Bible Notes for 15th June to 6th July 2014 by Barrie Morley

Ascensiontide completes the liturgical year, from the birth, through to the resurrection and ascension of Christ.  By following the liturgical year, only now, after ascenssiontide,  do the lectionaries begin to look in depth at the words and actions of Christ.

JUNE 15th    Matthew 28:  16-20

THE GREAT COMMISSION

Matthew follows Mark in telling us that the resurrected Christ sent his followers from Jerusalem on to Galilee.  'Galilee of the Gentiles' is the first step on the road  to take the Good News to the whole world.

v19 instucts the apostles to baptise in the threefold name.  HOWEVER, according to Acts they baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.   Down history denominations and movements have followed different baptismal practices.   Perhaps what matters most is not WHEN we were baptised,  nor how much water was used but rather how well we live as a baptised Christian should.

PREACHING IDEA.   A sermon on baptism.  What does it means to be a baptised Christian, and how well do we live out our status.   A challenge to us all!

JUNE 22nd   Matthew 10:  24-39

Matthew's is a teaching Gospel.  The writer gives us several blocks of Christ's teaching.  This passage is part of a section giving instructions to missionary leaders - the Apostles.

Clearly persecution is in the air by the time the later gospels were written.   In time Believers came to be opposed by both synagogue and pagan temple, (as well as civil authorities).

I love to read histories of Christian pioneers in our land.  For example The Venerable Bede's 'Ecclesiastical History of the English People' and biographies of the early Methodist preachers.  Often they encountered persecution.   Now in the Uk that is rare.  
BUT for some who convert to the faith, even here, it may bring hardship even today in the UK.  
ALSO things are not as easy for believers now as they were say 50 years ago.  Wherever we stand in the debate about how Christian Britain is as a country, believers are now a small minority.  
Then of course the persecuted church is a stark and painful reality for many thousands of people accross the world at this moment.

Christian leadership, Discipleship, the Baptised Life is not without its price - even now - even HERE!

JUNE  29th  Matthew 10:  40-42 

The first known English martyr was Alban.  Alban, a soldier,  sheltered a Christian who was fleeing from persecution.  Later Alban who had now accepted the faith himself gave himself up in order to protect his guest, and was executed when he refused to renounce his new faith.   He 'offered a cup of cold water'

These verses continue the theme of instructions to apostles.  For us they may say,  'You may not be a great missionary, you may not be a persecuted Christian, but you can support your needy Christian brethren, especially if they face hardship for their Gospel work.

SERMON IDEA/MAKING IT REAL 

What is the 21st century equivalent of Matthew's first century 'Cup of cold water'?

July 6th   Ordinary Time 14.   MATT  11:  16-19 and 25-30

Verses 25-30 are reminiscent of John 17, Jesus intimate words to his followers in the Upper Room.   There (like here), he speaks of the spiritual revelation given to his followers, but to which 'The World' remains blind.

What wonderful blessings God's people have, even though they might not have the things contemporary society gets obsessed with, like fame, wealth, luxury living or constant excitement.


Now that the Holy Spirit has come eternal life (life in all its fulness) begins NOW,  (as Matthew and John would agree).



Barrie Morley

Commentaries:  

Saint Matthew  J.C. Fenton   Penguin Books