As you can see, I've attempted a bit of re-branding here.
Do you like the new (additional) title?
I'm not sure about the image. I'm afraid its not our house! Nor it is Sussex! It was taken at St Fagans, The National History Museum of Welsh life.
The "original" Sussex Parson was Edward Boys Ellman (1815-1906), Rector of Berwick, but as they want £20 for a used copy of his Reflections, I'm afraid I've never read them. They were reccomended at Initial Ministerial Education in Chichester Diocese once, I think!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Lessons from Judges 1:1-2:5
God is in control and uses even the messy and the inexplicable.
God's power.
Victories come from God not ultimately from superior skills or numbers.
God's people can expect triumph when they do his will in his way.
God's work does not depend on any human being, not on our leaders or heros.
Total obedience to God's Word even when it feels hard or strange.
Don't think you know better than God. No pragmatism at the expense of principle.
No compromise with sin or with Godlessness.
The seriousness of sin and the reality of the coming judgement. The justice of God.
The need to throw in one's lot with God and his people.
God's blessing come when we work together in unity. Mutual help.
God is patient and merciful. He warns and stands ready to forgive.
Sin has painful sometimes disasterous sometimes unintended consequences.
Emotional repentance is good and fine as is expression of faith and devotion, but they must be real and lasting and applied in action.
We need new hearts, the power of the Spirit, forgiveness, rescue, a Saviour-King, Christ.
(With thanks to my homegroup, Dale Ralph Davis, Judges - Christian Focus - & The Good Book co., The Good The Bad and The Ugly).
God's power.
Victories come from God not ultimately from superior skills or numbers.
God's people can expect triumph when they do his will in his way.
God's work does not depend on any human being, not on our leaders or heros.
Total obedience to God's Word even when it feels hard or strange.
Don't think you know better than God. No pragmatism at the expense of principle.
No compromise with sin or with Godlessness.
The seriousness of sin and the reality of the coming judgement. The justice of God.
The need to throw in one's lot with God and his people.
God's blessing come when we work together in unity. Mutual help.
God is patient and merciful. He warns and stands ready to forgive.
Sin has painful sometimes disasterous sometimes unintended consequences.
Emotional repentance is good and fine as is expression of faith and devotion, but they must be real and lasting and applied in action.
We need new hearts, the power of the Spirit, forgiveness, rescue, a Saviour-King, Christ.
(With thanks to my homegroup, Dale Ralph Davis, Judges - Christian Focus - & The Good Book co., The Good The Bad and The Ugly).
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Ministers and Priests
One potential disadvantage in calling your minister or priest a minister or priest is that all God's people are ministers and priests. Its good to remember that. The minister or priest mustn't forget that the people are ministers and priests, and they should remember it too. They mustn't expect him to do all the ministering and priesting.
Perhaps Pastor helps to avoid this problem, thought of course we should pastor one another too. Maybe Elder or Presbyter would be the best title in this respect?
Perhaps Pastor helps to avoid this problem, thought of course we should pastor one another too. Maybe Elder or Presbyter would be the best title in this respect?
A bad argument
(1) Some Roman Catholics are bad or wicked or dangerous or wrong in some ways or something like that
(2) Some Roman Catolics use incense
(3) Therefore we must not use incense
Now, leave aside what you think about (1) for a moment. Just note that if were to grant this it would also prove:
(2a) Some Roman Catholics preach sermons using Bible texts
(3a) Therefore we must not preach (sermons using Bible texts).
As I said, a bad argument.
(2) Some Roman Catolics use incense
(3) Therefore we must not use incense
Now, leave aside what you think about (1) for a moment. Just note that if were to grant this it would also prove:
(2a) Some Roman Catholics preach sermons using Bible texts
(3a) Therefore we must not preach (sermons using Bible texts).
As I said, a bad argument.
"They're just not ready for it!"
What would your attitude be if someone said someone else wasn't ready for studying a certain portion of God's Word?
I was pretty unconvinced. It's all God's Word and useful and we all need it all, and so on.
But on reflection, I think I'm a bit more sympathetic.
Imagine the Bible as rich, varried food. All of it is good and life-giving, and we need all of it, and a balanced diet. But some of it might be best for breakfast, lucnh, or dinner, or for a snack. Some may be a fine feast. Some is daily bread. We will naturally like some bits more than others. Some bits will be more or less nutritious, or appertising, or digestable. Some might neeed cutting up or mashing, or lots of chewing, or a good long stewing. Some bits will go together with other bits well, or be a nice change. Some might not taste good or upset us. Some bits might be an acquired taste. Some of us will suffer from defficiencies which mean that certain portions would be best for us. We must eat our greens too and not just have suasages for every meal or over-eat on pudding. And so on.
We don't all have to be able to eat everything in one go.
I was pretty unconvinced. It's all God's Word and useful and we all need it all, and so on.
But on reflection, I think I'm a bit more sympathetic.
Imagine the Bible as rich, varried food. All of it is good and life-giving, and we need all of it, and a balanced diet. But some of it might be best for breakfast, lucnh, or dinner, or for a snack. Some may be a fine feast. Some is daily bread. We will naturally like some bits more than others. Some bits will be more or less nutritious, or appertising, or digestable. Some might neeed cutting up or mashing, or lots of chewing, or a good long stewing. Some bits will go together with other bits well, or be a nice change. Some might not taste good or upset us. Some bits might be an acquired taste. Some of us will suffer from defficiencies which mean that certain portions would be best for us. We must eat our greens too and not just have suasages for every meal or over-eat on pudding. And so on.
We don't all have to be able to eat everything in one go.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Resolved
When ever possible, when ministering I will take someone with me who might be more involved in that ministry in the future and chat with them about it before and afterwards. Next time, I might go with them and have them do it. Then they can go on their own. Then they can take someone else.
See one, do one, teach one is a good idea for multiplying ministry.
See one, do one, teach one is a good idea for multiplying ministry.
Monday, September 06, 2010
Blessed breasts
God willing, I am going to preach at our Mothers' Union Prayer Fellowship Communion on Thursday on Luke 11:27-28.
Vicar Wanted!
We'd like our old one back at Holy Trinity, Eastbourne, but failing that, you can find our Parish Profile here.
Have Bible Will Travel!
If you are after a preacher or speaker, you could do a lot worse than my old boss, The Revd John Cheeseman, who has just embarked on an itinerant ministry after 30 years of local church leadership. John is a Bible-believing, faithful, clear, courageous, passionate preacher keen on lively real-life application - and I'm no longer paid to say that. He'll be sound but not dull! I hear his rates are very reasonable! Try to get his wife, Joy, to come too!
John was called to the ministry while reading Classics at Oxford and trained for under Alec Motyer and Jim Packer at Trinity College Bristol. He is the author of The Grace of God in the Gospel / Saving Grace and The Priority of Preaching (Banner of Truth). His sermons on the life of Elijah are forthcoming.
A taster of John's sermons is available, I believe, from The Martyn Lloyd Jones recording trust. Many of his sermons from the last 2 years at Holy Trinity, Eastbourne, can be found on our church sermon page.
John was called to the ministry while reading Classics at Oxford and trained for under Alec Motyer and Jim Packer at Trinity College Bristol. He is the author of The Grace of God in the Gospel / Saving Grace and The Priority of Preaching (Banner of Truth). His sermons on the life of Elijah are forthcoming.
A taster of John's sermons is available, I believe, from The Martyn Lloyd Jones recording trust. Many of his sermons from the last 2 years at Holy Trinity, Eastbourne, can be found on our church sermon page.
Be There or Be...
... potentially misinformed, unenlightened, not encouraged, stretched, humbled etc. etc.
What would the 17th Century Reformed say to the 21st Century church? What would thrill or suprise or horrify them?
I hope to find out at The Faith of Our Fathers' Conference in Southgate, North London, Sat 2nd Oct.
See you there or comment to book a place in my car from Eastbourne.
What would the 17th Century Reformed say to the 21st Century church? What would thrill or suprise or horrify them?
I hope to find out at The Faith of Our Fathers' Conference in Southgate, North London, Sat 2nd Oct.
See you there or comment to book a place in my car from Eastbourne.
Visible "Word"
If we are going to say that the sacraments are Visible "Words" we will want to think long and hard about what words are.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Marriage alliteration purposes
Marriage is for:
Charity (love), chastity and children.
Partnership, procreation, purity.
And a way of putting it that may have been new to me:
Society (including children), sharing, sexual pleasure, symbol (of Christ as bridegroom of the church)
Thanks to Revd Paul Clark at David & Sarah Wilks' wedding at St Helens, Bishopsgate yesterday for that.
Charity (love), chastity and children.
Partnership, procreation, purity.
And a way of putting it that may have been new to me:
Society (including children), sharing, sexual pleasure, symbol (of Christ as bridegroom of the church)
Thanks to Revd Paul Clark at David & Sarah Wilks' wedding at St Helens, Bishopsgate yesterday for that.
Incarnate Word
It seems to me perfectly acceptable and potentially very useful to compare the inacrnation of the Lord Jesus Christ in two natures (human and divine) with the inscriptuartion of the Word of God, which is both a human and a divine book.
Now, no doubt this is an analogy. We must avoid an illegitimate totality transfer. We need not think there is a hypostatic union between God and Man in the Bible to make use of it. All analogies break down - they are not totalities! They make points about relevant similarity. They invite us to compare and contrast and run thought experiments. They say something in a maybe new or interesting way. They need not say A is B or even the relationship between A and C is identical to the relationship between D and E in all respects. They might just say: hey, have you thought about this: is this a pattern? The incarnation seems to me to be one of the deep structures or paradigms of relatity. Of course it is unique and special in all sorts of ways, but it is also fundamental not accidental or incidental to everything else.
Further, it is no objection to the analogy as such to say that some people abuse it. For example, some people may want to assign stuff they don't get or like to the humanity of the Bible so as to be able to dismiss it. But here the true analogy can help us: Jesus and the Bible both have a perfect sinless humanity. There is no problem with the analogy here - the fault would be with the theology of the incarnation of those who argue thus.
Now, no doubt this is an analogy. We must avoid an illegitimate totality transfer. We need not think there is a hypostatic union between God and Man in the Bible to make use of it. All analogies break down - they are not totalities! They make points about relevant similarity. They invite us to compare and contrast and run thought experiments. They say something in a maybe new or interesting way. They need not say A is B or even the relationship between A and C is identical to the relationship between D and E in all respects. They might just say: hey, have you thought about this: is this a pattern? The incarnation seems to me to be one of the deep structures or paradigms of relatity. Of course it is unique and special in all sorts of ways, but it is also fundamental not accidental or incidental to everything else.
Further, it is no objection to the analogy as such to say that some people abuse it. For example, some people may want to assign stuff they don't get or like to the humanity of the Bible so as to be able to dismiss it. But here the true analogy can help us: Jesus and the Bible both have a perfect sinless humanity. There is no problem with the analogy here - the fault would be with the theology of the incarnation of those who argue thus.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
How To Lead A Bible Study
I haven't watched this, but given the familiar face, I expect it'll be very useful.
Saturday, August 07, 2010
War & Suffering in OT (reading)
A friend asked:
All I could think of to say was:
Any other suggestions? What should I have said?
i was wondering if you know any good books about why God allows/ initiates so much war and suffering in OT
All I could think of to say was:
I'm struggling to come up with anything fantastic on exactly that.
You might try looking at:
D A Carson, How Long O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil (IVP / Baker, 1990)
John Dickson has a book If I Were God I'd End All The Pain (Good Book co.) but I think he gives a rather unhelpful form of the Free Will defence.
You might like bits of Williams and Cooper, If You Could Ask God One Question (Christianity Explored)
It's worth saying that the problem is not confined to the OT. OT - mean God, NT God of love is a caricature.
It's also key to remember that all sinners deserve hell. Holy war is just a minor foretaste of that.
The cross shows God using suffering for good etc.
Sorry not to be more help.
Any other suggestions? What should I have said?
No comforter or friend?
I'm pleased to see that the LXX for "comforter" in Ecc 4:1 seems to be "Paraclete" and reckon that might give a nice conclusion to my sermon. There is a Comforter, the Holy Spirit (John 14-16)!
Jesus is also a friend in need (Ecc 4:10), one who sticks closer than a brother (Prov 18:24; John 15). He is the Supreme Good Samaritan - the one who helps us up when we have Fallen.
Jesus is also a friend in need (Ecc 4:10), one who sticks closer than a brother (Prov 18:24; John 15). He is the Supreme Good Samaritan - the one who helps us up when we have Fallen.
Preaching footnotes
Footnotes are not really possible nor appropriate in preaching - hence blogging!
Tomorrow, I'm thinking of using Vaughan Roberts' headings for Ecclesiastes 4:
(1) The way of the world - the absence of love
(2) The way of the wise - the centrality of love
Tomorrow, I'm thinking of using Vaughan Roberts' headings for Ecclesiastes 4:
(1) The way of the world - the absence of love
(2) The way of the wise - the centrality of love
Friday, August 06, 2010
A 9min 50sec wedding sermon on Ecc 4
Rory & Anne-Marie’s Wedding
Well, it’s an emotional day for us all.
I bet even the cake’ll be in tears!
(Boodoom choo!)
(Tough crowd)
(You are allowed to laugh in church – try to get the right moments)
Do you know the story about the Old Vicar rehearsing nervous bride for her wedding?
It’s simple, he said.
All you have to do it walk down the aisle, to the altar and we’ll sing a hymn.
Just remember that:
The nervous bride comes in on her wedding day and is heard muttering to herself all the way in:
AISLE, ALTAR, HYMN!
I’m sure Anne-Marie wasn’t saying that
And even if she was, I suspect the
Rory and Anne-Marie chose our Bible reading from Ecclesiastes.
It speaks of the advantages of a partnership.
2 are better than 1.
That’s true, and very applicable to marriage.
Here are some of the blessings of a good marriage.
Today, Rory and Anne-Marie will become one.
The Bible says its not good for man to be alone, so God makes a helper suitable for him.
Woman is equal to the man but different – complimentary!
Imagine 2 Rorys!
Those of you who know Rory better than I do know what that would be like!
(Best man’s job to be nasty about Rory, so I’ll try to resist!)
How much better a Rory and an Anne Marie than 2 Rorys!
They’re suitable for each other, they go together.
They’ll go together like salt and pepper or a horse and carriage
Or to quote those immortal words from Danny and Sandy in West Side Story:
We go together like
rama lama lama
ke ding a de dinga a dong
remembered for ever like
shoo bop shoo wadda wadda yipitty boom de boom
Hopefully they’ll not go together like chalk and cheese or itchy and scratchy!
From now on, Rory and Anne Marie are a kind of BOGOF – a buy one get one free.
Buy Anne Marie, as it were, and you’ll get Rory thrown in.
The Bible says, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh”
Husband and wife become one.
Leaving and a cleaving (cleaving, separating)
It’s healthy for the parents to have a good old cry today
You might have said, “we’re not losing a daughter, we’re gaining a son” – and that’s wonderfully true
But Anne-Marie’s first loyalty now is to Rory, not to Mum and Dad.
Rory and Anne-Marie will form a new household, a new social unit, friendly and welcoming to their former families and friends, but not run by them!
There’s a sense in which Rory and Anne-Marie do have to forsake all others – at least kind of, a little bit.
From this day on, no one else is a prospective husband or wife till the current one drops off the perch.
Rory and Anne-Marie’s 1st relationship is now with one another, and that will change all their other relationships – we trust for the better.
Marriage is a life-long exclusive unique relationship.
It’s no good if you live as if you’re not married, or as if you’re married to your family and friends, or your jobs, or your hobbies, or whatever.
Remember your married!
And remember to whom your married!
So back to our reading.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work”
Rory and Anne Marie, you’ll be more effective together than you would have been apart.
Marriage is not just an addition, it’s a multiplication.
Anne Marie, you’ll have strengths that make up for Rory’s weaknesses, and presumably vice versa, too.
In our house, I come in handy for emptying the bins and lifting heavy objects.
Mrs Lloyd is marvellous and pretty much everything else.
(She even likes putting up flat pack furniture, can you believe it? What a catch is that!)
2 are better than 1!
“If one falls down, his friend can help him up”
You’ll both fall and fail many times.
You probably will have squabbled by the end of the honey-moon if you last the day!
So be quick to say sorry and forgive.
Don’t get into the blame game
Be friends!
Yes, be lovers and husband and wife and housemates, and partners, and all that: but never forget to be friends!
Help one another.
Be kind and considerate.
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves”
Be intimate allies.
Be on one another’s side.
Defend one another.
At times, it may have to be Rory and Anne Marie against the world.
And Rory and Anne-Marie right or wrong.
Even when the other person messes up, be there for them, back them up.
No little comments that put him down.
No jokes at his expense.
No criticizing him behind his back with your friends.
So 2 are better than 1.
Marriage is (normally speaking) better than singleness.
But marriage is for better or for worse.
You need to be committed to this marriage even if it doesn’t work out quite as you dreamed:
If one of you, gets sicker and poorer and you think you could maybe upgrade to a better model, that’s when the solemn vows you make today will kick in.
It’s easy to be in love on your wedding day, the challenge comes when you’re tired and broke and one of you is puking up in the middle of the night again, or whatever…
But last of all, how can you make your marriage better and not worse?
Finally, “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken”
Until now its been 2.
Why suddenly this talk of 3?
Remember that Princess Di famously said of her marriage to Prince Charles that:
"There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded”
Make Jesus the only 3rd person in your marriage.
He wont make it crowded.
He’ll make it better, not worse.
(Triangle – Jesus at the top, you 2 at the bottom) as you grow closer to Jesus, you’ll grow closer to one another too.
He needn’t come between you.
Wedding at
He produced 750 bottles of the finest Châteaux Neff d’Pap
A watery marriage would be good.
A wine-filled, Jesus empowered marriage would be better.
Invite Jesus not only to your wedding, but into your marriage and lives.
Amen.
Well, it’s not too late to change your minds?
You still want to get married?
Okay, let’s do it!
(Please stand)
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