Theopolitan Reading

Peter J. Leithart, Theopolitan Reading (Theopolis Books / Athanasius Press, 2020)

Theopolis Fundamentals Series

116pp pb

ISBN: 9781735169002

£9.71 on Amazon UK today / $11.95 from the publisher

 

Anyone interested in reading the Bible more richly could benefit from spending time with this book.

 

This is not an elaborate hermeneutical text book of rules which allow the reader to insert the correct inputs, grind the machine and chunk out a correct reading. Instead, in an introductory chapter, Dr Leithart offers to serve as a mentor in the art of the Spiritual Reading of Scripture which pays close attention to the letter. Scripture is concerned for our intellectual and moral formation, which is partly achieved by our (sacramental) imaginative and liturgical formation. The church must be soaked in the Scriptures. We should aim to be at least as familiar with the story and detail of the Bible as we are with logos, brands, jingles, personalities and gossip of pop culture. We want to read the cues which the Bible gives us in terms of plot (division and reformation, exile and return, death and resurrection), character or setting (e.g. garden, temple, vineyard, wilderness, city, well) as readily as we can identify the genre or mood of a film from an establishing short or a change in the score. We want to begin to sense the biblical associations of mountains (and High Places and altars), water, trees, birds and animals, stars and all that God has made and spoken about to proclaim his glory.

 

The Bible is seen as a highly patterned (typological), artistic, symbolic, figurative and literal literary text. The end of the Old Covenant world might be described as the “stars falling from heaven”. This does not mean that the astrological bodies will hit the earth, but it does speak of an actual change of rulers and regime with the death and resurrection of the Messiah, which the Fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 caps, marking the end of the old world order of Temple and Law.  

 

The Bible’s main concern is not simply heaven and the soul but God-and-his-world-and-people, Christ and his body. It speaks of real events in this world (of a polis, a city) but most often in poetic and narrative terms. Scripture is not, in the main, a philosophical Dogmatics about God in himself but a developing drama of God’s dealings with the world, with Adam (and the Last Adam and his people) and Eve (and the Bride of Christ). All human beings are some variation of Adam and Eve, all places more or less Edenic.

 

The bulk of the book thus traces, sometimes lyrically, themes laid out in Genesis 1-3 and the Scriptural riffs on the world, Adam, Eve and Eden as originally created, fallen, redeemed and eschatological. Trained readers can hear allusions (overtones, harmonies, shifts in meter and instrumentation) as they attend to the “connotations, import and implications of what’s written” in all the Scriptures (p16).

 

Even if you worry this is fanciful in places, or you’re not convinced by each individual proposal, the overall approach seems compelling and the attention is worthy of the divine-human masterpiece which is the Bible. I would have liked a Scripture index so that I could more easily go back to the suggestions on the many individual passages that are scattered throughout the text.  

 

Take up and read. Taste and see!

Acts 15vv1-35 headings and jottings

A sermon outline:

Black pudding (vv20, 29)

“The Gentile problem”

The issues:

- How should Christians live? vv1, 5

- Mission to Jews and Gentiles

- Fellowship between Jews and Gentiles

- The gospel itself / salvation! v1

“The Council of Jerusalem” (vv2-4)

(1) The gospel principle:

  

God’s actions and the Scriptures show that it was always his plan that

Jews and Gentiles alike

should be saved by grace alone

through faith alone

in Christ alone,

not by circumcision

nor by keeping the Law of Moses

vv6-19 esp. vv8-9, 11 

Gospel Mathematics

Maybe I should have put the mathematics in inverted commas!

I hope this will be a helpful way of putting it and any mathematical pendants can see me afterwards!

I was assuming x > 0!

Jewish believers + Gentile believers = One Christian Church

1 + 1 = 1!

One family

One body of Christ

One church

Equality – no second-class citizens

V8 – Jews and Gentiles are equally acceptable to God in exactly the same way, on the same terms

Not two ways of salvation (one for the Jews and one for the Gentiles) but one

Grace + Faith à Salvation + Good Works

Not, Grace + Faith + GOOD WORKS à Salvation

Good works are a consequence not a cause of salvation

  

Christ + x does not equal the Gospel

Or, Christ + x = 0

To add to Christ is to take away the gospel 

We get into the church by grace and we get on within the church by being gracious

(2) A gracious plan:

 For the sake of fellowship and mission,

the Gentile believers should avoid giving any unnecessary offence to the Jews

by having nothing to do with pagan idolatry or immorality

vv19-21 esp. the reason given in v21

vv28-29

So, this passage calls for absolute clarity on the gospel of grace (point 1) but also for:

A loving practical policy (point 2), for kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, sensitivity and empathy.

It calls for:

CLARITY and CONSIDERATION

TRUTH and LOVE

GRACE and GRACIOUSNESS

The GOSPEL and GENEROSITY

SALVATION and SENSITIVITY

FAITH and FAMILY

The Gentiles are exhorted to:

Servant heartedness

Giving up of their rights

Going the extra mile

* * * 

I have resisted as absurd more G and P headings like 

The gathering ponders / pronounces / publishes

and

The gospel / glad progress / peace / preaching / proclamation 

etc.!

* * * 

Other jottings:

Tom Wright, p43, “Basically, James and the conference as a whole were clear on two things. First, the law should not be imposed on Gentile converts. Second, they should be told that they had better keep some significant bits of it just in case. Get it? No?”

“James and the others work out the double principle of no needful circumcision on the one hand and no needfless offence on the other.” (p45)

Perterson: the Gentiles are asked “not to offend Jews by their behaviour in certain critical ways (vv. 19-21, 28-29). Here is an attempt to allow the gospel free course among Jews and Gentiles, maintaining a spiritual and practical unity among believers while showing a particular concern for the sensitivity and scruples of Jews.” (p423f)

Porneia could mean marriage within a relationship approved by Gentiles but not by Jews (Cook, p215)

A way in which Jewish and Gentile Christians can live together is agreed (Peterson)

 Peterson: “The Jerusalem Council acknowledged that Gentile Christians were not obliged to live under the yoke of the law. At the same time, it challenged them to exercise their liberty with wisdom, restraint, and love, recognising the concerns of some Jewish Christians about contamination through any association with idolatrous practices. The requirements commended to Gentile believers… were designed to keep the lines of fellowship open with Jewish believers by giving warning to the Gentiles about any compromise with the idolatry and immorality that was so much part of their world.” (p440)

The decree of the Council “was a warning to abstain from acts that would offend Jewish scruples and hinder social intercourse between Jewish and Gentile believers. But its deeper significance is the implied challenge to break completely with every pagan association and practice (cf. 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1) and to do all things, even eating and drinking, to the glory of God, causing no one to stumble ‘whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God’ (1 Cor. 10:31-32).” (Peterson, p446)

John Stott: The Council “secured a double victory – a victory for truth in confirming the gospel of grace, and a victory of love in preserving the fellowship by sensitive concessions to conscientious Jewish scruples.” (p257)

Spencer quoted in Peterson, p418:

Dissension (vv1-5)

Discussion (vv6-18)

Decision (vv19-29)

Dissemination (15v30-16v5)

Some friends on Facebook kindly suggested snappier versions of my headings:

1. Getting in: one gospel for all

2. Getting on: don't make Jews fall

1. We're one family in Jesus

2. So, bear with one another in Jesus.

Saved by grace

Saved for grace

Be committed to the gospel of grace

Be kind to the church

The principle of grace

The practicalities of love

Wiersbe: 'Don't close the doors!'

Don’t be annoying! Just because you can doesn't mean you should!

Midweek Meeting 22/7/20 - Philippians 4v10-end

There's no need to prepare, but if you'd like to think about Philippians 4v10-end before our midweek meeting on Wed 22nd July, hopefully you might find some of these questions helpful:

(Some notes to follow after the session too.)

STUDY QUESTIONS:

What gives you / people in general contentment or prevents contentment?

We’ve seen rejoicing / joy as a theme in this letter (1:4, 18; 2:2, 18; 3:1; 4:1, 4). What does Paul rejoice in according to these verses and why?

Paul talks about being content whatever the circumstances in v12. What were Paul’s circumstances when he wrote this letter? (What might the future hold for him?)

Do you think this contentment came naturally to Paul? Did he just happen to be a contented sort of person? (v11)

What do you think Paul meant by contentment exactly? Presumably he would have liked his circumstances to have been different. And he talked about pressing on and straining towards the goal in 3vv12-14 so presumably this contentment is not a total indifference / apathy / lack of effort. (Could you distinguish right and wrong types / manners of / reasons for contentment?)

What do you think the challenges of being in need, or having plenty, or being well fed or hungry or in want might be (v12)? When is it easier / harder to be content?

Why do you think Paul could be content?

How can we cultivate a godly Biblical contentment?

Might anything in the earlier part of chapter 4 (or indeed the rest of the letter) help us with contentment?

V13: I can do everything through Jesus? Really? Can I run the four-minute mile through Jesus? So what is the “everything” I can do which Paul is talking about here?

What do we learn about Christian partnership / fellowship / mutual support / financial giving from this passage?

How is the Philippian’s financial gift to Paul described in v18?

How does this motivate giving?

How might v19 enable us to give generously?

How would you describe / value God’s “glorious riches in Christ Jesus?” (v19)

Can you recall the meaning of the word “saints” in the New Testament? (vv21 and 22; see also 1v1) To whom does it refer?

Can you say anything about the main themes or big ideas of the letter?

Could you write a summary theme and aim sentence?

Is there anything that has stood out for you from the letter which you hope will stay with you?

You could perhaps choose a memory verse or two to learn and meditate upon.

Praise and prayer in the light of the passage and letter:

Acts 14

Some jottings / notes on one way of thinking about / preaching Acts 14 might be:

The Bible writers often invite us to play spot the difference:

They want us to be alert to similarities and differences:

They invite us to make comparisons and contrasts.

And we can see a number in our Bible passage today which I trust we’ll find illuminating.

If you can remember back to last week, some of today’s passage will be familiar.

Luke tells us in v1 that “At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue.”

One scholar goes so far as to translate it “what happened in Iconium was much the same.” (N. T. Wright)

That’s probably rather a stretch as a translation, but it’s a helpful idea, I think.

Luke doesn’t repeat himself for the sake of it.

He’s deliberately showing us a characteristic pattern.

Here’s a norm of gospel ministry:

Iconium is like Pisidian Antioch: a characteristically mixed response to the gospel, which is first for the Jew then for the Gentile.

  

...

In Lystra, Paul heals a paralysed man and we find that Paul is like both Jesus and Peter and unlike Herod.

Let’s think about those three in turn.

Paul is like Jesus: Jesus continues to work powerfully through his Apostles in the power of the Holy Spirit

In Lystra, Paul heals a paralysed man, like Jesus had done in Luke chapter 5.

In fact, there seems to be a deliberate parallel between Jesus in Luke chapters 4 and 5 and Paul Acts chapters 13 and 14.

In each case there’s a confrontation with the devil, a synagogue sermon and a response, and the healing of a paralysed man.

The point is the big picture of Acts:

Paul is doing Jesus’ work.

He’s like Jesus.

He’ Jesus’ faithful servant.  

The Apostles act as Jesus authorised representatives.

Remember that Acts is all about what the risen Jesus continues to do through his people.

...

Its no surprise if Jesus’ people suffer and are rejected because that’s what happened to the Saviour.

Paul is like Peter: all the Apostles preached the same gospel, but the presentation was carefully adapted to their hearers and their needs

The Apostle Peter is prominent in the first half of the book of Acts, as Paul is in the second half.

And Peter and John healed a paralysed man in chapter 3, as Paul and Barnabas do in this chapter.

Luke wants us to see that Paul is acting as a faithful, authentic Apostle.

That will be important because Paul is the great Apostle to the Gentiles.

He took the good news of Jesus to the nations in a big way (which was controversial) but he was continuing what Peter had begun by taking the good news to the Gentile, Cornelius.

There was one united Apostolic mission from Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

...

We could add another compare and contrast, then:

The same essential gospel is presented in different ways

...

Paul is unlike Herod: the Apostles are ordinary human beings sharing the good news of Jesus for the good of others and the glory of the only living, loving Creator God  

The Lsytrans’ desire to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods, might remind us of the people who call King Herod a god at the end of chapter 12.

...

Lastly,

All Christians are like Jesus and the Apostles: they can expect the cross then the resurrection, suffering then glory – “we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God”

...

Who will you be like?

Will you be like those who gladly believe the good news of Jesus?

And will you be like Paul in boldly and wisely sharing it with others, though it means opposition?

Let me encourage you to ponder these comparisons and contrasts:

The same gospel of Jesus and Peter and Paul, presented in different ways and to different sorts of people.

Producing different responses: faith from some and opposition from others.

Let us resolve to stick with the good news of Jesus and share it with others, playing our part in the unstoppable mission of God.

And so to one living and loving creator God, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit be all honour and power and glory, now and for ever.

Should Christians love their temples?

Some may find Calvin's comments on Psalm 27v4 surprising:

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

We should now consider, whether the faithful are to be like-minded under the Christian or Gospel dispensation. [582] I own, indeed, that we are in very different circumstances from the ancient fathers; but so far as God still preserves his people under a certain external order, and draws them to him by earthly instructions, temples have still their beauty, which deservedly ought to draw the affections and desires of the faithful to them. The Word, sacraments, public prayers, and other helps of the same kind, cannot be neglected, without a wicked contempt of God, who manifests himself to us in these ordinances, as in a mirror or image.

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/calvin/psalms/27.htm

Philippians 4vv2-9 study questions

Some study questions on Philippians 4vv2-9 ahead of our midweek meeting on Wed 15th. There's no expectation that people prepare but just in case these are helpful in taking a look in advance:

STUDY QUESTIONS:

What can we tell (or not) about the conflict between Euodia and Syntyce from the letter?

Presumably Paul doesn’t necessarily want Euodia and Syntyce to agree about everything, so what do you think he is really asking them to do in v2?

Is there anything else in the letter that would help / motivate them to “agree with each other in the Lord?”?

What have we already seen from our studies that would relevant to the theme of Christian unity / how Christians should relate to one another?

What does this passage teach us about how to treat / resolve conflict / fallings out in the church?

Is there a Christian with whom you need to be reconciled?

Or Christians whom you might be able to help to be reconciled?

What steps might you take in the light of this passage?

What might it mean / look like to “rejoice in the Lord always” (v4)?

On rejoicing Cf. 1v18; 2v17-18; 3v1

This is a striking command. Why / how can we rejoice whatever our circumstances, even when we don’t feel like it?

What reasons do we have for doing so (from the letter)?

How might we rejoice in the Lord more fully / often?

How can we help one another in this?

(How might rejoicing in the Lord always help with the conflict described in v2?)

Are you anxious? What about? Why?

(What things threaten your joy or peace?)

How do you cope with anxiety?

What antidotes to anxiety does the passage suggest? (Why / how so?)

What difference might the nearness of the Lord make? (v5)

Can you think of examples of the things mentioned in v8?

(How would you sum them up / put them into your own words?)
How can we “think about such things” more?

(What would be the opposite of the stuff listed in v8? Are there ways we can avoid that stuff?)

Think about v9. Do you have any idea of the things Paul might particularly have in mind here? Can you think of things which the letter might have suggested Paul was exemplary in? (cf. 3v17. Arguably he also held up Timothy and Epaphroditus as examples in 2v19ff)

What could we “put into practice” (v9) from this study or from the letter as a whole so far?

How would you sum up this passage?

How might it be turned into praise, thanks and prayer?

* * *

NOTES:

We know that conflicts and fallings out can sometimes take place between Bible believing Christians and can do damage to a church and / or to its witness.

Commendable Christians can sometimes fall out! (vv2-3)

Paul obviously thinks this conflict is pretty serious – important enough to write to the whole church about.

We might be tempted to ignore / avoid / belittle conflict. Paul thinks it needs to be sorted out.

He doesn’t treat their conflict as merely private.

He seems to think that Euodia and Syntyche might need some help to agree and he wants Syzygus to get involved.

Paul doesn’t tell us what the conflict is about.

And he doesn’t take sides.

Maybe both sides need to change / forgive?

V2 agree, lit. think the same things

Gentleness / reasonableness / forbearance / moderation perhaps an undervalued virtue? (v5)

V5 - “The Lord is near” – cf. Ps 145:18 – “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth”

Cf. Ps 34:18 – The Lord is near the broken-hearted

V7, guard = garrison, cf. the garrison of Roman soldiers based at Philippi  

Acts 13v13-end

For anyone desperate for headings / a sermon outline, it might go something like this:

Paul's synagogue sermon at Pisidian Antioch

Introduction - a selective brief Bible overview - Israel to David (vv17-22)

- God chose Israel (v17)

- God chose David (v22)

Main point(s): Jesus the Messiah, the climax of Israel's story and the centre of the Scriptures (vv23-37)

- God chose Jesus the Davidic Messiah (v23)

- His death and resurrection in fulfilment of the Scriptures (vv27-37)

Application (v38-41)

(- The good news of salvation (v26, vv32-33))

- Forgiveness of sins (v38)

- Justification by faith (v39)

- Don't scoff and miss the whole point and perish! (vv40-41)

Responses (vv42-52)

- Some want to find out more (v42)

- Some believe and need to continue in the grace of God (v43)- all appointed for eternal life believe (v48)

- Some reject and oppose (v45)

Consequences (vv46-end)

- Paul and Barnabas turn to the Gentiles (v46)

Our responses?

- Believe in Jesus!

- Share Jesus appropriately - be lights, shine for him (v47)

- Joy in the Holy Spirit even if persecuted / rejected (v52)

* * *

John Stott, Bible Speaks Today:

The sermon’s introduction: the Old Testament preparation (vv16-25)

The sermon’s focus: the death and resurrection of Jesus (vv26-37)

The sermon’s conclusion: the choice between life and death (vv38-41)

The sermon’s consequences: a mixed reaction (vv42-52)

* * *

David Peterson’s headings, Pillar New Testament Commentary:

The election of Israel and the election of David (vv17-23)

Jesus the fulfiller of the promise to David (vv24-37)

The challenge not to miss out on the salvation available through Jesus (vv38-43)

Turning to the Gentiles: Fulfilling the Servant’s Role (vv44-52)

Barnabas Piper, The Pastor's Kid - jottings

Barnabas Piper, The Pastor’s Kid: Finding Your Own Faith and Identity (David C Cook / Kingsway Communications, 2014)
152pp

(Foreword by John Piper)

Obviously my kids are all delightful and well-behaved geniuses at all times and our family life is idyllic, but we were reading this book for a minister’s book group, so a few random jottings / a record of some lessons:

(I’m not sure I found much to disagree with here so what follows is mostly summary:)

I am not the eminent American Baptist pastor of an enormous mega church. So my context is pretty different from the Pipers’. I guess there’s a fair amount of translation and cross-cultural application to do with this highly readable and engaging book, but I think there’s lots here worth pondering and praying over. The pastor (and spouse), pastor’s kid and church may not always like what they read, but it should not be too hastily dismissed by any of the parties to this complex triadic relationship.

Piper is surely right that there are privileges and challenges particular to the lives of the clergy and their families, as there are with other professions too. Every single family is made up of sinners and has its own issues. Clergy families might well have moved away from their relatives. Hopefully they have a decent house (maybe in a desirable postcode), but finances might be tight. Likely the minister works from home and the vicarage is often used for ministry. The pastor’s job might be little understood and esteemed and the hours odd. When many parents are getting home, he might often be heading out. But of course he has the blessing of not having to commute. He can often have lunch with his family. There are, of course, many pros and cons to all callings.

Although the book explores some hard and painful things at times, Piper is surely right that a sense of victimhood and blame is most often unhelpful. Clergy families do well to cultivate both gratitude and realism. They and their church families all have their sins and foibles. Likely there is a need for repentance and doing better but love covers a multitude of sins and it seems to me there are times when it would be good to cut everyone some slack. We don’t want to take ourselves too seriously.

Churches sometimes want pastors to be practically perfect in every way and pastors can collude in this by pretending that they are. Of course, the spouse and kids know differently! A measure of openness and vulnerability is healthy (if hard) both in vicarage and church.

One of the strengths of this book is its emphasis on grace and the priority of trusting and following Jesus. Much else is detail – some of it somewhat important. No one is up to the job of being the perfect pastor, or parent, or PK, or church member, but God’s grace is sufficient. Thankfully Jesus loves and means to make use of broken people. He can deal with our guilt and shame and we would do well to hand them over to him. 

Pastor’s kids tend to see the good, the bad and the ugly of church life. They cannot really be sheltered from this and so, whilst respecting confidences, it is probably best to involve them in ministry and church life as appropriate. Their no-illusions perspective on church can be a real advantage to them e. g. in future ministry. But for them, faith can be weirdly bound up with their parent’s job. A wild and disobedient child could in some cases lead to unemployment and homelessness (1 Timothy 3:4) so everyone can feel under pressure. Maybe God is their parents’ profession, ministry, vocation and hobby. This is another reminder that the preacher does well to cultivate other interests in addition to the importance and fun of reading theological tomes.

We are called to love one another where we are, but the truth is that the pastor’s family may not have chosen this church and this location if they had a totally free hand! And they have to put up with their parent as preacher: maybe those stories and jokes which weren’t funny the first time!

It can be hard going for the kids if there aren’t a number of Christian friends their own age at church. They can feel a bit weird when they realise that church isn’t a big part of life for most of those at school. (Christian summer camps can perhaps play a helpful role here).

The Pastor’s child can feel watched. Even in a loving, harmonious church family, there can be a sense that he is under scrutiny. They might be expected to win the Bible trivia quiz, but are folk also on the look out for teenage rebellion?! Most clergy families will have experienced a tut tut or some uninvited parenting advice at one time or another.

The PK might feel known about, but not really known. The preacher must take care with his sermons, his conversation and his social media use. He should share his life and be known by the people, but the family may have different boundaries to him and the children may care both for some privacy and for deep relationships with church folk. As is so often the case, there are ditches on either side.

Good well-intentioned people can make assumptions. The PK wants to be allowed to be himself. As Piper puts it, the PK might find himself put in a nice little box with a label on it with little room to breathe inside (p. 63). The Pastor should encourage wonder (and a sense of the mystery of God) and perhaps should not panic even if there is a little wandering from the pastor’s well-defined way. 

Sometimes the PK can be adept at acting like a politician or chameleon – avoiding revealing too much, or giving the right answers or fitting in. He may be rather different in church on Sunday and at school on Monday. Like an onion, Piper argues the PK has layers! (Ch. 4)

Our most important prayer for our children must be that the love Jesus and love others. We are seeking God not just for right answers or outward conformity, but for an inner reality of knowing Jesus and a sense of identity as dearly loved children of the Father. Though they have always been familiar with Jesus, the kids need to know that he is far from mundane and that he is more than their parent’s boss! PKs will likely benefit more from principles than rigid and unexplained rules. There can sometimes be some yes and nos, some ifs and maybe’s rather than the preacher’s black-and-white always right and pre-packaged answers to everything.

Likely there’s a whole load of things we need to lighten up about. We do well to distinguish between God’s standards (which apply to us all) and the cultural expectations of our church, which we might seek to accommodate for the sake of mission (or to avoid parental embarrassment!), but which come into a whole different category.

We want to make space for our kids’ doubts and questions and remember that we are all works in progress. It is no surprise if they don’t have it all figured out at 13 or 18 or…. Some of us might too easily forgive and forget our own past mistake whilst coming down like a ton of bricks on or feeling overly anxious about our children’s.

It might be nice if our kids agreed with us on everything we hold dear, but we would do well to remember that the goal of parents is actually to make themselves redundant. We want to give our children increasing freedom, which we hope they will have the maturity to use well. We pray for them to grow in independence and that might mean taking different exceptions from the Westminster Standards to us!

Sure, the PK needs a pastor, but he also needs a parent! They want a “normal” relationship with their parents (whatever that is!) not appointments! (p. 115) And that requires time, energy, commitment and wisdom. We do well to talk with them, not always to preach at them, or even given them pastoral counselling! We are helpfully reminded here of the need to spend time with our children, to listen to them and to know them. As Piper says, they may be less into Jonathan Edwards than we are, and we ought to take an interest in their video games and their sports teams. He commends the pursuit of empathy: “We need parents who strive to put themselves in our heads and “get” us.” (p. 85) All Christians are called to self-sacrificial loving service of other, but we would be fools to sacrifice our families on the altar of ministry. Our kids didn’t choose to be born into the Vicarage.

We might be critical of someone who works too long in the City to the detriment of his family, and the same must apply to the pastor who is ever locked in his study or out at meetings or pastoral visits. We don’t want our families to see the church as a rival, nor to feel that we only ever give our best at church and our leftovers at home.

Likely the kids will also have a well-attuned hypocrisy sensor which they will feel free to use on their parents and their church! Our actions will speak louder than our words. Piper helpfully stresses that it is not sufficient for the minister to admit that we are all sinners. It would be great if he could find some actual specific sins of his own to confess to his kids, to apologise for, and if they could see him battling for godliness and maybe even making progress. Yes, you were right and indignant, but that doesn’t mean your indignation was entirely righteous. Perhaps you could say sorry to the kids for losing your temper, even if your shouting in their faces was entirely understandable (p. 79)!

Midweek Meeting Philippians 3v12-4v1

Some study questions kindly prepared by a member of our congregation for our discussion of Philippians 3v12-4v1 on Wed 8th July:

(I think the numbering below may have gone a bit weird but I trust you get the idea! 

The Olympic Athlete. 

2020 should have been an Olympic year. 

Olympians often dedicate most of their lives training, paying attention to their sleep, their food and their mental strength in order to reach their goal of winning the race and gaining their prize, an Olympic medal. 

In Philippians 3 v 12 ff Paul describes his goal and longed for prize, and his pursuit of it. He encourages the Philippians to follow his example.

Verses 12-14

1.     What does Paul not yet have?

2.    What is he doing about it?

3.    Is this a self-made goal?

4.    In what ways is Paul like an Olympian?

5.    Why would Paul want to forget what is behind?

6.    What is it that keeps him going?

Verses 15 -16

7.    What is Paul getting at in these verses?

Verses 17-20

8.    Which aspects of Paul’s life make him a good example?

9.    What is the danger the Philippians face if they do not follow such an example?

10.   How do the enemies of the cross live?

11.   What is Paul’s attitude to the enemies of the cross?

12.  What do they have to look forward to after death?

13.  How should Christians be living?

14.  What do Christians have to look forward to?

Chapter 4 v 1

15.  How do we see Paul’s affection for the Philippians?

16.  What is he telling them to do?

How should we respond to this passage?

Whose examples should we be following?

How can we encourage each other to pursue Christ above everything?

Priest / Presbyter (Elder)

Something people don’t always realise on the origin of the English word, “priest”:

Word Origin “priest”

Old English prēost, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch priester, German Priester, based on ecclesiastical Latin presbyter ‘elder’, from Greek presbuteros ‘elder’ (used in the New Testament to denote an elder of the early church), comparative of presbus ‘old (man)’.

https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/priest?q=priest

Pleasing the Impassible God

I thought this a very helpful talk from The Revd Dr Lee Gatiss, which is worth 30 minutes of your time. It could help us not only with the issue at hand but also how to read and understand what the Bible says about anything:

https://churchsociety.org/blog/entry/pleasing_the_impassible_god

God does not have passions, as Article One of the Thirty Nine Articles of the Church of England testifies.

God does not have emotions as we have. He has no body, no chemical reactions in his brain.

He is timelessly eternal.

He does not change.

He has no moods. He does not sulk or fly off the handle. He is never sleepy or hungry or sick and therefore grumpy.  

He is not acted upon from outside against his will as we are. We cannot force or blackmail God or make him feel bad.

The Triune God is always perfectly full and happy, entirely rich and satisfied. He has a complete and perfect inner life which he has from himself. As the uncreated creator of all things, we should never imagine him as needy, helplessly longing for our love. Creation is an overflow of the generous grace and goodness of God. It does not flow from any lack in God but rather, we might say, from a kind of excess. God’s life loves to spread and grow and bless.  

The Bible uses accommodated, metaphorical, analogical language to speak of God, rather as parent or nanny might speak to a child. What God’s word says is true and flawless communication but never totally literal or univocal. The Bible is clear and effective in its communication, but we need to take it as a whole and not press one part against another (Article 20).

God is ineffable and incomprehensible to us. We cannot know him fully. Yet he has chosen to reveal himself and be known by us.

Communion: Where should we look?

A reflection on Holy Communion for the Church Society blog:

https://churchsociety.org/blog/entry/communion_where_should_we_look

My previous previous posts in the series:

Coronavirus and Communion
Communion at Home
The Necessity of Word and Sacrament
Visible and Edible Word

Service Notes for 5/7/20

SERVICE NOTES

God-willing our church services will available on Facebook on Sunday at 9:30am at: https://www.facebook.com/malloyd

This week the service will be “as live” because there will be a service of Morning Prayer at Bodle Street at 9:30am.

After that you can catch up there or on the churches Facebook pages or Warbleton Church You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPBFrhqP5nL6QnmkZKfP5yw

 Our weekly notice sheet is available here: https://www.warbletonchurch.org.uk/

ORDER OF SERVICE

Before the service we’ll play the music to the hymn Amazing Grace, How Sweet The Sound

Words: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/313

Welcome, notices and introduction

Next Sunday:

We are planning services at Bodle Street at 9:30am and Book of Common Prayer Evening Prayer at Dallington at 6:30pm.

I am hoping we’ll be able to meet at Warbleton at 11am but the PCC is meeting again on Monday evening via Zoom to discuss that.

We’ll confirm details as soon as we can.

Lots more detail will be on the church website and here: https://marclloyd.blogspot.com/

We intend to continue online provision, hopefully live from the church building, but again, we will have to see!

Grace, mercy and peace

 from God our Father

 and the Lord Jesus Christ

 be with you

(and also with you.)

                         

 This is the day that the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

                         

 Jesus says, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.'

 So let us turn away from our sin and turn to Christ,

 confessing our sins in penitence and faith.

                         

Lord God,

 we have sinned against you;

 we have done evil in your sight.

 We are sorry and repent.

 Have mercy on us according to your love.

 Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.

 Renew a right spirit within us

 and restore us to the joy of your salvation;

 through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

                         

 May the Father of all mercies

 cleanse you from your sins,

 and restore you in his image

 to the praise and glory of his name,

 through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

                         

Blessed is the Lord,

for he has heard the voice of our prayer;

                         

therefore shall our hearts dance for joy

and in our song will we praise our God.

Hymn: Speak, O Lord, As We Come To You

             

 Bible reading

(We use the New International Version (NIV) 1984 in church. You can find the latest version of the NIV here: https://www.biblegateway.com/)

Acts 13:1-12 (read by Yvonne)

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Matthew 28:16-end (read by Matthew)       

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Sermon

                                     

 The Apostles’ Creed 

                                                 

 I believe in God, the Father almighty,

 creator of heaven and earth.

           

 I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

 who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

 born of the Virgin Mary,

 suffered under Pontius Pilate,

 was crucified, died, and was buried;

 he descended to the dead.

 On the third day he rose again;

 he ascended into heaven,

 he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

 and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

           

 I believe in the Holy Spirit,

 the holy catholic Church,

 the communion of saints,

 the forgiveness of sins,

 the resurrection of the body,

 and the life everlasting.

 Amen.

                                     

 Prayers          

                         

Intercessions

Using the response:

Lord in your mercy:

Hear our prayer!

Concluding:

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

                         

 The Collect

O God, the protector of all who trust in you,

without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy:

increase and multiply upon us your mercy;

that with you as our ruler and guide

we may so pass through things temporal

that we lose not our hold on things eternal;

grant this, heavenly Father,

for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Gathering our prayers and praises into one,

let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:

                         

Our Father, who art in heaven,

 hallowed be thy name;

 thy kingdom come;

 thy will be done;

 on earth as it is in heaven.

 Give us this day our daily bread.

 And forgive us our trespasses,

 as we forgive those who trespass against us.

 And lead us not into temptation;

 but deliver us from evil.

 For thine is the kingdom,

 the power, and the glory

 for ever and ever.

 Amen.

                                     

The Blessing   

After the service we will play I Stand Amazed In The Presence of Jesus The Nazarene

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