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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

 

Encouragement or challenge

Might wisdom (Colossians 1:9) and compassion (Luke 10:33) join hands?

 

Context

In this troubled and troubling world, it is hard to know which troubles are the most significant. Unexpected floods in Texas? Yet another possible ceasefire in Gaza? Confusion over ongoing US trade war threats? Ongoing forgotten conflicts elsewhere like those in Myanmar and Haiti? Given that there is another heat-wave forecast for this weekend, were you at the Mass Lobby for Climate Justice last Wednesday? What about the first report from the inquiry into the Post Office Horizon IT system? Perhaps you prefer to be gripped by Wimbledon or the women’s Euros?

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

This week Roots focuses on Paul’s encouraging words to to the Christians at Colossae and the gospel reading is the very familiar (perhaps over familiar?) story we call the Good Samaritan.

In his letter to the church at Colossae, Paul prays that they ‘may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding’ (v9). Wisdom is often in short supply both in our wider society and in the church. Too often we are offered opinion rather than wisdom. Sadly there is also a significant level of dishonesty in our media and in our politics. Dishonesty is corrosive. Paul’s words challenge us not just to apply wisdom in our own lives but also to challenge our politicians to act wisely and our media to help us to understand what is and is not true. Where is wisdom and understanding to be found in all the complex and troubling issues across the world such as those mentioned above?

The Good Samaritan is a story told as a teaching aid; there is no claim that this person is real. The hero is presented as a no-nonsense individual who sees beyond conventions, rituals and potential dangers, to provide the necessary help. For the Samaritan, this scenario has nothing to do with self-interest. The Samaritan could easily, like the others, have shaken his head in pseudo sympathy, perhaps even saying a prayer, and continued on his way. However, Jesus says he was moved with compassion, went out of his way to help, and used things at his disposal (resources and time) to make a difference to an injured person. Compassion, or empathy, are central to the Christian message. I find it deeply disturbing that the world’s richest man thinks that empathy is a problem, not a solution. When it comes to complex and fraught matters where judgement, integrity and wisdom are required, Jesus is still telling us to ‘go and do likewise’, or, to put it another way, do the right thing by other human beings!

 

Questions for discussion

• In public and church decision making, and in personal decisions, how might we judge what is wise (Colossians 1:9) from what is merely expedient?
• How do we respond to Jesus' final words ‘Go and do likewise’ (Luke 10:37)? What could this mean for us in our everyday lives?
• Are there situations in your life where you ‘passed by on the other side’ (Luke 10:31f)? How did you feel about it afterwards?
• If you have access to the hymn ‘Would you walk by on the other side? (Singing the Faith 257; Church Hymnal 5th edition 500), work through the questions asked in that hymn.

Dudley Coates is a local preacher in the Salisbury Methodist Circuit and a former Vice President of the Methodist Conference.

 

Check-in

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

Encouraging words

A quick glance in any supermarket over the last few weeks would have told you what time of year it is. Shelves are lined with boxes of chocolates, ‘best teacher’ mugs/keyrings, and a plethora of cards celebrating the fact that we have made it to the end of another year. Our children and young people may well be caught up in creating home-made gifts at home to give to their ‘favourite’ teacher, thanking them for all their work over the last academic year; and for teaching, helping and caring for them. As a former teacher, I can tell you that these small acts of appreciation mean a great deal at a time when everyone is weary and in need of a rest!

In today’s reading, Paul gives thanks to the church in Colossae for their faith and ‘love of all God’s people.’ There is something very special about being acknowledged and appreciated for the work you do, but how much more wonderful it is to notice someone’s faith and love? As the end of term draws near, we too may be limping towards a much-needed break, or preparing for the special events of summer, or faithfully setting one foot in front of the other in consistent service with our groups. It would be lovely to think that those children, young people and families in our care notice our faith and love, but how about us? Who do we give thanks to? Let us be people who share these encouraging words with our teams of volunteers, church leadership, and with every child and young person we work with throughout the year.

Becky May is Tutor in Children’s and Families Ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge and CYF Mission Lead for Rural Missions.

 

Views expressed are the authors' own. Hypertext links to other websites are for the convenience of users only and do not constitute any endorsement or authorisation by Roots for Churches Ltd.

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