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Weekly Sermons from St. Jude's Anglican Church in Huntersville, NC
51 Episodes
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Longing. We have a longing for community, proximity, peace, blessedness and righteousness. And our experience in this world, on account the evil in her that flows from our own hearts also, reminds us that if we do have it here, it is in small portions and temporal. Zechariah's prophecy speaks to this longing. And Jesus Christ satisfies it. This sermon was preached on the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany at St Jude's Anglican Church in Huntersville.
This is an audio recording of my article in the first newsletter of the year, concerning the Epiphany of Jesus Christ as Savior of the world. This feast is held yearly on Jan 6th according to western Christian tradition.
This recording concludes our lectures and discussion on the Book of Revelation. Join us for reading of the final chapters followed by a brief lecture and some Q&A (which always seem to come back to the relationship between faith and works :).
Seasons such as Advent are pedagogical, they teach us by relating our liturgical life and language to the longings of our hearts. Having begun the story afresh we begin with preparation; making ready for the coming of the Lord.
In accordance with our teaching and preaching over the last few months, we encounter readings from Daniel and Revelation that conclude the Church's liturgical retelling of the Christian story with Christ the King Sunday. Here we exalt the King of kings and Lord of lord's. We dream of his reign and fan into flame a longing for his appearing in our hearts.
We are quickly approaching the end of our lectures from Dr Nerness on the book of Revelation. Listen in as we dive deeper in the imagery found not only in these chapters of Revelation but in other apocalyptic works in the Word of God.
The lectionary for Nov 14th encouraged me to speed up the process a bit. That and the eve of the Advent season compel me to conclude our series on Daniel. While Daniel chapter 12 would be a series in itself we are able to glean timeless truths upon which to hang our hope.
This week we took a brief pause to cement the foundations of God as creator, and creation as inherently good, in accordance with the nature assigned to all things and beings at creation.. This is important because the work of evil, as seen in the beasts of the book of Revelation, is to, by way of deception, claim God's power for themselves. This quickly leads to violence and ruin as it did in Genesis 6 and 11. And the way the beasts in Revelation do this is by blurring the creator / creature distinction. Therefore a return to the foundations laid at creation, in accordance with the creation account in Genesis, is rather helpful as we come to the home stretch of John's Apocalypse in the weeks to come.
I've been eager to get to this chapter. We would do well to dwell long in it. My imagination has Daniel, living still in Babylon, turning to face the East, to Jerusalem. There he would picture the former glory of the Temple of God in the city of Jerusalem. And he would pray as Solomon foretold, as Moses prescribed. For Israel was suffering the curses that came with breaking their covenant with God Almighty. And now that history was unfolding before Daniel's eyes in accordance with the word of the prophets, he was all the more eager to fast, pray, read and yearn for the fulfillment of God's promises, a return of the remnant and therefore the favor of God. Hear what happens when the people of God humble themselves, repent and seek the Lord!
Today we read and discuss Revelation chapters twelve through fourteen. Join Dr John Nerness and the Rev Clay W Thompson for thoughtful reading and discussion of these vivid chapters from St John's Apocalypse.
Has God forgotten to be gracious, asks the Psalmist (77:9a)? Will His people remain in exile until the nation shrivels up and dies? Will Jerusalem remain impoverished and abandoned? In times of intense suffering we cannot help but wonder if God has forgotten us, or worse, abandoned us. The question of 'how long' is on Daniel's mind, I believe. Having seen such horrific visions of terrifying beasts, he cannot help but ask about the stone that would crush these kingdoms (ch 2). When will this Son of Man establish His reign (ch 7)? Listen in , for hope in exile! This sermon was preached by the Rev Clay Thompson on Sunday, October 24th, 2021.
Join us for the fifth lecture on the book of Revelation by Dr John Nerness!
Certain periods of history make you wonder, "how is this part of God's will"? Or to rephrase, "where is God when evil reigns". God is reigning still, is the answer, even when we don't understand the purpose of his will. The reign of Nebuchadnezzar, and later of Belshazzar, evil, arrogant and destructive, were part of the mysterious will of God. Babylon was an instrument of divine judgment and later recipient of the same. And all these things were in accordance with the will of God in the work of redemption. Daniel is a treasure trove of assurance for those who put their faith in God, that His reign is ultimate and His work of redemption undeterred.
Continuing a lecture series on the book of Revelation, Dr Nerness picks up with chapters 6&7. In this lecture an emphasis is placed on the simultaneous movements of evil kings and kingdoms within the earth and the sovereign, providential work of God according to the plan of redemption from His throne, which is above every rule, dominion and authority (Eph 1:21). The imagery within the revelations given to John is best understood by similar imagery echoing throughout the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. Join Dr Nerness as we read the words of the revelation to John.
This week we hear perhaps the most memorable narratives from the book of Daniel; the fiery furnace and the lion's den. These stories serve as guideposts for life in exile, first for the Israelites in Babylon and the general diaspora, and then for the Church, the consummation of Israel. May we be encouraged by the firm faith of the saints in exile!
This lecture begins with two readings; one from Daniel chapter seven and another from Revelation chapters four and five. The themes that correspond within these chapters help us rightly interpret the visions. And not only these visions, but also those found in Ezekiel, chapter one and Isaiah, chapter 6. Join Dr John Nerness as we enter through an opened door to the heavens, that which was opened through the person and work of Jesus Christ, that we might rest assured in the reign of the King of kings.
This sermon, beginning with Daniel, chapter 2, extends to an overview of the structure of chapters 2 through 7. Israel is suffering in exile and wandering in despair. Yet through the recorded history and visions of the prophet Daniel, she is renewed in repentance, and thus, hope!
The second lecture on the book of Revelation by Dr John Nerness focuses on the seven letters to the Churches. The goal is to give an overview of the letter, allowing themes to surface as we listen to the letter (Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near).
By the waters of Babylon they wept for Zion. It was a 700 mile journey from Jerusalem to Babylon. Their captors tormented them with taunts and humiliation. Where is God in all of this? He is with Daniel and his three friends, who choose to believe in the promises of God for the people of God through obedience to His commands. This is the setting in the first chapter of the book of Daniel and it sets the stage for all that God has purposed for His people in exile; a word for the world and the Church, all in the remarkable book of Daniel.
We are excited to read and study the book of Revelation. Dr John Nerness will lecture on the book over the next few months on Tuesday nights. This is the first lecture. If you are interested in being a part of the live zoom recording, please email me at clay.wadlington.thompson@gmail.com. We are glad you are tuning in!
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