Talks, Sermons and Reflections

Luke 1:46-55 I love Lord of the Rings. But for those who have read it you will be aware that in between the story bits there are poem bits. They weren’t in the film, and I have to confess that when I read it, I skim them. Which is a bit of a shame, because they are actually quite important. Today we come to one of the songs that Luke records in his story of Jesus. It is the song of Mary. Some people say that Mary could never have said these words: ‘They’re too profound for a peasant girl’. But actually the song of Mary is very similar to another song in the bible sung by a woman who had been barren, and despised, but who had, against all the odds, given birth. And Mary would have known that song (we can find it in 1 Samuel 2: it is the song of Hannah), and she would have reflected on it and, over time, spoken these words. And Luke records this song because it is actually quite important. In it, Mary tells us about God and about what God is doing. 1. Mary tells us about God who is h...

Mark 7:24-30 We’re looking today at one of the more surprising incidents that is recorded in the gospels. It is in fact quite shocking to us in our very politically correct society. Jesus calls a Gentile a dog. Some of the commentators try to take the edge off it by saying that Jesus means cute, fluffy little dog. Others say that he said it with a twinkle in his eye. But those explanations don’t wash. He says, in reply to the woman’s request that he cast the unclean spirit from her daughter, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs’. How would you react if Jesus called you a dog? How would you react if people of your race were described as dogs by another people? It is an absolutely outrageous thing to say: that people who are not like you are dogs Unless of course, in one exceptional case, it is true. We have here a woman who is desperate. Her daughter is beyond help. She is not sick. Mark knows the difference between sickness and possession by...

Mark 1:14-20 Jesus says, ‘The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news’. He goes on to say, ‘Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men’ There are three calls here. The call to listen We are called to listen to what Jesus has to say.   And the reason that we are to listen to Jesus, according to Mark, is because of who he is. He is the Son of God. Mark’s gospel begins with those amazing words, ‘The beginning of the gospel (good news) about Jesus Christ, the Son of God’; You cannot get more a dramatic opening than that. And Mark claims that Jesus is the one promised by Isaiah and the OT prophets. The whole of the OT points to him. He is the Christ, the Messiah, the one chosen by God to be his ruler in his world; John the Baptist pointed to him, and said that he was the one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit; The voice from heaven tells us that he is the one who is uniquely beloved of God; He is the one who has been in the desert with wild animals –...

1 Samuel 1:1-20 Story of Samuel: the last judge of Israel and king-maker Samuel is a book of contrasts: Judges - Kings two judges: Eli and Samuel two kings: Saul and David Here we see a contrast: two women - two rivals: Peninnah and Hannah Hannah beloved of her husband, but barren Peninnah, less favourite of the wives, but fertile. And Peninnah was going to use this against her rival. She ‘kept provoking her in order to irritate her’. ‘She provoked her until she wept’ And Peninnah had hit Hannah’s raw nerve. A woman’s identity and value in society was dependent on her children. A barren woman was a failure, a nobody. I’m conscious that even in today’s society there is still a deep subconscious assumption that an infertile woman is only half a woman, just as an impotent man is only half a man. That is still thought to be true even though many women are making the choice not to have children. Infertility still does carry some kind of personal and social stigma, to say nothing of...

Matthew 27:45-54 Show pictures of some separating walls and ask people which countries they come from.  Could include: Jerusalem , Great wall of China , Berlin wall, wall in Northern Ireland , Mexican/Texan border, Korea etc. .  The greatest and most serious walls/divide ever was in Jerusalem . It was not between people and people, but between people and God. It was not a wall, but a curtain. It was the curtain in the temple, which separated the Holy of Holies (the place of God) from the people. Bring out three adults to form a barrier. If appropriate ask if there are any children who would like to try and break through the barrier. Have a controlled mini rugby match!   This barrier completely separated human beings from God It was put there by human beings: we reject God. We ignore God. We live without reference to God. And if we believe in God, we believe in a God who exists to help us. That is what sin is. But it was also put th...