iii)
We need to learn to be aware of brothers and sisters around
the world , what is happening to them, and take action on their
behalf when it is needed, i.e. learn how to support
the church around the world.
This
morning we focus on the first one, reflecting on a people who need to
learn who they are so that they can be a credible voice in the world.
A.
Questions of Jesus
•
The disciples, living close to Jesus,
were able to bring all their questions to him.
•
We often find them asking questions of
him in the Gospels
•
Question: Are we a questioning people
who are not afraid to ask the Lord about our doubts?
Mt
11:2,3 When
John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to
ask him, " Are you the one who was to come, or
should we expect someone else?"
-
about Jesus' identity
Mt
13:10 The
disciples came to him and asked, " Why do you
speak to the people in parables?"
-
about teaching style
Mt
17:10 The
disciples asked him, " Why then do the teachers
of the law say that Elijah must come first?"
-
about God's plans
Mt
19:17 Then
the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, " Why
couldn't we drive it out?"
-
about power limitations
Mt
19:27 Peter
answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What
then will there be for us?"
-
about self-interest
Mt
20:20-22 Then
the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling
down, asked a favor of him. " What is it you
want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons
of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."
"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them
-
wrong asking
B.
Questions by Jesus
•
But it was a two way street – Jesus asked
questions of his disciples
•
This would have often made them uncomfortable.
•
Question: are we open to the Lord challenging
us, asking questions of us?
Mt
16:13-15 When
Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,
" Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They
replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still
others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about
you?" he asked. " Who do you say I am?"
Mt
11:7-9 As
John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about
John: " What did you go out into the desert to
see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did
you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear
fine clothes are in kings' palaces. 9 Then what did
you go out to see? A prophet?
Mt
17:24-25 the
collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, " Doesn't
your teacher pay the temple tax?" "Yes, he does,"
he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak.
" What do you think , Simon?" he asked. "From
whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes--from their own
sons or from others?"
Mt
21:28-31 "
What do you think? There was a man who had two sons.
He went to the first and said, `Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
" `I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and
went. "Then the father went to the other son and said the same
thing. He answered, `I will, sir,' but he did not go. " Which
of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first,"
they answered.
C.
Twenty First Century Questions
Why
doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
Why
isn't there mouse-flavoured cat food?
If
the black box flight recorder is never damaged during a plane crash,
why isn't the whole airplane made out of that stuff?
When
two airplanes almost collide, why do they call it a near miss and not
a near hit?
If
man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and
apes?
You
tell a man there's 400 billion stars and he'll believe you, but tell
him a bench has wet paint and he has to touch it? Why?
Why
do you pres harder on the remote control when you know the battery is
dead?
Why
do we wash bath towels? Aren't we clean when we use them?
What's
another word for Thesaurus?
i.e. We prefer light-hearted humour to serious questions!!!
D.
Twenty First Century Statements!
The
following are a number of comments from readers of the Times on the
Internet about one particular article. They reveal the modern tendency
to make statements rather than ask questions, and unfortunately the
statements often indicate a lack of thought behind them:
I
can't wait for the roll-out of London
buses emblazoned with advertisements (bankrolled by Richard Dawkins)
declaring "There's probably no God .... Now stop worrying and enjoy
your life" It says it all really.
•
i.e. forget about God! •
Blind optimism is so often found to be
bankrupt
One
does not need to subscribe to or be controlled by religion to have compassion,
moral & ethics - Its free and unconditional.
•
i.e. I can be moral without God •
Unfortunately the Bible challenges the
truth of that!
Religious
beliefs are ideologies headed by make believe supreme beings that religious
leaders manipulate to hold on to power and control the masses.
•
i.e. religion is about power!
•
Well, actually no, it's about be sacrificially
servant-hearted, like Jesus.
"Religion
for the common person is true, for the wise, false; and for the rulers,
useful" (Seneca). Just maybe, the human species is getting wiser:
we are learning to rid ourselves of superstitious beliefs in the 'supernatural'
and of the need for religious 'comfort blankets'. We can be moral too!
•
i.e. religion is for the immature
•
Well, actually no, it's about thoughtful,
maturity that only comes through the knowledge of Christ.
The
last thing we need is politicians making decisions based on bronze age
myths and their relationship with a made up friend... I should like
to believe and go to heaven, but can someone with.. Faith....explain
exactly where it is located
•
i.e. faith is about the past
•
No, faith is as relevant today as it was
in the past – and it is based on factual evidence
Fear
was something I grew up with as a catholic child/teenager, as an atheist
parent I am enjoying watching my children flourish in a environment
where they are free to question all religions.
•
i.e. fear panics us away from the truth
• Which
is why Jesus came revealing God's love which drives out fear.
Religion
is creating problems all over the world yet it is still being encouraged
in our schools. It is at best a theory which was largely built on primitive
belief and which has developed into a business
•
i.e. religion is a divisive out-dated
belief system •
Only when it is high-jacked by those wanting
to use it for political ends.
Faith
is lying to yourself about how certain you should be, convincing yourself
to be excessively certain. Faith is inherently dishonest, because it
involves LYING to yourself about how certain you should be.
•
i.e. faith is about dishonesty
•
No, it's about building understanding
on the evidence that enables us to step out with God
E.
Some Concluding Thoughts
Col
4:6 Let
your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that
you may know how to answer everyone.
‘
Knowing how to answer ' includes:
•
knowing what to say (facts about
faith)
•
knowing how to say it (with
grace and respect)
2
Cor 5:12 We
are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you
an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who
take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.
i.e.
Be ready to
•
counter materialism
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