Thinking about Church

Robyn and I are currently on holidays from College, and also after exams, our church (Denham Court Anglican). Last week we decided to go to another church to meet with God's people. As we had another week of Church holidays this week, we decided to go to another church again. It was interesting, and not what we were used to. And so, it got me thinking about church....

What is church? What is important for church? What does the Bible say about how God's people are to gather? And what things should be part of the 'time together'? How much of our culture and the media has influneneced the way we go about 'doing church'? Is that all together bad?

In the next couple of entries, I'll spend some time thinking 'out loud' so to speak, reflecting on church and the things associated with it. I know that greater minds than mine have already written plenty on this, but I guess want to delve into the Scriptures to see if I can start to come up with some answers to these questions... hopefully its a journey that is helpful.

Some thoughts on Suffering and 2 Corinthians

Here is a paper that I wrote up for church. It's a paper that reflects on our personal experience, and the parts of 2 Corinthians that have become precious to us in being comforted by our gracious God...Tell me what you think, find it here.

You Know me Lord...

Psalm 139

1 For the music director, a psalm of David. O LORD, you examine me and know.

2 You know when I sit down and when I get up; even from far away you understand my motives.

3 You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest; you are aware of everything I do.

4 Certainly my tongue does not frame a word without you, O LORD, being thoroughly aware of it.

5 You squeeze me in from behind and in front; you place your hand on me.

6 Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension; it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it.

7 Where can I go to escape your spirit? Where can I flee to escape your presence?

8 If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there. If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be.

9 If I were to fly away on the wings of the dawn, and settle down on the other side of the sea,

10 even there your hand would guide me, your right hand would grab hold of me.

11 If I were to say, "Certainly the darkness will cover me, and the light will turn to night all around me,"

12 even the darkness is not too dark for you to see, and the night is as bright as day; darkness and light are the same to you.

13 Certainly you made my mind and heart; you wove me together in my mother's womb.

14 I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing. You knew me thoroughly;

15 my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret and sewed together in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence.

17 How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God! How vast is their sum total!

18 If I tried to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. Even if I finished counting them, I would still have to contend with you.

19 If only you would kill the wicked, O God! Get away from me, you violent men!

20 They rebel against you and act deceitfully; your enemies lie.

21 O LORD, do I not hate those who hate you, and despise those who oppose you?

22 I absolutely hate them, they have become my enemies!

23 Examine me, and probe my thoughts! Test me, and know my concerns!

24 See if there is any idolatrous tendency in me, and lead me in the reliable ancient path!

(NET Bible)

Indeed Praise be to...

3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.5 For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NET)

The Holy Spirit in John's Gospel

Trying to get my head around the Holy Spirit in John Gospel (for NT2 essay). As a result I've been reading the work of Carson and Kostenberger (Baker Exegetical) in their Commentaries (Carson generally is better, better at answering my questions I think), as well as a new book by Kostenberger and Swain in the NSBT series (Father, Son and Holy Spirit in John)...Basically really helpful stuff, but there is one point where I think I disagree with Carson and Kostenberger though (but not sure if my argument is sound). This is on the reference in John 3:5-8. Is it a reference to the person of the Holy spirit (ie born of water and the Spirit, so NIV, TNIV, ESV and other trans), or is it just a reference to spiritual renewal? While I get the fact that grammatically v5 'water and Spirit' are governed by the preposition ek, I think the reference is a reference to the person of the Holy Spirit because of the strong allusion to Ezekiel 36:26-27 where Yahweh promises cleansing and renewal by water (yes), and promises to place HIS SPIRIT in Israel. Also v 8 does appear to be a reference to the person of the Spirit (by analogy with wind). With that background is it not possible to John 3:5-8 as a reference to the person of the Spirit? Just getting my thoughts down.

Why did Jesus come?

I've been studying for my new testament exam which is tomorrow, and I guess I was hit again as to why Jesus came into this world. He, the one that was from eternity past, came into our world for a purpose:

9 The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him.11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.12 But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name,13 who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
(John 1:9-13 HCSB).

That's just excellent. He came so we can become children of God. Where do you stand with this Jesus?

A great quote!

Just after community chapel today (By the way, a really encouraging sermon by Phillip Jensen on Hosea 11), at morning tea, some friends and I were chatting (As you do), and we got talking about the current term, which some have affectionately called "the new term of death". At this point my friend Stephen McGuiness came out with this great line:

"I didn't realized it was the term of death, until I died!"

It has us in stitches...thanks Stephen.

P.S. While this term has been hard, I have to say the work is so worth it!