MAC KIRK

Gifts we can give to ourselves and others through Christ in the New Year” I Samuel 2:18-20,26; Colossians 4:12-17; Luke 2:41-52-1 st Sun after Christmas Samuel as a young child “ministered before the Lord” and Jesus as a young person “was about His Father’s business” .   Of both it is said, “ they increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.”   That should be our goal as well if we are to live healthy, happy and holy lives in this world in preparation for the next.   We follow His steps ..” For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” I Peter 2:21 We have spent a lot of time buying gifts, looking at gifts and in general   the word most men hate, “shopping.”   Now it is time to ask ourselves what good gifts God can give us as we enter a new year in a few days.   Who wants to live this next year as we did the last?   None of us I trust.   We know we grow spiritually in the n

“Mary visits Elisabeth” Luke 1:39       This is called the Visitation of Mary and in some churches it is observed on May 31.   Prior to this in Luke the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary she will have a child in her womb.   That is called the Annunciation.   Having this knowledge that she was to bear a Son who was to be called “ Jesus” and the “ Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David” , Mary travels to see Elisabeth.          In Luke 1:36 we read, “ And behold, thy cousin Elisabeth she hath also conceived a son in her old age”   Of course we note Mary’s child was conceived without a man but Elisabeth was somewhat like Hannah in the Book of Samuel who had conceived but in her old age.   “ For with God nothing shall be impossible.” 1:37         What I note here is that we read something quite interesting that caught my attention at least .   “ And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda and ente

" The Lord is at Hand in Advent----an Attitude of Rejoicing and Response of Gentleness unto All"     Philippians 4:4-7   The Lord is at hand.   His nearness in Advent is a cause for our joy and our rejoicing.   Lack of joy may be coming from several different causes.   It may come from unresolved anger and the inability to accept what God has dealt us so to speak.   In this case it appears in the context of these verses that there was a kind of dispute between some members of the church.   This is Paul’s theme in this letter, “ be of the same mind in the Lord”.   4:3   2:2 says “ be ye like-minded, having the same love, being of accord, of one mind.   Let nothing be done through strife…”   The Apostle beseeches Euodias and Syntyche, two women who labored in the gospel to be of the same mind “ in the Lord.”   Now note that it is ok to have different views and that we should have, but our differences in perception should not overrule our unity and oneness in Chr

Advent II.   Philippians 1:3-11 “ Practicing Christian love grounded in knowledge and spiritual sensitivity till the day of Christ ( Advent)”       In this   letter the Apostle discusses we are to love “ more and more” and how we are to speak the truth and what that consists of in the spirit of Advent, that is the coming of Christ---“ that ye may be pure and without offence for the day of Christ” 1:10   These things are a part of our sanctification, that is getting closer to the holiness God requires of those who would profess in their Christian profession.   This week I read in the morning from Thessalonians where we spoke last week of Paul’s prayer for advent, “ For this is the will of God , even your sanctification.” 4:1         We are to love as the Apostle shares in the writing to the Philippians.   He says “ I yearn for you all in the affection of Jesus Christ” 1: 8 (ESV)   This is our first duty after loving God.   We say in the Holy Communion service each month:

Prayer for Advent.   I Thessalonians 3:9-13       The Apostle prays for the Christians at Thessalonica “ Now God Himself and our Father,   and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.   And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father , at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” 3:11-13      This is Advent.   In every chapter of this letter of Paul and especially at the end of each chapter the second coming of Christ is mentioned.   Note the Apostle begins with the Lord increasing them and helping them to abound in love one toward one another.   So Advent is about Christian love?   I think a while back I preached a sermon on process and the product.   The Christian life is a process and it is a journey.   What we produce is not as important I think we said as the process.   That sounds l

The Revelation of Jesus Christ- the unfolding of the Truth 1:4b-8       The title of John’s epistle is apocalypse in the original language and it means an uncovering of something that was hidden.   It is a revelation.   This is something made known to us that we could not know by ourselves alone. Romans 16:25 uses the same word “ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery.”   This is really the core of our understanding of faith.   We could not know it except it be revealed to us.        This may be a crude illustration but it serves the purpose.   I was giving my dogs a piece of ham. I put it away .Then they went into the other room thinking there was some better treats.   At this point I decided to take out the ham and enjoy it again but there they were sitting in the other room waiting for food they were not going to get.   Is this not a picture of our ignorance?  

Time of Trouble---then what happens?   Daniel 12:1-3;   Mark 13:1-8;   Hebrews 10:11-14, (15-18), 19-25       Let me remind us of something you know.   Trouble is here.   Here it is in practical terms of everyday life that I got in an e mail the other day: I Believe... That just because two people argue, It doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, It doesn't mean they do love each other. I Believe.... That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you, every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. I Believe.... That it's taking me a long time To become the person I want to be. I Believe.... That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. Daniel says, “ there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was ..” 12:1b   Mark tells us this too:”   “ For nation shall rise against nation, ….

  All Saints 2012 -Meditation      Isaiah 25:6-9;Revelation 21:1-6a; John 11:32-44       Some things happen quietly.   There is a certain rhythm about the change of seasons that can verify that.   All of the sudden we were cold.   So we put the heat on.   The leaves have been dropping for a while and there are more and they are brown.   I liked it when they were green, yellow and brown.   I was talking to someone at the store the other day who said they had preached at their local church for the first time.   I said, “ pastors and preachers are the only ones who do not see the fruit of their labors”   What I meant by that is that change happens slowly and we are not always the witnesses of that.      Today we celebrate the Saints of God.   Who are they?   They are people. They are people that are called by God to serve Him and others and not themselves.   They are not usually normal for there is really no such thing.   Each of us is unique and we are individual

“Your Faith Has Made You Whole”   Mark 10:46-52; Hebrews 7:23-28       How do people become Christians?   I like the word mystery for that explanation.   I know we have catechisms, doctrines, theologies, and confessions of faith which our church subscribes to.   And they can be helpful.   But is there a danger in too much detail?   I think there may be.   The bigger question is as we discussed last week is that God is Sovereign ( our King and Creator & Provider) in all His ways and He does things we cannot explain.   Human words are inadequate sometimes.   It may be an experience or how someone treats you that is important.   It may be you are at the end of your rope so to speak….       Today’s Gospel lesson about Bartimaeus is such a story for us.   First, he realized he a need.   Now that is where true religion begins or a path to wholeness if you will.   He was blind.   Imagine that!   Some of us never get to that point where we realize we have such a need for Go

God’s Sovereignty in our lives ----what is its practical meaning?      Job as we have seen in chapter 38 finds out from God directly about God’s wisdom and Job’s own creation.   “    Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?”   God is the Creator and He formed us for His good pleasure and out of His own will He created everything from nothing.   God’s Sovereignty is seen in His creating power.   If He created the world from nothing then does He leave it without any direction or purpose?       Some have said so.   They see in the world a God who may have had a hand in its creation but has left it to its own designs.   This is called Deism.   In other words , God is only the First Great Cause but has no involvement after that.   Job in 9: 6 says of God , “ which commandeth the sun….and sealeth up the stars”        What does it mean to be Sovereign?   The root means” above or superior to all others ; chief, greatest; supreme in power, rank or authorit

Mark 10: 17-31      CS Lewis was won to Christianity by several things.   One was he had a good teacher in his youth who taught him to see the true from the false , a Scotsman named Kirkpatrick.    Another way was that he was” surprised by joy” ( an actual title on one his books later on), experiences of music, a landscape or a forgotten memory.   He came across the writings of a Scottish minister , George Mc Donald who led him to discover joy in imaginary worlds.   Then he re-encountered Christ .            The rich young ruler was attracted to Jesus.   Perhaps he had seen how he treated children earlier in Mark 10.   Jesus was a winsome figure to him.   His own life was full of everything he wanted but he lacked the one thing he needed. It was an empty life although he had enough of this world’s goods. Here is the question, “ are we winsome?”   Do people see something different about our lives and our attitudes?   The rich young ruler came running to Jesus .   He knew