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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 family values here

One’s foes will be members of one’s own household. (Matthew 10:36)

 

Context

For many people the men's football World Cup will be dominating the news they absorb. And some will be enjoying the tennis at Queen's and looking forward to Wimbledon. But my reading has been dominated by the tenth anniversary of the murder of Jo Cox MP and her sister’s comments that the world is, if anything, worse now than it was ten years ago. We also hear that a deal between the USA and Iran has been agreed and may be signed in person later in the week. The UK government has announced a widespread ban on social media use by under 16s - Australia Plus we are told. The story of Henry Nowak’s horrifying death in Southampton develops as his killer’s sentence is referred for review. And the Russian state was responsible for attempts on the life of the Prime Minister, which brought up memories for me (since I live near Salisbury) of poisonings by actual Russian agents.

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

In our world, riven by tensions and conflict, our lectionary invites us to explore some unexpected sayings of Jesus. Jesus brings a sword, not peace, and we are told families are to be in internal conflict. Of course there are some nicer sayings about the value of sparrows and the hairs on our heads. Perhaps you might prefer to light on the sayings about truth being uncovered. But for me, the stark contrast of the sayings about families, set against the widespread expectation that Christians approve of so-called family values, sticks out like a sore thumb.

Should we actively preach against family values? If children and parents are not in conflict are we failing to live out the gospel? We tend to airbrush out of the gospel story the fact that Jesus called his disciples away from their families. Peter, for certain, was a married man because he had a mother-in-law but the probability is that most, perhaps all, of the twelve were family men. So, although these sayings are brutal, the twelve who heard them first had already put Jesus before their family relationships. They had chosen to follow him whatever it cost. So the passage contains important messages, especially the demand that we take up the cross and follow Jesus.

There are still places (including Iran) where faith can divides families. Those from Islamic backgrounds who become Christians often have little choice but to leave their families behind quite literally. It is worth reminding ourselves that Jesus lived in a totalitarian state - the Roman Empire demanded absolute obedience from its subjects. At one level Jesus was doing no more than making an equally absolute demand on those who would follow him.

We have it much easier. For most of us the issue of giving up families or friends to follow Jesus does not arise. Yet the gospel challenge remains. Jesus still asks whether we really put following him first, above all else, even if the chips are down, before our family relationships.

For the harsh fact is that there are many people for whom the world in which we live poses hard choices. Most of us in the UK have it much easier most of the time and we should thank God for that. But we should also remember that from time to time we too may face real challenges. We may find that the gospel requires us to act in ways which may break friendship or even family ties. Should those days come, will we remember the words of Jesus in today's gospel?:

"Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:39)

If you read the Hebrew Bible passage about Hagar (Genesis 21:8-21) you will find some shocking behaviour within an extended (we might now call it blended) family. Sarah, despite laughing at God’s promise, has borne a longed-for son but then persuades Abraham to treat the slave Hagar and Isaac’s half brother incredibly badly. Of course the cultural context is complex but, even allowing for that very different context, is this an acceptable moral tale?

 

Questions for discussion

• What are the hardest choices you have faced?
• If the chips were down, would you put your faith before your friends and family?
• In our world of conflict and strife, what do you make of Jesus’ saying about bringing a sword rather than peace?

 

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

You may have noticed that there is a football competition happening at the moment. The 2026 World Cup has started and, whether you like or loathe it, it’s been difficult to miss. Lots of people are showing their support by putting up flags and banners, wearing their team's kit, and sharing their passion through other creative means. Amidst it all, there have also been a number of high-profile footballers, such as the Belgian winger Jeremy Doku, declaring their faith and expressing what it means to them.

Football has the ability to simultaneously unite much of the world in the enjoyment of a competition, while also dividing people into tribal-like support of “their” team. Today’s passage highlights a similar dichotomy: Christianity, a faith that seeks to unite people, can sometimes find itself dividing them. Jesus came not to bring peace but a sword, yet elsewhere He is referred to as the Prince of Peace. As we consider from this passage what it means to live out our faith with “no compromise,” perhaps we can take some inspiration from the football fever and show our Christian faith - not necessarily by using flags and banners but, like Jeremy Doku, using our words, our actions, and our platforms to bring God glory.

How can you share your faith with others this week? Could you share an encouraging word with a friend, stand up for another person or a cause, or simply talk about the difference that your faith has made to you?

Simon Bailey is an Engagement & Participation Youth Worker for the local authority in Central Bedfordshire.

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