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Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues
Peace or sword
Those who lose their life for Jesus’ sake will find it (Matthew 10:39).
Context
- War in Ukraine drags on well into the second (or ninth if you count from the first Russian incursion in 2014) year with little sign of an early breakthrough. Ukraine is a huge country: apparently an area the size of the UK may be mined. Across the world largely unreported conflicts continue in places such as Sudan, Myanmar and the eastern DRC.
- In the UK, Parliament has accepted probably the most damning report the The Privileges Committee has ever produced, albeit with more than 40% of MPs (including the Prime Minister) abstaining.
- Inflation, especially of food prices, and the impact on housing costs caused by increases in interest rates designed to curb inflation, are probably the issues most concerning voters ahead of several key by elections and 18 months ahead of the last date for a General Election.
- Climate change continues apace with an ‘unheard of’ marine heatwave around Britain and Ireland and global sea surface temperatures in April and May reaching an all-time high according to records dating to 1850.
- Methodist readers in particular might like to recall that the British Methodist Conference is meeting this week in Birmingham and reflecting, among other issues, on a major report called ‘A justice-seeking Church’.
Ideas for sermons or interactive talks
Three times in today’s Gospel passage (vv. 26, 28 and 31), Jesus tells his hearers not to fear. Would he say that to us today in the face of war, of climate change, of political tensions? In these uncertain times, what is the significance of Jesus’ saying about taking up our cross? Or for that matter his enigmatic saying ‘Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it’ (v.39)?
Earlier in June I was at the Kirchentag, a huge gathering of Christians unparalleled in the UK. This year it was in Nürnberg, scene in the 1920s and 30s of huge Nazi party rallies and in 1945-46 of the trials of war criminals, trials which were the forerunner of today’s International Criminal Court. During the Kirchentag I heard, Maia Sandu, the President of Moldova, say ‘we must not allow war to become the new normal’. Yet, as we watch the news and read the papers, has it not become so? How does this relate to Jesus’ saying that he came to bring not peace but a sword?
During another Kirchentag event I heard a pastor from Fiji speak of the ocean turning from source of life to source of death. He spoke further of the way in which international commitments are being weakened or simply ignored. He described offers of aid from countries which have caused the problem as being like the infamous 30 pieces of silver; pacific countries need a just transition path out of fossil fuels not just ‘polluter pays’ cash. Christians, he argued, are in the business of conversion; but he asked: "Is a German life more valuable than a Ugandan life, a pacific island life or a Bangladeshi life?"
There are in today’s Gospel passage clear challenges which come down through the generations. We are called to take up the cross (v38) and the passage ends with the promise that those who lose their life for Jesus’ sake will find it (v39). What do these challenges mean in the 21st century of the Christian era?
Questions for discussion
- Jesus says, ‘Do not be afraid’ (Matthew 10:31); what might be the things about which Jesus would today say ‘do not fear’? War? Or climate change? Or justice? If each of us is of more value than many sparrows, what are the lessons for us in this generation?
- Do we act as though we believe that we (in the western world) are worth more sparrows than lives in places, like most pacific islands, where climate change is already having profound impacts?
- In a world impacted by wars in many places, what do we make of Jesus’ saying that he came to bring not peace but a sword?
Dudley Coates is a local preacher in the Yeovil and Blackmore Vale Methodist Circuit and a former Vice President of the Methodist Conference.
Check-in
Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people
At a recent service we had two speakers from the Christian Police Association. They talked about their work and the challenges with which they were faced. I guess if we think about it, we are all aware of some of the dangers and difficulties that neighbourhood officers face but I had never considered challenges unique to Christians in the police force. Colleagues had commented on the language of one of our guests. They did not complain that he swore too little but rather they noticed that he did not swear at all. Our other guest had to stand up for what he believed in even though his views were unpopular.
When I asked them what we could do to help and support them, the immediate answer was: "Pray for us.". In Matthew 10:32 Jesus makes clear the importance of fearlessly acknowledging him. It is not just in churches and places of worship that the love of God is proclaimed. Nor is it only by preachers and leaders. Many people witness to Jesus’ power and love in their everyday life, sometimes in challenging circumstances. The challenge is to all of us to pray that they may know the strength and comfort of God’s love to enable them to be faithful disciples.
Revd Stuart Wild is the Superintendent Minister of the Blackpool and South Fylde Methodist Circuit.
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