Matthew s guided exploration of what it means to be disciples of Jesus in today s world

Transcription

1 Matthew s guided exploration of what it means to be disciples of Jesus in today s world BOOK 7 Being Church in the world. 28 March April 2011

2 *Special Events this month to look out for! *BB and GB Display Friday 1 April 7.30pm *Leadership Prayer time Sunday 10 th April 9.30am *Family Lunch following Service of Baptism and Confirmation Sunday 10 th April *Holy Week Services of worship, Art Exhibition on the theme of The Word of God together with the reading of the entire New Testament to celebrate the 400 th Anniversary of the King James Bible. Tuesday to Friday nd April. (See under these dates below)

3 how to engage with the discipleship programme Come and See! There are several building blocks to this programme: 1. These booklets are issued monthly to every person who attends, or is on the membership register of Fisherwick church, or anyone else who requests they be sent to them. The booklets work through the Gospel of Matthew, providing readings for each day from Monday to Friday each week with some of my comments. The basic readings are from Matthew and are supplemented with other scripture passages which offer further explanation for the week s passage. They also contain some questions to get you thinking before each Sunday, as well as some suggestions as to how to include children in this programme The services each Sunday are based on the previous week s readings from Matthew. The morning services follow through the gospel in the order it is written with two exceptions. First, Chapters 5-7 (The Sermon on the Mount) form the basis of the preaching for the evening (Sunday Night Live) services through the year. Secondly, the accounts of the crucifixion and resurrection will be used during Holy Week and Easter slightly ahead of their natural progression so they match with the dates of Easter. 3. The Small Groups are following this programme in their meetings throughout the winter, offering an opportunity to talk through with others, in an informal and relaxed setting, what you have been thinking and feeling as you read, listen and pray. 4. There will be occasional Discipleship Forums where there will be an opportunity to ask questions and express opinions. At these forums, those of us who are involved in the preaching and writing of the programme will be available to answer and debate your questions. 5. For those who are interested there is an opportunity to be discipled or mentored (to use today s in word) in one on one conversation with a fellow member. The whole adds up to a unique opportunity to see who Christ is and learn from him in company with your fellow travellers on the Christian Way. One of the earliest descriptions of the Church was as the People of the Way it is also one of the most accurate as we are all on the journey none of us have yet arrived and we all are still learning, discovering, being surprised by the companion God gave us for the journey, his Holy Spirit. If you want information on steps 3-5 there is a list of present and new small groups on the website. Details of the Discipleship Forums will appear in the booklets and in Church announcements in the Order of Service or on the website If you would like details of one to one discipling office@fisherwick.net or speak to one of the ministers or staff. Enjoy the journey, Derek McKelvey 1 Children here mean those of Primary school age and perhaps the first two years of secondary school. Older teenagers should be encouraged to use the booklet for themselves.

4 a few further thoughts 1. Participation on the course is not restricted to Fisherwick members or attenders the booklets will be available in Church and you may take copies for friends and family. 2. All the booklets, sermon notes, and MP3 downloads of the sermons will all be available online at or as podcasts (use the podcast page of the website) and CDs of the services are routinely available one week later on the Church book stall. 3. Feedback is positively encouraged I really welcome comments, criticism (preferably constructive but any sort will do), suggestions and fresh insights. When time permits these may be incorporated into something more, if God allows. 4. If you can t get peace at home to read, remember that the church is open daily from 9.00am 4.00pm. No-one will disturb you there and there are Bibles in the pews so you don t even need to bring one with you. Introduction Book 7 Being Church in the world Chapters 18, 19 and 21 2, which are the subject matter of this book deal with how the disciples are to deal with disputes among them; how to practise what they will preach forgiveness and restoration of relationships. It also teaches how to handle the outside world the theme also of John 7:6-12 which occupies the evening services. Holy Week takes a different format as the whole of the New Testament is read aloud in Church during three days of continuous prayer The Gospels each evening prior to the Holy Week Worship 8pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. Look forward to the week commencing 17 th April now so you can plan your participation in that week s events. 2 The chapters are taken out of order at this point to ensure we read of Palm Sunday in the week preceding that date and the crucifixion and resurrection in Holy Week.

5 Monday 28 March Read Matthew 18: Here Jesus makes plain the simple way to avoid conflict in the church and deal with problems. First go to the person and sort it. If that fails get a couple of trusted friends and go with them and try to sort it. Then, and only then, if it is not sorted, tell the church meaning the church authorities not the whole congregation. How frequently we get this completely the wrong way round. Someone offends us and we tell everyone who will listen except the person themselves. The whole church (that is the whole congregation not just those in authority) know. Often the person and those in authority are the last to know. Then what Happens? The person hears on the grapevine and is offended by the distorted version of events that reach him/her and the difficulty is magnified as they in turn tell everyone of their hurt. We need to be biblical here. Sort it with the person first and tell no-one and if it is sorted then no-one but the people concerned will ever know. Do you need to act on this now? Tuesday 29 March Read Matthew 18:21-35 Well just how much can you take? Seven times for the same person sounds generous. But not so! 490 times is suggested though the obvious implication is there is no limit as many as is necessary is the answer. Because how often does God have to forgive you that s the measure with which we can measure. The parable is crystal clear we have had nothing done to us compared with what Christ has forgiven us. And if we think that we have not much to forgive perhaps we should add arrogance, pride and ignorance to the list we need forgiveness for! Practise forgiveness it opens the door to being forgiven. Wednesday 30 March Read Psalm 51: This Psalm was written by David after Nathan the prophet exposed his adultery with Bathsheba, and his complicity in the killing of her husband. It is arguably the most significant prayer of repentance ever written. Take time today to read and re-read it and to make it your own. On the third time through, pause over each phrase and savour the meaning and apply it to yourself. 3 The last two verses (18-19) are almost certainly not original to David s song added probably during the exile when the song was sung as an act of repentance by David s people who had allowed the temple to be destroyed.

6 Thursday 31 March Read Matthew 7:6 This passage at first sight seems downright supercilious and a contradiction of the previous verses (Do not Judge). But that may be to miss the point. Once again the background to all these passages is not to act like the Pharisees. Do not judge don t condemn people for not being what you have not helped them to be. Now don t force people to decide for Christ who are manifestly not ready to do that. You simply ask for their derision. Eugene Petersen in The Gift his book on ministry says that the heart of ministry is to listen, when you meet someone new, until you discover where God is at work in their life then bless that. Many of us have been offended when someone assumes they know where we are at spiritually and then without asking applies their remedy. Jesus suggests that we track the Spirit because to do otherwise is to throw pearls before swine. Is there nothing I can do then for someone adamantly opposed to the gospel? Yes, there is and that is what Jesus says next pray! See next week s notes. Friday 1 April GB and BB Display tonight 7.30pm Musgrave Hall Read 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 The Corinthians had made an absolute hames of Communion. At that time it was still a full meal. Some were arriving early with their Harrod s Hamper and by the time the servants were able to get away from work bringing their piece wrapped in greaseproof they were already drunk. No-one shared with the other or waited on the other. The glory is that in trying to put them right, Paul gives us the first account of the Institution of the Lord s Supper. 4 Paul not only lays down some sensible rules wait for each other, if you are hungry eat at home ;which co-incidentally start the move from a full meal to the symbolic one we now have. But the passage that has upset many Christians and often been misused by preachers is the condemnation of those who do not discern the body. Paul is not demanding sin-free people only such a demand would run counter to the very heart of his teaching that it is not by works but by faith that we come. Paul agrees with the Scottish Divine who faced with a hesitant communicant says Take it, its for sinners! What then does he mean? Two things I believe. Turning the sacrament into a purely secular party, is not to discern the body of Christ it is to trivialise what is a reminder of the most sacred self giving of Christ on the cross here represented in bread and wine. But, equally, to be at odds with, to hold unforgiveness toward, or to judge yourself superior to those who sit with you at the table is not to discern the body for all gathered there are the Body of Christ, the Church, his Bride. We must see in them the sacred fellowship of those who believe and hear Christ s prayer uttered at the first Lord s Supper that they may be one even as I and You (the Father) are one. Come to the table this weekend Communion is at both services and discern the body. Take and eat! It is for you. 4 1 Corinthians predates the first Gospel by about ten years.

7 Saturday 2 April A day for rest and reflection or catching up on reading missed earlier in the week. You may want to reflect on these questions along with the weekly reading: 1. Have you practised the Lord s instructions about sorting out problems? 2. Forgiveness is difficult but compulsory! Do you agree? 3. Does Psalm 51 speak to the state of your soul? 4. What does it mean to track the Spirit? Do you see how we devalue the Gospel by forcing it down peoples throats? 5. What does Communion mean to you? Has it a precious place in your journey with the Lord? If not, are you failing to discern the Body? For Children What do they do when they fall out with a friend, or one of the family? Talk about the need to act first in sorting out problems to say sorry even when the fault may lie on the other. Help them to understand why we say sorry to God? The pray the Lord s prayer together. Sunday 3 April 11.00am Mothering Sunday and Family Communion Matthew 18: Faults and forgiveness- How to handle them Derek McKelvey 7.00pm Sunday Night Live and Communion Matthew 7: 6 Discernment Derek McKelvey

8 Monday 4 April Read Matthew 19: Jesus has now left Galilee and headed for Jerusalem. This guy, he meets, is young - the word Matthew uses implies someone in their twenties. A young entrepreneur, a yuppie call him what you like he has life sorted and is provided for and secure financially. He is a good man and comes for advice How can I who have always kept the law, have eternal life? Are there other boxes I have to tick? Other donations I have to make? I want eternal life relationship with God that goes on from now into forever How do I get that? Jesus squarely faces the dilemma of the good man. Not by ticking boxes but by being solely and completely dependent on relationship with me! And in your case that means getting rid of everything you have got! Where your treasure is, there shall your heart be also 6 The good young man wanted to add security to what he already had. He could not give that up for that had been his life goal and still was. What is your life goal? Financial security? A job with a good pension? To get the kids to university? Nothing wrong with any of these but not as life goals since they are only for this life. First life goal is relationship with God through Jesus Christ which is eternal for now and for eternity. What is your priority? For Christ there can be no rivals but seek first his kingdom and all the rest (you need) will be given as well 7. Tuesday 5 April Read Matthew 19: Our attitude to money is once again under the microscope. The eye of the needle may refer to the small gate beside the main gate of a city where a person could enter by coming in on hands and knees and therefore an enemy pose no threat is he were to use it. Or it may be simply hyperbolic impossible. Jesus did not reject riches per se Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple and a very rich man the tomb was that of a super rich person that he lent Jesus. He simply emphasises to the disciples that our possessions are not to be held tightly for then they will possess us. This we can see so easily today. The person who is a slave to their mobile or diary. The ambitious who sacrifice everything for promotion and power. The young person hooked on facebook. But all addictions, all fixations God can break with him all things are possible. 5 The earlier part of this chapter will be read in the week prior to 1 st of May. 6 Matthew 6:21 7 Matthew 6:33

9 Wednesday 6 April Read Matthew 19: Just as the previous two passages can trouble us so they trouble Peter. Hold on a minute - are all our sacrifices for nothing in following you? From earliest childhood we are conditioned to believe do good, get rewarded, do wrong, get punished. Adulthood soon shows us that it is not as simple as that by any means. But deep in us we look for recognition of the sacrifice we have made. Peter and the others are offered great reward indeed it is unclear whether this refers to heaven, a renewed earth, or even their role in the early church and lest we feel there will be hierarchies that mean we lose out Jesus follows it with a promise that if your family reject you because of your faith or you lose your business because of your faith you will in the family of the church and in the inheritance of eternal life receive a hundredfold. And finally his lose-gain, gain=lose principle, which underlies the whole gospel is reiterated :many like the Pharisees and leaders, the rich and powerful will be last, and many like those of no account who have espoused his cause will be first. God will not forget those who risk their all in commitment to him. Thursday 7 April Read Matthew 7: 7-11 At first sight, this passage seems out of context to the preceding passage 8 but it is in fact the answer to the dilemma. What do you do where there is no openness to the gospel, where someone will not or cannot hear you, will not be reconciled, continues in anger or pain. Jesus answers PRAY. And be bold in your prayers. Don t ask for little because you have a big God who delights to give to his children. So let s be bold and ready to align ourselves in prayer with a God who is ready to act in generous love. Let s pray expectantly in faith. Friday 8 April Read James 4:1-11 This passage is the necessary counterpoint to yesterday s reading a reminder that prayer is the way we seek for things we do not try to outwit or run ahead of God and organise the answers to our own prayers. When we manipulate and plot we end up in disputes and arguments and these end up in greed and even murder! We do not have because we do not ask. That is it in a nutshell. And how do we get it? By humbling ourselves before God, cleansing our hands and purifying our hearts, by listening to the Spirit which God has placed in us and allowing the Spirit to guide our prayer for it is his voice that God yearns to hear in our voices. James asks us not just to be bold but to be real and desperate in our prayers. 8 Do not give what is holy to dogs

10 Saturday 9 April A day for rest and reflection or catching up on reading missed earlier in the week. You may want to reflect on these questions along with the weekly reading: 1. Can you be a Christian and ambitious, or rich, or power seeking? 2. How should we handle our possessions? How can we be distinct from our non-christian neighbours? 3. How can we live in the knowledge that God has reward for us and stop looking for instant gratification? 4. How do my prayers need to alter in the light of the Father s willingness to give? What have I been afraid to ask? 5. How do I align myself with the indwelling spirit in my prayers? What does humbling myself before God look like? For Children Talk to the children about praying? Are there things that are right tro ask for? What are they? Are there wrong things we could ask for? What would they be? How do we know which is which? Is the test Would Jesus have asked for that? Is that what he would want? Talk to them about trying to pray what Jesus wants and that that is what it means to pray in his name. Sunday 10 April 11.00am Morning Worship and Passion Sunday Matthew 19: Riches and Discipleship Baptism and Confirmation Derek McKelvey 7.00pm Sunday Night Live Matthew 7: 7-11 The Generous Father: Boldness in Prayer Derek McKelvey

11 Monday 11 April Read Matthew 21:1-17 We move forward in the story so we can keep in line with the liturgical calendar next Sunday is Palm Sunday and so in preparation we read the passage today that covers the events of that fateful day. When Jesus stages the entry into Jerusalem he is laying down the gauntlet to the authorities. He is well aware that he is enacting the prophecy of Zechariah 9. And if that were not enough, he enters the temple and exposes their shoddy money making exploitation of the people. And finally when the children start singing the Messianic greeting Hosanna to the Son of David he quotes the psalms in their defence. Accept me as I am or get rid of me is the challenge. He has to go! That is the decision of the authorities. What is yours? Tuesday 12 April Read Matthew 21:17-32 This parable often causes us to do a double take. Is Jesus simply being petty when there is no fruit. But the fig tree is a parable of the temple 10 it looks as if it is an effective house for prayer it is green and inviting. But in fact it is useless no fruit. So it is rendered obsolete withered and shrivelled up. Jesus by his death renders obsolete the whole sacrificial system the temple stands for the disciples will have direct access to God through the death of Jesus Christ and whatever they pray (in his name in line with his will) he will do. We need to beware looking like a praying people and being fruitless. For by our fruit we will be known. Wednesday 13 April Read Matthew 21:33-46 This passage in another parable says the same thing not even thinly disguised. The Chief priests and Pharisees had no difficulty knowing he was speaking about them. The tenants have treated the vineyard as if it were their own and when the owner comes looking for the fruit at harvest time which is rightfully his they reject his servants (the prophets) and his Son (Jesus). So God will forcefully take the vineyard away from them. We need to be crucially aware that Fisherwick is not ours the owner is coming and looking for fruit how many people have we introduced to Jesus, how many have been mentored in the faith, how many loved and carried through difficult times, how many comforted in their grief, how many prayed for and how many sent out into the mission field of every day life equipped to speak his name and show his love. He will not ask if the services looked good, or the music was perfect, or if many came he wants to see fruit that will last that is what we are called for Zechariah 9:9ff 10 This is clearer in Mark where the story is in two parts like brackets round the story of the clearing of the temple. Mark 11: See John 15:5-17

12 Thursday 14 April Read Matthew 7: 12 Known as the Golden Rule it is almost the whole Sermon on the Mount in a nutshell. The standard is to allow Christ so to indwell us that we act as he did treating people with the same gentleness, dignity, respect, kindness and love that we would ask for others. It reminds us that we can be right in the wrong way and if we are then we have no virtue out of being right. Let this attitude of mind be in us that was and is in Jesus. 12 Friday 15 April Read 1 John 4:7-11 And here is a reminder of the source. The Pharisees failed since it was all self-effort, selfimprovement. We can succeed because we love as we were first loved. We love with the love we have been given. We love because God is love and he dwells in us. 12 See Philippians 2 for an exposition of this.

13 Saturday 16 April A day for rest and reflection or catching up on reading missed earlier in the week. You may want to reflect on these questions along with the weekly reading: 1. What would God clear out of our lives or our congregation if he came now? 2. Do we allow people to praise naturally as the children praised on Palm Sunday? 3. What fruit would God ask for if he came to visit Fisherwick/ and what would we show him? 4. How do we put the Golden Rule into practice? For Children Talk about praising God put on a Children s Praise CD or DVD and praise with them. Then ask them why they would praise God. Tell them the story of Palm Sunday and tell them that when jesus healed people the children sang praise to him. Sunday 17 April 11.00am Morning Worship and Palm Sunday Matthew 21 By What Authority? Derek McKelvey 7.00pm Sunday Night Live Praise for Holy Week and Easter Matthew 7:12 The Golden Rule Mervyn McCullagh

14 Holy Week 2011 Time for God and his word. In honour of the 400 th Anniversary of the King James Bible From after the Monteverdi Concert on Tuesday evening at 10pm the church will be open for prayer 24 hours until 10pm on Good Friday evening. We aim to keep prayer going constantly throughout that time you can book in to cover a time slot either by signing up on the Prayer Vigil Rota at the rear of church or by going on line to the online diary 13 and signing up. During this time Helen Sanlon and a group of Christian Artists are presenting an exhibition of painting, sculpture and graphics inspired by the Bible and the stories within it. A guide to these will offer a prayer journey around the church and will be available in the porch for use throughout the week. From 9am to 8pm each day scripture will be read aloud. We will read the whole of the New Testament and short portions of the Old Testament representing over the three days the three divisions of the Old Testament, The Law, the Prophets and the Writings. The reading will be done by groups of people from our own organisations, and from other local churches and Christian bodies. The passages to be read are given below. Each evening at 8pm there will be a worship service the emphasis in three differing styles will be on worship there are no sermons. Communion will take place on Good Friday morning at 7.30am as usual, followed by Breakfast in the church hall prepared by the South Africa team as part of their fundraising. Plan now to be part of this whole week 13 To Access the Online Diary Go to On the top right hand corner of the page click on Sign in. In the box type in holyweek243@gmail.com The Password is fisherwick Go to More and click on Calendar. You are now in the online diary. Click forward to Tuesday 19th April You can now book a slot - Click on the slot, enter your name, the start and end time you will pray and telephone/ contact details. When you finish, make sure you "Sign Out" - top right hand side of the page.

15 Monday 18 April A day for fasting and prayer in preparation We invite you to fast and pray today, omitting your lunch and evening meal and giving the time to prayer for the Word of God to be clearly shown in love to South Belfast. If you cannot fast from food for medical or other reasons, consider fasting from television or the internet and giving that time to prayer. Tuesday 19 April Worship Monteverdi Vespers St Georges Singers Tickets for the Concert are available at the doors this evening. The concert begins at 7:30 pm. Tuesday 19 April 10.00pm to Good Friday 22April 10.00pm Church open for 24/3 Prayer and the reading of the Scriptures as below. Tea and coffee will be available throughout. Feel free to bring your snack with you. Wednesday 20 April Reading from The Law: Genesis 1-15(9.00am), Exodus 1-20 (10.30) The New Testament,: Romans (12.30), Galatians (2.00), Ephesians (2.30), James (3.00), 1 & 2 Peter (3.30), 1 & 2 Timothy (4.30), John (.5.30) 8.00pm Taize service of Worship and Meditation. Thursday 21 April Reading from The Prophets: Isaiah (9.00am) The New Testament: Luke (10.40), Acts (1.10pm), 1, 2,3 John, Jude (4.00), Hebrews (5.00), Mark (6.00) 8.00pm Worship Evening led by the Praise Bands. Good Friday 22 April Communion 7.30am followed by Breakfast in aid of South Africa Teams. Reading from the Writings: Job 1-9,38-42 (9.00am), Psalms of Ascent (10.15). The New Testament: 1 & 2 Corinthians (11.00), Titus and Philemon (1.00pm), 1 & 2 Thessalonians (1.30), Philippians (2.30), Colossians (3.00), Revelation (3.30) and Matthew (5.30) 8.00pm Service of Compline led by the Church Choir followed by silence pm Close.

16 Saturday 23 April A day for rest and reflection. For Children Try to bring your children along to the church at some point during the week. Show them the various artworks and the preparation of the church for Easter. Take time to talk through the story with them. Answer their questions and explain that Easter is about Jesus rising from the dead, breaking out of the tomb as a chicken breaks out of an egg into new life hence the Easter eggs! Sunday 24 April 11.00am Morning Worship Easter Sunday Festival and Communion Matthew 28: 1-15 Rev David Stanfield Centre for Youth Ministry Belfast Bible College. No Sunday Night Live The next booklet should have arrived with you during this past week. It will be available on Sundays 17 th and 24th at services if you need extra copies. If you have any queries or want advice on how to access mentoring, small groups or prayer triplets office@fisherwick.net or speak to Derek McKelvey or any other staff member after church. *This booklet may be downloaded from the Fisherwick website or photocopied as required for the purposes of following the teaching course in Fisherwick Church. It or the accompanying podcasts available on the podcast page are not to be reproduced or copied in whole or in part for any other purpose without the prior written agreement of the author. 4 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DJ Telephone office@fisherwick.net