MAC KIRK

Candlemas  Luke 2 :22-40 CS Lewis said, "  Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny." Simeon was such a man.  The Gospel of Luke says that he was a " man in Jerusalem" " and the same was just and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel" 2:25  ( that is he was looking for the Messiah-Matthew Henry notes) Jesus was presented in the temple by Joseph and Mary.  This was done after circumcision ( 8 days) at 40 days.  Leviticus 12 tells us about the woman & the duty of all believers and their families for purification being done 33 days after the 7 days of uncleaness .  So this was being done as Mary was offering for "her purifying" bringing a lamb .  Being poor Mary and Joseph were allowed to bring something else, Luke records " two turtledoves or two young pigeons" 2: 24 " Just and devout"  ----just means righteous & devout literally means " taking hold well" Someone said t

I Corinthians 1:18   “ For the word of the cross to those perishing is foolishness , but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”        What is the Church?   This is the place we come to bringing our concerns, our worship, our joys and sorrows.   We would say it is a community of faith where Jesus is the Head.   This is His body, the Church, and we are His followers.   We have laws which we call the moral law or ten commandments which is binding upon us now and for eternity.   Jesus also said that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind,   and our neighbor as ourselves.   Why come?   We come because in this community we share the body of Christ together. We are His members.   I have been meditating on that.        I like what one writer on retreats said about community, “ one of the most powerful things community brings to individuals is courage---courage to be and do things we would never think of doing alone.”   Seeking God A

Faithful Followers   John 1:29-42      Jesus is the way to the Father.   In these early manifestations, appearances and actions of Jesus we see an emphasis .   It is an open witness.   There is no shut door here.   Jesus is completely forthright with others and asks them questions like, “ What see ye?”   This question goes to our heart .   It shows us to be shallow in much of our own lives for we know we are often not looking for the right things that please God and serve others.   So Jesus is open with people .   “ Come and see” he says to the early disciples when they ask him “ Where are you abiding or living now? “ They are in pursuit of the thing which will satisfy their needs, give reality to their dreams and substance to their hopes.   They are soon to discover that the thing is in fact a person, the very Person who now confronts them.”   The Gospel of John by R. V. G. Tasker        In our experience of life we like to share good news when we get it.    We cannot

L ord   of the (Church), who hast given to thy servants a diversity of gifts, that they may share them with (others)their brethren: Grant us the generous heart to give, the humble heart to receive; that we, with all that love thee, may know the fullness of thy grace; that thy love may be perfected in us; to the glory of thy Name. O ur   Heavenly Father, who in thy wisdom hast made thy children not in one mould, but in many, and with but one common likeness, which is thine own: Take away from us, we beseech thee, the pride of heart which strives to impress our image upon other men, and give us the desire only to see in them the reflection of thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. L ord , make us apt to teach, but more apt to learn; that we may not only desire to reveal to others what thou hast revealed to us, but with humble and thankful heart to learn of them what they have learned of thee; for Jesus Christ’s sake. A lmighty   God, who through thy son Jesus Christ hast give

" When is God with Us?" Epiphany 1. "Lincoln once got caught up in a situation where he wanted to please a politician, so he issued a command to transfer certain regiments. When the secretary of war, Edwin Stanton, received the order, he refused to carry it out. He said that the President was a fool. Lincoln was told what Stanton had said, and he replied, "If Stanton said I'm a fool, then I must be, for he is nearly always right. I'll see for myself." As the two men talked, the President quickly realized that his decision was a serious mistake, and without hesitation he withdrew it." from sermon illustrations web Humility can save us from the bad choices we make. Knowing when to be humble and to accept direction from others is important. We do not have all the answers all the time. God has sent others to help us. It is good to be humble. Jesus did have all the answers and He was divine. Yet he humbled himself and went to the baptism of cl

Epiphany Lessons .   Matthew 2:1-12 ; Epistle- Ephesians 3:1…        “ To me the less than the least of all the saints was given this grace among the nations to announce the glad tidings the unsearchable riches of Christ…”   Ephesians 3:8     No longer is God’s mystery of God’s love an unknown thing.   Now in Christ we have the fullness of God’s love revealed---in the birth of a baby where the magi , wise men , came to the house of the inn.   There they came and worshipped him and “when they had opened their treaures , they presented unto him gifts..”      “ Unsearchable riches” the Apostle calls this glad tidings of the mystery of the gospel.   The word “unsearchable” I learned comes from a word that means a footprint or track.   His ways are untraceable or unsearchable.   Romans 11:33 has the same word , “ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”        We can say t