Creation procliams

One other little thing that has so far interested me in reading a bit of Athanasius, On The Incarnation is that the great man appears to think of creation as proclaiming not merely 'God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature' (Romans 1:20) but as 'confessing Christ as Lord.' (ch 3, section 15, Fig book edition p26).

The Image of God

What exactly it means for men and women to be created 'in the image of God' (Genesis 1:27) is much discussed.

I've been reading a little bit of Athanasius, On The Incarnation, and I've been struck by the way in which he relates humanity's creation in the image of God to Christ the Image of God (Colossians 1:15; 2 Corinthians 4:4).

For example:

'Upon them, therefore, upon men who, as animals, were essentially impermanent, He bestowed a grace which other creatures lacked—namely the impress of His own Image, a share in the reasonable being of the very Word Himself, so that, reflecting Him and themselves becoming reasonable and expressing the Mind of God even as He does, though in limited degree they might continue for ever in the blessed and only true life of the saints in paradise

ch 1, section 3, my Fig Books edition 2013, p12

Man, who was created in God's image and in his possession of reason reflected the very Word Himself, was disappearing, and the work of God was being undone.

ch 2, section 6, p15

He saw the reasonable race, the race of men that, like Himself, expressed the Father's Mind, wasting out of existence, and death reigning over all in corruption.

ch 2, section 8, p16

But, in fact, the good God has given them a share in His own Image, that is, in our Lord Jesus Christ, and has made even themselves after the same Image and Likeness. Why? Simply in order that through this gift of Godlikeness in themselves they may be able to perceive the Image Absolute, that is the Word Himself, and through Him to apprehend the Father; which knowledge of their Maker is for men the only really happy and blessed life.

ch 3, section 11, p21

If so, what was the use of having made them in His own Image originally? It would surely have been better for them always to have been brutes, rather than to revert to that condition when once they had shared the nature of the Word.

ch 3, section 13, p23

What, then, was God to do? What else could He possibly do, being God, but renew His Image in mankind, so that through it men might once more come to know Him? And how could this be done save by the coming of the very Image Himself, our Savior Jesus Christ? Men could not have done it, for they are only made after the Image; nor could angels have done it, for they are not the images of God. The Word of God came in His own Person, because it was He alone, the Image of the Father Who could recreate man made after the Image.

In order to effect this re-creation, however, He had first to do away with death and corruption. Therefore He assumed a human body, in order that in it death might once for all be destroyed, and that men might be renewed according to the Image. The Image of the Father only was sufficient for this need.

ch 3, section 13, p24

We have seen that to change the corruptible to incorruption was proper to none other than the Savior Himself, Who in the beginning made all things out of nothing; that only the Image of the Father could re-create the likeness of the Image in men, that none save our Lord Jesus Christ could give to mortals immortality, and that only the Word Who orders all things and is alone the Father's true and sole-begotten Son could teach men about Him and abolish the worship of idols.

ch 4, section 20, p30'

Whether or not we follow Athanasius in all the details, I reckon it is worth pondering the relationship between humanity as God's image bearers and Christ as the Image of God.

Jesus Our Big Brother (Hebrews 2:10-end)

A sermon introduction & outline:

Whether or not we have an elder brother, I guess we could imagine the ideal, perfect big brother.

Someone we loved and admired, who was a role model for us – perhaps even a hero to us.

Imagine you were about to start secondary school.

It would be good to have an older brother who had gone there before you.

He’d know just what it was like to go from being one of the oldest in your little village school of about 100 pupils, to the one of the youngest in a school of nearly 2000.

He could sympathise when you got lost, or when you were bewildered by the range of subjects.

He understands that all the different teachers take a bit of getting used to.

And he can help you out:

He can alert you to the ways of Mr Smith, the geography teacher.

And he can explain to you how the canteen works – recommend to you the best puddings and tell you what meals to avoid.

Perhaps there’s a bully at the school:

A pupil in the year above who terrorises all you first years.

To you it seems like the whole school is in the bully’s power.

But your big brother can come and sort him out.

He beats him up and the bully won’t mess with you again: he’s utterly defeated, his grip is broken.

Maybe you don’t turn out to be such a good student as your big brother.

Your coursework is due and you’ve done next to nothing for it.

You’re bound to fail.

It would be a total disaster.

Leaving aside the ethics of it for a moment, wouldn’t it be amazing if your big brother handed in his assignment for you, and you got top marks?

Perhaps you get into dreadful trouble at school and you’re about to be expelled, but your big brother takes the punishment for you.

Our passage suggests that we can see these things reflected in the Lord Jesus, the perfect big brother:

(1)   Jesus became our big brother so that he could understand what it’s like to be human, sympathise with us and help us (v18).

(2)   Jesus became our big brother so that he might destroy that bully the devil who held the power of death against us (vv14-15)

(3)   Jesus became our big brother so that he might solve our big problem by making atonement for our sins (v17)

The full audio version should be available here in due course.

Two Things Every Christian Needs (from Romans 1)

Paul's description of his intentions for his ministry in Rome gives us 2 useful reminders:

(1) Every Christian needs encouragement from other Christians.

Even the Apostle Paul expects to receive encouragement from the Christians at Rome (v12).

(2) Every Christian needs the gospel. Paul is eager to preach the gospel to the Christians in Rome (v15).

The gospel is for believers as well as unbelievers. It is the same basic message through which we first received life in Christ that God uses to sustain our life in Christ.

Romans 1:8-17 - an outline / handout

Romans 1:8-17 (p1128) – The Difference The Gospel Makes

Paul’s summaries of the gospel (vv2-6 & 16-17) sandwich this passage. In these central verses we can see the difference the gospel makes to Paul, and the difference it might make to us:

Paul gives thanks (v8) for the faith of the Romans

Paul prays (v9-10) for the Romans and for his visit to them

Paul plans (vv10-13) to visit Rome, but recognises God is in control

Paul is obliged / indebted (v14) to both Greeks and non-Greeks, to the wise and the foolish, to all people

Paul is eager (v15) to preach the gospel (to the Christians) in Rome

Paul is not ashamed (v16-17) of the gospel

Why is Paul eager to preach the gospel and unashamed of it?

The gospel is such good news!

The gospel is the power of God (v16)

Salvation / rescue is at stake (v16)

The gospel is for everyone (v16)

The gospel requires the response of faith (vv16-17)

The gospel reveals the righteousness / faithfulness of God, keeping his promises and justly making sinners right with him (v17)

Vv16 & 17 are crucial for the rest of the letter

1vv18-3v20 will show why everyone desperately needs this gospel

3vv21-end will show how the gospel works

May God make us thankful, prayerful, eager, unashamed planners of gospel ministry.

The Screwtape Letters - some questions for reflection / discussion

Which of the errors described in the Preface (p.ix) do you think we are most likely to fall into? i.e. disbelieving in devils (the materialist) or taking an unhealthy interest in them (the magician)?

Do you agree with Lewis’ suggestion that the devil is currently following in the West a policy of denying his own existence? (p31)

Do you fall into the comical view of the devil which Lewis suggests plays into the devil’s hands? (p32)

But should we find the devil laughable / absurd? (The quotations from Luther and More at the beginning, p118)

What tactics which Screwtape suggests most stuck in your mind?

Which do you think would be most effective and why?

Were there moments when you thought Lewis had understood something about you and your temptations?

Do you think what Screwtape would call the efforts of ‘the Philological Arm’ matter?

What examples does Lewis give? (puritanical; unselfishness rather than charity (p141)) Can you think of other instances where how we describe things influences how we think about them?

Do you agree with Lewis’ implication that we have largely lost the art of argument and are not primarily influenced by what we reason to be true or false? (p1-4)

If it’s not good arguments, can you think of some things that keep people from believing in Christianity or doing what they should?

Screwtape suggests a focus on the imperfections of other Christians and of church (p5, 8-9). How would you counter this temptation?

Do you agree that we sometimes have a (supposedly) super-spiritual neglect of the obvious and real? (pp11-13)

Is Lewis right to criticize ‘prayer’ which aims at something entirely spontaneous, inward, informal, falsely spiritual and unrealized, trying to produce a vaguely devotional mood? (p15f, p148)

What advice would you give to a recent convert on prayer?

How does Lewis suggest dealing with distractions in prayer? (p147)

Do you think that bodily posture makes a difference in prayer, that because we are animals the body affects the souls? (p16)

Do you agree with Lewis that we can be distracted from God by focusing too much on our feelings or trying to stir up certain feelings in ourselves? (p16f)

Do you think we sometimes pray to our idea of God rather than to God himself? (p18)

Do you agree that hopes and fears about the future can pre-occupy us such that we neglect getting on with our duty? (p25f)

Why and how might the devil distract us from eternity and from the present? (p75-79)

How does Lewis suggest that the devil can use both self-consciousness and unself-consciousness? (p26f)

Why would the devil like us to catch ourselves being humble? (p69)

How would Lewis define humility? What notion of humility does Screwtape suggest Wormwood should encourage? (p70-3)

Do you find the idea of ‘the law of undulation’ (pp37, 45) persuasive and helpful?

In what ways would you say that the ‘troughs of dryness / dullness’ which we might experience afford opportunities to God or to the devil? (pp38-46)

How might the devil make use of the pejorative term ‘Puritanical’? (p51-2, 56)

Do you agree that flippancy is a dangerous habit? (p56) How does it differ from joy, fun and jokes? (pp53-56)

How might a sense of the ridiculous aid godliness? (p145)

Does a (vague?) consciousness of sin of which you have not repented keep you from wanting to think of God? (p58)

What innocent, humble, self-forgetful, disinterested enjoyment of something for its own sake could you cultivate? (p66) Why does Lewis think this is valuable?

What difference does it make to realize that all created things are good and can only be used by the devil if twisted? (p118, see also p159)

Why does Lewis prefer fidelity to the parish church over always seeking a ‘suitable’ church? (pp81-82)

Do you recognize ‘the gluttony of delicacy’ as an issue? (p87-90)

Do you agree with Lewis that we tend to stress ‘being (feeling) in love’ as the only possible basis for a good marriage, with negative consequences? (p93)

Are we ill-tempered because of injury and a sense of entitlement? (p111) e.g. the idea that our time is our own (p112-3, p166)

Do you agree that God is ‘a hedonist at heart’? (p118)

Is the desire for novelty and ‘the horror of the Same Old Thing’ a spiritual danger? (pp135-139)

Have you ever been involved in ‘the Generous Conflict Illusion’ or an elaborate / false self-conscious ‘selflessness’ which wants to be noticed? (p143-5)

What does Lewis think of as particular temptations of middle age? (p155)

Romans 1v16

I am preparing to preach on Romans 1vv8-17.

A number of application questions suggest themselves from v16:

'I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.'

'the gospel':

Do we forget / underestimate the goodness of the gospel?

Does the gospel delight and grip us as the best news in the world ever?

'it is the power of God':
Do we forget / underestimate the power of the gospel?
Do we realise that the gospel can save and transform anyone regardless of the difficulty of their past, or the complexity of their needs or their ignorance, indifference or hostility to it?
'for salvation':
Do we forget / underestimate the necessity / urgency of the gospel?
Do we realise that without the gospel everyone faces the wrath of God and a lost eternity?

'of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile'
Do we forget / underestimate the scope / universality of the gospel?
Are we unashamed, eager and sensing our obligation to take this gospel to all sorts of people and all the nations?

Fighter verse songs

Some of the exact words of the ESV bible made into songs so as to be memorable for adults and children, and hopefully not tooooo annoying when repeated.

http://www.childrendesiringgod.org/resources/resource.php?id=16&productPageId=1

All of the Narnia books free online audio

C S Lewis', Chronicles of Narnia - free online audio

Romans 1:1-7 A handout / summary / outline

If you are coming to church in Bodle Street or Warbleton tomorrow you might like to look away now. It might go something like this:

Romans 1:1-7 – A Gospel-Filled Introduction

Paul is introducing himself and his gospel message

(Likely Paul wrote this letter from Corinth around AD 57)

Two reasons for the letter to the Romans:

(1) Paul plans to visit the church at Rome and hopes they will help him on his projected mission to take the gospel to Spain (1v10-13; 15v23-33)

(2) Though Paul has never visited Rome, he is well informed about the church there (ch. 16) and likely wants to address some of their issues. In particular, it seems there were tensions between Jews and Gentiles in the church. Likely the church at Rome was originally mainly Jewish, but the Emperor Claudius had ejected the Jews around AD 49 (Acts 18:2). Gentiles would have taken on the leadership of the church. But then after Claudius’ death in AD 54, some Jews had returned. One can imagine some friction!

In summary, Paul writes to promote humble, loving, united partnership in gospel mission both within the church and with himself.

Paul – an apostle (v1) – one who is sent out with authority (cf. an ambassador)

The Apostolic Gospel:

Is this how you would summarise it?

The Gospel of God (v1)

Gospel = Good news, announcement of an epoch changing event, e.g. the birth of a new king or a victory in battle

So as God’s gospel it is true and powerful. We are not to tamper with it and we don’t need to

… promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures (v2)

This helps to authenticate Paul’s gospel – it fulfils the Scriptures

… about God’s Son (v3)

All about Jesus! A person not an “-ism” or merely rules etc. A personal relationship of trust and obedience

… who as to his human nature was a descendant of David (v4)

… and who through the Spirit of holiness (= The Holy Spirit) was crowned / appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead (v4)

In his earthly ministry Jesus was the Son of God in weakness

… JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD (v4)

Christ = messiah, anointed one, the long promised rescuer-king

The response the gospel requires:

Jesus Christ calls all the nations to the obedience of faith (vv5-6)

How are we responding to this gospel?

Do we recognise that this gospel is for all people?

This is the kind of gospel ministry to seek out, to support (in prayer, financially, practically), to engage in.

Thoroughly equiped for every good work (2 Tim 3:17)

Paul is laying it on thick here, isn’t he?

The Bible thoroughly equips us for every good work

It doesn’t just partially equip us.

And it doesn’t just equip us for come good works.

It thoroughly equips us for every good work.

Of course the Bible doesn’t tell you how to make a soufflé or fix a Skoda.

But it tells us what to believe and how to live.

This is the doctrine of The Sufficiency of Scripture.

The Bible is God’s complete and sufficient word to us.

It tells us all we need to know about God, salvation and Christian living.

It answers every moral question in principle, although we need to wrestle to understand and apply it.

Sometimes the Bible tells us to use our minds.

It tells us to look at creation.

It tells us we need Bible teachers and the whole church.

And prayer.

But it is the only and sufficient Word of God to us.

God hasn't left us in the dark.

His word is light to our path and enables us to walk by faith.

Jesus' Use of the Old Testament

If you can believe what you read on the internet, Jesus quoted the OT 78 times, citing 49 different verses.

By the power of Facebook, a friend kindly emailed me Appendix C from RT France, Jesus and the Old Testament (London: Tyndale Press, 1971), pp 259-63.

If I have counted correctly, France seems to list 144 quotations, allusions or references to specific OT texts, excluding parallels and not counting general stuff like 'it is written that the Messiah must suffer' etc. in the Synoptic Gospels alone.

France classifies these from A, verbatim quotations with introductory formula to F, possible references without verbal allusion. He admits that some instances are hard to classify.

Sermon Notes / Handout / Outline for a Sermon on 2 Timothy 3:15-17 for Bible Sunday

Look away now if you plan to be at Dallington or Warbleton on Sunday morning.

Bible Sunday 2015 – 2 Timothy 3:15-17 (page 1197)

(1) WHAT IS THE BIBLE?

v15 – ‘holy’, sacred, special, unique – not like any other book

v16 – All ‘God-breathed / Spirited’ – therefore true, authoritative, reliable, trustworthy / infallible / inerrant – reflects God Himself - 2 Peter 1:20-21

The Bible is God’s words to us today - Hebrews 3:7

Jesus’ attitude to the Bible - ‘It is written…’ - Matthew 22:43 - John 10:35

(Wenham, Christ and the Bible; Andrew Wilson, Unbreakable)

(2) WHAT CAN THE BIBLE DO FOR US?

(see also e.g. Psalm 19:7-11; Psalm 119:9)

v15 – ‘able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ’

The Scriptures bring us to Jesus - John 5:39-40; Luke 24:25-27, 44-47

v16 – ‘all … useful’ – even the less obvious bits!

v16 – teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness

v17 – ‘so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work’ – The Sufficiency of Scripture – the Bible tells us all we need to know to be saved and live a godly life – the Bible also encourages us to think, consider creation, listen to Bible teachers & the church etc.  

(3) HOW COULD YOU MOST BENEFIT FROM THE BIBLE?

Pray! Plan! Try different stuff; find what helps you; variety? Slow and fast reading; think about it; reflect; pray; pray again!

The sermon – in so far as it is faithful to the Bible, it is the Word of God - warbletonchurch.org.uk/sermons-talks - re-read the passages – discuss

Personal Bible reading, study, memorisation - memverse.com

Little and often – start with something easier e.g. a gospel;  e.g. a Psalm most days; OT, NT & Ps a day; a regular time may help you (habit)

Notebook and pen

Family / Household Bible times

1 to 1 / small group

Homegroups etc. (Ladies’ group, Good Book Club, Topics Group)

A wealth of resources for all ages - www.thegoodbook.co.uk - www.10ofthose.com

A good modern translation (NIV) – different versions – biblegateway.com - e.g. ESV (more literal) Study Bible, The Message or Living Bible (paraphrases)

Bible on your mobile phone / tablet / laptop etc.

Audio Bibles – David Suchet – in car, while ironing - www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/?recording=nivuk-suchet

Bible reading notes / study guides / commentaries

Some include the Bible text (e.g. for use on train), some undated

Scripture Union – Daily Bread, Encounter with God

Good Book Company – Explore, Engage, Ichthus File etc.

Bible reading plan / in a year - www.oakleys.org.uk/software/bibleplan / record what you read (tick off books to ensure you read the whole over time)

Songs with the text of Scripture – versions of the Psalms - seedsfamilyworship.com

How To Benefit From The Bible

So, this Sunday (like all Sundays!) is Bible Sunday.

What practical tips / advice would you give on how people can benefit from the Bible? What practices and resources would you recommend?

Pray! Plan! Try different stuff, find what helps you, variety?

The sermon – in so far as it is faithful to the Bible, it is the Word of God - warbletonchurch.org.uk/sermons-talks - re-read the passages – discuss

Personal Bible reading, study, memorisation

Little and often – e.g. a Psalm most days; OT, NT & Ps a day

Family / Household Bible times

1 to 1 / small group

Homegroups etc.

A wealth of resources for all ages - www.thegoodbook.co.uk - www.10ofthose.com

A good modern translation (NIV) – different versions – biblegateway.com - e.g. ESV Study Bible, The Message (paraphrase)

Audio Bibles – David Suchet – in car, while ironing - www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/?recording=nivuk-suchet

Bible reading notes / study guides / commentaries

Some include the Bible text, some undated

Scripture Union

Good Book Company – Explore, Engage, Icthus File etc.

Bible in a year / record what you read - Notebook and pen

Songs with the text of Scripture – versions of the Psalms - seedsfamilyworship.com

Ordination in the Church of England

The audio of The Revd Nigel Atkinson's talk on Ordination in the Church of England from the Church Society Junior Anglican Evangelical Conference 2015 is available here.

He discusses the necessity, purpose and power of ordination interacting with Calvin, Cranmer, Hooker, Jewel and the Ordinal - oh, and the Bible, of course!

Along the way you get some good stuff on the nature of the church. Hooker argued (against the radical puritans) that the church is not only a supernatural society but also a society, a politic society, a natural body.

Some random jottings of favourite / noteworthy bits:

Calvin argues that ordination goes back to Jesus' appointment of the apostles and is necessary to the existence and continuation of the church as an organised society. If we think the ministry is only of minor importance, Calvin says we plot the ruin and destruction of the church. The ministry is more essential to the continuation of the church than the light of the sun or food and drink.

Hooker says there will be utter confusion if the church depends only on claims to be led by the Spirit and not on customs, traditions and laws. Order and constitution are vital.

Ordination confers real spiritual power - the power to preach the word and administer the sacraments.

Hooker says the church was never from the beginning without a government, a regiment.

The church is primarily led by the preaching of the word and the ministry of the sacraments.

Hooker insists that the church has abolished sacrificing priests and has presbyters (Book 5).

Hooker regarded Bishops as first of all types of (senior) presbyters, as the Apostles were.

Hooker himself received the Supper from a non-episcopally ordained presbyter, Hadrian of Soravia, a Dutchman, on his deathbed.

Hooker is the Reformed theologian of the Church of England.

One point preaching without notes

One day I might get round to watching some of the sermons at 1pointpreaching.com

The blurb for the website says:

"When Jesus preached, crowds flocked to hear him. He was relevant,empathic,insightful and passionate. Lives were changed as a result. How much contemporary preaching has the same impact?

Can 21st century preachers be off-notes AND in control, compassionate AND challenging, exegetically deep AND daringly creative? When I watch these I see the word of God come alive and I’m excited. I hope you feel the same!"

Rural churches and church buildings (CofE)

 "Some 78% of the Church of England’s 15,700 churches are listed. Over 57% of churches are in rural areas, where only 17% of the population lives. 91% of rural churches are listed, compared with 63% in suburban and 55% in urban areas. The Church of England is responsible for around 45% of the grade I listed buildings of England and almost three-quarters of these are in rural areas. "

https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2383717/church_buildings_review_report_2015.pdf

See also Giles Fraser's article:

"a quarter of rural churches have fewer than 10 people in the pews on a Sunday. Half of them have fewer than 20."

"the C of E is mired in nostalgia ... for a parish pastoral in which the local vicar, who knows everyone, wanders around in some wheel of benevolent aimlessness"

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2015/oct/15/we-must-do-to-our-churches-what-beeching-did-to-the-railways?CMP=share_btn_tw

Some biblical texts relevant to money & giving

For the most part in no particular order and perhaps with some mentioned more than once: (!)

Philippians 4

Mt 13:22

Mt 13:44

Lk 3:11-13

Lk 19:8

Acts 2:45; 4:32-35; 19:19

Mk 12:44

Lk 12:20

Mt 19:21

Ps 119:162

Mt 6:19-21

Mt 6:24

Ephesians 5:5

Prov 23:5

Mt 19:29

Phil 3:7-11

Ps 49:16-20

Job 41:11

Ps 24:1

Hag 2:8

Dt 8:10-18

1 Cor 6:19-20

2 Cor 9:7

2 Cor 8

Ex 36:5-7

1 Chron 29:14

Num 18:24

Gal 6:6

Prov 21:13

Is 58:6-10

Mt 16:27

Rewards in heaven:

Rev 20:6

Mt 25:21, 23

Lk 19:12-19

1 cor 6:3

Eph 6:8

Rm 2:6, 10

Mt 19:21

Mt 10:42

Lk 16:11-12

Phil 4:17

Lk 14:13-14

Heb 11:26

Lk 12:15

Heb 11:13, 16

Phil 3:20

Ecc 5:10-15

1 Tim 4:3-5

1 Timothy 6:6-10

1 Tim 6:17-

Rev 3:14-18

Lev 27:30

Prov 3:9

Mal 3:8-10

Mt 23:23

Heb 7:2-9

Dt 16:10, 16-17

Prov 13:22

Lk 6:38

Gal 6:9

Prov 30:8-9

1 Chron 29:6-9

Acts 20:35

Gen 13:2

Ps 50:9-12

Some principles concerning money and giving

I preached along these lines this morning. The readings were Psalm 49 & 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 6:3-10, 17-19:

(1) God is the maker and owner of all things.

 (2) Everything we own is a trust, given to us as stewards

 (3) Like all created things, money is a good thing

 (4) But money – or indeed poverty – can be a snare

 (5) Money can be a false god that keeps us from God

 (6) Giving is a great antidote to materialism

 (7) God is the great giver

 (8) We give in response to God’s generosity to us

(9) In the Old Covenant, God’s people were commanded to give the first 10% of their income back to him.

DV audio here in due course

See also this from a few years ago: 8 principles of Christian giving from 2 Cor 8-9

How much money did he leave?

After his death, someone asked J. D. Rockefeller’s accountant, “How much money did he leave?”

The answer, of course, was all of it!

It always is.

(Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle, p17)