Freedom in Christ: Who am I? Session 1

The following sermon is taken from the Freedom in Christ Discipleship Course by Neil Anderson & Steve Goss.

Freedom in Christ
Session 1: Who Am I?

Introduction: Who Are You Really?

The purpose of this course is to help us walk in the freedom that Jesus has won for us. How can we do that? Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). We need to make sure that we really know the truth, not just as “head knowledge”, but in our hearts.

The first area of truth we need to know is where we have come from and who we really are.

So, who are you? It sounds a like a simple question, but the more we think about it, the more complicated we realise it is. What makes up the real “me”, the real “you”? Is it my body, is it what I have? Is it what I do? Is it what I think.

Created in the image of God

We tend to identify ourselves and others by outward appearance, performance and social status.

The Bible however is very clear, that that’s not who we are. It says that we are made “in God’s image” (Genesis 1:26). God is not flesh and blood, he is spirit. As humans we have a physical nature, our bodies, and also a spiritual nature, our soul or spirit. It is our inner spiritual nature that is created in the image of God. Deep down we are spiritual beings.

How we were designed to be

If we look at Adam and Eve, we can see how God intended us to be. Not only was Adam physically alive, in the same way that you and I are. He was also spiritually alive, in other words his spirit, the core of his being was connected to God.

This is how we were designed to be too: on the one hand our spirit connected to our physical body, and on the other hand our spirit connected to God.

This connection to God gave Adam a whole different quality of life from mere physical existence. Being spiritually alive meant that Adam’s life had a number of very important qualities:

1 Significance

God gave Adam a purpose for being – to rule over the birds of the sky, the bests of the field and the fish of the sea (Genesis 1:26). Adam did not have to search for significance or meaning in life – he already had it.
2 Security

He was totally safe and secure in God’s presence. Everything he needed was provided – food, shelter, companionship – everything! He had not concept of what “need” was.

3 Acceptance

Adam had an intimate relationship with God. He could talk with Him at any time and have his full attention. He also had a sense of belonging, not just to God but also to another human being, Eve.

That is how God created you to be. You were designed for that kind of life. Complete security, a real purpose, no need to worry about anything, and a sense of belonging to God and other people.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FALL

But when Adam and Eve were deceived by Satan and they disobeyed God, things dramatically changed.

Spiritual Death

Adam and Eve were told, “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:17) But the death that was talked about, was not only physical death but also spiritual death.

The connection that their spirits had to God was broken and they were separated from God. The effects of this spiritual death for them, and for us were:

1 Lost knowledge of God

The wisdom of God was no longer within them, and they were left to discover their identity, purpose and meaning in life independently of their creator.

To be in relationship with God was to know God. When Adam and Eve sinned and were banished from God’s presence, they lost the intimate knowledge of God they once enjoyed. That is how we came into the world, without a true knowledge of God. We may know about God, but we can’t really know him until we establish a real relationship with him through Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 2:14).

2 Negative Emotions

They suddenly experienced a whole host of negative emotions that they had never known before.

a) They felt fearful and anxious

The first emotion expressed by Adam was “I was afraid” (Genesis 3:10). Anxiety disorders are the number one mental health problem in the world. It is hard to imagine, but Adam and Eve had not irrational fears until they sinned. We are born with a driving need to get back to the position of security that they lost.

b) They felt guilty and shameful

Originally they had a sense of significance. When the relationship with God was broken, that was replaced by a sense of guilt and shame. Therefore we are all born with a need to get back that sense of significance.

c) They felt rejected

Originally they had a sense of belonging, of complete acceptance. When the relationship with God was broken, there came a crushing sense of rejection. Everyone is born with that great need to feel accepted, and to belong.

d) They felt weak and powerless

Originally Adam and Eve had the power of God within them to be and do all that God created them to be and do. Now they had to rely on their own strength and resources.

e) They felt depressed and angry

TRYING TO GO BACK TO HOW IT WAS MEANT TO BE

The best the world can offer does not work

Because of the effects on sin on our world, and upon us, we are born with a strong drive to try and regain the acceptance, security and significance that Adam and Eve lost. But we don’t know how to do it.

We try to find significance through our accomplishments, we try to find security through our status, and we try to find acceptance through the admiration of others. But nothing we do, can recapture what was lost with Adam and Eve.

Bernhard Langer, the top golfer, who is also a Christian said this:

By the time I was about 28 years old, I had basically achieved almost everything that I wanted to. I realised that material things don’t make you happy and that there must be more in life than just accumulating money in the bank, or cars, or houses, or whatever. You just want more, more, more and are never satisfied.

We can’t get that life back by trying harder or dressing to impression, because the problem is that we were born separated from God. But God had a plan to restore fallen humanity.

WHAT JESUS CAME TO DO

Give us back spiritual life

The only possible answer to the problems we face is to restore our relationship with God, to reconnect our spirit to God’s spirit, to become spiritually alive again. That was not something we could accomplish ourselves. So God sent Jesus to deal with the sin that had separated us from God.

Jesus was like Adam in that he was both physically and spiritually alive. Unlike Adam, Jesus never sinned. He modelled for us how a spiritually alive person can live in this fallen world if they live dependently upon their heavenly Father.

However, Jesus came to give us more than an example, he came to give us life.

“In the beginning was the Word…. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4)
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even through he dies.” (John 11:25)

What Adam lost was life, what Jesus came to give us was life. When we become Christians our spirit is reconnected to God’s spirit – we are spiritually born again, and we can know God and relate to others in the same intimate way that Adam and Eve knew.

Restore Significance, Security and Acceptance

We tend to think that eternal life is something that we get when we die. But it is in fact much more than that – it’s a whole different quality of life right now. In fact, it’s simply getting back the life that Adam lost at the fall. In 1 John 5:12, the apostle John wrote, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son does not have life.” The moment we received Christ, we were given the right to be called children of God (John 1:12). Having the life of Christ within us is what makes possible the restoration of what Adam and Eve lost in the fall.

Now our needs to establish an identity, to be accepted, secure and significant are fully met in Christ. And what this sermon series will do, is to explore what this means for our real day to day lives: why we don’t have to strive any longer for people to accept us; why we are secure in Christ despite our circumstances; and why we don’t have to worry about our needs.

The key thing to understand now is that if God says that these things are true, then they really are true. God is truth – our responsibility is to find out what it true and believe it even when our feelings and circumstances tell us something different.

Summary

We seen that through Adam and Eve, God intends for us all to have an intimate relationship with him, and to experience acceptance, significance and security. But that through sin this was lost.

Jesus has come to give us back that life. We have that life right now.

Next week, we’ll come back again to the question “who am I?” and look at the truth of what it means to be a Christian.

Let us pray…..

Quick & True

In happy moments, praise God
In difficult moments, seek God
In quiet moments, worship God
In painful moments, trust God
In every moment, thank God

Five lessons to make you think about the way we treat people

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.
During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:
"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello." I've never forgot en that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain
One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached..
it read:
"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along.
Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away... God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving
others."
Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve.
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have t he plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies...you see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon a pproaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand! Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare &serious disease Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away". Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

Colossians 3:12-17 Home Group Sermon

Introduction:

Last week I began my sermon by asking the question, what is your vision of a healthy church. We then proceeded to look at Acts 2:42-47, and examined what the early church was like, and we saw that it was a church that:
1) devoted itself to the study of scripture
2) was committed to fellowship
3) that took seriously the call to worship
4) and that it was a praying church.
And we saw also the important role small groups played in the life of that church, and how they continue to play an important role in the life of the church because it is within the small group that
1) relationships are built and nurtured.
2) It is the place that allows us to go deeper in the study of the Bible.
3) It is the place where people can develop their own gifts and ministries in a safe and caring environment.
4) It is a good place to invite friends and neighbours who may not yet be Christians, so they can get to know people in a more informal setting.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus chose 12 disciples? Why 12, why not more, why not fewer? One reason is that there is clearly a link being made between the 12 Tribes of Israel and the Twelve Disciples.

The twelve tribes of Israel were the specially chosen people of God, by choosing twelve disciples Jesus is making a strong statement that what he is doing is something new. This is picked up in Paul’s letter to the Colossians, in which he writes to the Colossians: YOU are “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.” (3:12) Paul’s language of being chosen, set apart, and holy, is the language that had been used to describe Israel, but now it is being used to describe the church.

But I believe there is also another, more practical reason why Jesus chose twelve disciples. The word disciple means pupil or student, the twelve disciples were those chosen by Jesus to learn from him and follow him. Jesus, during the three years that he was with the disciples, modelled to them through his words and through his actions what it meant to be his follower. Jesus was able to do this much more effectively with a small group of close disciples than with a large group.

This is one of the reasons why small groups play such an important role in the life of the church, because they are here to help us grow as followers of Jesus through studying the Bible, praying and worshiping together and sharing our faith.

The home group is meant to be a place
Where we care for one another
Where we learn to serve one another
Where we are affirmed
Where we can learn together
Where we can get to know one another better.

Relationships form the fabric of the church. God uses small groups to strengthen a sense of community. God longs for unity and intimacy within the body of believers, and home groups provide the optimum environment for us to experience that closeness that God so wants for us. In these small group settings, we get to know one another and God better, our practical and spiritual needs are met, and those in our sphere of influence who don't have such a place can be invited to come.

In our reading from Colossians Paul writes that as God’s chosen, and holy people, we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness and patience. We are to act towards others as God in Christ has acted towards us. In the words of 1 John 4:11 “If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” Within the context of a small group, we begin to learn what this means.

He goes on to write that as Christians we are to demonstrate God’s family likeness, by ‘Putting on love’ (v14), to ‘let the peace of Christ rule in our lives’ (v15), and to letting the ‘word of Christ to dwell in you’ (v16). And Paul emphasises that this calling belongs to us all, that we all play a part in the ministry of teaching and encouraging one another in God’s word. It is the work the whole people of God, and not just one or two.

If we fail to do this, if the church doesn’t use all its gifts, it is like an orchestra that expects the conductor, the trombonist and the clarinettist to be able to play the parts of all the other instruments, and produce the same results as if all the instruments were playing.

Last week I mentioned the fact that one of the advantages of belonging to a home group is that it provides an environment for people to develop their gifts and ministries, as well as being a place for us to minister to one another. One of the things that can sometimes keep a Christian from growing is they lack confidence, and undervaluing or failing to recognise the gifts God has given them. When I was in my last parish, there was a group that met regularly called ‘prayer pause’, the purpose of this group was to pray for the church. It was set up by a wonderful Godly lady called Rosemary, who was in her mid late 80s at the time. When this group first started, very few people were felt comfortable praying in front of others, in fact many of the group found praying quite difficult. But over time, with the loving care and guidance of Rosemary people grew in confidence and ability, and it was a joy to see them really blossom in their Christian faith as they prayed for one another, and as they saw answers to prayer. At the start this group was totally reliant on Rosemary to lead the meetings, but when Rosemary moved to North Yorkshire to be closer to her family, there were lots of people in that group who had the ability to lead the group, and not only this, but were also confident enough to lead prayers in church, and to pray with others. The point of this story is that this only happened, because they belonged to a group, where they had the space and freedom to discover their gifts and ministries.

We shouldn’t just see home groups as yet another meeting to go to, but something that people enjoying coming together for, because they are meeting friends and there is a clear purpose in their gathering. What I want to encourage each of the home groups in St Martin’s to follow the ‘Four W’s’ pattern, so that each meeting has a clear structure.

The 4 Ws stand for:
Welcome
Worship
Word
Witness

Welcome - gathering
Each meeting will begin with some form of welcome, with the aim of gathering and helping the whole group gel together. Rather than allowing time to slide and eventually stumbling into the programme, the welcome is designed to give a focused start and sense of direction to the meeting. For example it may be a question or some form of icebreaker, that connects with the theme of the evening. The purpose of the welcome to is provide a common focus to draw everybody into the discussion at the beginning of the meeting, it is to help relax people, and it also helps us to get to learn more about one another and opens up conversation. For example, the meeting may start with a question like: If you could spend the day with a Bible character who would it be and why? Or If you could ask God one question now (with a guaranteed answer) what would it be?

Worship - glorifying
Next comes a time of worship, where we have an opportunity to focus our attention on God, and draw close to him. This time of worship may involve listening to a piece of music, lighting a candle, having a few moments in silence, praying together, whatever works best for the group.

Word - growing
After drawing near to God through worship, we then begin a time of focusing on the word, which may mean focusing on a Bible passage, looking at a theme from a Biblical perspective, or looking at the life of a character from the Bible, and considering what God is saying to us through this.

Witness - going
The final section is very practical. It is a reminder that everything we learn from God needs applying and working out in down to earth ways. It may begin with a time of prayer and ministry for each other, based on what we’ve just been learning, but it should also have an outward focus. So that we think about two or three people, he we’d like God to bless, and who we’d like to see come to faith, and to pray and plan for ways that we can build bridges into those people’s lives. For example the home group may plan a BBQ and invite their non Christian friends or partners along to it. Or you meet a practical need like helping someone move home. But what is important is that the group thinks, prays and plans this together.

To be a healthy church we all need to be active participants. As Paul writes “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” (1 Cor 12:12) We all have a part to play in the ministry of the church, and when we are part of a small group this ministry happens much more naturally, we pray for one another, support one another, and encourage one another in our journey of faith. It is about growing as disciples, and being equipped for Christian service. This connects with what Paul writes in verse 17. “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col 3:17) Home Groups can provide a safe and encouraging environment in which to grow in faith, understanding and ministry, equipping the church to be a strong, healthy body to continue Christ’s work in this and every generation. Just as the human body requires vitamins to stay healthy, so does the church. This is the ABC of healthy church:

All involved
Becoming disciples, applying God’s word to our lives
Creating community, sharing lives and building relationships
Doing evangelism as opposed to just talking about it
Encountering Jesus

Acts 2.42-47 Home Group Sermon

What is your vision of a healthy church? Is it to do with how well the building is maintained? The size and quality of the choir? The number of people that attend the services? The range of activities that take place through the church?

Or is it to do with the spiritual life of the church?

If you want a vision of what the church should be like, you cannot do any better than Acts 2:42-45, which provides an exiting insight into what the early church was like. One of the key features of this early church is that people as well as meeting together in larger groups in places like the temple, also met together in small groups, in one another’s homes, and this was one of the keys to the growth of that church. This has been described as the two winged church. For a bird to fly, it requires two wings, and likewise, for there to be a healthy church we need both larger gatherings such as this, when the whole church is gathered together, but we also need smaller gatherings such as home groups. If you look at churches that are growing today, you will discover that small groups play an absolutely crucial role in encouraging growth.

Why are small groups so crucial to growing a healthy church?

There are a number of advantages of meeting together in small groups:
o It is the place where relationships are built and nurtured.
o It allows us to go deeper in the study of the Bible, than is possible on a Sunday morning.
o It is the place where people can develop their own gifts and ministries in a safe and caring environment.
o It is a good place to invite friends and neighbours who may not yet be Christians, so they can get to know people in a more informal setting.

In studies on church attendance it has been discovered that 85% of those who joined a church where not likely to be there a year later. This raises a very important question, why are these people who are joining churches, leaving so quickly. The answer is that they did not make enough meaningful relationships in that time. Another survey discovered that 90% of new members would stay in church if they:
1) Made 4-8 close friendships within the church
2) They belong to a fellowship group
3) They can articulate their faith
The best way to develop these relationships is in the context of a small group, where you have the space and time to get to know people in an informal setting, where people can ask questions and explore what it means to be a Christian

If you look at the church in Acts, you discover that it was a Church built on relationships not structures

The church in Acts was dynamic and growing, it was a church full of vision and enthusiasm for Jesus Christ. It was a church built on relationships, with God, and with one another. It was a church that drew people into it, by it worship and its witness. It was a church that engaged in God’s mission.

Luke highlights four aspects of that early church’s life, four aspects of what makes a healthy church. It was a church committed to the study of the Bible, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Centrality of The Bible

The first feature of this church that Luke mentions is the devotion to the Apostles’ teaching (2:42). These were the people who had been with Jesus during his earthly ministry. And it was the teaching of the apostles that was later to form the New Testament. So the first mark of a healthy church is its commitment to studying God’s word. These first Christians were hungry to receive teaching about Jesus.

And a healthy church is one that takes the study of the Bible as of central importance. Because it is God’s word for us today. This is why we have sermons, to open up scripture and see what it has to say to us. But the advantage of having home groups is that we have the opportunity to go that bit deeper, to ask questions and debate what we’re studying, which is not always possible in church on a Sunday.

A Community Committed to Fellowship

The second feature of the early church was their commitment to one another. It wasn’t just a case of these Christians knowing one another well enough to say hello when they met on the street. It was a deep relationship built on love for God and love for one another. Luke tells us that many of these Christians shared things in common, giving to anyone in need (v45). The other feature of the life of that early church was how that fellowship continued throughout the week. Verse 46 says, ‘Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.’ They didn’t just meet once a week in the temple, and then that was it for the week. They met EVERY day, and not only in the temple, but in one another’s homes, for fellowship, to enjoy meals with one another, and to worship together.

Only this week we have had politicians talking about the problem of social breakdown in our society, and the need for creating community. What people long for is a sense of belonging, of being part of a community where they are valued and cared for. It is much easier to create a sense of community in the context of the small group, than it is in a large gathering. It is within the small group that we can hopefully open up and be ourselves, to share our struggles as well as our joys, and to be supported by the group.

It is within the small group that we learn what it means to ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbour as yourself..’ (Luke 10:27) In the context of a home group, it is the place where we learn to be vulnerable, where we learn to love others, and respect one another’s differences. It is the place where we learn to encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13), and help each other in our Christian journey (Hebrews 10:24). It is also the place where we learn to carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), accept one another (Romans 5:17) and bear with each other (Colossians 3::13).

In 1992 George Gallup conducted research in America that discovered what peoples main spiritual needs were. They were:
1. To believe life is meaningful and has a purpose. 2. To have sense of community and deeper relationships. 3. To be appreciated and respected. 4. To be listened to--and heard. 5. To feel that one is growing in the faith. 6. To have practical help in developing a mature faith.
Being part of a small group, I believe helps us to enter into these deeper relationships, to feel appreciated and respected, to be listened to and heard, and to help us grow in our faith.

It was a worshipping church

The third feature of the church in Jerusalem was that it was a worshipping church. The life of the church was not only expressed in caring for one another, but also through their worshipping life. They worshipped together not only in the formality of the Temple, but also in small informal groups that met in one another’s homes.

Worshipping in small groups plays a very important role in our own spiritual growth and development. Because it is the place where we can develop our spiritual gifts, where we learn to lead worship, study the Bible and pray, in ways which is not possible in a larger gathering such as now. We’ll look at this subject in more detail next week. One of the things that comes out of this passage is that the worship in that early church was passionate and enthusiastic and central to all they did.

It was a Praying Church

The church in Jerusalem was also a praying church. Verse 42, ‘they devoted themselves to prayer’.

Prayer is the very heart beat of the Christian faith and the church, a healthy church MUST have at its heart a burden for prayer. Through prayer God reveals his will to us, and we are transformed by Him. Again, those churches that are growing in this country, are those churches that have recaptured a vision for prayer, and have discovered the power of prayer. And the benefit of being part of a small group, is that we can learn how to pray in the safety of that close environment, and to uphold each other in our prayers.

So to summarise so far, the early church in Jerusalem devoted themselves to studying the Bible, to fellowship, to worshipping together throughout the week, and through the prayers of the community.

What impact did this have on the church?

The Church Grew!

Verse 47, we read, ‘day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved’. The church grew, and grew, and grew and grew!!! If several people join our church over the course of a year, we tend to think we are doing rather well. But this church in Jerusalem was seeing new people come to faith every single day! This was a community of Christians that witnessed to people, and it was the dynamic life, and the quality of relationships, and focus upon worship of God, prayer and care for one another that led people to faith in Jesus Christ.

My prayer for the home groups is that we’ll see them as the key way of growing St Martin’s. I hope that if you are not already a member of a home group, you will seriously consider joining one in the autumn. And I hope that people will invite their non church going friends along to the home groups, or along to special social events that the home groups put on, so people can get to know Christians. 79% of people who join a church, do so because they received an invitation from a friend to come along. And if people join a home group, it can really help them on their spiritual journey, as they begin to study the Bible with other Christians, as they enjoy the fellowship and care that comes through being part of a small group, as they learn how to pray, and worship. And through this, we will start to see changed lives.

Next week I want to reflect more on this topic, and share with you a bit more of my vision for the home groups.

Luke 12:32-40: True Priorities

What is most important to you in your life? It is a simple question and obviously a fundamental one. Yet answering it often proves difficult.

There is a myth that to know oneself and answer such questions all we need to do is to 'look inwards' and 'see' what is there. However, in life we do not so much know ourselves in a complete fashion, as constantly discover what we really are through the situations we find ourselves in. For example, you can only know how brave you are by seeing how you react when actually faced with danger.

We are also sometimes surprised by our reactions to situations, and thereby discover what we really think about something. We might have thought we would react otherwise, but did not, and so learn something new about ourselves.

What I am getting at is that we may answer whatever we like to the question, 'What is most important to you in your life?' - but we can only discover the answer by looking at how we act and react in our daily lives. Look at where your heart is, and you will find out what you really want, what you really treasure. As today's gospel puts it:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

In today's gospel Jesus speaks of material possessions as capturing the heart, not allowing one to be free to follow him. So he challenges his disciples to reveal what it is they really value, following him or being caught up in material wealth.

Such conflicts are a common feature of life in general. I might tell you, quite sincerely, that God is what is most important to me in my life, but if my actions do not bear that out, then in some way I am mistaken and deceive myself. And, when it comes to issues as fundamental as this, wrong answers can be very costly indeed. Relationships have been destroyed, lives have been wasted, and people have become trapped in illusions, focusing on false goals, because of wrong answers to our simple question, 'What is most important to you in your life?'

You may tell your spouse that you work every hour God sends you so as to provide your family with comfort and security. Is that really true, or is it that you are driven by ambition? You may go out of your way to help those in need, but is it because you wish to help them or gain praise?

You may claim that God is what is most important to you in your life, yet never get round to spending time in prayer. Or, conversely, you may hold yourself in low esteem, but treat people with great kindness and be prepared to stand up for principles you care about.

When we give false answers to our simple question, we not only miss the opportunity to discover the truth, we also reduce the possibility of being able to change and to grow, because we think we have the truth when we do not. We give ourselves false diagnoses, and stop ourselves from being healed.

Today's gospel takes issues such as that posed by our simple question very seriously indeed, even urgently. Jesus expresses this urgency in terms of having your lamps ready for when the master arrives. One way of understanding this passage is to view it in terms of the importance of getting your values sorted out before you die or before Christ comes again. But you can only do this if you can first give a true answer to our simple question.

However, our simple question is also highly relevant to the here and now. Throughout our lives we are presented with circumstances and opportunities which require that we make a choice. And if we are to make good choices, we need to have good values, and this requires knowing what values we have in reality.

Today's gospel is therefore a gift to us. It is a gift because it challenges us to face up to what is in fact most important to us, and in so doing how important God really is to us in our lives.
If we come to answer truthfully our simple question, 'What is most important to you in your life?' - we will have at least made a beginning to evaluating our lives, taken an important first step to living authentically and honestly. So a great deal hangs on how we answer it.

The Simpsons: A Matter of Respect 1 Peter 2:11-17

Love it, or loathe it, The Simpsons have become a iconic programme. There is no other series on television, either comedy or drama, where the environment is depicted so fully and consistently. "Simpsons" fans not only know what the family home looks like and where Homer works, but they also know the entire community of Springfield where the Simpsons live and all of the strange characters who live there. An estimated 80 million people around the world, watch The Simpsons every week. Beyond its mass appeal, The Simpsons has won 14 Emmys, and has been called by Time Magazine, “the best television program of the Twentieth century.”

In case you’re not so familiar with the Simpsons, here is some background information. The Simpsons live in Springfield where Homer the dad, works at the Nuclear Power Plant, and shows scant regard for health and safety. Homer Simpson has debated God on the merits of church vs. football. He's been banished to hell where his head was used as a demon's bowling ball. He's frolicked nude in the Garden of Eden, tried to feed a peanut to a statue of a Hindu deity and committed the sin of gluttony over and over and over again.

Marge is Homer’s wife and the mother of his children. Marge and Homer were High School sweethearts and she demonstrates unswerving love and devotion to her less than perfect husband.

Bart is probably the best known of the Simpsons; if he was living in this country he’d probably be a prime candidate for an ASBO. He has some redeeming qualities though, he does look out for his younger sister, and when he got a D grade, after praying that he wouldn’t fail his exam, he took time to thank God.

His younger sister Lisa is eight, and she is the brains of the family, a highly conscientious and motivated girl.

The youngest of the clan is Maggie who is only a year old.

Not your average family, but if we were honest enough to admit it, most of us have more in common with the Simpsons then with other regulars on prime time.

George Bush Senior, while President, once famously denounced The Simpsons saying “We need a nation closer to the Waltons than the Simpsons.”

Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury said "A lot of people attack the show but I think it is very sophisticated and has an amusing slant on modern society. It is a light-hearted look at life and is surreal but there are good, strong Christian morals there too. It is very moral because the good people always win in the end."

Matt Groening, The Simpsons creator said in an interview “Right-wingers complain there’s no God on TV. Not only do the Simpsons go to church every Sunday and pray; they actually speak to God from time to time.”

The Simpson’s next door neighbour is a man called Ned Flanders. Ned is an Evangelical, born again type of Christian, for better of worse.

Homer and many other characters appear to be making up their religious beliefs as they go along, but Flanders is a true believer. What is interesting in this show is that the other characters often “see the light” and eventually try to act a little more like Flanders.

“The Simpsons” often almost always ends up affirming the importance of— honesty, family, community, selflessness and love.

In the Simpsons, people assume that God is real, that he hears and answers prayers, and it is a place where people go to church, and where faith matters. This is not what you normally see in prime time television now adays.

Whether you like the show or not, its impact is far reaching. For example, one of the most famous Christians today is the character Ned Flanders. Whilst this may fill us with a sense of despair, it’s not all bad. The magazine Christianity Today was doing a series of interviews with students who weren’t Christians, here’s what one student said; I follow Jainism, an ancient religion from India that's basically about non-violence and “live and let live.” The only real contact I've had with Christianity is from The Simpsons—and their neighbour Ned Flanders. His main idea is "Love thy neighbour." Even though Homer Simpson does all these mean things to him, Ned Flanders still likes him.

But if there is one thing that we find missing in the Simpsons that needs to be exhibited in the life of believers it is respect.

There is a serious lack of respect in the Simpsons, a lack of respect between family members, between friends, between neighbours, between employees and employers. And you know that’s not really all that surprising, considering that there is a serious lack of respect in our world today, a lack of respect between family members, between friends, between neighbours, between employees and employers.

Throughout the Bible we are told to respect other people, Leviticus 19:3 We are told to respect our parents, in vs. 32 we are told to respect older people, in vs 34 we are told to respect the handicapped, in Isaiah 17:7 we are commanded to respect God. Romans 13:7 tells us to respect our political leaders, Ephesians 6:5 tells us to respect our employers, Ephesians 5:33 says to respect your husband and 1 Thessalonians 4:4 says to respect your wife. I guess it’s summed up in the scripture that we read this evening where it says 1 Peter 2:17 Show respect for everyone.

As believers we are called to be people of respect. If we have a close look at the Ten Commandments, we’ll see that they deal with the issue of respect.

1) Do not worship other gods.
2) Do not make idols.
3) Do not misuse God’s name.
4) Remember that the Sabbath Day belongs to God.
5) Respect your father and your mother.
6) Do not murder.
7) Be faithful in marriage.
8) Do not steal.
9) Do not tell lies about others.
10) Do not want anything that belongs to someone else.

Notice how the first four commandments deal with our relationship to God, they are vertical commandments, then we the next six deal with our relationship to our fellow man, they are horizontal commandments.

But regardless of whether they are dealing with God or people they are all dealing with respect. But how do we do that?

1) In our Speech Very few things reveal our true feelings for someone like our speech does. The words we say and how we say them are so powerful. That’s probably why James wrote these words to the early church James 3:5-6 So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

In the Third Commandment God says, show respect to my name. We are not to use God’s name foolishly. Some people show their disrespect for God’s name by using it as a swear word. We show our respect to God by respecting His name.

We also show respect to others by the way we speak to them. Proverbs 12:18 Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.

We mustn’t ever underestimate the power of your words to the people around us. What we say and how we say it is so powerful in lifting people up or tearing them down. Do you ever listen to how you speak to people? In the book of James, the Apostle makes this observation James 3:9-10 Sometimes it (the tongue) praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

How do we show respect in what we say? Paul tells us what to focus our minds on in Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. How about if we change that to read: “Speak about what is true and honourable and right, speak about things that are pure and lovely and admirable, let your words be excellent and worthy of praise.” That should do it.

The second way we show respect is by our actions. Laurence Sterne made the observation “Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.”

If we look at the Ten Commandments again we find that God is saying if you respect me, then show it.

Don’t worship other gods, don’t make idols, Take time out of your week to worship me. It’s easy to say we love God, but what do our actions say, where do we give our time, our talents, our money?

Our commitment and our respect is measured not by what we say we do, but by what we do. Jesus himself used our behaviour to measure our love and respect for him, remember what he told us in John 14:15 “If you love me, obey my commandments.

The last six commandments deal with how we respect those around us. We show our respect to our parents by honouring them, we show respect to those around us by protecting their lives, by not stealing their things, by not stealing the affections of their spouses, by not lying about them and by not coveting the things they have.

Paul tells us in Romans 13:9 For the commandments against adultery and murder and stealing and coveting—and any other commandment—are all summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

And over and over again Jesus commands us to love people. Jesus emphasises loving others, loving our friends, our fellow believers, our neighbours, even our enemies. Oh we haven’t always done it but we are supposed to. Jesus evens tell us that it will define who we are, John 13:35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

I want to conclude with advice contained in 1 John 3:18, advice that we all need to heed in our lives. Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions.

Back to Church Sunday 30th September 2007

It has been estimated that up to three million people in Britain would go back to church if only they were invited. With this in mind, the Diocese of Manchester launched 'Back to Church Sunday' three years ago, and the scheme has proved so succesful that it has been adopted nationally. The evidence suggests that, on average, 12 people per church respond to the invitations to come on Back to Church Sunday, and many become permanent members (for a church the size of St Martin's that would mean increasing our average adult Sunday attendance by over 15%).

Back to Church Sunday will be taking place on 30 September 2007, and this year St Martin's will be participating in this scheme.

How does this involve you? The most effective way to attract people to church (maybe for the first time), is to offer to accompany them to church. I therefore want to issue you a challenge, over the next four months, I would like you to pray for three or four people who do not currently attend church, who you can invite to St Martin's on Sunday 30th September. At the end of June we will be distributing invitation cards for you to invite your friendsd to church.

This is a wonderful opportunity for us to really grow the church, and it is something we can all do. Please do pray about this scheme, and for the people you will invite.

Simon

Ministry in the Work Place

I want you to spend a moment thinking about what activities you consider to be Christian ministry and service.

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It is interesting how often we tend to think of Christian ministry in terms of the activities we do in ‘church’. For instance being a home group leader, or running Sunday school, or cleaning the church building, or being a warden. And there is nothing wrong with this, these are forms of Christian service. But how many of us think of what we do Monday to Friday at work as part of our Christian service and ministry?

Mark Greene has written extensively of mission in the work place, and in his book ‘Thank God it’s Monday’ he quotes one person who said the following: “I’ve been working for seventeen years and it’s only in the last year or so that I’ve recognized my workplace as a ministry. How many Christians die without ever realizing the ministry God had for them?”

So this morning I want us to think about ministry in the work place, the challenges and the opportunities that as Christians we face. What I want to say this morning, isn’t just restricted to those who are in paid employment, it relates to all of us.

Why Work is Important

We only have to look at the opening chapters of the Bible to see how important work is in God’s scheme of things.

First of all we see that God is a God who works. The Bible describes creation as the work of God. For six days God works, and on the seventh he rests from all the work he has done. God is a worker and it is something he chooses to do- it is part of his plan. And we see that God takes pleasure in his work. We’re told that when God finished creating the heavens and the earth he said that it was ‘very good’.

Work was part of God’s gift to humanity in creation; it was part of his original plan. God has created us for work, and this work is given to us as a blessing. We see this in Genesis 1:28, God blessed them and said to them. ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” And from Genesis 2:15 we read: “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” And as we see from this verse, we have a responsibility in work to care for the environment, and to care for others. There is a moral responsibility which is connected to the work we do. Elsewhere in the Bible it talks about the importance of working in order to support those in need. Working in order to improve the life of the community as a whole.

God always intended us to be people who work, and God intended work to be a source of satisfaction and pleasure.

And in the New Testament Paul calls upon Christians to do their work for God. Paul writes to the Colossians 3:17, “whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Work is one of the ways in which we serve God.

Why the workplace is so important?

In 1945 the Church of England produced a book called ‘Towards the Conversion of England’. In it are written these words. “We are convinced that England will never be converted until the laity use the opportunities daily afforded by their various professions, crafts and occupations.”

As Christians God has called all of us to be his witnesses in the world. The greatest mission field in the world today is right on our doorstep amongst our friend’s neighbours and work colleagues. Britain today is a largely post-Christian society. Fewer and fewer people are attending churches; the level of Christian knowledge in our society is at an all time low.

And this is why being an effective witness in the workplaces so important. Because it is the place where we spend much of our time, maybe up to 40 or 50 hours a week. In the workplace Christians and non-Christians are able to meet and are subject to the same work cultures, and the same pressures. The work place is one of the few places where a non-Christian can actually see the difference that knowing Christ can make to a life, week in, week out. And through the workplace we will know many people, and have many friends, and we will be in contact with people at important points in their lives. For instance when face divorce, illness, or bereavement.

So we see the wonderful opportunities that we have as Christians to minister to those we work with. As Emil Brunner said, what the Christian community needs to do is to regain the lost sense of work as a divine calling.

The challenges of the workplace

We only need to consider the issues facing workers today, to realize what opportunities we have as Christians to bring something positive into the work place.

British workers work longer hours than any other nation in the European Union. And increasingly people are suffering from increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression and less job satisfaction. And people are being forced to work these longer hours, because they fear that if they don’t, their employers will find someone who will. For most people, job security is a thing of the past.

Also consider the values that shape the work place, and the desperate need for a positive Christian witness. For example, most contemporary workplaces assume that God does not exist, and that there are in no way accountable to him, and that he does not intervene in the affairs of business.

The challenge for us as Christians is how to we remind people that we are accountable to God for our actions. What assumptions and attitudes exist in your workplace, and how to they compare to the values and attitudes that God has, such as truth, honesty, justice, and fairness. And what are the values that we bring to the work place? Do we allow our Christian faith to have an impact upon what we do at work?

A further challenge is that increasingly people are seen in terms of what functions they perform in the business, rather than being treated as human beings. And as we work longer hours, people tend to see their work as a measure of their identity and worth. Yet the Bible reminds us that we are created in God’s image, and this attaches a special worth and dignity to each individual person, irrespective of what we do. How can we ensure that this message is heard in the workplace?

So we can see both the challenges, but also the opportunities that we have as Christians in the world of work. So for the remainder of this talk I want us to consider how we can develop a Christian vision for the work place.

A Christian Vision for the Work Place

1. Our work matters to God

The first thing we need to be reminded of is that our work matters to God. God is deeply concerned about the work we do, he is concerned about every part of our lives, and not just what we get up to on a Sunday morning. The work that I do as a priest in God’s eyes is no greater or more important than the work you are involved in. We tend to talk about the priesthood as a vocation, a calling, but secular employment can be just as much a vocation. Think about how important it is for us to have Christian teachers, doctors, nurses, accountants, etc. In fact we need Christians in every walk of life.

If we look at the Bible we see that many of the great biblical heroes were people who had what we would term secular jobs. For example, Joseph who became the chancellor in Egypt, Daniel the imperial adviser to Nebuchadnezzar, or Nehemiah who was the cupbearer to king Artaxerxes.

2. Our primary calling is to be a servant of Jesus Christ

Secondly we need to remember that our primary calling is to be servants of Jesus Christ. A man standing on the platform waiting for the train to take him to work was asked, Who are you? He replied… I am a Christian thinly disguised as an accountant.

If we begin to see our workplace as the context for mission and evangelism, it will change our whole attitude to those we work amongst. For example do we pray for those people we work for? When you go into work do you ask God for opportunities to share your faith with those you work with? And do you meet up with other Christians who work at the same business as you to pray and study the Bible & support one another? Jesus said, Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. The harvest is ripe, we should ask God to preparing and using us to share his love. The important point is that it is not about getting people into church, it is about telling them about the love God has for them.

Being an effective witness in the workplace doesn’t require a degree in theology, just openness to God as the following example demonstrates.

Emily, a small Chinese lady, works at the United Nations. One day one of her co-workers wasn’t feeling well. ‘Can I get you a cup of tea?’ Emily enquired.

‘No’ the other replied rather shortly. ‘I don’t like the tea here. I only drink camomile.’ Emily left her, quietly slipped on her coat, took the lift down several floors and went down the street to a nearby shop. She returned with a box of camomile tea and gave it to this lady, who immediately enveloped her in a huge hug, exclaiming, ‘Emily, I love you’. Emily replied, rather muffled from the epicentre of the massive hug, ‘I love you too.’

Emily’s story illustrates a number of important points:
· We need to be ministry minded- Emily could have just smiled and gone on her way. Instead, because she was ministry minded, because she listened, because she saw the other person’s need and desire, she took an initiative that totally transformed that person’s mood and day.
· Time is on our side- the opportunities will come. We don’t have to create situations in which we can minister- they will happen by themselves. We simply need to pray and be alert.
· Ministry is to individual people- Clearly camomile tea wouldn’t have been a good idea for everybody, but it helped this one woman. We need to care for people and love them as individuals.
· Ministry doesn’t demand- it gives- Emily asked for nothing, not even the money for the tea. She gave expecting nothing in return. Our expressions of love for others shouldn’t have any strings attached. We need to be sensitive and distinguish between the opportunities to serve and the opportunities to communicate the gospel verbally.

The Revd. Tim Montgomery from St Thomas’ Kendal wrote the following in the Westmorland Gazette. ‘My greatest pleasure comes not from singing hymns, in long prayers, in dressing up in funny robes, in bowing or kneeling, in lighting candles or taking up an offering (or any other number of things people tell me church is all about!) It comes from seeing just one person meet with God, draw close to Him and pick up a new life with real hope and a future.’ I totally agree with him, seeing someone come to faith is the greatest privilege on earth, and it is my sincere hope and prayer that all of us will take seriously the call to be God’s witnesses in the world today. Amen.

Acts 11:1-18 Breaking Down Barriers

Introduction

The autumn of 1989, was a momentous time in history, as the Berlin wall which had separated West Berlin and East Germany for 28 years was torn down. Although I was only 12 at the time, the images of that event remain firmly in my memory. It was a great moment in history, a moment of celebration as a symbol of division and separation was destroyed.

The Acts passage is about the destruction of another terrible wall built of pride, racism, and superior attitudes. What we find in this passage, is a church struggling to come to terms with change, and facing issues that could threaten to tear it apart – does this sound familiar?! We see the barriers that can so easily be put up between people, and also how we can overcome these divisions.

Background

The early church was a Jewish Church. Jesus was a Jew, his disciples were Jews, and Jesus’ ministry had been spent amongst the Jewish people. And although Jesus’ commission to his disciples in Matthew 28:19 was to “go and make disciples of all nations,” up to this point the followers of Jesus were mostly Jewish.

But now the church was beginning to see Gentiles, non Jews, coming to faith in Christ, and this posed some significant theological and practical problems. For example, the Jewish Christians continued to observe the Old Testament food laws and circumcision, and one question that arose was should Gentile Christians observe these same laws or not. If not, how were Jewish believers to maintain their own obedience to food laws when fellowship in Christ involved eating with unclean Gentiles? And how would close association with Gentile believers affect the relationship of Jewish believers with other Jews who did not share their faith in Christ? These issues were dealt with in more detail at the Council of Jerusalem which you can read about in Acts 15, but in this passage these issues remain unresolved.

And what we see is potential divisions emerging between Jewish and Gentile Christians.

In Acts 11:2 we read, “when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers (i.e. Jewish Christians) criticized him and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them." In the previous chapter we learn that Peter, after receiving a vision from God, had visited the home of Cornelius, a Roman Centurion who lived in the town of Caesarea. Whilst Peter was with Cornelius and his family, the Holy Spirit came upon them. This event was a turning point for Peter, because he realised that the Holy Spirit, which had been promised by Jesus, and had been poured out on the day of Pentecost, was for all people, and not just the Jews. But now back in Jerusalem, Peter comes under attack by members of the Jewish Christian community for eating with ‘uncircumcised men’ in other words, Gentiles. Although these were fellow Christians, who preached the gospel, who had themselves received the Holy Spirit, they were also still very legalistic in their Jewish practices. If they felt bound by the Jewish food laws, then there could be no fellowship with Gentile Christians, unless the Gentiles were circumcised and observed the Jewish food laws themselves. And so what we find, is that legalism, and fear of what this change meant, was threatening the very mission of the church to carry the message of Jesus into the entire world. What in affect was happening was barriers were being built along religious, racial, and ethnic lines.

And the same can happen today. There are all sorts of barriers that we can build between ourselves and other people. Barriers built along racial, religious, or social grounds. Barriers based on age or sex, upon education, or political affiliation, social or cultural barriers. Whatever the barrier is, it draws a distinction between us and other people. But barriers built on the grounds of racism, ageism, sexism, religious or social and cultural grounds are totally unacceptable, because it is offensive to human dignity, and because it is offensive to God who accepts without discrimination all who repent and believe. What Peter came to learn when he met Cornelius is that God does not show favouritism.

There are also some striking parallels between the church in Jerusalem and the church today. Today the church nationally and locally finds itself in a time of change, and transition, and it we can be left feeling threatened and vulnerable. For example, the church which was once at the very heart of our society, now finds its self on the margins. We are living in an increasingly pluralistic society, where people are interested in spirituality, but reject institutional forms of religion. The church finds itself in a culture, where once it was respected, but now it has to fight to make its voice heard. And the culture of the church and the culture of society can feel so at times very different, and in these situations it can often feel easier to retreat into our church buildings, and stick with what we find familiar, comfortable and safe, rather than engaging with a society we don’t always understand. This in effect builds a barrier which people find hard to cross.

So how did the church overcome these barriers?

1 Dialogue

Notice that Peter did not get drawn into an argument with his critics in Jerusalem. Proverbs 15:1 says, A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

So Peter describes in great detail what had happened. He relates the vision from God, and his own initial opposition to the vision, and how God challenged him about this, and what happened when he visited the home of Cornelius.

Peter could have easily been drawn into an argument about the law, but it would have been futile. But by explaining what happened, his audience is able to begin to understand the reason for Peter’s actions.

So often the barriers that we create are as a result of not understanding enough about a person or a situation. It is very easy to make assumptions about people, but if we are open to dialogue, it opens us to the possibility of these allowing these assumptions to be challenged and changed, and this is turn can lead to healing and reconciliation. This is one of the reasons why the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in South Africa after the end of apartheid.

Constructive dialogue requires a willingness to listen, as well as to be heard, and to allow our perceptions to be challenged. The importance of listening to someone in the midst of a conflict does at least three things:1. it obeys God’s word (James 1:19,20)2. It shows honour to the other person (Phil 2:3)3. It may be God’s way of teaching us something about Himself (as in this text).

2 Following the leading of the Holy Spirit

What we see from this passage in Acts, is that Peter, follows the leading of the Holy Spirit. In verse 12, Peter relates he acted at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, who told him to go with the three men who had arrived at his house. Peter goes onto explain in verse 15, how the Holy Spirit came on the people in that house, just as it had done on the day of Pentecost, which demonstrated both to Peter, and to the others that he had heard the Spirit correctly. What we see is the Holy Spirit moving and working and Peter responding.

The Spirit of God is the one that is meant to lead us, as a church and as individuals. But for this to happen, we need to be open to the Spirit, to hear and respond to the leading of the Spirit. To recognise the movement of the Spirit, we need to grow in our intimacy with God. When you go sailing, if you try to sail directly into the wind, the boat comes to a standstill, to get movement you need to set your sails with the wind, and the same is true with God’s Holy Spirit, if we try to go against the Spirit of God, we get no where. Instead we need to go in the direct that the Spirit is leading.

The Holy Spirit is the source of community, and helps build up community, and therefore breaks down the divisions that would otherwise separate people. If our lives as individuals and as a church, are filled by the Holy Spirit, then we should see the fruits of that spirit, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Those things that promote and encourage unity.

3. Submit to the word of God

The third and final point, is that Peter submitted to the word of God. Acts 11:15 Peter says, “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with[a]water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' Peter recalls the words that Jesus spoke about baptism, just before he ascended into heaven.

So what is the difference between John’s Baptism and being baptized by the Holy Spirit? John’s baptism was a baptism of preparation – preparing the people for the coming of the Messiah. The Holy Spirit’s baptism was a baptism of identification – identifying those who have placed their faith in Christ into the body, i.e., the church. So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, and realised that it was the same outpouring of the Holy Spirit that had been witnessed on the day of Pentecost. And so Peter realised, “if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" (Acts 11:17) Peter submitted his will, to the word of God.

Conclusion

This issue of how the church was to respond to the inclusion of Gentiles into the Christian faith, could have ended very differently. But because Peter entered into dialogue, because both he, and the church in Jerusalem were open to what the Holy Spirit was doing, and because they submitted to the word of God, they were able to avoid a potential split.

I think we also can draw lessons from this passage both as a church, and also as individuals on how we can help break down the barriers that cane divide people. And Jesus is the example that we follow, because it comes down simply to one command, and that is to love people, the way God loves us. If we are committed to living this way, not only will it prevent barriers being erected in the first place, but it will help break down those we find, just as God has broken down the barriers that once separated us from him.

John 21:1-19

One day a rather inebriated ice fisherman decided to go fishing, and drilled a hole in the ice and peered into the hole and a loud voice said, "There are no fish down there."
He walked several yards away and drilled another hole and peered into the hole and again the voice said, :There's no fish down there." He then walked about 50 yards away and drilled another hole and again the voice said, "There's no fish down there." He looked up into the sky and asked, "God, is that you?" "No, you idiot," the voice said, "it's the rink manager."

Fishing is an incredibly popular hobby, although I have to confess that I personally have never really seen the attraction in it.

Most fishermen have a story or two to tell, but few I think that match the story that we heard today from our Gospel reading.

It takes place in the days following Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. We are told that 7 of Jesus’ disciples were by the Sea of Tiberias, better know as the Sea of Galilee, when they decided to go fishing. In that region most people fish at night, because it is then that the fish come up near to the surface, whereas in the heat of the day the fish tend to stay nearer the bottom of the lake. But the disciples don’t have a very successful night fishing, in fact they don’t catch a single thing. So when Jesus appears on the shore, and shouts to the disciples if they have caught anything, their answer is no. So Jesus instructs them to throw their net onto the other side of the boat, and when they do this, they have the most amazing catch of fish. We are told that the haul was so large, that they couldn’t physically get the net into the boat. Such was the amount of fish. And it is then, after this miraculous catch of fish that the disciples suddenly recognise that it is Jesus, John, who is described as the disciple whom Jesus loved, cries out, ‘It is the Lord’, and Peter instantly dives into the water and swims across to Jesus.

What things can we learn from this passage, what message does it have for us today? There is so much that can be gained from this passage, I just want to mention a few things.

Searching in the wrong place

Earlier this week, the BBC reported that as a nation we are getting unhappier, we’re in danger of turning into a country of Victor Meldrews! The UK was ranked only the ninth happiest country out of 15 European Union nations. The report highlighted that in the UK there is falling trust in government, the police and other institutions. It seems as though there is a growing dissatisfaction in our society. What these survey’s have revealed is that people are searching for something that will give meaning and purpose to life.

The trouble is, so often, like the disciples in the boat, we cast our nets in search for these answers in the wrong places, expecting to find the answers we are looking for. For example, we expect to find the answers we are looking for in our work, or in relationships, or in hobbies, or by making as much money as possible, but ultimately this cannot satisfy that greatest longing in our hearts. Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the rock group Queen, who died at the end of 1991 in spite of the fact that he had amassed a huge fortune and had attracted thousands of fans, admitted in an interview shortly before his death that he was desperately lonely. He said, ‘You can have everything in the world and still be the loneliest man, and that is the most bitter type of loneliness. Success has brought me world idolisation and millions of pounds, but it’s prevented me from having the one thing we all need – a loving, ongoing relationship.’ Ultimately, it is through a relationship with God, that we can discover ultimate peace and freedom. Only he, can satisfy that deepest longing, that exists in all our hearts.

It is only when the disciples listen to, and obey Jesus’ instructions to cast the net the other side, that they discover what they have been searching for. In the same way, it is only when we listen to the voice of God, and obey him, that we will finally find what it is we are searching for. In John 15:5 Jesus says, “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” When the disciples tried to do things their own way, it ended in failure, it is only when they obeyed Jesus, that they discovered what they were looking for.

God’s abundance

This leads onto the next point, the haul of fish is extraordinary, this was no ordinary catch. When God gives, he gives abundantly, he gives in the full measure, he gives recklessly. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10) or as some translations have it, to have life in all its abundance. I will come on to the question of how we can receive this abundant life in a few moments. But it is important for us to remember the shere generosity and love God has for us. And this is a message I think we need to hear again and again. God loves YOU, God cares about YOU. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11.

God’s invitation

This passage is full of wonderful little details, clearly written by someone who witnessed the events for themselves. As soon as Peter realises that it is Jesus standing at the shore, he dives into the water and swims over to Jesus, whilst the other 6 disciples struggle to bring the net laden with fish in from the lake. And when they get to the beach, they discover a fire is burning, and Jesus invites the disciples to come and eat breakfast with him.

Jesus’ invitation to share a meal, is an invitation to fellowship with him, and it is the invitation that he also extends to each one of us. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Jesus invites ordinary people, into relationship with him, and he invites you and me. Jesus opens to us the riches of his friendship, the relationship that he offers you and me, is a real and satisfying one.

Removing the barrier of failure

Earlier I talked about the life that Jesus offers us all, but how do we actually receive this. I’ve talked about how Jesus opens to us the riches of his friendship, but before Peter can be reinstated, the barrier of sin and failure first has to be removed from our lives.

Three times Jesus asks Peter, ‘Do you truly love me?’ The reason Jesus asks Peter this question three times, is because on the night of Jesus’ arrest, Peter three times had denied knowing Jesus. And now, after each question ‘Do you love me’ Peter responds, ‘Yes Lord, you know that I love you.’ A relationship with Jesus begins when in his presence, we face up to all that grieves and contradicts God’s holy will for our lives. Just as Peter had to face up to his sin and failure.

And to face up to these things should lead to repentance. The word repent, means literally to turn away from those things that get between God and ourselves. Turning away from sin, and turning to God. Turning away from the old life, lived without God, to a new life lived with him. Baptism is both a symbol of death and also new life. When we go into the waters of baptism, it is as though we are entering the grave, we are dying to a life without God. And it is also a symbol of new life, because when we come out of the waters of baptism, it is as though we are born again. We are new people, we begin a new life with God. Of course, we are all human, and we all make mistakes, so the act of repenting for our sins, is something we need to do again and again.

But what Peter discovered, and what this passage reveals is that no matter how desperate our failure, or how deep our sense or guilt or shame may be, God can forgive and renew us, and use us in his service. No one is beyond the grace, and mercy of God. Failure is never final with God.

God’s Commissioning

After forgiveness, comes Peter’s commissioning, and what this passage reveals is that to follow Jesus and love him, means also accepting responsibility for his people. Each time after Peter replies that he loves Jesus, Jesus responds, ‘Feed my lambs, Take care of my sheep, Feed my sheep.’ Although slightly different, the point Jesus is in effect making the same point three times. Commitment to Christ, also means commitment to his people the church of Christ. Jesus Christ is not a ‘single’ person in the sense that he comes to us without other attachments. He is a ‘married’ person; he comes to us with a bride, whom he loves, and this is the church. To be in a relationship with Christ, while ignoring or even despising his bride, is no more acceptable than such behaviour would be in human contexts when relating to a married friend. Genuine conversion means not only turning to and accepting Christ. It also means turning to and accepting his bridge, the church. And in baptism, one of the promises being made on Eliza’s behalf is that her family will help her to become a full worshipping member of God’s church.

This passage is a profoundly critical one for every Christian. Because it gets to the heart of what the Christian faith is all about. It is about our relationship with God through Jesus. Jesus asks Peter the same question, ‘Do you truly love me’. This is the essence of the Christian faith, to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves. When you love someone, you want to spend time with them, to be in their presence, you want to get to know them, and to show your love for them by the way you respond to them. And when you are in love with someone, it shows by the way we live, and the way we speak. It shapes are desires and passions. Our love for God, should be evident in the way we love one another as his family the church.

The cost of being a Christian

The final thing that this passage reveals, is that there is a cost to being a Christian. Earlier this week we had a reunion for all those who have completed our most recent Alpha Course. And one member of the group said, ‘Becoming a Christian is the easy bit, but living as a Christian, that’s tough.’ Today, in baptism, Eliza is beginning, her Christian journey, baptism marks the start of this journey with God, but it won’t always be easy. Jesus warned Peter, that he would suffer for the sake of his faith. “I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" (21:18-19)

Whilst we are not likely to suffer in this way for the sake of the Gospel, the reality is that putting God first in our lives, loving him the way we should, and living life God’s way is often hard. It is not always easy, and Jesus knew this, that is why as Christians we are given the Holy Spirit, and why in baptism we pray for God’s Spirit to be on Eliza as she begins her journey of faith. We have also part of a family, God’s family, the church, and the church is here to love and support us on our Christian journey.

Conclusion

There is a lot contained in this passage, and I have tried to touch on what I feel are the main points. That in life we listen to and obey God, that we discover what we are really searching for. This passage reminds us that our God is a loving, generous God, who offers to us life in all its abundance. That even when we have failed God, and turned away from him, there is always the promise of forgiveness and restoration. As a passage it speaks to us, of the important of the church, and our place in it, and it also reminds us of the cost involved in being a follower of Jesus Christ, but also of the immense joy that comes through knowing and loving him. Today, as Eliza is baptized, and as her parents and godparents make promises on her behalf, so we also have an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to following Jesus Christ.

Easter Sermon 2007

Every year thousands of people climb a mountain in the Italian Alps, passing the "stations of the cross" to stand at an outdoor crucifix. One tourist noticed a little trail that led beyond the cross. He fought through the rough thicket and, to his surprise, came upon another shrine, a shrine that symbolized the empty tomb. It was neglected. The trees had grown up around it. Almost everyone had gone as far as the cross, but stopped there.

Far too many have reached the cross and have known the despair and heartbreak. Far too few have moved beyond the cross to find the real message of Easer -- the empty tomb.
I hope we never tire of hearing the words ‘He Is Risen!’ I hope we never cease to be amazed and awestruck at the incredible fact that death couldn’t hold the Lord of Life. And, most of all, I hope we never miss this simple fact that Jesus is alive today.

The resurrection is not just something that happened at a moment in time but it is a new daily reality. When we say ‘He is Risen¨ we don’t mean just that at a moment in time Jesus came back to life, but really we mean He is Alive Today. Right now. At this very moment. And that changes everything. The Apostle Paul lays it out simply when he says in 1 Cor. 15:14 “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” What does it mean for you and I that Jesus is Risen? Let me suggest four things that I see in the resurrection 1. There is Love in the Resurrection1 John 4:9 says, ‘This how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only son into the world that we might live through him.¨

We see this love in a painful way on the cross. We see the extent of God’s love for us as we reflect on Jesus’ death. But it doesn’t end there! The love of God did not only send Jesus to the cross, it also raised Him back to life! The love of God did not leave Jesus in the tomb, and us in despair, but it raised Jesus back to life so that, as John writes, ‘we might live through him.¨ Love hates death. Love struggles against death and in favour of life. And in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, love overcomes death.

And the love we find in the resurrection should also overflows from us to others. 1 John 3:14 says, ‘We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.¨ We know that we participate in the resurrection life of Jesus because it spills over into our relationships with one another even with those who are difficult to love. Jesus prayed that the world would know we were His disciples by the depth of our love for one another.

As I look around our world, I think it is love that we need most. To be loved is perhaps the deepest longing of our hearts. And it is the first thing I find in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only son into the world that we might live through him.¨ (1 Jn 4:9).

2. There is Life in the ResurrectionJust before Christmas, my grandfather who was a Christian passed away, and his funeral was a wonderful occasion, full of hope and joy. I wonder, what would that have been like if Jesus had not been raised from the dead? What would it be like to stand at the time of death of a loved one without any knowledge that there is life beyond the grave? I can’t imagine the desperation and I don’t have to try! For there is life! There is victory! All because Jesus rose from the dead.

Romans 6:4-5 says, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” When we respond in faith to God, we become united with Jesus in His resurrection life.

God freely offers us new life. He offers the chance for us to participate with Jesus in the life that comes through resurrection. Jesus is alive today. He is here, right now, according to His promise. And He brings with Him the gift of life, His hand outstretched at this very moment offering it to you.

3. There is Hope in the ResurrectionThe resurrection gives us hope for today, hope for tomorrow, and hope for eternity. Hope that things can change. Hope that even if they don’t change, and the worst happens and death comes, that is not the end! There is more life after that, better life after that life without sickness or pain or tears. Life without ever having to wonder, ‘Lord, where are you?’ because we will see Him with our eyes, touch Him with our hands, and never worry or fret again.

One thing many people fear is death. But in the resurrection of Jesus we find hope, hope for something greater, something better, something eternal. We know that because Jesus lives today, we too can live with Him. This hope affects how we live, and how we die.

A missionary in Brazil discovered a tribe of Indians in a remote part of the jungle. They lived near a large river. The tribe was in need of medical attention. A contagious disease was ravaging the population. People were dying daily. A hospital was not far away across the river, but the Indians would not cross it because they believed it was inhabited by evil spirits. To enter the water would mean certain death. The missionary explained how he had crossed the river and was unharmed. They were not impressed. He then took them to the bank and placed his hand in the water. They still wouldn’t go in. He walked into the water up to his waist and splashed water on his face. It didn’t matter. They were still afraid to enter the river. Finally, he dove into the river, swam beneath the surface until he emerged on the other side. He punched a triumphant fist into the air. He had entered the water and escaped. It was then that the Indians broke out into a cheer and followed him across.

That is what Jesus did for us with death He entered it, made it safely to the other side, and punched a triumphant fist into the air. But here’s the thing Jesus doesn’t stay on the other side of the bank. No, He jumps back in, and swims back to our side. He is alive, and present with us. And then, when our turn comes to face death, I believe He takes us by the hand and swims across with us, safely to the other side.

1 Peter 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Because He lives, we have hope.4. There is Power in the Resurrection1 Cor. 6:14 tells us, “By his power, God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.” This is the fourth thing I want to remind us of this morning that there is power in the resurrection.

You see, the simple point I want to make this morning, that winds its way through each of the four things I have talked about, is that Jesus is alive. He is alive right now, with us, walking beside us. He didn’t rise up from the dead and then take off to heaven, maybe to come back again someday. But He is Alive and with us through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. And because of that, His power is available to us. The same power that raised him from the dead.

That power is here for our daily lives, and God desires us to experience it more deeply. It is there to enable us to have victory over sin, it is there to bring us hope and encouragement, it is there to shine through us to our world around us, it is there to enable us to worship and celebrate. Let me rephrase that in light of my main point that Jesus is alive: HE is here to enable us to have victory over sin, HE is here to bring us hope and encouragement, HE is here to shine through us to our world around us, HE is here to enable us to worship and celebrate. About 1930 the Communist leader Bukharin journeyed from Moscow to Kiev. His mission was to address a huge assembly, his subject was "atheism." For a solid hour he aimed his heavy artillery at Christianity, hurling argument after argument heaped on top of ridicule. At last he was finished and viewed what he thought was the smouldering ashes of men’s’ ruined faith."Are there any questions?" Bukharin demanded.A solitary man rose and asked permission to speak. He mounted the platform and moved close to the Communist. The audience was breathlessly silent as the man surveyed them first to the right, then to the left. At last he shouted the ancient Orthodox greeting, "CHRIST IS RISEN!"The vast assembly arose as one man and the response came crashing like the sounds of an avalanche, "HE IS RISEN INDEED!"

This morning it is my prayer that you would know the Risen Lord Jesus. That you would know the love, the life, the hope, and the power of the Resurrection. That is the simple message of our faith ‘Jesus is Alive!’

Love One Another as I have Loved You: John 13:1-17, 33-34

Introduction

If you were to turn on the radio and listen to the songs being played, the vast majority of theme would be about one theme in particular. The theme of love, especially what we would describe as romantic love.

The trouble with the English language is that it doesn’t distinguish between different forms of love. For example, we may talk about loving a cup of tea, and loving our children, but we will mean two quite different things.

In contrast, the Greek language has four words for love.
Storge, meaning affectionate love. Referring to the sort of love a parent has for their children.
Philia, which can be described as friendship.
Eros, which is the type of love most commonly written about in songs. Eros refers to sexual love, that state which we call ‘being in love’.
Agape, used exclusively in the Bible, which CS Lewis in his book ‘The Four Loves’ translates as charity. And it is this word agape that has come to mean Christian love.

The Greatest Command

Jesus was once asked what is the greatest command, to which he replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. And love your neighbour as yourself.’ And on the night that Jesus shared his last supper with his disciples, he gives them the command, a new mandatum (where we derive the name Maundy from), Jesus says we are to Agape one another, love one another. And Jesus sets out how we are to do this, by following his example: Love one another as I have loved you, a command which Jesus again repeats in John 15:12.

The Example of Jesus

At the last supper, with his disciples, as John describes it in 13:1 Jesus shows the disciples the “full extent of his love.” As the meal is being served, Jesus removes his outer garment, wraps a towel around his body, and then getting down on his hands and feet he washes his disciples feet. In the culture of that time, any good host would make sure his guests’ feet were wash by a servant when they entered the house. But what would have surprised the disciples is that Jesus, the host, their rabbi, was washing their feet. That was part of Peter's objection to Jesus' washing of his feet.

When we think about the command to ‘Love one another as I have loved you’, how do we view this? Sometimes there is a tendency for us to think about it is terms of being nice to people, welcoming them when they come to our home or to the church. But Jesus was showing his disciples that true hospitality goes much deeper than basic good manners.

So what lessons can we learn from this action?

Self Giving Love

First of all, real love is self giving love, it means getting our hands dirty. Jesus couldn’t wash the disciples feet, without first getting down onto the floor, and taking those dirty feet into his own hands, and neither can we really love people if we are not prepared to do the same. Real love is about being prepared to make ourselves vulnerable, by entering into the mess and complication of life. After all, Jesus said he came not for the healthy, but the sick, he came not to call the righteous but sinners. (Mark 2:17) CS Lewis in his book ‘The Four Loves’ writes, “To love at all is to be venerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin or your selfishness. But in that casket--safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable...”
Real love reaches out to all people, including those we find it difficult to love. It is highly significant that Jesus washed ALL the disciples feet. He washed Peter’s feet, who only hours later, despite promising to always remain by Jesus’ side, would deny him three times. He washed Thomas’ feet, who a few days later, would doubt Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, until he had seen Jesus for himself. And he also washed Judas’ feet, the one who that very same night would betray him. In washing even Judas' feet, Jesus was extending hospitality, his acceptance, even to the one who would betray him. Even though Jesus knew that Judas' act of betrayal would set into motion the events leading to his death, Jesus didn't push him out of the community. To the end, Jesus offered Judas a chance to change. What Jesus does is to embody God’s love, a love that extends to each and every one of us. Jesus tells his disciples: I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. If Jesus could include Judas, shouldn't we think very seriously about those we find it all to easy to exclude?

If you find this uncomfortable, and challenging, then I can reassure you that I feel the same way too. This type of love calls us beyond our comfort zone, it takes us to people and places that we would not normally choose to go. It’s about being prepared to get our hands dirty, to face possible opposition and rejection, or misunderstanding. It’s about learning to put others before ourselves, which I for one find very hard to do.

Jesus redefines what it means to love. For example, in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:43 Jesus says, “"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

On Sunday evening BBC 2 showed a documentary with Louis Theroux, entitled ‘The Most Hated Family in America’. In this documentary Louis spent three weeks with the Phelps family in America. For those of you who didn’t see the documentary, the Phelpses run the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas, over many years they have led many picketing demonstrations against homosexuality, and more recently picketing the funerals of American Service Men killed in action in Iraq, claiming that their deaths are a sign of God’s judgement on USA. They even showed clips of children as young as 7 holding banners saying ‘God Hates Gays’. I was horrified by what I saw, and was left asking myself, where is the message of God’s love in what they are preaching. The point is that God’s love, as shown by Jesus, reaches out to everyone, no matter who we are, and the events at the Last Supper show us this.

In John 15:13 Jesus says “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Jesus showed his love for us by sacrificing his life on the cross so that we might live. True love often requires us to make sacrifices, and giving of ourselves.

But how do we actually go about doing this? Paul gives us some guidance in Philippians 2:4 onwards:

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature[ God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who looked not to his own interests, but to the interest of others.

This doesn’t come easily, Paul himself admitted in Romans 7:19 that “what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” So it is something we wrestle with, and work at.

But with the grace and help of God, we can learn what it means to love others, and by making a conscious decision to try and love people the way God would have us do, is often the first step we have to take..

Newspaper columnist and minister George Crane tells the story of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. “I do not only want to get rid of him I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me.” Dr Crane suggested an ingenious plan: “Go home and act as if you really love your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy im. Make him believe you love him. After you’ve convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb. Tell him that you’re getting a divorce. That will really hurt him.”

With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, “Beautiful, beautiful He will be so surprised!”

And she did it with euthusiasm. Acting “as if” for two months she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing and sharing. When she didn’t return Crane called, “Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?” “Divorce?” She exclaimed. “Never! I discovered I really do love him.” Her actions had changed her feelings.

Conclusion

At the start of this sermon I talked about love songs, which tend to emphasis the emotional dimension of love. However, love isn’t just dependent upon how we feel towards someone, it is something we need to work at. And to love one another as God has loves us requires effort and time. But it is the sort of love that this world needs more than ever to witness. One of the things that marked the first Christians out from others was the love they had for one another. If people can see the love that we as Christians have for one another and for God, in our churches and in our families, people will be interested in finding out more about God. Because more than ever what people want and need is to feel they are loved and accepted. Many feet walk into our lives and into our church every day -- old feet, young feet, feet of different races, poor feet, children's feet, feet of the needy, feet of the arrogant, feet of the annoying, feet of those we love and feet of those we fear, feet of those who are like us and feet of those who aren't just like us. Whose feet would we be willing to wash? Whose feet would we rather not touch at all?Jesus showed by his example that we really don't have a choice in the matter. If we have, through our baptism, promised to live a godly life, to live by Jesus' teachings, to respect the dignity of all God's creatures, then we must be willing, literally or figuratively, to wash everyone's feet, no matter what. We have to be willing to show that same hospitality, that same acceptance, to everyone, no matter what. Washing each other's feet can be an intimately loving act, but we must also remember that there are other consequences of that unconditional love. Judas didn't change his mind -- and tonight Jesus begins his final way to the cross.