The Offering of Gifts

The Baptism of Christ, Epiphany 13th Jan 2013

The wise men offered gifts of great value to the Christ child and they travelled from afar to make that offering. On the second Sunday of Epiphany, we celebrate Jesus' Baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is given to all believers at baptism.

Through the gifts of the Spirit we are enabled to live as Christian and therefore the gifts of the Holy Spirit are really important for our common lives as Christians. They are given by grace and not for our own credit, but to the glory of Christ and for the building up of the whole Christian community. Unlike talents that are so celebrated today to the glory of celebrity, and the individual - gifts are given so that all may take their part in the kingdom of God. It is our duty then as Christians to stir up the gifts within us that we have been given and in turn offer them for the health of the whole community of Christ of which we are a part. As Christians each one of us should expect to be growing in Christ; in knowledge, in wisdom, in faith and in our individual and corporate discipleship.

- St Paul speaks of certain gifts of the Holy Spirit, among them: wisdom, knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, prophecy and speaking in tongues – these are distinct from the roles that people are called to in the church – as teachers, apostles, administrators, leaders etc. There is no need to see this list as exhaustive, but it gives us some parameters for understanding.

Are you able to discern gifts in your life from the Holy Spirit
Spend time in prayer, opening your heart to the Holy Spirit and God's gifts
Expect God to give you good things
Be thankful and in everything you do give glory to God

Comments

Rugby

It has been just over three weeks now since we have arrived in Rugby and it feels like a world away from South London. If I was used to being in what is generally thought of and written about as a post-Christian secular world then Rugby looks and feels very different. There are a proliferation of churches across Rugby which are very active in working together for the good of the town. There seems to be a genuine Spirit of God's love working across Rugby in impressive ways that I'm not sure what century I am in! It is surprising to find a town that works so hard in regenerating and reinvigorating all that it is and it feels like an enormous privilege to be here. Not that South London was any kind of spiritual desert! It was also a great privilege to work there and see how God can still be so central to people's lives in the 21st century. If the image we get from the newspapers and national media is that God is redundant in the modern age it seems that the reality is very ...

Identity, belonging and holiness

Sermon for 2nd July Doubting Thomas - Ephesians 2:19-end, John 20:24-29 In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians we see classic Pauline theology in action – Paul is explaining to the Ephesians (Gentiles) that they are fully accepted into the household of God and full members of it. The implication is that they are unsure about their place. Paul is clear that their tradition and history is rooted now not only in the Patriarchs, but also in the Apostles and with Jesus Christ as the corner stone. It is the Apostles in Jesus who invite them to full membership. No longer is holiness and worship centred on the Temple in Jerusalem but, rather, the individual believers are spiritual temples and the group of believers an ‘habitation of God’. Paul, as we know, had been fully committed to his identity as a God-fearing Jew; his life and ritual practice confirmed his sense of superior identity before God. He was saved because of his birth right and due to his strict adherence to the Law. Th...

Women as Priests - Why the Big Deal??

Vocation as Participation Women priests at Coventry Cathedral celebrating each year of ordinations since 1994. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-end The church of England has been celebrating and marking 20 years of women’s priestly ministry. Today I went to a service of celebration at Coventry Cathedral. When I was in the cathedral I thought again about why women’s priesth...

Rev elations

Search This Blog