Last weekend saw our first services as a church back in St.Edward’s School Chapel and Summertown Hall in order to create space for our building project. I missed them as I was having a thoroughly enjoyable time with Magdalen Road Church on their weekend away. It was lovely to see the south coast again (although it was slightly embarrassing to forget where I parked my car prior to a Sunday afternoon coastal walk leading to a 45 minute search in the rain…) and great to be at Moorlands again where we had such an enjoyable church weekend in June. The warmth of the fellowship with those there was striking- I was greatly encouraged by the number of people who wanted to engage with the themes of the talks afterwards. And the singing and music were excellent- it was a particular joy to sing the last verse of And Can it Be (Jesus and all in him is mine; Alive in him my living Head) after a weekend looking at being united with Jesus.

I was speaking on union with Christ- as I did to Marston Neighbourhood Church last year. I love being asked to speak on this topic- as I am convinced that it is under appreciated, hugely encouraging and vital for understanding the nature of the Christian life. You can listen to the talks here.

A lot of the material I’ve taught before elsewhere- though the talk on John 15 is new. I enjoyed being able to repeat some of my favourite quotes with Hudson Taylor’s “Think of it- can Christ be rich and I poor?” always being a particular encouragement. I did have two new thoughts though in connection with the theme:

1. The importance of faith. Occasionally those listening to me on this theme have been exasperated. They have made comments along these lines- “What do you mean Jesus could not be closer to me? It certainly doesn’t feel like it…” I can sympathise- I’ve known feelings like that as well. The result is that the doctrine of union with Christ can feel abstract or slightly unreal. In reflecting on that problem I’ve realised that the antidote is faith. The essence of the Christian life is taking Jesus at his word. So when he says to the disciples on the night before he died “I in you” (at least three times) we are to believe that really is our present condition. It is only as we consciously exercise faith that we grasp this glorious reality and learn to live joyfully in the light of it.

2. The importance of memory. One of my new quotes for the weekend came from Paul Tripp. From his experience in Christian counselling he spoke about the dangers of “identity amnesia.” That’s to say-we forget that we are united with Jesus in his death and resurrection and so dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. The result is that we adapt sub-biblical views of the Christian life seeing it purely in terms of activities and duties or as living down here for Jesus up there. We consciously need to recall each day that we am locked together with Jesus forever. Speaking on the theme again refreshed my memory- and I am very thankful for that.