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Spirituality'Spirituality' is a woolly trendy word. Here I mean it to mean the 'HOW' of how we can grow in faith and connection to God's Spirit.
... includes spiritual practices, Lent, prayer 
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Prayer & the growing, dying seed
Mark 4:26-29. The parable of the growing seed
Especially for Harvest Festival
This must be the simplest of Jesus’ parables. Nothing happens except the plant grows. That’s it. But the farmer is still important. The farmer still has to plant the seed, and then harvest the fruit. He doesn’t totally understand how the plant grows but it’s a team effort, I reckon, between him and God. I think that prayer is like that.
John 12:23-26: The Prayer of surrender
Mark 4:26-29. The parable of the growing seed
Especially for Harvest Festival
This must be the simplest of Jesus’ parables. Nothing happens except the plant grows. That’s it. But the farmer is still important. The farmer still has to plant the seed, and then harvest the fruit. He doesn’t totally understand how the plant grows but it’s a team effort, I reckon, between him and God. I think that prayer is like that.
John 12:23-26: The Prayer of surrender
Fasting
Daniel 9:1-6, 17-23
Matthew 5:1-12
Fasting is a central spiritual practice through all of the Bible, and many religious traditions. In this sermon I talk particularly about Daniel (the guy in the lion's den!) and how important fasting was to him, and also about the Beatitudes and Jesus's encouragement to 'hunger and thirst for righteousness'. I draw on the work of Lynn Baab. Check out her most excellent website HERE
I make 5 claims about fasting:
Fasting takes us back to solid ground
Fasting is uncomfortable
Fasting is surprising
Fasting enhances prayer
Fasting is easier than you think, and it is good for you
Daniel 9:1-6, 17-23
Matthew 5:1-12
Fasting is a central spiritual practice through all of the Bible, and many religious traditions. In this sermon I talk particularly about Daniel (the guy in the lion's den!) and how important fasting was to him, and also about the Beatitudes and Jesus's encouragement to 'hunger and thirst for righteousness'. I draw on the work of Lynn Baab. Check out her most excellent website HERE
I make 5 claims about fasting:
Fasting takes us back to solid ground
Fasting is uncomfortable
Fasting is surprising
Fasting enhances prayer
Fasting is easier than you think, and it is good for you
Call ... "God calling!"
2 Peter 1: 1-11
Mark 2:13-17
For myself, I find it so important to remember, when I’m feeling inadequate or frustrated or bored or tired, when I start to doubt that I’m much use to God just now, it is important to remember that I am called and I am chosen and I am given by God what I need for this moment, this week, this year.
This is the beginning of all faith and the foundation for all spiritual disciplines, not that we can somehow by working hard enough get through to God, but that we can get out of the way and let God get through to us.
You are invited to say to the person next to you:
…(name) …, you are called by God’s glory and goodness into God’s great promises. God has given you everything you need.
2 Peter 1: 1-11
Mark 2:13-17
For myself, I find it so important to remember, when I’m feeling inadequate or frustrated or bored or tired, when I start to doubt that I’m much use to God just now, it is important to remember that I am called and I am chosen and I am given by God what I need for this moment, this week, this year.
This is the beginning of all faith and the foundation for all spiritual disciplines, not that we can somehow by working hard enough get through to God, but that we can get out of the way and let God get through to us.
You are invited to say to the person next to you:
…(name) …, you are called by God’s glory and goodness into God’s great promises. God has given you everything you need.
Will and work
Matthew 21:28-32
Philippians 2:1-13
I’m sorry. This isn’t really much of a sermon. I don’t have any important theological points to make about all of this. I don’t have any ethical principles for how you should live your life or what kind of church we ought to be.
I just want to let the scripture speak for itself today. This provocative story and this breathtaking poem. Here’s how Paul sums it up:
for God is at work in you, empowering you to both will and to work for his delight.
Matthew 21:28-32
Philippians 2:1-13
I’m sorry. This isn’t really much of a sermon. I don’t have any important theological points to make about all of this. I don’t have any ethical principles for how you should live your life or what kind of church we ought to be.
I just want to let the scripture speak for itself today. This provocative story and this breathtaking poem. Here’s how Paul sums it up:
for God is at work in you, empowering you to both will and to work for his delight.
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Jacob's Well and what it means to me
The story of my visit to the well, and three kinds of 'realness': the realness of place Through 4, 5, 6 millenia that water has continued to bubble up, and the deep well has provided safe drinking water, for those with a bucket and a long enough rope! The tangible things and the actual physical places, these are the ground on which metaphor and story and meaning stand, and in our super-spiritual individual world today we need to know that there really is a well in Israel. The story really is true. It really happened. the realness of history and the realness of Jesus Jesus is the one who gives us living water, the Holy Spirit, which becomes a spring welling up for everlasting life – not there in Nablus but here in Milson, inside of you as a congregation and inside of you as individuals. That well of sweet clear refreshing water you carry around within you when you go to work or hospital or home. with Powerpoint of photos: For Milson: Powerpoint of Jacob's Well |
Let us pray
Lord Jesus be our well today.
Bring us into your presence, draw us close, sit us down to talk with you.
Give us a bucket, give us rope, that we might draw water, for we are thirsty, thirsty for you.
Give us every day the water that never runs dry,
the spring of life within us, bubbling up for eternal life,
that we might be a source of life and hope, love and grace, for each and every person we meet.
And may all we say and do be for your glory
living Lord, Messiah, who will reveal all things
to the glory of God. Amen.
Lord Jesus be our well today.
Bring us into your presence, draw us close, sit us down to talk with you.
Give us a bucket, give us rope, that we might draw water, for we are thirsty, thirsty for you.
Give us every day the water that never runs dry,
the spring of life within us, bubbling up for eternal life,
that we might be a source of life and hope, love and grace, for each and every person we meet.
And may all we say and do be for your glory
living Lord, Messiah, who will reveal all things
to the glory of God. Amen.
"Teach us to pray"
A sermon on prayer and what it means for me, written for ministry ordinands, Knox College, Dunedin
So does prayer matter for ministry? Of course it does. How, exactly? In what ways is prayer essential to “equip myself to be a faithful pastor”?
A sermon on prayer and what it means for me, written for ministry ordinands, Knox College, Dunedin
So does prayer matter for ministry? Of course it does. How, exactly? In what ways is prayer essential to “equip myself to be a faithful pastor”?
Saying Grace together at meals
Did you know that eating a meal together as a family, all sitting and talking together, is one of the best things you can do to promote your children’s learning and social skills?! Saying a prayer at the start of the meal also grows thankfulness and peace in your home.
Try some of these … a printable A5 resource
Did you know that eating a meal together as a family, all sitting and talking together, is one of the best things you can do to promote your children’s learning and social skills?! Saying a prayer at the start of the meal also grows thankfulness and peace in your home.
Try some of these … a printable A5 resource
Faith
from Taize's Brother Roger, in a Letter from Taize, February 2005
from Taize's Brother Roger, in a Letter from Taize, February 2005
A rather lovely 'letter' from Jesus (author unknown)
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