God's only Son

During Lent we are thinking about the Apostle’s Creed
Traditionally Lent has been a time to prepare for baptism and the renewal of baptismal vows. The Apostles’ Creed contains the basic statements of Christian faith that Christians have traditionally affirmed at their baptism
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son our Lord
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son our Lord
By far the longest section in the Creeds is about Jesus
This doesn’t surprise us, we who call ourselves Christians
are called to follow Jesus.
The Apostles’ Creed tells us
that God is working out a purpose
in the life of Jesus
and in my life and yours.

This is not haphazard random chaos.
it is about how God’s world works
and how we fit into it

We’ve been through the Christmas season and we see unfolded the activity of God’s Spirit in choosing a partner, Mary, and in conceiving a child whose life unfolds as a profoundly saving life.
We get the teaching of Jesus
the Good Samaritan, the love of God , the call to forgiveness, and the promise of the new creation
This comes at a cost
and the cost is paid by Christ
in his body.
The cost brings about a change.
It means we can be open to the mystery of life in God for ever
a new experience of God
which we call resurrection
an entering into heavenly life
which we call ascension and heaven
and the assurance that we are secure in this
through faith in Jesus
which we call judgement.
Where Christ sets us free from the trials and tribulations
of our former limited, deathly life.

Remember, this Creed is a concise way of stating all that God does.
A lot packed into a little.
The three things we can focus on this week
How does Jesus speak to my life? As I look at Jesus, and think about him, as I try to hear the Spirit of Jesus and to talk with him, and listen ...what is God asking me to be and do?
As I recognise that privilege also means responsibility and cost, where am I called to imitate Jesus in my life
Where is God showing me the challenge, joy and hope of eternal life? And How might I respond?

THIS WEEK
Take a little time to ask God to show you more about Jesus, God’s plan, God’s work and Goid’s hope,

Searching for King Jesus

The readings for this Sunday the 34th Sunday of the Year, often known as Christ the King...the Sunday next before Advent. Ezekiel 34:11-16,20-24; Psalm 100 (p 326 APBA); Ephesians 1:15-23; Matthew 25:31-46

In our sister Church of England this extended season before Christmas starting from about the end of October is often called Kingdom season. And today is called The Feast of Christ the King, or The Universal Reign of Christ,.
In reality these ideas to do with the language of monarchy do not sit easily with the 21st century democratic idea
Once we get over this,the ideas of this king, though, are fairly straightforward.

Let me use three examples.

The Three Kings of the Christmas story get lost looking for Jesus the King.

They expect to go to a palace and find him amidst the life of privilege and wealth. They look for the king where they think he should be. And they do not find him.

Right from the start we are to see that God's kingdom will not be where we think it is going to be. Do we miss God's kingdom because it is right there under our noses, and we don't want it to be?

We want Jesus to be with the rich and famous

the powerful and influential

but he is with the weak, the hungry, the naked.

Have you missed the kingdom of God that is there is the ordinariness of your life

because somehow we think God should be bigger than that.

Is the kingdom of God beside the bed of the smelly incontinent old man

dying sad and disappointed

rather than in the pomp and circumstance of the nation?

We understand more about elected rulers than hereditary monarchs.

Perhaps today should be called Christ the President.

Where do we look for authentic leadership.

It is in the genuineness of their actions.

So much of the critique of Kevin Rudd, (and we all await President Obama to judge in the same way)

Is not do they look like a ruler but do they act like one

Exercising authority, certainly, but not for self-interest (so much the critique of others)

but do they serve the weakest and the most vulnerable.

Rulers we recognise need to expend themselves in order to be good rulers.

Is this how we act?

Finally this is the feast of Christ the King

His example is "I come amongst you not to be served, but to serve"

And St Mark adds...to give his life.

If we are to get in will with the King

then that will the character of your and my life too.

For as much as we care for, serve and attend to the needs of others

We are tending to Christ himself.

• Are we looking in the wrong places?
• Will our actions show the Spirit of service which is true leadership?
• Are we radical servants? Committed to worship Christ through the service of the needy?

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