Kiwi Chronicles: Monday Morning #wa2011 - Liveblog Scripture Engagement

The delegates trickle in - weary, tired, full of thoughts and prayers. By the looks of faces and the demeanour of people the prayer is for energy and pressing in to the end. Sabine Kalthoff comes to the front to welcome us this morning, she asks us to pray for Nigel Pollock who is unwell, "If you want Scottish humour here tomorrow morning, please pray."

Daniel is called to the microphone and asked to tell us how we can make the most of our last two days together. He tells of his first time at a Chinese restaurant when he ate a lot in the first few courses only to discover there were many more courses and the food got better and better with each course. He encourages us to keep ourselves from walking away from the feast of God's table because we are full, when the best food is yet to come. He also talks about how we will gather up two offerings - one today in support of the ministry of Agape, the student ministry of Cru (recently renamed Campus Crusade for Christ) as they are fellow workers in the student world, even though we do not agree on every area of strategy and implementation we are fellow workers; the second offering will be to express solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Francophone Africa for whom there were huge visa issues.

We come to lift our voices in praise. Maybe it is just me but the tiredness is almost palpable and in that tiredness there is a stillness before God. We are encouraged to think about the cross, to find the power of the cross in everything we do today.

A brother from Sierra Leone Fellowship of Evangelical Students stands at the lectern and speaks of the way in which young graduates give one to three years in order to serve in rural communities. Three young men set off without all their costs raised. They went to Bond Island and contributed greatly - developing young people to the point of 5 going to university, they lead worship, contributed to church, the local mayor gave his life to the Lord, church attendance increased, the impact on the community was huge. A campus that was closed to the work became open and alive again. There are many requests for more such missionaries throughout Sierra Leone.

A member of staff tells us about a student in an Asian nation under Islam became a speaker of truth on campus. He thought he was not important as he was often ignored in his family. He participated in student ministry. He was satisfied by what he did and not disturbed by what was going on campus and in society. Through a period of unrest at the universities he became aware of the student power and influence. He eventually was elected to student senate - to oppose corrupt lecturers and corrupt admin staff. He had to oppose the campus authorities through fear and courage under threats. He has to choose to work against his own lack of confidence because student ministry has changed him to be able to express thoughts and demonstrate diplomacy.

Sabine - we will look at Philippians 2 and in a meditative approach and will respond in sung worship. Let us expect that God will speak to each one of us this morning.

Annette Arulrajah from Malaysia comes to lead our reflection.

"Come and move, Holy Spirit, and open your Scriptures to us." We will listen to a drama presentation and to gaze upon God's Word. There will be two minutes of silence between each of the drama's. We are invited to come and engage with God.

A song plays - telling the story of the crucifixion: the Via Dolorosa as the camera focuses on the cross that is centre stage this morning.

Students come and read Philippians 2.

¹ Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing   by taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,   he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,   in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,   to the glory of God the Father.

Silence fills the auditorium for two minutes. The passages is read again by two members of InterVarsity staff from the USA. It is great to have the passage read by different people in different ways.

Silence again comes across the auditorium as we consider the humanity of Jesus and his divinity expressed in humility.

Annette comes to the lectern:

We have reflected upon passages of vision about the Lord Jesus Christ. We are given visions to comfort and provoke us. We are called to worship in and out of our comfort zones. We are challenged to become a new race under the cornerstone of Christ. We are called to look at Christ, in the words of a hymn which takes on the depth of theological reflection on Christ's servanthood. Called to an new humanity, called to Christ's humility, to see the great exchange - God next to us.

Recently the challenge to participate in the demonstrations for a clean elections. Also a challenge from a student who sought grace and transformed her from a broken life.

God loves the unloveable, transforms the unchangable. Jesus chooses a pathway of humility and so we are changed. The name conveys the character of people: let us worship Him in our lives.

Forbid it Lord,

that I should boast

Save in the death of Christ, my God,

All the vain things that charm me most

I sacrifice them to His blood.

We pray together the prayer of the litany of humility:

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being loved... Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being extolled ... Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being honored ... Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being praised ... Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being preferred to others... Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being consulted ... Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being approved ... Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being humiliated ... Deliver me, Jesus.

Fromthe fear of being despised... Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of suffering rebukes ... Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being calumniated ... Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being forgotten ... Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being ridiculed ... Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being wronged ... Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being suspected ... Deliver me, Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I,