MAC KIRK

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 Psalm 19 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Luke 4:14-21   “The first service one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love of God begins in listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them. It is God's love for us that He not only gives us His Word but lends us His ear. So it is His work that we do for our brother and sisters when we learn to listen to them.” -          Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together [1954] -            “Let us be very careful that we never exalt any minister, or sermon, or book, or friend above the Bible." ~ J.C. Ryle   The wall in Jerusalem   was rebuilt yet the people were not reinstructed in the law of God.   I took some time to re-read the whole Book of Nehemiah .   It is a picture of loss.   The people of God had been exiled to Persia ( and Nehemiah was in Babylon- Ezra 2:1-“ Now these are the children of the provin

" The Spirit Gives Us His Gifts for the Profit of All" I Corinthians 12:7      Today one of our lessons focuses on how the Church works together and how God gives His gifts of grace to each member so that all may profit.   The church at Corinth was known for its problems.   There were divisions among them 1:11 (“ contentions”); they were often focused on the wrong thing in failing to appreciate the gift of love which was the best gift 12:31 .   In a culture that valued smooth speech and words of human wisdom, the Apostle reminds them that he was sent “ to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” 1:17   He tells them to not build on any certain man …one says , “ I am of Paul; and another , I am of Apollos”   but to build on the the foundation of Jesus Christ.   They had a huge problem in adopting the views of the culture instead of the spiritual ideas and concepts that had been revealed to them through

“ When is God with Us?”     “ Let the griefs, pains and humiliations that come to you help you.   You will hate them, as they always hurt.   But they help you to be near to Christ, and you will be learning not to fear them.   There is the pain of disappointment when some cherished plan has gone wrong, and you are inclined to be bitter and resentful: but let it help you to think more about Christ’s pain and disappointment; then you are nearer to him and it becomes very different….. Be ready to accept humiliations : they can hurt terribly, but they help you to be humble, and to be a little nearer to our humble and crucified Lord.   There is nothing to fear if you are near to our Lord and in his hands .” Glory Descending – Michael Ramsey and His Writings ,Dales.   Jan 6 was Epiphany, introducing the season of Epiphany that lasts until Lent. The different Sundays commemorate the “epiphanies” of Christ–that is, the revelations of who Jesus is. First we mark the coming o

Epiphany Jan 6- Matthew 2:1-12   The captain of the ship looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message: “Alter your course 10 degrees south.” Promptly a return message was received: “Alter your course 10 degrees north.” The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: “Alter your course 10 degrees south—I am the captain!” Soon another message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north—I am seaman third class Jones." Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: “Alter your course 10 degrees south—I am a battleship.” Then the reply came: “Alter your course 10 degrees north—I am a lighthouse.” The photographer for a national magazine was assigned to shoot a great forest fire. He was told that a small plane would be waiting to take him over the fire. He arrived at the airstrip j