Reflections

Gospel for all people (Mission Sunday)
Ephesians 3:1-13
V6 “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”In this verse, we can see the word "together" is mentioned 3 times, which itself indicates God’s plan was for the whole universe. Paul was the preacher to the Gentiles. God’s grace to Paul was to reveal the mystery by divine revelation. Mystery is the wise plan of God for the church which is the unification of believing Jews and Gentiles in the new body. It is the plan of God actively working out. This mystery is revealed by the Holy Spirit to the holy apostles and prophets. Paul was the recipient of this revelation and was given a significant responsibility in the execution of this plan. God used Paul to take this gospel message to the gentiles and God’s hand was at work in this universal plan. Paul understood the sovereignty of God and his administrat…

Mission Sunday: Gospel for all people
Acts 10: 34-43
v43 “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
One of the missions of the church is to preach the gospel that God offers sinful people eternal life irrespective of their status in the society. Even though we live in an egalitarian society, people are discriminated based on race, cast, gender, color, age, wealth, etc.  Recently in US, George Floy’s dying words “I can’t breathe” have become a rallying cry at demonstrations around the world amid a reckoning with systematic racism. In today’s context, Peter’s statement that “God doesn’t show favoritism” is more meaningful than ever.

God sent his begotten son, Jesus, to save not just Jews, but also Gentiles – not just whites or blacks – not just men or women – not just rich or poor – not just American or Europeans or Africans or Asians. In this passage, Peter is telling a Roman centurion to affirm that Jesus is the “i…

Gospel for all people
Isaiah 55:1-5
   Vs 1” come, all you are thirsty, come to the waters”Isaiah prophesies in Judah from 740-681B.C that God would send a Savior to deliver all his people from sin and to set up God’s kingdom on earth.INVITATION TO THE THIRSTY verse(1-2)         The Lord invites all people who are thirsty to come to the living waters, without money and without cost all is free by the Lords Grace. Money and labor for all worldly things is in vain on what does not satisfy. Eat the heavenly food by reading, studying the Bible so our soul may be delighted in the richest of fare. INVITATION FOR AN ETERNAL LIFE verse(3)           Lord invites all the people to give ears to his words that our soul may live and not run around to the worldly hearing gossips and worldly role model. By hearing the Lord’s words and walking in his path Lord will make an everlasting covenant with us as he promised to David. INVITATION TO BE A WITNESS TO THE PEOPLES verse(4,5)
           Lord invites us …

The beginning of 15 days Lent
Matthew 5:38-42
vs.39 “But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also”.We live in an age of tit for tat and the so-called hate campaign. What looms every where is the language of hate and revenge. Even within the Church, we are not able to vindicate the claims we make for ourselves such as a community of faith that is called and set apart for a holy function in the world. Let us highlight two thoughts from the text.The futility of revengeIn the life and teachings of Jesus, we have both continuity and discontinuity with the Jewish tradition. For example, when Jesus says: “I have not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill”, its continuity. But when he says:” You have heard that it was said, “Love your friends and hate your enemies. But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you “(vs.43), its discontinuity. This ought to be the norm for our life and ministry in the Ch…

Manifesto of the Kingdom
Luke 4: 14 – 23

vs. 18a “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… “
This passage tells us that Jesus is at his home town, Nazareth. It was his custom to attend the synagogue on every Sabbath. Jesus was asked to read from the book of the prophet Isaiah. He purposefully selected the portion and concluded with the saying, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” These words make the passage more meaningful and it creates different responses from the congregation.

The reading starts with the announcement that the spirit of the Lord is upon him.  The movement of the spirit in the Gospel of Luke is evident. It starts with the annunciation to Mary and continues throughout the gospel. Jesus was anointed with the spirit at the time of His baptism at the River Jordan and a voice from heaven declared: “You are my son, the beloved; with you I am well pleased,” and with the same spirit He moved to the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan and He conquered Satan.…

THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION:  EQUIPPING THE PEOPLE OF GODPsalm 99:1-9 v5 Exalt the Lord your God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!This psalm is a proclamation of God's Holiness. This is a fundamental attribute of God. In our worship we chant “Holy, Holy, Holy” while praising him. He is a reigning King. Because of His holiness, creation should tremble before Him in awe. People of God are reminded to equip themselves to exalt him in His Glory and majesty.  The awesomeness and holiness imply that we must bow before him in submission, obedience and reverence. Our knowledge of this infinite God is very limited for our finite mind.  God instructed Moses to make a mercy seat of pure gold with two cherubim at both ends facing one another with wings covering the mercy seat. In the Old Testament, God told Moses that He would meet with him there from above the mercy seat between the cherubim. (Exodus 25:17-22). The Lord reigns with justice, righteousness and mercy.  Knowing that one day we al…