Gospels-Acts
Matt 26:17-30
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
The Lord's Supper audio (6MB)
Matt 26:17-30
The Lord’s Command to Prepare
It’s interesting to read the different accounts of the events around the crucifixion. Sometimes you pick up an interesting detail that’s in this account but not in the others. But equally instructive can be the things that are left out. In the case of Matthew’s account here, there are very few details given. In Mark and Luke the disciples are told to find a man carrying a jar of water, but here it’s just a certain man. In the other accounts two disciples, Peter and John, Luke tells us, are sent to prepare the meal. Here it’s a general command to all the disciples. It’s as though Matthew wants to cut down the detail so we’ll focus on what really matters. And what’s that? Look at the passage. Can you see what details are given?
Matt 5:1-12
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
The Blessings of God’s Kingdom audio (2MB)
I wonder did you see or hear all the discussion on Australia day about what it means to be Australian. We have a quite a few people here who didn’t grow up in Australia. I wonder what they think it is that makes up the Australian Character? You might like to ask them later over lunch. It’s interesting to think about what makes Australians different from those who grew up in other places - Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa. But we’re not going to do that today. We’re going to think about what makes us different as members of the Kingdom of Heaven. Here in Matthew 5 Jesus outlines the sorts of characteristics that are to be found among those who are members of God’s Kingdom.
But first notice the setting. At the end of ch 4 we have a picture of large crowds coming out to hear Jesus and to be healed by him. He’s surrounded by these people. Ministry opportunities everywhere. But then in ch 5, Matthew tells us that when he saw the large crowds he withdrew to the top of a mountain and his disciples came to him. That begs the question, doesn’t it, why does Jesus leave centre stage and withdraw with just his disciples? Why give up the opportunity presented by this huge crowd and limit himself to a few disciples? Well, the answer is that he isn’t on about the centre stage. He’s come to prepare a people to live in God’s kingdom. He knows that this small group of disciples are capable of changing the world if they get their lives on track.
So Jesus withdraws, just far enough away that only those who really want to hear what he has to say will follow. Matthew points out that he goes up a mountain because he wants us to recall Moses going up Mt Sinai to receive the law. The law taught the people of Israel how to live and now Jesus is teaching his disciples how to live.
Matt 5:1-15 - Jesus through Other Eyes
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
The Key to Gaining the Kingdom audio
What does the word blessed – or bless-ed mean to you? I remember it was the closest thing to a swear word that my mother used to use: – “Those blessed ants are back in the kitchen!” More seriously though, it’s used to describe saints – “Blessed Saint Patrick”, “The Blessed Virgin Mary. If an ordinary person is described as blessed we generally mean they’re enjoying good fortune; God has been kind to them; they’ve received the rewards for their good life.
But what does Jesus mean when he describes this list of people as blessed? What did his hearers understand by it?
As we so often find in English the one word can mean various things, depending on the context. But in Hebrew and Greek there were two different words used for blessed. The first was used when you were talking about God doing something good for you. e.g. “The Lord bless you and keep you” is a prayer that God will look after you and bring you prosperity” But the other word that’s used speaks of a state of blessedness, or being at rest, at peace. It’s a bit like the idea of “Shalom”.
Matt 6:5-8 - What Shall We Pray
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
What Shall We Pray audio
A few weeks ago Steve talked about why prayer is easy; then the following week Hannah explained why prayer is hard. I was away for that one but I’m sure what she said would have resonated with me. A regular and consistent prayer life is hard. But equally hard is knowing what and how to pray. There are so many needs in the world, so much going wrong; how do we decide what to pray about?
When you think about the great needs in the world do you feel guilty if you pray for something for yourself? For example, is it OK to pray for a parking spot when you’re going out to dinner or the theatre? Or is that bothering God with something that’s both trivial and self-centred? Well, I have to confess that I do pray for parking spots on occasion – and more often than not God seems to provide them.
But more seriously, what shall we pray about when we stop to pray? And what sort of shape might our prayers take?
Matthew 18:10-22 - Lost Sheep and Broken Fellowship
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- Written by: George Hemmings
Lost Sheep and Broken Fellowship audio (5MB)
Matthew 18:10-22
When I was growing up we ran sheep on our farm. Now sheep all, mostly, look the same. But there’s one sheep I’ll never forget. It was a ram actually, and we took to calling him Houdini because no matter what paddock he was put in, he wouldn’t stay in it for long! Even when we fixed the fences and added another strand of wire to make them taller, he always managed to get out. Whenever we went to count the sheep he’d be gone, so we’d have to start looking for him. First we’d try in with the ewes, but often once he’d frolicked with them for a while he’d move on. Sometimes make his way the entire length of the property. It became quite a chore, finding him, chasing him, catching him and bringing him back, knowing that in a few days he’d just as likely have gotten out again! After the thrill of the chase wore off, I didn’t often feel like rejoicing when I found him!
Read more: Matthew 18:10-22 - Lost Sheep and Broken Fellowship
