Category: Sermon Notes

Services live streamed on at https://www.parklands.org.nz/live-stream/ Welcome to the world of Self Isolation.  Don’t isolate yourself from God.All our meetings are suspended for now.  However this is a great time to pick up the phone and call a friend. Physical distancing is good.. Isolation is not good for us. We’ll be exploring the best ways to keep connections with one another.  This is all part of caring for others, and the followers of Jesus are always onboard for that. Keep checking our website.  

Link to PDF here Paul has explained how we are to live: as people who show respect to those around us, even to those who disrespect us, mock us, or make us feel on the outside. That is who we actually are -those on the outside. We are the people who no longer participate in the way that the world lives. We are the strange ones (4:4) that live by a different standard. Have you felt on the ‘outside’? The New York columnist, David Brooks, says that we live within a culture of the ‘Big Me’. This is characterised by statements like: Follow your passion… Don’t accept limits… Chart your own course… Live your Dream… It is easy to hook…

These notes in PDF form Peter has established that we are chosen, exiles and foreigners, that we are priests, and that our lives are completely tied up with Jesus. So now he wants to address how we live.  What is our relationship to the organisations of power and people around us who do not share our faith.  His answer seems to be respect. Most of us get quite upset when we feel we are not being respected. When was the last time you felt that you weren’t respected ? Peter writes “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,…

1 Peter 1:13-2:10 Discussion Notes For a PDF of this click on this link  This table is taken from “Faith for Exiles”. Jerusalem Babylon monoreligious pluralistic homogeneous diverse slower paced life frenetic accelerated Life central control open Source sweet and simple complex and bittersweet idols: Religious pride / false piety idols : fitting in/ not missing out The two columns describe the world of Jerusalem  of these columns seem like today’s world to you ?  How do you feel about your answer ?  “Only God is Holy, just as only people are human. God’s holiness is God’s Godness. To speak of anything else as holy is to say that it has something of God’s mark upon it.” – Buechner Does this help…

What’s that Smell ? Icebreaker – What kind of Smells can you remember ? Flowers, Freshly cut grass, ground coffee ? What memories go with those smells ? Read Luke 7:36-50. Simon : Simon has invited Jesus over, but done none of the things one would normally do for a guest. This is like bowling into a marae without a welcome. It’s rude. Why is simon inviting him over and bring rude do you think ? When the perfume is poured – Simon’s response is all facts and judgement.  What does he think a prophet should do ?  When Jesus tells his story about debtors, which one is Simon ? The Woman:  the woman who is a sinner, cries, uses…

Read Luke 6: 27-38 aloud. “If you’re listening, here’s My message: Keep loving your enemies no matter what they do. Keep doing good to those who hate you. Keep speaking blessings on those who curse you. Keep praying for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, offer the other cheek too. If someone steals your coat, offer him your shirt too. If someone begs from you, give to him. If someone robs you of your valuables, don’t demand them back. Think of the kindness you wish others would show you; do the same for them. Listen, what’s the big deal if you love people who already love you? Even scoundrels do that much! So what if…