No.133            9th December

 

Hi,
Hope this finds you well.

Lots of news headlines about the Royals these days - none of it very wholesome. I was thinking of that  question reportedly asked by Lady Susan of the Duchess of Sussex - 'But where are you really from?" was one which Mary and Joseph must have mulled over more than once in Bethlehem - in fact, there are a lot of questions like that flying around in the Christmas account. And that question probably didn't go away in Nazareth and Jerusalem as they considered this Child and God's purposes. So if you find yourself looking to take the conversation away from the Royals, or from the tinselly version of Christmas and back to Jesus, having people think about Lady Susan's question might be your 'way in'.

There's lots to make yourself aware in the articles below as we enter a particularly busy period  of Maxwell events.

Enjoy the Mag

MB

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Who will you invite?

These images for the Christmas services, Messy Church and Choir are available as images for you to use on your phones - great way of inviting someone and giving them all the details via text or WhatsApp. Just go to the church web page on your phone and download the one you want to use.

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From the Manse

Dear Congregation,
I mentioned Johnny Cash recently in a sermon.  I was intrigued (and somewhat amazed) to hear from several of you at the door, how you not only knew of Johnny Cash, but were fans. You shared with me your own favourite Johnny Cash story or song. 
In our church Magazine we gave two examples of Johnny Cash’s songs which draw clearly on biblical themes. I was amazed to see that one had been listened to on YouTube, 8 million times and the other (a staggering) 57 seven million! Such is the power of music.
In fact, many of Johnny Cash’s songs had biblical lyrics. In his last interview, just months before he died, he spoke of having a strong faith. Yet he also said that in his early days of touring he had discovered amphetamines. Drugs. Despite a strong faith in Jesus and desire to worship Him, he struggled with drug addiction through-out his life. 

In a book called "Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon” Greg Laurie the author says;
“The reason that Johnny has not joined the pantheon of rock stars who died of drug overdoses or alcohol abuse is because he knew where to turn when he was in trouble, and he turned to the Lord," … "Sinners thought he was a saint. Saints thought he was a sinner. The reality is, he was both.” 

I want to make two points from this quote.

The first is that, if Johnny Cash was the believer in Jesus he said he was, then what an encouragement to us. So often we think that people we  know have a life-style too far from the Kingdom to become interested in Jesus. Throw that idea away!
The Lord’s calling is irresistible to all He calls. His Spirit’s work in our hearts is powerful enough to overcome any outward expression of spiritual death. 
Johnny Cash is not alone in this. In Ephesians 2.3-4, Paul says we are all alike “gratifying the cravings of our own sinful heart...dead in our transgressions and sins”. The only difference between us is that some express this craving in a more obvious way than others. Actually, we are all the same and in the same need of  amazing grace through Jesus!

“Sinners thought he was a saint. Saints thought he was a sinner. The reality is, he was both” brings out a second point.
While true of "the believer" Johnny Cash, it is also true of every other Christian believer. Every person brought to faith becomes “a saint” but continues to be “a sinner”.
There are three ways we can describe what happens to the believer and all include the word “sanctification”. 

On receiving Christ as Lord and Saviour the believer has immediately “positional sanctification”. The believer is immediately no longer dead in transgression and sin. As Ephesians 2.5 puts it, we are made alive together with Christ. Our position changes in that we are immediately made citizens of a whole new kingdom: “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Colossians 1:13). This is of great assurance even when we might despair at our own conduct! As someone once wrote, “We cannot “un-save” ourselves, nor can we alter our position before God through any of our works or the lack thereof. We are kept in the position of beloved for the rest of our lives and throughout eternity.” 

However, secondly, on entry to this new Kingdom the believer begins a life of “progressive sanctification”. This “progressive sanctification” a life-long-work-in-progress. The trajectory of this progressive sanctification is to become more Christ-like in faith, character and good works. 
There is a naturalness to this progression. The believer has a new King, the Spirit within helps the believer more “naturally” begin to follow this King (1 Peter 1:15–16). Believers begin to want to do good things for God because He foreordains that believers undertake good works by His power (Ephesians 2:10). The Holy Spirit leads the believer in the Word of God (John 17:17) and enables the believer (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
Understanding that the believer has “positional sanctification” and is engaged in “progressive sanctification” helps understand why someone like Johnny Cash and actually each of us can sadly fall into sin, but still be confident of Christ's salvation. 

The third use of the word “sanctification” is joined with the word “final”. In Glory, God perfects this life long process of sanctification. There can be no sin in glory. There is a “final sanctification”.
There used to be a pub on St Vincent Street (opposite the Free Church) teasingly called “Saints and Sinners”. I guess the idea was that those who frequented the pub were “the sinners” and those who frequented the church were “the saints”. It was a neat idea for a name but theologically incorrect. (There could well have been Christian saints who nipped into the pub for a pint.) But in regard to the church, though I am sure it was full of lovely saints by the grace of God, each are simultaneously still sinners. 

For those who like Latin expressions, this is famously recorded in church history by people like Martin Luther as;
“simul justus et peccator” = simultaneously just and a sinner. If you want to read more about this, click here.

Johnny Cash’s salvation would be entirely dependent on the finished work of Jesus Christ. What is true for “Johnny Cash the believer” is true for all believers. What an amazing gift of music God lavished upon him. What an even greater gift of eternal life (we are led to believe from his biographies) that God gifted him through the wonderful grace of Jesus Christ and the powerful renewing work of God the Holy Spirit. This is what Jesus came into the world to gift to us! What a Christmas message.
With warmest regards
Scott

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3rd Sunday in Advent
"There are kings, and there are kings!"
Bible Passage: Matthew 2:1-23

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Messy Help!

We are looking forward to welcoming families to church on Christmas Eve for Messy Church however we need a team of volunteers to make this happen.
We are looking for some people to help setting up between 1pm and 2pm, some people who could do refreshments (hot drinks, mince pies etc), some people to welcome and direct families and also some to be on activity stations. There is no requirement to have an art degree to lead these, just a willingness to chat to families while they engage in the activities and to tidy up the resulting mess! 
Speak to Pauline if you could help with the festive outreach!
Pauline Forster

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Christmas Cards

It's that time of year again!  With the current cost of postage many folk will be delighted to put a Christmas Card or two into the pigeon holes on the mid floor.  Please make use of this service and check regularly to see if you have received anything! 
There is always someone who gets a pleasant surprise!

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The Homegroups this session have been considering how Christians live on their 'frontline'- Tom Brown (friend of the Magazine) sent this in for some reflection.

Backward Christian soldiers, fleeing from the fight
With the cross of Jesus nearly out of sight.
Christ, our rightful master, stands against the foe
But forward into battle, we are loathe to go.

Like a mighty tortoise moves the Church of God
Brothers, we are treading where we've always trod.
We are much divided, many bodies we
Having many doctrines, not much charity.

Crowns and thorns may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the Church of Jesus hidden does remain.
Gates of hell should never 'gainst the Church prevail.
We have Christ's own promise, but think that it will fail.

Sit here then, ye people, join our useless throng,
Blend with ours your voices in a feeble song.
Blessings, ease and comfort, ask from Christ the King
With our modern thinking, we don't do a thing

(Anonymous)

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Tuesday Coffee Club

Christmas Special this week

Christmas is coming and over the next few weeks there will be many special activities taking place.
This Tuesday at the Coffee Club is our special Christmas session.
John and Jaan Martindale, who are well known to us at Maxwell, are coming to bring the message of Christmas through illusions and music. John is a very talented illusionist and uses his skills to portray the Christmas story in a novel and engaging way.
We will be meeting in the Maxwell Hall from 1.30-3 pm as usual and would be delighted to welcome some new guests, even if you just want to come along to see what it’s like!
Transport can be arranged so don’t let that stop you from coming.
Elizabeth Smith Mob: 07761114987

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this Christmas!

As you know we are supporting Hope for Glasgow this Christmas.

Our monetary gift will assist with their ministry for the R2R programme (Road to Recovery ) which links individuals breaking free from addiction into local Church groups , women's groups which have started and hope to expand and a new addiction worker post commencing in January . Should you be eligible to gift aid , donation envelopes will be available from next weekend, as will HFG bank details if you wish to give directly through a bank transfer. Sort Code 08-92-99  Acc 65815722.You can note it is from Maxwell Mearns Castle Church.
Marlene Smith

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Ladybird Book of Maxwell