Thursday's Reflection

Read Isaiah 7:13-16. "Immanuel" is (in the first instance) the faithful remnant of people that Jerusalem gives birth. It is as the Lord promised: there will be a remnant. How does the fact of the remnant help you to trust the Lord this week?

What does science say about sexuality?

"I see sexuality in the same way that I see skin colour and can only hope that the Church will eventually accept what the scientists are saying."  

When a friend said that to me a while back it made me want to find out more about what the scientists really were saying.  Here is a link to an article  which, as far as I can tell, summarises the latest research.  I think it will help us when we talk to friends who assume that sexuality is simply a matter of genetics. 

How to watch a film

We watch films and we talk about films.

But what does it mean to watch a film as a Christian?

How can we talk about films in ways that get people thinking?

On 10th & 17th August we’ll do some thinking together, watch a film together and then have a go at talking about it together.

With drinks and snacks. 7-10pm @ Alma Church BS8 2ES.

Want to join us? Sign up here.

Great answers to difficult questions

A big thank you to everyone who sent in questions off the back of last week's talk on Who chose the gospels?  I shall stir them into the pot as we think about our teaching and preaching plans for the year ahead.

Many people wanted to be pointed in the direction of more resources.  Below is a sample video from a great website I have found.  It is full of first class (and quite short) videos in which trusted scholars tackle questions that people have about God.  



For more of this kind of thing click Godnewevidence

Who chose the gospels?

Why do we have the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in our Bibles, but not the gospel of Thomas? And what about the gospels of Judas, Peter, Mary or Nicodemus?  How can we be sure that the version of Jesus that we know from the New Testament is the authentic version?  Has there been a cover-up?

Below is a flavour of the kinds of things we will be thinking about this Sunday at Emmanuel Bristol (11:15 Bishopston; 4:00 Westbury).

Look at what we are part of

This map charts the progress of the Gospel over the last 2,000 years.  What will it mean for us to play our part in what the Lord is doing to reach out to every "nation, tribe people and language"  (Revelation 7:9)

How to listen to a sermon

Here are seven helpful tips from Christopher Ash for the New Year 

How to listen to a sermon? you may think. What a silly subject. After all, it would be pointless to write on “how to watch TV.” And listening to a sermon is even easier than watching TV, since I don’t have to deal with the remote control. It’s a passive activity, something preached to me, not something I actively do.

Ah, but it’s not. After the parable of the sower, Jesus says: “Consider carefully how you listen” (Luke 8:18). He says if we listen in one way, we will be given more, but if we listen in another way, even what we think we have will be taken from us. It’s a life-and-death business, listening to sermons. So let us consider carefully how to listen. Here are seven pointers.

1. Expect God to speak.

Although we are listening to sound waves produced by human vocal chords, if the preacher is opening up the Bible then we are actually listening to the authoritative voice of God. “If anyone speaks,” Peter writes about Bible teaching in church, “he should do it as one speaking the very words of God” (1 Pet. 4:11). And if anyone listens to a faithful sermon, he should do so as if hearing the very words of God.

Pray during the week for next Sunday’s preacher. Pray for yourself and those who go to church with you. Come to the sermon as physically and mentally fresh and attentive as you possibly can. Quiet your mind and heart and expect God to speak. “Lord, speak to me. I am listening.”

2. Admit God knows better than you do.

When Timothy preached in Ephesus, Paul warned him that many would “not put up with sound [health-giving] doctrine,” but would desire for the preacher “to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Tim. 4:3). By nature we all want that. We want the sermon to make us feel better about ourselves, to boost our self-esteem, to reinforce our preexisting prejudices.

But when God speaks, he calls me day by day, week by week, to turn from sin and to trust in Christ. He calls me to “get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted” in me (James 1:21). I need to sit under the Word in humility, not over it in judgment. God is God and I am not. I must be ready, then, to adjust my opinions, my beliefs, my heart, my life.

3. Make sure the preacher says what the passage says. 

Our question is how to listen to an expository sermon. Every sermon should open up from Scripture the meaning God has already put into Scripture. In this sense, every sermon should be expository—exposingwhat’s there. The alternative is “impositional” preaching in which the preacher imposes a meaning on the text. Of course, some sermons expound one passage while others expound verses from more than one passage. The advantage of the former is that it’s easier to ensure the preacher says what the passage says. 

The authority of the preacher doesn’t come from his office (pastor, minister, or whatever) or his powerful personality. It is entirely a delegated authority. When he says what Scripture says, he speaks with authority; when he does not, he has no authority. A friend once said to me that when his pastor preached, he would have his Bible open and ask, “Where did he get that from?” It’s a good question. If I can see he got it from the passage, I should bow and repent and believe; if not, I shouldn’t. 

Be humble but not gullible. Read the passage during the week leading up to the sermon. Ponder it. You don’t have to be an academic to do this. What’s the main idea? Is the central thrust of the sermon the central thrust of the passage.

4. Hear the sermon in church. 

It is possible to hear sermons from downloads, alone, in our own time, at our own convenience. This is not a bad thing, but it’s not the best thing. God’s standard pattern is for his people to assemble (“church” means “assembly”) and sit under his Word together.

Listening to sermons is not a “me and God” thing; it’s a “God shaping us together” thing. We listen together. We hold one another accountable. I’ve heard the sermon; you know I’ve heard it; now you know I’ve heard it. You expect me to respond appropriately, and I expect you to. We help one another, stirring one another up to godly living as we gather together (Heb. 10:24–25).

5. Be there week by week.

Be regular in church. We breathe the cultural air of anti-commitment. It’s so easy to drift in and out, sitting on the edge as spectators. But the commitment to consistently gather with your covenant family is important. 

God doesn’t give us quick fixes that come from hearing one or two Sunday sermons; he shapes and molds our minds, our hearts, and our character over time by the steady drip, drip, drip of his Word. We need to hear Christ proclaimed again and again. As Peter puts it, “I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them” (2 Pet. 1:12). Consider keeping a record of the Sundays you are—or are not—in church. You may be shocked at how often you’re away. Resolve to be there regularly, both for your own good and the good of those around you. 

6. Do what the Bible says.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves,” the apostle writes. “Do what it says” (James 1:22). The purpose of sermons isn’t to make us know-it-alls, but to make us like Jesus. We are to be those who “hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop” of godly character (Luke 8:15). We don’t come to the preaching of God’s Word to be entertained or to have our brain cells tickled by intellectual displays or to have our emotions swayed by manipulative oratory. We come to hear, to worship, and to obey.

After the Sunday sermon, think about some concrete way in which you will obey the preached Word. Write it down. Tell someone what it is. It may be something to start doing, or to stop doing. It may be words to speak, or to stop speaking. Most of all, it will be an attitude or desire of the heart. It may help to keep a journal Sunday by Sunday. Return to past entries from time to time and review your progress. Ask yourself how God is at work in you through his Word. You may be surprised and encouraged. 

7. Do what the Bible says today—and rejoice. 

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” So says Psalm 95, and so says the writer of Hebrews quoting it (Heb. 3:15). Today. There is an urgency to our hearing. Don’t put it off till tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come. 

And then rejoice. Be glad God caused the Bible to be written exactly as he wanted. Be glad for the good news of all he’s given us in Christ. If you are a believer, be glad your name is written in heaven. Let each time you sit with your covenant family in Christ listening to a sermon be a time of fresh repentance, fresh reliance, and fresh obedience to your King. 

Christopher Ash is a pastor and author. From 2004–2015 he served as director of the Proclamation Trust’s Cornhill Training Course in London.

Should Ofsted inspect Emmanuel's children's work?

The Government's Counter-Extremism Strategy raises serious concerns about civil liberties - particularly for Christians and Christian institutions. Here is an article which the Evangelical Alliance have written. 

Please could everyone read it (or watch the Evangelical Alliance Video) and respond to the Government by clicking on the link below before JANUARY 11th

Respond to the government's consultation on out-of-school education

Extremism poses a serious threat to our country and the Counter-Extremism Strategy (CES), published on 19 October 2015, sets out the government's approach. The CES has a specific focus on out-of-school settings and the government intends to introduce a new system of registration, regulation and inspection to keep children safe generally from the risk of harm, including emotional harm, while promoting their welfare.  

The aim of the new regime is to enable action to be taken where out-of-school settings are failing to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, which includes failing to protect them from the harm caused by 'extremism'. 

The Department for Education (DfE) is calling for evidence to inform the development of the government's proposals for requiring certain 'out-of-school education settings' to register and be subject to risk-based inspections. This call for evidence is now open and closes on 11 January 2016.

What is meant by 'out-of-school settings'? 

Out-of-school settings covered by this proposal are those who "intensive tuition, instruction or training out of school". Intensive tuition could be considered anything that entails an individual child under the age of 19 attending a setting for cumulatively more than between six to eight hours per week, including evenings and weekends.

What does this mean for Christians? 

Churches, youth groups, holiday clubs, church camps, Christian festivals, Bible-reading groups, homeschooling events or training courses for those under 19, lasting six hours or more per week, would be subject to registration and inspection by Ofsted under the current proposals. As it stands, a single one-off event lasting a day would also appear to require registration.  

We are concerned about these proposals and would urge all of its members who are involved in the tuition, instruction or training to those under 19 to submit evidence to the consultation highlighting the problems within the government's proposed approach.

The Evangelical Alliance is asking:

Church leaders – to consider whether these proposals will affect your ministries. Would Ofsted regulation limit your activities? Do you consider there is any tension between 'British Values' 'Extremism' and orthodox biblical teaching? Is it possible that a young person participating in the life of your church over a week may meet the time threshold for registration? Are you concerned about the cost and burden of these proposals?

Youth leaders – to consider whether the registering of all events/trips over six hours would restrict your youth work. How would this affect the children in your care? Would limits on what is acceptable to teach affect the way you work? Are you concerned about a complaints process being abused? Would you be less inclined to offer prayer or pastoral support?

Teachers – to outline the implications this could have for helping out with church activities. Would the threat of a safeguarding complaint issued against a ministry you're involved in deter you from volunteering due to the implications for your career? Would your church be required to make multiple registrations? Does your church have the resources to maintain this monitoring process? Would the prospect of an Ofsted inspection make you less likely to help out with supplementary education?

Parents – to explain the benefits of supplementary education provided by the church. In what way has your child benefitted from church activities? Are these activities a valuable source of education and enrichment? Do you value the moral teaching provided by churches? Do church youth activities help with the cost of childcare in holiday periods? Have your children made friendships through such groups?

Students – to list the out-of-school education – youth groups, trips and holiday clubs – you've attended in the last year, and how they've benefited you.

The full outline of the consultation, including the perceived need and details of the proposed strategy,can be found online here.

Submitting your Response

Engaging with the call for evidence sends a powerful message to the government that evangelicals care about the issue. As members, this is an opportunity to inform the government about the tremendous work that Christians undertake in the area of supplementary education.

There are three easy ways to submit responses:

1) Complete the online form here - you will need to register, which takes 90 seconds.

You don't have to answer every question.

After filling in your details, the important questions on the form are:

Question 12: Give details of the positive benefits that you think out-of-school settings provide for children and the local community, including any case studies from your own experience.

Question 15: Tell the government whether you agree with the proposed criteria ('threshold') of six to eight hours per week and why. In this question you suggest alternative criteria to the government.

Question 20: Should Ofsted be able to investigate out of school settings meeting the criteria ('threshold')? Why might this concern you?

Question 21: Tell the government about the potential impact of these proposals on your church, denomination, groups, families and ministries.

Question 22(b): Apart from those staff who are barred from working with young people, should Ofsted have a say in the appointment of 'unsuitable' staff?

Question 22(d):  Should 'undesirable' teaching, including teaching which undermines or is incompatible with fundamental British values, or which promotes 'extremist' views, as set out in paragraph 3.19 of the Call for Evidence be prohibited? Do you have any concerns regarding this definition?  Do you foresee any problems with these proposals?

Question 25: Will these proposals have a significant impact on certain people or a certain group of people in society? Please explain why to the government, using your own or other published figures if possible.

2) Send an Email to: outofschoolsettings.REVIEW@education.gsi.gov.uk

Provide your contact details, organisation/role and answer the above points.

Or

3) Post to: Out-of-school settings: call for evidence
             Department for Education
             Sanctuary Buildings
             Great Smith Street,
             London, SW1P 3BT

John Lewis Christmas Advert Remake

What are we to do with the OT Law?

As we've worked through Galatians almost every week people have raised questions about what Christians are to do with the OT Law.  Here's a short animation that tells the story of how Jesus fulfills the Law.

Humility

Through Galatians the Lord has been teaching us about Christian freedom.  We have not been set free to do whatever we fancy.  We have been set free to "serve one another in love" (Galatians 5:13).  

On Sunday we looked at the picture Galatians 5:25-6:10 paints of what that love looks like. 

5:26 ("Let us not become conceited...") might seem like a rather negative note for Paul to launch in with, but he knows that pride is the enemy of love.  The person who thinks that they are accepted by God because they are good will always tend towards the sort of pride that will stop them from serving those who are struggling.  

The person who knows that they are accepted by God because of Christ, will be marked by a humility that will turn their hearts away from themselves and towards others.

Here's Thomas Brooks (17th century pastor) in his extraordinarily insightful book "Precious Remedies against Satan's devices" on gospel-fuelled humility... 

"Ah! Did Christians more abound in humility they would be less bitter froward and sour and they would be more gentle, meek and sweet in their spirits and practices.  Humility will make a man have high thoughts of others and low thoughts of man's self: it will make a man see much glory and excellency in others and much baseness and sinfulness in man's self; it will make a man see others rich and himself poor, others strong and himself weak, others wise and himself foolish.  Humility will make a man excellent at covering others infirmities and at recording their gracious services and at delighting in their graces; it makes a man joy in every light that outshines his own and every wind that blows others good." 

A Fruitful Life

A mediation on Galatians 5:16-24 

by L.-R. M. (Emmanuel Westbury) 

A fruitful life

Love Agape                            When you seek the best for others

                                                I see Christ in your eyes

Joy Chara                               When you rejoice at what makes His heart race

                                                I see Christ in your smile

Peace Eirene                          When you rest in His ways

                                                I see Christ in your mind

Patience Makrothumia          When you live not counting the time

                                                I see Christ in your goals

Kindness Chrestotes               When you extend yourself to others

                                                I see Christ in your hands

Goodness Agathosune            When you radiate virtue

                                                I see Christ in your outlook

Faithfulness Pistis                  When you’re in it for the long-haul

                                                I see Christ in your plans

Gentleness Prautes                 When you rule and balance who you are

                                                I see Christ in your spirit

Self-control Egkrateia            When you master thought, tongue and temple

                                                I see Christ in your desires

When you see the fruit and yearn for more,

Christ is at your core.

Listen to one of Sunday's sermons on Galatians 5:16-24 The Fruit of the Spirit

"What, then, was the purpose of the law?"

If that's been your question as we've worked our way through Paul's letter to the Galatians, you are not alone. It's the question everyone has been asking.  And it is the question Paul was expecting everyone to ask.  So he voices it in Galatians 3:19 and then goes on to answer it. Here is John Stott's memorable summary of what Paul says.

"Not until the law has bruised and smitten us will we admit our need of the gospel to bind our wounds. Not until the law has arrested and imprisoned us will we pine for Christ to set us free. Not until the law has condemned and killed us will we call upon Christ for justification and life. Not until the law has driven us to despair of ourselves will we ever believe in Jesus. Not until the law has humbled us even to hell will we turn to the gospel to raise us to heaven."

John Stott, Galatians, p.93. 

Look to the Cross for Life

The Galatians were losing their way because they were losing sight of the Cross. After yesterday's sermon several people asked me for ideas on how to keep the Cross in view. Here is an ancient  prayer that will help keep us looking to and leaning on the Christ who was crucified for us.

O GOD,
I bless thee for the happy moment
    when I first saw thy law fulfilled in Christ,
    wrath appeased, death destroyed, sin forgiven,
     my soul saved.
Ever since, thou hast been faithful to me:
    daily have I proved the power of Jesus’ blood,
    daily have I known the strength of the Spirit,
    my teacher, director, sanctifier.
I want no other rock to build upon than that I have,
    desire no other hope than that of gospel truth,
    need no other look than that which gazes on the cross.
Forgive me if I have tried to add anything
    to the one foundation,
    if I have unconsciously relied upon my knowledge,
    experience, deeds, and not seen them as filthy rags,
    if I have attempted to complete what is perfect in Christ;

May my cry be always, Only Jesus! only Jesus!
In him is freedom from condemnation,
    fullness in his righteousness,
    eternal vitality in his given life,
    indissoluble union in fellowship with him;
In him I have all that I can hold;
    enlarge me to take in more.
If I backslide,
    let me like Peter weep bitterly and return to him;
If I am tempted, and have no wit,
    give me strength enough to trust in him;
If I am weak,
    may I faint upon his bosom of eternal love;
If in extremity,
    let me feel that he can deliver me;
If driven to the verge of hope and to the pit of despair,
   grant me grace to fall into his arms.
O God, hear me, do for me more
   than I ask, think, or dream.

From "The Valley of Vision" A collection of puritan prayers and devotions

A love that welcomes us in

In Galatians 2:16 Paul makes it very clear that "a person is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ." On Sunday we were saying that it's not that this good news is hard to understand, but that it is hard to accept. We are so used to having to prove ourselves worthy of love, that our hearts can hardly take it in that the Lord Jesus would embrace us just as we are. 

Here is George Herbert's famous meditation on Christ's love. It is Christ the host who, in his love, is welcoming the poet into his banquet (line 1) But the poet draws back. He doesn't feel worthy to come in (line 7). He feels his guilt means he should be sent away (13). But look at what Christ says in line 15. He himself has paid the price. So for the guest there is nothing to pay.

In response to this the guest (line 16) offers to serve at table (he wants to find some way to prove himself worthy). But Christ bids him sit and eat and enjoy the feast.

People often comment on the abruptness of the last line. But I think it wonderfully captures the poet's amazement at the host's invitation. He was expecting to be shut out, at very least he was expecting to serve at table. But the wonder is that Christ, in his love, has welcomed him in to enjoy the feast. All that remained for the guest to do was...sit and eat. He can hardly believe it.

Love

LOVE bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning	5
If I lack'd anything.
'A guest,' I answer'd, 'worthy to be here:'
Love said, 'You shall be he.'
'I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on Thee.'	10
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
'Who made the eyes but I?'
'Truth, Lord; but I have marr'd them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.'
'And know you not,' says Love, 'Who bore the blame?'	15
'My dear, then I will serve.'
'You must sit down,' says Love, 'and taste my meat.'
So I did sit and eat.

Repenting of self-righteousness

Talking to people off the back of yesterday’s sermon on Galatians 1:1-10, it struck me that one of the things people most wanted to go away about think about was the idea that to trust in Christ means not just to repent of our sins, but to repent of trusting in our good works.  

Here is Tim Keller unpacking that a bit...

“What must we do, then, to be saved? To find God we must repent of the things we have done wrong, but if that is all you do, you may remain just an elder brother. To truly become a Christian we must also repent of the reasons we ever did anything right. Pharisees only repent of their sins, but Christians repent for the very roots of their righteousness, too. We must learn how to repent of the sin under all our other sins and under all our righteousness – the sin of seeking to be our own Saviour and Lord. We must admit that we’ve put our ultimate hope and trust in things other than God, and in both our wrongdoing and right doing we have been seeking to get around God or get control of God in order to get hold of those things.

It is only when you see the desire to be your own Savior and Lord—lying beneath both your sins and your moral goodness—that you are on the verge of becoming a Christian indeed. When you realize that the antidote to being bad is not just being good, you are on the brink. If you follow through, it will change everything—how you relate to God, self, others, the world, your work, you sins, your virtue. It’s called the new birth because it is so radical”

“The Prodigal God” (p.77-78)

How to pray

LENT COURSES 2015 
(Two separate courses, meeting under one roof) 

Thursdays 8:00-9:30pm, March 12th, 19th and 26th 

If prayer has started to feel like a chore; or you're unsure if God is listening to you; or you're paralysed because you don't know what to say, then come on this course and rediscover the joy and the privilege of prayer. 

Prayer is not just one thing on a long list of things that Christians do.  It is at the heart of what it means to be a Christian.  Because of the Son, and through the power of the Spirit, we have been brought into a relationship with God as our Father.  

And prayer is just living out that relationship: it is talking to the God who is our Father - talking to Him on the basis of what the Son has done and in the power of the Spirit.  

So on the course we'll revisit the foundations of our relationship with God and see why we can turn to our Father in heaven with confidence that he hears us. 

But we'll aim to get practical too: we’ll think what should we do when we sit down to pray and how we can pray according to God’s will and according to our different personalities.    

To book a place on "How to Pray" and to get details about the venue, email Jim Walford on JimW@emmanuelbristol.org.uk by 13:00, Wednesday 4^th March

How to read the Bible for all its worth

LENT COURSES 2015 

(Two separate courses, meeting under one roof)  

Thursdays 8:00-9:30pm, March 12th, 19th and 26th 

Do you have a nagging feeling that you ought to read the Bible more?  But you’re not exactly sure why.  And if you’re not exactly sure why something’s worth doing it’s hard to set the alarm and get up early for it. 

Someone once told me that the reason I ought to read the Bible was because it was God’s instruction manual.  But that didn’t do it for me.  I mean, who reads instruction manuals?

Turns out the Bible is God’s love letter. 

In the Bible the LORD is sharing His heart with His people:  He is telling us what He is like; what He loves; what He hates; how He feels about us; the plans He has for our future together.  For me, that changed everything.  Reading a letter from someone who loves you is not a chore that you tick off once done.  It’s a delight.   And that’s what we’re hoping to rediscover over the three weeks: delight in God’s Word.

Each week will have three main ingredients. 

1) We’re going to look at what that Bible says about itself (how it is all about Christ, how it nourishes our souls, how it transforms our lives).

 

2) We’re going to share some tips on how to make sense of a bible passage to get the most out of it. 

3) We’re going to apply what we’re learning to one particular book of the Bible so that by the end of the course we feel at home and in it and see for ourselves that when it comes to reading the Bible for all its worth, you don’t need to be a scholar with a pile of commentaries, you just need to be a Christian with the Spirit of God to help you.

Come and discover why reading the Bible is worth setting the alarm for.

To book a place on "How to read the Bible for all its worth" and get details about the venue, email Mike Cain on mike@emmanuelbristol.org.uk by 13:00, Wednesday 4^th March

To quit or not to quit when Kingdom and Corporate goals conflict?

Off the back of Sunday’s sermon about serving the Lord in the workplace, several people wondered what to do when God’s goals conflict with what your boss is telling you to do.  Here are some thoughts...

To quit or not to quit when Kingdom and Corporate goals conflict?

Are we Charlie?

In the wake of the disturbing events in France, here is a really thoughtful article about free speech.
Are we Charlie?