This weekend, I was invited to Ivy Cottage Church in South Manchester to preach on Sunday morning. It was great to be with some old friends (Lynn Swart is now based there and I have know Frank and Debra Green for probably nearly 10 years now), and to be in a thriving and growing church.

They were starting a new series on “renewal” and I had been asked to introduce the series. I have become increasingly bothered by our often very self centred focus on faith: God meets my needs, makes me feel good, heals me etc. Faith in God seems to revolve around “me” rather than the other way round. Funnily enough, the last time I spoke in Ivy a couple of years ago, I spoke on that very thought, and the process in which we learn that God is the centre and not us.

Anyway, back to renewal: often renewal has been very individual, personal, and self-focussed. I think the work of the spirit is essential and much needed in restoring us to the people that God made us to be, but it can never be an end in itself.

So I spoke from Ezek 47, where the river flows from the temple. Often we have focussed on how deep the river was, rather than where the river flows … to the Dead Sea to bring life. The Dead Sea is about 30-35% salt (whereas the Mediterranean is only about 3.5%) and nothing lives there, no fish, no plants, nothing…

But the river flows to the dead places to bring life. Renewal of individuals and the church must flow out to the dead places of our communities to bring life and restoration. Interestingly, in the passage (vs 11) there are marshes and swamps where the salty water doesn’t turn fresh. Where the water doesn’t flow, but stagnates, then the river dries up and doesn’t bring the life it was intended to.

People sometime ask why the Spirit (in their opinion) isn’t moving as much as He used to. I think God is changing church around, so that the river flows to the deadest places of our society, so that when the river rises it doesn’t stagnate, but flows to bring about transformation of culture, communities and people that currently are dead.

I talked once more about the thought that God is going to renew the heavens and earth (not destroy and mentioned the paper by Michael Goheen) … you can read a longer post and comments here.

If you were there at Ivy, have you any comments on what I said? And if not, what is your experience of renewal? Did it flow from you to others to bring life?

Tags: Ivy Cottage, Manchester, Michael Goheen, Ezekiel, River, Life, Missional Church

We also gave away £20 to everyone that wanted … well we actually had a limit of one hundred £20 notes! This was to enable us to practically live out the parable over the next few months. If you were there, I would love to hear what you thought … If you weren’t, you can add "gutted" to the comment section!

But first the parable. For me one of the keys to understanding the parable is to know how much a talent is worth. Nobody knew on Sunday, and to be fair, I didn’t either until I looked it up! A talent was originally a measure of weight, but in NT times it was also a currency, and was worth 3000 shekels or 6000 denarii. Enlightened? Well, a denarii was a days wages, say for someone working in a vineyard (unskilled worker). In the UK an unskilled worker might earn £60 for a day’s work, which would make a talent worth £350,000!

So the story goes: A wealthy man went away for a long time, and he entrusted his wealth to his servants. To one servant he gave nearly £2million, and he put the money to work, and doubled it! To another, he gave about £700,000 and he also doubled the money. To a third, he gave £350,000 and he hid it under his mattress! What? He had that much money and hid it under his mattress (well actually he buried it … but hiding it under his mattress adds a bit of poetic licence to the story!).

No wonder the master was angry. But his response is astounding when you think about it?

you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest (vs 27)

The sense of what Jesus is saying here is: "You could have done anything with the money … apart from doing nothing!"

He could have paid for his ill mother to visit a doctor, he could have given the money to the poor, he could have thrown a party … just not hide it away and do nothing.

Jesus is talking about how we should live in light of the Kingdom that has come, but is yet to come fully. It isn’t really about money, but the wonderful gift of the live we have: our gifts, abilities, education, opportunities, time, money, our physical bodies … everything. When we are constrained by fear (vs 24), we aren’t present, don’t show up, and aren’t the contribution that we are meant to be to the world we live in.

So we gave £20 to every person who wanted it. It was a ridiculously small amount, compared to outrageously large amount each servant was given. But it represents everything that we have. We are to put it to work in some way … maybe to multiply the money, or maybe to do something that we have wanted to do, but just seems a bit risky. It could be baking cakes to sell; buying material for a painting; printing up business cards; or joining a community group or learning opportunity etc. etc. We aren’t looking for tangible results (although getting some of the money back would be nice!), but the stories of what God does in us as we engage with him and our fears …

In February, we want to hear stories of what we have done, and what changes and opportunities have emerged because of this small £20. We want to see a community than learns more to take risks, to trust God, to be present, to show up …

OK, preach over.

If you were there, what did you think? What are you planning on doing with the £20? If you weren’t (and you have managed to get to the end of this massive post!) what do you think about interpretation of the parable? And what would you do if you had been given £20 (about $40) to take some risk?

Tags: Community Church Edinburgh, Parables of the Kingdom, Preaching, Parable of the Talents, Talents, money

The Parable of the 10 virgins – Mt 25: 1-13

At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’

But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Questions for reflection:

As you reflect on the parable and attempt to honestly evaluate yourself, you may like to consider the following questions:

What is the difference between the wise and foolish young girls? What does the oil represent for you?

“The Bridegroom was a long time in coming” When it seems God is taking longer than He ‘should’ to appear, to answer prayer, or to work in some way we would like Him to, how do we respond?

Tags: Parables, Parables of the Kingdom

Photo supplied by FreeFoto.com

At the beginning of each week, the parable for the following Sunday will be posted, along with an image for reflection. As we engage with the Scriptures ourselves we take our growth seriously, rather than solely expecting someone to come each week with their reflections and be spoon fed! This shouldn’t detract from what the speaker will say, but may bring clarity and stimulation. Even if you are not there on a Sunday (or aren’t part of our church) please do contribute and participate.

This Sunday we are looking at 2 very short parables, in Mt 13: 44-46 – the parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl. The text appears below together with a picture for reflection (which you can click to enlarge). It would be great if you can add your thoughts or observations in the comments, to create an opportunity for learning together …

The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Questions for reflection:

As you reflect on the parable and attempt to honestly evaluate yourself, you may like to consider the following questions:

The merchant sold everything. How important is the Kingdom to you? What things do you keep hold of?

How would describe your attitude in letting go of other attractions to take hold of the Kingdom? Joyful? Grudgingly? Hopefully? Fearfully? What does this tell you about your view of the Kingdom?

Tags: Kingdom, Kingdom of God, Parables, Parables of the Kingdom, Preaching, Church

This last Sunday, I was speaking, introducing the topic of the parables of the Kingdom by putting them in their bigger context of the Kingdom that has come and is coming …

The image I have of the “now” and the “not yet” of the Kingdom is of dawn coming, but the son has yet to rise above the horizon. Isaiah prophecies that a light will come in the midst of incredible darkness ( Isa 60); Jesus came as a light to the world (Jn 1), but there is still darkness. This is the dawn, light has start reflect around the sky, the same light that will blaze above the horizon, but has yet to be fully revealed.

In reading Rev 21, we see the end of the story, the Holy City comes to earth … the Kingdom has come in all its fullness. The sun is shinning in all its glory, and there is no night, no darkness. To use a phrase that Rob Bell has used: Heaven has crashed into earth … but will it be heaven for you?

When this light comes, it brings into the light:

1. Our actions – Jn 3: 19-21 where Jesus talks about people loving the darkness as their deeds remain in the darkness. But when the sun rises above the horizon, there will be no darkness … all will be laid bare and exposed.

All the things that we have done in darkness will be brought into the light. The God who is generous, forgiving & pure will come, and the things we have kept in the darkness will be brought into the light …

2. Our words – Lk 12: 2-3 where Jesus says that everything that has been said in secret will be bought into daylight or shouted from the rooftops.

All the things that we say about others but won’t say to them, all the things that we say to make ourselves look good, or to down others will be brought into the light.

3. Our motives- 1 Cor 4:5 where Jesus says that our motives will be exposed and bring to light all that has been hidden.

Where we are judgemental, or competitive, or compare ourselves to others, or do things for our glory, the Light will reveal all.

We have the opportunity to live, preparing ourselves for heaven, so that when heaven does come, when the sun rises above the horizon, all has already been brought into the light. The Kingdom has come, but not in all its fullness … we can chose to live in light of the coming Kingdom, in the Light of the coming Kingdom … or in the darkness which still covers the earth, ignoring Kingdom drawing near…

I have spent such a long time talking about God’s grace, kindness and love. These are all foundational in my understanding of God. But God also calls us to respond to His love and live a life worthy of Him. I feel challenged by these Scriptures and thoughts … what about you? If you were there, what did you think?

Tags: Kingdom, Kingdom of God, Rob Bell, Heaven