Knysna Methodist Church

A sad but celebratory service today as we say goodbye to our Minister, Rodney Jamieson. Rev, you are impossible to forget! Grace and Peace to you our leader and friend. Please tag yourself in the photo if you were present, in-person or online.

Harvest Festival and AGM 2022.

Needed items: Crockery, Kitchenware, Appliances, etc.
Drop-off point:
Knysna Methodist Church, 5 Montagu St (Tues-Fri, 8h00-12h00)
The Attic - Shop 1, Oaks on Main, 28 Main St, Knysna
Can collect large items
Contact us on Whatsapp: +27 64 703 5081

Worship Service - 11 September 2022

Due to load shedding this morning, we were unable to stream. Please follow the link for the recorded service at 8:30.

https://youtu.be/e_7Edui3ovs

Worship Service - 11 September 2022

Sadly we have technical difficulties, we will not be streaming today. Apologies for the inconvenience.

Knysna Methodist Church updated their address.

Knysna Methodist Church updated their address.

Family service this morning.

The 92nd birthday of our dear Rev Dr Don Veysie. He is truly a follower of Christ and a tireless servant. A minister who has served even as President of Conference (Presiding Bishop), and stood against the injustice of the Apartheid government. Happy birthday Father Don. You mean the world to us. Peter Pete Veysie please show this to your dad.

A lovely sunrise service this morning.

https://fb.watch/co2FJPnlRj/

William K**a District Women’s Auxiliary District Meeting - Service of Memory.

24 FEBRUARY 2022
My Dearly Beloved Friends

I am trusting that you are all well and blessed as I begin to write this letter. We are coming into the season of Lent and I thought that I would enlighten you as to what I am planning for this time. We will be following a sermon series called ‘IRREPRESSABLE’ which I hope will be benefical to us all. It begins with Ash Wednesday where we will look at Irrepressible Ash and end on Easter Sunday with ‘Irrepressable Life’. More about these times later. I wish to share the following with you, written by our very own John Van De Laar about this course.

Have you ever started something enthusiastically, with great inspiration and strength, only to find that over time, you began to lose heart and struggled to keep going? Perhaps you’ve even started this year like that. You may have set intentions for the year and set up your systems and structures to bring them to fruition, only to hit obstacles and get derailed.
For many of us the pandemic has been one long, exhausting obstacle that has blocked us from fulfilling our hopes and dreams, kept us from connecting with others, and changed our lives for the worse. Even if we’ve managed to find joy and keep our lives on track, we may still be feeling depressed and depleted. Around the world the call is growing ever louder: we want things to go back to normal.
But what we knew as normal no longer exists and we can’t yet see what the new normal will be like when it finally arrives. If we’ve learned anything from the last two years, it’s that COVID-19 isn’t going away anytime soon. We will be navigating this pandemic and its impact for years to come.
And that means that we desperately need a new and deeper capacity for resilience.

It is with exactly this reality in mind that I am excited to share the new liturgical guide from Sacredise entitled IRREPRESSIBLE—Find the resilience you need. This guide for Lent and Holy Week explores ten qualities that can empower us to find the resilience we need. In addition, from Monday to Wednesday in Holy Week, IRREPRESSIBLE explores three of Isaiah’s Servant Songs to find what resilience meant for the prophet and how it was manifest in the life of Jesus.
This guide for communal worship will take you and your community on a journey from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday based on the Lectionary readings for Year C. And it gives you everything you need to ensure that your worship is deep and inspiring:
I do believe that this is something to get excited about. Please consider participating in all the worship that is on offer. I believe that it is time, after being in ‘Covid exile’ for so long that we fully integrate ourselves as a community in worship. And so that is my invitation to you.
The following times are applicable.
Pancake/Shrove Tuesday at St Georges at 17H00
Ash Wednesday at St Georges at 18h00
Every Sunday in lent at both 08H30 and 10H00
Easter Monday to Thursday at 18H00 in the church
Good Friday at 09H00 in the church
Easter Saturday a service of remembrance and exerts from Handel’s Messiah at 17H00
[Come and light a candle in memory of a loved one both living and departed]

Easter Sunday. Sunrise Service at 06H00, Leisure Isle and 09H00 in the Hall.

FAMILY NEWS

We continue to hold our Singing Kettle Tea Garden on the first Saturday of every month. Bring a friend for breakfast and a cuppa with cake.

Every 3rd Saturday we have our breakfast sessions for men and women. We will however have a combined breakfast every third month at Bosuns. Watch the press for details.

And now for the big news. Granny’s Attic is undergoing a metamorphosis. Granny’s will be closing on Friday the 25th March in it’s present location and moving to shop N0 1 at Oaks on Main. Our charity shop will from now on be known simply as ‘The Attic’. The new shop should be up and running by April. We will however, still be collecting your gentle warn clothing and excess household goodies for the new venture. These may be dropped off at the church. I thank you all for your support for this venture which remains a community project.

Let me close by offering each of us a challenge for this Lenten period. It is so often the case that we are asked to give up something we love for Lent. I want to encourage you to continue eating your chocolate and drinking your coffee. Why not give something away instead of giving it up. An unused item or a tin of food a day for the 40 days of Lent is my challenge.

Remember how blessed you are and continue to be a blessing to others. Pray for me as I pray for you.

With Love

Rod

Bible Commentary

Knysna Methodist Church – lectionary notes – 27.2.2022
Exodus 34:29-35
Moses’ encounter with God was so powerful that his face shone. It was so bright that people were afraid to come near him. When a life is lived with God, people can see it in a believer’s physical appearance. The peace, joy, love and goodness of being in close proximity to God will be evident to those around. Moses’ face reflected the glory of God. He himself was unaware of this. He was a humble man and it was his humility that made such radiance possible. If he had been proud, he would not have reflected God’s glory.
The people had turned away from Moses because they were afraid of what had happened to him. Now he called the leaders back to him and passed on God’s commandments to them.
Moses covered his glowing face with a veil when he was with the people, only taking it off when he was alone with God.
Psalm 99
The psalm opens with a statement of faith. The Lord reigns and He is present. His presence is so powerful that both people and the earth tremble in awe. The sanctuary where this happens could be the heavenly sanctuary or the one in the tabernacle or the temple. The cherubim surrounding the Lord are mighty angelic warriors.
God has a special affection for Jerusalem, the city of hills, where He is high above the people. The Lord is great and the people worship Him because He is holy. Holy has an element of being set apart and emphasises the distance between God and man. Holiness is the essence of who God is. The phrase ‘He is holy’ is repeated twice more in the psalm, as if it is a chorus sung by the people.
God has ensured justice among His people in the past, does so now, and will continue to do so.
As people realise the power, holiness and goodness of God they are led to worship Him. God’s footstool could be the Ark of the Covenant, Jerusalem, or the earth itself. Again the refrain about God’s holiness is repeated,
Moses, Aaron and David are named as being men who called on the name of God, interceding on behalf of Israel, and God answered them. David calls them obedient, yet he still calls God the God-who-Forgives, for each of these men was disciplined in one way or another.
Once again the holiness of God is declared. The holiness of God is proclaimed three times in this psalm (see also Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8). In Hebrew to repeat something three times is to give it tremendous emphasis.
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
The New Covenant which was defined by Jesus enabled people to approach God as individuals with boldness and hope. Whilst the Old Covenant restricted people’s access to God, the New Covenant would open the way to God for all people forever.
Moses wore a veil because the Old Covenant was fading away and losing its glory. Paul wrote that most of the Jews of his time were unable to see the glory of the New Covenant. They were looking through a veil that was too heavy. Tradition blinded them. But through Jesus, whose death ripped apart the curtain of the Holy of Holies in the temple and opened up access to God, God enables people to turn and look at Him and see His glory. There is no longer a veil between people and God.
Under the New Covenant, people now have the freedom to come into the Lord’s presence at any time.
But, in spite of this, believers are not able to see God’s glory perfectly. In the time of Paul, a mirror gave a blurred image. Paul says this is how people see God now. The more time they spend with Him, the more they will be transformed by His glory. In this way, they increasingly take on His image and they become more like Him. This is a process that takes time as God works in them through the Holy Spirit.
4:1-2
Paul was very aware of the importance of his calling and this gave him the courage to preach boldly. He knew this was not because there was anything special about him but that God, in His mercy, had chosen him to deliver His message. So when Paul preached, he did so humbly and honestly. He only preached the truth. He knew that, deep down people would recognise the truth of his words, even if they rejected them. But even more, he knew that what he preached was spoken in front of God and this was the most important thing to Paul.
Luke 9:28-36
Jesus, Peter, James and John climbed to the top of the mountain together to pray. The mountain is not named but it is likely that it is either Mt. Tabor, to the west of the Sea of Galilee, or Mt. Hermon, north of Caesarea Philippi. Jesus’ appearance changed and He shone like a brilliant white light. For a short time He looked more like God than man. Somehow the disciples recognised the two men who appeared with Jesus as Moses and Elijah. Various explanations have been given over time as to why these two men should be the ones who appeared, but it may be that Moses represented the Law and Elijah the Prophets. The three discussed Jesus’ approaching death.
In the meantime the disciples slept. What did they miss? What else was discussed on the mountain top? There is no record, but the meeting may have lasted a great deal longer than it seems from the account that exists.
Peter put his foot in it. It seemed as if he wanted the glory to continue. He made the mistake of putting Moses and Elijah on the same level as Jesus by suggesting three tabernacles. As was so often the case, he did not understand.
God’s cloud descended on them. The glory intensified and the three men became increasingly afraid. God’s focus was on His Son. Moses and Elijah were human – Jesus is the Son of God. The men are told to hear what Jesus said. After these words, Jesus was once again alone. The three disciples did not tell anyone what they had seen. But they remembered and wrote about it later (2 Peter 1:16-18; John 1:14).

Points to Ponder
• Have you ever experienced a moment when you have felt so close to God that your whole being ‘shone’ with His reflected presence? If so, why did that moment come about? If not, ask God to draw closer to you in a moment of shared prayer, not for your glory but for His.
• God is holy. How often do you think of God in this light? Has He become an everyday name for you because you spend so much time with Him? Do you worship Him in awe or as a matter of habit? What does holiness mean to you? Share a few ideas of the holiness of God with one another. How does this change the way you think about God?
• How has the time you spend with God changed over the years since you first believed? What is the most precious aspect of your time with Him? How does He communicate with you?
• How do you feel when you have an intimate experience of God – a ‘mountain top’ experience? How do you feel when you come down from that time back to ordinary life?
• The three disciples did not speak of this experience to anyone. There is no record of Jesus telling them not to say anything. Could you have kept quiet about such an amazing event? Who would you tell? Why would you choose these people (this person) to tell?

Bibliography
https//enduringword.com/bible-commentary/
Exodus 34; Psalm 99; 2 Corinthians 3; Luke 9

Bible Commentary A Bible Commentary by David Guzik's. A trusted resource for pastors, teachers, Sunday School teachers, and everyday Christians. Easy To Use | Always Free

Bible Commentary

Knysna Methodist Church – lectionary notes – 20.2.2022
Genesis 45:3-11, 15
Joseph introduced himself to his brothers but they were worried in case they were going to be punished for the way they had treated him. It must have been a huge shock for them. Joseph was very emotional as he told them who he was.
Joseph told them how wrong they had been all those years ago, but did not want them to be sad or angry with themselves. His grief and anger was a thing of the past and he wanted them to move beyond their own emotions too. Joseph was convinced that what had happened was part of God’s plan to save His people in this time of famine. God did not want His people to be absorbed into the pagan nations but to stay apart for Him. He had been in control all the time.
Joseph was keen for his brothers to return home and fetch his father. So he embraced all his brothers, even those who had been cruel to him, and they spent time sharing all their experiences since they had parted.
Psalm 37:1-11
This is a wisdom psalm, written when David was a mature man. David advised people not to worry or be envious or angry when evil people seemed to succeed. Their success would only be temporary. In the scorching heat of the Middle East, a plant will only last a few days. This image perfectly described the transient success of those who reject God.
Instead, David advised the righteous person to trust God and do everything for His glory. He urged them to enjoy every blessing God showered upon them and make a conscious effort to think about God’s goodness rather than anything else. As people align their lives with God they will discover their life is both happy and satisfied.
When people do trust God, they discover peace, protection and fulfillment as they surrender to Him, just as God has promised. Others will begin to notice the change.
This may take a while. There is no need for them to defend themselves or become angry. They can trust God to fulfil His promises. They, as God’s people, will inherit the earth whilst those who reject God will not, for they will slip into oblivion. David stresses the importance of God’s promise to His people by repeating it.
39-40
At the end of this psalm, David reminds people that it is God who provides their salvation and strength, not any efforts of their own. Those who follow God are drawn closer to Him in times of adversity. They can be assured of the fact that God loves them and they can trust Him.
1 Corinthians 15:35-38
Paul does not answer his own question about how the dead are raised because it seems obvious that it is God who raises them up. People die – but they will be reunited in Christ with their family again. Just as a seed grows into a plant that does not look like the seed, the resurrected body may have no resemblance to the earthly body that has died. The physical human body is corrupted by sin, tainted with shame, and is weak. The spiritual resurrected body on the other hand, is perfect, glorious, and powerful. The beauty of these glorious bodies can be glimpsed in Moses’s face (Exodus 34:29-25), in Christ’s transfiguration (Matthew 17:2), and in Stephen’s death (Acts 16:15).
42-50
Our physical body is inherited from Adam; our resurrected body originates in Christ. We will bear His image. When Jesus rose from the dead, He could still be touched and He ate with the disciples. Yet His body was not limited to the laws of nature. It is only when people have attained spiritual bodies like that of Christ that they will be able to inherit the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 6:27-38
Jesus is in the middle of the series of sermons which are known as the Sermon on the Plain. He gave a straightforward command – love your enemies. It was easy to understand – but very difficult to implement. However He was telling Christ-followers they need to trust God when they are confronted by those who oppose them. He instructed His listeners to do something good for such people, and to bless them and pray for them. They were not to speak badly of them but present them in the best way to others. They were to accept any wrong-doing such people did against them and trust God to defend them. The slap on the cheek which Jesus speaks about was an insult rather than an attack. Jesus does not say Christ-followers should never defend themselves in the case of a physical attack.
The Law of Moses stated that no one should take another person’s cloak. Jesus said His followers were to give sacrificially for they know that God will take care of them.
Jesus turned a well-known negative command into a positive one. People were familiar with the negative – ‘do not do … what you would not want done’. Now Jesus said ‘do … what you want done to you’. This new version would have made an impression on His listeners.
The world knows it is not hard to love those who love them. But a Christ-follower needs to be different and so is called to love those who do not love them. This is what God does and He sets the pattern for His people. So they have to be merciful; they must not judge others by thinking the worst of them for the time will come when they too will be judged. They were, instead, to forgive people and be generous in their love for others.
If the lived a generous life they would be blessed. A Jewish robe could be pulled up above the belt to form a pocket. This pocket would not be enough to hold the blessings they would receive and so it would overflow onto their laps.
Jesus told the people that whatever measure they used to assess another would be used to assess them.

Points to Ponder
• Who, amongst your family members, would you love to see again? What is the first thing you would say to them? Why is this so important to you?
• How do you feel when you see someone apparently succeeding through illegitimate means – corruption, blackmail, manipulation etc? How would you tell such a person that their success will not last?
• How would you bring God into such a discussion?
• Do you trust God to provide everything you need or to extricate you from false accusations or hurtful situations? Why/why not? How can you help one another in this regard?
• How would you help someone outside the group who has doubts about this?
• What excites you most about having a heavenly body when you rise to heaven?
• What do you think will be your greatest challenge to love others the way Jesus tells you to love? Why is this so?

Bibliography
https//enduringword.com/bible-commentary/
Genesis 43; Psalm 37; 1 Corinthians 15; Luke 6

Bible Commentary A Bible Commentary by David Guzik's. A trusted resource for pastors, teachers, Sunday School teachers, and everyday Christians. Easy To Use | Always Free

Bible Commentary

Knysna Methodist Church – Lectionary Notes – 6.2.2022

Isaiah 6:1-8, 9-13
King Uzziah had reigned for 52 years. He had been a strong king for Israel following God and God had blessed him with many victories over those who came against the land. But in the end he disobeyed God and developed leprosy so he died alone. His death was a major event in the life of Israel and the people. The future was uncertain and Isaiah questioned where God was in all of this – and then he saw Him! The King of kings, still in control, sitting on a throne in heaven!
What a sight it was! The throne was raised up high. God was wearing a long train which was a recognised symbol of the authority of a king. Above the throne Isaiah could see angels which he called seraphim (burning ones). Each one had six wings – four to show their humility as they covered their face and their feet before the Living God in worship and acknowledgement of His glory, and two to fly so they could carry out the tasks God gave them. Their worship of God was an important role for them.
The seraphim do not speak to God but to one another as they worship Him. Some scholars explain the repeated use of the word holy to confirm the truth of the Trinity. In the Hebrew language, to repeat a word twice would give that word emphasis; to repeat it three times is to award it the highest importance. God is above all things; He is holy; and the whole earth is full of His glory, even if humanity cannot see it.
The seraphim were mighty beings who exist to praise, worship and honour God. The voice of one shook the doorposts of God’s throne room. The smoke that filled the room is reminiscent of the cloud on the top of Mt Sinai when Moses was there (Exodus 19:18) and the cloud of God’s glory that filled the temple (1 Kings 8:10-12).
Isaiah felt small as he heard the praising seraphim and saw the glory of Almighty God. He recognised his own insignificance, for he was a sinner – a man of unclean lips – and he realised this was the same for all people. Isaiah was a righteous man as he followed God. Yet his righteousness was nothing in the throne room of God.
One of the seraphim took a live coal out of the fire before the altar. He used this to purify Isaiah’s mouth. Isaiah does not speak of feeling any pain when this happened, perhaps because God removed any sense of pain or because, in the awe of his surroundings and the events happening around him, pain did not matter. The act burned Isaiah’s sin away.
God’s question as to whom He would send may seem strange. But God was looking for a willing heart to serve Him and do what He needed to be done. Anyone who answers such a call is sent by God. Now Isaiah willingly answers God’s question and steps forward to serve Him. However he does not rush off but waits for God to send him. And God sent him with a message to people who were reluctant to listen, would not see what was happening and would not turn back to God.
Isaiah asked how long he was to deliver this message. The response was not hopeful, for God told Isaiah to keep going until devastation occurred. There was hope for there would be a remnant of people who would hear and would return to God.
Psalm 138
David boldly declared that he would praise God with his whole heart. Scholars vary in their definition of the gods David was talking about, but it is clear that it is God and God alone that he is praising. Even when David was not in the Temple he would acknowledge it as the place of worship and sacrifice.
David gave reasons for this worship. God had shown him loving kindness; He had given His Word to people. David declared that God Himself holds His own Word in high esteem. In addition, God had responded to David on many occasions, giving him the strength and courage to cope. David knew that one day every king on earth will sing praise to God. God does not discount the ordinary people, although He does keep a distance between Himself and those who are proud.
As David considered these things he knew that God would see him through any trouble he may face. David knew that God had a plan for him and would never forsake either him or any who follow Him.
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Paul described the benefit of the gospel for people. The word gospel means good news. When the early Christ-followers first received the gospel they heard it and accepted it, and, at the time of writing, they still stood for its truth. Paul told them they needed to continue to stand firm in the truth of the gospel for to let go of that truth would mean that all their time spent following Christ would mean nothing.
Paul stated that the gospel contained actual historical facts, which he briefly laid out again for the Corinthians. Whilst no one saw the actual resurrection, the risen Christ was seen by Peter, the twelve disciples, and many others. Finally, Paul says, he had seen Him too. Paul’s omission of the women meeting Jesus may have been because in his day a woman’s testimony would be rejected solely because they were women.
Paul knew that some would not consider his position as an apostle for he had only encountered Jesus sometime after His resurrection. He was not seeking glory amongst them but he was claiming membership amongst them. Paul gave the grace of God the credit for the change within him. The apostle was still working for God with all the energy the grace of God gave him. It did not matter whether they heard Paul or any of the other apostles the message they continually preached was true and could be believed.
Luke 5:1-11
Jesus’ preaching was so intriguing the crowds pressed around Him on the beach of the Sea of Galilee (Gennesaret). Jesus asked Simon if He could use His boat so people could hear and see Him. After He had finished preaching He told Simon to go out onto the Lake and cast his nets. Simon said they had been fishing all night, but agreed to do as Jesus asked. He recognised the authority and integrity of Jesus even at this early stage in their relationship. It may well be that Jesus was still in the boat as they did what He had asked.
Simon’s faith and obedience was rewarded with a huge catch. He knew he could not cope with the quantity of fish alone so he asked his partners to help him. In spite of the fact that Jesus had already healed Simon’s mother in law (Luke 4:38-39), this event made Simon fall on his knees and worship Jesus. The fisherman immediately recognised his own sinfulness. Jesus immediately told Peter not to be afraid. Jesus wanted a relationship with Simon (and all people) based on love, not fear, and He gave Simon the work Jesus wanted Him to do. Simon and his companions left everything and follow Jesus – including, it seems, the miraculous catch of fish.

Bibliography
https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/
Isaiah 6; Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15; luke-5

Bible Commentary A Bible Commentary by David Guzik's. A trusted resource for pastors, teachers, Sunday School teachers, and everyday Christians. Easy To Use | Always Free

Knysna Methodist Church – Lectionary notes – 30.1.2022

Jeremiah 1:4-10
Jeremiah’s ministry as a prophet lasted for forty years. In spite of a great deal of discouragement and opposition he was both faithful and courageous. He lived in the village of Anathoth, some five kilometres outside Jerusalem where his family would have been able to travel to Jerusalem to carry out their duties as priests. He lived in the days when Josiah was king. This was a time of reform to purify Israel from its practice of idol worship and encourage people to return to God. However although both the king and the prophet had the same goal in mind, they were not very successful.
Jeremiah was called personally by God. He seems to have been familiar with the words of previous prophets, such as Isaiah, Amos, and others, probably due to his upbringing in a godly home.
God told Jeremiah that He had known him long before their moment of encounter to show the prophet that God had plans for him.
Whilst his immediate message was to Judah in the last years before exile, it is still relevant for us today. God’s message through Jeremiah was universal.
Jeremiah is full of excuses! He is too young – but God says that is irrelevant. God can use young people as much as He can use anyone and there are many examples of Him doing so, both in Scripture and in the present day. God encouraged and persuaded Jeremiah, and the young man followed his calling, in spite of being given an unpopular message about God’s judgment to deliver. God’s presence over-ruled both these objections.
Jeremiah was still reluctant and God stretched out His hand and touched Jeremiah’s mouth. The prophet did not have an easy life, but it was a life (and a calling) he could not refuse.
Psalm 71: 1-6
The composer of this psalm is unidentified however he appears to be a man of mature years. There are many allusions to other psalms, indicating a maturity of faith too (see Psalms 31:1-3; 22:9-11 etc).
The psalmist asserts his trust in God that God will clear his name and protect him from any shame. He requested God to deliver him from harm and to be his place of safety. He prayed with every confidence that God would answer his prayer.
There seemed to be someone who was manipulating the psalmist and so the prayer was for deliverance from this man’s grip. The psalmist says he will always praise God as he again professes his hope and trust in Him for He had supported him from his birth.
1 Corinthians 12:31b; 13:1-13
Having spoken at length about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Paul now turns his attention to the one thing that surpasses them all – love. None of the gifts mean anything without love, but the goal of the gifts is love.
There were four different words that described love in the Greek language. Eros is sexual love, storge is the love within a family, philia describes deep friendship, and agape is a self-giving love that expects no return. Paul uses the word agape in this chapter. Such a love can be offered to those who are unlovable, even when it is rejected. It does not describe God’s love, which is greater even than this, for it is said that people love evil with an agape love (John 3:19). Agape love is, however a sacrificial kind of love. It does not describe emotion so much as an intentional setting aside of one’s own needs for the needs of someone else.
Paul goes on to say no matter what we do; no matter how admirable our actions or words may seem, if love is not involved, our sacrifices are worthless.
Love is an action, not an ideal. It puts up with all sorts of annoying, harmful and hurtful behaviour towards us, with no desire for revenge. It is revealed in simple acts of kindness. Paul writes a list. Love is not:
• Envious- it is not resentful at someone else’s success or jealous of other’s possessions
• Boastful – it is happy to work or give without being acknowledged or noticed
• Arrogant or proud – but rather is humble and unassuming
• Rude – it is kind and has good manners
• Self-seeking – it puts the welfare, comfort and happiness of others first
• Annoyed – it puts up with those who are irritating
• Looking for the worst in people – it sets aside the hurts it has suffered, whether real or imagined
• Taking pleasure in injustice – it wants the best for others.
Paul then goes on to define what love is – and in each case he qualifies it with the words ‘all things’:
• It bears evil and hurt, wrapping them in love, refusing to make the situation worse by passing on harmful gossip or actions, but rather moving beyond such behaviour
• It always believes the best in others unless there are facts that prove otherwise
• It has confidence in the future, hoping for the best, placing its hope in God
• It goes on and on, bearing, believing and hoping
Love is the actual work of God. The gifts are the containers that hold love and pass it on. At some time the gifts we have received will cease – possibly when we die – but love will continue to exist even beyond that time. It is the measure of Christian maturity.
Paul says those who are spiritually mature realise that the gifts are not everything and, whilst they are important, they are not the most important aspect of Christian life. At some stage the importance of the gifts of the Spirit will fade with the actual presence of Jesus, when all who follow Him shall see Him face to face.
In Paul’s day, Corinth was renowned for producing the best mirrors in existence, but even then, they were just made of polished metal and the image they reflected was distorted. This is how, Paul says, we see Jesus now but one day we will see Him clearly.
In heaven, when this meeting occurs, Christ-followers will have the strength and the ability to know God as perfectly as it is possible to know Him. There will be no barriers of any sort between His people and God Himself.
The people of God should seek faith, hope and love as the focus of the Christian lives. These are God’s priorities and they should be those of every Christ-follower. In the end, in heaven, faith and hope will have fulfilled their purpose. The only one of these three which will continue is love. God is love and as such, love will never end.
Luke 4:21-30
As Jesus began to speak He answered two questions His listeners would have had. Who is Isaiah speaking about? When was He talking about? Jesus said Isaiah was talking of Him, Jesus, and he was writing about that very day when Jesus was talking to them. The fact that His listeners were amazed at His gracious words implies that Jesus continued to speak. When He had finished they were astonished that someone like Joseph’s son, one of their neighbours, could be such a skilled preacher.
Jesus knew they would want Him to prove Himself to them by performing miracles as He had done elsewhere. But Jesus knew they would have trouble accepting that one of their own was special in any way – He seemed so normal and familiar to them.
Jesus told them that their rejection of Him said more about them than it did about Him, and that God’s power was often evident in unexpected places. The examples Jesus used were Old Testament healings of Gentiles. Naaman, for example, had to obey certain instructions in faith and humility – and he was healed.
But this made Jesus’ neighbours angry. They didn’t want to hear there was anything wrong with them, their request for a miracle was denied and God did not only love them, but the Gentiles too. Jesus made no attempt to please His listeners or gauge their approval as a measure of success.
Their attempt to push Him off a cliff was the first step to stoning Him to death. But Jesus slipped away without being noticed by any of them.

Points to Ponder
• How old (or young) were you when you were first aware of doing something specific for God?
• When has a young person said or done something for God that made you wonder at their faith and obedience? Briefly share the event.
• How do you respond to someone who has hurt you, whether physically or emotionally? Do you want to retaliate or are you content to let God sort the matter out for you? Why do you react that way?
• When you consider the meaning of the word agape – self-sacrificial love – how does it compare with the way you love – your family, your colleagues, your friends, strangers, the unlovable, etc?
• What is your Christian life focused on? In what areas of your life would you like God to help you to love more?
• How does the expertise of local people compare, in your view, with the expertise of international scholars, scientists, authorities? Do you consider foreign to be better than local or not? How did you respond to the discovery of the Omicron variant of Covid by South African scientists? Why do you answer in this way?
• What difference, if any, would agape love make to your answers to these questions?
• How can the group help you with any struggles you have spoken about in this session?

Bibliography
Enduring word commentaries on Jeremiah 1; Psalm 71:1-6; 1 Corinthians 13; and Luke 4