A Net in Time

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New Testament

Who Wrote Romans and Why

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Today I’m going to start going through the book of Romans. I hope you’ll join me. If all goes as I hope it will, I’ll be writing daily, but sometimes my priorities get skewed.  For that I offer my apologies.  I do strive for more.

Anyways, with that said, I do hope you’ll join me, offering your opinions and setting me straight if I misinterpret God’s word, or even broadening my thoughts.  It’s good to do so eh?

Today, the first seven verses of Romans 1.

 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans.
Written by Paul.
Just who was Paul

  • a servant of Christ Jesus
  • a called apostle
  • set apart for the gospel of God

Now just what is that gospel of God?

  • Promised by the prophets
  • Concerned his son Jesus Chrit
  • Who is the offspring of David according to the flesh
  • Declared to be the Son of God by the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead
  • This is Jesus Christ our Lord
  • the giver of grace and apostleship
  • To bring about obedience of faith for the sake of his name through all the nations
  • Including all those called to belong to Jesus Christ.

 Who is this book written to?

  •   To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

What greeting is extended?

  • Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I read these words and the depth that is in them eh?  God made promises to the world through his prophets long since passed.   Promises that a boy would come, one from the lineage of David.   This boy would be God’s own son even though physically he came from King David’s line.  God’s son.

We saw him declared so at Jesus’ baptism.

But here it is clearly stated that his resurrection from the dead made a difference.  The Holy Spirit declared him to be God’s own son when he arose.  But not only that….he was declared (see I almost missed this part).  God’s own son IN POWER.   Not saying that He didn’t have power before the resurrection (cause he did) but something changed….Now he’s the Son of God in power.   He bodily changed, he explained things to the disciples, showing them what they missed from history etc. 

This, this is Jesus Christ our Lord.

The one from whom we receive grace and mercy, the apostleship.
Hmm…I wonder if he’s talking globally or personally here?  I know that I am follower of Christ (albeit a poor one at times)… but I don’t tend to see myself as an apostle.  I tend to think of apostles as the powerhouses like Paul and Luke and John of the bible.  Not little me sitting here in my corner of the world.

Paul does make it clear though… my job as a believer is to help bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of the name of Christ in all the nations.   Even here, in my small corner of the world, my job is to help make faithful obedient believers.

Today I don’t feel particularly up to the task.  🙂

But I don’t think Paul is too concerned about that.  He’s just here to tell me what my job is.  🙂   and The Book of Romans will give me the skills to do that eh?

Also shared at  faith n friends.

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Sunday Sermon: Your Own Personal Jesus

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Pastor Ryan Jantzi from Zurich Mennonite Church.

Hymns:
Whom shall I fear God of angel armies by Chris Tomlin
Beautiful one by Tim Hughes
Good Good father by Chris Tomlin
In the garden by Charles Austin Miles

Scripture: John 3:1-21

3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where
it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes
from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the
Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Sermon Notes:

Pastor started the sermon off playing this clip:

Johnny Cash lived a troubled life, fighting drug abuse.
This song was important to him

In history Jesus being shown as a personal Saviour
Shift now to seeing him as king of universe

He is our personal Saviour as well as king of the universe.

Nicodemus is invited to make Jesus his personal Saviour

A member of the Jewish ruling council, a faithful follower of God

Jesus tells him he must be born again.
To experience the fullness of the kingdom of God you need to be born again.

Moses and the snake

Poisonous snakes, people need to look to the bronze Snake in order to be healed from the poisonous snakes.

So people need to look to Jesus to be saved from the poison of sin.

Nicodemus represents people that need to respond to the truth of Scripture.
Nicodemus needed to know the personal Jesus.

We are just like Nicodemus,  needing to know Jesus in our heart.
People can know the scriptures well without really knowing God.

Hear Jesus today.   Be born again.

How do we bear one another’s burdens?

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You know something?   It’s hard to get used to another churches way of doing things.  The church we are going to for the rest of January doesn’t write down things like scripture passages, sermon titles or music used.   Makes it MUCH harder for me to take good notes.   I know that I missed a couple of songs this morning, but it is what it is eh?   And I made up a title based on the short message presented.

Hymns/Songs: 

Precious Lord take my hand
My eyes are dry by Keith Green
Set my spirit free by Charlotte Baker
Lord I need you by Matt Maher
Follow you by Ed Cash

Scripture: Psalm 31, Romans 12:9-13, Galatians 6

Text Romans 12
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 

Sermon Notes:

Our focus this week is on mental health.  We are called to learn and grow.
How do we care for those with mental illness in the church.

How do we bear one another’s burdens?   Galatians 6
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.

We need a Holistic approach,  moving toward the person instead of stepping away.

Why do we step away?
. Fear
. Not knowing how to help
. Seeing others as able to help better ie counselors

Romans 12:9-16
Cling to what is good,
Be devoted to one another
Walk with them
Be joyful in hope
Be hopeful for their recovery and let them know it’s not the whole story
What does it look like to welcome the mentally into our hi,especially,  or even going into their homes
Be a blessing to them.
Show them how they are a blessing to you.

You might need to ask people with mental illness how you can help them, what support do they need?

THE REST OF THE SERVICE was taken up talking with health care professions, and having people with mental illness tell their stories and what has been most beneficial to them in getting better.   My notes are included as they may prove helpful.

Holistic care…what does it look like?
People used to treat just the physical and the mental either together or separate, the spiritual was ignored.  More and more the integration is seen as not only as helpful but necessary

Describe what a helpful community looks like
. A lot of advocacy needed, different agencies working together,
. Acceptance

What are unintentionally hurtful ways
. Giving pat answers
    . Instead we should listen with all your skill instead of listening to give an answer
. Forgetting the person and only seeing their illness.
. Giving unsolicited advice
. Trying to fix the person
. Minimizing their pain
. Prayer as a way of stopping the conversation
.
What we should do
. Walk with the person not ahead of them
. Listen with all your skill
. Take in a mental first aid course (like physical first aid)
. Know when you are in over your head
. Let the person do for themselves what they are able
. Show mercy and God’s grace

Sabine’s story
Has schizophrenia
As a youth had a good life
Then at age 19 three people died who where Important to her
Age 20 was hospitalized….psychosis
Age 30 hears voices, telling her how to kill herself and others
World shattered,
Eventually learned how to share it with others
Her world opened up

Suggestion:  to pray for those with mental illness
: to say hi and ask how are you doing as isolation is a big concern for the mentally ill

Sara
Chemically induced depression….as in the chemicals in her brain don’t work together correctly
Clinical anxiety, seasonal affect time disorder

Stress is a trigger

What helps
. Knowing she is not alone, having a mentor
. Doesn’t need people feeling sorry for her
. A good listening ear
. Ask how you can help
. If you don’t have time to listen then don’t ask
. People she can trust
. Be understanding of the struggles.

Damaging
. People saying snap out of it
. Anxiety is stupid get past it
. Not understanding good weeks/bad weeks

Sunday Sermon: On Whom Do You Rely?

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This is the Official Closing Service of Bethel Reformed Church. 

Pastor preached an excellent sermon at the closing service, you really should listen to it and not just read my sermon notes.    A difficult service, but a great sermon.

 Hymns

A mighty fortress
Amazing Grace
Guide me, o my great redeemer
Oh Lord my God.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 text vv8-10

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who
comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort
those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If
we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are
comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you
patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Sermon

 

My Sermon Notes:  

Today we come to close the Bethel Reformed Church in Exeter.

It’s easy to struggle with the question of why, why did God let this happen?

Sometimes it’s easy to see things that didn’t go as they should have, but when push comes to shove, it’s all in God’s providence, and we can’t always know why.

In our reading today, Paul writes to the Corinthian church talking to them about the suffering he has gone through.  And not always knowing the why, but being able to see the result.

Paul writes to them …letting them know that he suffers.  Suffering was him.  Beaten, accused,  misrepresented,  imprisoned,  sometimes nigh unto to death.  It was not easy for him.

Paul suffered….and in that suffering was comforted.
And through that comfort is now able to comfort others.

Paul didn’t say what his suffering in Asia was, just that it was beyond them, it was so bad they wanted to die.   They were so burdened and suffering that death was welcome.  It seemed the end was right there waiting.

But God delivered them.

Many now struggle.  Some with the church closing.  Loss of community hurts and burdens. 

See like Paul did.   God was working.  
God was teaching them to rely on him, he the God who raises the dead.   Rely on me God says.

God….
He pushed Paul to see who he should really rely on.
God…
And this is the God who raises the dead.
The God who brought Christ back from the dead.

God brought them through that time of difficulty.
God can bring any of us through this.

It teaches us to rely on him more.

So that we can set our hopes on him, knowing he will deliver us again.

The God we rely on…..is the God that raises the dead.

This God will not abandon us.   In our sufferings he will always be with us.

So ask yourself this.
Just who do you rely on?

For those who answer their reliance is on God.
Know that God’s work in you has not ended.
God’s work in the church has not ended.
He will do things we can’t even imagine as of yet. 

The Christmas Mindset

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Hymns

O come all ye faithful
Angels we have heard on high
Once in royal David’s city
Silent night

Scripture

Philippians 2:5-11

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Sermon Notes

What attitude should mark the person of Christ in light of his coming?

Phillipians also called the letter of joy as mostly the letter is one of commendation.

How you think changes the way you live.

The mindset we should have
1. The mind of Christ in us
    – Christ is the pattern for how we should live if we believe in him
    – this mindset is in us already if we believe in him.
    – joined together
 So
1. Equality with God does not need to be grasped ….he didn’t clutch his Godness to himself.
2. Made himself nothing…a human, a fallen type human,
Not a glorious before the fall human, but a human with the weaknesses brought about by the fall.  But he lived without sin.  A weak body, not a well heart or mind.
3. Became a servant.  We are called to have this same mindset as well.   To be a servant, not seeking after prestige, serving those around us.
4. So obedient he would die.   Obeyed his father in all things.
5. That death would be in grievous manner.  Obedient to the point so what needed to be done would be done.

We need the mindset to seek the good of others.  To make their good a priority.

Sin made us self centered.  This passage reminds us that this is not the way God intends us to be.  His focus is on helping us see the need to care for others first.

Remember this fact: death is punishment for sin.
Yet Jesus died. The sinless one.
His death was the direct result of his obedience.
He took something he didn’t deserve.
Taking death on the cross,  in his obedience,  doing what needs to be done,  to save people from their sin.

So have this mind in you.  The mindset of Christ.   Be changed by having a mind of obedience.   His mind is in you, live it out.

Sunday Sermon: Christ is the Answer to Doubt

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This past Sunday was the start to the third Sunday in Advent.

Today we answer the question: What happens when we doubt?
The answer: Christ is the answer to doubt.

Hymns:

O come,  o come Emmanuel
O come, all ye faithful
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Joy to the world
What child is this?
Silent night
Glory to be the father.

 

Scripture:

 Matthew 11:1-19
When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
    who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly,
I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater
than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of
heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
    we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Sermon notes:

Intro: driving a route that was well known and feeling like you are going the wrong way because what you expect doesn’t happen.

So doubt sets in.

So Jesus recalls the tale of John the Baptist. 

John didn’t expect to land up in prison.  He expected to preach his message of judgement.   And he hears the Jesus’ ministry is one of grace.  He expected Jesus to have a ministry of judgement.  So he wondered if Jesus was the one he had foreshadowed so he sent his disciples to ask….are you the one I pointed the way to???

John had doubt.
It’s no different from the fact we have doubts about Jesus too.

Doubts about how God is working, with churches close who honour him, when illness strikes, or Christians diminish in number, etc.

Jesus did not leave John in his doubt.   Jesus pointed him to what he was really doing.  The blind see.   This was unique to Jesus’ ministry.   The dead live, the lame walk, the poor have good news preached to them, the deaf hear etc.

The poor, the ignored among society are being addressed.

Isaiah 29.   Isaiah 35.  Isaiah 61.  
Jesus says to John,  look I am doing exactly what God said I would do.
And all this action I do know doesn’t mean that judgement isn’t coming.  Judgement is coming, no question about it.

John was a testament to Jesus.   He immediately prepared the way for Christ.

John was reminded by Jesus that his place was the greatest prophet.  See what Jesus is doing. 

See the restoration that Jesus has wrought in your life.
It is so easy to not really see what Christ does .  
But Jesus reminds us what he is doing.   
Sight to the blind: physically and spiritually
Raises the dead: those who are dead to God see and hear the reality of God and that he calls them out to him.

Sometimes God sends a famine of his word so that people start to hunger for him.
Sometimes growth happens in one area while death occurs in another.

Never fear, God sees it, Jesus acts all the time, completing all of his mission.

Doing this through his people.

Look and see his action.
Look and see that he is coming again.

Sunday Sermon: Keep Awake, Be Ready

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Hymns:

Hark the herald the angels sing
Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
O come O come Emmanual
The race that long in darkness pined
Rejoice, rejoice, believers
Be known to us in breaking bread
Joy to the world

Scripture: 

Matthew 24:36-44 (ESV) 

36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

During advent we are looking forward to Christ coming again.   Too often we only focus on the baby Jesus.
Or people focus on trying to figure out when Jesus will return.  Like the timing is important.

Even in Jesus’ day the disciples wanted to know when Jesus would return.

Jesus answers the when question.  No one on earth knows.  Only God the Father knows.

The angels don’t know, he (Jesus) doesn’t know, people don’t know, only God the Father knows that time.

When Christ was on earth he was limited in many ways by his humanity.   He was still God,  but he was very human.    He walked , talked, asked questions, needed to know things and get places.

While Noah built the ark,  he was continually calling people to know the Lord,  to turn to him and be saved.

2 Peter.   Scoffers  will be around to mock the Lord and his eventual return.

Jesus is clear    we don’t know when he is returning but we have an antidote for that….stay awake!!   Always be expecting.   You know it will happen so simply be alert and be ready.

Whatever we do, be prepared for the Lord to return.

We shouldn’t be surprised like those who live in the dark. Always ready, always prepared.

So how does live a life of readiness?
1. Live like any moment could be your last
2. Live in grounded obedience to God’s will
3. Live a life of faith.
4. Live a life of love

So stay awake.   Be alert.