Dale Appleby

Worth singing about 21 Aug 11

Worth singing about

We have a gospel to proclaim... so the song goes. Good news for all. Good news about what? Actually good news about whom? Good news about the name of the saviour.  The fame, the glory, the reputation of the King -  Jesus, our Lord.

And the news? Birth, of course. Born among his people, as one of them. One of the great paradoxes. Word of God, with God in the beginning, creator of all. Made flesh. The creator takes creation to himself, and sheds God light on human life.

And. His death. Another paradox. Lord of all. Great King. Cruelly killed on a cross – for the ones he came to save. Gave his life for them – so they could live.

And there’s more.

Read more: Worth singing about 21 Aug 11

Answering prayers 14 Aug 11

Answering prayers

What a great encouragement it is to see God answer prayer. And what a great encouragement are brothers and sisters in the Lord. “in the Lord” – now there is a description. The word “Christian” is only used three times in the New Testament. What words did they use instead to describe each other?

You can see the answer at the end of Romans. “In Christ” or ‘in the Lord” occurs maybe a dozen times in Romans 16. Brothers and sisters in the Lord are those who share a common Lord, a common trust, a common experience of grace and forgiveness, a common hope of eternal life in Christ.

And a common experience of encouraging each other.

Read more: Answering prayers 14 Aug 11

9. God intended it for good Genesis 37-50

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9. God intended it for good:   Genesis 37-50

Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 8 August 2011

Bible Readings: Genesis 45.1-15; Psalm 91; Acts 7.1-16; Luke 22.39-46

Joseph: God's suffering saviour who understood what God was doing when he was living what looked like a wasted life. Jospeh is the end of the first part of the story, but the end of the big story is in Revelation.

An Anglican History: Part 3. The Development of the Western Church

An Anglican History: Part 3. The Development of the Western Church

In 597 Augustine was sent by Pope Gregory I as a missionary to Britain from Rome. He established a mission in the south east and built a cathedral at Canterbury where he became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. Augustine’s mission had great success with the Anglo-Saxon pagan kingdoms. The church became strong enough to be a centre of mission to central Europe.

It took some time for the the churches from the Celtic tradition and those from the Roman tradition to find a way to work together. In 663 a conference at Whitby resolved the disagreements. After this the church in England was under the authority of Rome.

Charlemagne

Read more: An Anglican History: Part 3. The Development of the Western Church

8. Struggling with God Genesis 32

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8. Struggling with God  Genesis 32.22-32

Sermon preached at Christ the King Willetton on 31 July 2011

Jacob struggling with God. Fear and anxiety and the Lord who strives for Jacob

Disciple not Christian? 31 Jul 11

Disciple not Christian?

Nicholas has summarised some of the latest thinking on how churches can express themselves in ways that will help them grow and function as real churches.  Last week he mentioned the idea of discipleship, and wrote, “The words ‘Christian’ and “Disciple’ are synonymous in the Bible.”

Of course. But not now. Back then ‘disciple’ was the original term. They only started to use the term ‘Christian’ after it had been coined as a kind of nick-name. The only Christians were disciples.  Nowadays ‘Christian’ can refer to almost anything. Even in the church.

‘Disciple’ is a good word to use. It is much more definitive. ‘Apprentice’ is probably a reasonable equivalent for us. ‘Disciple’ means ‘learner’ but in a certain sense. Not in the sense of someone who studies books, listens to lectures and passes exams, but in terms of someone who is taught how as well as what and why. A person apprenticed to Jesus.

Read more: Disciple not Christian? 31 Jul 11