Excellent Sermon-Meditative Sermon: Sarah and Hagar

I found this sermon quite well developed and spirit lead. I really enjoyed this one and I think we can all agree it was quite good no matter which side we are on in terms of women priest within the Anglican communion. The sermon was by Revd Sarah Eynstone, Chaplain of St Paul's Cathedral (Anglican Cathedral).

No Secrets Hidden

John 18: 12-40 NLT

12 So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested
Jesus and tied him up. 13 First they took him to Annas, the father-in-law of
Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had told the
other Jewish leaders, "Better that one should die for all." 15 Simon Peter
followed along behind, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was
acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the courtyard with
Jesus. 16 Peter stood outside the gate. Then the other disciple spoke to the
woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. 17 The woman asked Peter,
"Aren't you one of Jesus' disciples?""No," he said, "I am not." 18 The guards
and the household servants were standing around a charcoal fire they had made
because it was cold. And Peter stood there with them, warming himself. 19
Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had
been teaching them. 20 Jesus replied, "What I teach is widely known, because I
have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple. I have been heard by
people Jewish people; also in 18:38." href="#fn-descriptionAnchor-a" everywhere,
and I teach nothing in private that I have not said in public. 21Why are you
asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said."22 One
of the Temple guards standing there struck Jesus on the face. "Is that the way
to answer the high priest?" he demanded. 23 Jesus replied, "If I said anything
wrong, you must give evidence for it. Should you hit a man for telling the
truth?"24 Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest. 25
Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire, they asked him again,
"Aren't you one of his disciples?""I am not," he said. 26 But one of the
household servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had
cut off, asked, "Didn't I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?" 27
Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed. 28 Jesus' trial before
Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the
headquarters of the Roman governor. His accusers didn't go in themselves because
it would defile them, and they wouldn't be allowed to celebrate the Passover
feast. 29 So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, "What is your
charge against this man?" 30 "We wouldn't have handed him over to you if he
weren't a criminal!" they retorted. 31 "Then take him away and judge him by your
own laws," Pilate told them."Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,"
the Jewish leaders replied. 32 This fulfilled Jesus' prediction about the way he
would die. 33 Then Pilate went back inside and called for Jesus to be brought to him.
"Are you the King of the Jews?" he asked him. 34 Jesus replied, "Is this your
own question, or did others tell you about me?"35 "Am I a Jew?" Pilate asked.
"Your own people and their leading priests brought you here. Why? What have you
done?" 36 Then Jesus answered, "I am not an earthly king. If I were, my
followers would have fought when I was arrested by the Jewish leaders. But my
Kingdom is not of this world."37 Pilate replied, "You are a king then?" "You say
that I am a king, and you are right," Jesus said. "I was born for that purpose.
And I came to bring truth to the world. All who love the truth recognize that
what I say is true."38 "What is truth?" Pilate asked. Then he went out again to
the people and told them, "He is not guilty of any crime. 39 But you have a
custom of asking me to release someone from prison each year at Passover. So if
you want me to, I'll release the King of the Jews." 40 But they shouted back,
"No! Not this man, but Barabbas!" (Barabbas was a criminal.)


I have said nothing in secret. Jesus had a message for us not only did the
Son of God die to save us but to teach us how to live life: love, compassion,
and fogiveness. This message challenged the Jewish Religous structure and the
power of the Sanhedrian made up of two dominate Jewish groups of the time the
Pharisees and the Saducees-both very powerful groups. It also possed challenge
to the political powers of the time. Jesus stayed true, stayed strong, and was
willing to stand alone at the cross when all had gone astray, even his
disciples. We as the body of Christ are called to do nothing less. To walk in
the love and justice of Christ Jesus then we must challenge evil and injustice
where we see it and to not do so is to deny just as Jesus did. We are so suppose
to be a light to all nations, to bring the Good News of our chains and bounds to
sin have been broken and that we are love beyond human comprehension and ability
by the loving and true God. God is compatient, always Good, always faithful,
always loving, and changes us. We know following Christ will bring us in
conflict witht the ways of the world, that we can no longer accept the
injustice- we will be in conlfict with the powers at work, What is true faith in
Christ, it is a willingness to die for Christ sake, for his message, and for his
glory (not your own). Jesus came to give us a new ways to live and to bring
adudant life in him. everlasting and eternal life. We must be willing to die for
his message which is the Kingdom of God is at hand, the reign of God will be
realized by all. We are able to give becaue Christ we are to reach out the
oprressed and persecuted, the captives, the proclaim the Good News to those who
have never heard it or to those who never heard that the Good News is for them
as well,

Godly Leadership

Are you feeling called to lead? Are you nervous? You are not alone. What distinguish's a godly leader? We are participants in God;s plans and his creation. We are not simply bodies, but also have a spirit and participate in relationship with the Divine (God). Those who are called to be leaders must not missue their gifts or abuse their authority. In order to be in ministry we must show up, to pay attention, to tell the truth, and leave the ultimate results to God. Dont get overly anxious for the results are ultimately up to God. Moses has lead his people all through the wilderness of Sinae and up to the edge of the promised land. He has climed up mount Nebo and can finally see the land promised by God across the river. However his time as a leader has ended as he is going to die their and a new leader will be brought up. However Joshua will continue the work of Moses for God-Moses has lead his people and discerned and now it is time for Joshua to finish the task. A signifigant part of godly leadership is about succesion, who is next in line? Many of God's chosen leaders are suprising choices, at least to those around them. Youngest and weak (skinny) harp playing shepard boys such as David, the unclean outsider Rahab, outcasts such as the women at the well, socialy unacepted Mathew, murderous Moses, and the Son of God Jesus Christ coming down as a humble carpenter. A good example of Leadership is Paul: He had been mistreeted and has suffered yet doesnt complain. The tough moments havent stopped him from answering his call to spread the Good News, he hasnt been decietful but honest and transparent. Answering to God and not those around him. He is not out to become rich or to make himself look righteous, but to be a gentle and helpful servant . That is what Christian leadership is about serving God and his community and the Son of God Jesus came as a servant so we are so called to be too. We are both sheep and sheppard- each one of us are both leader and disciple, sheep and sheppard, minister of the Gospel and proclaimer of Good News and Grace. Dont be scared either because Moses questioned and no one is ever ready when the time comes but God changes us and gives us his words through the Holy Spirit, so be not afraid God is with us, Emmanuel. The life of faith in Christ is partly about leadership and we are all called to do it at some point. This is part of what is said at the end of the service: go out in Peace to love and serve the Lord. Celebrate and share the joy, celebrate new life. We are called by God to go out their and change the world through him. We havent yet arived at the fullness of the kingdom of God, we havent yet fully crossed into the promised land, that is why God is continuing to raise up leaders. An example of this is Remigius as he was born around 487 in what is modern France. From his youth he was know to be a servent of God and for his holiness. When their was a need for a bishop in Rheims he was elected despite being only 22 and a laymen. He is known to have converted the Frankish people and their leader Clovis. Clovis was responcible for uniting the Germanic tribes and his baptism was signifigant. Talk about God raising a suprising leader. I think taking the risk of leadership as it is a part of growing in Christ, and really it is no risk at all as Christ will be their with you, God will be their to guide your actions. God Bless.

Denominational Idolitry

I was raised a Baptist and have since left that denomination not because they are not good Christian people or following the Lord, but I was called by the Holy Spririt to be an Anglican (Im going to be confirmed in September). However recently I noticed after a retreat I noticed that I was Idolizing the denomination which you should never do, all Glory to God and Christ Jesus (also the Holy Spirit). I noticed I was upset also over what happened to the Episcopal Church and couldnt let it go. We live in a society where their is no belief in absolute truth, only relative truth. But this doesnt even make sence. We are told truth is relative and that is garbage, truth is truth. If I say the sun is square shaped, it is not going to make the sun square. Jesus Christ is the truth, he is the only truth, and man's (and woman's) only hope for salvation. " While the Episcopal Church (TEC) remains static in church growth with declining membership in nearly all dioceses with some notable exceptions like the Diocese of Albany and what was formerly the Diocese of South Carolina, its numbers are
on an overall downward trajectory due to smaller, aging congregations, declining
income, the push for pansexual acceptance, and a failed effort to double the church by 2020" (virtueonline.org , David W. Virtue ). Another quote with some implications "Canon Phil Ashey of the American Anglican Council has done significant research on the future of The Episcopal Church. Any way you cut it, it doesn't look good. He paints a grim future for TEC. He recently wrote, "A lot of dioceses will wait until it is too late and eat up their endowments before they merge: Delaware, Easton, and Maryland; Long Island and New York; Connecticut and Rhode Island.
One could easily make the case that all the dioceses in upstate New York
(Western New York, Rochester, Central New York, and Albany) ought to merge. The
Episcopal landscape is going to look a lot different in the coming years. But,
based on my estimates (taking into account the average age of Episcopalians, no
conversion growth, low birthrate, and poor retention of young people), things
start imploding at an alarming rate after about 2018--and that's only six years
from now." (virtueonline.org , David W. Virtue ). While God's mercy is for all time, his patience is not. I think the Lord our God has run out of patience with the denominational Idolitry that splits his people and is using the religion of secularism to bring the name brand protestant denominations as he did Aysria to stop our Idolitry and bring us back to Christ and to work together evangelical non denominational, methodist, presbyterian, calvanist, lutheran, and more back to the heart of worship and truth in Christ. The way I like to is Im a Christian #1, an Anglican second and am willing and more than willing to work with Christians of any creed for the advancment of the Kingdom of God. Their is hope through God and the more Orthodox ACNA is growing, God Bless.

Gnostic Books are not in the cannon for a Reason!

Their has been increasing interest about the non canonnical Gospels in recent times but while these may be interesting they are literaly doctorinaly corupt and contradictory. Yes one may read them but be careful. Their ae two bibles that Christians use depending on one's theological conviction which are the 66 book cannon with the New and Old Testement and the Apocryphal version mainly used by Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, some Anglicans, and a few oher groups. From wikipedia: "most often those over which there is still-current disagreement about biblical canonicity. The pre-Christian-era Jewish translation (into Greek) of holy scriptures known as the Septuagint included these writings. However, the Jewish canon was not finalized until at least 100-200 years into the Christian era, at which time considerations of Greek language and beginnings of Christian acceptance of the Septuagint weighed against some of the texts. Some were not accepted as part of the Hebrew Bible canon... Those canons were not challenged until the Protestant Reformation (16th century), when both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches reaffirmed them. The reformers rejected the parts of the canon that were not part of the Hebrew Bible and established a revised Protestant cannon." However their is no quesion that the Gnostics arent borderline cannocical and this become very apparent because they often contradict the three Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel According to John. Some of these books are the Gospel of James, the Gospel of Phillip, the Gospel of Marry, the Gospel of Thoms (probley the most famous). These ones are herretical and talk about secret knowledge (dangerous stuff to ones spiritual health). In fact in one of them it talks about Jesus as a kid---when he get angry he kills people and brings them back to life. So while interesting they are best to be avoided and if you are reading them pray before and just remember these are not part of the Cannnon because they are not Gods divinely inspired Word and that is why they are no in the cannon.

Godly Wisodm

Proverbs Chapter 4 Verse 7 NLT: Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. Another great verse to go with it is Corinthians 1:26 Believers think of what you where when you where called: not many where wise or had wisdom by human standards, not many where Influential not many where of noble birth but God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. God Chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong, he chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are so none may boast before him. Look at the people God usually chooses the a little Sheppard boy named David becomes King, Moses the murder, (and more but I will keep the list fairly short) and even when the word became Flesh Jesus was a humble carpenter from Nazareth. Who would ever had thought Paul (Saul) who was persecuting and killing Christians would become one of the greatest promoters of the truth of Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah, the Savior, the Son of God. God always shows it is his might his power and his glory, his wisdom that bring about the greatest things in life. Also look into 1Corithians 1:30 -That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.... It is because of God the Father that we are in Christ Jesus, not by anything we have done. The truth is despite it being somewhat of a choice you are in Christ not because of a prayer or you chose him, but because he chose you (and we should be eternally grateful).  2 Corinthians 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought. This is about God, he has given us his knowledge (not all just what we need). Remember no has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. Proverbs 2:1-8 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints…. Wisdom of God guards and protects our paths Wisdom directs our paths through the Holy Spirit. Wisdom perfects our path. The fear of God is the begging of all wisdom. Fear as in awe, the fear of displeasing. Pray to God as he promises he will reveal to you more, as he loves you, pursue his knowledge first and you wont be disappointed.

Transfer

Over time I will be transfer some of the posts from my old website to here.

New Website.

Hello everyone this is a post here on my new blog. This blog was created to replace my older blog www.anglicanfollowerofchrist.weebly.com because I think I can reach more people through blogger and for this one to be a little more grown up and professional. God Bless.