Bible Study

Church : A brief theology

notes for BLA students Church – a brief theology

Politics, Thoughts

Consumer life??

I was taken aback by a BBC news item headed “abortion clinics cleared for TV by advertising body”, shocked by apparent lapse of moral judgement by the governing body!  The issue is that private abortion clinics are now able to advertise on telly, perhaps not in an upsetting way but nevertheless advertise their pre-natal services.  So I’m watching Downton Abbey, which is interrupted by sugar puffs, persil and now being offered a termination???!!!!!

Now I’m sure it will not get to that, but what is going on.  I’m pretty anti abortion in most cases, but a pro-lifer  I do empathise and understand how for some women abortion seems to be the only option open to them (its not by the way).  I may not agree, but I can get my head around why a woman may feel that is her only choice.  But to advertise services that terminate life along with ready made meals and sofas seems to be morally wrong in every respect.

I suppose it is the inevitable conclusion to a consumer society.  We consume everything in sight, and so now we have the “right” to choose the service to terminate life.  I suppose it won’t be long before euthanasia is legalised and Dignitas will sponsor formula 1 racing.  Madness.

Bible Study, Ephesians, Preach

Glorious Grace

Glorious Grace (eph 1 v6-8) pdf

Last week we looked at the start of the book of Ephesians. We have spiritual blessings in the heavenly places. The first of those was our adoption as children of God.

The second is the nature of ‘glorious grace’ that is ours.

Ephesians 1:6-8

6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.[a] 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

Ephesians 2:4-7

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

‘glorious grace’

Bruce says ‘he has “be-graced” them, Peterson says ‘he wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son’, grace is a lavish gift giving, it is permanent Christmas.

The calling out of destiny, the choosing out of love, the adoption of sons all speaks of a loving lavish Father, it causes us to celebrate the extravagant nature of God (his glory), a resevoir of mercy and love (grace).. When we talk about grace we are talking about a river of love cascading from the heavenly paces.

Grace is glory filled and glory fuelled because grace, the mercy love mixture is a divine product of heavenly nature.

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Bible Study, Ephesians, Preach

Spiritual Blessing : Adoption & Grace

Spiritual Blessing : Adoption & Grace (Eph 1:1-8) pdf

Ephesians 1:1–2      Opening Remarks 

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

They may just be opening comments but they are infused with theology in the very first remarks in the letter.  Paul establishes himself as an apostle (gifted messenger) appointed by God.  It has very similar overtones to the nature of Jesus as the sent one from God, Paul establishes his credentials to the church in Ephesus.  They are of course known to him, he would be seen as a father in the faith to this church, even although this letter was probably a ‘round robin’.  Apostles are not self appointed, there is a sense that God has called them and released them into their role.

‘God’s holy people’ or ‘saints’ are holy because of the imputed righteousness of Jesus (cf. Rom. 4; II Cor. 5:21). It is God’s will that they live holy lives (cf. 1:4; 4:1; 5:27; Col. 1:22; 3:12).

“Believers are both declared holy (positional sanctification) and called to lifestyle holiness (progressive sanctification). Justification and sanctification must be affirmed together!” (Utley)

The saints are “faithful” – “Biblical faith is a series of human choices—repentance, faith, obedience, and perseverance.” Utley

There is a flow of ‘grace and peace’ from the Father and the Son that he sent.  Christ was sent to earth as a demonstration of grace to bring the peace of heaven, so Paul prays over the church the very qualities of heaven, the operation of grace and peace.  Charismatics are supposed to define themselves by grace (charis), the grace people… who are bringers of peace. “Theologically, God’s grace precedes human peace!” Utley

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Article, Sabbatical, Thoughts

Alignment 2011

Thinking a little about the past year, what was God doing? My sabbatical came as a surprise, I never thought the year would bring 6 months off!

At the beginning of 2011 at my first preach of the year I brought a message about “alignment”. I was using a glass Pyrex bowl to talk about the filling of the Holy Spirit when I knocked it and it smashed to hundreds of pieces… Very dramatic (but then I am a bit).

At the time I thought that it was just an accident but as the year progressed I think that this act speaks of something that the Spirit was doing, changing and aligning things.

Well over the year it feels as if the Spirit has been aligning us. Prayer on the agenda, community a high priority, holiness. Sabbatical for me has been a personal alignment, Father got my attention, and we have been doing some business!

I was listening to a Maxwell video (a leadership guru) where he was talking about going to a chiropractor to get his body back into alignment, “I feel great” was his outcome. Alignment does that, when we get aligned with God’s Spirit we get into the right place, things should be great.

For us as a church family, and probably for others, 2011 was a year of a heavenly alignment, getting things straight. So what is 2012 about?

2012 Confidence….more in the next blog