Lossiemouth Church of Scotland

This is Rev. Geoff McKee’s sermon for Sunday 04 August 2019, with Hosea 11:1-11 the main text.

You can download a PDF version of the sermon by clicking here.

Hosea 11:1-11 (New International Version)
God’s Love for Israel
11 “When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 But the more they were called,
the more they went away from me.
They sacrificed to the Baals
and they burned incense to images.
3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them.
4 I led them with cords of human kindness,
with ties of love.
To them I was like one who lifts
a little child to the cheek,
and I bent down to feed them.

5 “Will they not return to Egypt
and will not Assyria rule over them
because they refuse to repent?
6 A sword will flash in their cities;
it will devour their false prophets
and put an end to their plans.
7 My people are determined to turn from me.
Even though they call me God Most High,
I will by no means exalt them.

8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
How can I make you like Zeboyim?
My heart is changed within me;
all my compassion is aroused.
9 I will not carry out my fierce anger,
nor will I devastate Ephraim again.
For I am God, and not a man—
the Holy One among you.
I will not come against their cities.
10 They will follow the Lord;
he will roar like a lion.
When he roars,
his children will come trembling from the west.
11 They will come from Egypt,
trembling like sparrows,
from Assyria, fluttering like doves.
I will settle them in their homes,”
declares the Lord.

 

Father, hear us, we are praying.
Hear the words our hearts are saying.
We are praying for our children.

Keep them from the powers of evil,
From the secret, hidden peril.
Father, hear us for our children.

From the worldling’s hollow gladness,
From the sting of faithless sadness,
Father, Father, keep our children.

Through life’s troubled waters steer them.
Through life’s bitter battles cheer them.
Father, Father, be thou near them.

And wherever they may bide,
Lead them home at eventide.

These beautiful, poignant words were written by Amy Carmichael, who lived most of her life in India, serving God as a missionary.

She was born in Millisle, a little village, just a few miles from where I come from in Ireland.

After many remarkable years of sacrificial service in India, she was bedridden for the last twenty years of her life but she remained in India throughout her incapacity – with her people. She wrote countless books lying in her bed.

She died in India in 1951 at the age of 83.

She asked that no stone be put over her grave at Dohnavur.

Instead, the children she had cared for put a bird bath over it with the single inscription “Amma”, which means ‘mother’ in the Tamil language. She was a true mother to them all: nurturing, caring and inspiring.

I wonder if you have a family photograph album or albums at home.

The younger generations of mums and dads probably don’t because, with the advent of digital photography, photos tend to be stored digitally on computers.

The best of the photos will, of course, be printed and displayed at home, but most will lie unseen in a hard-drive.

But the older generations of mums and dads will probably still have the albums.

When my mother and father were preparing for their house move recently, out came the albums from dear knows when! They were downsizing and so there was a cull of the photographs. The ones that myself and my sister wanted were given to us and the rest were disposed of. But it gave us all a good laugh to see some of us with hair and others with different hair styles and all the changes through the years of growing up.

Mums and dads remember what the children have no memory of.

• The first words,
• the first faltering steps,
• the tears and tantrums,
• the quest for independence, with the skinned knees and joyful discoveries and all the rest.

Photo albums can bring those memories back, maybe with a wee tear in the eye.

We have the equivalent of God’s family photo album, in written, descriptive text in Hosea 11.

These are God’s memories of his son, his people Israel, sometimes referred to as Ephraim in the passage.

God’s memories that Israel has no memory of. Tender, poignant memories, yet laced with stark realism. [Read more…]

The Parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the first scriptural ‘repeats’ (previous sermon here) among the sermon blog posts on this website. On this occasion, Rev. Geoff McKee reframes the lawyer’s question to Jesus: ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ – which prompts Jesus to tell the story of the Good Samaritan – for a modern audience: “Please tell me it will all be okay in the end?”

Yes, it will all be okay but there is important action we have to take as Christians, which Geoff explains.

You can download a PDF version of the sermon by clicking here.

Luke 10:25-37 (New International Version)
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

So what does this very well-known parable teach us?

• “Be nice like the Samaritan, not nasty like the clergy!” or
• “Feel very guilty when you walk past the homeless and decide to do nothing”? or …

… and there are countless different interpretations that might come to mind.

In fact, I think it’s fair to say that this parable has been defined as containing the essence of Christianity. So we would expect lots of different takes on it, especially when the parable is lifted out of Luke’s Gospel and presented on its own terms.

Unfortunately, that inevitable process of extracting – and then analysing – removes the parable from its context and, as a result interpretation can go awry.

It is important that the parable is framed with Jesus’ engagement with the lawyer.

That supplies the immediate context which should direct the interpretation of the parable.

The lawyer asked: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

What might that question sound like in today’s speak? Might it be something like: “Please tell me it will all be okay in the end”? [Read more…]

Who is welcome in Church? For the fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Rev. Geoff McKee looks at this recurring theme through Paul’s letter to the Church in Galatia. We must not only believe that, in Christ, the old has fallen away and the new creation is emerging but demonstrate that too. We live in a remarkably diverse community and God is calling us from insular preoccupation to generous fellowship.

You can download a PDF of the sermon by clicking here.

Galatians 6:1-16 (New International Version)
Doing Good to All
6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Not Circumcision but the New Creation
11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.

During our holiday in Seville in March, Annie and I visited the Maestranza bull ring.

It is said that it is the most beautiful bull ring in Spain, second in importance only to Madrid.

It houses a museum in tribute to the history of bull fighting in Spain. It has pictures and photographs of legendary bull fighters and specimens of their extravagant capes in display cases. It is full of colour and glamour but it cannot hide the unsavoury fact that much cruelty and some tragedy has occurred within its walls over the years. Many bulls have been needlessly sacrificed in a cruel way and some of the lauded matadors have lost their lives too.

José Cubero, one of Spain’s most brilliant matadors, only 21 years old, had been enjoying a spectacular career. However, in a 1958 bullfight, José made a tragic mistake. He thrust his sword a final time into a bleeding, delirious bull, which then collapsed. Considering the struggle finished, José turned to the crowd to acknowledge the applause. The bull, however, was not dead. It rose and lunged at the unsuspecting matador, its horn piercing his back and puncturing his heart. He died instantly.

Just when we think we’ve finished off pride…

Just when we turn to accept the congratulations of the crowd, pride stabs us in the back.

We should never consider pride dead before we are. [Read more…]

For the third Sunday after Pentecost (30 June 2019), Rev. Geoff McKee discusses the difficult concept of “Freedom in Christ”. Love is meant to be given away. Freedom offers us the opportunity – and the means – to become entangled with others through the sharing of love. By sharing the love of Christ, we are free to free others.

You can download a PDF version of the sermon by clicking here.

Galatians 5: 1, 13-25 (New International Version)
Freedom in Christ
5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

…

Life by the Spirit
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Do you ever wish we could get back to the wholesomeness and stability of the past, to a world where things are simpler and easier?

That’s just the issue explored in the superb 1998 film, Pleasantville.

The central characters of the movie are teenage twins, David and Jennifer, each struggling in their own way with the pressures of modern life and a family that has been through divorce.

Jennifer becomes the ultimate party girl, careless and acting on her every whimsy. David becomes depressed and retreats from the world into his room, where he spends as much time as he can watching his favourite TV show, an old 1950’s black and white sitcom, Pleasantville.

Pleasantville seems to offer everything David could want: simplicity, intact families, stability, clear community values.

Then, one day, something strange happens. [Read more…]

This is Rev. Geoff McKee’s sermon for the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost (23 June 2019).

You can download a copy of the sermon as a PDF by clicking here.

Galatians 3:23-29 (New International Version)
Children of God
23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

G.K. Chesterton – in his book What’s Wrong with the World? – wrote,

“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.”

When a Christian re-locates to a new area (maybe because of a new job, or beginning studies at university), it is customary for the person to spend some time looking about for a church to worship in and maybe join. Usually the advice is to take your time and have a good look before making a decision – and that’s sound advice.

How do you choose a church?

What criteria do you use?

You know, most folks will gravitate to a church that seems to best serve their needs and, in many cases, the new church will be very similar to the one they have left.

• We tend to be intensely individualistic; how do I fit in?
• And we tend to gravitate to people like ourselves. There, we are comfortable and we are more likely to be happy, we think.

Could it be that the Church has chosen you?

Could it be that Jesus has chosen you?

The choice doesn’t lie with you so why are you involved in making so many personal decisions regarding a supposed choice?

People these days are fond of identifying with all sorts of categories and labels:

• I am a vegetarian.
• I am a feminist.
• I am nationalist.

Whatever…

In Paul’s day, they would say:

• I am a Jew;
• I am a Gentile;
• I am a slave;
• I am a free person;
• I am a man;
• I am a woman.

And, whilst all these categories remained, none of them would define the Christian.

For Paul, no one was a Jewish Christian, or a Gentile Christian, or a Christian slave or a Christian free-man or a male Christian or a female Christian but all were Christians in the family of God.

Paul – in this passage in Galatians – is addressing these kinds of issues.

The Jews were asking: “What best suits us? How will we find our happiness in the newly emerging church?”

And the answer coming back to Paul was: “By insisting on the Law for all (or the main parts of it, at least for the Gentile converts, like circumcision).”

What harm could there be in that anyway? They were really asking the question; “How much like a Jew does a Gentile need to be in order to be a Christian?” And the answer coming back was, ‘as much as possible!’ And, then lying beneath all of that, there was more than a feeling that Gentiles were never going to be quite right, never mind what they did to fit in.

Back to Chesterton:

“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.”

So much anger, so much sadness, and so much fear because people did not understand what it meant to be baptised into Jesus Christ.

Categories differentiate and unsettle, creating tensions which pull apart.

We all have distinctives that we enjoy and we like nothing better than grouping up with those who share our preferences.

We place great importance on being in the right.

This has caused great trouble in the Christian community through the generations and we see the early prototypes in a passage like Galatians 3.

Why does the church have a history of fragmentation that results in multiple expressions of the Christian faith springing up all over the place? One of the reasons is that people believe they are in the right and that lot down the road have got it wrong. Now, it may be over minor doctrine but that begs the question: ‘if it’s so minor why are you not still together?’

Is it more important to be ‘right’, or to be in a healthy, well-boundaried relationship in Christ? After all, have you chosen the church or has the church chosen you?

During World War II, Hitler commanded all religious groups to unite, so that he could control them.

Among the Brethren assemblies, half complied and half refused.

Those who went along with the order had a much easier time. Those who did not, faced harsh persecution. In almost every family of those who resisted, someone died in a concentration camp.

When the war was over, feelings of bitterness ran deep between the groups and there was much tension. Finally, they decided that the situation had to be healed. Leaders from each group met at a quiet retreat. For several days, each person spent time in prayer, examining his own heart in the light of Christ’s commands. Then they came together.

Francis Schaeffer, who told of the incident, asked a friend who was there, “What did you do then?” “We were just one,” he replied. As they confessed their hostility and bitterness to God and yielded to His control, the Holy Spirit created a spirit of unity among them. Love filled their hearts and dissolved their hatred.

It’s getting to the point when everyone agrees that something has to be done is absolutely necessary. Until then all striving is futile.

The American devotional A.W. Tozer wrote:

“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”

Something has to be done; someone has to be looked to: Jesus Christ.

If you are baptised into Christ, you belong to Christ and so you belong to one another in the family of God. Therefore all other distinctions are, at best, secondary and, at worst, absurd.

Tradition claims that Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchure is built over the cave in which Christ is said to have been buried.

In July 2002, the church became the scene of ugly fighting between the monks who run it. The conflict began when a Coptic monk sitting on the rooftop decided to move his chair into the shade. This took him into the part of the rooftop courtyard looked after by the Ethiopian monks.

It turns out that the Ethiopian and Coptic monks have been arguing over the rooftop of the Church of the Holy Sepulchure for centuries.

The rooftop had been controlled by the Ethiopians but they lost control to the Copts when hit by a disease epidemic in the 19th century.

Then, in 1970, the Ethiopians regained control when the Coptic monks were absent for a short period.

They have been squatting there ever since, with at least one Ethiopian monk always remaining on the roof to assert their rights. In response, a Coptic monk has been living on the roof also, to maintain the claim of the Copts.

And so we get to a Monday in July 2002, when the Coptic monk moves his chair into the shade. Harsh words led to pushes, then shoves, until an all-out brawl is going, including the throwing of chairs and iron bars. At the end of the fight, 11 of the monks were injured, including one monk unconscious in hospital and another with a broken arm.

May we not so distort the good news of Jesus Christ that a suffering world looks on us with despair and disgust.

We are no longer imprisoned.

We are children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Let us live in the light of that.

Amen.