JesusJesus

The Theory of EverythingThe Theory of EverythingBecause there is a law such Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there creation is the reason there is something rather than is something rather than nothing, why the universe nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist. exists, why we exist. It is not necessary to invoke It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe paper and set the universe going.going.

Hawking's argument Hawking's argument appears to me even more appears to me even more illogical when he says the illogical when he says the existence of gravity means existence of gravity means the creation of the the creation of the universe was inevitable. universe was inevitable. But how did gravity exist But how did gravity exist in the first place? Who put in the first place? Who put it there? And what was it there? And what was the creative force behind the creative force behind its birth? its birth?

Similarly, when Hawking Similarly, when Hawking argues, in support of his argues, in support of his theory of spontaneous theory of spontaneous creation, that it was only creation, that it was only necessary for 'the blue necessary for 'the blue touch paper' to be lit to touch paper' to be lit to 'set the universe going', 'set the universe going', the question must be: the question must be: where did this blue touch where did this blue touch paper come from? And paper come from? And who lit it, if not God? who lit it, if not God?

What all this goes to show is that What all this goes to show is that nonsense remains nonsense even nonsense remains nonsense even when talked by world-famous when talked by world-famous scientists. ‘What serves to obscure the scientists. ‘What serves to obscure the illogicality of such statements is the illogicality of such statements is the fact that they are made by scientists; fact that they are made by scientists; and the general public, not and the general public, not surprisingly, assumes that they are surprisingly, assumes that they are statements of science and takes them statements of science and takes them on authority. That is why it is on authority. That is why it is important to point out that they are important to point out that they are not statements of science, and any not statements of science, and any statement, whether made by a statement, whether made by a scientist or not, should be open to scientist or not, should be open to logical analysis. Immense prestige and logical analysis. Immense prestige and authority does not compensate for authority does not compensate for faulty logic.’ faulty logic.’

The The TheologyTheology of Everything of Everything

Christ Holds It All Together Christ Holds It All Together Colossians 1 [15] We look at this Son Colossians 1 [15] We look at this Son [Jesus] and see the God who cannot be [Jesus] and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in original purpose in everythingeverything created. created. [16] For [16] For everythingeverything, absolutely , absolutely everythingeverything, above and below, visible and , above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—angels—everythingeverything got started in him got started in him and finds its purpose in himand finds its purpose in him. [17] He was . [17] He was there before any of it came into there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. up to this moment.

One Solitary LifeOne Solitary LifeHe was born in an obscure village, the son of a He was born in an obscure village, the son of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village, peasant woman. He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter's shop until he was where he worked in a carpenter's shop until he was thirty. Then for three years he became a wandering thirty. Then for three years he became a wandering preacher. preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He didn't go never had a family or owned a house. He didn't go to college. He never visited a big city. He never to college. He never visited a big city. He never travelled two hundred miles from the place where travelled two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He did none of those things one he was born. He did none of those things one usually associates with greatness. usually associates with greatness. He had no credentials but himself. He had no credentials but himself.

He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. He was turned turned against him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to his enemies and went through a mockery of a over to his enemies and went through a mockery of a trial. He was executed by the state. While he was dying, trial. He was executed by the state. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing, the only his executioners gambled for his clothing, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead he was property he had on earth. When he was dead he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race and the leader of the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind's progress. All the armies that ever marched, mankind's progress. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that as that One Solitary LifeOne Solitary Life..

18 "The Spirit of 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, the Lord is on me, because he has because he has anointed me to anointed me to preach good news to preach good news to the poor. He has the poor. He has sent me to proclaim sent me to proclaim freedom for the freedom for the prisoners and prisoners and recovery of sight for recovery of sight for the blind, to release the blind, to release the oppressed,the oppressed,19 to proclaim the 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s year of the Lord’s favour."favour."

[14] Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, [14] Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole and news about him spread through the whole countryside. countryside. [15] He taught in their synagogues, and everyone [15] He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. praised him. 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour."19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour."

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,synagogue were fastened on him,21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn’t this gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn’t this Joseph’s son?" they asked.Joseph’s son?" they asked.

23 Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this 23 Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your home town what we have heard that you did in your home town what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’"Capernaum.’"24 "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is 24 "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his home town.accepted in his home town.25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land.the land.26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian."cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian."

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when 28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.they heard this.29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.in order to throw him down the cliff.30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.his way.

““You've just heard You've just heard Scripture make Scripture make

history. It came true history. It came true just now in this just now in this

place.”place.”

This is my Story!This is my Story!

It’s all about me! It’s all about me!

Jesus’ Message Jesus’ Message

•Began at homeBegan at home

•Bible based Bible based

Justin Welby’s biggest fight to date has been with Justin Welby’s biggest fight to date has been with sharks — the loan sharks he wants the church to sharks — the loan sharks he wants the church to drive out of business. But this week the drive out of business. But this week the Archbishop of Canterbury took on an even bigger Archbishop of Canterbury took on an even bigger fish: his own church. Speaking in New York, he fish: his own church. Speaking in New York, he warned against sermons containing warned against sermons containing “moral “moral claptrap” claptrap” that boiled down to that boiled down to “wouldn’t the world “wouldn’t the world be a nicer place if we were all a bit nicer?” be a nicer place if we were all a bit nicer?” This This will be welcome news to many who have will be welcome news to many who have darkened the doors of an Anglican church from darkened the doors of an Anglican church from time to time or listened to a bishop on the time to time or listened to a bishop on the Today Today programme’s “Thought for the Day” slot. programme’s “Thought for the Day” slot.

In a paper on church growth — or, perhaps more In a paper on church growth — or, perhaps more accurately, church decline — for next month’s accurately, church decline — for next month’s General Synod, the archbishops of Canterbury and General Synod, the archbishops of Canterbury and York focus on the organisation of the church, the York focus on the organisation of the church, the diversity of clergy, credit unions and social media. diversity of clergy, credit unions and social media. All useful stuff, but All useful stuff, but there isn’t a single mention of there isn’t a single mention of scripture or indeed belief, save for a concluding scripture or indeed belief, save for a concluding Bible verse.Bible verse. Without it, the church becomes a civic Without it, the church becomes a civic social club that happens to have pretty windows social club that happens to have pretty windows and colourful uniforms — and one that will and colourful uniforms — and one that will continue to decline at an average of 1 per cent continue to decline at an average of 1 per cent every year.every year.

The Co-Mission group of churches is excellent at The Co-Mission group of churches is excellent at attracting newcomers but it’s the strength of their attracting newcomers but it’s the strength of their belief, summed up by Paul in 1 Timothy 1, 15: that belief, summed up by Paul in 1 Timothy 1, 15: that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst”, that encourages — of whom I am the worst”, that encourages those newcomers to return. Otherwise people those newcomers to return. Otherwise people have no more reason to return than they do to have no more reason to return than they do to stay at home and read a good book rather than the stay at home and read a good book rather than the Good Book.Good Book.

Tim Keller - The Bible isn’t about you. It’s Tim Keller - The Bible isn’t about you. It’s about Him. Preach Christ from every text about Him. Preach Christ from every text

Jesus’ Message Jesus’ Message

•Began at homeBegan at home

•Bible based Bible based

•Spirit anointedSpirit anointed

1.to preach good news to the 1.to preach good news to the poor.poor.

2.to proclaim freedom 2.to proclaim freedom for the prisonersfor the prisoners

3.recovery of sight for 3.recovery of sight for the blindthe blind

Joh 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the Joh 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."life."

4.to release the 4.to release the oppressedoppressed

5.to proclaim the year of 5.to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favourthe Lord’s favour

The Message was Universal - The Message was Universal - Gentile Widow and Namaan the Gentile Widow and Namaan the

SyrianSyrian

The Message invoked The Message invoked a Violent Reaction a Violent Reaction

The Message invites The Message invites a Personal Responsea Personal Response