Worship and the Word
Major Richard Mingay, currently serving as the Commanding Officer of our Sutton Corps, was the guest speaker at last evening’s Holy Week meeting.
Major Richard Mingay
The evening began with a period of worship led by the Worship Band using three modern songs with the Easter theme.
L to R: Emma Davis, Adam Cotterill, David Lockwood & Matt Smith
Major Mingay chose as his subject ‘Love beyond Reason’ and confessed that he always came to Holy Week with a sense of inadequacy because of the Latin ‘Crux Probat Omnia’ (The Cross Tests Everything). Here are a few thoughts from Richard’s talk which began with scripture from John 3:14-21.
Light and dark was a big concept to the Greeks for whom John wrote his gospel. This passage talks about a father’s love beyond reason. We need to be proud of our children just as God was of Jesus. God still loves us even when we disobey Him. The way of love is to face life fairly, neutrally and together so that we have a deep respect for each other.
There is great strength in humility because it gives preference to others but this does not mean we have to be a doormat. We must be able to lovingly confront others when necessary.
Richard then referred to Ephesians 2:1-10 and said:
The church in Ephesus was drifting and Paul wanted it to “get real”. Love beyond reason means that we know our own worth. In modern society people are always trying to prove themselves. We must tell people they have value because they are individuals created by God to live in His Kingdom Story.
Love beyond reason also means giving yourself to life, not death and to right, not wrong, looking often beyond what we THINK we can see.
Let the cross be your measure!
The evening concluded with more songs led by the Worship Band