Organisation or Organism?

There are many metaphors for the church in the bible - house, temple, sheepfold, living stones, bride and body. We find it difficult to NOT think of building when we hear ;church’ yet very few of these images point us in that direction.

Paul extensively draws upon the image of body to help his readers understand that the church is thoroughly organic. By this, he means that Christ joins us together as a living body. Each member of that body has gifts, talents and roles that give life to the world without as well as within.

The church as body obviously has inherent order yet we are not to think too quickly of hierarchy and organisation. We need to celebrate the differences God has appointed to each of us. We need to learn where we best function and bear the most fruit.

With our parish Action Plans fresh in our minds, we can ask ourselves where is Jesus wanting me to serve his body? Movement and re-arrangement will always be necessary to keep Christ’s church truly organic.

Abundant Life

Why did people love to hang out with Jesus? Well his first miracle gives us the biggest clue. When Jesus turned water into wine he was making a huge statement.

1) Joy and celebration was the order of the day because the Kingdom of God had come near.

2) Ordinary lives were being touched with the extra-ordinary power of God.

3) God, in Christ, was providing far above what was needed in our human survival.

4) The best of God’s plan for humankind was being saved for last.

In our experience and understanding of God through Jesus, allow the miracle of water into wine speak to your heart today. Have you become too dour, too mundane, too mean and too mediocre?

Jesus has abundant life for us and he is not mean in who gets it. Open wide and drink deeply - he will not run dry!

Who am I?

The bible can be an unfathomable book to understand and access. Yet at the core of the message is two simple elements.

1) Who am I

2) How do I live

The second element follows the first. Genesis 1 tells us that we are made in the image of God and Jesus tells us that we are sons of God. Jesus does not only tell us this but enables us to do so and shows us what this identity looks like.

The baptism of Jesus is the inauguration of his public ministry, the actions of Christ. Yet before Jesus acts, we learn that he is affirmed in WHO he is. “You are my Son.” The one truth we MUST have settled in our hearts is who we are. In Christ, we have been made into God’s children. This is not a religious word game but a core truth that God shows us by the power of the Holy Spirit. At the start of this year, allow God to remind you of your true identity. You are made in God’s image and have been made a son.