SOAP has been used widely throughout Christian communities to help people draw closer to God and be His disciples.
SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer.
For many people it is best that you journal your devotion, either in a journal book or using a computerised journal.
To begin grab your bible and your journal….
SCRIPTURE……
Each week we will have a list of daily bible readings, most of the time these will relate to Sunday’s worship service.
Read the text for the day, it may be best to read it twice, one time at a normal pace and then a lot more slowly.
OBSERVATION……
What was God saying to you today through that scripture reading?
Was there a verse or verses that spoke more loudly to you?
Write down a summary of the reading in your own words.
APPLICATION……
Personalise what you have read by asking, How does this apply to your life right now?
Is God highlighting something to be thankful for?
Is God highlighting there is something I need to seek forgiveness from Him (and others) for?
Is God teaching me something?
Is God correcting me?
Is God highlighting a promise for me and my family?
Is God encouraging me and my family?
PRAYER……
Begin a discussion with God, focussed around this scripture passage and what comes to mind during the times of observation and application. So your prayer may include thanks, confession, adoring and praising God, asking for clarification and guidance and placing your life and day into God’s life shaping hands. Write down your initial prayer thoughts but keep the conversation going throughout the day….keep reflecting on what God has said and your life as you interact with creation.
SCRIPTURE Isaiah 45:5-7 5 And now the Lord says— he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am[a] honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength— 6 he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” 7 This is what the Lord says— the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel— to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: “Kings will see you and stand up, princes will see and bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” OBSERVATION 5 And now the Lord says—
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant 6 he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” APPLICATION God created me God created Jesus
God creates for a purpose
The purpose of Jesus and therefore the church is to minister and mission to those in the church and those who are not part of the church family.
PRAYER
Thankyou for creating Jesus
Thankyou for creating me and everyone else
Help me and others to live out the purpose you have created us for
Open my eyes and heart to minister and reach both those in the church family, who have been part of the church family and those who are not part of the church family.
Scripture: Isaiah 42:1-7
1“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
4 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”
5 This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
Observation
1“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
Application
God promises servants who work on His behalf and have His spirit to give you new perspectives and freedom to all people.
As servants God promises to be with us, to use us to fulfill His promises for all people.
Prayer
Thanks to God for the servants He has provided and helped who have opened our eyes, brought freedom and helped us have new life with God.
That as a servant I ask God for forgiveness when i have doubted His ongoing help and support and His presence and have not relied on His Spirit
That I live a life of helping others see how good life with God is.
SOAP is a away of studying the scriptures... As a congregation each week we have SOAP daily readings..... SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer 3rd February 2014 Scripture: Luke 1:22-40 22 When Zechariah came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. 39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. Observation....what verse or verses spoke more loudly to you 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
Application.... Watch and listen for how God acts don't assume it will be how people think. Being favoured by God can be a daunting thing....but remember promises not to fail Thanks to God for Him choosing others and me.... Pray that we are open to be used by God and trust God Prayer..... God help us to have eyes, ears and a heart that sees you at work even through situations and events that are not our natural or approach to life.... We thankyou that you don't just call us....but promise not to fail in using us...Lord may your word be fulfilled...
E100 Bible reading plan is a bible reading plan developed by Scripture Union to help people discover the 100 essential bible readings that give people an overview of the Christian Life...it can be found here
9am and Heywood Call to Worship: Psalm 103:1-5 Bible Readings: Micah 6:6-8; Colossians 3:12-14; Matthew 10:39-42 Hymns and songs: LHS 164 Love divine, all loves excelling; LHS 530 Every morning mercies new; AT 95 Make me a channel of your peace; AT 301 Prayer of peace; LHS 469 Come ye people rise and sing; HS Hosanna (B.Fraser) Statement of Faith: Apostles Creed Worship Activity: Guest Speaker David Chalmers from Compassion Australia God's mission for us: This week look at ways you can be more compassionate to those around you and help someone in need. Pray about those children who Compassion Australia are helping
10.45am
Call to Worship: Psalm 103:1-5 Bible Readings: Micah 6:6-8; Colossians 3:12-14; Matthew 10:39-42 Confession: Colossians 3:12-14 Forgiveness: Lamentations 3:22-23 Hymns and songs: The Hope of all hearts; Lord you have my heart; The Lord is gracious; I cry out; All who are thirsty; Amazing Grace (my chains are gone); Ohh Ohh heaven is in my heart; Great is thy faithfulness; Mighty to save; HS Hosanna (B.Fraser) Statement of Faith: Apostles Creed Worship Activity: Guest Speaker David Chalmers from Compassion Australia God's mission for us: This week look at ways you can be more compassionate to those around you and help someone in need. Pray about those children who Compassion Australia are helping
Bible ReadingsActs 2:1-21 Call to Worship: Based on Psalm 104:27-30
SONGS Where love comes to life AT 359 Holy Spirit living water LHS 334 Lord it is not that I choose you AT 99 Pentecost Prayer We all are one in mission Using tune: Nyland (LHS 272) LHS 227 O Spirit of the living God
Holy Communion: LHS 127 Come Holy Spirit Come and AT 276 Into your death we go
Statement of FaithStating our faith based on what Luther says the Bible says about the Holy Spirit in the 3rd article of the Apostles Creed Worship activity: Lecto Divinia using Matthew 28:19-20
God’s mission for you:This week pray to God to reveal to you who He dearly wants you to share Him with this and respond to this prompting being God's hands, feet and mouth
10.45am Service
Bible Reading: Acts 1:1-21 Call to WorshipBased on Psalm 104:27-30
ConfessionBased on Galatians 5:22-23 God’s ForgivenessBased on Galtatians 5:24-26
SONGS
Fear Not Holy Spirit Living Water (AT 359) Spirit Song (O Let the Son Of God Enfold) Amazing Love A Child Of God (AT 398) As the Deer Pants SongStep By Step Holy Communion Songs: Where love comes to life and Hope of all hearts
Statement of FaithStating our faith based on what Luther says the Bible says about the Holy Spirit in the 3rd article of the Apostles Creed
Worship activity: Group Lecto Divinia using Matthew 28:19-20
God’s mission for you:This week pray to God to reveal to you who He dearly wants you to share Him with this and respond to this prompting being God's hands, feet and mouth
The essential ingredient for mission....the Holy Spirit God calls us to be in mission @ locally, to our neighbours, to people in other towns and states, to people overseas....to the ends of the earth...EVERYWHERE and EVERYONE
When we are involved in mission we will be mixing with and interacting with people who are:
different from us,
who see life differently,
who we might not understand!!!
To be able to do God's mission, we need His Spirit....(Acts 1:8) The Spirit changes us from our natural way of living which is self focussed to seeing life differently....that it is about loving God and loving others (despite their differences)...
Accessing God's Spirit.... Spirit is given to us at our baptism God's Spirit continues to come to us through His word....so being involved in prayer, bible reading and study, small groups, worship and Christian relationships will help us be renewed by God's Spirit.
Also God's Spirit brings together as a community to be active in mission... Mission is primarily a community thing (involving not just one but numerous people)...
This week:
Spend time in prayer, worship and with other Christans talking about scripture
Take notice of the many people you are interacting with...(God has placed you amongst them so you can bear witness to him).
Make an effort to interact with people who are different from you...
Over the next month build a bridge to someone for the sake of the Gospel....think about how your friendship can link them to Jesus not just through you but also other Christians (the church).
Many things shape us...some shape is in healthy good ways, some shape us in negative ways.
What are some of the things and people who have shaped you?
In today's reading the rich man has been shaped in a particular way and he has four main problems:
RICH MAN'S PROBLEM NUMBER 1:
Fails to listen to God's Word and allow it to influence his life
Luke 19: 31 “Jesus said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” Question for you: Are you taking seriously what God's word says? Is it influencing your life, how you relate to others? Are we falling into the same trap as the rich man?
RICH MAN'S PROBLEM NUMBER 2:
Fails to care for others with the resources he has
Luke 19: 19-21 19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Thought: At times we hear this story and think that this is only relating to wealthy people. Jesus wasn't having a dig at the rich because they were rich, he was having a go at them because of their attitude to their riches. They saw it as theirs and for them to enjoy. However as Christians Jesus reminds us in other parts of scripture(see Matthew 22:37-39), we are given resources (money, time, knowledge, property and skills) to love God and to love others.
Question for you to think about: How are you using the resources God gives you? Are there people in your life who need your help?
RICH MAN'S PROBLEM NUMBER 3:
SHORT SIGHTED LIVING....Living with only today, this earth in view....not focussed on eternal living
Luke 19: 25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.
Question for you to think about: Are you living with only the present in mind....or are you living with eternity in mind?
RICH MAN'S PROBLEM NUMBER 4:
He's now dead.....and can't do anything about His Spiritual defecit
Luke 19: 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ Thought: Once someone is dead nothing can be done about their eternal future.
Question for you to think about: What are you doing now to grow spiritually? Do you know someone who is like the rich man, how might God be using you to help them be in heaven?
HOW DID THE RICH MAN GET INTO THIS SITUATION?
He was shaped by worldly thinking of comfort and luxuries.....what the world saw as important
Luke 19:19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.”
Time to think about how you have been shaped by the World in positive ways and negative ways:
Shaped by your family....family relationships, family attitudes, family teachings, family's relationship to God
Shaped by the people you mix .....with at work, school and socially. How does their talk and behaviour affect you? Think about what they see and say is important? What about their attitudes? What do they encourage you to believe is true?
Shaped by experiences.....especially disappointments and 'feel good' times.
Shaped by how others tell you life should be.....people, media, news
Thought: God can use anything in this world to shape us in a positive way. Satan can also use worldly things like family, people we mix with, our experiences and what others say to also shape us in a negative way.
God shapes us through:
Weekly Worship
Regular Bible reading and study
Relationships with other Christians....where we toss around God's word and talk about what it means for our lives.
When God is shaping our lives we will get a heavenly focus that affects how we live today. God shaping us affects our future: Salvation God shaping us affects how we live now: Sanctification
We see money, resources, time and skills for loving God and loving others
During the year we have been working towards putting our sermons online....as mp3s and with study notes. This has taken a little longer than expected. We anticipate that in the next month you will be able to download our sermons as mp3s and gain a sermon outline from this site.
Bible Readings Nehmehiah 8:1-10 1 Corinthians 12:12-21 Luke 4:14-21
Sermon: Jesus sets the stage for God's mission for us
Up to now We have been seeing how Jesus is slowly revealing himself to the world as the Messiah, The saviour not just for one group but the entire world
John the Baptist pointed us to Jesus as the One And as Jesus was baptised…. God said to Him you are my Son with whom I am well pleased And God’s Spirit descended on him
And last week we saw how Jesus turned water into wine For the purpose of revealing God’s glory And that God is about bringing long lasting joy to our lives Joy that extends into eternity
And today’s Gospel reading continues revealing more about Jesus And importantly more about how God goes about His mission
Our reading from Luke 4 in verse 14 begins with 3 significant factors 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.
Three significant factors Galilee: This is Gentile territory…. Very early on His ministry Jesus highlights that He is hear for all people For both Jews and non Jews We know from verse 15 he also came to preach to his own people The Jewish people… It is important to remember that true Christian mission is neither one group or another …but all Being in mission means being in mission for those who are part of the church and for those who are not part of the church. Christian mission involves reaching out to people outside the group and reaching out to people in the group…
Secondly The power of the Spirit…. .It is God’s Spirit that makes mission possible. God’s Spirit is the essential ingredient for all Christians. Without God’s Spirit there is no chance of Good News.. No chance of it being spread. God’s Spirit means being influenced and directed by God…
And thirdly News of Jesus spread throughout the countryside People told others about Him….about what he was up to… and what good he was doing…. And that continues to be the same God’s plan to helping others experience God is for each one of us to share and reveal the good things about God to others.
What about you? When was the last time you told people how good Jesus was? What good you have experienced or heard about Jesus?
There is however something more significant from today’s reading As Jesus went back to His home town Nazareth He read the following at synagogue from Isaiah 61 and 58
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour."
This reading reveals a lot about God It reveals how Jesus would go about His mission And also how the mission God has given us should look. God’s mission is about freeing people from the burden of sin. And from worshipping gods that promise a lot but deliver nothing.
Unfortunately Western minds distort this passage Western minds think that if we follow God we have freedom and we can do whatever we want. Well that’s not how the scriptures or how God sees freedom. Freedom from the scriptures is about being free from the negative things that sin brings into our life.
This is not a new problem When the reformation started to take off in the 1500s, The reformers faced the same issue As a result there is available a short publication written by Martin Luther called The Freedom of a Christian Which goes into details of what free truly means from a biblical perspective.. Some passages that reveals God’s freedom for us include: 1 Corinthians 9:19 19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
Ephesians 3:7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power
Phillipians 1:27-30 27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. In Romans 8 verse 1 and 2 we hear Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, a 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Being free from sin, means we are free from having to go through the burden of paying for our sins or having to worry whether our sins will prevent us from a life with God It means we can be assured that we are loved by God. It means really knowing that Jesus death on the cross is enough to pay the penalty for any sins you have committed. And therefore you are free to use your life to help others experience and grow in this freedom
Sin can have terrible effects on people Over January I got the opportunity to read the biography of Hansie Cronje After he admitted to accepting money from bookies For over 4 years His life was a misery He was ashamed He didn't know whether God could possibly love him As a result he closed himself off to the world
Fortunately there were some people in his life that helped him deal with the sin Helped him focus on what God had done for his sin And when he understood this he started to return to wanting to relate to others To wanting to help others Understand the reality that God forgives sins changed his life.
And this is our mission When Jesus says in Matthew 28 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in a the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
We are being called to do what Jesus was involved in God is saying to us go and proclaim good news to the poor. Go proclaim freedom for the prisoners Go and help the blind see Go and set the oppressed free, Go and proclaim the year of the Lord's favour." The only difference between us and Jesus Is that we do this in Jesus name Using the authority that He has given us In other words we are to introduce and help others to grow in a life of God’s freedom That is what making disciples is about Now this is not always easy week It is very rewarding…. but it means us being willing to get involved in difficulties, to listen to problems to put in effort when things are not going well It means giving when disasters like the Haiti earthquake occur It means volunteering for ministry areas, because there is a need not just because you feel comfortable or it suits you.
So what does this being freed mean for you and me
First of all I would like you to consider yourself. What sins are burdening you? What sins are preventing you from getting on with God’s mission? Maybe its a love of something that leads you away from God!!! Maybe its some sins you have committed that your scared others may reveal. Maybe it sins that have been committed against you?
Lets stop and spend some time in prayer. (Prayer time asking for the burden of sins to be lifted from us and that we clearly see we are forgiven.)
For some people they may need further help in dealing with their sins. There maybe consequences, or other worries. Please talk this other with another Christian or make an appointment to see myself.
Secondly Who do you know who is burdened? Who needs God’s Good News. Maybe it is someone who feels let down by life. Who thinks there is no future. Perhaps they haven’t been financially blessed. Or have made some stupid decisions. Maybe they struggle with life. Maybe they struggle with relationships…they don’t want people too close. Maybe they push people away.
Remember if you know anyone who needs to hear and experiences God’s Good News they are in your life for a reason
They are there so you can proclaim good news to the poor. You can proclaim freedom for the prisoners You can help the blind to see, You can set the oppressed free, And proclaim the year of the Lord's favour."
Now it wont necessarily be easy But aren’t you going to enjoy being with them in heaven. As a result of them experiencing and receiving God’s Good News of freedom from sin.
And when we get involved in doing God’s mission Bringing Good News to others God and His kingdom becomes not some distant reality Not something that people have to wait to experience
But it begins as verse 21 says….TODAY Right now!! Amen
Bible Readings Isaiah 62:1-5 1 Cor 12:1-11 John 2:1-11 Sermon: Jesus is revealled as the one through some signs
Throughout our life we rely a lot on signs Signs play an essential role in our life They always point to something They point to something far more important than themselves For instance as we drive towards Melbourne we will see a sign pointing to Melbourne The sign is not Melbourne….but it tells us which way to Melbourne When we feel our head hurts or our tummy rumbles this is often a sign something is wrong When our belt buckle moves to the next spot, this maybe a sign we need to do something about our weight When a family member or friend won’t talk to us, this is a sign that reveals something is wrong We need to explore what is wrong When the fire alarm makes that piercing noise, it could mean we need to get out of the house or that dad has burnt the toast again
Constantly in our lives We rely on signs to reveal something to us Often we need to check out what the signs mean Sometimes we notice the signs and sometimes we don’t
And in the gospel reading from John today we hear 11What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples put their faith in him.
The turning of water into wine was not a magic trick to entertain audiences at the wedding or church members for years to come But this event was a sign revealing the glory of God And within this reading there are also a number of signs that reveal more about Jesus and about us.
Something we will not pick up unless we delve deeper into scripture is the timing of the event This event took place on the third day… Jesus was at a wedding with his disciples and his mother When we dive deeper into scripture we discover that the third day is mentioned at least 40 times in the old and new testament On many occasions throughout scripture the mention of the third day is connected with the fact that God’s presence is clearer, in other words God’s presence becomes clearer not straight away but after a passage of time From Hosea 6:2 we hear “After two days he will revive us and on the third day he will restore us that we may live in his presence.” In Esther chapters 4 through to 8 we are told that Esther fasted for three days… then went to the king seeking to rescue the Jewish people In the book of Jonah, Jonah is in the belly of the fish for three days before he is spat out And in the New Testament we constantly here that the resurrection of Jesus took place after 3 days… Listen to 1 Corinthians 15, verses 3 and 4 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance a: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, Every Easter we highlight the importance of the third day…. when we attend both the Good Friday and Easter Sunday service, we get a clearer picture of what is involved in God’s presence being visible to us. Also in our lives we can not always see God at work until a passage of time has passed Often God is at work, however it takes time for us to see Him at work and how He went about His work Three days indicates God’s presence is about to be seen by some one or some people
Another sign we will miss unless we delve deeper into scripture is the importance of wine in the lives of people of Jesus time and culture Scripture indicates good and bad uses of wine. Using wine at celebrations is one of the good uses. An abundant supply of wine indicated a blessing from God From Genesis 27, verse 28 28 May God give you of heaven’s dew and of earth’s richness— an abundance of grain and new wine. And when used with God’s favour wine also points to joy, From Ecclesiastes 9, verse 7 7 Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favours what you do. With these to things in mind…
Put yourself in the picture of the wedding at Cana And the wine had run out Imagine if you were the bride or groom It is an embarrassment
Now we are not told why the wine ran out And it is not important It could have been the fault of the family organising the wine through bad planning or being misers.. thinking that each person should drink half a glass of wine only Maybe the guests were wine gluttons Maybe there were unexpected guests, gatecrashers Perhaps those serving the wine had decided to take some of the wine for their own personal use The reality is we don’t know why it ran out But we do know that it was gone And that this is a problem And we do know that only Jesus intervened to address the problem Now think about your life Particularly when problems occur The problems in our lives…are the result of sin Sin that we have committed or sin others have committed that affect us. And often they are both. And one of the consequences of sin, whether we have committed it or someone else has is that we are embarrassed or feel ashamed because it highlights our weaknesses, our inadequacies. Sin often shows the areas in our life where we are inadequate But like the gospel reading of the wine running out when we put God in the picture a solution is revealed. Without Jesus the family and their friends at the wedding would have been stuck with the problem of no wine, and their joy would have been short lived.
Likewise in our lives without Jesus life, death and resurrection we would be stuck in this life, with no possibility of a future joy in heaven And we would be without the Holy Spirit giving us gifts as we as we find in 1 Corinthians 12 and guiding us through God’s Word and God’s community commonly called the church, we would have no hope of discovering what gives us true and long lasting joy now and in the future
Interestingly Jesus also reveals something more about the way God works A sign of the way God works Jesus doesn’t just give the wedding party any old wine because they had run out the wedding party probably would have been satisfied with some wine, even if it was a bit ordinary, But that is not God’s way Jesus gives them the best wine of the event, from verse 10 we hear Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now. Many people are looking to God to help them today They want instant help from God God does help us deal with our everyday issues, Sometimes in the way we like… sometimes in ways we have never thought of. But we need to remember that the joy he brings to our life now is only a small reflection of the joy he will bring to our lives in the future it is there to help us see the future As God reminds us through St Paul’s letter to the Colossians in chapter 2, and as he reminds us in the final chapters of Revelations The joy and the good we experience now is only a minute reflection of our life to come
Jesus has prepared something a lot better for us than this earth Its God’s way to save the best to last Think about the best time you have ever had a times it by 1000 and that is still only a small reflection of the time to come Whatever you experience now…. God promises eternal life will be far superior A final sign we can see from today’s reading is that of Mary Mary is portrayed as many things in scripture A faithful servant willing to do whatever God asks In today’s gospel reading we can pick up two signs from Mary that help us as we live our lives As we interact with others, and be God’s missionaries in the world. The first comes from verse 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” Now there is much debate amongst scholars about this comment from Mary and Jesus’ reaction But what can’t be debated is that Mary brought the problems of someone else to Jesus attention And you to can do the exactly the same thing, in your prayers Often we pray only for those things that directly concern us But each one of us is called also to pray for others…. In Romans 8, Paul reminds us that we are constantly to remember others in our prayers When you notice someone in trouble, experiencing difficulties Be like Mary and bring this trouble to Jesus
The other thing Mary does is that she points people to Jesus for advice and help Listen again to verse 5 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Many people are either keen to give advice or to say nothing
But when was the last time you said to someone Let’s go to Jesus and see what he says When was the last time you listened to Jesus To get God’s perspective on the way life should be The way you should approach issues and problems in your life Mary understood that only Jesus can provide the solution So she directed people to Jesus And we can do the same… Through how we live and by helping our friends and family explore the pages of scripture We help them gain Jesus’ insight for our life now and in the future And in doing so we become like Mary Signs pointing to God’s generosity, God’s way of life, God’s forgiveness and who God is
Today’s reading from John has many signs about who Jesus is and who we are It highlights and reinforces that Jesus is God, the Messiah, the chosen one That God is about bringing long lasting joy to people’s lives That God deals with our problems, even smallish problems like running out of wine And that God is focussed on our future But it also suggests there is a time of waiting for us to see God’s work fully in our lives
Bible Readings 1 Samuel 18:1 1 John 4:7-8 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Sermon
One day two children were playing on the beach.
They built a magnificent sand castle.
It wasn’t just a sand castle it was a fortified city.
With gates, towers, moats and underground tunnels.
But just as they were about to finish a huge wave came along and knocked down the castle.
It was now nothing more than a pile of wet sand.
Together the children stood up, ran further up the beach, laughing and holding hands.
Then they sat down and built another castle.
These two children had lived out a valuable lesson.
All things in our lives
All the complicated structures we spend so much time and energy creating are built on sand.
They should be nothing but tools that are used to encourage and develop relationships with others.
It is our relationships with others that have the chance to survive through disasters and celebrations.
And it is relationships with others that will help us endure through disasters.
The truth is Christianity is about relationships.
Relationships with other Christians so that both of you benefit by being spiritually supporting each other.
And having relationships with others so that you are able to introduce them to Christ.
Many people have a picture of heaven that talks about it being a quite idyllic place.
A garden.
But scripture reveals to us that heaven is a city.
A splendid city, a perfect city
And for a place to be called a city it must have a significant number of people.
People living together.
That is what God is preparing us for.
Life with each other and others.
So our lives together,
as part of a congregation is about being prepared for life in heaven God’s city
In Luther’s Small Catechism we hear
In the same way the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth….
Which is simply a reflection on 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5
4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
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How do you view your relationships here in the congregation?
Do you see them as Holy Relationships?
Something God has initiated.
Our church relationships are something that God wants us to have.
This week.....
I encourage you to look through our members and friends directory.
If you don't have one contact our office for one.
As you read each name….
remember you are in a relationship with them initiated by God
and it is a relationship that God wants you to have
He wants each of us to have a Godly relationship with each other.
It is also a relationship that God wants you to develop.
To develop in ways that are centred on Him
and Him influencing our relationships with each other.
Our relationships at church are not just about being friends.
Although friendship is important.
Do you realise that if a person has at least 7 good close friendships at church they are likely to be actively involved in church life throughout their life?
Friendships at church actually benefit us by strengthening our relationship with God.
Our relationships as Christians are for encouraging each other in a relationship with God
and keeping each other accountable in our spiritual journies.
1 Corinthians 12:24-25 says
God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
Recently I read a story about Bill
Bill has always been part of the church
He remembers attending a congregation at a young age where people of all ages talked to him and encouraged him
When he couldn't reach the counter at morning tea, adults would hand him the tin of biscuits to choose from
He remembers feeling encouraged.
As he became a teenager he was encouraged to participate in the various activities of the church
And not just in the things he like, but remembers being asked what he would like to be doing at church
At a young age he was invited into leadership roles.
He remembers people praying for him.
His parents encouraged him to care and pray for others, especially those he did not regularly mix with.
When he had some troubles he remembers people who were older than him offering help.
Now he has an active role in the church and feels part of the life of the congregation
He comments that the church is a great place to be and one of the few places in his life that is for all ages
Bill’s experience reflects what the local church is called to be,
a gathering of people that welcomes people of all ages,
regardless of their background, experience, age or standing in the community.
This reflects what Jesus was on about
Jesus encourages us to welcome everyone….
Not just those we regularly associate with and can relate to …
In Matthew, Mark and Luke….we hear the following encounter
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
Are you encouraging younger people in our church?
Greet them with a smile.
Say hello to them
Showing interest in who they are and what they are doing.
Offering them a biscuit.
Carefully guiding and redirecting them.
Helping them feel welcome and that this is their place too.
That is the relationship God encourages us to have with others.
And younger people
Remember we are also called to encourage older people,
in 1 Timothy 5:1-2 we hear
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Our relationship with each other is to be similar to equals not older or younger.
As Christians we have a unique opportunity.
To mix with people of other generations.
To grow together.
To learn from each other.
To care for each other.
To develop relationships that go across generations, races and boundaries.
Relationships that are centred on and influenced by Christ
This leads to the other part in having relationships with others.
Good Christian relationships not only bring comfort to our lives
But they also keep us on track.
They help us be accountable to filling our lives with activities that help us be in constant contact with God’s grace.
God’s perspective on life.
Two ways that this accountability occurs in our congregation which everyone can access.
One is through Small Groups
Small Groups play an important role in our lives.
It helps us see
that my way is not the only way
that my life is not all about me
that I don’t have to bear all my worries…
That when people come in our life needing help we are not alone in helping them
We get to see life and the bible from various perspectives
The other type of Christian Relationship that is important to us is one on one relationships, some people call these mentors.
It is important for each of us to develop close relationships with individuals where we discuss spiritual things,
Where we discuss life and the bible
And where we are accountable
In my life I have a number of people who I have a close relationship with
They understand me better than most others
They don’t expect me to become a replica of them
But they can challenge me
They ask me questions like…
how is my prayer life going…
what about bible reading
Am I avoiding things in my life?
Do I need to be so critical of myself?
Am I really worshipping when I am leading worship?
They challenge me when I am avoiding forgiveness from God’s perspective.
Such relationships are helpful as the Holy Spirit uses them to help me and help the other person gain encouragement and to give guidance.
So how are your relationships with others?
Are you experiencing the blessing from the Holy relationships God has placed you in?
Are you blessing others with the love of God?
Each one of us are called to continue developing our relationships with each other….
And as we do the love of God continues growing in each of us….
Currently I am the Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Australia - NSW and ACT District and NZ District.
I have been the pastor of Sydney Lutheran Parish - City and Northern Beaches, Portland-Heywood Lutheran Church and North Tasmania Lutheran Parish.
