MAC KIRK

1st Sunday after Christmas Day John 1:1-18 " Theology is rather a divine life than a divine knowledge" 1613-1667, Bishop in England, who wrote one of the best books on the spiritual life, Holy Living and holy dying. The author this morning of our Gospel, John, tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word, was from the beginning, and was with God, and was God. Yes, we must know our theology that is what the Scriptures ( the Holy Bible) can teach us. We must know our verses, but if there are just knowledge, that alone will not complete and sanctify us in this life as a witness to others of the true light which lightens every man that comes into the world. The Word became flesh. John 1:14 Knowledge as the Apostle says puffs up without love. Puffs up is from physio in original greek and means air bellows, therefore swelled up, i.e., an ignorant person. Love builds up oikodomeo, to build a house ( oikos -house, domeo-to build). So our knowledge gives us the ingred

Peace at Christmas "When we are inwardly tossed by various tempests, and when Satan attempts to disturb our consciences, let us remember that Christ is The Prince of Peace, and that it is easy for him quickly to allay all our uneasy feelings." - Calvin This is the crux of our thought for tonite. " Glory to God in the highest, and earth peace, good will toward men." ( or " with those whom He is pleased.") The peace which is of Christ " For He is our peace" , Christ . Ephesians 2:14 -15 " He has abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments....that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross" Point I- He is the Prince of Peace, the One Isaiah told about. He is our Saviour. He is the Prince of Peace because He possesed peace in Himself. Peace rests in our Christian hearts because they belong to Jesus Christ. The contrast is clear. The wicked Isaiah 57:21 " There is no peace, saith my God ,

Mary and the Angels Luke 1:26-38 What a Gospel for today! It is full of great news and Divine Announcements and the appearance of the Angel Gabriel. To all who are struggling with the life here in so many ways we are all surrounded by such love and mystery that it is overwhelming wonderful! It saddens me at some level, but gives me hope that people who normally do not have any spiritual interest at most times of the year, come to this account in Luke with angels and have interest and wonder. First, What is this " Gabriel"? A man in Daniel who comes to Daniel touching him, perhaps flying to assure him that God would give him understanding. Daniel 9:21 The Angel Gabriel, lit. Geber el = man of God. He is called an angel in Luke 1. This is angelos in Greek....a messenger, or One who brings tidings. vs 19 (Why do people have interest in this but not in other things that are in the record of the Scriptures? It seems if you accept this truth, you may have to take

Third S. in Advent. Rejoice Sunday. We light the rose Candle for Gaudete ( latin for rejoice) Sunday. Scriptures for today focus on this . I Thess 5 says, " Rejoice always". Isaiah 65 says, " Be glad, and rejoice forever..." The Gospel in John , " the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him ( John the Baptist speaking of Jesus) rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice..." & " this joy of mine is complete" 3:30 One of my favorite on joy in Nehemiah 8:10 , " ...do not grieve for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Christians should be especially full of joy as they anticipate the coming of our Lord both at Christmas and His Second Coming to redeem His people. This reminds me of the story of C H Spurgeon, the great Reformed Baptist pastor in London who was talking to his seminary class," When you speak of heaven, let your face light up with a heavenly gleam. Let your eyes shine with reflected glory

Peter writes to us of the last days and of the peril of false teaching--The Book, The Event Second Coming, The Purpose for Us 2 Peter 3 " Beloved I now write to you, in which I stir up your pure minds by remembrance....." Stir up- wake up lit. to arouse us out of sleep. " that ye may Be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour" " Read, Mark, learn, inwardly digest" " All Holy Scriptures which were written for our learning" " in such wise hear them---that we may ever hold the blessed hope of everlasting life which Thou hast given us in Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord" We are people of the Book of God. These are the teachings and words to which we must pay attention, not to the scoffers who say He will not return , bodily , visibly, in a glorious reappearing . This teaching comes from God Himself who inspired and taught His apostles a

1st S in Advent, Year B " O that You would rend the heavens and come down..." This is part only of a long prayer in the middle of a people that feel abandoned as many have gone into exile. The temple has been burnt. vs. 11. If only is the prayer ...If only things could be different is the thought. Who of us has not felt this? Could da, Should da , Would da kind of thinking is it not? I could be so and so and in the whatever, instead of where I am. We wish for deliverance out of our troubles whatever they may be. And yet we cannot wait. We are so impatient . " Someone asked Antony, founder of desert monasticism, “What must one do in order to please God?” Antony said to stay focused on God and live according to Scripture, and “in whatever place you find yourself, do not easily leave it." Antony speaks of a core anxiety and truth. We don’t like to stay with what is hard. We try to flee what troubles us, whether literally or figuratively, and God invite