I was intrigued last night to hear a comment in the show, ‘Things You Must Do Before You Die’. It is essentially a travel show, ‘Getaway’ in different clothes.
Last night, they were featuring the Middle East, and one of the things they looked at was a massive temple in Egypt. The host spoke of the impressive architecture, before his comment came forth:
“Every day, hundreds of people would gather hear to pray.
It’s such a beautiful temple, I’m sure their prayers were answered.”
So that’s how prayer works? The strength of your transmission is based on the beauty of your temple-antenna?
Fortunately, the truth is very different. The writer to the Hebrews makes it clear that it the perfect priesthood of Jesus that enables us to come to our heavenly Father with the utmost confidence that our prayers will be heard and answered (Heb 7:25):
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God
through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
This fact, then, makes prayer through Jesus definitely ‘something to try before you die’!
The Key to Prayer?
Filed under prayer
Preaching ‘Sola Power’
I am preaching my second sermon at St Paul’s tomorrow, the first at ‘main site’. It is an interesting series, on the ‘Sola’ slogans of the Reformation. Tomorrow’s topic is ‘Sola Scriptura’.
It has reminded me how difficult it is to preach topically/ theologically. I remember hearing Don Carson say once that you shouldn’t attempt to preach such until you’ve been at the task of preaching for more than 10 years. I have seen afresh waht he means!
This sermon has been a delicate balance of communicating the Doctrine of Revelation, exegeting 2 Tim 2:15-17, correcting the error of Roman Catholicism, and applying ‘Bible Alone’ to contemporary Christian. And at 8am, I only have a tight 20 minutes! No wonder I have a headache tonight.
Anyway, we’ll see how we go!
Filed under preaching
We officially exist…
Filed under church
First day at St Paul’s
Well, the first day has come and gone.
It was weird to come back to a place where I was student minister 8 years ago. Much has changed, but it was nice to see a whole bunch of faces that were familiar (and even remember some names – not bad after 8 years!). People were very friendly and welcoming, which was great.
What a mixture of messages that were preached over the 4 services – 2 Chronicles, John 17, Hosea 13-14, and 1 Corinthians 15-16! That much hasn’t changed – people here are still people of the Word. I look forward to the privilege of opening the word with them in the near future.
Thanks to those who have prayed for us in the transition. We are feeling settled in our new house, and ready for this next chapter in the Baker family lives to begin.
Grace and peace.
Nearly back online… (I hope)
I’ve been having all sorts of problems trying to get internet on in our new house.
According to the boffins in front of computers, I can’t get cable or ADSL where I now live – what th’ ?
Anyway, Im attempting to hook up to Unwired whilst I continue to fight the good fight for something better.
Stay tuned…
thegospelcoalition.org now live
[2 things have stopped me from blogging recently: 1, we’ve moved house, and I’ve had all sorts of fights trying to get connected to the internet. It seems like my only choice for the moment is wireless – very sad after being spoilt with cable interent for 5 years!, and 2, we’re away enjoying a winter beach holiday. Very nice!]
I’ve mentioned this site for a little while now. An evangelical powerhouse this will be, with many major players signing up to contribute.
The site is now live, with video and audio from the first conference held in July at Trinity Evangelical Dvinity School. And its all free. Check it out here.
[note – blogger won’t let me put a header for this post – grrrr! it should read ‘thegospelcoalition.org now live’] [[edit – done!]]
Filed under links
Farewell Macquarie ::tears::
Well, its over. Its hard to believe, but our 5.5 years at Macquarie Anglican has come to an end. The good people of Macquarie gave us an extrememly generous send off, a very special time that we will never forget.
We have been privileged to share our lives and ministry with many people of different ages, and have found ourselves blessed in many different ways. We will never be the same, and for that, we thank our gracious God.
Many thanks to the Senior Minister, Roger, for all of his leadership, guidance, wisdom and grace over the years. Thanks too for graciously giving me the chance to speak at the weekend away, and also to speak on my final Sunday.
The audio of the final sermon can be downloaded by clicking on this link.
Our prayers will be with the people of Macquarie, and we know they will be praying for us as we rest and recharge, ready to starT at St Paul’s.
[edit – added the ‘T’ to star in the last line – thanks for pointing it out – it was a typo, not hubris!!!]
Mortality
It’s been a sobering week or so.
Last week, I presided over the funeral of a man who died at age 98.5. He had outlived all of his friends. His funeral was attended by a handful of family, who heard the 1662 Anglican Prayer funeral service’s take on life:
Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up, and is cut down, like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay. In the midst of life we are in death: of whom may we seek for succour, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins are justly displeased?
This week, I presided over the funeral of a baby who died at 28 weeks in the womb. We read from 1 Cor 15 which seemed so apt in that situation:
The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.
And yesterday, I celebrated a birthday. In the midst of everything else that is happening, I was reminded of Psalm 90:
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Praise be to the Lamb who was slain, who has conquered death in his glorious resurrection, and filled our hearts with hope and longing for the New Jerusalem and unending fellowship with each other and with God himself.
Filed under death, hope, resurrection
Revelation talks now online
Well, its over. The Macquarie Anglican Churches Weekend Away is over.
I had the privilege of opening the Word of God with the faithful people from MAC, from the book of Revelation.
Those talks are now available here for any interested in listening.
1. Wake Up to a Bigger Jesus (Rev 1)
2. Wake Up to the Church Jesus Wants (Rev 2-3)
3. Wake Up to the God in Control (Rev 4-5)
4. Wake Up to Our Glorious Future (Rev 21)
(At the moment, they are wav files, so they may take a while to download. I am working on converting them to mp3’s – stay tuned).
Filed under Revelation, sermons
In Anticipation 