IPC Ealing News

New Term, New Start!

2011-09-06T13:32:00.002Z

Lot's of things are beginning again this week. On Sunday night Paul Levy began a new series on Romans which will continue this coming Sunday evening at 6pm at the church.

We're recommending a short book to go with the series, a series of short devotions going through Romans by David Cook. It's well worth getting hold of a copy.

This Sunday

2011-05-12T14:20:00.000Z

Am Service - University of West London Student Union Building (The new fancy name for TVU). Paul Levy preaching on Genesis 3. Chris Cradock will be teaching the Adult Sunday School class at 10.00 on God's Providence (chapter 5 of the Westminster Confession).

PM Service - Drayton Green Building. Paul Levy preaching on Hebrews 13.

Adult Sunday School - Westminster Confession

2011-05-12T14:12:00.000Z

Time for an apology. I've not been keeping up with putting my notes from our Westminster Confession Class on this blog. I'm sorry. There are a couple of reasons for this.

To put them up on this blog they need to be tidied up, rather than just put up the moment I finish preparing them. As a result I have a pile of notes from previous weeks mounting on my desk and I just haven't got round to doing it.

Secondly, I feel a little uncomfortable putting my notes online. To be honest, they are nothing original. If you'd like to hear a great set of talks on the confession go to the Cambridge Presbyterian Church website where there are recordings from their classes - they've helped me greatly in thinking how to teach it, and I don't want them to think I'm trying to get credit for what they did! Equally, the relevant sections in Calvin's Institutes and (the sadly out of print)James Philip's notes on the confession.

I may still try and put something together on each chapter and put it in the resources section of our website.

WCF 3:2 - Notes From Andrew Rae

2011-03-25T17:00:00.001Z

2. God has all life, glory, goodness, and blessedness in and of himself. He alone is all-sufficient, in and to himself, not standing in need of any creatures which he has made, nor deriving any glory from them, but rather manifesting his own glory in, by, to, and on them. He alone is the fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things. He has absolute sovereignty over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatever he pleases. In his sight all things are open and manifest; his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent of his creatures; so that nothing to him is contingent or uncertain. He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands. To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatever worship, service, or obedience he is pleased to require of them.

This morning we are continuing the Chapter on God and the Trinity. Last week Iain looked at the Trinity – and we saw that there is one eternal God consisting of 3 persons - father, son and Holy Spirit. And these 3 are fully God….. yet distinct from one another. Iain will continue looking at the trinity next week….. this morning we are circling back to paragraph 2. If I was to sum this up in one sentence it would be that God is Great and the distinction between God the creator and us his creation is ENORMOUS!

God is so GREAT that in some respects it is virtually impossible to study and grasp what he is like. I remember my first trip to the Rocky Mountains. Shortly before we came to them a minister - who had recently come to the country - told us that it will probably be the most beautiful drive you will ever experience. And sure it was. I took so many pictures trying to capture the extreme beauty of it all. When I got back from the trip and showed my pictures to my friends…….. the pictures were totally inadequate and could only show a glimpse of the actual beauty of the mountains. In a similar way studying God’s character, while worthwhile doing, can only give us a tiny glimpse of his greatness.

Now what a difficult task it was for the men who wrote the Confession to define/describe God. They were criticized for even attempting to describe God - that it is spiritual arrogance to even attempt to define him – since to do so means that we are examining God say like you would examine an animal in a laboratory….. the whole emphasis of scripture is that God examines us not the other way around. Now anyone who reads the confession will see that this was not the attitude of the authors – indeed they had a very high view of God. And we too as we study God’s character need to do so with humility and a clear grasp of his greatness.

The first point is that God is GREAT in terms of his All Sufficiency. He is absolutely independent of us in that he does not need us and we do not add anything to him. The confession says “He alone is all-sufficient, in and to himself, not standing in need of any creatures which he has made, nor deriving any glory from them”…….. In Paul’s speech to the Areopagus in Athens…. in Ch 17 verse 25 he says that “he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else”. In other words God does not need us rather it is the other way around – we need him.

“God has all life, glory, goodness, and blessedness in and of himself”…. His GLORY does not come from us but from himself and his works. Job 22 says that “is it any pleasure to the almighty if you are in the right. Or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?”. He also has all life, goodness and blessedness. He doesn’t just have the qualities but notice that the confession says God has ALL life, glory, goodness, blessedness – again he has ALL of each of these and does not need us in order to have these in full measure.

As Paul said in Athens “he himself gives EVERYONE life. Think for a minute of what God is like to have ALL life come from him – we are not here by chance but EVERY single living thing owes its very life to God. All things that are good are from him – and all blessings comes from him – think of every single blessing that you have had in your life. These have not come because of your hard work, your wise choices etc…. they have ALL flowed from God who is totally good. In Romans CH11 v36 Paul when he bursts into praise says “For FROM him and through him and for him are ALL THINGS”. And then he adds “To him be the glory forever! “. He is not like a coach who takes a great sports talent and makes him or her greater – no ALL that we have we owe to him - All that we have is thru God. There is no one that can do anything to benefit God, indeed the opposite is true – that ALL we have we owe to God.

It follows from the above that God is GREAT in terms of his sovereignty – he rules over us and all of creation. The Confession says “He has absolute sovereignty over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatever he pleases.” In the book of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream which Daniel interprets for him. In the dream he sees a tree – great and strong – and then he sees a “watcher” in heaven who has the tree chopped down, but leaving the stump and roots. The interpretation being that Nebuchadnezzar had grown a great and mighty kingdom and that he would be driven out of his kingdom to live with the beasts of the fields until he acknowledged that God rules over even the greatest of man’s kingdoms and gives it (kingdom) to whom he wills. Now all this came to pass and at the point when Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God’s sovereignty he said “He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”. And so Nebuchadnezzar – one of the great rulers of the ancient world - acknowledged that God has the absolute right – even over a great ruler like himself – to do whatever he pleases and that NO-ONE can hinder God’s plans. Not ordinary men, not great rulers / powers, not even Satan himself.

Indeed Ephesians 1 verse 11 says that “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works ALL things according to the counsel of his will”. God does not just have sovereignty over a particular area of life, a particular region etc but he as the confession says he has ABSOLUTE sovereignty and Works ALL things according to his Will. Nothing takes him by surprise, he does not need to operate a “Plan B” – such as we might need to do when things don’t work out. Nor is there uncertainty with him. We might face uncertainty when we try and direct things and then hope for a particular outcome. Not so with God........ he directs ALL things according to his will and he has the limitless power to work all things out according to his plan……

It follows that if he is absolutely sovereign over EVERYTHING then his knowledge must be GREAT too. We read that “In his sight all things are open and manifest”……His knowledge extends even to our thoughts…… Psalm 139 says “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. “

His knowledge is also infinite…..There is no limit to his knowledge. He knows all things from the past, all things in the present and all things in the future. Think for a minute of the many prophecies in scripture and how they came completely true down to the finest detail. He could not do this if he did not both know and direct the future. Think also of Jesus with the Samaritan women at the well and how he knew her past in great detail. Think of how much learning each of us has had – 12/13 years of school, many of us 3-4 years of university, many work courses – we go thru our life learning, never gaining all knowledge. Think for a minute about God – he has never had to learn anything because his knowledge has always been infinite!
His knowledge is also infallible. The book of Job says “Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you.”

His knowledge is also not dependent on anyone. Romans 11 v33-35 says :”Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?”.
The effect of this is that God does not need us to enhance his knowledge, nor is his knowledge dependent on what we do or do not do, nor is there anything less than certainty in his knowledge as he carries out his plan.

Now last Sunday night we were looking at Hebrews 8 where it says that God will not remember our sins anymore. Now Some may say that surely this means there are limits to God’s knowledge. And for us…. When I forget my keys or wallet as I often do its because there are limits to my knowledge and abilities. I forget them because I simply can’t remember where I put them. Not so with God. When he says things like ‘he remembers our sins no more he is simply putting this into language we understand.

And lastly God is great in his Holiness. The confession then goes on to say that he is “most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands”. Psalm 145 says that “The LORD is righteous in ALL his ways”. He is 100% free from any moral imperfection. His counsel and judgments are always fully righteous. Indeed all that he does is 100% holy 100% of the time. He delights in what is holy and he has a righteous hatred towards what is not holy.

All his commands are also holy – Psalm 19 says that his law is perfect, his precepts are right and his commandments are pure. What a contrast between the laws and rulings of God and of man. Think of all the unrighteous laws that have been made such as abortion just to name one – how different is the law making of God as compared to man. Isn’t it amazing and wonderful that the sovereign ruler is righteous in all his ways.

It follows that as we see God for who he is – that he is absolutely sufficient and not in need of us, he is absolutely sovereign over all things, his knowledge has no limits and he is absolutely holy……. When we recognize these things, the natural reaction is to worship him, serve him with our whole heart and obey his commands. And this is a key to true worship – it is not how we worship, what music we have, what style we have that is the key to worship but that we focus on God, gaze on the beauty of who he is. It is then that we will experience real, God glorifying worship with him at the centre of it.

WCF 3:3 - The Trinity

2011-03-15T16:12:00.003Z

3. In the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son.

It is fair to say that in much of the church today the Trinity is a neglected doctrine. If you were to think about how we pray or sing, or what is taught in our churches, you may find it difficult to discover what we believe about God as he is revealed in the Bible.

It is also true to say that the Trinity is a misunderstood doctrine. If we do teach about the trinity, it is often using unhelpful illustrations like an egg (yolk, white and shell), or H2O (water, ice and steam). This leaves most of us with ideas about the Trinity which were condemned as heretical by church councils years ago!

However the Trinity is a vital doctrine. It is so important we grasp what the Bible teaches about who our God is. We do not make God up, he has revealed himself to us, and he tells us that he is the Trinity. Our salvation is at stake in the doctrine of the Trinity – much of the hard thinking and biblical study that went into formulating the doctrine came as a result of attacks on the identity of Jesus Christ, and therefore on his work. Many, if not most of the great creeds and confessions of the early church were formulated precisely to get right what the Bible teaches about the trinity.

It is important to emphasise that the Trinity is a Biblical doctrine. Although the word “Trinity” is never used, the concept is clearly taught as we learn from our one God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

It is nevertheless a difficult doctrine, and this is only to be expected as we are talking about God, who as the confession has already taught us is altogether unlike who we are. We are at the very edges of our understanding as we come to this topic. We must hear and submit to what we are told about the Trinity, we cannot just dismiss it as “too difficult”. Yet as we put all we are taught together we must recognise that in doing so we may have to use words and language carefully when referring to our creator, but not quite in the same way as we may use it when referring to created things.

There are some very clear boundaries we need to set in place when we are thinking about the Trinity, and they are these (we must never deny any one of these statements)
- There is one God.
- The one God eternally exists as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- The Father is God, The Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God.
- The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are distinct from one another.
Point 3 of Chapter 2 of the Westminster Confession of Faith is upholding all of these statements.

THE ONE GOD EXISTS AS THREE PERSONS
This point stresses “the unity of the Godhead”. There is no more foundational Biblical truth that “there is one God”. Deuteronomy 6:4 (the Shema) was the basic statement of faith for the Jews. In James 2 we are told that even the demons believe this. This stands against atheism (the belief there is no God, which is foolishness and a suppression of the truth), and against polytheism (the belief there are many Gods). It also underlines all we have seen in chapter 2 of the WCF. If there is one God, he is consistent and reliable and faithful.

However the one God is not a lonely, isolated one. He exists as “three persons”. He has always, eternally existed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. There are distinctions between the three persons, but we must not understand the word “person” here in the same way as we think of human persons (clearly separate beings). They dwell in communion in the divine nature without being compounded.

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not three masks for the one God, as if sometimes he appears as Father, sometimes as Son, sometimes as the Holy Spirit. No – just think back to the baptism of Jesus (Luke 3) where we see all 3 in action together.
All 3 persons are of “one substance” (think “Godness”, what makes God to be God), “one power” (none are more or less powerful than the other), and “one eternity (they have always been three in one).

There are many places in the Bible where the Father is said to be God (e.g. John 6:27). The Son is said to be God clearly in John’s prologue (John 1:1-18), in Colossians (1:15-20, 2:9), in many places in the gospels Jesus audience knew exactly what he was claiming by his words and works. The Holy Spirit is said to be God in a very revealing incident in Acts where Anaias and Saphira are judged for their lies – they lied against God/the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel of John in particular emphasises the Trinity. The close connection, and also the distinctions between Father, Son and Spirit come through. The words and actions of the Son are the words and actions of the Father, which the Spirit will continue to do. Yet it is clear they have distinctive tasks (you cannot say that the Father died on the cross for our sins for example).

The Trinity comes together in some of the key formulas used in the New Testament. We are to go into all the world baptising in the name (notice, the ONE name) of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We often say the grace together from the end of 2 Corinthians – a verse which emphasises God is Trinity (“the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit”).

As we think about all this we begin to see the problems with most, if not all, of the common illustrations and children’s talks we give for the Trinity. You cannot illustrate God! Nothing is simultaneously three and one (particular h20 atoms are never water and steam at the same time).

However the Trinity is a vital doctrine today to emphasise and teach, particularly as we think about the challenges facing us in our culture. Many people either emphasise plurality (post modern society, no absolutes) or unity (Islam). We can tell people of the God who is both one (therefore there is truth and certainty and absolutes), but also three (so there can be real relationships with him and in his universe, there can be real community and distinctiveness).

THERE IS ORDER WITHIN THE TRINITY

The last sentence in this point in the WCF is emphasising the fact that there is an order within the Trinity. It is an easy statement to misunderstand. The equality of the persons is not being denied, nor is it saying that the Father created the Son who then both created the Spirit. Notice the key word “eternally” in both statements. This is how it has always been.

“The Son is eternally begotten of the Father”. This statement draws together what the Bible says about the Son being “of the Father” in John 1:14, 18 to show that in some way the Son has always been a Son to the Father. It also emphasises the Son is of the same being as the Father, upholding his divinity.

The Spirit is also fully God, being sent by the Father and Son acting as their executive agent (in a sense) in the world to do their will. The Spirit knows the mind of the Father and the Son.

Adult Sunday School Notes

2011-02-10T21:08:00.002Z

These are Andrew Rae's notes from the Bite Size theology class

7. Not all things in Scripture are equally plain in themselves or equally clear to all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are so clearly stated and explained in one place or another in Scripture, that not only the educated but also the uneducated may gain a sufficient understanding of them by a proper use of the ordinary means.

8. The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old) and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time it was written was the language most generally known to the nations), being directly inspired by God and by his unique care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authoritative, so that in all controversies of religion the church is finally to appeal to them. But, because these original languages are not understood by all the people of God, who have a right to, and a vital interest in, the Scriptures and are commanded to read and search them in the fear of God, therefore the Scriptures are to be translated into the common language of every nation to which they come; so that, the Word of God dwelling abundantly in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner and by perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures may have hope.

This morning we are looking at paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Holy Scriptures chapter. The first point to note is the CLARITY of scripture. Now that is not to say that all parts of scripture are equally clear – indeed Peter himself refers to Paul’s writings as “some things in them are hard to understand” (2 Pet3:16) and secondly some theological truths – such as the Trinity – are only partially understandable by the human mind. However the confession is stating that those truths related to salvation – that we need to know, believe and obey are very clear in scripture.

The Confession’s claim of clarity is based on the fact that the scriptures assume that the common man is able to understand them. Deuteronomy 6 says “these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise”. Not only did scripture assume that the average Israelite was to understand the scriptures but he was to be able to teach it to their children, applying it to each and every situation of life and that even their young children could understand.

The second reason for the claim to clarity is that the NT was written primarily to gentile churches – who had little or no background in any kind of Christian society, nor did they have a Christian upbringing to draw on, nor did they have an understanding of the history and culture of Israel Nevertheless these letters were written to churches with the expectation that these gentile Christians would understand them.

Thirdly Clarity is also inferred thru the fact that the bible was inspired by God and as God is both the author and perfect it only stands to reason that he would make plain what needs to be plain.

It is a tremendous blessing that scriptures are clear on the important things. The Roman Catholic teaching – which the confession was addressing – says that interpretation of scripture is the responsibility of the church clergy – what a blessing it is that our faith does not rest on the ability, integrity etc of men but that we can go directly to the Bible and gain understanding for ourselves.

Secondly we are blessed in that the scriptures are not for the intelligent only but have the power to ‘make wise the simple’ according to Psalm 19 or as the confession says both the learned and unlearned can understand. Indeed I remember as a teenager a church I was in where a mentally handicapped man in the church loved the Lord and clearly understood the gospel.
So if the scriptures are clear then why do people misunderstand them? Here we must steadfastly affirm that the problem does not lie with the bible itself but with the men and women who misinterpret it. Think for a minute of the disciples – they often misunderstood – in spite of Jesus being crystal clear on things such as his purpose for coming, his death etc. At times they misunderstood because they lacked faith, other times their own desires and cultural baggage got in the way.

From time to time we may also hear people say that the bible is too hard to understand. We must resist this idea and affirm that scriptures are clear and that both the educated and uneducated can understand and should seek to do so.

And as we read and pray (which the confession refers to as ‘ordinary means’) over the scriptures we need to be humble as we listen/ read, and be submissive to the teachings of the bible. We also need to use good principles of bible interpretation as we read.

Secondly we see in Paragraph 7 the SUFFICIENCY of scripture – that it contains all we need for salvation. Psalm 19 says that the Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul and later in 2nd Timothy refers to the scriptures as “able to make you wise unto salvation” and “able to make the man of God competent, equipped for every good work”. With regard to salvation scriptures are completely sufficient teaching us clearly everything we need to know.

The application of this is that we can be joyful because there is nothing else we need outside of scripture. Here we need to learn from history and steadfastly maintain the sufficiency of scripture. For instance the Jews believed that God brought many revelations that were not in scripture and eventually these traditions got handed down as truth. And by the time Jesus came to earth these traditions were at the core of their religion –Likewise the Roman Catholic church believe that Christ and the apostles spoke many things not in the bible that have been handed down thru the church and as a result put traditions on a par with scripture. We too need to hold to the sufficiency of scripture and be careful of traditions and beliefs outside the bible creeping into our faith. We also need to be careful of people who claim to have special revelations from the Spirit – these as a minimum need to be subject to the authority of scripture and tested by it.

A couple of weeks ago we spoke about the fact that God’s word is its own authority, in other words ‘self attesting’… Para 8 makes it clear that the Scriptures, as written in the original language, are inspired and their own AUTHORITY. The implication of this is that in all theological debates (whether by church elders or at the member level), we are to appeal to the bible for our answer. This may sound obvious however the Confession was speaking into a situation where the Roman Catholic church saw themselves as having the authority . It is easy to believe the Bible has the final say in what we believe and how we live, yet in practice do something different. For instance it is possible to allow world philosophies such as pluralism, feminism etc to creep into our theological thinking. Do we test these ideologies based on what the bible says and reject them if they are not in line with the Bible OR do we make the bible’s truths fit in with these ideas.

Other ways we can fail to give the bible final say is by allowing traditions to creep in and be an equal authority with scripture – or to respect a preacher so much that everything he says is considered as truth without it being subject to the bible’s testing it as truth. Or perhaps we hear or say that ‘other churches don’t believe this’...... or ‘we have never heard that taught before” (with the implication that therefore it cannot be true)........We need to decide what we believe based only on scripture and not based on traditions, what others may think or what we have been previously taught, .

We should also note that while we say that scripture is inspired and the authority, it is the original manuscripts in the original language that are inspired, not the translations that we have in our own language. Now while we do not have to learn Greek and Hebrew to understand the bible, nevertheless it is valuable to use a word for word translation such as the English Standard Version (ESV) as these are far more accurate than what is referred to as a ‘thought for thought’ translation or a paraphrase. Also it is worth noting that the chapter and verse divisions in the bible were designed many centuries as a help to us however they were designed by man and as a result we should be careful not to let them govern our study of the bible (ie sometimes reading a chapter in isolation of the next chapter can lead to missing out on the meaning)

The last point is that the Bible is to be used UNIVERSALLY by & for all peoples. The Confession says that although it is the original manuscripts that are inspired….. because people do not speak these languages the scriptures are to be translated into the languages of the people. This was in direct opposition to the Roman Catholic church which at the time forbid the translation of scriptures into everyday languages and declared that indiscriminate reading of the scriptures was highly dangerous! So what may seem to us to be obvious, was actually quite radical at the time and yet it was grounded in scripture. In Acts chapter 17 we see the Berean Jews commended “for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. “. Not only did they examine the scriptures each day but they tested the doctrines of the apostle to ensure they were in line with God’s word. And so rather than rely on the church clergy to read/ study God’s word and be the only source of interpreting scripture, the Bible emphasizes that every believer should study the bible in order to know whether what is being taught is in line with the Bible’s teaching.

As a point of application we should value and support the work of those who translate the bible into foreign languages, particularly those who do not yet have a bible in their own language yet. Secondly on a more local scale we have language bibles available here at IPC for those who are more comfortable reading in their own language. This may seem like a small part of church life however it is an important one as it enables everyone to read and understand God’s word. And if you are a church greeter my hope is that you would see this as not simply offering someone a bible in their own language as a means of being welcoming but that you are giving them one of the most important things one could ever give – an opportunity to read God’s word in their own language.

In summary there is clarity in the scriptures – what we need to know, believe and obey regarding salvation is clear and clear enough for both those are educated and uneducated to understand. Secondly what is contained in the bible is Sufficient for us to gain an understanding of these truths and to make us wise unto salvation and to equip us for every good work. The scriptures are also authoritative and thus ALL we believe is to be based on the bible. Lastly we saw that the bible is to be made available universally to all peoples of all languages. And thru the bible being available to all in their own languages we can together as God’s church/people - study God’s word & through it gain a knowledge of how to Worship God, receive comfort from the word and have a certain hope for our future. __________________

This Sunday

2011-01-29T19:35:00.000Z

Paul Levy will be continuing his series on Justification on Sunday morning, and on Sunday evening Iain Clements will be preaching from Habakkuk 2.

Bite Size Theology 3

2011-01-24T15:20:00.002Z

Yesterday Andrew Rae lead the third in our classes on the Westminster Confession, on points 2, 3 and 4 of the first chapter on Holy Scripture. Here are his notes.

II. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testament, which are these: Of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, I Chronicles, II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Songs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. Of the New Testament: The Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, The Acts of the Apostles, Paul's Epistles to the Romans, Corinthians I, Corinthians II, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians I , Thessalonians II , To Timothy I , To Timothy II, To Titus, To Philemon, The Epistle to the Hebrews, The Epistle of James, The first and second Epistles of Peter, The first, second, and third Epistles of John, The Epistle of Jude, The Revelation of John. All which are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life.

III. The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the Scripture, and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings.

IV. The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, and obeyed, depends not upon the testimony of any man, or Church; but wholly upon God (who is truth itself) the author thereof: and therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.

Last week we looked at how God is revealed through creation and therefore man is without excuse if he does not recognize God as being God. However simply revealing himself through the greatness of creation was not enough to show the plan and way of salvation. So God chose to reveal himself, his will and way of salvation by providing us with Scripture. God has preserved his truth for the church and his truth is the means of guarding us from the corrupting influences of the flesh and Satan.

Today we are looking at the next 3 paragraphs. Firstly notice that God’s word is Complete.

We have the complete listing here of books considered to be part of Holy Scripture.
It is interesting to note how it is both many and one at the same time – we have 66 books listed comprising both Old and New testament yet it is referred to – in the singular - as the WORD OF GOD. This is important because each book while written by different men form the unified revealing of God, his will and his way of salvation.

The Confession lists all the books because determining what is and what is not God’s word is important. All the books they list have a basis for being in the Bible and All the books of scripture play their part in revealing God and we need all these books in the preservation of his truth and in protecting us against the corruption of sinful men and against the devil himself

Often we speak about such and such being a good church. At the core of how we define a good church needs to include how effectively/faithfully we use the whole of the bible to preserve and guard the truth. Indeed the Confession itself is should also be measured to the degree to which it guards and protects God’s truth

The second point is that God’s word is inspired. The confession says in the last sentence of section 2: “All which are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life”. Notice how it says “ALL” are inspired by God referring to the complete list of 66 books.

2 Timothy 3:16 supports this claim as it says “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”

When we say ‘inspired by God’ we are not saying that it was simply a mechanical inspiration where the authors took down dictation much like you may do in a lecture. If you think of the books of the Bible that you have read I’m sure that you will agree with me that we can see the personalities etc of the writers coming out in their writings. For instance in Paul’s writings we can see a great logical thinker, others we can see their attention to detail etc. So it is clear as we see the personalities coming out that it is not simply a mechanical inspiration.

Nor is it dynamic in the sense that it was only the authors who were inspired and enabled to see things more clearly than those around them. What happened was that the Holy Spirit carried along the writers in such a way that they retained their personalities while the Spirit prompted them to write, repressed the influence of sin on their writings and guided them in the expression of their thoughts and what to write. With the end product being as Peter says “no prophecy was ever produced by the will of a man but men spoke as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit”.

In terms of the extent of inspiration the confession says that ‘ALL’ scripture is inspired. We can see as we read scripture the view that both Jesus and the apostles had of the OT and how they referred to it as scripture.We also read in one of Peter’s letter his reference to Paul’s writings as scripture.Likewise Paul refers to the gospel of Luke as being scripture. Finally Paul’s classic verses in 2 Tim 3:16 makes it clear that ALL scripture is inspired.

It is important that we see that although these 66 books were written by many different authors that each one is given by inspiration of God – breathed out by him. It is not just an “inspiring” book, or a good book with good moral principles but it is 100% “inspired”, and therefore it is perfect, infallible and absolutely trustworthy. It therefore follows that it is right for us to use the Bible as our ONLY guide for faith and practice. In a pluralistic society – regardless of what others may say – it is the only source for finding and defining the way of salvation.

What a blessing this is that we don’t have to concern ourselves with which bits are God’s word etc – we can have a confidence and an assurance regarding every single word that we read

Now the 3rd section may seem strange to some of you – perhaps you have never even heard of the apocrypha…… the point here is that It is important that God’s Word is not be added to. Back in 1546 – about 100 years before the Confession was written - at the Council of Trent meeting the RC church placed the aprocrypha books – a number of books written between the Old and New Testament – as being on the same level as inspired writings. This was rejected by the protestant churches for the following reasons:

The Jewish peoplenever acknowledged these books as having divine authority

They are written in the interval period between OT and NT when it is believed that the spirit of prophecy had ceased.

OT is extensively quoted by Jesus and writers of NT – in fact 295 times - yet neither Jesus or NT writers ever quoted from the apocrypal books.

Also when Jesus was ascending he refers to prophecies in the Law, Prophets and Psalms but NOT to apocrypha

Lastly the apocryphal books contain many things that are errors – prayers for the dead, and justification by faith plus works (as opposed to justification by faith alone), superstitious and immoral – each of which is inconsistent with being inspired word of God.

Now if you sat through a service which included readings from the apocrypha would you distinguish between the inspired word of God and other useful writings? Would this not cause confusion and lack of clarity?

Now the writers of the Confession have addressed the apocrypha because it is highly important that we guard what we consider as scripture and we do not add to it. Rev 22:18 right at the end of the Bible warns us not to add to or take away from scripture. In recent years there has been a move afoot to include in Scripture a book referred to as the gospel of Thomas which contains erroneous teaching. The authors of the confession were being faithful to Revelation’s warning just as we today need to remain faithful to it and continue to guard what is in the bible.

God’s word is its Own Authority

Most of us here have taken a driving test. Now when I took my British driving test I first had to read thru a drivers manual. The manual made it clear what the laws were with respect to driving and what is the appropriate way to drive. For instance when I come to a roundabout I am to yield to the car on the Right. It also tells me about speed limits on different types of roads and that failure to adhere to this is to break the law. Now the drivers manual derives its authority not from the authors, not from whether I decide to give it authority…… no it derives its authority from the Transportation law. Similarly the Bible derives its authority not from the church, nor from whether we choose to give it authority but it derives its authority from God himself.

The scriptures are what we call ‘self attesting’ – this means that in the case of the bible we can’t appeal to a higher authority – such as in the case of the drivers manual where they get their authority from a higher source – transport law – scripture is different in that it cannot appeal to a higher authority because there is no higher authority than the God himself.

The church recognised the Bible’s authority, did not give it authority. The church in the first 4 centuries AD and beyond recognised what was already true about the books which made up the Bible – that it is the word of God. The church acknowledged the books as scripture as opposed to simply making a decision as to what books are in scripture and what books are not (as the Da Vinci code myth would have us believe). The true church always sits under the authority Bible and the Bible thru the work of the Holy Spirit creates the church rather than the church creating the bible.

In Conclusion God’s word is complete with each book having a basis for being included in scripture and while it is many books they all work together to form one unified truth. Secondly God’s word is inspired – while the authors retained their personalities and spoke from their experiences, the Holy Spirit prompted them as to what to write, and guided their thoughts and writings while at the same time preventing sin from influencing it in any way. And further we noted that Each word in scripture is inspired. Thirdly God’s word is not to be added to – we are to guard the scripture and are not to add or take .away from scripture. Lastly God’s word is its own authority – it does not receive its authority from scripture. Our role as the church is to simply recognise the authority of the Bible and to submit to it for all matters of what we believe and how we live our lives.

Bite Size Theology 2

2011-01-24T15:17:00.001Z

These are the notes from session 2 of our Bite Size Theology Class, on point 1 of chapter 1 of the Westminster Confession.

Although the light of nature and the works of creation and providence manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, to such an extent that men are without excuse, yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and of his will which is necessary for salvation. Therefore it pleased the Lord, at various times and in diverse ways, to reveal himself and to declare his will to his church; and afterward—for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh and the malice of Satan and of the world—to commit this revelation wholly to writing. Therefore the Holy Scripture is most necessary, God’s former ways of revealing his will to his people having ceased.

Have you read through Psalm 119 recently? It’s an amazing Psalm – 176 verses of joy and delight in the word of God. Yet, sadly the excitement that the Psalmist finds in God’s word is often an experience foreign to many Christians. Some rarely open the Bible from one Sunday to the next, many churches are losing confidence in the Bible, and personally we all know what it’s like to struggle with our personal Bible reading.

The answer to this is not to simply feel guilty and to try harder to read the Bible, but it is to see in a fresh way why the Bible is so necessary and so valuable. We should rejoice I it and enjoy it as a gracious gift from God! This is where the Westminster Confession starts.

It is understandable that the Confession begins with a chapter on the Holy Scriptures. After all, it makes sense to begin with the reason why we know God and what the basis is for the rest of what we believe. Yet we should not see this as a prologue. The Scriptures are the voice of God, a necessary word to us for our salvation.

The Limits Of General Revelation

Although the first chapter of the Confession is about the Holy Scriptures, the first sentence is about how else God has revealed himself. The Bible is not the only means of God’s revelation in the world. After all, Adam and Eve had no Bible in the Garden Of Eden.

God has revealed himself in “nature, creation and providence”. Everything in the world he has made reveals the maker. This revelation is both in us as human beings, after all we are created as the image of God on earth (Genesis 1:26, 27). Although that image has been marred due to our sin, it is still present. We still have a conscience which testifies to us that we know God’s law (Romans 2). This revelation is also around us, in the world God has made. The glory and power of our creator can still be seen as we look at the wonder of our universe. Again, this has been affected by our sin, it is not how it should be, and it cries out for the coming day of Christ (Romans 8:18-27). God still also reveals himself through his providential rule over our lives and events in his world.

There is no one on earth who has not seen or heard or felt the testimony of this revelation. The apostle Paul made that very clear when he preached to gentile audiences in Acts (Acts 14:17, Acts 17:24-28). There is no one who is without excuse for not giving God the thanks and glory he deserves (Romans 1:18-32). Although it is a hard truth to accept, when we ask the question “what about those who have never heard” we are asking a wrong question. There is no one who has never heard of the creator God and Lord of the world. His wisdom, power and goodness are plain for all to see (Psalm 19). We are all accountable for turning away from him.

The problem with this general revelation is not with God, or the clarity with which he has revealed himself. No, the problem is with us. We all willingly close our eyes to the words God’s speaks in creation and providence about himself. We turn away from it and refuse to hear and believe it. Our sin affects how we see the world and how we interpret it.

As a result this clear revelation of God’s goodness, wisdom and power now condemns us. We do not learn the way out of our judgement through the revelation of God in creation and providence.

The Necessity Of Special Revelation

The next sentence in the Confession is glorious. God has revealed his salvation to us! He has not left us ignorant and under judgement. He has revealed “that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary for salvation”. There is another part to God’s revelation of himself, which is technically called “special revelation”. The purpose of that revelation could not be more important. It is so we know salvation. God does not reveal himself in Scripture to give us interesting information, but so we may know how we are saved. The Bible is evidence of God’s gracious character.
Initially this revelation came in many different ways. The confession makes it clear that God revealed himself and his salvation in “various times and in diverse ways”. God spoke to different men and women, in different events, in different periods of history. Think of Abraham being called out of Ur, Moses at Mount Sinai, Isaiah’s vision, Mary being spoken to by the angel, etc, the apostle Paul writing letters from prison. God revealed his salvation through a variety of people in a variety of ways. He did it in historical events, and in the prophecy and interpretation of those events.

Where do we find this revelation? The Confession is clear that God did not just reveal himself in many different ways, but that revelation was recorded. It was “committed wholly to writing”. The truth of salvation was preserved. The Bible is not an accident. It was meant to be written down and preserved, and passed on from generation to generation.

What is the value of this revelation? Through it God establishes the church. God uses his word by the power of his Spirit to save. The word achieves what God sets out to achieve through it. Just as God created the world by his word, just as he called Abraham through his word to go, just as he called the prophets to serve him, just as Jesus called his disciples, just as many were saved in Acts by the apostles speaking God’s word, when God’s word is opened the church is established.

Through his word God also protects the church. It is our comfort to know that God has given us his sure word to protect us from the three enemies of the godless world, our own sinful nature and Satan. The Bible is necessary for us to keep going. That is why the church should have God’s word at the centre – so protection, for comfort and for growth.

We need no other word from God. Hebrews 1:1-4 tells us that Jesus Christ is God’s final word. The times of God speaking at “various times and in diverse ways” are over. We have all the words from God we need in the Bible. Let’s thank God for his word, and let’s enjoy and see the value of hearing from him in it.

Bite Size Theology

2011-01-17T14:26:00.002Z

On Sunday Mornings we have started a new class we have called "Bite Size Theology" - a 20 minute Adult Sunday School which runds between 10.00 and 10.20 before the morning service. Everyone is welcome! We are still experimenting with exactly where to meet, at the moment we are trying to find the best spot in the corridors around the hall.

In this class our plan is to go through the Westminster Confession Of Faith, our statement of faith as a church. I am also planning to put up my notes on this blog in the week after each session. I am doing this mainly for the benefit of those who were there (so they don't have to take notes in the session), or those from IPC who could not attend (so they can catch up). If you have come across this blog by accident, or because you want to do some research on the Confession you will probably be better off buying and reading one of the many books that are available!

A while ago Cambridge Presbyterian Church did a similar thing and you can listen to their classes here.

Bite Size Theology - Notes from Part 1: Introduction

2011-01-12T13:55:00.005Z

WHY STUDY DOCTRINE?

It might be that you have come along because you are curious, and in the back of your mind you’re a little bit sceptical about the value of these sessions. After all, you think, we are about to be taught from the Bible in the morning service and evening service, and we study the Bible mid week in House Groups. Also, perhaps you think "I’m not too sure about the whole idea of a confession of faith or systematic theology. Why is it necessary? I’ve got the Bible! That’s my confession of faith, that’s what I believe!"

That’s a very popular position to take today. Many people, even churches would say they have “no creed but the Bible”. Now the last thing I want to do in these sessions is undermine your confidence in the Bible, and we’ll see that we are going to teach the Bible here – but there is something a bit naive, and even a little dangerous about that attitude that we don’t need doctrine, or creeds, or systematic theology (that is, to have a thoughtful ordered way of understanding what the whole Bible teaches on an issue).

Firstly there is a Realistic Reason why we need to understand doctrine (and why creeds help us). It’s that everyone has a systematic theology. You might be surprised at that but you do! You may not have thought of yourself as a Wayne Grudem or a John Owen or a Louise Berkof but you are a theologian. The question is, is your systematic theology a good or bad one, a biblical or unbiblical one? If I was to ask you “what do believe about God, or the cross, or heaven and hell”, you’d all be able to answer, and I’m sure in your answers there would be allusions to lots of different passages in the Bible. When you do that, you are doing systematic theology. You are writing a creed. So it’s important we think it through and submit what we think to the Bible.

More importantly than that, your systematic theology affects how you read the Bible. When you read the word “faith” in a passage, you don’t just read it, but you remember everything you know or understand about faith. It’s why we had such discussions when we studied James 2 in house group.

Secondly doctrine is important for a Biblical Reason. The Bible itself assumes that it contains a system of doctrine, not just individual books. Paul in Acts 20 talks about “the whole will of God”. When he speaks to Timothy he calls him to keep to the “pattern of sound teaching”. In his letters he assumes that some truths are more foundational than others, some things (in 1 Corinthians 15) are of “first importance”. So it’s important we know what they are.

Thirdly there is a Pastoral Reason for doctrine. Knowing what you believe and why you believe it will be invaluable for you in painful times. Understanding how and why you are a justified sinner is so important when are in despair over your sin. When you are on your death bed the doctrine of heaven will no longer seem so unimportant. When you are challenged by good intelligent arguments on creation and evolution or the Bible knowing what you believe and why will strengthen you. Knowing doctrine will help you when you read books or listen to preachers, so you are protected against false teaching because you know the truth so well.

Fourthly there is an Evangelistic Reason, particularly in the world we live. People love to caricature Christians as mindless folk who just have “faith” (without evidence). It’s important that we are believers who can give a reason for the hope we have. Not un-lovingly, not to “win” arguments, but to gain respect, so we can give honest answers to honest questions. Our world needs people who can do what Francis Shaeffer did so well in the 60’s and 70’s.

Fifthly there is what I’ve called a Holistic Reason for systematic theology. To study a creed helps us see how what we believe fits together as a whole. We don’t just believe lots of things about lots of different things. No – we trust one God who has revealed his truth to us. So all of his truth fits together. If we disbelieve or are in error about one thing, it will affect other things. For example, our view of sin affects our view of salvation and what we believe about God as Trinity affects what we believe about the Bible. It’s why this is a serious business.

Equally, it may help us as we go through the confession to see how some of the issues that may puzzle us fit in. For example – you may be puzzled by our position as a church on baptism. Hopefully as we go through you’ll see how it flows from and connects to other things. This obviously conflicts with the culture of our day, which is very “pick and choose” especially in the area of spiritual things. But we need to stand against that, and beware of it in our own thinking.

WHY STUDY THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH?

Mainly because, as is common with other Presbyterian Churches, it is our statement of faith as a church.

To pre-empt a possible question there is real value in spending time with a statement of faith that is so old. It’s a seventeenth century document, written by the finest theological minds there were in Britain at the time. It is a document that has stood the test of time. It was written in the midst of the battles and questions of the time just after the Reformation. It’s not a perfect inspired document, in the way that the Bible is perfect and inspired by God – but we should not dismiss it. One of the great values of studying theology written outside of our own time is that we all have blind spots – errors we don’t see because they are part of our culture. The blind spots of the past are not our blind spots so it’s easier to spot them, and they can point our our blind spots.

The Westminster Confession was a document written by a remarkable group of pastors and theologians who convened in 1643-1649. They weren’t all Presbyterians, there were Episcopalians and Congregationalists as well. They discussed and wrote a number of key documents about church faith and practice. As we study it we are standing on the shoulders of giants (great puritans) just as they saw themselves to be as they discussed and wrote. We don’t make up the Christian faith with every generation, but we stand in the context of great men and women of God. Again, this is something we miss in our culture. What’s new is not always what’s best.

However that’s not to say that tradition is on the same level as scripture. There is a difference between confessing our beliefs and simply believing our confessions. What I hope we’ll do as we go through the Westminster Confession is be convinced that it is true because it is what the Bible teaches, rather than blindly submit to it without thought. It’s not infallible, but unless you can write a better one in every way between now and next week, that’s the one we are going to use!

Another question you might have is “Why is it so long?”. Our statement of faith as a church is very long, especially compared to some other churches. If you were to look at the websites particularly of independent evangelical churches, their statement of faith is often relatively short – perhaps 12 bullet points. There’s a historical reason for this. The denominations of the past (whether Presbyterian or Baptists or Church of England) have all had long statements of faith, because rightly those who began them believed it was important to be clear about where churches stand – not just on the central facts of the gospel, but on other issues (like how the church is governed, baptism, communion etc).

Now, to generalise, the problem was that in the 20th century in the UK the main denominations fell into decline and liberalism, and it was para-church groups like the UCCF (student movement) who held on to the gospel. UCCF is not a church, and to function well needed to be a collection of Christians from all kinds of church backgrounds, so their statement of faith was necessarily short and did not mention things like baptism, church government. That’s fine and understandable. But what has happened negatively is that evangelical churches have thought that a short statement of faith reduced to the basics like that is all that’s needed for a church. But there are problems with that way of thinking. After all, churches need to baptise and give communion and be lead. So it’s important we know what we believe on those matters.

The Confession is divided into 33 chapters with a number of different points per chapter. It begins with the Bible (how we know God), God, Creation, Sin, Christ, Salvation, Perseverance, Assurance, Worship, Christian Life, Church Government, Heaven and Hell. We’ll go through step by step beginning with the opening point on the Bible next week. It may take a bit of time to get into the right rhythm or speed, but the aim is to become familiar with what it’s teaching and why it’s teaching it (where does it come from in the Bible).

Geoff Thomas at Feltham

2011-01-06T23:20:00.003Z

This Saturday Geoff Thomas is preaching at Feltham Evangelical Church the meeting starts at 7 but a group of us are going from IPC leaving 53 Drayton Green at 6.30pm prompt. Geoff is well worth hearing and is something of a legend in his own lifetime. He's been the minister of Alfred Place Baptist Church, Aberystwyth for nearly 45 years. Do come along

Feltham have a monthly Bible Focus on Saturday nights which can be seen here

Carol Services

2010-12-16T22:21:00.002Z

Sunday 10.30am (TVU) - Carol Service - Paul Levy speaking
Sunday 6.00 pm (Drayton Green) - Carol Service - Paul Levy speaking
Ealing Lunchtime Talks Carol Service - Tuesday 1.10pm Ealing Town Hall - Chris Roberts speaking.
We are taking a Carol Service at Dean Hall at 4pm on Saturday as well.
Iain Clements is speaking at the Gunnersbury Baptist Carol Service on Sunday evening.

Sunday and Tuesday

2010-12-08T15:39:00.001Z

This Sunday Paul Levy will be preaching, in the morning in Genesis, in the evening in Hebrews.

Our Carol Services are the following week - please look at the web site for more details.

Graham Weeks is preaching at Chelmsford Presbyterian Church all day.

In the Ealing Lunchtime Talks we are looking at the early part of Matthew's gospel, this Tuesday we will be in Matthew 1:18-25 "Whats in a Name?". Iain Clements will be speaking. The Ealing Lunchtime Talks carol service will be at 1.10 on Tuesday 21st December.

This Sunday

2010-12-04T13:21:00.001Z

Paul Levy will be preaching in the morning continuing in Genesis, and in the evening in Hebrews 2.

Chris Roberts is preaching away at Gunnersbury Baptist Church in the morning.

Iain Clements is preaching away at Chelmsford Presbyterian Church all day.

This Weekend

2010-11-25T15:21:00.002Z

On Saturday evening there is the Italian meal at Osteria Del Portico where Chris Roberts will be giving a short talk. It's not too late to decide to come and invite your friends.

On Sunday morning Iain Clements will be continuing to speak on Philemon - "How the gospel changes our relationships".

On Sunday evening Iain will be speaking on the question "Are Christians Hypocrites?" looking at Zechariah 3. This would be good to invite friends along to.

Paul Levy is speaking on a weekend away for St Ebbe's church.

Sunday

2010-11-18T12:10:00.002Z

On Sunday morning Iain Clements will be preaching on the first part of Philemon.

On Sunday evening Paul Levy will be continuing his series in Hebrews.

Great Talks!

2010-11-18T12:04:00.003Z

Last week I had the privilege of attending the Fulwood Conference in Sheffield. It was a fantastic two days. Garry Williams (one of my lecturers from Oak Hill, now at the John Owen Centre) spoke on the Love Of God, and Ben Cooper (who was a student while I was at Oak Hill and is now working for Christ Church Fulwood) spoke on the Sovereignty of God.

The talks are a model of how to work through difficult doctrines biblically. They are clear, easy to listen to, and with challenging pastoral applications. You can listen/download all the talks for free here. I'd highly recommend them!

Books On Hebrews

2010-11-07T20:57:00.002Z

The four books Paul mentioned tonight as being particularly helpful on Hebrews were :

An Unshakeable Kingdom by David Gooding - see it here.

I Wish Someone Would Explain Hebrews To Me By Stuart Olyott - see it here.

Lets Study Hebrews by Hwyel Jones - see it here.

Letter To The Hebrews - Peter T. O'Brien - see it here.

New Book Of The Month : God Is Enough

2010-11-06T20:22:00.003Z

Our book of the month for November is "God Is Enough" by Ray Galea, a series of devotions/thoughts/sermons/chapters on particular Psalms dealing with suffering. I've not read it yet, but it comes highly recommended.

You can also find an interview with the author here.

Ealing Lunchtime Talks : The Kingdom Of God

2010-11-06T20:18:00.001Z

During November, we are looking at the parables of the Kingdom Of God in Matthew 13. This Tuesday we are looking at the parable of the wheat and the weeds under the title
"The Kingdom Is Opposed"

Sunday

2010-11-06T20:17:00.002Z

Tomorrow in the morning (10.30, at TVU) Paul Levy will be continuing in Genesis.

In the evening he will be beginning a new series in Hebrews.

Ealing Lunchtime Talks : Ecclesiastes

2010-10-25T20:05:00.001Z

Tuesday lunchtime 1.10 Ealing Town Hall
Chris Roberts will be concluding his series in Ecclesiastes, looking at chapter 12.

Tomorrow at IPC

2010-10-23T12:56:00.002Z

On Sunday morning Paul Levy will continue to preach through Genesis and there will be the baptisms of Paul Voynikov and Fleur Bouma.
On Sunday evening Paul will continue to preach through Song of Songs.
Paul Meiners will be preaching at Chelmsford EPCEW church.

What Does The Church Do?

2010-10-21T20:49:00.003Z

Ever asked that question? What is the role, the mission of the church? Is it social justice? Is it to build the kingdom of God on earth? Is it evangelism?

There is an excellent talk here which answers that question given by an American presbyterian pastor at a recent conference.

Ealing Lunchtime Talks : Ecclesiastes

2010-10-19T08:39:00.001Z

At 1.10 today Chris Roberts will be continuing his series in Ecclesiastes. The passage is Ecclesiastes 3 - "Locked In Time?"

This Sunday

2010-10-15T13:52:00.001Z

On Sunday morning (10.30 at TVU) I'll be concluding my series on Jesus' sermon in Luke 12.

On Sunday evening I'll be preaching on Habakkuk 1.

Book Of The Month - Remaking A Broken World

2010-10-06T14:11:00.002Z

As well as preaching for us on Sunday, Christopher Ash is also the author of our book of the month.

"Remaking a Broken World" is a remarkable book - it is a Bible overview, a theology of the church, and an evangelistic book all in one! Christopher Ash takes the reader through the Bible as a whole and shows how sin scatters people, but God gathers through the gospel.

We will be getting together on the last Saturday morning in October to discuss it over breakfast.

This Sunday - Christopher Ash

2010-10-06T14:06:00.002Z

This Sunday morning we have the privilege of welcoming Christopher Ash (director of the Cornhill Training Course) who will be preaching to us.

In the evening Paul Levy will be continuing in Song Of Songs 5.

Prayer Meeting

2010-10-04T21:21:00.000Z

This Wednesday evening at 8.00 is our monthly church prayer gathering.

Come along and pray for God's work in Ealing and beyond.

Ealing Lunchtime Talks : Ecclesiastes

2010-10-04T21:19:00.002Z

Tomorrow at 1.10 PM at Ealing Town Hall, Chris Roberts will begin 4 weeks going through the book of Ecclesiastes.

Come along, and invite others!

Martin Luther

2010-09-29T21:26:00.002Z

I quoted Martin Luther negatively tonight in my introduction to James, but on the whole he is a figure from church history we should all know and read.

Justin Taylor is beginning what looks like a fascinating and entertaining series of articles about one aspect of his personal life here.

Roland Bainton's biography of Martin Luther called "Here I Stand" is a must read. You can buy it here.

Sunday

2010-09-29T14:38:00.002Z

This Sunday at 10.30 at TVU Iain Clements will be preaching on Luke 12:41-48. At 6.00 in Drayton Green Paul Levy will be preaching on Song Of Songs 5.

Jesus In The Old Testament

2010-09-28T19:10:00.009Z

I've been reading Dale Ralph Davis' new book on Psalms 1-12. As usual he is very helpful, challenging and pastoral as he teaches through those opening Psalms.

He makes an interesting point in the introduction as he deals with a possible criticism that some people may have of his explanations of those Psalms - that he does not speak of or apply the Psalms to Jesus enough. His point is that Jesus does not want him to. He writes -

"....Jesus did not say every Old Testament passage spoke of him; he rather took the apostles through the plethora of passages in all parts of the Old Testament that did speak of him or point to him in some way"

(pg. 9)

Interesting. I was thinking through this issue recently just before helping the 24:7 (our youth group for the 11-14s) leaders teach the story of Joseph this term and came to a similar conclusion with them - that to say the whole Bible is about Jesus does not mean we have to finish every talk by speaking of the incarnation.

There are at least four different ways in which we can say the whole Bible is about Jesus which we need to bear in mind when we come to any Old Testament passage.

Firstly we need to have a recognition that the Trinitarian God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) speaks and acts throughout the Bible. For example, Jesus is the creator (see Colossians 1 and John 1). We are told in the gospels that Isaiah sees Jesus in Isaiah 6. We need to consciously recognise God the Son at work in the Old Testament.

Secondly we need to recognise that there is not, and has never been (since the fall), any other way into a relationship with God except through the atoning propitiatory sacrifice of Jesus. There is no access to the Father without him. There is no righteousness without him. The sacrificial system points to Christ. So if we are reading an Old Testament passage and think it is teaching salvation by works (for example Noah in Genesis 6), we are reading it wrongly.

Thirdly, we need to recognise that the Old Testament story is the story of God promising and preparing the way for Jesus Christ to enter the world, suffer, die, be buried and rise. There are obvious passages which clearly spell this out (for example Isaiah 53), but it is also the flow of the story as a whole.

Fourthly, and importantly we need to recognise that the way God acts in and through Jesus Christ is the way he always works - in ways which seem foolish to the world, through suffering and apparent weakness. God brings people down to raise them up. He humbles the proud and raises up the lowly. Seeing this in the way God works in the Old Testament is a way of "boasting in the cross".

James- House Groups

2010-09-28T18:59:00.002Z

The leaders house group notes for James for this term are now online here.

Tomorrow night at 8pm at the church I will be giving an introduction to James to all the House Groups. There will also be an opportunity to pray in our house groups.

Ealing Lunchtime Talks

2010-09-27T10:01:00.002Z

1.10 Tomorrow. Paul Levy continues to speak on Jesus' invitation from Matthew's gospel. Come, and bring your friends!

This Weekend

2010-09-23T14:00:00.003Z

This Sunday Paul will be preaching at Hayes Town Chapel. Iain Clements will be speaking at IPC, on Luke 12:35-40 in the morning, and on the opening verses of Habakkuk in the evening.

On Saturday morning from 9am there is breakfast at the church, and a discussion of our book of the month.

If you are a regular reader of this blog you might also be interested in checking out this blog, as they have a new blogger who may be familiar to you.

House Group Notes

2010-09-20T10:45:00.002Z

Some of the House Group notes I wrote for previous terms at IPC are now on line here. They include notes on Nehemiah, Colossians, and 3 studies on Acts 17.

The James notes for this term will be there soon.

House Groups Together

2010-09-20T10:43:00.003Z

This coming Wednesday all the House Groups will be meeting together at the church at 8.00.

Paul Levy will be speaking to House Group members on "Belonging to a House Group"
Iain Clements will be speaking to House Group leaders on "Leading a House Group"

Please make it a priority to be there.

Book of The Month : September

2010-09-17T21:40:00.003Z

Over the next year we're going to be reading a book a month together. This months book is "A Foot In Both Worlds" by the Australian evangelist John Chapman. It is a remarkably helpful little book exploring both the joy and struggle of the Christian life this side of glory. There are copies available to buy from the bookstall at church.

We'll be meeting together for breakfast and to discuss the book at 9am on Saturday 25th September.

This Sunday

2010-09-16T10:37:00.002Z

Paul Levy will be preaching in the morning and the evening.

The morning service is at 10.30 meeting at Thames Valley University Students Union Building (The Park, off St Mary's Road, Ealing). Paul will be continuing to preach on the life of Jacob from Genesis.

In the evening we meet as usual at 6.00 at our building in Drayton Green, West Ealing. Paul will be preaching on Song of Songs Chapter 4.

ELT : COME TO ME

2010-09-15T08:32:00.003Z

If you are around Ealing Broadway on Tuesday lunchtimes, do think about coming to the Ealing Lunchtime Talks. We continue to meet at the town hall from 1.10.

Paul Levy is currently speaking on "Come To Me - Three short talks from the Bible, on Jesus' invitation for the modern day worker".

14th Sept - Who's It To?
21st Sept - What's it to?
28th Sept - Who's it for?

In October, Chris Roberts will be speaking on Ecclesiastes, and in November Iain Clements will be speaking on the parables of the kingdom.

Praying Paul's Prayers - 21st June

2010-07-03T19:08:00.000Z

Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. 1 THESS 3:10-13

Notice the four “mays” in this prayer and what they say about Paul’s view of God.
Paul prays to the God he knows uses him to build up fellow Christians. God is a God who uses means to achieve his goals – and we are often those means.

Paul prays to the God who is in control of all events. He can clear whatever stands in the way of him getting to the Thessalonians.

Paul prays to the God who grows love in the hearts of believers. Love isn’t simply an emotion we feel, but a God produced fruit of his Spirit which can grow.

Paul prays to the God who will keep us until the end. He produces and enables perseverance in his children.

Praying Paul's Prayers - 20th June

2010-07-03T19:00:00.000Z

And we thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. 1 THESS 2:13

When was the last time you thanked God for the fact that you hear the gospel as the word of God? When was the last time that you thanked God that your friends/family/fellow church members did the same?

If we hear God’s word and believe it is God’s word, then we need to remember that is God’s work. Paul thanks God continually that the Thessalonians did that. In one way this is a bit of an odd prayer. The gospel “actually is, the word of God”. It’s like thanking God that you know water is wet!

But it points to the serious nature of our situation. By ourselves we are so sinful, so dead to God, we love the darkness so much, that by ourselves we don’t see what “actually is”. God doesn’t just tell us, but transforms us so we can grasp reality. Praise God that he has enabled us to respond rightly to what “actually is”.

Praying Paul's Prayers - 19th June

2010-06-19T13:52:00.002Z

"We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake." 1 Thess 1:2-5

We are never short of reasons to thank God for any true church. If ever we find ourselves short of things to pray for, or if we ever wonder what we should be praying for, we can always give thanks for God's work in their lives. That work will have visible fruits - work which does not stop, but it's what prompts and motivates that work which counts. That's why faith, hope and love are so important. They are the God given engine which powers the work of the church.

Praying Paul's Prayers - 18th June

2010-06-19T13:47:00.002Z

"Epaphrus, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured" COL 4:12

Paul sends greetings from Epaphrus, the one who first brought the gospel to the Colossians (see 1:7), and who is identified here as a Colossian himself. Like Paul, he is not just content that they accepted the message, but he wants to see them standing firm (not wavering away to follow the false teachers), mature and fully assured (i.e. knowing the riches of what they have in Christ). This matches Paul’s desire for the Colossians (see 1:28-2:2).

Notice particularly how prayer is described. Epaphrus is "wrestling". I've never wrestled - well, at least not since I was very small with my brother - but it conjours up images of work, sweat, and breathlessness. Prayer for others is not peaceful, it is hard! It's difficult not to be reminded of the story of Jacob from Genesis 32, yet here Epaphrus is wrestling not for a blessing for himself, but for others.

How often do we work hard in prayer for the sake of others?

This Sunday

2010-06-17T14:21:00.001Z

This Sunday at IPC Paul Levy is preaching in the morning (10.30 at TVU student union building), contiuning in Genesis.

In the evening it is the baptisms of Oscar Dembek and Sarah Lima. Paul will be preaching then as well.

Praying Paul's Prayers - 17th June

2010-06-17T14:15:00.003Z

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should" COL 4:2-4

As the Colossians pray, they are to pray for Paul and his colleagues as they seek to speak the gospel. Paul was not a superman who did not need the support or prayer of other Christians.

Particularly they were to pray for an “open door”, a ready access to God given opportunities to speak their message which was “the mystery of Christ”. See 1:27 and 2:2 for other references in the letter to “mystery”. Paul wants to proclaim Christ, to make Him known.

This is the first time in the letter that Paul mentions that he is writing from prison (it comes up again in 4:18). He knows it is because of his message that he is there, but it does not discourage him. He knows that God can open doors for the gospel even while he is locked up. His imprisonment also emphasises the need for prayer for his work – there is great opposition to the message. He is engaged in a spiritual battle so he and others must call on spiritual resources.

As well as asking for prayer for his circumstances Paul asks for prayer for himself, that he will act rightly. His responsibility is to proclaim the gospel clearly (to reveal the mystery). Although this is God’s work, Paul knows it is also his work, and this echoes what Paul has already said about his and God’s work at the end of chapter 1.

Timely John Newton Quote

2010-06-17T14:14:00.001Z

From a letter he wrote in 1775:

"Some people are startled at the enormous sum of our national debt: they who understand spiritual arithmetic may well be startled if they sit down and compute the debt of national sin"

Praying Paul's Prayers - 16th June

2010-06-16T08:59:00.002Z

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you will the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. and we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being stregthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light" COL 1:9-12

In Paul’s prayer for the Colossians he prays that they may have power (verse 11). This is an exciting prayer! We’d all love access to the power of God – the power that created the world and that raised Jesus from the dead. We’d all love that power – to do miracles, to impress the world.

But what Paul says next may take us by surprise. We need this incredible power for “endurance” and “patience” and to “joyfully give thanks to him”. This is humbling, yet it is realistic. We need access to all the power that brought back Jesus from the dead simply to keep going as Christians, to wait on God, and to praise him. This reveals the depth of our sin, yet it is an encouragement – because God promises to give it to us. We must pray the same thing, if we don’t we are revealing our self dependence and lack of trust in God.

Praying Paul's Prayers - 15th June

2010-06-15T07:03:00.002Z

"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints - the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel" COL 1:3-5

In his letters Paul commonly links faith, hope and love as the right fruits of the gospel taking root in people’s lives, and he does so here.

The hope the Colossians have is the basis for their faith and love. This hope is not simply wishful thinking (e.g.“I hope it wont rain tomorrow” – but we don’t know whether it will or not). It is certain “stored up for you in heaven”, like having money stored up in a bank (although perhaps that is a bad example at the moment!). Our future is secure and because of that our faith and love grows.

The rest of Colossians fills in the content of this hope and how we can be so certain of it. It is not vague – it is personal. The hope we have is in Christ Jesus himself (1:27), whom we are united to, and who is in us guaranteeing us of our future glory.

The Colossians came to hear about this hope in the gospel, which is the good news about Jesus Christ. It is “truth”. Paul assures them that what they have heard and believed is true – it was when they first believed it, and it still is now. This is a deliberate contrast to what Paul will mention later in the letter – the wisdom of this world which is “hollow and deceptive” (2:8).

Praying Paul's Prayers - 14th June

2010-06-14T15:15:00.001Z

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God" PHIL 1:9-11

“Who a man is on his knees that he is and no more” said the Scttish minister Robert Murray McCheyne, and that is no less true about our relationship with others. Real love and gospel partnership is shown in how we pray for our brothers and sisters. Real partnership says "your struggles are my struggles, I’ll help you bear them". We know where to go for help for one another – the one in whom we find our unity – God himself.

When Paul prays for the Philippians, this church who were so dear to him, it is revealing that he does not pray for their immediate situation. They were facing persecution - they needed prayer for that! But Paul prays for their character. That was the most important thing they needed. He prays that they may have a useful, discerning love which is able to make wise choices about following Christ. He prays that they may know what to do so they continue to live in a pure and blameless way and produce gospel fruit.

Paul's prayer is also a long term prayer. So often we just pray for peoples short term situation (that they will get well, or that they will get a job). But Paul knows that the urgent is not necessarily the most serious. The most important thing in anyone's life is that one day they will stand before the judgement seat of Christ. And so he prays in that light, as we should.

And also notice that Paul's prayer, while it is for the Philippians good, is most of all for God's glory. Those two things are not mutually exclusive.

Praying Paul's Prayers - 13th June

2010-06-14T15:02:00.002Z

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now" PHIL 1:3-5

What comes into your mind when you think of fellowship? Often for us it’s a Christian word for enjoying one another’s company, or for having a cup of coffee. We have the service, then we have "a time of fellowship".

Paul and Phillipians knew true fellowship. They knew a "partnership in the gospel". This was not at first a partnership with each other, it was not in the first instance what was attractive about each other which held them together. It was what they had in common - the gospel. The good news of Jesus Christ. The growth of God’s kingdom. That was their common interest, the root of their fellowship/partnership. Both sides are invested.

How did this partnership show itself? Paul remembers their activity.
On Phillipians side it was shown in their work with Paul, alongside him in good and bad times –Paul wrote this from prison. They sent money. It was a costly partnership in many ways. On Paul’s side this partnership/fellowship was shown in evangelism and unceasing prayer and thanksgiving for them (Vs 3-4).

This partnership/fellowship had a supernatural source. It came from the grace of God (1:7), verse 8- it came from the affection of Christ Jesus.

This is true fellowship, and it's the fellowship we have with true believers, so we can, like Paul, pray this prayer with thankfulness for all we share it with - both within our local church, and beyond.

Praying Paul's Prayers - 10th June

2010-06-14T14:52:00.002Z

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith" EPH 3:14-17a

What is the context? "For this reason". We need to go back to chapter 2. 3:2-13 seems to be a bit of a diversion, or an unplanned expansion as Paul has begun the prayer in 3:1 and stopped. The reason is the reminder (2:11-21) that both Jews and Gentiles have been brought together in the church by the cross of Christ. We both have access to the Father by the one Spirit. We are now one people, one temple, indwelt by God. We are God's family and have all come into this family in the same way.

What is the prayer? It's a prayer for strength. By why do we need God's strength? To do great miracles? No - simply so we may continue to trust and depend on Christ. And as we'll see tomorrow, the way we will continue to do that is if we see how enormous Christ's love is towards us. Faith is simply trusting in God's love to you. It is not looking to see whether you have sufficient love for him. Just as the husband is called to love his wife (5:25), Christ loves us, and as the wife is called to submit to her husband (5:22), we, the church are called to submit to Christ, secure in his love - which is far grater than we can ever imagine.

Praying Paul's Prayers - 12th June

2010-06-14T14:34:00.004Z

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" EPH 3:20-21

Having a go at the church seems to be a popular sport today, not just for non-believers, but also for people who call themselves Christians. I've lost count of the number of times I have read popular books by best selling Christian authors who make throw away comments slating the church, and even suggesting that belonging to the church is unimportant (or even harmful) to faith.

Those authors make those points not just because they believe them, but because they resonate with much of what their readers (even us?) think. Yet, when we read Ephesians we see what the church looks like from God's perspective. The church has been chosen from before the creation of the world (1:1-14 - yes, that choosing also includes God's choosing us individuallly), we are Christ's body (1:23), we are a holy temple (2:19-22), we are the only place where those from a Jewish and gentile background are united (3:1-6), we have received the Spirit (4:3), we are the bride of Christ for whom he died (5:25-32). If we have a go at the church we are having a go at Christ's bride - and no husband likes that!

Now look again at these verses for today. Verse 20 gives courage to all prayer doesn't it. God can do far more than we can even imagine! But notice the next phrase "according to his power that is at work within us". Who are the "us"? It's the church. Despite all it's faults, depite everything we can criticise the church for, the all powerful God is at work in the church.

Then look at the note of praise in verse 21. Where is God glorified? Not in the countryside (although in a way that does glorify God). Not in human achievement (though humans who worship Christ can do great things and ascribe the glory to him), but "in the church and in Christ Jesus". And how long will this go on for? Is the church on it's last legs and will soon die out? No - "throughout all generatations." God will continue to build his church, and will continue to be faithful to his covenant promises, until Christ returns, and then everyone will see who the church really is.

Praying Paul's Prayers - 11th June

2010-06-14T14:22:00.005Z

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established inlove, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of the fulness of God" EPH 3:17b-19

Just pause on that phrase in verse 18 "together with all the saints". It's a vital part of Paul's prayer here, although it's easy to ignore. It's easy just to pray this personally - that each individual Christian should know God's love towards them more and more.

But "together with all the saints" is important. It's important in the flow of the argument of the letter to the Ephesians - which is about how God has blessed his church richly in Christ, beginning before the creation of the world (chapter 1), and which includes both Jews and Gentiles (chapters 2 and 3). We are all God's family (remember how Paul begins his prayer in verse 14). So "together" we need to grasp Christ's love to us, as his body.

Far from being a wooly prayer for nice feelings, this is a vital practical prayer. Knowing Christ's love to us together will strengthen our practical expressions of unity, and our mutual submission to one another - which is what Paul is going on to speak about in the rest of Ephesians. This prayer is not Paul taking a breather from the theology of the letter to the Ephesians - no, it lies at its very heart.

Praying Paul's Prayers - 8th and 9th June

2010-06-08T17:25:00.001Z

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. EPH 1:15-23

When we think of praying for “wisdom” or “revelation” (see yesterdays prayer) our thoughts often turn to wanting help with a particular decision facing us in our life, or guidance over an issue. But in this prayer in Ephesians Paul prays for wisdom and revelation so we may know all God has done for us.

In fact, just look back at yesterday’s prayer. It’s not simply that Paul prays that we may be given wisdom and revelation – but he prays for “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation”, the Holy Spirit whose role it is to reveal Jesus to us, to point us to and enable us to see all that Christ has achieved for us and to apply that to our lives.

But what do we need to see our great hope and God’s great power with? “The eyes of our heart” – a vivid phrase, which tells us we don’t just need to merely understand those things, or emotionally love them, but that they should so grip us that they motivate all we do. God’s victory over sin and satan, and the centrality of the church in God’s purposes should be a life changing reality to us. The Jesus we know is the Jesus who rules victoriously. And we can be praying that each of us get to know him better, and that the Holy Spirit will reveal Him to each of us.

Praying Paul's Prayers - 7th June (Catch Up!)

2010-06-08T17:23:00.001Z

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all 2 COR 13:14

Such familiar words – I guess most of us have already committed this to memory. But just notice a couple of things

Firstly this is a prayer. Some churches have taken to saying this at the end of their services while looking around at each other. It’s a nice touch (though I struggle with it – perhaps that’s just my reserved Britishness!), but this is more than simply “I wish you well”. This is a prayer to the God of heaven, so should be directed to him.

Secondly, it is Trinitarian. God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and this prayer stresses that. The great thing about using this prayer so frequently in our church services is that it should remind us that we are not Unitarians. The true God is the Trinity.

Thirdly, it is (like all these prayers this month) a corporate prayer. It is a prayer for us together as the church, not for you personally as you head off from the church by yourself. Perhaps using it at the end of a service on Sunday gives the wrong impression here? As the church together we need the grace of Christ, we need to know the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. We exist as the church because we have fellowship together with God. And this is a prayer that we should know that more and more.

Praying Paul's Prayers - 6th June

2010-06-05T20:47:00.002Z

"Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test, but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perefection" 2 COR 13:7-9

From Don Carson - From Triumphalism to Maturity (an exposition of 2 Corinthians 10-13):
"Paul might have been spending time praying for his personal apostolic vindication, or at least that the Corinthians might come to their senses; but his grasp of priorities does not fail. He prays that in this present confrontation the Corinthian church might do no wrong, i.e., that they will be preserved and restrained from sin."

He then goes on to quote from Matthew Henry:

"This is the most desirable thing we can ask God, both for ourselves and for our friends, that we and they may do no evil; and it is most needful, that we often pray to God for the grace to keep us, because without that we cannot keep ourselves. We are more concerned to pray that we may not do evil, than that we may not suffer evil"

Praying Paul's Prayers - 5th June

2010-06-05T20:09:00.005Z

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrence of the knowledge of him" 2 COR 2:14

More from Douglas Kelly - New Life in the Wasteland, on the contrast between how different people react to the same fragrence we give off:

"This same sweet fragrence smells like the most awful stench imaginable to those who are rejecting the gospel. We need to understand how the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ affects the person who insists on living for self and tramples underfoot the worthy blood of Christ. Usually it is not wise to take people's rejection of our message quite so personally, because we realise what a threat the preaching of the love of the Lord Jesus is to the secular mind. It is not that one fragrence goes out to the elect and another fragrence goes out to the reprobate. It is the same gospel and the same message. We should not be discouraged because of the hostility that it provokes, for the power of the resurrection of Christ is able still to transform our Western, jaded, post-modern, secular culture. Nevertheless, we have to be prepared for much of the anti-Christianity that we see. "

Praying Paul's Prayers - 4th June

2010-06-04T10:47:00.004Z

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" 2 COR 1:3-4

Some helpful words from Douglas F. Kelly in his book "New Life In The Wasteland" (Christian Focus, 2003):

"Firstly, we learn the value of suffering for the Lord, when a man or woman of God is faithfully serving him. (We must be careful not to bring suffering upon ourselves through our own fault: for example, through foolishness, tactlessness or laziness.) Such faithful suffering connects believers in an especially close way with the thorn-crowned yet glory-crowned Redeemer. When we, in identity with the purposes of the Master, have to go through some hurt, it is then that God comforts us in all our tribulation, says Paul in verse 4. If we can say 'Let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, if this is the only way my people can be saved and your honour and integrity maintained, I will go through it', then we get very close to the Lord Jesus in some way that cannot be attained in the sunshine, much as we all love the sun. When we get to such a place we will not compromise because of our very closeness to the purposes of the Master, so our difficulties take on a redemptive value.

Let us be clear that we do not pay for our sins. The blood of Jesus on the cross is the propititation for our sins - not for ours only but for the whole world. The sins of all God's people of all ages are paid for in the blood of Christ. Yet in another sense a costly stand which hurts you and your family (such as maintaining the truth in a relativistic culture fiercely intolerant of truth-claims) can have a redemptive value because the cross you are experiencing becomes a doorway to let through the Lord's resurrection power into other lives.....Sometimes when you are feeling the nails, that may be the only way that others can see his glory". (Pages 25/26)

Praying Paul's Prayers - 3rd June

2010-06-01T20:40:00.003Z

I'm away for 48 hours this week, so I've had to post this comment early. if you are looking for 2nd June, scroll down, or look at the menu on the right.

I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 1 COR 1:4-9

Just imagine you sat down to write a letter to a church who
- Were very divided
- Who were questioning your authority
- Had a member who was sleeping with his fathers wife, and the rest of the church were not batting an eyelid
- Were suing each other
- Probably had members who were visiting prostitutes
- Held communion services which did more harm than good
- Held services which were very disorderly and unhelpful to the outsider

How would you begin? I’m sure I wouldn’t the same way that Paul does, with this amazingly thankful prayer for the Corinthians. Why does he do it? Is it some enormous put down – a way of shaming them as he begins?

No, it is a genuine prayer of thanks. For all their faults, the church in Corinth were still recipients of God’s grace in Christ Jesus. In fact anyone who is a recipient of grace in Christ Jesus is a recipient despite their faults – that’s what grace means! And if that is true, then there is much to praise God for. When God gives his grace he does so abundantly. He pours out his grace on his church so she does not lack anything. He keeps his church until the end. He is faithful.

What Paul is doing as he prays is seeing the church in Corinth from God’s perspective. It would be easy to simply see it from an earthly perspective. We may be tempted to do that with our church – we look at it and see it’s faults and problems. But if we step back, and see what God is doing and has promised to do, then we cannot but be filled with praise. If Paul can pray this prayer of thanks for the church in Corinth, then how much more can we for IPC!

Praying Paul's Prayers - 2nd June

2010-06-01T19:54:00.001Z

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit ROM 15:13

We don’t get very far into the letter to the Romans until we realise that left to ourselves we have no hope at all. The two chapters from the middle of chapter 1 to the middle of chapter 3 are brutal in their realism about our sin and our standing before God. Whether we are Jewish or from a gentile background the law condemns us, our conscience condemns us, we are all “under sin” (Romans 3:9). By 3:20 everyone is silenced, we are guilty, and more than that we are hopeless – for if we are guilty before our God, then we have to face his wrath ourselves.

But the joy of the book of Romans is that while we have no hope in ourselves, there is hope outside of ourselves – in God, who has made known to us his righteousness (3:21), through the cross of Christ. We can have hope in God, just as Abraham did (4:16-24). God truly is, and always has been, “the God of hope”!

Now, at the climax of this great letter, after Paul has spent 15 chapters explaining that great hope and how it applies to both Jews and gentiles, he prays that we may overflow with hope. He prays that the church will become like wells which overflow with the hope of the gospel as God fills us with joy and peace – the deep unshakeable gladness that comes from knowing him, and the security that brings.

We live in uncertain times. The economic situation in the world may cause us to feel hopeless. Many of us are facing things in our personal lives which can lead us towards fear. Let’s pray this prayer seriously, that we may overflow with hope because the God of hope is working in us by his power.

Praying Paul's Prayers - 1st June

2010-05-28T14:20:00.005Z

This is the first in a daily series of comments on Paul's prayers that we are praying through as a church in the month of June. Feel free to comment your thoughts/reflections at the bottom.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a sense of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ROM 15:5-6

Being part of a church can be difficult. We have to put up with people we wouldn’t naturally be drawn to. There are those in the church whose faith is weak, there are others whose faith is strong – a guaranteed recipe for difficulties! There are numerous issues which can bring with them potential for conflict and misunderstanding. In chapters 14 and 15 of Romans Paul has been addressing some of those issues.

Now, as he brings that section to a close, he breaks out in prayer. How will we keep loving each other as the church? Only with supernatural strength! We will keep going only if God provides us with endurance – being a member of a church and loving other members is a marathon, not a sprint. When difficulties come my temptation may be to give up, and head to another church where things look easier, but the right response is to go to God for endurance.

We will keep going only if God gives us encouragement. In the Bayeux tapestry of the Battle of Hastings there is part of it where some men are being pushed by a man with a spear into the heart of the battle. Underneath it the caption reads “the Bishop encourages his troops”! That’s the kind of encouragement God provides – a divine push to get back in to the heart of the church so we don’t give up.

We will keep going if we have a sense of unity. Notice, the unity already exists, what Paul prays for is a sense of that unity. Paul prays that the church will be tangibly aware that what binds us together as the church is not mutual attraction or voluntary desire to be a member, but God’s action in bringing us together in Christ. Paul prays that we may feel (have a “sense” of) that great theological reality.

But why is this so important? Because unity is not an end in itself. Paul prays this prayer for unity for a great purpose – so we may glorify God together. It’s a wonderful image in verse 6 isn’t it? (“with one heart and mouth”) Have you ever been to a concert where a large choir made up of all sorts of people sing together in harmony? It’s a powerful, beautiful experience! And by the way we live, that’s what we are to be like as the church – though we are very different people, together we glorify God by what we say and how we relate to one another.

But it goes deeper than even that. It is possible to say or sing things our heart isn’t in – just remember some of the rubbish you had to sing in assemblies or music lessons at school as a child! Paul’s prayer here is that together our hearts (not just our mouths) will glorify God. He prays that my deepest desire will be the same as your deepest desire, and that that desire would be that God is glorified. And the God we glorify is not just a generic “god” figure of our own invention, but the God of the Bible, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

No wonder this is a prayer! By nature we are opposed to God and each other – but God is in the business of transforming people, and making those who were not a people into a people. Let’s pray that God will continue to change our hearts and mouths and that he will be glorified as we are united in him.

Sunday

2010-05-28T14:17:00.002Z

This Sunday Morning Iain will be preaching on 2 John - a much meglected but impotant book of the Bible. Come along and here how God emphasises the need for us to be a church which emphasises both truth and love.

In the evening Paul will be beginning a new series on Song Of Songs. If you've never been to an evening service before, this sunday would be a great time to start!

Praying Paul's Prayers

2010-05-28T14:10:00.002Z

Over the month of June we will be praying Paul's prayers - 1 a day - together. Every day on this blog I will post up some thoughts to go along with the days prayer. keep checking back!

Here is a list of the prayers for the month.
1st June - Rom 15:5-6 2nd June - Rom 15:13 3rd June - 1 Cor 1:3-9
4th June - 2 Cor 1:2-4 5th June - 2 Cor 2:14 6th June - 2 Cor 13:7-9
7th June - 2 Cor 13:14 8th June - Eph 1:15-17 9th June - Eph 1:18-23
10th June - Eph 3:14-17a 11th June - Eph 3:17b-19 12th June - Eph 3:20-21
13th June - Phil 1:2-5 14th June - Phil 1:9-11 15th June - Col 1:2-5
16th June - Col 1:9-12 17th June - Col 4:2-4 18th June - Col 4:12
19th June - 1 Thess 1:1-5 20th June - 1 Thess 2:13 21st June - 1 Thess 3:10-13
22nd June - 1 Thess 5:23 23rd June - 2 Thess 1:2-4 24th June - 2 Thess 1:11-12
25th June - 2 Thess 2:13-15 26th June - 2 Thess 2:16-17 27th June - 2 Thess 3:1-2
28th June - 2 Thess 3:5 29th June - 2 Thess 3:16 30th June - Philemon 3-6

Easter At IPC

2010-03-30T17:44:00.001Z

Good Friday - 10.30 service. Paul Levy preaching.
Easter Sunday AM service at TVU - 10.30 service. Paul Levy preaching.
Easter Sunday PM Service at Drayton Green - 6.00 service. Iain Clements preaching.
All are welcome! Invite your friends.

Introduction to NEHEMIAH

2010-03-09T15:04:00.002Z

This Wednesday all the House Groups will be meeting together at the church for an introduction to Nehemiah - the next book we will be studying in our groups. We will hear an overview of the book for 30-40 minutes, and then there will be an opportunity to pray in our groups.

Please make this meeting a priority, and it will be particularly great for you to come along if you are not yet involved with a group.

This Sunday

2010-02-24T23:04:00.002Z

It's a full day at IPC this Sunday.
In the morning Paul will be continuing his series on money, and then we will be having a church lunch at the South Ealing Mission.
In the evening Paul will be preaching from Mark's gospel, and then there will be a 20's and 30's social at Iain's flat.

This Sunday: Ruth 3 and 4

2010-01-29T14:21:00.002Z

Even by his own standards, Richard Dawkin's article in todays Times is particularly vitriolic.

Amongst many others things Dawkin's comments show how he has never grasped the greatness of God's love and mercy, choosing only to dwell on judgement. He asks

Where was God in Noah's flood? He was systematically drowning the entire world, animal as well as human, as punishment for "sin".

We should add - and he was saving Noah and his family because of his great mercy! He also asks

Where was God when Sodom and Gomorrah were consumed with fire and brimstone? He was deliberately barbecuing the citzenry, lock, stock and barrel, as punishment for "sin".

And we should add - and he was rescuing Lot because of his great mercy.

Don't ever be tempted to believe that God is not a good, loving, rescuing God. Come to IPC on Sunday as we will be looking at Ruth chapter 3 and 4 and seeing how great our redemption is in Christ.

Choices Pregnancy Counselling Centre

2010-01-22T22:25:00.002Z

A number of folk from our church are involved in Choices Pregnancy counselling centre and this Thursday 28th January at 8PM they are holding their AGM at St Mary’s Church South Ealing, Speaker is Nuala Leach from CARE. Come and find out more about the work which you are supporting. Refreshments will be provided

20s & 30s

2010-01-22T22:21:00.001Z

There's another 20s and 30s ish gathering at Penny Chew's after the service on Sunday night

Article Of The Week : On Preaching

2010-01-19T18:14:00.001Z

A great article from The Times about preaching here

Do pray for Paul and I as we preach on Sunday, and for all of us as we listen.

ELT - Who Serves Who?

2010-01-18T20:43:00.003Z

"...nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breathe and everything" Acts 17:25

Come and join us at Ealing Town Hall between 1.10 and 1.40 tomorrow as we continue looking at Paul's sermon to the Athenians in Acts 17. Invite your friends!

Good News To The Poor

2010-01-18T20:19:00.008Z

I've just finished reading "Good News To The Poor" by Tim Chester, and at risk of sounding like I'm on a commission to sell his books (I've never met him), I thought I'd encourage us to read it by writing a summary/review of it. I was very struck by it, not least as over the last week there have been such horrific scenes from Haiti on our TV screens.

The argument of the book is that as the church, we must be actively concerned for the poor because (1) It is God’s character to care for those in need (both those who are his people, and those who as yet are not, as God shows common grace to his whole creation) (2) The Reign of God should motivate us as we bring our whole lives under the reign of Christ and as we repent of self centredness in our public life (engagement with the world) as well as our private life. He suggests that we have fallen for the belief that faith is something "private" and should not affect our public actions (I agree with this, but he questionably blames the reformers for this, and unwisely? suggests that the Anabaptists should be seen as leading the way forward). (3) The Grace of God motivates us as we see that we are blessed by God not because we deserve it.

He then deals with the question as to which should be central – social action or gospel proclamation, coming down very strongly on the side of gospel proclamation, but states that we should refuse to see it as an either/or choice. Social action is the loving context in which the gospel should be preached so people's real needs can be met, as the gospel establishes a work that will never be ended or stopped (in the way that social action can). Social action should not be viewed as establishing the kingdom of God, which comes secretly, graciously and through God’s word as people submit to it.

The gospel is described particularly as good news to the poor as it promises liberation from everything which enslaves us, it is a gospel of grace, and a message of community of love and care. The poor are often most aware of their need of these things – it’s not that Jesus is a socialist! The gospel is also good news to the rich as it shows we can be content and exposes the lie of consumerism.

The church must work at being a community where the poor are welcomed and can belong. Helping the poor is not just about relieving physical or economic needs. We must also be on the side of the poor arguing their causes, giving them dignity and enabling them to participate in the solutions to their problems.

The book closes with a fantastic chapter on Christianity and politics (worth the price of the book alone). The idea of Christendom is criticised (the identification of Christianity with the state, and that time in history which we have just passed through where the church held a privileged position in the community). He argues that a theology of the cross should affect how we engage, seeking service and sacrificial love rather than political power (in the same way Christ did). He accuses the church in the UK for falling for the quest for respectability and status – which is particularly seen in the growth of evangelicalism in prosperous cities with student and professional populations and the neglect of other communities.

It is also the only book I’ve ever read where William Wilberforce and the Clapham sect are criticised (Chester argues that though they did some good work, they did not challenge the socially elite world in which they lived with the demands of the gospel on their lifestyle - rather they sought to extend the gospels appeal to the privileged classes).

Don't just be content with my summary! Buy it and read it for yourself. But be warned - expect to find your lifestyle challenged, and to have your view of the effects of the gospel broadened.

Food collection for those in need

2010-01-16T09:39:00.000Z

We are commencing a small food bank of store cupboard items to be able to distribute to those in need. The food will be collected each Sunday morning in a basket at TVU and stored at the South Ealing Mission building. Please consider adding something to your shopping list occasionally to place in this basket to remember those who are less fortunate than yourself. Examples are tins of soup, beans, pasta, pasta sauce, and anything with a long expiry date eg. 6 months or more. Toiletries are also helpful eg. Toilet paper, soap etc. Please avoid buying the value products as they are used to eating value items and it is nice to be able to really bless people with the best available! If you have any questions please speak to Hazel Mangasser or Nicky Rae. If you know of anyone who would benefit from receiving these items please also speak to us.

Sunday's confession of sin

2010-01-15T10:25:00.000Z

I've found the following confession of sin written by Richard Baxter very helpful in the last few weeks, we'll be saying it together on Sunday morning.

O most great, most just and gracious God; you are of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; but you have promised mercy through Jesus Christ to all who repent and believe in him. Therefore we confess that we are sinful by nature and that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. We have neglected and abused your holy worship and your holy name. We have dealt unjustly and uncharitably with our neighbours. We have not sought first your kingdom and righteousness. We have not been content with our daily bread.

You have revealed your wonderful love to us in Christ and offered us pardon and salvation in him; but we have turned away. We have run into temptation; and the sin that we should have hated, we have committed.

Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father! We confess you alone are our hope. Make us your children and give us the Spirit of your Son, our only Saviour. Amen

(from a 1661 prayer of Richard Baxter, The Savoy Liturgy)

Pot Luck Tea

2010-01-14T19:24:00.002Z

This Sunday is Pot Luck Tea beginning at 4pm, the plan is bring sandwiches and cakes or anything else cold you fancy and we eat and share together.

Gerrard Hemmings

2010-01-08T19:13:00.003Z

This Sunday night our preacher will be Gerrard Hemmings from Amyand Park Chapel (APC!!)in Twickenham. Gerrard is a West London boy and is always worth listening to and has seen what is in some ways remarkable blessing at the church.

You can listen to his sermons here.

I'm preaching all day at APC so would value your prayers

ELT:Acts 17

2010-01-07T20:33:00.001Z

The Ealing Lunchtime Talks were cancelled this week due to a gas leak at the town hall, so I'll be beginning my 4 part series on Acts 17:16-34 next Tuesday. Please come if you are around, invite friends, and pray.
When Paul first preached the sermon in Athens there were 3 responses - some believed (including 2 who went on to become key figures in the church), some desired to hear more, and some mocked. It's interesting that it didn't seem to just wash over people. Please pray that there will be similar responses in January at the town hall.

Sermons on Ruth

2010-01-07T19:35:00.003Z

Over the next four Sunday mornings, and on the final Sunday evening in January I will be preaching through the book of Ruth - hopefully as we begin this new year we will be struck by God's covenant love towards us in a fresh way. Why not try and read it through once a week over the next few weeks?
10th Jan (AM)- Ruth 1:1-5 "It Was The Worst Of Times"
17th Jan (AM) - Ruth 1:6-22 "God At Work"
24th Jan (AM) - Ruth 2 "Under God's Wings"
31st Jan (AM) - Ruth 3 "A Cunning Plan"
31st Jan (PM) - Ruth 4 "There Is A Redeemer"

Website Of The Week

2010-01-05T21:14:00.004Z

I'm sure many of you have come across this website already but Theology Network is an excellent resource from UCCF (but valuable for all the church).

It is a collection of essays, links, audio and videos which are helpful from growing in your theological understanding, and as a result, your love for the Lord. A great strength of the site is that there is something for everyone on it, whether you want to know why Jesus rose, or if you are keen for a Biblical view of mathematics.

Also on the site you can download table talk - regular audio interviews between Mike Reeves and different interesting people. I've particularly enjoyed listening to one with Ellis Potter, an ex Buddhist monk, who revealed that he was attracted to Zen Buddhism because it was the only religion he found which did not sell jewellery.

ELT - Don't be ignorant about God

2010-01-04T09:49:00.002Z

Ealing Lunchtime Talks starts up again tomorrow with Iain beginning a new series

Acts 17 "Don't Be Ignorant About God"

5 Jan - Where does God live? (Vs 16-24)

12 Jan - What does God need? (Vs 25)

19 Jan - What is God doing? (Vs 26-28)

26 Jan - What does God command? (Vs 29-34)

2010-01-03T22:06:00.003Z

I've been reading Francis Schaeffer and the shaping of Evangelical America by Barry Hankins and found the following thought provoking particularly how heresy enters the church..

Commenting on Schaeffers 1972 booklet the new super spirituality and addressing pentecostalism 'that it paralleled liberalism by placing an emphasis on experience over doctrinal content.'....

'Schaeffer tied this to an explanation for how heresy entered the church. He told his readers to imagine that the whole of orthodoxy consisted of 100 points of doctrine. Heresy happens when the church stops teachng, for example, points forty through fifty. Then, someone begins to overemphasize those very points, and because the church has ignored them, people are hungry for them and begin to buy into the overemphasis. The overemphasis is heresy. when another group sees the heretical overemphasis, it starts preaching those points even less than before, even ignoring or attempting to refute them. The proper response, Schaeffer pointed out,is not for the church to ignore points forty through fifty, but to attempt to bring them back into their proper place in the doctrinal system.' (page 152)

20s & 30s

2009-12-09T17:27:00.003Z

There'll be another 20s & 30s gathering after the service this Sunday night at Marianne's and Jennifer's. Even if you're not in the age bracket you'd be welcome. Do speak to Andrew or Jess for more info

#8. It Is Not Forever

2009-12-06T22:10:00.002Z

This is the last post in my series on handling suffering from the letter of 1 Peter.

The final point that God through Peter underlines to believers facing “all kinds of trials” is that these trials are not forever. They are “for a little while” (1:6, re-emphasised in 5:10). God will “lift you up in due time” (5:6).

This is not to dismiss the reality and pain of trials and persecutions. The Bible never does that. Just as Christ’s suffering was real (2:23-24) so is ours. But it’s not forever. There is coming a day when it will all be over.

This is the day when our “living hope” will become reality. When we will enter into the inheritance which is ours – the real “promised land”, which unlike Canaan will never perish, spoil or fade due to our sin, or invading armies. This is certain. We know that because we have a relationship now with Jesus Christ – the living hope, whom we love (1:8), who was raised from the dead (1:3).

God does not turn a blind eye to the sufferings Christians face at the hands of others. They will have to account for what they have done (4:5). He will judge justly (4:15-16). But because we know that will be the case, we don’t have to get bitter when we are denied personal justice now. Like Jesus Christ we entrust ourselves to him who judges justly (2:24).

But in the meantime we all need to meditate on God’s pattern of working. Suffering now, glory later (1:10-12). If we are not suffering right now for being a Christian, then now is the time to prayerfully prepare.

#7. God Is In Control

2009-12-06T22:01:00.002Z

I've been writing a series of posts on what the letter of 1 Peter can teach us about living in a culture in which life is getting harder for Christians. This is my penultimate point.

The key themes of 1 Peter are not particularly popular in the age we live in (or indeed in any age!). None of us get excited at the thought of suffering or submission. But that just proves how far our mindset is from God’s. And the same is true of Peter’s final theme in his letter – his call to humility in chapter 5.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” 5:6

Tim Keller has often said that the Bible calls us to realise that “there is a God and we are not him”, and that is the essence of humility. It is not pretending to be something we are not (like claiming to bad at football, when in fact we are experts), nor is it claiming that we do not know the truth (the “humility” of the world which does not allow any certainty of belief). It is simply recognising that God is God and we are his creatures, and submitting to his loving, controlling purpose for his world and for our lives.

Humility is crucial when we live in times of suffering. When hardship comes we each have a choice. Will we fight against it, grow bitter, and doubt God? Or will we believe and trust our mighty, loving Father, recognising that all things work together for our good and his glory, and humble ourselves by admitting that although times are tough we still trust him?

It is in that context that Peter writes his familiar verse which we often use when thinking about prayer:
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” 5:7
While this verse is true about every problem we have to deal with – Peter does say “all your anxiety” – the first readers would have immediately thought of their suffering for the gospel described in the letter. Our humility in suffering is shown by our casting our anxiety off of ourselves onto our Father, recognising he is in control even of persecution. Just as a fisherman casts his net out of the boat into the lake, we cast our worry off of ourselves onto him. If we don’t we are showing that we are not humbling ourselves before him – we believe we are in control, that we can change events, or we are showing that we don’t believe anyone is.

This is more than praying about a problem. It is the attitude of mind which believes God is in control.

Tomorrow

2009-12-05T22:06:00.002Z

This is a bit late but tomorrow morning we'll be looking at Abraham's prayer in Genesis 18 whilst in the evening we'll be back in Mark 14 looking at Jesus before the Sanhedrin.

In the afternoon at 4 we're going to meet for church tea to which everyone is welcome.

#6. Suffering and Submission Opens Doors For The Gospel

2009-12-03T17:09:00.004Z

An objection to my previous point may go something like this “Iain, that’s just pietism. You are calling on Christians to keep their head down and submit, happy in the fact that they are going to heaven, but not really doing any good to their society or anyone else”. Is that the case?

Look again at 1 Peter. It is striking that Peter is deeply concerned for those who do not know Christ. Although at the moment they may be stumbling over him and this is being shown in the fact they are causing the trials of Christians, he is very optimistic that people will turn to him.

The surprising feature of chapters 2 and 3 is that the submission and suffering of Christians is the very means by which God will open doors for the gospel to draw others to himself. Just feel the weight of these verses together –

“Live such lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” 2:12

“For it is God’s will that by doing good, you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men” 2:15

“Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives” 3:1-2

“But even if you should suffer for doing right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened’. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of your slander” 3:13-16

Godly lives of submission open doors for the gospel. Husbands may be won over by the love and holiness of their wives – tempting as it might be for the newly converted wife to abandon her husband every night to be with fellow believers and to nag him with the gospel, this is counter productive. Opportunities come in the midst of trials to speak about Christ as people notice that we have a greater hope than simply our reputation, financial reward, or political influence.

# 5. Walk The Way Of The Cross

2009-12-03T15:39:00.003Z

What does 1 Peter teach us about living in a society hostile to Jesus? This post continues the series.
1 Peter is a letter full of Jesus Christ. At every point in his discussion Peter draws our attention back to him – to his glory, to what he has achieved, and particularly to who he is as the suffering servant who submitted to unjust human authority to achieve for us our salvation. The cross of Jesus Christ is more than an example to us – he actually achieved something for us there, having “died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” (3:18), but his death is also an example to us of how to bear with suffering for righteousness sake.

The shock of the second half of chapter 2 is that, after Peter has revealed to us the immense privilege of what it means for us to be the church (2:4-10), he calls us to live that out as we are scattered amongst the pagans by “living good lives” (2:12), and he then expands on that from 2:13 onwards to tell us that this means submitting. We do good by submitting to the human authorities God has put in place, whether it be the kings and governments (2:13-17), masters (2:18), or husbands (3:1-6). And notice that he deliberately picks hard examples. The governments were not necessarily that friendly towards Christians at the time Peter was writing. Christian slaves were being beaten by unjust masters. Christian women were married to non Christians. But Peter’s message is the same – do what is good. Submit, that’s God’s way, that’s the way of the cross (2:21). This involves respect and a recognition of God’s order in society and in the family.

Obviously 1 Peter does not answer all the questions we may have over these issues. There is more the Bible has to say on marriage than simply 1 Peter 3:1-7, and if you are dealing with an abusive relationship (for example) this is not the limit of a Christian response. Equally, there is more that should be said about a Christians involvement in politics than simply what is said in chapter 2. However, we should avoid jumping straight into arguing against the life God calls us to in this letter. We following a suffering Saviour who submitted. That should be our pattern of life too. The kingdom of God does not advance through human displays of power, demands for “rights”, or violence (see Mark 14:48).

So, what would Peter say to us about some of the battles Christians are fighting today? To take a recent example, he would probably say don’t worry about whether you are allowed to wear a cross or not as jewellery (the kingdom of God is not about what we wear), and if it’s banned by your employer, submit. But worry about whether you are walking in the way of the cross by the way you work.

Christmas @ IPC

2009-12-03T09:00:00.000Z

Monday 14 - 6.30pm Carol Service @ The Shaftsbury flats
Tuesday 15 - 1-1.40pm Ealing Lunchtime Talks carol service
Saturday 19 - 6.30 pm Carol Service @ South Ealing Mission, Carlyle Road
Sunday 20 - 10.30am Carol Service @ TVU, 6pm Carol servie @ IPC
Monday 21 - 2pm carol singing at Threen House, Dormers Well Lodge and Downhurst home
Friday 25 - 10am Christmas service

#4 - You Are Not Alone

2009-12-02T22:53:00.003Z

I'm writing a short series on what we can learn about living in a society which is hostile to the gospel, from the letter of 1 Peter. Here is the fourth point.

“You don’t understand”. These are words we often hear, or say, when dealing with suffering and difficult situations. Indeed, one of the hardest things about suffering is the sheer loneliness of it. No one else goes through exactly what you are going through.

Yet, if we face trials for being a Christian, the reality is that we do not face them alone. Though there may be moments and situation when we may feel like Elijah, that it is “I and only I” who face these things, Peter writes to remind us that
“your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings” 5:9

In fact, the reality of who we are as the church is a prominent theme in 1 Peter. The letter is written to the chosen people of God scattered in the world (1:1), who are being built into a temple (2:4-5), who are God’s chosen people (2:9-10). The Christian life is not all about you personally!

Positively this means we are to play an active role in supporting one another, especially in times of trial. The church should be a place where we are all loved and cared for (3:8-9), where each of our gifts are used to build each other up, where homes are opened and lives are shared (4:7-11). Though others may view us as strangers, we view and care for each other as family. Elders, in particular, should lead by example (5:1-4).

A Sermon In The Skyline

2009-12-02T22:42:00.004Z

Graham Weeks (one of our elders) has posted a helpful comment on one of the stories in this weeks news on his blog here

#3. Don't Take It Personally

2009-12-02T16:54:00.006Z

We’ve all had the experience. The car in front of you has just cut you up, or ignored you on your bike. The electricity company has got your bill wrong, and you can’t get past the automated phone service to talk to someone about it. Someone at church has said something really unkind. The blood begins to pump through your veins. You get angry. You have been slighted. You want revenge (even if you may not put it like that!).

We may also be tempted to have those kinds of feelings when people say unkind things because we are Christians, or when we begin to lose our jobs because of our faith. We wouldn’t be human if we didn’t! However in 1 Peter we are called to see things differently. God calls us not to take suffering personally. When we suffer for being a Christian, it is not because people dislike or dishonour us.

Throughout the letter Peter makes the point that we suffer because people dislike and dishonour Jesus Christ. It is because we have come to him, the living stone (2:4), that people make it hard for us, and they do that because they are rejecting and stumbling over him (2:7-8). Jesus offends and divides people. Any suffering we face is a reflection of our unity with him. We share in his glory, but we also share in his suffering.

This should be an encouragement to us.
“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you” 4:14

This does not mean we seek suffering by provoking others, in fact Peter explicitly warms against that (2:20, 4:15). In many societies being a Christian will mean we live peaceful lives (3:13). However it does mean that when suffering comes our response should be careful and perhaps a bit different to our instinctive reaction.

The way we protest will not have the shrill, angry tone of someone whose personal rights have been transgressed. We will not be bothered that our puny personal glory has not been noticed. It will not be characterised by a quick, furious letter or blog post or public protest organised or written in the heat of the moment, but regretted later.

There will be anger, but it will be a different kind of anger. It will be deeper, because it is anger that Jesus Christ’s ultimate worth and glory has been ignored. There will be more, not less grief – but it will be grief for those who have caused the offence knowing that one day they will meet him. It will be less of a rush of blood to the head, but a consistent passion which leads us to prayerfulness, and into missions and service to exalt the name of Christ. It will not have the desire for personal revenge (who cares if the tiny name of Iain Clements is slighted?), but it will lead to a searching repentance of ways in which we do not give Christ the honour he deserves.

# 2. Sin Is Worse Than Suffering

2009-12-02T16:48:00.002Z

This is part 2 in my series from 1 Peter "How To Respond To Pressure For Trusting In Christ".
You can tell a lot about a person by what they see that their greatest need is. We could all fill in the end of this sentence - “my life would be better if……….”.

Considering that Peter’s first readers were facing “grief in all kinds of trials”, the way he answers that question for them is surprising. Throughout the letter he reminds us that sin is what we most need to rid our life of. We don’t need comfort, we need holiness. And if suffering is God’s means of helping us get rid of sin – then we should praise him for that!

The incentives for holiness come thick and fast in the letter. We are to look forward to our great inheritance (1:13), rather than being obsessed with the here and now. We are to look up to the character of our Father – the holy God who calls us to be like him (1:14-17). We are to look back to the cross, remembering that Jesus died so we may be redeemed from the empty way of life of rebellion against him (1:18-21). We are to look in to God’s word, which is a living word, making us alive (1:22-2:3). We are now “done with sin” (4:1), not in the sense that it is impossible for us to sin, but in the sense that those who are united to Christ and have died with him are walking contradictions when we sin.

This realisation changes how we suffer. When hardship comes it is very tempting to think we have been given a free pass to act in ungodly ways – “after all God can’t expect us to suffer and be holy at the same time, can he?” But that’s a wrong way of thinking. In times of trial we must still obey God. We have been called to live a holy life, no matter what the circumstance. Jesus has redeemed us from sin, no matter where we find ourselves. So whether we are the Christian citizen tempted to rebel against the government (2:13-14), the Christian wife provoked to not love her unconverted husband (3:1-6), the church elder tempted by the pressure of persecution to lord it over the flock (5:3), we must stop and ask “who are we”? We are called to be holy, redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, and this should show itself wherever we are. We are “done with sin” (4:1).

2009-12-02T14:30:00.000Z

Church Prayer Gathering

2009-12-02T14:24:00.002Z

Tonight is the Monthly Church Prayer Gathering kicking off at 8 and finishing at 9.30

Sunday

2009-11-27T16:38:00.001Z

This Sunday we're in the second half of Genesis 18 in the morning and then in the evening we're looking at Mark 14:43-52

Collision

2009-11-25T16:38:00.001Z

Next Tuesday the House Group which usually meets at the Rae's will be watching this DVD at church. It is ideal for any friends, and guaranteed to provoke discussion. If you would like to come, let Iain know.

HOW TO RESPOND TO PRESSURE FOR TRUSTING IN CHRIST - #1 - Don't Be Surprised

2009-11-23T11:25:00.004Z

A couple of weeks ago I began a series of brief posts looking at 1 Peter to answer the question "How do we respond to pressure for trusting in Christ?". Sorry for the delay in continuing the series.

The first thing Peter says to a church beginning to face suffering is “don’t be surprised!”.

What we expect of the Christian life will affect how we react when things happen in life. If we expect that life must always be easy for the Christian, then we will be tempted to give up, or to question God when that is not the case. Peter writes his first letter to assure us that times of suffering and opposition are not unusual. As he says in 5:12 “I have written to you briefly, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it”.

We are strangers because we are aliens and exiles (1:1). That’s how Peter describes Christians in his letter. It’s important to see that we are strangers not because we don’t belong to this earth – in fact we belong here more than anyone, it will be our inheritance, we will live here for ever under Christ. But we are strangers because at the moment that is how we are viewed by everyone else. We have been set apart by God, through Christ. We live differently, under a new master. As a result we are different. And that is strange. That creates suffering and difficulty. People are naturally xenophobic. And if we’ve never faced that, we need to ask “how different are we?”.

But it’s not simply what people are doing which leads to difficulties for us. We are not to be surprised at hardship because of what we know God is doing. We have a great inheritance to come – and God is keeping us for it by guarding us and strengthening our faith. The unexpected truth of chapter 1 is that our faith is strengthened when it is tested (verse 7). The harder it is hit, the stronger it gets as we grow in dependence on God. Suffering, though painful, has a purpose.

Because we have had the privilege of living in a society which for many years has been built on Christian values, and where being (at least a nominal) Christian was the norm, this is easy for us to forget this key truth. But we need to remember, as Christopher Ash puts it in his book “Bible Delight”;
“To the extent to which our lives are comfortable and easy, we are on the fringes of the worldwide church”.

So as a result this will affect how we react as we live in a society where times are getting tougher for Christians. It is no great witness for Christ, or help for us, if we appear like another minority group complaining that our rights are being transgressed. It is no great witness for Christ if we complain that “people would never say that/do that to those of another faith” (of course they wouldn’t, because those other faiths are not true!) The feelings of surprise at persecution which can come across in much Christian literature in this country is itself surprising given what the Bible teaches. We should instead encourage each other to “stand firm” and teach what the Bible seems to teach about the normal Christian life.