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

Beyond our comfort zone

Jesus' mission takes us to places we might not want to go (Matthew 9:35-10:23).

 

Context

 

Reflection

Most people of any faith or none found it very uncomfortable looking back at the news footage of the murder of Henry Nowak last December. In a statement issued on Monday on behalf of the United Reformed Church, Catriona Wheeler, Moderator of the URC General Assembly, offered condolences to Henry’s family after their tragic loss and assurance of solidarity with our neighbouring Sikh communities in the face of the unjust reactions and unrest that followed. Catriona urged in her statement:

“As Christians, we hear Christ’s command to love our neighbours as ourselves. That love is not a vague sentiment. It requires us to speak when others are silenced, to stand alongside those who are made to feel fearful, and to confront injustice whenever and wherever it appears.”

The injustice of Henry’s murder, alongside the disturbing nature of how the incident was dealt with in the moment, and the disturbingly aggressive reactions towards our Sikh brothers and sisters, are all reminders that Christ’s commandment to love our neighbour will take us way beyond our comfort zones. We are called to stand alongside all those who are unfairly persecuted, ‘like sheep in the midst of wolves’ (Matthew 10:16). Matthew 9:36 reminds us that Jesus had compassion for the crowds of people when they were ‘harassed or helpless’. He recognised their need for responsible leadership – for good ‘shepherding’. 

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

  • When US Vice-President, JD Vance, blamed the death of Michael Nowak on the ‘mass invasion of migrants’ and believed that the ‘only response’ was to react with ‘righteous anger’, it was reassuring to hear David Lammy trying to set the record straight in standing up to Vance’s ‘caricature’ of the recent history of Western civilisation. We were reminded that Nowak’s own family had called for calm following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa. Michael’s father, Mark, also urged in his statement:
    "We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension.”

It would be good to explore how today’s gospel passage encourages us to go beyond our comfort zones in order to ensure that ‘further division, hatred or tension’ do not happen. At the very least, our Christian communities should consider how we react to those who scare-monger and stir-up hatred in times of such emotional turmoil. At such times it might well feel that in taking a stand for justice we are being sent ‘out like sheep among wolves’ (Matthew 10:16), but we are to be reminded that the same verse continues with Jesus' call for his disciples to be ‘wise as serpents and innocent as doves’. What does this phrase mean for us in the context of the current situation? How are we called to react, especially to the Sikh community and the police? In the words of Catriona Wheeler, which contains echoes of Jesus' charge to his disciples as he sent them out into the world: “Christ’s command to love our neighbours… requires us to speak when others are silenced, to stand alongside those who are made to feel fearful, and to confront injustice whenever and wherever it appears.”

  • Storywriter and film maker Steven Spielberg says that he is much more inclined now, than he was when he made his groundbreaking Close Encounters of the Third Kind movie, to believe that we are not the only intelligent beings in the universe. Aside from the debatable question as to how ‘intelligent’ humanity is right now in the light of some of its recent behaviour seen in the world news headlines, the film asks the eternal question as to whether this life is all there is, or is there something more? Disclosure Day asks: Is there a truth we don’t know? Are we not alone in the universe? Spielberg says that Disclosure Day reminds us of our capacity for empathy, which humanity could certainly do with embracing right now. It also reminds us that there is something bigger out there than just ourselves. And maybe humanity in general does need a large dose of humility right now too!

Whilst the film might take an imaginary story about aliens from outer space to encourage us to take a good hard look at our own reality, like Jesus' teaching to his followers, it is about facing up to the questions that frighten us out of our wits. How much of the struggles we see in our lives and the world today are about the human race not being able to face up to the truth? In those times when humanity behaves like sheep without a shepherd, does the truth frighten us? The truth about those who are different from us has always scared the narrow minded. But what about the big ‘God’ question? Is the comfort zone of not asking about God a place that many people do not want to leave, because they fear the answer might change them?

 

Questions for discussion

  • How has your local community reacted to the murder of Michael Nowak? In what ways is your church and its members called to have compassion for those who are the ‘harassed and helpless’ (Matthew 9:36) this week?
  • Ask people how they might feel if they were confronted by, or in the midst of, an angry crowd reacting to the murder of Michael Nowak, or a similar situation? Ask this sensitively, as there may well be some of your membership who have either first hand experience of such a situation, or may know of family or friends who have. In what ways do Jesus' words and actions in Matthew 9:35-10:23 give us courage to go beyond our comfort zones?
  • Disclosure Day tells a story about facing the questions that take us beyond our comfort zones. Is there a truth we don’t know? When humanity behaves like sheep without a shepherd, does the truth frighten us? In Matthew 10:19-20 Jesus says, "Don’t worry about how you will answer others when asked to give account for your faith. Trust in God’s Spirit to speak through you." In what ways are you prepared to go beyond your comfort zones and to trust God?

Tim Lowe is a minister of the United Reformed Church, serving in the Leeds URC Partnership.

 

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

The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission. One of the ways in which it does this is through evangelism. However many people find the very idea of evangelism terrifying and yet here it is in Matthew’s gospel. Here are disciples sent out to share their faith.

So where does that leave us today? Firstly there is a need for evangelism. So many people are unaware of the good news that knowing Jesus brings. They have no-one to turn to for strength, companionship and support in a world filled with traumas and troubles.

Secondly there is a call to evangelism. In Matthew 9:35-10:8 Jesus sends his disciples out. It's not easy but he sends them beyond their comfort zone. We live in an umcomfortable world. In our own country there is political uncertainty and confusion. In the wider world there is conflict and warfare. In that context shyness and embarrassment about describing our faith can appear a minor discomfort.

Thirdly we are equipped for evangelism. We know that Jesus loved us so much that he died and rose again. We know that he has promised always to be with us. We know his companionship will enable us to step out well beyond our comfort zone.

Evangelism is a privilege for all Jesus’ disciples and we are called and equipped to respond to the need that people have for God in their lives.

Stuart Wild is the Superintendent of the Blackpool and South Fylde Methodist Circuit.

 

For resources on evangelism, have a listen to/look at our new podcast and article series: Re-imagining evangelism

 

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