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Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues
A life transformed
A man’s encounter with Jesus completely transforms him. (Luke 8:35)
Context
The bombardment of Severodonetsk - in the Donbas region - appears to have reached a critical stage.
The flight of asylum seekers to Rwanda is cancelled and so ministers prepare an appeal.
A 17th century English manor house has been disassembled and is now on pallets awaiting re-assembly has been put up for sale
Ideas for sermons or interactive talks
One of the most striking aspects of the gospel passage is the change brought about in the man. At the beginning he is ranting incoherently, wearing no clothes, dirty and probably smelly. Then he encounters Jesus. However we explain what Jesus did (casting out demons, healing etc), the encounter results in a transformation. By the end of the passage he is washed and clothed and sitting quietly listening to Jesus.
The picture which the news paints of Ukrainian cities such as Severodonetsk is bleak. The effect of the bombardment has been dirt and dust; buildings are not what they should be. Is there an analogy here with the man? If we make the analogy it will shape our prayers with hope that the encounter with Jesus will result in the restoration of Severodonetsk to what was intended in the way that the man is restored to what God intended him to be.
The unfolding story of the government policy of sending refugees to Rwanda reveals a deep division between supporters and opponents. Sometimes one side simply has to give way. There is a division of feeling in the gospel passage between those rejoicing at the demoniac’s healing and the pig farmers who have lost their animals. This can be seen as a friction between health and economics. In the same way the debate concerning the refugees can be seen as the plight of a few individuals against the greater good. Jesus comes down in favour of health and wholeness and his actions support one individual. Where would Jesus stand in this debate and how can his contemporary disciples stand alongside him?
What would you do if you were given a 17th century house taken apart and placed on pallets? Would you attempt to restore it or simply give up? How would you describe the pallets and their contents? Would you see a house or simply a pile of old rubbish? It is worth reflecting what Jesus saw when he met the Gerasene demoniac and whether that was the same as what others saw? It appears that he saw the image of God whereas others simply saw a raving dirty odd person. What changed to make the man the person we read of in Luke 8:35? Is that what Jesus saw on his first encounter? What do we see when we look at people who are different?
Questions for discussion
What transformation would you pray for Jesus to make in our world?
How do you think the man who was transformed felt?
Has your encounter with Jesus transformed you?
Rev Stuart Wild is a Methodist minister serving in Lancashire.
Check-in
Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people
This week tens of thousands of protesters rallied across the US for stricter gun laws following the tragic Uvalde school shooting. A Senator group said families were scared for the safety of their children and communities. People responded to fear by positive, collaborative action: they chose to actively campaign which will hopefully lead to tougher gun legislation.
The passage in Luke 8.26-39 mentions fear several times. Jesus dramatically heals a man in torment. But the people who saw the man’s transformation and others in the locality were frightened, and asked Jesus to leave. Fear is a strong emotion and can prompt avoidance. We can miss the presence and peace of Jesus.
The most common command in the Bible is ‘Do not fear’. Surely appropriate fear may help protect someone in dangerous circumstances. But most fears are excessive or unfounded, resulting from perceived danger or even from a situation feeling out of our control. Imagine a frightened young child who thinks they are lost; Mum or Dad passionately wants to comfort them. And our Father God does not want us afraid. We can pray for healing from anxiety and fear, right in the moment we are aware of it.
Is there anything in the news that is particularly worrying you at the moment? Do examinations cause you anxiety? It can help to talk to your family or church group, and to share any anxieties together. Pray for each other. Fear can hold us back from being people of peace, love and joy. Jesus desires peace for us and we can pray for our healing from fear, but also for the situation that is related to it.
Action: You’ve Got Mail: write a letter to God talking about your fear or anxiety and how it feels. Ask for healing for yourself, plus for the situation or people that are triggering your emotion. Keep it in an envelope to God. You may find it helpful to look back on, or to add other letters to.
Dr Angela Mak is a Licensed Lay Minister at Holy Trinity Shaw in the Ecumenical Partnership of West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze. She is also a schools worker, and retired biology teacher.
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