1 Kings 2
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Solomon For King audio (4MB)
You probably heard this week that the Rudd government are delaying the introduction of Carbon trading as a result of the Global Financial Crisis. This is quite an about-face for a government that prided itself on its environmental policy, but of course it was forced on them by external circumstances, wasn’t it? In fact isn’t that always the reason given for a shift of policy that moves from the ideal to the practical? That’s just the nature of politics. Well today we see a similar example of the reality of politics, what a German philosopher of the 19th century called Realpolitik.
David is on his deathbed. He’s lived a long life. He’s seen various ups and downs. And because he’s been king in difficult times he’s had to make various decisions that he wasn’t particularly happy about, but that were necessary to maintain his rule. He’s also made some friends and some enemies. Many of his enemies have been defeated, but there are one or two who for one reason or another are still around. In a couple of cases he’s even had to make a truce with them to ensure peace.
But now as he nears the end of his life he wants to tie up all of these loose ends. The first loose end appears in chapter 1 where the question of the succession arises. Adonijah, one of his older sons decides to jump the gun. He thinks the succession is his by right but he doesn’t want to wait around for David to die and then have to argue his case. So he enlists the help of Abiathar the priest and Joab, the leader of David’s army, to set himself on the throne before any of the other contenders catch on. These two think he’s a good choice. He’s good looking, popular and obviously a good tactician. He makes all the right PR moves. He gets himself chariots and horsemen and an entourage of fifty runners, a rent-a-crowd, to go before him as he goes to make a sacrifice to God in preparation for his coronation. And he invites all his brothers except Solomon to celebrate with him.
Life of Peter 5
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
The Reformation of Peter audio (4.5MB)
It’s only two weeks ago that we were thinking about Peter’s loss of courage in the presence of a young servant woman. But there’s no hint of it in today’s two passages is there? Peter has been thoroughly transformed by the coming of the Holy Spirit to fill him and empower him. A short time before this he’s stood up before the Jerusalem crowds on the day of Pentecost and explained to them the fact of Jesus’ resurrection and the coming of God’s Holy Spirit to change his people. His words on that day were so convincing that 3000 people became followers of Jesus.On this day he’s on his way with John to pray in the temple when he sees a lame man being carried in to sit by one of the gates of the temple to beg. When the man sees them he calls out to ask for money. Now Peter doesn’t have any money but he says to the man, look here. He wants his full attention because what he’s about to do involves his whole life. He says “I don’t have any money but what I have I will give you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.”
The Life of Peter 4
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- Written by: Rev John Altmann
John 21: 1-17 (and read also Psalm 40)
Do you remember an incident in the news with Rex Hunt a couple of years ago? (He paid three women for sex while his wife had cancer). Did he deserve another chance? Should she have taken him back again? What do you think?
And what if his wife took him back. Do you think Rex Hunt would be able to forgive himself and accept what his wife had done for him? Or would he think to himself: there's no way I'm good enough for her, I'll just leave and keep on paying other women?
What about a friend at work who stands by and does nothing when you are attacked at work and blamed unfairly for something? What about a friend at school who stands by and doesn't do anything when other kids lie about you, because your friend is afraid of what this powerful group of kids might do to them? Do these “friends” deserve another chance? Or should they be shunned by you forever? If they realize what they've done are they just actually going to avoid you now, because of how ashamed they may feel?
Good Friday Service of Meditations and Prayers
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- Written by: Chris Appleby & Bill Stewart
John 18:1-19:25
Sentence of Scripture:
“He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. 4Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.” (Isa 53:3-4 NRSV)
Song: Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we pray, as we come to worship you and to meditate on the saving work of your beloved son, Jesus Christ, that our minds might be lifted above the worries of this world to focus on you; our hearts filled with wonder at your saving grace and forgiveness; and our spirits joined with your Holy Spirit in full commitment to your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Song: At The Cross
Judas John 18:1-9
"Who are you looking for?" (John 18:4, 7)
Have you ever said to yourself (as I have), if only I could talk with Jesus and walk with Jesus, I would really commit my life to him? If I could just see Jesus face-to-face and hear his teaching in person I would have no doubts about him. If only it was that simple. Judas walked with Jesus. Judas talked with Jesus. And Judas listened to his teaching. Probably for about three years. But still, the Gospels tell us, in the end it was Judas "who betrayed him" (John 18:2, 5). How could someone who had been so close to Jesus – one of his disciples, one of his own followers (6:71; 12:4) – deny him? You really can count on one hand the people who were closer to Jesus than Judas was. And yet from the very first time he is mentioned in John's Gospel he is called Judas "the betrayer" (6:64). Even Hollywood hasn't made that into a movie! For the rest of history he has been the face of treason.
The Life of Peter 3
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- Written by: Rev John Altmann
The Failure of Peter audio (6MB)
Intro:
Have you ever had a cooking phase where you became obsessed about making the perfect something …. ? A while ago I had a lemon tart phase. Eventually I was very proud of myself, I perfected the technique after a few goes using this great recipe from Stephanie Alexander's book. 'The cook's companion'. Then one day I made the most glorious looking lemon tart yet, but it tasted revolting - I'd succeeded in making it with salt instead of sugar! It was very tart. It's no good is it? It's ruined.
When we spoil something that we're making it's often very hard, if not impossible, to make it come good.
Compare this with God's handiwork in our lives.
When he sets out to build a people for himself and to create followers of Jesus, He is able to build even our failures into his work to shape us to be followers and servants of Jesus Christ.
Do you remember the last episode in the Life of Peter? …..
Jesus predicts that Peter will deny him. Not only that, he says to Simon Peter that God will allow this and build it into his purposes for Peter's life. Jesus says to Peter: "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, 32but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
Series: Theme: Peter the Rock
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Peter the Rock
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The calling of Peter |
Luke 5:1-11 |
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The sifting of Peter |
Luke 22:24-43 |
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The failure of Peter |
Luke 22:54-62 |
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The reinstatement of Peter |
1Jn 1:1-2:2 |
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The reshaping of Peter |
Acts 4:1-22 |
The Life of Peter 2
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- Written by: Rev John Altmann
The sifting of Peter audio (4.5MB)
Have you ever had one of those conversations with another Christian that you just met where they tell you all about their church and how good it is and how many people there are in their congregation and how its grown from 300 to 1000 in the last 3 years? and what a great model of ministry they've got and if you just started doing this program they developed then you'd be bound to have people coming to your church just like them. How do you feel? I used to have conversations like that often with other ministers when I was the vicar of a small struggling Anglican church. I didn't feel really encouraged! They were really saying look at me, look at me, aren't we great, there must be something wrong with you if your church has only got [insert whatever small number of people you like, as long as its significantly less than the church of the person you're talking to]! The problem actually is one of superficial judgment/engagement with exactly where I'm at or the context my church is in.
One of the reasons that we are looking at the life of Peter over these few weeks at church is that Jesus taught him what he really had to offer other people. Jesus taught him how to be a disciple and how to strengthen others to follow Christ. He taught him how not to despair and give up but how to continue to be a disciple. He took Peter beyond superficial judgments and down to the true foundations for following Christ. Through Peter he's going to get us to the bedrock of what it means to be the church.
