Category: Humanity

Getting Real: JESUS

3/10/2015

We're getting real! Learning to live confidently as followers of Jesus Christ.

As we have spent the last month in Luke's gospel, we have seen how Luke (doctor and historian) was deliberately setting out to report all the facts, so that people like us, as well as his first readers, could have confidence in what we believe.

We then thought about the importance of prayer, in the life of Jesus, and how his disciples were driven to ask him to teach them to pray - this is a huge part of living confidently as Jesus-followers.

And last week we looked across the gospel at many passages which simply leave us amazed at who Jesus was and is - things that make us go WOW!

People talked about the amazing things he did, like the miracles, but a lot of us noticed the profound answers he gave to difficult questions - especially when people were trying to trap him. We saw the way he was straight with people about life, and how people were struck time and time again by his authority - he spoke in a way which assumed he had the right to be acknowledged as supreme. In anyone else we would think it was madness. And yet in his case people saw that his life backed up his words.

Jesus knew there was lots of debate going on, so by the time we get to our focus passage, Luke 9 v18-27, he gathered his disciples, having withdrawn to pray (again), and asked them "who do the crowds say I am?"
They replied "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life"
"But what about you?" he asked, "Who do you say I am?"
Peter answered "God's Messiah"

It is noticeable that none of the crowd thought he was an 'ordinary Joe'! They all knew that he was something more than normal, even resorting to ideas of ancient prophets coming back from the dead. But Peter saw it - he was the long awaited Messiah - God's man to come and rule.

They didn't understand all this would mean at that time, which is why in the following verses Jesus tells them not to tell anyone, and explains that this means going the path of suffering, death, and resurrection.

He then also tells them what it means for them. That those who would be his disciples must deny themselves, turning from their selfish ways as they take up their cross daily and follow him. In other words, be prepared to go the road less travelled; to suffer; to go as Jesus went. To give up your claim to run your life by your own rules, and have Jesus Christ truly lead you, in his ways.

A big ask. Is this a crazy dictator? Or is this the most loving, pure, compelling, wise, impressive, awesome, slightly scary, powerful, insightful, and caring person ever - saying that going his way is the right way?

Getting real about who Jesus is, helps us get clear about a load of stuff.

Three areas we talked about from Luke 9, as well as the other things we had read:

IDENTITY - MISSION - DISCIPLESHIP

IDENTITY: Because we ARE followers of Jesus. That is who we are at the bottom line. We can get caught up in all kinds of institutional religious historical or factional confusion as people try and define what Christianity is or isn't. But the bottom line is, we are followers of Jesus Christ. That is who we are. (v23)

MISSION: We seek to love others as we love God, but we often get ourselves mixed up trying to figure out what the 'message' is. Well, again, bottom line - the message is HIM. It's Jesus. Its all about who he is. The gospel of Jesus Christ - the good news of Jesus Christ. He is God's Messiah (v20)

DISCIPLESHIP: If we are followers of Jesus, what does that mean? It means giving everything to him. Every part of life. Losing your rights to run your own life in order that you will find the true life that you were made for. Because the thing is, this is who we were always made to be - to be fully human is to live connected to our maker and Lord, and to flourish as we live life HIS way (v23-26)

When we walk this way, what we find is this: It is the best way.

Read the passage from Luke's gospel online here.

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Remembrance Day... to end all wars

11/11/2014

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Value #4: Working for city renewal

9/11/2014

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As residents of our city, we want to work to redress injustice, pursue reconciliation, and welcome the marginalised.
We celebrate the diversity of culture in our local contexts while recognising the need for gospel renewal.
We encourage one another to glorify God and serve others through the workplace, business, community projects, government and artistic endeavour.

What attitude should we have to our city, to our culture? This is a question the church has often grappled with. Sometimes Christians have said - 'stay apart from it all, stay separate, so that you can keep your identity'. Others in society would say - 'come and join in, don't be any different, give up your identity'. But its interesting that in the bible, when the prophet Jeremiah was talking to people in a similar sort of situation, he basically said - 'join in, get involved, and yet keep your identity as the people of God.'

4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah ch29 v4-9

A guy called Tim Keller has written a lot about this and makes these points above. As shown in those writings of Jeremiah, these people of Israel, now living in Babylon, were trying to figure out how they should live. And the three scenarios above were discussed. But Jeremiah was clear that God wanted them to be positively involved in life there, while maintaining their identity.

We can see it in the life of the Old Testament character Daniel, aswell. As in Jeremiah's case, he was looking at life in a country where his values were not shared, and where, at times, there was great hostility to his beliefs and practices. And yet, he became determined that the right thing to do was serve and bless the new place. Daniel served but remained clearly as a follower of the Lord, known to be praying three times a day, and known, along with his friends, to serve the Lord first and foremost above all others (including the king). They almost lost their lives over these things, but in the end became recognised and respected all the more for their clear convictions.

Of course, not everyone was involved in the leadership of the country as Daniel and his friends were. But whatever the situation they found themselves in, the people were to be engaged and take a positive attitude to the city, while still being clear in their faith. This is what we want to do and it may be worked out in all kinds of ways, whether in the workplace, in our leisure time, through business, the arts, education, community collaborations, or simply neighbourly kindness. We are seeking to serve others and be a positive influence.

We want to do what we can for the place we live in. We love Derby. We love the people. We love its rich heritage and cultural diversity. We also see its brokenness and so want to bring healing, hope and light that Jesus Christ can bring, into dark and difficult situations. We want to bless this city in doing what we can to make life here fairer for all, more comfortable for all, battling injustice and poverty and standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Sometimes that will involve challenging situations and people. But we act out of a desire to love, serve and see people and places renewed.

We are seeking to bless, not tear down. Seeking to love, not hate. Seeking to encourage, not discourage. Seeking to bring peace not conflict. Seeking to bring forgiveness not shame. Seeking to bring hope not despair. Seeking to bring life, not death.

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What's the big deal about community?

11/10/2014

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Billy Joel, the American singer/songwriter, sang a great song called 'Piano Man'. Lots of people know it and enjoy singing along to it. I'm even thinking of going and banging it out as a tune on the piano that Dan from 'Pocket Places' has anchored out on Normanton Road for a couple of months - though of course I can't play remotely as well as Mr Joel. But it's a great anthem.

Many people love the song, but may not realise what its about. It is actually all about our need for community and how people crave it, yet may lack it even in a crowd. Listen to these lines:

Now Paul is a real estate novelist,
Who never had time for a wife.
And he's talking with Davy,
Who's still in the Navy,
And probably will be for life.

And the waitress is practising politics,
As the businessmen slowly get stoned,
Yes they're sharing a drink they call loneliness
But it's better that drinking alone.

There's a fuller commentary on the song here.

We are wired for community - we need it. We don't function well and our mental (and sometimes physical) health suffers without it. Why is this?

In Genesis chapter 1, the bible says men and women are made in the image of God - which is an interesting and baffling phrase. It's given brain ache to many great theologians as they grapple with it. What is it?

Well it doesn't mean we look like God in terms of eyes, a nose and a face. But it does mean that we reflect something of his character and nature. And one of the amazing things about the view of God we have in the bible is that he is in community in himself!

This opens up all kinds of other discussions of course, which make the mind boggle (though should it be surprising that seeking understand God's nature makes the mind boggle?) But it is amazing to realise there is something about the very nature of God which is a loving community - Father, Son, Holy Spirit. At the heart of God himself we see loving relationships. Amazing!

So as those made in the image of God (whatever that fully means), we get something of a sense of why relationships and community are so important to us. Even though the image is broken in us, this community instinct is still there. And the best and most important kind of community we need is with God himself, and with others who also know him. Together we find ourselves to be part of his kingdom, his family, a new society, a community of faith, love and hope.

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Getting Real: JESUS

Remembrance Day... to end all wars

Value #4: Working for city renewal

What's the big deal about community?

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