In today's sermon for Pentecost, ba<x>sed on Acts 2:4 "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability." (NRSV), Pastor Bruce considered the fundamental question, "where are you going with your life?"
Posted By: Robin on May 23, 2010 08:17PM
Category: Sermon Dialogue
On Sunday Pastor Bruce talked about the essential part that forgiveness plays in loving other people.
You are encouraged to read the sermon here.
If you like, you can reply to this message with your comments on the sermon.
Posted By: Prayer on May 05, 2010 10:37PM
Category: Sermon Dialogue
Today's sermon talked about the paralysing power of sin and the nature of forgiveness.
The gospel reading (from John 21) describes Peter's encounter with his Risen Lord: Peter’s forgiveness, the price of forgiveness, and the power of forgiveness.
I don't see how the "slaughtered Lamb" imagery works into this story.
In John 21, it is Peter who is able to experience forgiveness. Does Peter experience forgiveness because Peter "paid the painful price", or because Jesus did?
Is the person who is "slaughtered" the same person who experiences forgiveness? Is this also the case in Revelation 5, where the "slaughtered Lamb" imagery is introduced?
Posted By: Robin on Apr 19, 2010 01:12PM
Although God loves everyone, He doesn't forgive everyone. In Matthew 6:15, Jesus said, "but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." I trust that God always does what is best for each individual. For someone who does not forgive others, to love this person, God must withhold His forgiveness. Perhaps, as the perfect parent, God will not spoil this hard-hearted and bitter person by forgiving. Perhaps, the taste of not being forgiven by God will help him/her to repent.
It is interesting to note that Jesus told us to forgive others unconditionally. Whether the other people also forgive is not a condition.
The sermon is interesting. Please keep up the good work!
I am not sure how to fit John 20:29 into the sequence of steps involved in belief (as laid out in the sermon). That verse says,
"Then Jesus told him, \'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.\' "
It seems quite explicit in explaining that the situation of Thomas was different from the situations of later believers.
Posted By: Robin on Apr 14, 2010 05:58PM
The situation with Thomas was different in that he did have the opportunity to see the Risen Lord, but I think the whole point of John 20 is to encourage belief without seeing. Even though Thomas sees, the key elements of the encounter remain Jesus' word ("Peace be with you") and Jesus' offering of his wounded self to the disciples (by stepping into their presence). Likewise, both the Word and Jesus' presence are offered to us, without the need to see. So, while Thomas' situation and ours isn't exactly the same, the key elements which the text suggests are the most im<x>portant keys to believing and following the Risen Christ are the same.
Anyway, the primary invitation to the reader is to believe without seeing. The Beloved Disciple enters the tomb and believes without seeing Jesus. Mary tells the disciples that she's seen the Lord, in the apparent hope that they will believe without seeing. Once the disciples have seen Jesus, they tell Thomas in the apparent hope that he will believe without seeing. And then, of course, Jesus' final line to Thomas: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
