Mark 12:1-12
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- Written by: George Hemmings
Decaf Christmas? audio (4MB)
Decaf Christmas?
This week a number of articles have come out, commenting on the push to get Christ out of Christmas. The best I read called this the decaffeination of Christmas. Carols that are all about trees, snow, reindeer, not about baby born in a manger. Why do we do this? For some the story of Christmas is unbelievable. For some it’s a conspiracy or myth. For other’s it’s just nice to celebrate something at the end of the year, but there’s no connection between Christmas and the rest of their lives. It’s just a nice tradition, with no meaning. But underneath all that, I think this article got it right. The real reason we decaffeinate Christmas is because we don’t want Jesus intruding on our lives. Don’t want to admit that we need help. Little baby Jesus is OK, but he’d better not get out of the manger.
Mark 11:27-33; 12:28-34
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- Written by: George Hemmings
Debates in the Temple audio
During my time at Ridley, one of the highlights was the debates. Sometimes there’d be big debates in class, as we tried to wrap our heads around big theological ideas. But the really great debates were the ones the student body organized. Two small teams of lecturers and students would be pitted against each other. They’d be locking horns over the really important questions, like ‘You can’t teach good theology through fiction,’ or ‘That theological students don’t need to learn Greek or Hebrew anymore!’ These debates were a bit of fun, actually they were lots of fun. But they were also a way for us to unpack ideas and to look at them theologically.
Phil 4:1-9
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Rejoice in the Lord audio (4MB)
You’ve probably noticed that there’s been a resurgence lately of vocal opponents to belief in God. And it’s especially obvious in Melbourne where the new atheists seem to think it’s a great place to hold their annual international convention. Do you think that means it’s becoming harder to be a Christian in our world? Is this rise of atheism something we should be worried about? Well, you’d have to say it’s not anything new. In this letter to the Philippians Paul has just finished warning that there are many in the world who live as enemies of the cross of Christ. And that’s not only in the world outside the church. There are plenty inside the church. So he says: “Therefore stand firm in the Lord.” Don’t give way to the forces that oppose you. Remain steady in your love and devotion to Christ.
Well today I want us to think briefly about what that means in practice? How are we to do this?
Mark 11:1-25
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Jesus Enters Jerusalem audio (3MB)
I wonder how many of you were around for the opening of Parliament house in 1988. We were living in Canberra at the time so it was a big event for us. The weekend before we took part in a prayer walk around the Parliament House hill with thousands of other Christians, but the big event was the arrival of the queen to do the opening. People flocked to Parliament house to get a look at her. Schools took their students along – in fact our daughter Katherine was in the front of the crowd and was able to give her a rose as she went by. That really impressed her grandparents!
Well that’s a bit like what it must have been like when Jesus entered Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday. The city was buzzing. The word had got around. Jesus, the great teacher and healer was coming to Jerusalem, despite the danger from the Jewish leaders. Word was that he'd even been talking about death, predicting that he was going to be crucified, and saying that people had to be willing to take up their cross if they wanted to follow him. Yet at the same time he was still teaching and healing people and he was still arguing with the Pharisees.
So when Jesus came to the Mount of Olives, overlooking Jerusalem, the crowds were ready. When he appeared at the gates of Jerusalem riding a donkey they got really excited. They took off their cloaks and threw them on the ground in front of him. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. They started crying out "Hosanna". That is "God save you". Just like her loyal subjects saying "God save the Queen" at Parliament house that day. And then they added "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" They clearly recognised that here was an important figure, someone to be revered.
Mark 10:32-52
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Jerusalem Looms Ahead audio (5MB)
I got a new pair of glasses this week. Not my everyday glasses. These are ones that are made so I can see what's on my computer screen without ending up with a cricked neck. They're fantastic. They make the characters on the screen look perfectly in focus. They just have one drawback. If I forget to change them over when I leave the office I can't see anything clearly unless it's right in front of me. It's not that I'm totally blind. It's just that I can't see clearly.
Of course being unable to see things clearly doesn't just apply to physical sight, does it? There's an even worse affliction of sight that some people suffer from. That's the sort of blurred vision that comes from prejudice or from unthinking acceptance of a particular set of presuppositions or perhaps from listening to too much talk back radio. For example it's the sort of blindness that might prevent us from understanding the various issues in the debate over asylum seekers. It's the sort of blindness that leads some people to suggest that the Churches have no right to speak out about social issues.
Mark 10:13-31
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
The Key to Gaining the Kingdom audio (3MB)
I was at a local clergy gathering last week and the subject of children's ministry came up. One of the other ministers there commented that they'd had people complain that the children made too much noise. I'm afraid I had to admit that I too had heard the same complaint at St Theo's a number of years ago.
Of course it's true, isn't it? Children these days are much too noisy! And undisciplined! And disrespectful of their elders! It wasn't like that in my day! When I was a child we were perfectly behaved, as you can imagine!
I mean, everyone knows that children should be seen and not heard? Don't they?
Well, as George pointed out earlier, Jesus has something to say about that in today's reading. The disciples clearly thought that children should be ignored. They were a bit like Lucy in this Peanuts cartoon strip.
Mark 9:30-50
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- Written by: George Hemmings
Death & Discipleship audio (5MB)
This morning we remember those who served, and who gave their lives, in not just the Great War, but in all wars. We remember and give thanks for their dedication and service, their bravery and commitment. I know there are some here who have lost friends or family to war, or who have experienced it firsthand for themselves. I know it’s a little early, but let’s stop and take a minute of silence to reflect, to remember and to pray.
