Unexpected nice thought

Have just received an electronic Christmas card from the Carmelitas (Carmelite nuns) of Viedma (Argentina) with the assurance of their prayers.


I've never visited a Carmelite nunnery nor Argentina.   Feel slightly guilty about not having sent them one.   


Must write and thank them.

Are there apostles today?

There is a heated debate in Latin American churches about the continued existence of apostles.   This matter has been taken up in Ayuda Pastoral.

How should Christians view claims to contemporary apostleship?

A biblical perspective on the issue indicates the following:

The word "apostle" means  someone sent.  The Greek noun "apostolos" comes from the verb to send.  So as a "sent one" every believer is an apostle:  " no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger ("apostolos") greater than the one who sent him. (Joh 13:16 cf.  Heb.  13:1).

In a general sense an apostle is a gospel messenger.    The mission of the "apostolos" in the New Testament is to take the gospel message.  "as for our brothers, they are representatives ("apostolos") of the churches and an honour to Christ" (2Co 8:23).    To emphasize this,  the apostle is sometimes connected with the prophet:  "I will send them prophets and apostles" (Luk 11:49).

In a special sense an apostle was one of the 12.  There was a particular group that Christ chose to start the primitive church which he called apostles.   After praying all night Jesus "called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles" (Luk 6:13).  Paul was later also to receive this title (Rom.  1:1).

The apostolic message is the foundation of the church.  The 12 had authority because they helped to establish the teaching and practice of Jesus.  By means of their message many were converted and the church was:  "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone"  (Eph.  2:20). In a connected way,  the New Testament was written by those who were apostles or their companions.

Thus the biblical sense of contemporary apostles exists in:

·         the missionary activity of every Christian

·         the message of the New Testament

·         the doctrine and practice of the church of Christ

Super-enhanced response!!!!

Typically an out-of-office automated response to an email is:  

Sorry, I am away just now but will reply as soon as I get back.
Anita

Latinos of course hype things up,  and maybe that's not a bad thing.    Recently I received the following automated response (which has been translated from the Spanish but with the original colours and exclamation marks):

Blessings on you!!!

A thousand thanks for writing to me and what you've shared!!

I hope, with God's help,  you're well!

I look forward to enjoying more of your pleasant and encouraging friendship!!

Fraternal greetings to you!

I'll be in touch!

MARANATHA!!

May Christ bless you ... He is returning soon!!! 

Anita 

Essentials of sermon preparation

Next question dealt with in Ayuda Pastoral:

What are a pastor’s indispensible steps in preparing a sermon?

Basic and essential stages in sermon preparation are:

1. Prayer. What was notable about the ministry of Jesus was his time spent in prayer. Typically we read: "while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed" (Mar 1:35 cp Luk. 5:16; 6:12; 9:28; 18:1; 22:44). The preacher needs to pray for understanding of the text, for the Spirit’s accompanying the Word and for his own humility.

2. Think of the congregation. A sermon has to connect with the real world of its hearers. What concerns do they have? What needs to they face? What is their level of understanding? Paul’s sermons showed a noticeable change when he preached to Jews or Gentiles of the Royal Court (Acts 13:13-41; 17:2-31; 26:2-29). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus appreciated his listeners’ background and so spoke to their situation.

3. Study the text without using commentaries. Commentaries are excellent but best left to the final stages of preparation. The text on its own must first minister to the minister. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached with little preparation because Jesus’ message had taken hold of his mind. The songs of Mary and Zechariah indicate that they were people who reflected deeply on the Scriptures (Lk. 1:46-55; 67-79).

4. Ask questions of the text. In order for the preacher to be enthusiastic about what he is saying there has to be an interaction between himself and the text. To stimulate this he should ask questions of the text, for example: Why has Matthew chosen this particular event to include it in his gospel? How does the passage show John persuading his readers to trust in Jesus? What is important to Paul this in his passage?

Ballymena street signs

Should I give to missionary societies?

Next issue in Ayuda Pastoral (Spanish pastoral website where church leaders respond to a weekly question):

What do you think about donating to missionary societies or charitable institutions? Should we only give our offerings to the local church?

In the world of the New Testament Church there were no separate missionary societies or charitable organizations. So it is difficult to answer this question directly from the Bible. However there are some biblical principles to guide us:

• Usually offerings should go to the local church. Naturally this was the early church practice: “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income” (1 Cor. 16:2 cf. Acts 2:45; 4:34-35)
• Local church leaders are responsible for distributing funds. Elders and deacons used such funds for charitable works and missionary activities: “The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 11:29-30 cf. 2 Cor. 9:5; Acts 6:1-4).
• It is legitimate to give to individuals and organizations. Jesus and the apostles received material help from women who supported their ministry. Luke describes such women as those who “were helping to support them out of their own means” (Luke 8:2-3). Matthew describes such women who followed Jesus to the cross as those who cared “for his needs” (Matt. 27:55). Paul also received help from Christians in Macedonia (2 Cor. 11:9).
• By faith we decide who to give to. Whether it is to the local church, a missionary or a para-ecclesiastical organization, the giving is done believing that it is the right thing to do. Paul says, “everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23), and “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give” (2 Cor. 9:7 cf. 1 Cor. 10:31).

Is church membership biblical?

Next translated offering from Ayuda Pastoral (Help for Pastors):

Is it right to have a system of local church membership?   What principles are there for a balanced view of such a membership?

The New Testament does not give us detailed information about local church practices.   We don’t know the times and forms of services nor what were the customs about admitting someone to church membership or even if such a list existed.   These things need to be worked out in our own context.  However there are some biblical principles involved:

There existed a system of recognizing church members.  Passages which deal with church discipline show that there was a way of knowing who belonged to the church (Matt. 18:17;  3 Jn.  1:10).  Of the 75 uses of the word “church” in the New Testament,   most refer to a local one with people recognized as belonging to it.

Basic knowledge about Christ was required for membership.   For example the Phillipian jailor was taught simple Christian truths by Paul before he was baptized  (Acts 16.32).    This basic teaching was sufficient for him to become a Christian and so a member of the church.  See also  Matt.  16:16-18;  1 Jn.  4:2.

Faith in Christ is essential.   Paul says that it is necessary to confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts to be saved (Rom. 10:9).    So it is insufficient simple to know information about Jesus,  the person must trust in him as their saviour.  See also  Jn.  20:31;  Heb.  11:6.

Christian behaviour shows the validity of faith in Christ.    A person might claim to be a Christian, but how is it to be know if they are genuine?    Jesus said that by a person’s fruit,   or conduct,  sincere Christianity is shown  (Matt.  7:19-21).  People’s lives indicate that they are Christ’s and so privileged to be part his body,  the church  (1 Cor.  1:2:  Jn. 15:1-5).

Day out in Stratford-upon-Avon

Christian view of Facebook

Next entry on Ayuda Pastoral is:

What biblical principles would you recommend to a pastor or church leader to instruct their congregation about a Christian approach to the use of social network sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace?

Social networking sites are a gift from the Lord.

God is our creator and the maker of what we see around us.  We benefit from nature, music,  technology and the social networking sites on the internet.  As Paul comments,   "All things are yours" (1Cor. 3:21) and we can freely enjoy them.

Beware,  there are dangers

Paul also warns that dangers exist even amongst legitimate things in the world,  "'I have the right to do anything,' you say--but not everything is beneficial" (1Cor.  6:12).     

• Being robbed of time.  Time flies when we are in front of the computer,   and unfortunately it can be time badly used.  In contrast to that the Bible says that we should make  "the most of every opportunity because the days are evil" (Eph 5:16)
• Being deceived.  The nature of Satan is that of a deceiver:   "that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray." (Rev 12:9  cf.  Gen.  3:1-7).   He's active on the Internet and it is possible for Christians to be deceived on social networking sites.   Care is needed,   especially in dealing with members of the opposite sex.

There's an even better social network!

At times the apostles had to write to those whom they did not know personally (cf.  Rom. 1:10).   But they realized that the best form of relationship was not a long distance one,  but a personal encounter.  So John says,  "I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete" (2Jo 1:12  cf.  3 Jn 1:13, 14;  Rom.  15:23,24,28).  The better way for social networking is through Starbucks rather than Facebook.

Lenzie, Perth and Aberdeen

Early morning,  Lenzie

Midday,  Perth

Afternoon,  Aberdeen coast

Evening,  Para Handy,  His Majesty´s Theatre,  Aberdeen

What an interesting life,  Lord,  thank you

Addicted to pornography?

Recently the Spanish website Ayuda Pastoral (Pastoral Help) started up a weekly problem solving column. They give you a maximum of 300 words to respond to an issue and you must be biblical.

This week's was: What steps would you recommend to a church leader or pastor to free someone addicted to pornography. 

And my tuppence worth ...

1. Convince the person that pornography is sin

Matt. 5:28; Rom. 1:27; Col. 3:25

Within marriage sex is a gift of God and a blessing. Outside of it:  a disaster. Even though someone is a Christian, if they do not remain faithful in their living,   potentially their end will be catastrophic, as in the case of Judas.

2. Persuade the him or her to repent

Mark 1:15; Rev. 2:5

The tense of the verbs in Mark 1:15 implies a continual sense. We believe and keep on believing. We repent and keep on repenting. Faith and repentance are not just conversion experiences, they are for the rest of the Christian life.

3. Explain they must leave off pornography

Col. 3:5; 2 Tim 2.22, Eph 4.22, 25, 27

Paul uses phrases such as "run away from" or "put to death". To do this it is necessary to remove yourself from the opportunity of seeing pornography or even thinking of it. It implies not logging on to the computer if that is the source of temptation or blocking adult TV channels.

4. Help the person to replace it with what is good

Eph 4:24; Col 3:10,14; Phil. 4:8

The thinking of the apostle is that of an exchange: putting off the old nature and putting on the new. Leaving aside the pornography and replacing it with Christ. Instead of thinking about the immoral,  thinking about the word. Practice what is good rather than licencious (Phil. 4:8). And if this becomes your practice,  in time you´ll beat the addiction and gain a far, far better life..

Misty Ben Lomond

T

Trip to the top of Ben Lomond with Kirkintilloch Ramblers


"I lift up my eyes to the mountains-- where does my help come from?" (Psa 121:1 NIV)