Reading and Understanding 2 Jan 11
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Reading and Understanding
2010 saw celebrations of the 100thanniversary of the famous Edinburgh Missionary Conference and the 25th anniversary of Christ the King Willetton. 2011 will feature the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James version of the bible. Even Richard Dawkins is waxing lyrical about its wonderful impact on the English speaking peoples.
I suppose if we talk about it too much we will be heartily sick of it soon enough. However for all its alleged impact on English speakers in the past, the King James Bible has little influence now. Indeed the bible in any version seems to have a limited impact these days, even though it is far and away the world’s best-selling book.
Today’s news reported that an e-version of the newly revised NIV was the best seller in the Religion/Spirituality in the Apple iTunes store and 13th across all categories over the Christmas weekend.
Buying is one thing, reading is another.
A dangerous Christmas 25 Dec 10
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
A dangerous Christmas
Does it seem strange that Christians are being murdered, attacked and beaten up in many places around the world this Christmas? And in other places that their story is being rubbished or just erased from view? Not that it only happens at Christmas, but Christmas highlights the practice.
Someone has said that Christmas is the most famous birthday – bar none. But the person whose birthday is celebrated continues to be the object of significant hostility.
It was always the case. In at least two places the Bible describes the attempted murder of Mary’s baby.
What is Christmas really about? 19 Dec 10
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
What is Christmas really about?
Here some possible conversation spices for the festive season.
- Christmas is really about the great God-invasion. When he stuck his face in ours.
- Christmas shows you what God thinks of humans – he became one of us (but so does Good Friday – pity about that: he put us to death!).
- Christmas means peace on earth – as long as you are at peace with God.
- It must have been a confusing time at Jesus' birth. A blinding light-show, super-rich visitors from half way around the world, local smelly shepherds, an animals' feeding trough as a bassinet, a dad who was a tradesman (well that was good anyway), and a serious attempt to murder him by the political elite. Actually it was quite a good start for someone whose task was to bring together a new united humanity.
- Do you think Jesus was a difficult teenager – he was certainly a difficult adult?
- Do you think Joseph’s dad said, “Tell Joseph he’s dreaming!”?
- Were the wise men really nutters? Can you imagine anyone doing that nowadays?
- What do you think Mary and Joseph did with the gold, frankincense and myrrh? What you have done with it?
- Did you know that there probably was no inn? It was really the guest room in a house that was full. [The word is used in the NT also in Mark 14.14.] How would you like to have a baby in an overcrowded two-room house?
- Would it have made a difference if Joseph was really the father?
- Your spicy question/comment: “ ............................................”
Dale
The Year of the Bible 5 Dec 10
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
The Year of the Bible
In 1066 the Normans took control of England and began to use their version of French as the official language. Ordinary people used Old English which gradually changed into Middle English by the time of Chaucer. Only in 1362 did Parliament decide that English was to be used in Parliament and the Courts.
The big change into early modern English began with the reign of Henry V in the 15th century and continued into the 17th. There were two great influences. Shakespeare invented many new words and gave English a new place in the hearts and minds of the people. Following soon after Shakespeare the King James Bible also cemented a beauty of language in the minds of the English.
But it was not an easy transition.
Christ will come again! Advent Studies 2010
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Studies for Groups and Individuals
Christ will come again! Advent Studies 2010
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These four studies aim to help us think about the implications of living in the “last days”. In the time leading up to the return of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The studies are designed for individual, family, and small group use. The Sunday sermons will follow the same themes. Individuals and groups are encouraged to use the studies in the week preceding the sermon.
Each week a number of readings are provided on the theme for the week for your personal reading and reflection. These readings also form the basic readings for the study groups.
Outline
When you come together 28 Nov 10
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
When you come together
“When you come together..., when you come together...” At least four times Paul repeats the phrase as he encourages the Corinthians to change the way they meet for the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11.17-34). “When you come together it is not the Lord’s Supper that you eat...”.
Coming together is one of the essential marks of the church. “Church” in the New Testament means an assembly, a coming together, a meeting, a gathering (exactly the same word is used in Acts 19.32,39). The writer to the Hebrews saw the matter from a different angle. Some had developed an ethos of not meeting together (Heb 10.25). How could they encourage one another if they didn’t meet?
The meeting was the occasion not only to proclaim the death of the Lord in the Lord’s Supper, but also to encourage, teach, and exhort each other as the Word of God came to life among them (Col 3.16).
So what has changed?
Growing a Church 21 Nov 10
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- Written by: Dale
- Category: Weekly Reflections
Growing a Church
I was at a meeting of one of the Mission Plan groups this week and we discussed what was necessary for an established church in Perth to start growing again. The question is important because most churches plateau soon after they start. Although there is a turn-over of people and small fluctuations in attendance, most churches don’t keep growing.
In a one congregation-one minister model like ours there is a numerical limit of around 80 – 100 people (quite apart from the obvious physical limits of the building). The reasons for this are fairly well known and are mostly related to relationships: people want to know and be known by the minister.
What is needed to grow beyond these limits? Here are some ideas. What do you think?
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