A sermon based on Colossians 1.
Pentecost and Power Evangelism
One word could just about up the news stories this week, “revelation”. Whether it’s to do with the Prime Minister’s integrity, global warming’s intensity, the government’s popularity, the Archbishop’s paternity, Her Majesty’s longevity, or Apple’s security, we are fascinated when secrets are revealed – except it seems when they are, our own. Those deeply personal things that matter the most to us – our children, our family, our bodies, our emails, our text messages, our age, our photos, our income, our bank accounts, we keep these private, and in many cases wisely so. The more important, the more personal, the more sensitive the information, the more likely, we will want to keep it private, confidential, or concealed. And many people feel the same way about their religious faith. Its personal. Its private. And it remains concealed. How ironic that Jesus commanded us to do the very opposite. And he sent his Holy Spirit to energise, empower and equip us to share him with others. On Easter Sunday we celebrated the birth of the Church. Today we are considering the baptism of the Church under three headings: the context, the message and the experience of Pentecost. Please turn with me to Acts 2. Continue reading
Succession Planning: How to Choose a Leader
Our family moved to Virginia Water, nineteen years ago today. At my induction here, Bishop John Gladwin preached from Luke 5. It’s the story of how Jesus delivered the man called Legion. He was possessed by many evil spirits and Jesus cast them out into a herd of pigs who drowned in the Sea of Galilee. Bishop John tried to make a joke about Virginia Water and its association with the Holloway Sanatorium (now Virginia Park). The sanatorium was made famous by Bill Bryson in his book, Notes from a Small Island. He worked at the Sanatorium in the 1970s and met his wife there. Bishop John said “Many of you will think Stephen is mad, but he will be at home here.” Some laughed but others were not so sure. With hindsight you may think he was being rather prophetic. How do you choose a church leader? This Summer Joanna and I will have been serving in full-time Christian ministry for forty years. My ministry has been shaped by the Lord’s mandate:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Easter Sunday and the Birth of the Church
When Britain first, at Heaven’s command,
Arose from out the azure main,
This was the charter of the land,
And guardian angels sang this strain:
Rule Britannia! Britannia rule the waves
Britons never, never, never, shall be slaves.
The nations, not so blest as thee,
Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall;
While thou shalt flourish great and free,
The dread and envy of them all.
Rule Britannia! Britannia rule the waves
Britons never, never, never, shall be slaves.
Sung with gusto at the Last Night of the Proms, “Rule Britannia” was composed by James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740 to commemorate the accession of George II. How do you feel when you hear those words sung? Do you join in, or do you keep your lips tightly sealed? Patriotic or jingoistic? It depends on your nationality doesn’t it? We all identify with a nationality, a country or a kingdom.
The Example
This week someone posted this helpful little graphic on my Facebook drawing the simple distinctions between a boss and a leader. The leader had an uncanny resemblance to Richard Branson – blond hair, big smile and beard… It got me thinking and I posted the comment, “Very good as far as it goes. Worth exploring the difference between models of secular leadership and the model of Jesus Christ.” Then, I added the verses from our gospel reading this evening,
“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:12-15)
The Church of England’s Short Guide to the Duties of Church Membership, which we endorse at Christ Church begins with this definition of a Christian. “To follow the example of Christ at home and daily life, and to bear personal witness to him.” How can we do that? What does it mean? To follow Christ must involve every part of us. Following Christ will surely involve my mind, my heart and my will.
Easter at Christ Church
Get directions here
Open Wide the Gates: Edmund Chan
Edmund Chan, the Leadership Mentor of Covenant Free Evangelical Church, Singapore, was the guest preacher at Christ Church, Virginia Water, on Palm Sunday 20 March 2016. His sermon was based on Psalm 24 and Mark 11.
Watch two more of Edmund’s sermons here
The Storm Before the Calm: Richard Bewes
A sermon preached at Christ Church, Virginia Water on Mark 13. View Richard’s website here
Jerusalem Has Fallen
After the death of the British prime minister, the world’s leaders gather in London to pay their respects. Without warning, a series of devastating terrorist attacks wipe out five world leaders attending the funeral leaving the city in chaos and ruins. Secret Service agent Mike Banning springs into action to bring the U.S. President to safety. When he falls into the hands of the sinister organization, it’s up to Banning to save his commander in chief from a horrible fate. London has Fallen is the latest disaster movie to hit the cinemas. The film is the sequel to Olympus Has Fallen, released just under three years ago about a previous terrorist attack on the White House. “Olympus” being the US secret service code for the White House. Well, the theme of our Gospel reading could be entitled “Jerusalem has Fallen”. Jesus and his disciples have just arrived in Jerusalem. They were fisherman from villages along the shore the Sea of Galilee. They were impressed by the fine stone buildings.
“As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” (Mark 13:1-2)
Jesus shocked them with his apocalyptic warning of imminent and total destruction. So…
Where do we Worship? The Church Defined
A few weeks ago I visited Cairo to preach at St Michael’s and All Angels and to give some teaching on the reliability of the Bible. It is a very special church family. Their building hosts several congregations including an Egyptian community, two separate expat church families (one Anglican and one non conformist) and two Sudanese congregations one all age and one in their teens and twenties. To accommodate everyone in their heart language, they hold numerous mid-week and weekend services in English, Arabic and Sudanese. The music ranges from the exuberant and informal African, via Egyptian Arabic music to the more laid back Anglican Hymns Ancient and Modern. And the Anglican priest is called Jos who just happens to be a fluent Arabic speaking Dutchman. Cosmopolitan, international, multi-ethnic.
Not that dissimilar to the picture of the international church of Jesus Christ, the Bride of Christ we find described in Peter’s first epistle. In 1 Peter 2:1-10 we discover how God would have us live in community. We were designed to live in community – to know and be known, to love and be loved, to serve and be served, to celebrate and be celebrated. Peter uses four vivid pictures to describe our relationship to one another in the Church.