Mark 3:20-35
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Jesus, Mad, Monster, or Master? audio (5MB)
How much is too much? I’m not thinking about chocolate here. That’s an easy one. No, I’m thinking about ministry effort. When do you say enough is enough? Is it OK to say “I’ve done my 40 hours this week; now I’m going to stop and have a rest”? Or should you work flat out all the time for the Lord? Alternatively, when you see someone in ministry seemingly working their fingers to the bone, should you tell them to stop and have a break?
I’ve known people who from my perspective seemed to be workaholics, never stopping, always looking for another opportunity to minister, to help someone out. And I’ve thought they should look after themselves more. It’s a fine line isn’t it, between being a workaholic, and working flat out at serving God?
But of course it’s much easier to make a judgement like that from the sideline isn’t it? If you’re not the one actually engaged in that ministry it’s hard to know what’s the right thing to do.
Well, in today’s passage we see two different sets of onlookers watching Jesus and judging him. They both think he’s not quite right, though their conclusions as to the cause are quite different.
Mark 2:13-3:6
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
New Wine, New Wineskins audio (5MB)
Most people dislike change. Some people think it’s a necessary evil; but evil nevertheless. But there are times when change is absolutely necessary; when the old ways won’t work; when the old ways will actually hinder the thing that’s coming.
One such moment in time was at the coming of Jesus. The Old Testament from start to finish points to his coming, but with his coming the days of the Old Testament are finished. The way God had taught his people to live as they waited for Jesus was about to be made redundant. The means by which they gained righteousness was about to be overtaken, replaced by a righteousness by faith alone. And the very identity of God’s people was about to be changed.
And we see all of this in great clarity as we read through the end of Chapter 2 and the start of ch3 of Mark.
A Nation of God-Fearers?
The old order established very strict boundaries of righteousness. These were largely built upon the 10 commandments but the rules had been widened to cover a host of situations that weren’t mentioned, in fact probably not even thought of, in Exodus 20. Similarly the old order was built around a belief that the Jews were God’s chosen people and everyone else was excluded. That exclusion meant that faithful Jews would have nothing to do with Gentiles: no business dealings and certainly no social dealings.
Series: 41: Mark 2-7 - Who is this Man?
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Who Is This Man?
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Jesus Forgives a Paralysed Man |
Mk 2:1-12 |
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New Wine, New Wineskins |
Mk 2:13-3:6 |
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Withdrawal & Commissioning |
Mk 3:7-19 |
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The Character Of Jesus Family |
Mk 3:20-35 |
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The Nature Of The Gospel |
Mk 4:1-20 |
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The Nature Of The Kingdom |
Mk 4:21-34 |
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Power Over Sea And Spirits |
Mk 4:35-5:20 |
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Faith To Heal |
Mk 5:21-43 |
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A Prophet Without Honour |
Mk 6:1-13 |
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Food And Water |
Mk 6:30-56 |
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The Secret to Purity |
Mk 7:1-23 |
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The Faith of Foreigners - RL |
Mk 7:24-37 |
Mark 2:1-12
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Jesus Forgives a Paralysed Man audio (5MB)
Have you noticed how mobile phones are now an essential accessory for so many people? It seems like no matter where you are you’re likely to find yourself standing next to someone who’s having a conversation on their phone. And if you’re like me you probably find yourself listening in, wondering what they’re talking about. Mind you, that just leaves you frustrated because the next thing you know they’ve moved away and you don’t know how the conversation finishes up.
Well if you find it frustrating only hearing a snippet of a conversation, you’ll understand why here at St Thomas’ we choose to follow whole books in our sermon series rather than following a lectionary. I guess a lectionary is useful because you don’t have to think about what to read each week - someone else has thought it out for you, but often all you get are snippets with bits left out here and there.
Well, today we’re starting out on a new series following the Gospel of Mark. We actually looked at the first chapter of Mark in January so today we’re going to start with Mark ch2. But before we begin let me encourage you, if you haven’t done it lately, to read all the way through Mark in a single sitting. It’ll only take you about an hour. Or if that’s too hard try reading it a few chapters at a time. I did this while I was away and it’s interesting how you pick up some connections as you move from chapter to chapter that you might miss if you just read a small section as we often do on a Sunday.
Nehemiah 8
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- Written by: George Hemmings
The Leader & Renewal audio (5MB)
I have great news this morning. Wonderful news. The building project’s over! The work’s finished! It seemed impossible, but it’s happened. The builders have been hard at it, working night and day. Despite all those naysayers, despite all the doubt and objections, the last stone has been laid, the cleanup’s done, the job’s finished! If only this were true of our building at Station St! That would be a real miracle, if it were finished this quickly. We still have a while to wait, but this is the message that came to Nehemiah. After just 52 days, the wall around Jerusalem is finished. It was, as we’ve heard a monumental task, plagued with some stiff opposition and no shortage of challenges. But the people have worked hard, and with God’s blessing, it’s all over! You can imagine their sense of excitement and pride. So just as when we finish our building I’m sure we’ll have a big celebration, it’s no different for the Israelites. The wall’s done, now it’s time to party!
Nehemiah 5
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- Written by: John Altmann
The Leader & Justice audio (5MB)
If the world were a village… [youtube video]
In the OT God has given us an object lesson. He teaches by example rather than purely by words. He has gone to great trouble to set up a demonstration of his values in the life of one nation, Israel, that he created out of nothing. He made a people for himself and he shaped and moulded their life together by giving them a set of laws to obey. And those laws create an example of his intentions for the whole of humankind in all times and places. So what we have to do as we read the OT is look at the concrete example of Israel to understand God's intentions and then reapply those intentions to our time and place.
I think the reason God has done it like this is that he knows that we learn best from a real life example. Think about your children: do they learn best to do as you say or to do what you actually do? We learn to imitate what we see in other people, don't we?
Nehemiah 4
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
The Leader & Opposition audio (5MB)
Sometimes you read these stories from the Old Testament and they seem so remote, so removed from our modern world that you wonder whether they can have any relevance for us. I mean, as George pointed out last week, we wouldn’t even think of getting out and building a church by ourselves. Building has become a skilled occupation. You need the right tools and you need to know how to use them without injuring yourself.
Yet as you read through a passage like this you realise that in fact some things haven’t changed. The task may be different but the obstacles are much the same. The reaction of their enemies to their success was similar and the techniques used by those who oppose them have a very contemporary ring to them.
Nehemiah knew before he left Susa that he’d meet opposition. That’s why he asked the king for letters of authority. That’s why the king sent an armed troop with him.
The moment he arrives in Judea, he’s met by the local governors who immediately express their concern at his plans. They’re worried that he’s come to promote the welfare of the Jews.
That concern only escalates as Nehemiah and the Jews go about their task with gusto. Sanballat comes down from Samaria and begins what will be a campaign of opposition aimed at stopping the work. And the slowly escalating opposition takes a familiar course.
