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
At our half-yearly meeting in August the VISION2022 was launched with unanimous support. This endorsement opened up the opportunity to explore our vision with actual commitments. The first workshop held in September focused on a major change in how we are going 'to do church': from now on we are engaging the home as the primary location for faith-formation. In October, the second workshop will address our understanding of membership. The year of preparation will conclude with a congregational meeting in November to elect the new leadership whose goal it will be to facilitate our move forward to implement the 10 year plan in 2012.
After the summer holidays and Christmas festivities, our Annual General Meeting in February will update the congregation and set out the path from here on. In March, workshop number three will expand on the concept of participatory worship. Workshop #4 will address discipleship and gifts discovery. After Easter, we will aim to hold one significant workshop per month: resourcing individuals in their faith exploration, families in their role to provide faith-formation conversations, and how we as Christians can relate the Gospel to our everyday experiences living in the context of our 21st century secular and atheistic Gold Coast environment.
Stay tuned for ongoing updates ...
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
19 September, 2011
Difficulty with Scripture
Sunday's readings for Pentecost 14 were: Jonah 3:10 - 4:11; Philippians 1:21-30; and the Gospel lesson was taken from Matthew 20:1-16.
Ever struggled with difficult passages from Scripture? I can feel for Jonah, knowing full well that God is gracious never-the-less gets sent to Nineveh to tell them off and pronounce doom - what does God do? Of course He forgives them and Jonah is seen as the fool, sits under a tree, sulks and is angry. Today is probably no different! The church is called to speak out to an unbelievingly world and is seen as a fool because, of course, God doesn't smite evil.
Then there is the parable about the kingdom of heaven where Jesus tells us about all these workers who were hired during the day, and the guy who came in at the last hour gets the same as the one hired first, having slaved all day long in the heat of the sun. Totally unfair! But Jesus concludes: 'what's it to you if God wants to be generous.'
I so often identify with the elder brother in the story of of the prodigal son. Duty, obedience, work, unrecognized labour, ... and the world (meaning, most of the so-called baptized Christians you never ever see in church, because they have walked out from their faith and run after selfish ambitions) indulges in sin and evil; who does the father embrace? Of course, the younger son who wished his father dead and demanded his inheritance only to waste it on prostitutes and booze. There is something so hugely wrong here.
Why bother? I really mean it; why bother to spread the Gospel, go to Church, do the Christian thing? God's generosity seems to favor and reward the way-ward.
The only glimmer of a reason for me in the context of these difficult passages is that of Paul's reflection: 'for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' Read that passage from Philippians for yourself, because here you have the reason why I bother to carry on: 'it is for your sake so that I might help you grow and experience the joy of faith.'
If I didn't have that passage (the full counsel of God's Word), I would be stuck on the unfairness of God's grace and generosity. But thanks be to God, here is my reason to carry on ... and to hope ... and to learn to love those that God brings into His Kingdom, along with me. After all, if we didn't have a generous God, then none of us would have a hope in hell to see heaven. Working your butt off for the sake of the Gospel is not what it's all about - that just leads to self-righteousness and judgmentalism as a disguise for bitterness. But if you focus on 'growing and experiencing the joy of faith' - well then, that produces quite a different kind of person.
St.Francis of Assisi is said to have made this observation: 'at all time proclaim the Gospel, and when necessary, use words!' The challenge today is: be good news to someone - show them your joy ... and if you are not there yet, here is the prayer from the psalms: 'restore to me the joy of your salvation.'
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Ever struggled with difficult passages from Scripture? I can feel for Jonah, knowing full well that God is gracious never-the-less gets sent to Nineveh to tell them off and pronounce doom - what does God do? Of course He forgives them and Jonah is seen as the fool, sits under a tree, sulks and is angry. Today is probably no different! The church is called to speak out to an unbelievingly world and is seen as a fool because, of course, God doesn't smite evil.
Then there is the parable about the kingdom of heaven where Jesus tells us about all these workers who were hired during the day, and the guy who came in at the last hour gets the same as the one hired first, having slaved all day long in the heat of the sun. Totally unfair! But Jesus concludes: 'what's it to you if God wants to be generous.'
I so often identify with the elder brother in the story of of the prodigal son. Duty, obedience, work, unrecognized labour, ... and the world (meaning, most of the so-called baptized Christians you never ever see in church, because they have walked out from their faith and run after selfish ambitions) indulges in sin and evil; who does the father embrace? Of course, the younger son who wished his father dead and demanded his inheritance only to waste it on prostitutes and booze. There is something so hugely wrong here.
Why bother? I really mean it; why bother to spread the Gospel, go to Church, do the Christian thing? God's generosity seems to favor and reward the way-ward.
The only glimmer of a reason for me in the context of these difficult passages is that of Paul's reflection: 'for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' Read that passage from Philippians for yourself, because here you have the reason why I bother to carry on: 'it is for your sake so that I might help you grow and experience the joy of faith.'
If I didn't have that passage (the full counsel of God's Word), I would be stuck on the unfairness of God's grace and generosity. But thanks be to God, here is my reason to carry on ... and to hope ... and to learn to love those that God brings into His Kingdom, along with me. After all, if we didn't have a generous God, then none of us would have a hope in hell to see heaven. Working your butt off for the sake of the Gospel is not what it's all about - that just leads to self-righteousness and judgmentalism as a disguise for bitterness. But if you focus on 'growing and experiencing the joy of faith' - well then, that produces quite a different kind of person.
St.Francis of Assisi is said to have made this observation: 'at all time proclaim the Gospel, and when necessary, use words!' The challenge today is: be good news to someone - show them your joy ... and if you are not there yet, here is the prayer from the psalms: 'restore to me the joy of your salvation.'
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
12 September, 2011
The hard issue of forgiveness
The readings for this Sunday (Pentecost 13) - Gen. 50:15-21; Rom.14:1-12; Matt. 18:21-35 were all so relevant for 9/11!
We have in the first reading the hard issue of forgiveness in a long standing family feud; with good reason, Joseph's brothers wanted to kill him. In the second reading we see the judgmentalism expressed by some enforcing their preference in an accusatory manner over others. In the Gospel reading we have Jesus' own view on how many times we should forgive.
Put all of that together on the very day around the world when we remember 9/11 and reflect on our actions since that day - revenge for an entire decade. It has been reported recently that the war on terror has cost $3000 Billion! What a colossal investment in hate disguised under political self justification. Now what would our world look like if we had practiced repentance and forgiveness? The middle east is a war zone of brothers fighting each other, just as Europe was for most of the last century.
Perhaps forgiveness starts at home - as it has always been. If it doesn't start there then it can have global ramifications. Think about the prayer that Jesus taught us ... 'forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.'
One definition of forgiveness that I have heard is this: when you have every right to hold something against someone else, but choose not to act on it. The pain of wrongs, injustice, destruction is very real. On the cross Jesus chose to take the pain, and not act on the justifiable judgment on our sin. Thanks be to God! That is grace ... How gracious are we with our actions?
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
We have in the first reading the hard issue of forgiveness in a long standing family feud; with good reason, Joseph's brothers wanted to kill him. In the second reading we see the judgmentalism expressed by some enforcing their preference in an accusatory manner over others. In the Gospel reading we have Jesus' own view on how many times we should forgive.
Put all of that together on the very day around the world when we remember 9/11 and reflect on our actions since that day - revenge for an entire decade. It has been reported recently that the war on terror has cost $3000 Billion! What a colossal investment in hate disguised under political self justification. Now what would our world look like if we had practiced repentance and forgiveness? The middle east is a war zone of brothers fighting each other, just as Europe was for most of the last century.
Perhaps forgiveness starts at home - as it has always been. If it doesn't start there then it can have global ramifications. Think about the prayer that Jesus taught us ... 'forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.'
One definition of forgiveness that I have heard is this: when you have every right to hold something against someone else, but choose not to act on it. The pain of wrongs, injustice, destruction is very real. On the cross Jesus chose to take the pain, and not act on the justifiable judgment on our sin. Thanks be to God! That is grace ... How gracious are we with our actions?
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
02 August, 2011
Kingdom parables in Matthew. #1- God is at work
Have a look at a text like Isaiah 44 and see how God guarantees his own word - He will accomplish what his word has been sent to achieve! The curious point made by God is the invitation to witness him doing just that. Then turn to Romans 8 and read about God's assuring word that proclaims to each believer that you have the same Spirit in you that raised Jesus from the grave. We have resurrection power invested in us! Not only does it affirm that we are being led by the Spirit, but that we receive all that is attributed to Christ. Keep that in mind as you flip the pages over to Matthew 13; the parable of the weeds.
All the good intentions spoiled by the weeds. Jesus of course explains his own parable for us with the parallel of the good seed sown as the godly and the weeds as the godless. Notice that the disciples were keen for an action plan - 'let's pull out the weeds!' But Jesus tells them to let these two realities grow up together for the time being. When the right time presents itself, Jesus will give the angels charge to begin the cleanup job.
At church we begin every worship service with a time to confess the wrongs and rubbish accumulated in our life. That is the cleanup job that I think has a reference for us here as well. Whenever we try to get the better over our sin, it only ends in a worse situation. But, let Jesus assess the situation and we have the end result transferred to us in the present: 'your sins are forgiven!' Then the good stuff can shine without it being spoilt by the schemes of the evil one - this is what holiness is truly about: the realization that God is at work. We are all a work-under-construction. That is perhaps another definition of God's amazing grace. So be gracious to one another, because God isn't finished yet.
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
All the good intentions spoiled by the weeds. Jesus of course explains his own parable for us with the parallel of the good seed sown as the godly and the weeds as the godless. Notice that the disciples were keen for an action plan - 'let's pull out the weeds!' But Jesus tells them to let these two realities grow up together for the time being. When the right time presents itself, Jesus will give the angels charge to begin the cleanup job.
At church we begin every worship service with a time to confess the wrongs and rubbish accumulated in our life. That is the cleanup job that I think has a reference for us here as well. Whenever we try to get the better over our sin, it only ends in a worse situation. But, let Jesus assess the situation and we have the end result transferred to us in the present: 'your sins are forgiven!' Then the good stuff can shine without it being spoilt by the schemes of the evil one - this is what holiness is truly about: the realization that God is at work. We are all a work-under-construction. That is perhaps another definition of God's amazing grace. So be gracious to one another, because God isn't finished yet.
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Our College @ Church
Strohmeyer House will be featured through students and staff taking part at our Sunday worship service. The theme chosen by the student body is that of the feeding of the five thousand. (Trinity Lutheran College, Ashmore).
That account is a really well known as one of the highlights during Jesus' ministry where after a long day of teaching about the Kingdom of God, Jesus directs his disciples to feed the crowd. You can just imagine the reaction ... what? how? The disciples saw the crowd. They saw the problem. They saw the impossible task just asked of them. They counted up the cost and were not prepared to pay the price. Too much to ask!
Jesus showed another way of seeing what lay before them. Asking for a volunteer, a young boy came forward an offered his lunch. What took place after that has become the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. Could the miracle have been that a small offer to help out others, created a reaction in other people to do something like that as well, resulting in the realization that there was ALREADY so much unrealized food right there!
When we offer even a small thing to God, under His blessing it creates a ripple effect. God attributes to give our actions a kind of momentum that blesses others and returns to us with far more than what we gave in the first place (just as it was the case with the young boy). I call it 'tapping into generosity,'
How much need is in the world!? We see it every day on the news channels. The need is overwhelming. But what about our own circle of influence? I would like to invite you to try out an experiment for yourself. Change what you look at, what you see, when we release a blessing under the banner of God's ability to do great things. That's kingdom of God thinking. That's seeing possibilities, rather than problems. That's seeing with the eyes of Jesus.
What can you give unto the Lord for His work within the Kingdom of God to make a difference in people's lives ... remember the wise saying: from little things, big things grow!
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
That account is a really well known as one of the highlights during Jesus' ministry where after a long day of teaching about the Kingdom of God, Jesus directs his disciples to feed the crowd. You can just imagine the reaction ... what? how? The disciples saw the crowd. They saw the problem. They saw the impossible task just asked of them. They counted up the cost and were not prepared to pay the price. Too much to ask!
Jesus showed another way of seeing what lay before them. Asking for a volunteer, a young boy came forward an offered his lunch. What took place after that has become the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. Could the miracle have been that a small offer to help out others, created a reaction in other people to do something like that as well, resulting in the realization that there was ALREADY so much unrealized food right there!
When we offer even a small thing to God, under His blessing it creates a ripple effect. God attributes to give our actions a kind of momentum that blesses others and returns to us with far more than what we gave in the first place (just as it was the case with the young boy). I call it 'tapping into generosity,'
How much need is in the world!? We see it every day on the news channels. The need is overwhelming. But what about our own circle of influence? I would like to invite you to try out an experiment for yourself. Change what you look at, what you see, when we release a blessing under the banner of God's ability to do great things. That's kingdom of God thinking. That's seeing possibilities, rather than problems. That's seeing with the eyes of Jesus.
What can you give unto the Lord for His work within the Kingdom of God to make a difference in people's lives ... remember the wise saying: from little things, big things grow!
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
22 June, 2011
The CARE syndrome
Have you ever noticed that when Jesus said that 'whoever welcomes you, welcomes me' and likewise in the negative, 'whatever they have done to you, they have done it to me,' suggests an inseparable link between Jesus and us. So connected and integrated is Christ in our life, that I call it the "CARE syndrome."
CHRIST
ACQUIRED
RESOURCE
EMPOWERMENT
Everything we have and ever will be is due to the grace and generosity of God through Christ. Everything good that we may be able to achieve or accomplish takes place through Christ's empowerment of Holy Spirit within us. Here is the remarkable truth: God working through us, God working among us, God working for us. Now that is a healthy syndrome to acquire with resources that bring blessings! This is the real antidote for all that is negative, wrong, and evil in our world and affects individual lives.
I confess I have CARE syndrome within me. What about you?
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
CHRIST
ACQUIRED
RESOURCE
EMPOWERMENT
Everything we have and ever will be is due to the grace and generosity of God through Christ. Everything good that we may be able to achieve or accomplish takes place through Christ's empowerment of Holy Spirit within us. Here is the remarkable truth: God working through us, God working among us, God working for us. Now that is a healthy syndrome to acquire with resources that bring blessings! This is the real antidote for all that is negative, wrong, and evil in our world and affects individual lives.
I confess I have CARE syndrome within me. What about you?
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
11 April, 2011
Speak life into the world
The last Sunday in Lent had a fascinating combination of readings from the liturgical lectionary for the church year: Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones, and the Gospel reading about raising Lazarus from the dead. In between these two readings we had this proclamation from Romans 8 ... "Christ lives in you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by the same Spirit living within you."
Why was it so important for God to give us his Spirit?
When humanity fell into sin (recall the garden of Eden account) we were warned not to eat from the fruit of a particular tree, or we will surely die. The temptation in the garden back then was: my will over and above God's will for my life. Ever since then we have this broken world and the experience of evil, dark, and deadly things. But more tragically than all of the pain and destruction around our world, is that at that very moment in paradise, our spirit died. The flesh is just playing catch up and it may take a few many decades, but we will all die. No surprise there!
Jesus entered our death and went into death for us. There in the garden of Gethsemane we see a reversal taking shape: 'not my will, but your will be done.'
What is the will of God the Father?
We pray it into our life every time we speak the words of the Lord's Prayer: "your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Just as Jesus has done to bring life and speak life into people's tragic moments, so now we have a new commission as we read in John's Gospel as Jesus met with his disciples after the resurrection, "as the Father has sent me, so now I send you! Receive the Holy Spirit ..."
Life has been breathed back into our existence - read Jn 10:10, and breathe in the Life Jesus has won for you, his abundant healing and restoring life for all.
> posted by D.WILLNER
Why was it so important for God to give us his Spirit?
When humanity fell into sin (recall the garden of Eden account) we were warned not to eat from the fruit of a particular tree, or we will surely die. The temptation in the garden back then was: my will over and above God's will for my life. Ever since then we have this broken world and the experience of evil, dark, and deadly things. But more tragically than all of the pain and destruction around our world, is that at that very moment in paradise, our spirit died. The flesh is just playing catch up and it may take a few many decades, but we will all die. No surprise there!
Jesus entered our death and went into death for us. There in the garden of Gethsemane we see a reversal taking shape: 'not my will, but your will be done.'
What is the will of God the Father?
We pray it into our life every time we speak the words of the Lord's Prayer: "your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Just as Jesus has done to bring life and speak life into people's tragic moments, so now we have a new commission as we read in John's Gospel as Jesus met with his disciples after the resurrection, "as the Father has sent me, so now I send you! Receive the Holy Spirit ..."
Life has been breathed back into our existence - read Jn 10:10, and breathe in the Life Jesus has won for you, his abundant healing and restoring life for all.
> posted by D.WILLNER
04 April, 2011
Sermon summary . 4th Sunday in Lent
Remember what it was like to be a kid, especially your first few goes on a bike? If your experience was anything like mine, you'd also recall when you came off your bike and hurt your knee, perhaps even broke some bones. What's the first thing we do, besides scream? We put our hands over the wound on the knee and hold down tight. Then Mum comes along and 'wants to see', encouraging us to let go. But that means more pain; washing out the wound, cream that stings, bandages. If we don't do that, then the wound becomes infected and the situation becomes far worse.
Healing comes by dealing with the hurt.
Now consider a flesh wound through a cut on the arm. Amazingly, the body heals itself. But if you go to the butcher, and see the cut meat there, you won't ever find that it will heal itself - it has been cut off from the body! You might rightly call it 'dead meat.'
Healing takes place by being part of the body.
The church is supposed to be known as the body of Christ; a place where healing can take place. Here we have what Luther called: people who are saints and sinners at the same time, or to put it in another way, hurt and healed at the same time. We still have to deal with issues of hurt, but we are learning to become beakers, as we experience healing. Huge amount of medical research has shown that stress related deceases are basically defined by the human emotion called: Resentment. For us to deal with that wound, Christ has taught us about forgiveness called: Release.
Learning to release people who have hurt us is the first emotional step that brings with it healing to the spirit, soul, and body.
Whatever we hold onto, will have a hold on us!
Posted by Dirk Willner
Healing comes by dealing with the hurt.
Now consider a flesh wound through a cut on the arm. Amazingly, the body heals itself. But if you go to the butcher, and see the cut meat there, you won't ever find that it will heal itself - it has been cut off from the body! You might rightly call it 'dead meat.'
Healing takes place by being part of the body.
The church is supposed to be known as the body of Christ; a place where healing can take place. Here we have what Luther called: people who are saints and sinners at the same time, or to put it in another way, hurt and healed at the same time. We still have to deal with issues of hurt, but we are learning to become beakers, as we experience healing. Huge amount of medical research has shown that stress related deceases are basically defined by the human emotion called: Resentment. For us to deal with that wound, Christ has taught us about forgiveness called: Release.
Learning to release people who have hurt us is the first emotional step that brings with it healing to the spirit, soul, and body.
Whatever we hold onto, will have a hold on us!
Posted by Dirk Willner
14 March, 2011
another way to consider LENT
Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of the church season known as Lent. These are 40 days leading up to Easter. Traditionally, lent has focused on contemplation and sacrifice. So, the usually thing has been to give something up for lent, like chocolate or coffee. Well, we are going to take a different approach this year. The inspiration behind this comes from the prophetic claim that Christ came to bring healing to the nations, that the reason for Christ's coming was to do away with sin and darkness, and retire us to life in the kingdom of light.
Beginning with this Sunday, we will be exploring the Biblical message of HEALING. Dr.Phillip Morris will be our guest speaker on Sunday, 27th of March. This coming Sunday, the message will explore John 3 - entering into a new realm of existence!
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Beginning with this Sunday, we will be exploring the Biblical message of HEALING. Dr.Phillip Morris will be our guest speaker on Sunday, 27th of March. This coming Sunday, the message will explore John 3 - entering into a new realm of existence!
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
10 March, 2011
Stephan House at Living Word
Invitations have gone out. Preparations have been made. It's all going to come together on Sunday when the students and staff from Stephan House (Trinity Lutheran College) will join us for our worship service. The partnership between the congregation and the college go back to the founding years. In June of this year, we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary. 15 of those years have been at the 'Trinity Centre' (the building used by the college for assemblies and used by the congregation for their worship services). Discover more about our college at: www.TLC.qld.edu.au
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
28 February, 2011
Transfiguration Sunday
The readings for this Sunday set out three mountain top experiences that are connected to an encounter with God. The first and most famous one in the Old Testament, is that of the encounter Moses had on the Mountain top- after securing freedom from slavery for his people and the giving of the 10 Commandments.
The second mountain top experince was Christ's transfiguration as witnessed but a few of the disciples- giving us revelation of the Messiah, who came to set us free from our sin. The third mountain top experience is yet to become a reality. It is foretold by both the prophets of old and the disciples of the New Testament: Christ's return on the Mount of Olives.
After every mountain top there is a journey back down into the valley (Psalm 23 comes to mind); and it's a long way to the top ... we live life in between peaks as our visual reference points of where we have come from and where we are going.
Rev.'D
The second mountain top experince was Christ's transfiguration as witnessed but a few of the disciples- giving us revelation of the Messiah, who came to set us free from our sin. The third mountain top experience is yet to become a reality. It is foretold by both the prophets of old and the disciples of the New Testament: Christ's return on the Mount of Olives.
After every mountain top there is a journey back down into the valley (Psalm 23 comes to mind); and it's a long way to the top ... we live life in between peaks as our visual reference points of where we have come from and where we are going.
Rev.'D
24 February, 2011
The issue is choice
On Sunday, the Gospel reading will draw our attention to Christ's remark that you cannot serve two masters. It then speaks about all sorts of everyday practical occurrences - things that we worry about! So the challenge is ... 'Where will you invest your hope and trust?' ... that is the choice, and it will have proportionate results too. Moses spoke to his people and gave them a similar word to consider for their life: 'I place before you life and death, blessings and curse; choose life!
It's our choice
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
It's our choice
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
21 February, 2011
Access to Blessings
Sunday's sermon text from 1.Corinthians 3, is a revelation of the extraordinary work underway through God's workmanship: to build us as the temple of God, the dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. Isn't that awesome!?
I used the temple layout from the time when Moses travelled through the wilderness towards the promised land. We read in Exodus 33:11 that 'they would meet face to face, and talk as a friend does to another friend.' well, we are way past the days of Moses. Do you talk with God in this way?
One thing was obvious for those who did (like the disciples of Christ), they had access to blessings and became a blessing to those around them. Access to the Holy of Holies does that to people - and it blesses them to be a blessing upon the earth, in fulfillment of the Lord's Prayer: "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." True holiness isn't defined by what we are against, but by what we have to give from God's presence ...
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I used the temple layout from the time when Moses travelled through the wilderness towards the promised land. We read in Exodus 33:11 that 'they would meet face to face, and talk as a friend does to another friend.' well, we are way past the days of Moses. Do you talk with God in this way?
One thing was obvious for those who did (like the disciples of Christ), they had access to blessings and became a blessing to those around them. Access to the Holy of Holies does that to people - and it blesses them to be a blessing upon the earth, in fulfillment of the Lord's Prayer: "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." True holiness isn't defined by what we are against, but by what we have to give from God's presence ...
Rev.'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
16 February, 2011
Welcome Service - College Community
We have just celebrated our 'Welcome Service' - welcoming our new additions in Staff and students to this college. It is an opportunity for our congregation to host an event on the college calendar that shares the Gospel connection, inspiring and sustaining our college.
The sermon took up the 'prodigal son' story as told by Christ. Interestingly, it was all about comfort zones and whether we were going to step beyond them. For the young son, who eventually found himself in a pig pen after waisting his inheritance, that comfort zone was all about repentance. For the waiting father, his comfort zone was about forgiveness. They both had to step beyond what they felt comfortable with, in order to be able to give from themselves a blessing that brought about reconciliation. But what about the dutiful son, who stayed in his comfort zone, but remained bitter at both of them? Our ego is the greatest trap and the biggest hindrance to overcoming the barriers we set up between us. The cross of Christ can be seen as a death to our self (ego), so that something new can be given (resurrection). Where are you at?
Rev.'D
The sermon took up the 'prodigal son' story as told by Christ. Interestingly, it was all about comfort zones and whether we were going to step beyond them. For the young son, who eventually found himself in a pig pen after waisting his inheritance, that comfort zone was all about repentance. For the waiting father, his comfort zone was about forgiveness. They both had to step beyond what they felt comfortable with, in order to be able to give from themselves a blessing that brought about reconciliation. But what about the dutiful son, who stayed in his comfort zone, but remained bitter at both of them? Our ego is the greatest trap and the biggest hindrance to overcoming the barriers we set up between us. The cross of Christ can be seen as a death to our self (ego), so that something new can be given (resurrection). Where are you at?
Rev.'D
09 February, 2011
Commencement Service - College event
Tuesday evening the college community gathered for the commencement service. What a proud presentation of the Gospel through our chaplain and principal. Coming up this Sunday, we will be hosting the 'welcome service' at the congregational level for all new students, staff, and parents to our college. It is an honor to serve together in this partnership - a vision that began in earnest 30 years ago with the establishment of the primary school. June 12th will be set aside to celebrate this 30th anniversary, including the dedication of the new school buildings on the Ashmore Road campus.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
01 February, 2011
Life outside the box
The sermon topics have been based on the Epiphany readings set for the Church liturgical year. It's basically all about this truth: that Christ is the light of the world, who has come into our darkness. I would sum it up as an invitation to explore life outside the box.
We all have our box (mostly it is a dark box with insurmountable walls). Jesus approached a few people and lifted them out of their box ... "come and follow me" ... after that we known them as Christ's disciples. You always need someone who has explored life a little bit further on from where we are, to give us the courage and the helping hand, to move beyond our confinement.
Every child going back to school knows this. Without the teachers' input, and an attitude of learning by the student, we do not grow. Fear keeps us trapped, but faith releases us, and it releases us into a marvellous future already prepared by God - especially for you!
Rev.'D
We all have our box (mostly it is a dark box with insurmountable walls). Jesus approached a few people and lifted them out of their box ... "come and follow me" ... after that we known them as Christ's disciples. You always need someone who has explored life a little bit further on from where we are, to give us the courage and the helping hand, to move beyond our confinement.
Every child going back to school knows this. Without the teachers' input, and an attitude of learning by the student, we do not grow. Fear keeps us trapped, but faith releases us, and it releases us into a marvellous future already prepared by God - especially for you!
Rev.'D
13 January, 2011
Disaster Relief Fund
The LCA Queensland District has set up a disaster relief fund where your donations will support the efforts to reestablish community needs in their assistance given to individuals and families affected by the floods.
Follow the links from the lca.org.au webpage
Thank you for your financial support & also your prayers
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Follow the links from the lca.org.au webpage
Thank you for your financial support & also your prayers
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Epiphany - the light is finally on
The season on the church calendar following Christmas is that of Epiphany. It celebrates the revelation that Christ is 'the light of the world.' There are numerous images in scripture that relate to the coming Messiah (the savior of all mankind). The passages that speak about Jesus as the light are in reference to the realization that our world is in darkness. The stuff of darkness (flood, famine, failures, catastrophes of any nature) are common day occurrences, but a rescue plan needs to be organized from outside. In Queensland we are seeing floods sweep across our land. Rescue comes from outside - like the helicopters who lift people off their roofs. Christ has come into our dark world - let him give you a helping hand to bless you.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected by these floods - may help come quickly to your door.
Rev'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected by these floods - may help come quickly to your door.
Rev'D
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)