I went to see “Atonement” at City Screen.
I left the cinema wondering why I liked it so much. I thought the acting and action was good, I loved the scenery and sets. I liked seeing Keira Knightley looking elegant in her green dress. These things all engaged me in the story and, looking back, pulled me along through the adventures. But as I left City Screen I knew I felt there was more to it than that. It had connected with me deeply. Why should that be?
See TheMorningFlight to find out my thoughts about it.
Graham
Ministering to Muslims - One Day Seminars
- Letchworth - Tuesday 9th October 2007
- Halifax - Tuesday 30th October 2007
- Cheltenham - Thursday 1st November 2007
Star: 9.30am End: 3.30pm
Speaker Biography
Martin [British] lives in Bromley with his wife Jensie [Swedish] and their Swenglish sons . Martin & Jensie have a passion for taking the Good News to Muslims and have worked amongst them for over 25 years, having spent much of that time iun the Middle East.
Martin currently provides support and development for church planting teams, shares the Gospel with Muslim friends, teaches around the world on Muslim evangelism and represents OM on interagency networks. When he can fit it in he works as an independent cultural consultant and executive coach for clients such as GSK, PWC, Motorola, Rolls Royce, GM, Ford and Ericsson.
He has a Masters Degree from Fuller Theological Seminary where he completed a double specialisation in Islam and Christian Leadership Development. In 1997 Martin reveived the Paul Person Award for Innovative Vision and Creativity in the Task of World Evangelism.
Why Attend?
- Feeling equipped and able to share the Gospel with Muslims in your locality.
- Understanding the cultural adaptations needed, where appropriat, to increase trust and respect with Muslims.
- Being able to answer some of the standard Muslim objections to Christianity.
- Knowing some of the basic beliefs and practices of Muslims and be able to use these as bridges when sharing the Gospel.
- Encouraged that God is clearly and powerfully at work in the Muslim world.
- Motivated to increase your prayer for Muslims both here and abroad.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A BOOKING FORM
This is part 7 of a series on chapters 13 to 17. This week the text is John 14:5-11.
The sermon is available as a Podcast, downloadable PDF notes and the text of it is pasted into this post. Graham quoted from ‘John the Gospel of Belief’ by Merrill C Tenney, this is included below too.
The material is made available so that any may use it, preach it or adapt it.
To download PDF of notes - DOWNLOAD
Sermon John 14:5-14
Intro
Discussion questions for congregation:
In this section we look at the questions of Thomas and Philip. Before we look at those questions we shall imagine an extra disciple called Bob and invent a question for him.
(a) What question could Bob ask?
(b) How would you classify his question? Fear, lack of faith, lack of understanding etc?
Now look at the questions of Thomas and Philip. What do you think was the problem of each of them as expressed in the questions? How do you classify their questions?
1) The Question of Thomas v5-7
Quote, p215 of ‘John the Gospel of Belief’ by Merrill C Tenney re Way, Truth and Life.
Here, as elsewhere, Jesus did not upbraid Thomas for his unbelief, but held out to him a positive declaration on which he could base his thinking. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me” (14:6).
This affirmation of Jesus is one of the greatest philosophical utterances of all time. He did not say that He knew the way, the truth, and the life, nor that He taught them. He did not make Himself the exponent of a new system; He declared Himself to be the final key to all mysteries.
He was the way. Between the present of man’s failure, and the future of God’s design for him is a gulf which seems unbridgeable. Thomas recognized it, and so despaired. Jesus said, “1 am the way,” for in Him man is brought back to God, and through the Living Way he achieves his true destiny.
He was the truth. Truth is the scarcest commodity in the world. All the philosophers had sought for it; none had attained it. No one mind was great enough to grasp it; no one personality was pure enough to achieve it by conduct. Truth is neither an abstract system of integrated propositions, nor is it an impersonal ethic contained in many rules. It is both the reality and the ethic expressed in a person who is more flexible than legal rigidity and incomprehensible abstraction, and who is, notwithstanding, unchanging and consistent. Christ spoke with final authority in words adapted to human understanding.
He was the life. The way was a means of reaching the Father; the truth defined the righteous standards of the way; the life bespoke the dynamic which could make attainment possible. All through the Gospel of John life describes the principle of spiritual vitality that originates with God and that lifts men out of sin to Himself. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (Jn 1 :4). Christianity ,is not a system of philosophy, nor a ritual, nor a code of laws; it is the impartation of a divine vitality. Without the way there is no going, without the truth there is no knowing, without the life there is no living. Many others beside Christ have offered systems of thought that purported to bridge the gap between man and God; none other has by His own person succeeded in bridging it. “No one,” He said, “cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
It seems they knew Jesus personally. But regarding the spiritual their understanding was very limited. Not until after the resurrection did they see things more fully.
Knowledge of God must include an understanding of his “redemptive procedure in dealing with man.” as well as the more obvious demonstration of his power in the creation we see around us. Know the Bible! There is no substitute!
He said to Thomas, “You know the way!”
Thomas had:
- previous teaching
- the leading of the Spirit
It is obedience and trust, not lack of information that is the problem.
2) The Question of Philip v8-11
He seems to be able to grasp calculations, see John 6:5-7
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming towards him, he said to Philip, Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat? He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!
Philip seemed to have trouble dealing with concepts of faith, the spiritual realm. He could not move from the natural to the spiritual. See John 6:34ff was it Philip? See the incident of the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:10ff.
To be baffled is not the same as being indifferent. Asking God questions is not wrong. Philip’s question shows he was seeking.
Philip is more that curious, he is seeking. Our response will be different when discerning who is seeking and who is merely curious. See Matthew 7:6
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
I think Philip was asking that God be brought down to his level. This is dangerous, this is the way to the creation of idols. See Exodus 20:4
You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
Idols do not represent god, only God incarnated in the Son does that. The reply to Philip was that God would not be brought down to his level any further. Now, by faith, he must rise up to God.
3) Our Questions
Now leave the questions of Thomas and Philip behind and ask where you stand. Not your question, but what it indicates. Do you need to deal with fear, lack of faith, lack of understanding etc? More trust? More obedience?
What will you do about it?
Come along to Clifton Parish Church on Tuesday 9th October between 7 pm and 9 pm to find out more about this year’s courses, meet the tutors and enrol. See our map to find Clifton Parish Church.
Certificated Courses for this term:
An introduction to the New Testament.
Starting Tuesday 16th October at Trinity Methodist Church, Monkgate. Tutors: Francis Hutchins and Gary Patchen. Cost £90
New Testament Introduction was our most popular Unit in our first year. It is a good starting point for those aiming for the Certificate as most Christians know the New Testament reasonably well both in structure and in content, without even realising it.
The Holy Spirit
Starting Monday 15th October at St. Cuthbert’s Centre, Peasholme Green. Tutor: John Wilson. Cost £90.
The Holy Spirit course includes three main areas; the Spirit of God, the Spirit Within Us and the Spirit in the Church.
Flatpack ( Short ) Courses for this term:
The Bible in 6 weeks.
Starts: Tuesday 16th October for 6 weeks at St. Cuthbert’s Centre, Peasholme Green. Tutor: Derek Wooldridge. Cost: £30
We all know about Adam and Eve, Noah, Moses, David and Goliath, Daniel and those lions, Jesus’ death and resurrection, and Paul’s journeys, but how do they all fit together and make sense as a whole? This course gives an overview of this amazing collection of books.
The Book of Revelation
Starts: Tuesday 27th November for 3 weeks at St. Cuthbert’s Centre, Peasholme Green. Tutor: John Wilson. Costs: £15
A three week overview of the last book of the bible, looking at the different ways in which it is interpreted and how those interpretations shape our thinking about both the present and the future.
Engage
‘Engage’ is for anyone doing youth work - voluntarily, part time or full time who wants training and a chance to reflect on their practice.
Starts: November. Tutor: James Simister. Cost: £TBA
To find out more about the courses visit our website www.ystyork.org.
E mail: office@ystyork.org Phone 0780 4453616
After his holiday Graham is again preaching from John’s gospel. This is part 6 of a series on chapters 13 to 17. This week the text is John 14:1-4.
The sermon is available as a Podcast, downloadable PDF notes and the text of it is pasted in this post below.
Graham referred to a Government consultation on new equality law. The material referred to in the preaching is also included at the bottom of this post.
The material is made available so that any may use it, preach it or adapt it.
To download PDF of notes - DOWNLOAD
Sermon John 14:1-4
Intro
A question. Is the following referring to the future, or walking with God in this life?
Psalm 16:11
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Answer? It is past, present and future.
“Let not your heart..” Whose? Peter’s in particular.
In his writing John is careful to record the singular (heart, not as in NIV Bible), contrary to normal Greek and Latin practice, but according to the Hebrew or Aramaic practice of the “distributive singular”. Jesus speaks to each individual.
“Troubled.”
The same word used in John 11:13
Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.
And in John 12:27
“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.
And in John 13:21
When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”
And in John 5:7
(A.V.) Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
This is not addressed to the trouble-free!
What is his comfort? To look up and ahead! Jesus looks beyond the troubles the disciples will endure. He lifts their gaze to heaven and their place there.
Their comfort is not just to be in the understanding of his resurrection and the Lord’s Day celebration, but in that which is lasting, by believing.
1) Where is he going?
Home! Our Father is everywhere but he is somewhere in particular
See Psalm 139:8
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
God is in the wilderness, Gen 28:17 [After Jacob’s dream at Bethel]
He was afraid and said, How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.
There is a place (or places) where his presence can be known, Psalm 84:10
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
There will be that special place above all others, Revelation 21:21-24
The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendour into it.
2) Where am I going?
“Dwelling place.”
Here we are strangers and pilgrims. My citizenship is not here.
See Philippians 3:19-21
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Hebrews 11:10
For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
3) Where exactly am I going?
Many rooms (or dwelling places).
Who will be there?
Luke 13:23,24
Someone asked him, Lord, are only a few people going to be saved? He said to them, Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
He does not reply by saying how many but returns to his previous point in that passage, strive to be one who “enters in”
There is room (space) for all.
There is a room (just right) for all.
There is room (space) for all.
Revelation 7:9
After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no-one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
There is a room (just right) for all.
“I go to prepare a place for you.” Go where? Two destinations, firstly to the cross, and secondly to his father’s house! This was the lesson to the two disciples met on the road to Emmaus, Luke 24:26 “Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
P.S.
He is the way, the only way. Soon we may have legal difficulties saying that in public.
While on holiday I received an email (contents below) from The Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship about Government consultation proposals to restrict freedom to witness to our faith. Consultation period ended Tuesday 4th September.
Government proposals would be the biggest ever shake-up to discrimination law.
Proposals would restrict freedom to preach and damage freedom of conscience in relation to other faiths, homosexuality and transsexuality. More below:
The Discrimination Law Review
The Government’s Discrimination Law Review (DLR) proposes the biggest ever shake-up to UK discrimination law. It proposes to take every single piece of existing legislation relating to discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation and age, and put them all into a “Single Equality Act” which will be overseen and enforced by a new body called the Commission for Equality and Human Rights.
In many ways it is good news that the Government are seeking to simplify and tidy up what has become very complex legislation. The aim of getting rid of unjustified discrimination is an admirable one - the Bible sets the standard for all legal codes outlawing discrimination: Jesus described the two greatest laws (commandments) as “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40)
Jesus went on to explain that “your neighbour” is any other human: whatever their sex, race, religion or other characteristic. If everyone in society were to follow this teaching, there would be no unjustified discrimination.
The consultation is 190 pages long and is itself very complicated. It can be found at the link given below.
Although there are many positive proposals, there also elements of considerable concern to Christians who want to be able to speak freely about the Bible’s teaching.
The main concerns are:
The Government are proposing to make it illegal to harass someone on the grounds of their religion or belief. However, the definition of harassment is extremely broad, and substantially depends on the perception of the person who makes an allegation of harassment and not the intention of the person accused of harassment. So, a Christian that went to a largely Muslim area to hand out tracts which said that Islam was a false religion, could be sued if a particular Muslim felt that the tract had either ‘violated their dignity’ or put them in an ‘offensive environment’.
The Government have also brought back one of the most controversial proposals that they previously tried to bring in via the Sexual Orientation Regulations only a few months ago. They are proposing that it should be made illegal to harass someone on the grounds of their sexual orientation. Again, the problem is the really broad definition of harassment. This proposal would mean that although a Church is free under the SORs to gently refuse membership of the church to an unrepentant practising homosexual, that person, if they felt that they had been put in a ‘humiliating environment’ could sue the Church. Similarly, a homosexual could sue a church if they heard a sermon about sexual morality that included condemnation of homosexual practices.
The Government are also consulting on whether there should be a duty on public authorities to promote sexual orientation equality. This will mean that local authorities and other bodies will take active steps to ensure that all sorts of organisations do not discriminate based on homosexual practices. The danger is that this will be taken too far and will mean that Government funding is removed from Christian projects or that support is given to projects promoting homosexuality.
The Government are further consulting on whether there should be a duty on public authorities to promote religion or belief equality. There is a similar danger here that the sort of politically correct decisions (like local councils banning Christmas cards) that increasingly make the headlines, will be multiplied, with public funding being focused on promoting ‘minority’ religions like Islam and Hinduism.
Another part of the consultation paper seeks views on whether Churches should be able to treat people differently because they have had gender reassignment. If the Government subsequently decided not to allow churches to do so, then a church would not be able to object to a male member of the congregation, who had a sex change (taking on the appearance of a woman), from attending a women’s retreat weekend.
The Government are further proposing that the law should protect transsexual people from practices that require them to disclose the fact that their actual sex differs from their physical appearance. So, for example, the Government would allow a man that has had a sex change operation, to be able to keep it secret that he has had that operation.
These are just some of the main provisions of the DLR that are of concern to Christians.
The Discrimination Law Review consultation: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/frameworkforfairnessconsultation
This time it is my daughter Zoë who has her news featured here as someone who went out from this church to pursue her adventures.
Zoë married Jonathan Joyce on 31 August in Neath, South Wales. She met him at Fraisthorpe Camp when he was one of the youth leaders there. After her time at Reading University she moved to Wales to be near him. He’s great, they are so well suited.
Thank you to all who prayed for the event. It went really well with good weather. The car carrying the bride’s maids broke down but that was after the ceremony and on the way to the reception so it was not too bad.
To see the official photos go to this link. The photographer was very good and worked so hard. You may notice that the first photos were taken at the start of the day and she was still working in the evening when it was dark.
