Sermons
Faith in action: words and works
Some Christians don’t like James’ letter, accusing it of claiming we are saved by our good deeds instead of through the death and resurrection of Jesus. But when James speaks about ‘works’, he’s not suggesting they save us; rather, he is saying they are the fruit of faith. He is saying: this is how people will know we are followers of Jesus, not only by what we profess (our words) but also by what we do (our works).
Faith in action: listening and doing
Since the 1st-century believers had no prior experience about living as followers of Jesus, they needed some guidance: What does faith in Jesus look like in everyday life? How does it make a practical difference in relationships with others? Two thousand years later, these remain relevant questions – and James’ letter to the first Christians is an excellent guide, still today.
When we meet together: the importance of prophecy
Some of us have had bad experiences of ‘prophecy’, so we might feel wary when we hear that Paul urged the Corinthians to ‘eagerly desire’ the spiritual gifts, ‘especially the gift of prophecy’. Usually prophecy is not new truth, such as what will happen in the future. More likely, it is a truth that needs to be said at a specific time at a specific place. Prophecy, properly used, is to strengthen, encourage and comfort the gathering of believers.
When we meet together: Love one another
How do you measure a church? By the number of worshippers? By its music or preaching? Community outreach and care? Growth? What about healing and miracles? Paul saw all these things in the early church, yet he said they were nothing (not something – nothing) without love. Power is nothing without love. Truth is nothing with love. It is love that will change the world, one person at a time.
I’ve had enough!
After a great spiritual high, Elijah sits under a broom tree complaining, ‘I’ve had enough; it’s all too hard’. Aren’t we the same? When everything is going great, it’s easy to forget God. As soon as something goes wrong, though, we head off to a broom tree to wallow in gloom and doom. But that place of utter desolation is often where God comes to us in a special, intimate way.
When we meet together: Unity in Diversity
When the devil tries to divide us, he often tries to convince us of one (or both) of two things: (1) that we aren’t necessary, or (2) that somebody else isn’t necessary. If you’ve ever felt that way, listen again to what Paul says about the body of Christ: even if we can’t see the body part, if we don’t know what it does or how it works, it is important, it is necessary. We each have a part to play. Every one of us belongs.
When we meet together: Spiritual gifts
What is essential when Christians meet together? You are likely to get as many answers to that question as there are Christians in the world! St Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians shines clear light on what the early Christians considered essential when they met together. It might surprise us that preaching wasn’t listed. Holy communion is there, and so is the practice of the spiritual gifts.
Life in the kingdom: Compassion
Jesus and the disciples were escaping for some desperately needed peace and quiet after an exhausting day. But on reaching the other side of the lake they were greeted by crowds of people clamouring after Jesus to heal them. Everyone would have understood if Jesus had asked the disciples to row away from all these demands. But Jesus just couldn’t do that. His heart broke for these people. It still breaks for us today.
Influencers
In the world of social media, ‘influencers’ are paid to promote their products. Long before anyone had even heard of social media influencers, Jesus called his disciples (and all his future disciples) to be influencers. Not to influence people to buy things, but to influence people to receive the free gifts of God. Even the smallest of acts, the simplest of words, can turn a person to Jesus.
Life in the Kingdom: doing what Jesus does
When Jesus tried to minister to people in his own hometown, he was amazed at their lack of faith, so he couldn’t perform many miracles there. Wouldn’t that be the worst possible time and place to send his disciples out to replicate his ministry? Yet that is exactly what Jesus did. It’s clear that Jesus’ definition of ‘being ready’ is not the same as ours!
