Explore & respond

•    What do we mean when we say ‘church’? People who meet up in a religious building? A community of people who try to follow Jesus’ example in their daily life? Something else? How does our understanding of the word influence and shape what we do as ‘church’ in our local context?
  
  
• The words ‘against you’ (NRSV) in verse 15 are not present in many ancient Bible manuscripts. Who decides what sin is? Is it something personal or communal? Can it be ‘against you’ or is it always and only ‘against God’? Is it about conforming to the normative behaviour with ‘the church’ or something broader? How does our church view dissenters? Or questioners/doubters? Is the first interaction mentioned in the reading an invitation to listen to the one who is not conforming in order to understand their perspective (rather than promoting ‘our’ particular viewpoint and scapegoating those who don’t share it)?
  
  
•   The second meeting advocated in the reading is to be with a few church members. Might this be an invitation for the ‘non-conforming person’ to meet with a support group to help them through their issue? We might think, for example, of Alcoholics Anonymous, debt counselling, drug or gambling addiction groups. What others come to mind, or would it be good to consider
  
  
• Confront the behaviour that is against the values of the community, because if you don’t, it will pull the community apart. How can we do this in a loving, compassionate way? And what about the positive side: how can we encourage and promote healthy behaviour?
  
  
•   John Wesley said, ‘The world is my parish.’ Perhaps we should be thinking well beyond the local when reflecting on this Gospel reading, and well beyond the individual. What are the great sins in today’s world? Not looking after the poor? Not caring for the planet in the way we live? What would we highlight, and why?
  
  
•   To treat people as a Gentile or tax collector (v.17) seems ironic in this reading, because it is clear that Jesus had a bias for the outcasts of his community, and preferred to mix with the people on the fringes of society – especially those who were outcasts because of religious rules. So, what does it mean here? In some safeguarding cases strict exclusion might be necessary for the good of the community, or some members of it. But in other situations, a relationship should be developed and maintained with the ‘other’ person. Much can be learnt and gained through these relationships – about other people’s perspectives on life, about our own behaviours, and about God.

• Notes on Romans 13.8-14

You may also find this week's All-age conversation useful.

You could finish your sermon with a call to action for everyone this week - see the Live your faith idea.

KEY:  icon indicates ways to connect faith with everyday life

He had read the guidebooks and planned his route carefully. During the walk, as he prepared to climb the stile to enter a field, he met a woman walking the other way. She advised him not to cross the field because there had been a storm the previous night and the field was extra boggy. But, instead of heeding her advice, the man walked through the field, and sure enough he got stuck in the bog.

Sometimes when we are walking the wrong way, we need to listen to advice from those who have walked the path before us!

Ask if anyone has changed their behaviour as a result of what someone said to them, and is willing to share the story. You could present this as an interview with questions such as:

• What were the circumstances?
• What did you learn?
• What difference has it made to you?

What if someone tells us we have done/said something wrong, and we don’t agree – how do we react then? What might help us to decide whether something is right or wrong, or just a different way of seeing or doing? Can we – do we – welcome and work with those who see things differently from the way we do - people who believe different things, who behave differently?

You may also find this week's Sermon ideas useful.

Make the arms wrap loosely around the body (a ‘self hug’). Read A prayer of confession (or another suitable prayer that mentions how doing wrong cuts us off from God and one another). After words of forgiveness, invite people to unwrap the arms of their pipe-cleaner person, and to bring the figure to the front to join with all the others in making a big circle that symbolises a diverse but united community. Sing ‘Bind us together, Lord’.
E S

Gathered groups: prepare kit for individuals/household groups 72 hrs in advance; only join together figures made by the same household group, otherwise hold them up, and listen to the hymn.

Community tree

Make a bare tree

Bind together some small branches or twigs to make a tree (or you could use a manufactured one), and prepare a quantity of paper leaves. You will also need string, sticky tape, scissors and pens. Invite people to take one or more leaves and to write on each leaf one quality that helps to build a healthy community. Use the string and tape to hang the leaves on the tree.
E S A

Gathered groups: prepare kit for individuals/household groups 72 hrs in advance.

More than one perspective

Make two jigsaws

Distribute pieces of at least two simple children’s jigsaws that have similar-sized pieces. Invite people to ‘make the jigsaw’ – without telling them that there is more than one picture to be made. This should cause a lot of discussion. Encourage a discussion about diversity – that not everyone’s picture of the world will be the same, but we need to listen to one another.
W E

Gathered groups: the leader or another volunteer could demonstrate this. 

Spread the prayers

Research and write a prayer

Collect leaflets, or do an internet search for information, about local support groups. Display them on a table, together with sticky notes and pens. Invite people to choose a group that they would like to pray for. Encourage people to write a brief prayer for those who attend their chosen group, and to stick the prayer on a prayer wall or board.
W E A

Spiritual styles (as defined by David Csinos)
W Word E Emotion S Symbol A Action
Read our Spiritual Styles articles 

Minister: (enters and addresses the audience) Good morning everyone. Just one notice today. As you know by now, for the last twenty years, the church development committee has been meeting to look at the redevelopment of the church. Tomorrow night, we are holding an open meeting for anyone to come and share their ideas about the redevelopment. Refreshments will be served from 7.00, for a prompt start at 7.30. Thank you. (walks off)

Minister: (enters carrying rolled-up plans and address the audience) Welcome to tonight’s open meeting. I said we would start prompt at 7.30, so off we go. In my hand I have the most up-to-date plans for the development of the church which, in broad brush strokes, means moving a few chairs around, replacing a few signs, and of course a fresh lick of paint. I also note that we won’t be moving Mabel’s chair so don’t worry about that. So, does anyone here have any further ideas they think we should incorporate?

Builder: (enters carrying their implement and addresses the audience.) I have had a good look round the building, and I think with my expert help – and of course my low-cost assistance! – we could certainly redevelop this space in some significant ways. We could add in a partition here, a little jacuzzi-cum-baptism pool, a couple of showers down the aisles, a soundproof creche, some lovely double glazing in place of those stained windows and, don’t worry Mabel, we will leave your seat just where it is. (walks off)

Minister: (steps back to the front) Certainly, some interesting ideas. Anyone else?

Barista: (carrying their coffee cup and addresses the audience) Now, what I think this church really needs to really enhance it is coffee. Just imagine sitting in church on a Sunday morning and, in your hands, you have a venti mocha chai latte, with soymilk, sugar-free syrup, a dash of lime, and of course the obligatory latte art of an ichthus on the top. That is what will bring people into this church. Did you know that only 50% of the shops out there on the high street are coffee shops, the church would really be fulfilling a need in the community? (walks off)

Minister: (steps back to the front) Some very interesting ideas. Anyone else?

Worship leader: (enters carrying their guitar and addresses the audience) I am all for the jacuzzi and latte on a Sunday morning, but I think we have been missing a really important piece of the puzzle. What this church really needs is a revolving central stage area, a dry ice machine, some laser lights, some blackout curtains over those windows, and then and only then will we truly be able to enter into the presence of the Lord on a Sunday morning. People will come flocking through those doors to hear the majestic sounds offered through our new surround-sound systems. (walks off)

Minister: (steps back to the front) More interesting ideas. Anyone else?

Young person: (enters carrying their bible and addresses the audience) I have to say, I love all those ideas, but I am not sure that is what will bring my friends into this church. I have been having a read, and I found that what church really needs to be able to thrive, is to be community, a place of support, love and encouragement, with the odd challenge thrown in too. I just want people to be there, to walk through life with me and to help me develop my faith, not my surroundings. I wonder what we think about when we think of church. Is it the building? Or is it the people?

Minister: Hmm, a very good point indeed. (Minister and young person leave together, chatting)