Union Chapel Bath: Recent Episodes
As we come to the nobleman with the dying son the author contrasts the Jewish audience with the Samaritans and Herodians and forces the readers to ask this question---Will we demand signs before we believe or will we believe Jesus at His word---We see in this passage a fickle faith, a fragile faith and a full faith.
We continue with the story of the woman of Samaria and we see how Jesus restored her.--He gave her back her dignity, he gave her back her community, he gave her back her life.
A woman at a well, despised and exiled, will meet the Angel of God-Anointed of God who will give her water and make her his bride.
John the Baptist's famous words -He must increase and I must decrease-.--John was the final Old Testament prophet, a man from the earth, temporarily filled by the Spirit, pointing to the Messiah.--Jesus is the fulfilment of the prophets, a man from heaven, filled completely by the Spirit, the true Messiah.
Jesus, the One who has come down from heaven, is the one who has the authority and wisdom to categorise humanity into two parts.--In this section of John we see why Jesus came and the two kinds of humanity - those who are rescued and those who are perishing.
In the darkness Jesus seeks to bring light to Nicodemus, a teacher and leader of Israel.--The Need for Rebirth v1-8-The Means of Rebirth v9-15
The first public act Jesus performs in John's Gospel is to clear out the temple and declare Himself to be the Temple.--2v13-22 - The Sign at the Temple-2v23-25 - The Signs in the City
Spring has come because the Spring Bringer has come. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah has shaken his mane and has risen from the dead. Every life he touches blossoms and flowers into abundant life. --Death is defeated. Sin is dealt with. We are never going to go back to that winter of death again. More spring is coming. The fulness of spring is on its way. --The Eternal Spring of King Jesus will never pass away-
The ancient prophets, watching how sin crushed and destroyed humanity, how instead of peace and love, there was hatred and selfishness, how instead of a world of blessing and abundance, there was a world of violence and oppression, wrote of One who could come to set it right, who would come to be king, to rule over the world with goodness and justice, and who would crush evil.--Jesus is that King.--1v35-42 - Unnamed, Andrew and Simon-1v43-51 - Philip and Nathanael
Alan spoke on how the prophets, Holy Spirit, early church and angels are all focused on the gospel message and challenged us on what we are focused on.
Our brother and deacon Dave Beazer preaches on the---Private Commitment - he who believes-Public Confession - and is baptised-Personal Confidence - will be saved-Perilous Condition - but he who does not believe will be condemned
One of the themes of the Gospel of John is the idea of a court case. The author brings different witnesses to the stand for questioning as to who they think Jesus of Nazareth is.--The first witness is John the Baptist.--1. Who is John--a. 1v19-23 - who are you--b. 1v24-28 - why are you baptising---2. Who is Jesus--a. 1v29-31 The Lamb of God-b. 1v32-34 The Son of God
v1-2 God and the Word-v3-13 God and the Light-v14-17 God and the Tabernacle-v18 God and the Son
As we begin the Gospel of John we start with introducing what it's all about and why it was written. We look at how all the prophets have been looking forward to and anticipating the arrival of the Messiah, who will come amongst us and bring us back to God again.
As we finish Colossians, we look at the last words of Paul in the letter. He reminds the believers that they are part of a global family of scripture reading, mutually encouraging, grace filled new humanity.
We matter individually and we belong corporately.--As Paul finishes his letter, he names some of the men who are with him. Through listing these men we see---1. The Beauty of Unity-2. The Beauty of Forgiveness-3. The Beauty of Normal
The new humanity in Christ is transformed by Christ to treat those who are not in Christ with wisdom, grace and kindness.--As we demonstrate the transforming power of the gospel through our changed lives, we win the opportunity to declare the transforming messages of the gospel that can change their lives.
The new humanity in Christ is transformed by Christ to submit and rule in a way that reflects Christ.--The Graeco Roman world is very different to the world we are living in today. It was a world was dominated and controlled by men and every member of a household was subject to the patriarch, that is the man, of that home. This included his wife, his children and his servants. --Paul takes these relationships of household submission and places Christ at the very centre of that submission But then he turns round to the one who has the household authority and places Christ at the very centre of that authority.--What does submission and authority look like when Christ has transformed a human and a family- Colossians 3v18-4v1 tells us.
The new humanity in Christ has been called and empowered to treat each other as restored and transformed humans in Christ.--Paul is going to tell the Colossians what it looks like to live new creation out in different scenarios. He begins here with life as a congregation.
See the rest of Colossians as the way you are free to now live your life as you are rooted and connected and looking to Christ - not as a list of ways to live in your own strength. See these next chapters as an outflow of what it looks like to live a life that is connected to the resurrection power of Jesus.--In Christ you have been restored and transformed and Christ is continually renewing you to become more and more like Him.
Jesus has already lifted us to the higher ground above the restraints of the law and above the slavery of sin.---The power to live free and full is found only in digging down into the heart of Christ and looking up into the heart of Christ.
Our death and rising again in Christ is the only thing that frees us from our sin, Moses's law, God's judgement and mans' traditions.---You are not holy because of what you do -but because of who you already are in Christ--Christ didn't come to earth to die in agony to create a body of stuffy, downcast, judgmental, dusty, rigid prudes.--Christ came to give us life to the full-Christ came to give us joy unspeakable-Christ came to give us peace incomprehensible-Christ came to give us freedom-Christ came to make us new--Do away with your self imposed rules that you place on yourself and use to judge others.
Since we are in Christ, and Christ is the Reality and the Truth, we are free from the Law of Moses and the Traditions of Men.--So the first things -v16-17- are good things, but they are just pictures of what has fully come. And since it has fully come, we dont need the pictures anymore.--The second things -v18-19- are not good things, they are counterfeits of the real thing. We have the real thing, so we dont need counterfeits.
The false teachers cant hold your past against you - that you is dead-The false teachers cant hold your flesh against you - it has already been crucified and circumcised -The false teachers cant hold your sin against you - that sin is forgiven-The false teachers cant hold your debt against you - that debt has been wiped clean-The false teachers cant hold the law against you - that law has been fulfilled in Christ-The false teachers cant hold death against you - Christ beat death-The false teachers can't hold the angelic realm against you - that realm has been disarmed, mocked and defeated--In Christ all that could be held against you has already been dealt with. In Christ you are untouchable.
In Christ, the fulness of God, and the head of all, we have been and are rooted, built up, strengthened, full and overflowing. --What could do the false teachers offer those who have all this-
Through growing in our understanding and conviction of the rich truths of who Christ is, what Christ has accomplished and who we are in light of that believers hearts can be cheered and true mutual blessing unity can become a reality.--Paul wrestled to help the Colossians to understand these truths.
Paul gladly suffered believing it was----a sharing with Christ--a serving of Christ's body--and a part of his stewardship --which was to proclaim Christ and the Good News Mystery to Jew and Gentile, all through the powerful strength of God.
In and through Christ exiles and enemies can come home to find their past is forgiven, their present is full and their future is sure.
As we finish the book of Leviticus we read Moses calling the people to obey God and experience His blessings. The blessings are all themes of Eden - abundance, peace, dominion and God in their midst.
Jesus is the Firstborn of Creation and the Firstborn of New Creation-Jesus is the Heir of Creation and the Head of New Creation-He is the Source of Creation and the Source of New Creation-He is the Sustainer of Creation and the Sustainer of New Creation--Since Christ is the supreme sovereign over everything there is nothing outside of His rich and full redemptive and reconciling reach.
Colossians 1-15-17 is the first stanza of an ancient hymn detailing the fact that Jesus Christ is the heir of Creation.--Since Christ is the Eternal Source and Sustainer of all creation He is the Supreme Sovereign over everything.
We look at Chapters 23-25 of Leviticus and see the different annual feast days that God commanded which were a reminder of God atoning for the people's sins, rescuing them from slavery, protecting them in the wilderness, and providing for them in Canaan.--Then we consider the weekly Sabbath, the 7 year Sabbath and the 50 year Sabbath and see how God is asking the people to live in light of the restoration of Eden.
God the Father delights to reveal His grace by qualifying the unworthy rescuing the rebel, setting free the slave, and forgiving the enemy, who comes to Him through Christ.--We see, in these verses, that in Christ we are--- Qualified and Partakers-- Delivered and Transferred-- Redeemed and Forgiven
Paul prays for the Colossians believers that they would know God's will and live God's will.--God, because of His rich grace in Christ, fills His people, through intimate relationship with Him, with His own wisdom and His own strength so that they can live worthy, pleasing, fruitful, joyful lives, in the midst of a broken world.
As we continue in Colossians we read as Paul gives thanks to God for what Christ is doing in the life of the Colossian believers.--He hears about--1. Their Faith in Christ-2. Their Love for the Saints-3. Their Hope in Eternity--Their love for one another was created by their faith in Christ and motivated by their hope in Christ. They weren't loving each other to GET this hope but because they HAD this hope.--Paul then gives thanks that the gospel of Christ is spreading across the world and transforming lives as it goes.
We begin a new series in the letter to the Colossians. The letter is written to focus on four points---1. Who Jesus Is-2. What Jesus has accomplished-3. Who we are in light of that-4. How we live our lives as a response to all this--1v1-14 is the Introductory remarks-- 1v1-2 Greetings-- 1v3-8 Thanks--1v9-11 Prayer--1v12-14 Key Statement--We read in the greeting that, in Christ, we are freely--Made New-Made Equal-Made Holy-Made Family-Made Recipients of Grace-Made Recipients of Peace
We consider Leviticus 21-22 and see some of the requirements they are called to live by. They aren't to live this way to become priests, but because they are priests. If the priests didn't remain ritually clean then they wouldn't be able to fulfil their priestly ministry in the Garden Tent- they wouldn't be able to represent a sinful people to a holy God.
- Mutual Exhortation-7. Stewarding Gifts-8. Christlike Growth-9. Accountability-10. Witnessing of Christ
- It is Who We Are-2. We are Commanded-3. The Early Church Pattern-4. Christ Loves the Church-5. Our Future
As we dig into Leviticus 18-20 we see that God commands moral purity for His people. They were called to live in justice, fairness, compassion, kindness and love.--The People called to live in the Garden of God are called to live like-The People of the God of the Garden.
As we conclude this mini series we consider where and when we sing. We discover that we aren't just called to sing a few hymns on a Sunday gathering, but to lift up our voices in praise in every place and at every time.
We continue our series and consider what we sing and to who.--What-- His Character-- His Attributes-- His Deeds-- His Blessings-- Our Commitment-- Our Suffering-- Our Repentance--Who We Sing To-- God-- Each Other-- Ourselves-- The Nations
The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, was an annual day in which the High Priest would enter the Throne Room of the Garden Tent with the blood of animal sacrifices, to cover over the stain of sin on the priest, the people and the tabernacle furniture.--After which a goat would be sent away into the wilderness bearing the sins of the people.
As lockdown ends and congregational singing within the church building is allowed again, we decided to work through a mini 4 part series on congregational and individual singing. In this second message we look at how we sing.--1.Spirit-2. Truth-3. Old and New Hymns-4. Instruments, Hands, Emotions--We are invited into the throne room of God Himself to offer up our praises to Him. The angels of heaven are witnesses of our gatherings as we sing. May we offer up to God joyful, enthusiastic hearts, through song.
As lockdown ends and congregational singing within the church building is allowed again, we decided to work through a mini 4 part series on congregational and individual singing. In this first message we look at why we sing.--1. We were created to sing-2. We are commanded to sing-3. We are enabled to sing-4. We have a singing Saviour-5. The pattern of the early church-6. Our future is full of singing--We have been fearfully and wonderfully designed on purpose and for purpose. Part of that design was our ability to sing. We were created with the capacity to sing and therefore singing is on purpose. We were created by God to sing - so we were created to sing to and for God.
Every part of the lives of the Israelite people was to be impacted, effected and influenced by the fact that the holy God now lived among them and chose them to be His people. Right down to what they ate.--They were called to be the garden of Eden people and that changed EVERYTHING
Peter concludes this letter by summarising the entire letter---1. We are called and empowered to live as New Creation now-2. Jesus is coming in wrath and power to bring the fulness of New Creation-3. False teachers are coming who will deny all of this--Peter calls his readers to trust Christ's character, know Christ's word, and grow in Christ's grace.
Peter gives details, quoting Christ and Isaiah, about what the future is bringing. --The Day of the Lord is coming as a thief, bringing judgement. The New Heavens and Earth are coming, bringing righteousness. Peter then challenges believers to live in light of this promised future.
As we look at chapter 8-10 of Leviticus we see the priesthood of the line of Aaron begin. The priests are consecrated and anointed for service in chapter 8, they begin their work in chapter 9. Chapter 10 records all four of the sons of Aaron failing in the Garden Tent within the first days of the priesthood. Two die and two are spared.--These chapters show us that God accepts the priesthood, but we are also left concerned that already they are failing to be the garden priests necessary to keep God and humanity in right relationship.
Peter explains that, although it looks like God is delaying the return of Jesus and the judgement He will bring, from God's perspective the date is set, it's coming soon and, in the mean time, each day we wait is a day of grace extended to the unsaved so that they might come to Him and be forgiven.
Alan was asked to speak at Truth 4 Youth on the subject of how to disagree with brothers and sisters in Christ who disagree with us on points of doctrine.
The Garden Tent has been erected and now God's glory dwells in it. However Moses is not allowed to enter. God speaks to him from the tent and gives him a sacrificial system for the Priesthood of Aaron.--The only way to enter the Garden Tent, into the presence of God is through sacrifice.
3v1-2 Those Stirred to Remember-3v3-6 Those Choosing to Forget--Peter writes that these false teachers will scoff and mock the idea of Jesus returning to judge and change the world.--The answer to persecution -1 Peter- and false teaching -2 Peter- is to be constantly stirred up and reminded of the future hope of the return of Christ and how to live in light of that.
Peter has been writing about the false teachers in chapter 2. He now turns his attention to those who will follow them, explaining that they are not genuinely saved and, just as they were about to escape the world through the gospel, they are lured back into it again.--v18-19 The Bait and Trap-v20-22 The Vomit and Muck
Peter, using two examples, describes the false teachers as being full of pride and full of lust.
Peter highlights two examples within the biblical narrative when God judged the wicked and delivered the righteous, demonstrating that God has a day of judgement coming.--The Days of Noah v4-5-The Days of Lot v6-8-The Day of the Son of Man v9
Peter warns the believers that false teachers have and will sneak into the body deceiving believers. He writes about their History, their Identity and their Destiny.--He explains that--Their Method was Secretive and Deceptive-Their Message was Destructive and Denying Christ-Their Manner was Destructive and Truth Blaspheming-Their Motive was Greed and Covetousness
Peter explains that the Transfiguration and the Prophecies are all pointing towards the powerful coming again of Jesus Christ. This return of Christ as King is a light of hope to the believers as they live in this dark age of sin and suffering.
False teachers were claiming that what Peter and the other Apostles were teaching about Jesus' person, return and judgement is false. Which meant we should just live for this present world and indulge in all our desires.--Peter explains that he, James and John saw a glimpse of who Jesus is in all His glory and what He is bringing in His glorious reign.
Peter is saying here that is one the most important things in his life- -to keep his brothers and sisters awake and excited to the truths of New Creation by constantly remind them that, by God's Grace powerfully at work in their lives, they must add to their faith so that they will keep growing in Christlikeness and have an honoured homecoming.
Peter tells us that as we add to our faith, and so make our calling and election sure, then we will have continual growth in this present age and an honoured entrance into the coming age.