Sun. Sept. 28, 2008 (J. Evan Kreider)

Last Sunday Evan Kreider described a tumultuous time of military activity and catastrophe in Israel. Nebuchadnezer conquered Jerusalem and the Israelites were taken into Babylonian captivity. In this setting Ezekiel, also in captivity, receives the call to become a prophet. Options, hope, personal responsibility, and the invitation to “turn and live” are the themes in Ezekiel 18. The prophet tells his people they are not in slavery because of their parents’ sin and behaviour, though there might well be generations-long consequences from that parental behaviour. Most of the prophet’s message centres on money and ethics: be fair to those who borrow money, don’t lend at extravagant interest rates, live honestly and equitably. This message is in sharp contrast to our current financial crisis that is driven by legal loopholes and greed. Even though the Israelites are enslaved, Ezekiel encourages them to turn and live. No matter how dismal the future, we are free to set out on a new way of life and thinking. Break the cycle; turn and live. (HN)

September 21, 2008 (Karl Brown)

Karl spoke on two of the morning's lectionary texts. Exodus 16 (and Numbers 11) tells of the wandering Jews being provided quails (blown off course while migrating) and manna, which tasted much like sweetened coriander seed. The passage from Matthew 20 gives the parable about vineyard workers each receiving the same day's wage even though some men worked all day and others only a partial day. Unfortunately, this puzzling parable is one for which we lack Jesus' explanation. Some people have suggested this is about last-minute conversions, others feel it describes a generous God. Both stories (Exodus and Matthew) conclude with people complaining, in spite of receiving good things. In Exodus, people complained about having the same thing to eat all the time (and not the garlic and spices they learned to love after being in Egypt for 20 generations). In the parable from Matthew, workers complained even though they had received work in the midst of a depressed labour market, and even though the wages paid were ostensibly fair for a full day's work. Karl suggested that we look at these two stories as illustrating God's gifts to us. Every meal, every penny, every minute of life is from God. Some people live long, some only a few years, but all are sustained by the same generous God. We, like the Jews in these ancient stories, may (and will) complain, but these stories remind us that God loves and sustains us. [JEK] Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday Sept. 21st, 2008 using your browser's preferred media player.

Sept. 14, 2008 (Ken Friesen)

We welcomed students to the Menno Simons Centre for the new school year. Ken Friesen, Chair of the Pacific Centre for Discipleship, spoke about living in Christian community. In Romans 14 St. Paul focuses on the weak and the strong in the early church. Ken noted that the church of Paul’s day was new and too young to have many established traditions. Today, as in Biblical times it’s easy for issues, even seemingly (to us) trivial issues, like sports on Sundays, can divide a church. Ken used an example from his law practice of a dispute within a local church that seems irresolvable and reflects a problem within the worldwide Ethiopian Orthodox church regarding which patriarch to follow. Despite reconciliation efforts the matter is not resolved and affects many churches. Ken noted that as judgmental behaviour develops hatred is fostered and outsiders wonder why anyone would want to be involved with the church. Ken focused on the dangers of judging based on human desire to define God, to place God in a box - and we think we know what the box should look like. God will judge and will do so by God’s standards, not by ours. Christians can be more effective as peacemakers than as judges; if we judge, we better be right, because we’ll be judged by the same standards. (HN) Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday Sept. 14th, 2008 using your browser's preferred media player.

Sept. 7, 2008 (J. Evan Kreider)

Evan Kreider, in his message on Matthew 18:15-22 quoted Scottish minister William Barclay, who insisted that these difficult and legalistic words are almost certainly not Jesus’ original words. For instance, Jesus could not have said “Take it to the church” (v. 17), because there was no church as yet. Barclay notes Jesus’ words sets tax collectors and Gentiles aside as unredeemable, but later passages in Matthew note that these are exactly the people Jesus was called to save. Critically, Barclay states this passage implies limits to forgiveness. Evan, in examining discipline in the church, nevertheless found his faith strengthened in the wisdom of some of the added words. He pointed out that limits to forgiveness exist only in people’s minds and our social constructions, not in faith. Using examples from his university, Evan contrasted secular practice with the wisdom in the text. The wisdom of the added text suggests that when you are angry, first put your complaint into words rather than brooding about it. Then meet face-to-face to resolve it. Last, take an elder (read: mature) person with you, not to bear witness against someone (Deut. 19:15), but to help you to listen, to discuss what was heard, and for support. Evan pointed out that the Deuternomic model destroys secular institutions, and would destroy the church if we allowed it in. He further notes that the last suggestion - to “take it before the whole church” - should rarely be used, and only for major sin that affects the whole church, not just a few individuals. Jesus argued against legalism. Let the Holy Spirit help us not to bring it into the church with us in the guise of the words of Jesus. [AP] Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday Sept. 7th, 2008 using your browser's preferred media player.

Aug. 31, 2008 (Kevin Hiebert)

Kevin Hiebert concluded our fellowship's summer's series of talks on the parables by speaking on illustrations drawn from farming. In Mark 4:26, the seeds were simply scattered on the field by the farmer who is otherwise essentially absent. This presents an image in which ideas of hope are 'sown' and God then nurtures the seeds and gives the growth, suggesting that we can be wary of working too hard on our own in order to ensure that religion is spread and accepted, for God is ultimately in charge after we do the seeding. Matthew 13 gives a more expanded version of this illustration: the seed is scattered on four types of ground, some hopeless and others better suited to growth (the Gospel of Thomas also includes this parable but without explanation). Kevin shared with us a number of helpful ideas gleaned from a published sermon on this passage by England's most famous 19th-century preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon (his 2,040th sermon). First, the seed was the same in every case (and was not changed for differing audiences). Thorns are natural to the soil and will be present throughout life, stealing nutrients from the soil (time from our lives or resources from better projects). God gives us a chance to receive the Good News and be fruitful, but the choice is ours. Eventually the weeds in society and in our lives will become conspicuous, just as the heads of grain on true wheat drooped under their weight but the false wheat's heads stand erect from having virtually no nutrition. "May God give us the grace to recognize the thorns in our lives and the wherewithal to nurture that which is good." [JEK] Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday August 31st, 2008 using your browser's preferred media player.

Aug. 17, 2008 (Allan McGee)

Allan spoke on "Being shocked by Christ." When we catch even a glimpse of the fullness and completeness of God and/or Christ's Kingdom, we are (should be) truly shocked. The story in Acts 2 tells of people repenting and believing in ways that were so profound that they and others were shocked, even receiving the Holy Spirit (an experience previously reserved for prophets). This experience is not something that is merely 'nice' like the weather, but instead shocks and transforms us. To help us understand this better, Jesus told a story about a man who unexpectedly discovered buried treasure in a field and risked everything to obtain it. That experience changed his life and way of living forever, as did the finding and obtaining the 'pearl of great value' for the unnamed merchant. These life-changing experiences contrast with some modern ways of thinking about religion which suggest that we only need to act responsibly in society, believe correctly, and we are considered active members of the Kingdom. Allan concluded by advocating that we submit to the hard work and discipline of meditation and devotions several times daily, until we too are shocked/astonished repeatedly by experiencing the fullness of God's Kingdom in our lives. [JEK] Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday August 17th, 2008 using your browser's preferred media player.

Aug. 3 (Janice Kreider)

Janice spoke about the parable of the foolish bridesmaids who ran out of oil for their lamps before the wedding feast. She looked into why the wise girls wouldn't share their oil with the foolish girls who didn't bring enough oil. Also, the bridegroom seems harsh in denying entrance to the foolish girls after they return from buying oil. But the wedding customs of those days likely involved a procession of dancing by lamp-light, so the role of the maidens included providing enough light for the celebration. The foolish ones assumed that they could rely on others and assumed that they would be accepted even if they failed in their task. The foolish ones were caught off guard; like the people at the Judgement Day who are surprised to learn that they didn't do what was expected of them. The parable of the talents (5-2-1) includes a warning to use the period of waiting responsibly. One may enjoy the gift of the present if you are prepared for the demands of the future. Some of our failures are irreversible and injustice may result; there is no UNDO button in real life. Janice challenged us to watch out for instances where doing the reasonable or pragmatic thing results in the exclusion of others from the Kingdom of Heaven. We shouldn't forget to follow Christ's command to take care of the least of those among us. [KJH] Listen to the sermon audio MP3 recording from Sunday August 3rd, 2008 using your browser's preferred media player.