Seriously! 12 May 13
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Seriously!
How does Christ build his church? He uses the church to build the church. The people, that is. All of them.
He builds it in two ways. In the first place, by adding to it those whom he is saving. He saves and adds by means of his powerful gospel, which he entrusts to every believer. To every believer, that is, to whom he has already given his Spirit. Because, of course, it is the Spirit who works in the disciples to tell the message.
This building by addition happens by his plan, according to his schedule – as long as his workers are ready and willing to do their bit. Qualified workers? The other day I helped lay some concrete, working alongside a Trades Assistant. He was much better at it of course. I asked him whether he wanted to study and become a tradesman. No, he was happy being an assistant. But he was a very good assistant. And even totally unskilled me didn’t tip the barrow over in the wrong place.
I think the qualification that is needed is that the workers work.
Seriously? 5 May 13
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Seriously?
“We are the body of Christ.” Each week we make this claim. Does Christ agree? Well, it was his idea we think. At least his apostles taught as much.
But body in what sense? Are we his body from the neck down, with him as the head, and each of us different parts of the body (arms, legs etc)? Are we the body he owns, cares for, loves? Are we the body which is indwelt by Christ so that we are a kind of expression of Christ himself?
All of these ideas find support in the New Testament. And they all describe something strange and difficult. They all make “we” statements. “We” statements are very difficult to say. Difficult to mean, at least. They imply that what is important is the group. They give priority to the body over against the individual.
The difficulty lies in the fact that we live in a society that gives priority to the individual.
Sex and Marriage
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Other Sermons
{podcast id=145}
Sex and Marriage
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on Sunday 28 April 2013
Bible Readings: Genesis 1.26-31; 1 Corinthians 6.12-20
Sex as the means of joining or uniting two people. Sex outside of marriage.
Sex and love 28 April 13
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Sex and love.
Do they go together? Is sex about love? Or is it about desire? Or something else? Is sex the natural expression of love? If you love someone should you have sex with them?
It is possible that sex is about something else altogether.
One what? 28 April 13
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
One what?
What makes a marriage a marriage? Is it love? In our Anglican Marriage Service, the couple are not asked whether they love each other. Rather they are asked will they love each other. Their marriage proceeds on the basis of a vow and promise they make to each other.
What sustains the marriage is that each of them remains faithful to their word. It is their faithfulness to their promise that keeps them faithful to each other. Their promise is that they will faithfully love each other no matter what.
Could they be married privately, so that only they knew what they had promised?
Marriage Genesis 2.15-25; Ephesians 5.21-33; Matthew 19.3-12; Psalm 127
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Other Sermons
{podcast id=146}
Marriage: Genesis 2.15-25; Ephesians 5.21-33; Matthew 19.3-12; Psalm 127
Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 21 April 2013
Bible readings: Genesis 2.15-25; Ephesians 5.21-33; Matthew 19.3-12; Psalm 127
The foundations of understanding the Bible's view of marriage
How can a Minister Help? 21 April 13
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
How can a Minister Help?
I have just spent a weekend in Albany, teaching an intensive course to about 20 very keen students, preaching at one church and attending and listening to the sermon at another. I met at least seven ministers while I was there. Pastors and ministers are all different. They have different gifts, priorities, experiences and goals, although all the ones I met have central common goals of building people up in Christ and seeing the church strengthened and growing.
A couple of weeks ago I spoke to the congregation about ways in which I thought I could best assist this church while I was still here. How could I help?
I would like to continue to help us meet together, week by week, in a way that both helps the regulars and allows people with little church background to join in. This of course involves change.
I would like to continue to help us evangelise, make disciples and grow the church by helping others hear the gospel and turn to Christ. Especially to help train, teach and encourage those who want to make disciples.
I want to continue to help people with their personal faith and life issues. This means both helping, teaching, encouraging, and supporting Christians as they learn how to follow Jesus, struggle with what the Bible says and how it applies to their life, as well as the issues they find difficult.
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