The Watford Church of Christ Podcast

The Watford church had the great privilege of hearing from our old friend Dr Andrew Boakye.

Here is the text on which he spoke:

And they said to him, John’s disciples are always fasting and praying, and the Pharisees do the same, but yours just seem to eat and drink all the time! So Jesus said to them, “it’s hardly possible for the groom’s entourage to fast while the groom is there with them, is it? That day will come; and then, when the groom is removed from their presence they will spend days fasting”. Then he spoke a parable to them, saying: “No one tears a piece of cloth from some new clothes to fix a hole in some old ones! If they do, not only will the new clothes tear, but the old won’t even match the cloth from the new. And no one pours new wine into old leather wine skins. If they do, the new wine will burst the leather wine skins and will itself be poured out, simultaneously destroying the skins. On the contrary, only new leather wine skins are fit for new wine. And no one drinking the old stuff wants the new, for he says the old makes sense” (Luke 5:33-39, Boakye translation).  

“Who is looking after you?” - Psalm 121

1. Who is looking after us? vv1-2

Fear

• Bandits in the hills

False

• Pagan temples, altars and shrines were on the hills - false hope

Fix

• God is available to help, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)

2. What is he like?  vv3-4

• Note move from “my” to “your” - when we are assured of God’s help we can point others to that helper.

Awake

• Mother watching over a vulnerable child - staying awake to protect

Attentive

• Guarding against intruders, etc., such as the cherubim guarding the way to the tree of life in Gen 3:24.

Personal

• God is YHWH five times in this little Psalm.

3. What will he do for me?  vv5-6

• Shade you (protection) comprehensively

Times when it gets hot

• Stressed? Does not need to become crippling anxiety. 

Times when it gets scary

• It was thought that too much exposure to the moon could cause illness i.e. ‘lunacy’.

Conclusion vv7-8

• Our situation is bearable because it is not the final destination. 

A Christian Response

We are called to:

1. Prayer in place of anxiety (James 5:13-15; Philippians 4:6).

• • • No panic / conspiracy theory

1. Empathy and compassion for those suffering (Matthew 9:36; Mark 5:34).

• No judgment

1. Action to comfort where we can (2 Corinthians 1:4; Matthew 14:14).

• Make the most of extra time if you have it

1. Making the most of every opportunity - sharing about the comfort Jesus can bring for those who don't yet know him (Acts 16:22-36).

• • Sin is the greater virus

What we don't know about the virus is not as important as what we do know about Jesus.

We know that the ultimate victory is his:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

We also know that nothing in this world can separate us from the love of Christ:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (Romans 8:35 NIV)

• It is sobering to see what is going on around the world as a reaction to the virus.

Time of prayer:

• What are the prayer needs?

““You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13–16 NIV11-GK)

"Walking in truth - what is truth?" 2 John 1.1-4, Stefan Wolmarans, Watford churches of Christ

“Jesus at his core - Part 2”, Matt 4.23-25

“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralysed; and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.” (Matthew 4:23–25 NIV11)

1. Jesus the Proclaimer, v23

• Acts 10.38

A. Teaching

B. Proclaiming

• “God’s kingdom — God’s sovereign, saving rule — was at last being unleashed upon Israel and the world, through him. How could this not bring healing in its wake?" Wright, N. T. Matthew for Everyone Part 1

C. Healing: Isaiah 35.5-6.

• This is what it looks like when Jesus takes over the world.

2. Jesus the Healer, v24

A. News spreads

B. People bring those in need to Jesus

• QUESTION: “How can we bring ‘healing’ to people today?”
  • What opportunities can we see?

Activities of Jesus and his followers:

1. Preached (engaging the will, disturbed the status quo)

• Pray to be alert to when you can engage in these……

“Jesus at His Core”

Matthew 4.12-22

Introduction, vv12

“When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfil what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” (Matthew 4:12–22 NIV11)

1. Jesus’s core message, vv12-17

QUESTION: “What is at the core of his message?”

2. Jesus’s core method, vv18-22

QUESTION: “What was it about fishermen that made them suitable?”

QUESTION: “What do you think they understood him to mean?”

QUESTION: “What were they leaving?”

For reflection…..

• What is at the core of our ‘message’?

“Testing, Testing…”, Matthew 4.1-11

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” (Matthew 4:1–11)

• What is the real test for Jesus?

Bread, vv3-4; Temple, vv5-7; Mountain, vv8-10

A. Lie

B. Test

C. Result

D. Parallels

Conclusion, v11

• Luke 4:13

QUESTION FOR TODAY:

“What test is going on in your life today that might be God preparing you for greater Christ-likeness and preparedness for him to use you to help others in the future?”