Category Archives: Christian Life

Same-sex attraction and the church

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The Plausibility Problem: the Church and Same-Sex Attraction.  By Ed Shaw, IVP, 2015.

As others have pointed out, this is not just a book for those who experience same-sex attraction.  It is a book for all of us, calling everyone back to biblical faithfulness and radical discipleship.

The basis of Ed Shaw’s argument is that the orthodox Christian view on same-sex attraction (“Just say no”) is implausible.  Why on earth would we deny sexual intimacy to those who are attracted to members of their own sex?  …

Time for God?

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It’s about time…

We make, time, spend time, save time, give time, waste time, call time, buy time, keep time, and kill time.

The one thing we cannot do is defy time.  All the time, time moves steadily forward.  Or is it that we move forward through time?  Either way, you can’t stop it.

Some people are good time-keepers.  Victor Borge once told a friend that he could tell the time by his piano.  He demonstrated this by pounding out a loud march.  …

Seventy times seven – sermon notes

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Matthew 18:21-35

I’ve never yet met a person who didn’t think that forgiveness was a good thing.  Peter certainly thought so.  He just wanted to check what its limits might be.  The rabbis said that one should forgive a person up to three times.  Peter was prepared to more than double the figure: “Up to seven times, Master?”  “Not seven, but seventy times seven,” says Jesus; meaning, of course, one should forgive his brother an unlimited number of times.…

Gifts

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Have you ever received a really unusual, unexpected, useless, or tasteless gift?

A woman was browsing in a second-hand bookshop when she saw a book that she thought would be just what her husband needed to read, so she bought it for him.  It was called How To Hug.  You can imagine how pleased she was when that evening she saw him leafing through it with obvious interest.  It was only then that she discovered her mistake.  …

The healthy Christian life

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In a healthy Christian life, a balance will be maintained between various extremes.  Such as:-

Dependency–Independency. Healthy religion fosters a harmonious balance between these two polarities in such a way that permits the development and maintenance of one’s individual identity yet encourages the experience of a sense of oneness with others.

Control–Freedom. Healthy religion will encourage a spontaneity, creativity, and self-direction that is tempered by inner discipline and a sense of responsibility toward oneself and others.

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Psalm 92:12-15 – Still fruitful in old age – sermon notes

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The last in a series on work.  Various angles: –

Statistical.  In NT times the average life expectancy was 35-40.  This didn’t change much until about the year 1850.  By 1950 it had risen to 65.  Now it’s around 80.  Somewhere in the world a person has been born who will live to the age of 150.  Over half the people born today will live to the age of 100.

Economic.  Things will be very different when today’s young people reach retirement age. …

Mk 14:27-31 – Three words of warning – sermon notes

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Text: Mark 14:27-31.

Everyday life is full of warnings:- health, flood, gale.  Fire hazard, trip hazard, bio hazard, radiation hazard.  May contain nuts, may cause offence.  We will prosecute if you exceed the speed limit, park illegally, drink in a public place.  No photography, no mobile phones, no noise after 11 pm…

We come to church to get away from all that!  To be inspired, uplifted, encouraged, – not warned.

But ‘these things were written down as warnings for us…So, if you think you’re standing firm, be careful you don’t fall!’…

Let us lament

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“They are grieving as if they have no God!”

These were the words of a pastor, describing the reaction of Christians soon after a hotel fire had killed over seventy people – mostly pastors and lay workers – in Manila.

A wife, standing at the graveside of her recently-deceased husband, is commended for ‘being strong’, because she is not weeping.

A Christian asked for prayer for success in an examination which would qualify her for a certain job.  …

Rom 13:1-7 – Hurrah for politicians and taxes! – sermon notes

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Romans 13:1-7

I wonder how many of us muttered, ‘Thanks be to God’ through gritted teeth after this passage was read?  Thanks be to God for politicians and taxes?  You must be joking!

  • Perhaps Paul didn’t know that modern opinion polls would show that of all professionals, politicians are the least trusted.
  • Maybe he never anticipated the scandal exposed by the Panama Papers, which seem to suggest that the rich and powerful are engaging in tax evasion on an industrial scale.
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Discussion Starters, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26

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1. Which is more important: physical healing, or the forgiveness of sins?  Why?  And why do you think the two are linked together on this occasion?

2. Surely, healing and forgiveness are good things?  So why do you think the Jewish authorities we so resentful of what Jesus did?

3. In what ways can we follow in Jesus’ footsteps by bringing God’s healing and forgiveness to others?…