Sermons

28th November 2021 (Advent1) Title: In the Light of Christ’s Coming   (Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36)                                                                                    By Heeyoung Lim Children Time & Advent Greetings  Paul showed his great joy at seeing progress and strength in the lives of those he loved. Although Paul was thrilled with the strength of the Thessalonians’ faith, he prayed throughout the day and night fervently. Everything is up to the all-knowing and all-powerful God, but Paul was not passive and wanted God’s divine intervention. He asked for God to step in and make possible a return trip to this Thessalonian church to supply what is lacking in their faith. Spiritual progress is always to be commended, but it is never to be considered complete.  Love, gratitude, and other virtues spring from the heart, it is not from just following rules. Paul’s prayer was that the believers’ hearts would be strengthened. Faith is not about temporary once-off matter, it is related to lasting change that comes from our hearts. However, there will be no longer growth and development in our faith and life unless the heart is firmly established.  Faithful obedience to Christ is often misunderstood by those outside the faith, but in these circumstances, warm encouragement from each other is a source of strength in our relationships and in our lives. As the great proof of the Christ-life in us, love must always be on the increase. (12) It was to convey the love of God to other believers or non-believers. The love of God through us needs to extend to all, even our enemies. Our Christian relationships will be characterized by love and care for the good of others. May we care about other’s faith and pray for one another as Paul did. We were in very unstable COVID related situations for a long time, and we had to go through unexpected difficulties. May we find the way to overcome existing difficulties through renewal of heart and growth of faith even in this transition period. Short-term change can arise from changing habits or willingness, but long-term change begins with the heart and faith that the Lord has given us. The reason our hearts need to be strengthened is to be blameless and holy in the presence of our God. (13) But how can we be blameless before God on the day of judgment? With God’s grace, we are to lean on the strength of Christ to “live a life worthy of the calling we have received”. (Eph. 4:1) May we seek to make righteous decisions in Christ and try to be holy before God. I hope we can deal with our sins immediately through repentance, confession, and transformation whenever those enter our heart.  With this additional grace, we will stand blameless before our Lord, now and when Jesus comes in all his glory. May we be blameless and holy in the presence of our God when Christ returns. What are you waiting for everyday? I expect and wait that we will be grown or transformed in faith and life through renewal in Christ. Now we are waiting for the birth and return of Christ at the same time in Advent. In this season of Advent, may we concentrate on Jesus first and seek the kingdom of God. Our faith can be expressed as a daily commitment to believe Jesus, no matter what happens to us. It is not about a certain moment or the end, it is about growth or fullness. May we lean on God more daily, even though pain and temptations are regular components in our lives. I believe that God helps us grow in His holiness and love. May our lives be filled with joy, gratitude, and a sense of belonging to the kingdom of God until when we die, or Jesus returns.  In today’s gospel reading, Jesus becomes more specific about the heavenly signs that lead up to the end times. (Luke 21:25) Sun, moon, and stars can be warnings that represent the ends. Such signs will fill the earth with fear and a sense of being trapped because there would be no place to escape. (25) Jesus said, if you follow the two sinful ways of life, you will find yourself in a trap. We should not think we can escape the second coming and its judgment. It comes on the whole earth. Everyone is involved and no one escapes. (35) The heavenly signs will come before the end and cause people to swoon in fear. Jesus said, they will have no source to trust and no reason for hope. (26) This will bring greater fear to those who are unprepared, but not for you who are prepared in faith. (27) His imminent arrival will terrify the inhabitants of the world, but the redemption on a worldwide scale will be at hand for the faithful.  How will we react when this takes place? Jesus tells us, “Stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (28) In full glory, the Redeemer will be coming to judge and rule the earth. I believe that we can stand up straight and lift our head high without fear because Jesus will save us and give us our rewards. Jesus’ emphasis is not on knowledge but on action. We need to pray, stay alert, and ask God for strength to escape the persecutions, wars, and destruction rather than staying in spiritual stagnation. Christ is coming again and has given us the signs that ought to make us pray and get ready for his coming to establish his kingdom. (38) I believe and pray that we will stand before Christ as He judges the world, and we will receive the reward coming to His faithful ones

21st November 2021 (Christ the King Sunday) Title: Reign of Christ (Scripture Reading: Revelation 1:4 – 8; John 18: 33 – 37) By Heeyoung Lim Grace and peace to you! Today is Christ the King Sunday or Reign of Christ Sunday. It brings us full circle in the liturgical year. Next week, we will begin again in Advent, preparing for the birth of the Christ child. Today, our texts show us the circle of hope in which our faith is grounded, and our lives transformed. It is about God’s covenant, Christ’s reign, and the Spirit’s abiding presence. The Book of Revelation begins and ends with grace (1 & 22). The greetings in 1:4 bestowing grace and peace from the God ” who is and who was and who is to come” are connected to the circle of hope in Christ. “Grace and peace” had become a standard Christian greeting by the time John wrote. Grace is the great privilege of the Christian life and peace was the great privilege of the Old Testament age (Num. 6:26), in Hebrew, shalom. Christians share in all the blessings God has to offer. Grace and peace are privileges God extends to all believers. In the book of Revelation, “Lord Jesus” is more mentioned instead of “Jesus Christ”. Revelation shows the fact that Jesus is the ruler of the kings of the earth and his sovereign role as King. This was written during the reign of the emperor Domitian. Domitian had instituted a decree that he be addressed as “Lord and God.” Those who refused suffered persecution or death. Christians in those times faced an extraordinary crisis. The book of Revelation highlights the promissory message it gives and offers hope and encouragement, especially to suffering people. The real authority over their lives is God, revealed in Christ, not earthly kings. Jesus is worthy of all praise because of who he is and what he has done. In today’s text, Jesus is the Alpha and Omega who is the First and the Last. He is the Living One, the firstborn from the dead, the one alive forever, the faithful witness, and the one who holds the keys of death. Regarding the reign of Christ, Jesus freed us from our sins, made us to be a kingdom and priests and he loves us. His second coming will be glorious and public, because the Lord God Almighty will make it happen. The Almighty One – who is, and who was, and who is to come – encircles us in hope before and beyond all time. His power is seen in the title the Almighty, the one whom none can resist. What truth maintains and shapes your daily living? How does our faith community express its hope in God’s eternal truth both individually and collectively? Power and authority belong to Christ. Christ’ power, exercised and embodied in love and freedom, is contrasted with the oppressive power confronted by the community of this book. Especially, in verse 6, the verb love is a form that could be translated “keeps on loving.” The verb love is not a past recollection of what had been done on the cross. It is not restricted to the promise of hope that will someday be fulfilled. Christ’s love is continued in our lives. The crises and problems that affected us do not define us. Christ makes us as “kingdom” and as “priests” even in our difficulties as in the expressions of Revelation. Jesus is King over the kingdom of God, and we can believe that Christ will come again. The public, glorious return of Jesus Christ is the theme of Revelation. We do not know when Jesus will return, but the second coming of Christ will be glorious and public rather than lowly and private, and it would not be hidden, it can be seen in public. In today’s Gospel reading, Pilate, the imperial governor of Judea, could not imagine this beaten man was the king of the Jews. When Jesus is standing before Pilate, Pilate asks, “Are you the King of the Jews?” But this is not his real question. The real question is, “What is the truth?” Jesus has come to testify to the truth, so Pilate asks again, “So you are a king?” But through the conversation, Pilate gets one answer, “My kingdom is not from here.” Earthly kingdoms find their source with sinful humanity, but Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world. When we live in his spiritual kingdom of truth rather than worldly kingdom, we recognise the lordship of the King over the lives of his people. Jesus said, “everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Once again Jesus set truth as the dividing standard for right and wrong, but the truth was not all he cared about. In John 18:38-40, Pilate declared Jesus’ innocent: I find no basis for a charge against him. Nevertheless, to satisfy the Jews, he let them select a prisoner of choice for release at the Passover. Whereby the sinner, Barabbas, which means “son of the father” was released, and Jesus, Son of the heavenly Father, went to death row. In this chapter we see religious people twisted by hate. Pilate characterized this trial as a religious bickering among these Jews whom he was authorized to control. He tried to get at the truth about Jesus, but on a limited level. He needed to know the truth that Jesus was a completely different being who has genuine authority, but he was just confused and wanted to be rid of religious worries as quickly as possible. However, Jesus was in control of all events related to his death and resurrection. Christ is, was, and always will be not just a king, but “ruler of the kings of earth,” to use the title from Revelation. Today’s text is model for the faithful witness of the early Christians and Christians today. May we never be caught ourselves at the temptation of Jesus’ enemies. I hope we

141h November 2021 Pentecost 25 (Twenty Fifth Sunday after Pentecost) Title: Justice and Joy in God’s Promise (Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 1:4-20 & 2:1-10) By Heeyoung Lim 1 Samuel 1:4-20 describes the profound suffering and faithful persistence that Hannah embodies. Hannah expresses the abundant hope and thankfulness to the LORD by her song in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. The gratitude and praise come from her experience of despair, but it represents God’s power and faithfulness. Hannah experienced the insistent trial and is harassed by Elkanah’s second wife for being barren. Peninnah gave Hannah no peace by irritating her. Despite Elkanah’s support, she refuses her portion of the sacrifice and weeps as he offers her words of consolation (7–8). Even her husband’s love cannot remove Hannah’s humiliation or change her state. (20) Hannah was deeply troubled and was praying out of her great anguish and grief. Especially on a trip to the temple, Hannah prayed silently for a son and was praying in her heart. The only thing she poured out was her soul to the LORD. She prayed and promised to God. If God would give her a son, she would give him to the LORD for all the days of his life. When Eli saw Hannah was praying, he thought she was drunk, but when she defended herself and explained, he listened and affirmed her. He then sent her away in peace by affirming that Hannah’s asking will find the answer. Hannah seemed to know then that God had heard her prayer. She went back to the family and sat down and ate something (1:18). In her trusting attitude, the depression disappeared, and her sorrow melted away. Hannah’s spiritual victory was gained through the anguish of tearful prayers. In the end, Hannah trusted completely in God’s will for her life. Upon returning home, Hannah conceives and bears a son, Samuel. He is born to a faithful woman who dedicates to the Lord. God’s hearing goes named in the child “heard of God”, Samuel. Hannah is the one who keeps her word, after a prayer of thanksgiving, she leaves him with Eli, the high priest, to be raised in the temple. Her child will be the one who anoints. God’s promises will be kept and achieved. The Scripture tells us that the LORD remembered her. I believe that God remembers our church member’s existence, prayers, and praises. In 1 Samuel 2, Hannah wanted a name that focused praise on God for what he had done and not on anything she may have done. Samuel was a gift from God. He was not the product of her strength or her own achievement. She prayed a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord for his blessing and exalted Him for his great works. Hannah rejoiced in her own experience and exalted in the LORD. “In the LORD” her strength was lifted high, and her boasting was in the deliverance of the Lord. The final section of Hannah’s song rejoiced in her future hope, and she proclaimed that the Lord would guard the feet of those who are faithful to him. Hannah also rejoiced in her God and in God’s way of justice. Hannah sings the ways of God in “raising the poor from the dust.” Her song is a victory song for the Lord who overturns conventional wisdom and dismantles earthly powers while uplifting the least this world overlooks and oppresses. God’s promises of justice and joy will be kept continually. Encouragement based on God’s promises builds up community. Hannah connects the personal miracle of bearing a child against all odds to God’s promise for the whole community. The gifts Hannah brings to the community were persistent trust from profound suffering, the existence God remembers, and Samuel who is a gift from God who will be anointed in the promises of God. I appreciate that we all have gifts and talents to be shared in our family, faith community, and this suffering society. With Hannah, we may sing with joy, celebrating the justice of God that breaks open the future to new life. In her closeness to the Lord, Hannah caught a prophetic glimpse of the coming Messiah, the exalted King who will be the judge of all the earth. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth. In the meantime, God’s presence will always be with us, helping something new and good to be born out of destruction and sadness. Especially in crisis, time seems to stand still, “How long, my God”, or “How long, our Lord” sounds like a familiar lament in the past or present. However, history remains in God’s good care. God’s promises will be fulfilled, and His presence links past, present, and future in hope. Mark emphasizes the danger to faith that will arise after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. In Mark 13, Jesus said to his disciples, “watch out that no one deceives you.” At least three times Jesus warned his disciples to “watch out” or “be on your guard” several times. Jesus wants us to live life in alertness and awareness.” Jesus warned his disciples not to be deceived by imposters who claims of themselves or others to be the returning Messiah. Jesus warned us not to be deceived by such false prophets who claimed to know when Jesus was returning. In Mark 13, Jesus prepares his people, both present and future believers, for the end times. Jesus begins the preparation of his disciples for the end times by warning them about false saviours and false signs. (5) Mark puts this story close to the time when Jesus is arrested. Jesus knew there would be troubling and difficult times ahead and He wanted to give His disciples something to live as true believers and disciples no matter how bad things get. How has faith sustained through difficult times? What might our church members encourage each other in hope? Together we are the body of Christ, and individually members of it! We can have confidence in the certainty

7th November 2021 Pentecost 24 (Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost) Title: Giving and God’s Presence (Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 17:8-16; Mark 12:38-44) By Heeyoung Lim God told Elijah to go to Zarephath and directed a widow in that place to supply you with food. This was the heartland of Baal worship, but a remarkable place for the prophet of God to be protected. This is a place where the Lord’s power could be seen. The widow was suffering in times of drought and famine. This was hardly the place a person would look for help. In spite of the strangeness of this command and promise, Elijah obeyed. He asked her for a little water and a piece of bread. The woman was in between the demands of hospitality and her own desperate condition when Elijah requested it. She said to him, “I don’t have any bread, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” This was a bold request for a stranger to make, but it was followed by an even more remarkable promise: The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land. She went away and did as Elijah had told her. As a result of her trust, she experienced God’s supernatural provision, not just on that occasion but for an extended period. The prophet had learned to trust God, and he invited the woman to trust Him as well. They experienced God’s presence by giving and doing. The widow and her son became rely on the Provider, not the provision. In the process God revealed that He alone, and not Baal, was the Lord of all. God is our provider. The woman shows us courage that gives all to another. The spiritual courage is the capacity to stand for the Lord and sustained only as we are trained to know Him better and to trust Him more. It comes from commitment to the Word of God. Faith grows as we trust God’s word and see His faithfulness to his promises. The difficult places of life are God’s training ground, and the Lord trains us under His plan and providence. God is consistently faithful, meeting the need just in time every day. God is generous, giving, loving, forgiving, and gracious, and we are worshipping and trusting God. May we deepen our confidence in God’s power and have spiritual courage in the presence of God. In the first scene of today’s Mark’s gospel, Jesus taught and said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets.” Jesus warns against religious leaders who would make a show of how great they are. They sought to draw attention to themselves, and their attention was all external show, designed not to give honour to God but to attract it to themselves. They also acted out their attitudes of superiority by oppressing other people. Because of their great knowledge of the law, they should have done with compassion toward the vulnerable as they knew God did. What can we hear and feel when the two coins hit the bottom of treasury? How do we respond to those who cry out in need? She was not seen by the religious leaders, but she was seen by Jesus. They overlooked her, but Jesus looked at her and recognised the meaning of her giving when the poor woman throws two coins only. Jesus contrasts the greed of the scribes with a poor widow. In the second scene of today’s reading, the temple is a busy place and there are many events taking place. What does Jesus notice? What events do we give our attention to in our lives? Are our important events truly important in the eyes of Jesus? The widow was doing real action which is based on her faith while the religious leaders were doing empty ceremonies. God sees our actions even when people do not. In verse 40, they devour the property of widows, and make long prayers without meaning them. Some religious leaders exploited the poor woman’s property and then tried to show what they are praying without meaning. They misused their positions and exploited the poor rather than helping to care for them. The widow’s action is not only an example of faithful giving but also a demand for justice. Jesus contrasts the hypocritical teachers of the law with a woman who demonstrates true spirituality. Jesus did not condemn the people who put in large amounts of money. His intent was to show the disciples what true sacrifice is. She gave all she had to God and took the huge risk for the work of God. Jesus makes the point that this poor woman has given more than all the others who contributed to the treasury. Jesus draws attention to that which other might easily overlooked. God does not look on the amount of money a person gives, but on the attitude and heart a person has. If we are consumed and addicted by honour, power, money, social media, and beauty, they will leave us empty. I hope we can seek and have nutritious and healthy spiritual food rather than spiritual junk food. Spiritual courage for giving comes from God’s presence and words. Helping those in need, doing or giving something constructive with all of our resources, not just our money, will be a way to live by the gospel. Giving to God is an act of worship. Her giving and worship grab Jesus’ attention. In the eyes of God who sees the heart she has put in more than all the rest. God

31st October 2021 Pentecost 23 & Reformation Sunday (Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost) Title: The Greatest Commandment (Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Mark 12:28-34) By Heeyoung Lim About Reformation Sunday & The Five Solas of Reformation 
(Scripture, Faith, Grace, Christ Alone & To the Glory of God Alone) Reformation Sunday reminds of Luther’s and other reformers’ efforts in reforming ecclesial duty and responsibility. This day calls to remembrance the cost the poor have paid, the cost people were deceived at the hands of material greed with the name of indulgence. Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the Cathedral door in Wittenberg, Germany. His action sprang from his faith and theology. He began seeing a great truth of Scripture that had been lost to many in the church of that day and he realised and confirmed that we are saved by grace through faith declared righteous in God’s sight by Christ alone. Today’s Old Testament reading starts “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.” Strength in this passage refers not to a person’s physical strength, but to his/her intensity. The Lord invites us to “Hear” and “Love” God. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 constitute the core statement of faith. In this context, the command to hear implies “to listen closely for the purposes of obedience.” God wants people to be sincere in their faith and love. God’s commandments are not to be treated as a list of the acts we perform but as a description of who we are. It is more related to our whole “being” rather than our partial “doing” because God wants us to love Him with all that we are. His truth is to be placed upon the hearts of his people. (6) As today’s Bible verses, godly parents would impress God’s commandments upon the inner parts of children and each generation. God wants us to talk about His commandments when we sit, walk along, lie down, and get up. In Mark 12, one of the teachers of the law came and asked Jesus, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” By quoting the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Jesus emphasized that we must give our whole being to God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength when we love God. Jesus then quotes Leviticus 19:18, calling for love of neighbour as self. He is reciting a command from the law of Israel as an answer to a question. The question is “Which commandment in the law is number one?” He is emphasising the idea that what God really wants from us is to live our lives based on love and not based on strict obedience to a bunch of religious laws. Jesus brings these two commands together in a way that links love and justice. Why is Jesus giving us a command to love? The scribe answered wisely, “loving God and neighbours are more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” It reminds us of Amos 5, “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them.” (21-22) Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (34) It was meant to encourage the scribe to continue down this path he had described by himself. It may be the equivalent of Jesus’ “Follow me” statement. No one asked Jesus any more questions after this encounter. His enemies seem to be failed to trap Him. An honest seeker in Mark 12 was the only scribe who received a commendation from Jesus. This reminds us of that there are always individuals within any group who are open to the gospel and to God’s movement in their lives. Jesus will not turn away any person who seeks Him with sincerity. Jesus is giving us a command to love God and neighbours. To love God and neighbours is to be near to the kingdom of God. Love is something where there is always room for improvement. The fullness of love is always something that we hunger for but can never be enough. However, Christ’s love compels us to love God with all that we are and leads us to love others as we love ourselves. Are we loving God with all that we are? Will we love our neighbours by letting “justice roll down like waters,” as the book of Amos tells us to do? (24) May all of us aspire to grow in love. We are commanded to “Love” and “Listen”. We can surely respond to a command to love and listen because Christ’s command helps us keep striving to love. I believe that every move of love we make helps to accompany in God’s kingdom of love. Every step of love we take can be a way of reformation. Even our weak efforts at love become little signs of hope in the present and the future. Every single act of love in faith contributes to being a witness for the kingdom of God. I believe that these ritual expressions of love will grow in the fullness of love and become deeper, richer, and more meaningful as our lives and communities be filled with our growing love. For the scribe and all the characters in Mark’s Gospel, including the disciples, love is not complete until they see the cross of Jesus and the power of God. May we experience the full life of love of God and neighbour when Christ’s love embraces us. Then we will be in joyful obedience and take up our cross and follow Jesus with love. Today’s text invites us to focus on how our faith draws us into relationship with God and with each other. In John 14:21, Jesus says, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who

24th October 2021 Pentecost 22 (Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost) Title: Eyes of Faith (Scripture Reading: Job 42:1-6, Mark 10:46-52) By Heeyoung Lim Truly we need God’s mercy and grace. & Peace be with you. God speaks to Job of matters beyond his understanding. Job’s suffering remains an unanswered situation, but the encounter with God transforms and Job moves forward in faith. He now sees with new eyes of faith. He recognized God’s sovereignty and retracted his own sin. In the whirlwind, Job’s faith is wide open as he responds to God. (Job 42) He refocused on God’s intimacy and reaffirmed God’s supremacy. Job said, “But now I have met you face to face. So now I am ashamed of myself.” He knew he was spiritually poor. Job knew that he didn’t know everything, so he knew he needed God’s grace and mercy. In Job 42:2-5, Job confessed, “I know that you can do all things”, and he confided, “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you” with deepening repentance. Job had been experienced with a deeper realization of God’s wisdom, power, and care through his suffering and trial. What his eyes had seen of God seems to refer to spiritual insight rather than physical vision. Job’s understanding of God’s awesome character is much greater than before his suffering began. Job was in agonizing trial, but he was always in God’s providential care at the same time, and his spiritual gain outweighed his temporal and physical loss. Job repents of his arrogance, acknowledges God’s sovereignty, and he renews sight of God. Is our heart quick to repent when God points out our sin through His words? Today’s text invites us to refocus on a personal and abiding relationship with God and a communion in which we are to grow closer to God. Are we growing in our knowledge of God? After today’s Old Testament reading, God rebukes Job’s three friends in anger, ordering them to give a burnt sacrifice and directing Job to pray for them. God said to Job’s friends, “My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly.” God restores to Job the great abundance of health, children, and possessions that he had before his tragedy. Broken and humbled Job repents of his view of God and restores his three friends back to God, and he is abundantly blessed by God with more than he had before. May God completely restore and abundantly bless you in your lives. The cure of two blind men is positioned at the beginning and end of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem between Mark 8 and 10. The two cures play a symbolic role to overcome the spiritual blindness of the disciples regarding Jesus’ identity and mission. In Mark 10, Bartimaeus was expressing faith in Jesus and begged for mercy. He began to shout, “Jesus, have mercy on me!” He calls out and comes to Jesus. Some people tried to stop Bartimaeus from seeking Jesus, but he shouted more for Jesus to have mercy on him. He had both hope and persistence. His persistence finds its reward in verse 49, a verse that is not only a story of healing, but also a story of calling. Jesus calls him. “Call him over!” We must not hinder anyone from coming to Christ because of our words or actions, because Jesus is calling us to walk with Him. In verse 36, Jesus asked James and John: what do you want me to do for you? Where they saw only self-interest, Bartimaeus sees hope in Faith when Jesus asked him the same question. Who is seeking to cure the spiritual blindness of his disciples? The disciples want status and privilege while Bartimaeus sees with the eyes of faith and says, ““Let me see again.” Jesus told him, “Your faith has made you well.” This means, “You may go. Your eyes are healed because of your faith.” The blind man regains eyesight through his faith and Jesus’ healing power, but the story does not end with this healing. In Mark’s story Bartimaeus can see Jesus in a way that others do not. He is willing to immediately follow Jesus on the way with sight restored rather than going away. When Jesus first asked what he wanted, Bartimaeus did not hesitate to tell Jesus that he wanted to see. He was expressing faith in the one who could help him, the expected Messiah, and he begged for mercy. He had eyes of faith. He has precious inner sight and insight about who Jesus is. Bartimaeus knows what he needs and believes that Jesus is the one who can deliver. What do you want Christ to do for you? In today’s text, Bartimaeus appears as a disciple that cast away his only valuable belonging. According to a theologian, Luis, ” Whereas the miracle starts with Bartimaeus “sitting on the side of the road” (46), it ends with the new disciple “walking, following Jesus on the road” (52) What do we need to throw aside to follow Jesus with faith wide open? Are we ready to follow Jesus immediately without any hesitation when He asks us to follow? The thirst for faith and the Word can be expressed as spiritual poverty that gives us the capacity to believe when we cannot see. It is what drives us to search out deeper, hidden truths about God. It turns us into a spiritual beggar. When we do listen to God, we will gain a deeper understanding, an in-sight, and a knowing without seeing. The man was healed physically and saved spiritually, and he followed Jesus on the way and moved from beggar to disciple. The blind beggar becomes a model of discipleship and faith. Jesus calls us to the new way of life and faith opens our eyes to see Jesus and His work in our lives. In the kingdom of God, even the one

17th October 2021 Pentecost 21 (Twenty First Sunday after Pentecost) Title: Creator and Creation (Scripture Reading: Job 38:1-7; Hebrews 5:7-10) By Heeyoung Lim Job is a person who underwent a profound “dark night of the soul” without apparent reason. He was blameless and upright, but his life with his family was destroyed. Chaos displaced order: sadness came up instead of joy; despair overwhelmed hope; anger overcame his peace; sickness banished his health. His close friends became part of the problem, for they blamed his troubles on his sin or his fault. Tragedy strikes and chaos comes knocking at his door. Job loses everything due to heavenly deal between God and Satan. Job knew that he has not sinned or disobeyed God and still he suffers, but he felt it was all God’s doing and he wanted some answers that made sense. Why do bad things happen to good people? What is the reason for Job’s suffering? This question has increased vigorous discussion among Job and his friends during the previous thirty-seven chapters. However, the multiple voices from Satan, Job’s friends, and his wife give way to God when God takes the stage in chapter 38. Meanwhile, suspense has been building as Job keeps asking God to answer his complaint. It was about justice and the absence of God during Job’s suffering. Job has challenged God. In his suffering, he seeks some answers and some vindication. His words were derived from a false perspective about the positions of God and man. He had confused the truth about who God is. He forgot the truth that God was the Creator and he was the creation. When Job takes his case to God, God meets him face to face and questions him. God suddenly broke His long silence and spoke to Job in anger. The LORD answered Job out of the storm; it was a divine encounter in a fierce whirlwind. Whenever God speaks in the Bible, the attention shifts. God’s answer to Job’s dark night of the soul is to challenge him with the wonder and amazement of the universe. His answer to Job is no solution, rather, it consists of questions. God never explains why Job has suffered as he has, but God humbles Job by asking him questions about His creation and He turns Job’s attention away from his own situation and circumstances towards God’s majesty, wisdom, and power. God does not correct Job or teach him a lesson but dazzles him with the divine glory. God stretches Job’s imagination to ponder His majestic creation. Just as verses 4-7 outline Job’s absence from the creation of the world, verses 8-11 testify to Job’s absence in the establishment of the seas. Job is learning his place in the universe before God. He is assured of God’s presence, and this resolves Job’s problems on a different level. God creates, controls, and rules over the world. After a time of profound questions, Job proclaims his faith in God. Psalm 104:1 sings, “O Lord my God, you are very great.” We can imagine Job is singing this Psalm that describes the majesty and wondrous deeds of God in creation. When have you experienced the presence of God? When have we found ourselves singing with the realization that no matter what, God is God? The sovereignty of God is expressed through the wonder of creation. May we praise God as our creator whenever we see or look after God’s creation. We rejoice in the works of God in our daily lives. We live within the limits of human knowledge and unresolved questions, but we are called to trust God and look after God’s creation. May we only hold on to God and care for each other and God’s creation with trust and hope. The wisdom and love Jesus revealed on the cross came in remaining faithful to God and trusting God’s way. May we look to Jesus’ example of obedience in suffering and give Jesus our full obedience and attention in God’s plan. God is our Creator and Jesus is our Saviour. May we come to Jesus for the strength to overcome our weakness and we be in search of relationship and intimacy with God. It does not mean that we believe in Jesus because of our problem solving, it is because we are God’s creation and Jesus’ disciples. The righteous or God’s people should not lose sight of the exalted position that God occupies. God redeems people who are in trouble, sustains them through the wilderness, and brings them into the promised land. God acts through history, in fulfillment of promises made long before to a particular people, with whom God enters covenant relationship. God works through our story, fulfills His promises in our lives. Creation and redemption are inextricably linked. God so loved people and the world. God invites us to protect His creation. Our planet is in danger, the causes of this problem seem to lie in the lack of awareness and action. Many people across the world, however, do not save energy and water, many of them do not recycle their waste and send everything to landfill. People therefore are generally unaware of the importance of saving resources and recycling their refuse. Some people are not interested in climate change and climate action even though our planet is in danger due to human induced problems. Despite our pain and loss, God’s creation will support and sustain. Our role is to recognise God’s work, not just in the exceptional moments, but on a regular basis in our lives. It must be done not only by word and explanation, but by action and experience in the presence of God. May we recognise God’s work, participate in helping people who are in unwanted suffering, and protect our planet by bold climate action each and every day. If there had been no book of Job in the Bible, it would have been more difficult for us to understand the suffering and pain that the righteous

WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? Gospel of Mark 10: 17-31 Homily by Geoff Serpell Whether you like it or not most of us have reached that lofty pinnacle through the prices of real estate going through the roof. The home Jan and I live in is worthless for rate valuation, but the site has escalated from $1500 which I paid around 1958 to be valued at $1.1k today. The improvements, that is the house, workshop and doghouse will all be demolished on our demise, so they are valued at zero. As a family during the second world war, we were quite poor. Whilst Dad was posted away in the RAAF, Mum, sister, and I lived behind a shop front in Surrey Hills where Mum taught violin to pupils to cover the cost of bread on our table each day. Pocket money was scarce as a kid. On a few visits to grandma who lived in Sale, Gippsland, my sister and I would scout around the town paddocks collecting empty beer bottles, which recycled would earn us four pennies for every dozen. It was a thirsty town during and just after the War, so we earned enough to buy fishing tackle and ice blocks. Millionaires’ we kids were, well, for a few days anyway. Gifted a beach house to live in at Sandringham by our grandparents, Mum and Dad got by, but the luxuries did not come easily and then only by inheritance when the Sale grandmother died. So, at this stage I had better remind you just how privileged we then were and now are. As members of the first world, we have shelter and clothing and running water and medical care and superannuation and books and furniture and many other possessions, even an electric bike. You need no reminder that many people around the world have little or none of these things. I should urge you to think about how you could help other people share in this privilege. This would be a reasonable thing to do. However, I am not a reasonable person, and we are not reasonable people. We are disciples of Jesus, a most unreasonable man, who views the world in topsy-turvy terms and tries to show us the world through his eyes. He did it again in today’s gospel reading, A man who owned many fields and other possessions came up to Jesus and asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus looked at him, & loved him, and said, “Go sell what you own, give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When the man heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving. Maybe he went and sulked in his grand old house, called in the accountant, and checked through his rental books. Maybe he made himself a stiff coffee: the story does not say so. Instead, we are told that Jesus turned to his disciples and said:” How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God”. Notice what Jesus did not say. He did not describe the wealthy landowner as privileged. He didn’t tell him to be grateful, and to find ways to share in this privilege. Instead, he told him to get rid of his wealth, because only then would he be free to follow Jesus. When Jesu said this, his disciples were perplexed. We all know how privileged the rich are, we are. We all know that we are blessed. How can it be difficult for us to enter the kingdom? Maybe riches do prevent us from entering the kingdom, or the culture of God. We can forget just how interconnected and dependent we all are, Wealth insulates us from knowing our need of others and our need of God. Wealth gives us the illusion of control over our lives, and of our futures. It makes it hard to learn to trust in God’s provision. Wealth can make us blind to the needs of others and blunts our compassion. As we grow older, and hopefully wiser, we realize that wearing a $3,000 or $30.00 watch, makes no difference as they both tell the same time. Whether we carry a $300 or $30.0 wallet or handbag, the amount of money inside is the same. Whether we drink a bottle of $300 or $10 wine, the hangover is the same. Whether the house we live in is 300 or 3000 sq metres, loneliness is the same. You will realize, your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world. Whether you fly first, business or economy class, you all land at the same time. We need to educate our children to be happy, not rich. When they grow up, they will know the value of things, not the price. You are loved when you are born and loved when you die. In between, you must manage. The six best doctors in the world are: – Sunlight, rest, exercise, diet, self-confidence, and friends. So, maintain them in all stages of life and enjoy a healthy life. We can be insulated from other’s needs, being complacent, comfortable, and secure. When approached it is easy to direct the needy to government or welfare or to lifelines. God demands that we feed the hungry, clothe the naked and love each other. This in real and material ways. A friend from the Victorian Welsh choir sent me something I have treasured and now share with you. It is a story of a wealthy man and his son who loved to collect rare works of art. In the collection were included masters from all round the world. Making a long story short, the son was called up for duty in Vietnam where he died saving the life of a fellow soldier. This soldier later knocked on the mate’s father’s door and handed him a picture he had painted of the wealthy man’s son. This

Becoming as children. – Homily by Geoff Serpell 19th Sunday after Pentecost [Scripture Reading: Mark 10: 2-16] I am really pleased to have been invited to lead today’s service, having been out to grass as a lay preacher for such a long time due to this pandemic. I had to scratch my head when I studied the set topic for today, but although challenging, I hope we all get something beneficial from my presentation. Today’s passage from the gospel of Mark is about the ethics of divorce. Many of our relatives, friends, including at least one Uniting Church Minster and indeed two of our sons have been through this painful experience. My father was married four times and went through one divorce. With one of our sons the divorce came after thirty years of marriage. What I hope to present to you is a fuller understanding of what Jesus said about the law down through the centuries and wrap up with the status of children and same gender relationships in the view of our church. From the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2020, reveals that in 2019, 113,815 marriages were registered, and 49,116 divorces were granted in Australia. The number of same sex marriages was 5,507 which represents about 5% of all marriages in Australia mostly performed by civil celebrants. Almost one half of all marriages end in divorce. Let me go back to the Gospel of Mark where several passages are duplicated in Matthew. Jesus is replying to a trick question posed by the Pharisees, the largest Jewish sect regarded as hard-hearted legalists and noted for self-conceit and long prayers. They were in Judea, the Kingdom of Herod. The question of the Pharisees was hostile. It was for unlawful divorce and remarriage that John the Baptist denounced Herod Antipas and Herodias. Herodias had been married to Herod’s brother but left him for Antipas. This rebuke cost John first imprisonment and then his life. Jesus was now in Herod’s jurisdiction, and the pharisees hoped that Jesus’ reply would cause those in authority to seize him as they had John. The Uniting Church Minister, Rev. David Beswick, believes that Moses, reflecting the loving kindness and compassion of God, allowed women a right of remarriage. Without this, a wife could be a slave to her husband or, without him, an outcast from society. I n his response to the Pharisees, Jesus gave a higher meaning to the loving kindness of God. We humans were made male and female for each other and in fulfilling our potential to become God’s children, we should recognize and honour that gift by living faithfully and reflecting God’s love in the way we relate to one another. Jesus’ reply is saying that if you treat something like marriage as just a set of laws to be complied with, then you have missed the whole point of what God is on about. Jesus is not making a blanket condemnation of all divorced people at all. Rather, he is criticizing religious teachers who exploit the law to maintain their own veneer of righteousness while behaving abusively towards their wives and children. Jesus was not so much the opponent of divorce as the champion of women. At that time a Jewish man could divorce his wife for the most trivial of reasons when the discarded woman and their children could be left without means of support. Our Bible passage now passes on to the disciples trying to stop people bothering Jesus with requests for him to bless the children, so Jesus rebukes them and welcomes the children, telling the disciples that unless they receive the kingdom of God like a little child, they will never enter it. We should realize that it is God who calls the shots, who reigns on high, so we can relax and put our trust in God’s gracious leadership. We should not try to exalt male over female, or white over black, or rich over poor, or citizen over refugee by victimizing those we designate as lower. We need to find our common sisterhood and brotherhood with one another and with Christ, finding our place as fellow children of the one God. May we choose to honour the leadership of those who are clearly from a position of submission to Christ and stand against those who would usurp Christ’s lordship and attempt to lead us on an opposing path. In a world where there are always arrogant fools getting themselves elected or seizing power by force, do not despair for the fate of the world lies not in their hands but in the hands of the one who rules overall, and who humbly offers his life for all. To him be all majesty and authority, dominion, and power, both now and always. Uniting Church National Assembly resolutions: Marriage and Divorce: July 1997 In the case of irretrievable breakdown of marriage, the Church acknowledges that divorce may be the only creative and life-giving direction to take. The Church has a responsibility to: [a] care for people, including children, through the trauma of the ending of a marriage; [b] help people to grieve, repent, grow in self-understanding, receive affirmation, grace and forgiveness; [c] support them as they hear God’s call for a new life. The grace and healing of God are available to people who are divorced, which may free them to marry again. Uniting church Victorian Synod in 1999 resolved: – To call upon each member of the Church, when engaged in conversation regarding sexual orientation, to recognize the following: – [a] All people, whether heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual are loved children of a loving God; [b] Christians are called to reflect this love in their dealings with one another. [c] Christians should not vilify others, either individually or collectively, because of their sexual orientation and [d] Similarly, Christians should not vilify people of differing theologies. 16th Assembly: B11 National Safe church Unit This was established in 2019 as a response by Uca to the Royal

26th September 2021 Pentecost 18 (Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost) Title: The Prayer and Service of Faith (Scripture Reading: James 5:13-20; Mark 9:38-50) By Heeyoung Lim We can communicate with God by praying. James 5 invites us to pray both in times of trouble and in times of joy. Trouble includes physical and emotional stress arising from both ordinary trials and special difficulties. We can pray in all of life’s situations such as sickness, confession of sin, seeking God’s will, the recovery of broken hearts, and the revival of spiritual stagnation. In times of joy, may we sing songs of praise to God instead of complacency in life or worldly contentment that can cause people to distance themselves from God. It can be expressions of our thankful responses. We are to keep on praying to God as the creator during tough times too. Christians who face difficulties often lose their awareness of the presence of God due to their anxiety and gloom. Christians who are in the joy of abundance tend to forget God. May we pray and praise God in both the darkness and sunshine of our lives. The prayer offered in faith is based on confidence that God is our healer. In accordance with today’s text, the prayer of faith will make the sick person well and the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective, because the Lord will raise them up. God hears the prayers of righteous people who pray with passion. Effective and powerful prayer comes from righteous person and the heart of a believer whose passion is to see the will of God worked out in life. May we remember that believers have a right to faithfully respond to God in all of life’s situations. However, this does not imply that if a person has a strong faith, God will answer the prayer the way they want. God does His will and work in the ways best for the kingdom of God. Prayer can bring healing, but lack of healing does not show that the one praying lacks faith. It does not mean that God is incapable of healing, or the prayer is invalid. Verses 14 and 15 refer to physical healing and not to spiritual deliverance and verse 16 teaches us to confess our sins to each other so that we will be forgiven and pray for each other to be healed. It is confession to dedicated, trusted prayer warriors who will intercede for us with God. If we have sinned, we will be forgiven through our repentance and confession. God hears the prayers of penitent people and forgives sin. May we offer faithful prayer support for struggling or stumbling Christians as trusted spiritual friends. Elijah in verse 17 was able to perceive when God wanted to begin and end the drought. The example of Elijah challenges us to seek a closeness in our walk with God so that we know and follow His will. Those prayers which accord with the will of God will be answered. May we walk in God’s will that we love what God loves and reject what he rejects. Verse 19 focuses on the spiritually sick and outlines how to restore them; Whoever will save them from death and cover over a multiple of sins if someone bring sinners or wanderers back to Christ. The act of bringing someone back is not about conversion, it is about reclaiming a Christian who has wandered into sin. Today’s text invites us to do our best to bring wandering believers back to full commitment to Christ. We do not want someone will experience eternal separation from God. Christians who encourage straying believers back to Christ obey God and lead the sinner to forgiveness. For restoring wanderers and finding the lost, we would expect the starting point to be prayer for the repentance of wanderers and a ministry of love in supporting and encouraging them. The world is still full of sin, tragedy, and those who wander, but Jesus’ disciples can continue to engage the world in hope for a time when faith community can be reunited, and the kingdom of God can be extended in and through prayer. We pray for others who are in need and the wider world. This allows us to see the image of God embodied in others, to share in their suffering, and to add our prayer for the good of the world. I believe that the power of prayer is seen most clearly in the praying church. The prayers of the community build up community and allow the people to become more like Jesus. The faith community is empowered to carry out Christ’s mission through prayer. It is a faith expression and response in which all ages can participate from children to the elderly. Prayer changes relationships, lives, and communities, and the prayer of a righteous person works powerfully. May we pray in strong faith to God both in times of trouble and in times of joy and we be truly to walk with Jesus. A faith community enhances the lives of its members, shapes values, and provides protection and support. It is a place of identity, where people have a sense of worthiness and sense of belonging because they are recognized and cared. There is a constant tension between being inclusive and being exclusive. When John sees a man healing people and overcoming demonic forces and claiming to be doing it on the authority of Jesus, John knows that this man is unknown to Jesus, so he tries to have the man stopped. (Mark 9) However, Jesus doesn’t treat the Good News as his exclusive matter. He wants other people to hear about it and to live by it. Can we use someone else’s name without their permission? I do not think we can use someone else’s music, writings, art, and inventions without their permission due to the copyright. Jesus gives people the credit when they serve others in the name of Jesus. In