Lossiemouth Church of Scotland

All good sermons are prayers. Rev. Geoff McKee’s scripture for 29 July 2018 is Ephesians 3:14-21, which is headed ‘A Prayer for the Ephesians’. In a wide-ranging discussion, from Harry Potter’s cupboard under the stairs, to CS Lewis’s reflections on the nature of prayer and the Jesus’ story of the Prodigal Son, Geoff explains why the Gospel is for everyone and why there can be no us and them in God’s family.

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

Ephesians 3:14-21 (New International Version)

A Prayer for the Ephesians
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Our Bible reading in Ephesians today takes us to the heart of Paul’s sermon to the Ephesians.

For that is surely what it is.

All good sermons are prayers.

There is the implicit recognition in the preacher’s words that all is offered to God on behalf of the people.

Here we have a beautiful offering from the apostle Paul.

The text begins with the words “for this reason” and, as the lectionary has omitted the previous verses, we would be quite right to ask the question – for what reason?

For what reason does Paul bow before his heavenly Father?

Well, looking back at the earlier chapters, we learn that the great mystery that God was now revealing related to the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s plan of salvation.

And their inclusion was on exactly the same basis as the Jews – the undeserved love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.

The Gentiles were not admitted to God’s family via the back door.

Theirs is not a second class citizenship but, instead, they are welcomed as brothers and sisters, for this is the family of God.

Paul began the text this week with, “for this reason I bow my knees before the Father (pater), from who every family (patria) in heaven and on earth takes its name.”

The word ‘patria’ is rare in the New Testament. Normally, it means tribe or lineage but, here, it has the extended sense of family. All descended, so to speak, from the Father.

And so Paul will argue strongly, as he expands his thinking through Ephesians, that there cannot be two families of the one God.

There is only one family and so do not try to segregate or discriminate. If you do that you will tell the world a lie about the nature of your God, who is one.

There is no ‘us’ and ‘them’ in God’s family.

This was the mystery that is now being revealed to the world and it has life changing implications for all who are willing to take it seriously. [Read more…]

Rev. Geoff McKee’s scripture for 08 July 2018 is 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 in which the apostle, Paul, sets out one of the greatest challenges in Christian living – how we reveal Christ’s power through our personal weakness rather than (necessarily) by asserting ourselves.

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

2 Corinthians 12:2-10 (New International Version)
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

There were a good number of commissioners who spoke at this year’s General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh.

After attending a number of General Assemblies, you get used to the pattern and dynamic of debate. For example, you become aware that whenever a former Moderator of the General Assembly speaks in favour of a motion it is very likely that motion will be passed.

Former Moderators carry significant clout and the fact that they are invited to every General Assembly makes them a force to be reckoned with. Also you will frequently witness the same people speaking regularly while the vast majority stay in their seats. So, when someone rises to speak who has not been heard before, it is usually because the individual has something to share that has been brewing within them for some time. And that kind of contribution can often bring an honesty to a debate that would otherwise lack soul.

This happened at the recent Assembly for me when a minister of long standing rose to share his sense of insecurity, bewilderment and angst over his perceived expectations of the function of parish ministry.

• Was he expected to be an executive manager of a charitable trust?
• Was he expected to dream-up and initiate all sorts of social care programmes that would justify his church’s role in the local community?
• What did it mean to be a minister of Word and Sacrament in all of this; the very thing to which he believed he was originally called to be, but is now not understood or valued?

I felt for him – as, I would imagine, did most other ordained ministers in the Assembly Hall – and I somehow think that the apostle Paul would have felt for him too.

You see, Paul, in this perplexing little passage, was challenging the boasts of the so-called ‘super-apostles’.

With reference to their extraordinary experiences, these super-apostles were suggesting that the Corinthian church should be heeding them and not the impostor, Paul.

Paul’s call and function and usefulness for the church in Corinth was being called into question.

How was Paul going to be able to bring something new to the table to justify his existence?

So he told them that he knew someone who, fourteen years ago, had an incredible ecstatic experience that revealed supernatural wonders. He almost lets slip that the individual in question is, in fact, himself! He goes into no real detail about the incredible experience even though, in all likelihood, he was the one involved. [Read more…]

Taking Paul’s second letter to the Church at Corinth as his text (2 Corinthians 6:1-13), Rev. Geoff McKee explains why Christians must not get bogged down in trivialities but, instead, keep big goals like reconciliation top of mind.

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

2 Corinthians 6:1-13 (New International Version)

6 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,

“In the time of my favour I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.

Paul’s Hardships
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

Once upon a time two brothers shared adjoining farms.

For over forty years, they worked side by side, sharing equipment and helping each other out whenever needed.

Then, one day a rift developed.

It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference. And, finally, it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by months of angry silence.

One day the elder brother, Peter, was out in his fields when a van pulled up. Out jumped a man who approached Peter, carrying a carpenter’s toolbox.

“I’m looking for a few days work” he said. “Perhaps you would have a few small jobs I could do for you?”

“Well, yes I do,” said Peter. “See that river down there, it’s the border between my brother’s farm and mine. My brother keeps it nice and deep to stop me from setting one foot on his beloved farm. Well, I’ll oblige him. I want you to take that timber over there by the barn and build me a new fence – a big tall one – so I don’t have to look over at my brother and his farm any more.”

The carpenter was glad to have the work.

“No worries mate. I understand. Just point me to your post-hole digger and I’ll get the job done.”

So the carpenter set about working. Meanwhile, Peter drove into town to the cattle auction.

When he returned at sunset he was shocked to see what the carpenter had done.

There was no fence. [Read more…]