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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.

 

No more gloom

How might the promise of ‘no more gloom’ (Isaiah 9:1 NIV) transform the way we live?

 

Context

• It is easy to think that there is nothing but doom and gloom everywhere at the moment. On 15 January two good news stories barely flickered on TV news programmes. The first was news of the UK economy growing by more than expected. And the second was the news that NHS waiting lists were at the their lowest for nearly three years. One wonders how much more time would have been given to these stories had they been the opposite.
• There are newspaper reports that the BBC seems to be acknowledging a tendency to dwell with the gloomy with its new Rise and Shine feature on BBC Breakfast which deliberately offers and celebrates good news stories of hope and positivity.
• Long before three-word slogans became the stock-in-trade of advertisers and politicians, Isaiah offered a vision of ‘no more gloom’ for those who were in distress. Key to this was the light of God’s presence, not apart from, but in the darkness. It is not denying reality but encouraging a hopeful, life-giving response to real challenges rooted in the recognition of God’s presence even in the darkest places.
• 25 January is the final day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026. Again, it is very easy to be gloomy about the state of the Church and not see and celebrate the good things that God’s light and presence are creating all around us. For example:
  • The Bible Society’s Quiet Revival report which celebrates growth in the Church in the UK over the last six years.
  • New collaborations between the Church of England and the United Reformed Church.
  • The forthcoming installation of Dame Sarah Mullaly as Archbishop of Canterbury.

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

• Notice and explore the context of Isaiah’s promise of ‘no more gloom’. The promise was not some fanciful denial of reality. Far from it. The message is for those ‘living in the land of deep darkness’. It is precisely in the midst of the darkness and distress (Isaiah 9:1) that the presence of God is recognised and the promise of ‘no more gloom’ is offered. Real hope does not deny reality, it transforms reality. Notice how in Matthew the hope-filled ministry of Jesus is prefaced by the quoting of Isaiah 9:1-2 and in particular the promise of light for those living in darkness.
• How might ‘no more gloom’ be more than a slick slogan? How might it:
  • Stir us to action to help end the real gloom of oppression (Isaiah 9:4)?
  • Be a defiant prayer mantra?
  • Encourage us to celebrate energy-giving good news stories? With apologies to any Crystal Palace fans, it was wonderful to see the joy and energy that was released when lowly Macclesfield Town – a club that nearly disappeared just a few years ago - beat the FA Cup Holders in the third round of the competition.
• In Matthew’s account of the calling of the first disciples Jesus tells his new followers that he will send them out to fish for people (Matthew 4:19) - a commission that is reiterated by the risen Jesus at the end of Matthew’s gospel (Matthew 28:19). Present a summary of the key conclusions of the Quiet Revival. As well as being an antidote to gloom what hope does the report offer to us?

 

Questions for discussion

• What good news stories do you have to share?
• In our meetings together do we focus more on the gloomy news or the good news? How can we rebalance this?
• Taking note of the context of the promise of ‘no more gloom’, in what ways do we need to be pastorally careful when talking of hope?
• As another Week of Prayer for Christian Unity draws to a close, is the outlook for the Church gloomy or bright? And what does this mean for the wider world?
• What do you make of the Quiet Revival report? Please note there are a number of critiques of the report e.g. Quiet revival: myth or reality? (Church Times article; Church Times podcast) and BBC More or less.

Andrew Roberts is a husband, father, Methodist Minister and the author of Holy Habits. He enjoys watching football and cricket and once appeared on national TV dressed as a giant sunflower (BBC Get Your Own Back).

 

Check-in

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

‘The time for talk is over.’

So, it’s finished! Everyone in the castle knows who the faithful were and all the traitors have been revealed. The people who had been stumbling around in the darkness in Scotland, unable to work out who was who, which players were being played and what on earth was really going on are now basking in the light of the end of the game. The Traitors is very much a game of walking around in dark confusion, unable to see, and eventually moving into the light of revelation! Watching people trying to work something out is part of the appeal. It’s been very enjoyable hearing the faithful's theories – some bang on and others wildly wrong. It’s also been a lot of fun watching the traitors plotting their next moves in the tower; then wondering if they’re going to get away with their dark plans!

Of course, darkness to light is a theme that is repeated again and again in lots of different ways on film, in TV shows and even computer games. In the classic Star Wars films and series e.g. Mandalorian you will see characters trying to work against the forces of darkness and restore light and hope to their universe. It's also a theme in the latest season of Stranger Things which finally saw dark forces vanquished.

In many ways the central story of the bible – the death and resurrection of Jesus – is the ultimate darkness to light story. The powerful victory of the resurrection, a moment where the forces of darkness were truly conquered, is at the centre of our faith. As Christians we are people who, as Isaiah says in chapter 9, ‘have seen a great light’ and this great light of Jesus gives us hope, purpose and a future. So the interesting question is, why aren't we telling everyone about this light so that our friends can have the opportunity to see the light of Jesus and experience the life-changing hope, purpose and future Christ brings?

Today’s Isaiah reading might provide the inspiration we need to tell our story of Jesus bringing light in the darkness and make this story the subject of conversation with our friends alongside The Traitors finale and the end of Stranger Things. Unlike chat about TV shows, our story of hope and purpose also brings people real joy, rejoicing, and a way to help us with the difficult things in our lives that weigh us down and have hurt us.

So maybe the time for talk is not over! In fact, maybe the time for talk is just beginning. Now is the time for:

• talking to friends about what we know to be true;
• talking about what has happened in our lives;
• talking about our relationship with Jesus.

Maybe it’s time for this type of talk.

 

Questions

• What ‘dark to light’ stories, movies or games do you like?
• What light has Jesus brought into your life?
• Who would you like to talk to about the story of Jesus’ light in the darkness?

 

Activity

Give everyone a picture with the outline of a candle and a pen. Invite the young people to write the name of someone they would love to talk to about the story of Jesus’ light in the darkness. Put the names on the paper candles around a real, lit candle and gather round quietly. Encourage the group to pray in silence for the names on their candles.

Fiona Dorman is a freelance leadership consultant and mediator.

 

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