Talks, Sermons and Reflections

John 17.20-26 Jesus prayer is that we would be one Three times he prays that in this short passage V21:That they may all be one V22: That they may be one, as we are one V23: That they may become completely one Click here for audio of this talk There is a tremendous privilege of being part of a church like St Andrew’s. We are people who have been gathered together from many countries: Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Cameroon, Holland, Peru, Vietnam, Russia, US, UK, Syria, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Ethiopia, France, Madagascar. We have little in common: we come from different backgrounds, experiences and traditions. We’ve been brought up in different ways, according to different traditions, with different tastes. We have had different educational opportunities. Some are wealthy and some are poor. We have very different political views. We eat different kinds of food – some bland, some spicy. And so what unites us? Not our form of service or style of music. It is very English,

John 14.22-29 How will God reveal himself to us? A link to the audio of the talk One of the disciples has just asked Jesus the question. Will he do wonderful mighty acts of power and make everything in life go well or easy for his followers? Will he make them the victorious and successful of the world? No. If anything Jesus says the opposite: that his followers will be the poor, hated, despised and rejected of this world But God will reveal himself to his people, to those who love him, and who desire to keep his word, in a deeply personal way. 1. God will live with us. “My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them’ (v23) Earlier in this chapter, Jesus has said to his followers that he is going to the Father to prepare a home for them. Now he says that he will come to them and make his home with them. Imagine that there is a knock on your door. Some guests are coming not just to stay with you, but to live with you. That might sound a bit scary. Wil

John 13.31-35 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” [The sermon can be found at 24:40] Love one another It is a very simple command. Only three words. A very young child can learn it And it is said that the Apostle John, at the very end of his life, had only one sermon. He would stand in front of the assembly, of the people of God, and say, Love one another But it is almost impossible to do! It is not a command to serve one another There is that command i