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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

Out of our depth

Caught up in God’s story (Luke 5.1-11).

Context

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne on 6 February 1952. No other monarch has reigned as long as she has, and probably no other monarch has seen the world change as much as she has.

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

Until her uncle abdicated, when she was just ten years old, the young Princess Elizabeth had no expectation of becoming sovereign. All that changed. And even though she now knew that it was very likely that one day she would become monarch, the death of her Father was sudden, and she did not expect to become Queen quite so soon. At the same time, Queen Elizabeth sees her role as a calling from God in whom she has a very deep faith; she sees it as service of God and her people, and it remains unchallenged that she has served faithfully.

In this context there is value in exploring our expectations. The disciples were experienced fishermen. They had worked hard. They were tired. But they had not been successful. Jesus called them to go out into the deep water. What did they expect to happen? Similarly, what were Princess Elizabeth’s expectations when she went to bed on 5 February 1952, and how were they different the next day?

Or, consider the changes the disciples saw as a result of following Jesus. They travelled away from home. They broke with families and traditions, and lived lives filled with experiences they never anticipated. Yet, faithfully, they carried on. The world has changed much since 1952. Many nations have gained independence since then. Travel has become easier (the Queen was the first ruling monarch to visit Australia and New Zealand). The Queen has continued to serve faithfully. The ways in which she serves may have changed but the gracious uncomplaining manner has not.

With God we can expect the unexpected! That is, we cannot anticipate the challenges that we will face, but we can be sure that we are called wisely – and although it may sometimes feel as if we are way out of our depth, God will see us through our part in God’s story.

 

Questions for discussion

• What do you think are the greatest challenges to which God is calling his people today?
• How do we experience God guiding us?
• What does it mean to you to be part of God’s story?

Rev Stuart Wild is the Superintendent Minister of the South Fylde Methodist Circuit in Lancashire.

 

Check-in

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

Out of our depth? 

On 6 February 1952, Elizabeth, a mum of two young children lost her dearly loved father. King George VI died while his daughter was travelling in East Africa and, at only 25 years of age, she was catapulted to the role of Queen! Although Elizabeth had known this was her future, she was unlikely to feel ready or prepared for it at that age. We can imagine that she would have felt out of her depth – coping with being thrust into the global limelight, along with a steep learning curve of how to be Queen – at a time of immense personal grief. This weekend the Queen becomes the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, after 70 years of service. It is an outstanding achievement – can you imagine working and having to keep to a busy schedule of engagements and discussions for 70 years!! A lifetime given in service.

In Luke’s passage we hear how Simon Peter, James and John were literally called out of their depth by Jesus, as he told them to take their boats to the deep water to cast their nets, after fishing all night to no avail. I wonder if you’ve ever organised something which went very differently to how you had hoped? Despite their reservations, the disciples trusted Jesus to try again and, in doing so, miraculously caught an enormous haul of fish!

Sometimes God calls us to do something that we feel ill-equipped to do. Queen Elizabeth has a strong Christian faith and speaks of how this faith strengthens her in her work. Spend some time praying and asking God how you can show his love to others. Be brave and ask God to bring the extraordinary out of your service.

Action: There are many events organised this year for the Jubilee, including street parties in June. You might like to ask your school or church group to get involved in The Queen’s Green Canopy, and plan to plant specific trees to combat climate change.

Dr Angela Mak is a Licensed Lay Minister in the Ecumenical Partnership of West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze. She is also a schools’ worker, and retired biology teacher.

 

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