Max Scott's blog

It was noted that Jesus taught with authority and not like the scribes. (Mark 4:22) A comparison of the teaching of Jesus with that of the scribes would reveal a number of differences. One of these would be the lack of references to other rabbis. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus compares his teaching with that which the people have heard - "You have heard it said ... but I say to you ..." (Matthew 5:21-22) Jesus taught with an authority that referenced himself and not others. Furthermore, when Jesus spoke, there was a response - even the unclean spirits obeyed him.

We often associate the word "vocation" with a person's job, particularly if it is regarded as having some status. Before the sixteenth century, this word was used to describe God's call to salvation for humanity.

One of the slogans of the Corinthian Christians was "All things are lawful for me." (1 Corinthians 6:12) They rejoiced in the new found freedom that came through faith in Christ;  freedom from the regulations of Jewish law and the social constraints of Graeco-Roman culture. However, Paul reminds them that not all things are beneficial, and that the misuse of this freedom will result in a new bondage. (1 Corinthians 6:12) Throughout this year, let us use our freedom, not as a means of getting our own way, but as a means of serving one another.

Christmas is the greatest festival ever. Over half the world's population will be joining in some form of celebration. For some this will be a time of joining together as families by sharing a meal, or contacting one another with the various means of communication now available. For others the focus will be on sharing gifts, and for some it will be a welcome break from work. No matter how it is celebrated, the festival is based on the existence of one person, Jesus of Nazareth. Without him there would be no Christmas.

At a criminal trial, there are two forms of evidence: the evidence provided by things such as DNA or security cameras; and the spoken testimony of people. What is important about the latter is the light they shed on the events that they witnessed - what they saw and heard. John bore testimony to Jesus. As with any witness, the purpose of his testimony was for people to believe the truth through what he said.

This Sunday we commission our Short Term Mission Team for their mission to Zambia and South Africa. Although they have had plenty of preparation, they will still need to rely on God's grace and protection.

This Sunday is All Saints' Day and our readings appear to focus on the faults of God's people, particularly their leaders. In a way, our behaviour shows that we are often far from being saints (holy ones). Nevertheless, we are called saints because that is what God, through Christ, has enabled us to be. Paul addresses his letters to the saints in ... (see Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:2, Ephesians 1:1, etc). Despite our poor behaviour, through faith in Christ, God's righteousness has become ours. (Ephesians 4:22-24) Our task is to live up to it.

There's no prize for knowing what the greatest commandment happens to be. As Jesus explains, it is ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ (Matthew 22:37) Perhaps there's also no prize for knowing what the second greatest commandment is. Jesus says, "And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’" (Matthew 22:39) Jesus connects the two commandments. One cannot fulfil the first without doing the second.

Today we read what is probably the first book of the New Testament to be written, Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. Almost always, Paul begins his letter with a commendation for the church to which he is writing. Pauls commends the Thessalonian Christians for their "work of faith, labour of love, and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3) The juxtaposition of "work" with "faith", and "labour" with "love" is significant. Faith, although not based on works, leads to works.

If you knew that you had only a short time to live, what is the one thing you would do? The Apostle Paul was in prison awaiting his trial and possible execution. The one thing that he does is this: "forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14) The Christian life is not about simply receiving the grace of God, and then drifting through life to eternity. It is about having a goal towards which we strive.