St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

An introduction to 1 Peter, our bible readings in church services for April-June 2002:

A keen and long-lasting faith

You can see the ups and downs of Peter’s life by reading the gospel story. He feels terrible when Jesus first speaks to him and gives him a miraculous catch of fish when all night he’s caught nothing - in fact he begs Jesus to go (Luke 5:8). Then he feels great when he’s the first one to say who Jesus really is (Matthew 16:16) and Jesus calls him “blessed”, but before long it’s a downer as he tries to stop Jesus talking about death, and Jesus calls him “Satan” (v23). At the last supper he says he’ll never betray Jesus (Matthew 26:33) , but only a little while later he denies him three times and feels dreadful (v75) , so much that he goes back to his old fishing job. Then Jesus forgives him and gives him a new task, which he starts at Pentecost . A real roller-coaster of an emotional ride.

But by the time he’s followed Jesus a good few years longer, he has settled down in his faith. And so, after Easter this year, we are looking at his first letter, to see what lessons we can learn from it about stability in faith. The readings are set for all churches, but maybe there are particular lessons for us at St Luke’s? Join us and see!

It has been suggested the letter was originally a baptism sermon, which he later wrote up, added to a bit, and circulated round the churches he looked after - for Peter did indeed become a rock of stability in the church in his later years. Here are some of the questions he tackles:

• how can my faith survive and grow when I get setbacks of grief?

• how can I really be “holy” as God wants, seeing as I’ve got to be part of the real world with my feet on the ground?

• how can different Christians work together so that the church can be living instead of just an institution?

• how can I be real as a Christian when I have to work in a cut-throat world for an employer who doesn’t see things the same way?

• what is real hospitality?

• how should the leaders of the church be working together?

• how do we stop the devil getting into our lives and wrecking them?

As you’ll see, this is quite a list, and shows that the world Peter lived in may have had different technology but it had a lot of the same problems as we face. Join us as we look at some of Peter’s answers in our readings and sermons on Sunday mornings, this month and next.

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. April 2002, Page 4.
Home Page. Index of articles. Bible & Sermons: index, Bible reading, Pentecost, Bible versions, The cross, 1 Peter Read Mark. In this issue: (April 2002) Vicar's Letter, Clergy pay, 1 Peter, Question.	An introduction to 1 Peter, our bible readings in church services for April-June 2002: A keen and long-lasting faith You can see the ups and downs of Peter’s life by reading the gospel story. He feels terrible when Jesus first speaks to him and gives him a miraculous catch of fish when all night he’s caught nothing - in fact he begs Jesus to go (Luke 5:8). Then he feels great when he’s the first one to say who Jesus really is (Matthew 16:16) and Jesus calls him “blessed”, but before long it’s a downer as he tries to stop Jesus talking about death, and Jesus calls him “Satan” (v23). At the last supper he says he’ll never betray Jesus (Matthew 26:33) , but only a little while later he denies him three times and feels dreadful (v75) , so much that he goes back to his old fishing job. Then Jesus forgives him and gives him a new task, which he starts at Pentecost . A real roller-coaster of an emotional ride. But by the time he’s followed Jesus a good few years longer, he has settled down in his faith. And so, after Easter this year, we are looking at his first letter, to see what lessons we can learn from it about stability in faith. The readings are set for all churches, but maybe there are particular lessons for us at St Luke’s? Join us and see! It has been suggested the letter was originally a baptism sermon, which he later wrote up, added to a bit, and circulated round the churches he looked after - for Peter did indeed become a rock of stability in the church in his later years. Here are some of the questions he tackles: • how can my faith survive and grow when I get setbacks of grief? • how can I really be “holy” as God wants, seeing as I’ve got to be part of the real world with my feet on the ground? • how can different Christians work together so that the church can be living instead of just an institution? • how can I be real as a Christian when I have to work in a cut-throat world for an employer who doesn’t see things the same way? • what is real hospitality? • how should the leaders of the church be working together? • how do we stop the devil getting into our lives and wrecking them? As you’ll see, this is quite a list, and shows that the world Peter lived in may have had different technology but it had a lot of the same problems as we face. Join us as we look at some of Peter’s answers in our readings and sermons on Sunday mornings, this month and next. John Hartley
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