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In touch

Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues.

For the common good

We are asked not to serve our own ambition or our greed but to lay down our lives for others just as Jesus laid down his life for us (John 10.11-18).

Context

  • This has been a week of powerful news stories into which words from this week's readings shine a searing light. The beautiful game was riven with scandalised outrage as six clubs attempted entry into a European Super league and stood to benefit by millions of pounds. This has now collapsed as the ‘big six’ pulled out following widespread protest from fans, MPs, the Prime Minister, the public and more. In spite of widespread condemnation of the move, there has been little contrition and hardly any apology. The real question is why were we surprised that we have arrived here after years of profit-led management rather than management to further the grass roots game? Was Boris Johnson’s intervention indicative of genuine concern for the grass roots game or merely a self-serving political move aimed at his red wall seats?
  • This story was running alongside the arguments over contracts for PPE. Accusations of Government sleaze and cronyism must make us ask the long term questions about who owns our economy and for whom it works. Boris Johnson was under fire in Prime Minister’s Questions about his response over another lobbying scandal concerning tax arrangements when he promised James Dyson he would ‘fix it’.

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

  • It is interesting to observe that the big crisis moment in football has often been years in the making. It is a result of a long-standing arrangement whereby national assets are sold off, privatised and run on a for-profit basis. Few of us now know who owns the public spaces in which we walk about in our towns and cities. A small number of people own the largest sums of wealth in this country. These are big canvas issues but they affect the fabric of the society in which we live which now has tears in it. How can we begin to mend our common life? Where is the church in this debate and in encouraging urgency in dealing with it?
  • As some emergence from Covid changes the shape of our lives again, the issue of how the existing inequalities in our society allowed for worse impacts to be experienced by those least able to cope needs urgent action. Given God’s prioritising of the poor, what is the challenge to us?
  • As we hear the word of God each Sunday and as we look at events in our world, we are called to stand in the gap between and ask the difficult questions and then to make the difficult choices: to ‘love in truth and action’ (I John 3.18). Our small choices matter and feed into a long-term narrative and seemingly entrenched behaviours and practices. The point at which we need to stand up and be counted is always hard to judge and we find ourselves so often erring on the side of caution or even making excuses for ourselves until it is too late. How do we avoid being caught on the wrong side of history? Is it possible that we should stand up and be counted a lot earlier before behaviours have been normalised?
  • Picture yourself in the place of the Shepherd in the Gospel reading - shepherding is no easy task. The sheep are difficult; the dangers are many; the hours are long and the pay is poor. On top of that the weather is unpredictable, the life takes everything out of you and you are often lonely. if we are honest I guess all of us would immediately want to run away rather than find ourselves facing impossibly demanding situations or realising we are at risk. It is not about us in the end - we are the person standing in the gap with a choice to make. As James Rebanks writes in his book A Shepherd’s Life, ‘it’s all about the sheep.’
  • We shouldn’t be under any illusions about life in community either. The people are difficult; the demands excessive; the hours long and yes sometimes the pay is poor or non existent. Jesus knew he would be let down by the wavering, the wobbling and the wandering - by us in short. Living and working with the disciples was a living demonstration of human potential and human failings. The New Testament letters are full of advice on behaviour and community life for the Early Church. When it works we might say see how they love one another - but let’s not forget the cost of that love and the ongoing commitment required from us to build the kingdom with the living stones of our lives.
  • If we are fortunate to know anyone who stands out in our lives as an example of someone who lived their life for others we have an insight into how they became that kind of person. We learn it by reading about it yes but we learn it best when we see it being lived. It places a huge responsibility on adults in church to be good role models and on leaders to model leadership that is genuinely servant leadership.
  • Who does our church community serve and how do we serve them? It is frequently said that the church exists for those who do not belong. Does love for those not of the fold occupy most of our time and commitment and our agendas? This week’s readings ask us to look at the examples in the news of failed priorities but we should perhaps also take time to look at our own motivations and renew our commitment to serve others - offering our gifts, our time and even our money for the common good.

Questions for discussion

  • Who are the people you think demonstrate servant leadership? (There may be well-known people who do this but we may have seen aspects of servant leadership closer to home).
  • How should we respond when our national leaders behave like hired hands rather than as leaders with a genuine desire to serve the needs of the people?
  • The super league story has illustrated just how many of our national assets are owned by billionaires and managed for profit. When does profit start to damage the needs of people and where is the dividing line between making a profit and greed? It is another illustration of the inequalities that surround us. It is also an illustration of the power of protest. How can we as Church support Christians who seek to put faith into action by directly challenging issues of inequality?

Diane Craven is a freelance education and spirituality consultant and a Reader in the Church of England.

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people.

This week, we have seen former U.S. police officer Derek Chauvin convicted of the murder of George Floyd. George Floyd was an African American who was stopped by the police after allegedly trying to use a fake bank note in a shop. One of the police officers, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck and back for 9 minutes and 29 seconds in order to detain him. After Floyd’s death, there was widespread outrage and protest over police brutality towards people of colour, reigniting the Black Lives Matter movement that had started in 2013. Chauvin is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison.

In this week’s passage, we see Jesus describe himself as the Good Shepherd: one who gathers his flock together, creating community, safety and provision. It’s clear that all are welcomed into Jesus’ flock and each one is known personally. Jesus makes it clear that he’s prepared to lay down his life for the flock. How do you experience the glaring differences between the way that human beings treat one another badly because of their colour, and the way that the Good Shepherd treats his flock?

Have a look at the icon ‘Mama’ which was created in response to the murder of George Floyd, during which he repeatedly called out “Mama” as he took his last breaths. How do you respond to this picture?

As you get back into the rhythm of life after the Easter break, in what ways can you be more invested in creating community, safety and equality for everyone?

Jenny Cheung is a choir nut and missional pioneer (www.thevoiceprojectscotland.co.uk) and mum to three teenagers.

 

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