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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

Choosing Jesus over everything.

Jesus’ call is our highest priority whatever the consequences (Luke 14.25-33).

Context

• The war in Ukraine continues with Ukrainian forces launching a counter-attack and President Zelenskyy urging Russian troops to leave.
• Floods in Pakistan are causing devastation and continuing the debate about where the impact of climate change will be felt the hardest
• Credit card debt has climbed at the fastest rate for 17 years.
• The summer transfer window closed this week and the desperation of Premier league football clubs to stay in that division was shown by the sacking of Bournemouth manager, Scott Parker as well as Nottingham Forest buying in 2 teams-worth of new players.

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

• The Russian assault on Ukraine was originally stated as being a short-term offensive, seeking to uproot the Ukrainian government and install leadership that would support Russian interests. This seemed plausible given the size of Russia’s army and President Putin’s reputation for decisive/ruthless action. It is now day 193 of this conflict and Ukrainian forces are pushing back the Russian troops. The cost of this conflict has been huge in terms of human lives lost, families torn apart but also in terms of Russia’s standing in the world and progress towards Putin’s goals. The Russian troops were not as prepared or as well-equipped as their leaders had thought and the political fallout of the failure to secure victory has been difficult to manage. When we read Jesus’ parable of the king setting out for war without first counting his soldiers against those of his enemy the parallel is clear. As Christians, we are living in hostile territory and Jesus’ words are not promising us an easy life. If we have chosen to follow Jesus, have we done so understanding that His way is one of hardship and sacrifice, not one of quick wins and comfort?

• South Asia has been marked as a climate change ‘hot spot’ where the impact of changes to the climate are 15 times more likely to lead to deaths in the local population. With a summer of forest fires and heatwaves just behind us, it could be said that we should count the cost of not taking more action now both individually and as a nation.

• The rise in credit card debt is a sign of people trying to manage the increasing squeeze on household finances. It is right that the church speaks out about government policy that makes things harder and it is right for the church to continue making a difference through food banks or warm banks. However, Jesus sets the bar for discipleship high saying that we should ‘hate’ our lives by comparison with our passion for Him. There is always a temptation to see church as a Sunday activity and our financial giving as something that comes out of what we have left over but Jesus asks to be first in the whole of our lives, whatever is going on. We should not water down Jesus’ call to those he is speaking to in the passage, ‘None of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions’. What could we not give up? Is a more radical sharing of resources within our church communities the answer to getting people through the months ahead?

• Football’s Premier League has just closed its summer transfer window where clubs have just a month to buy and sell players for the new season. The English clubs have spent the equivalent of their Spanish, Italian and German counterparts combined. Nottingham Forest have signed almost two new teams-worth of players rather than continuing with the players who got them promoted while Bournemouth FC have sacked their manager this week after just four games. Teams speak about ‘projects’ and ‘loyalty’ in their press-releases but the priority to stay inside the cash-cow of the Premier League clearly drives decisions that might not align with the values they have expressed. Jesus calls us to follow Him and clearly states that we can show no such fudging in our lives. We are to be focussed on Jesus above all other things, even when it might mean losing out on things the world prizes.

 

Questions for discussion

• What would you want to tell your younger self to prepare them for what was in their future (your present)?
• Is there anything that you have had to give up because of your faith? What has been the hardest thing to sacrifice?
• Can you think of someone in the public eye who has said they hold certain values but then acted in a different way under pressure? How did this affect your view of them?

Steve Taylor is joint-vicar of St James Alperton CofE church near Wembley. He shares the job with his wife, Ali, and shares his house with their two children, two cats and numerous fish.

 

 

Check-in

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

The summer holidays are drawing to a close which means that term-time is soon to begin for students, teachers, and all those involved in education. If this is your situation, how are you feeling? Education is incredibly important as it forms and prepares us for whatever life brings next. The sacrifices we have to make for education come into particular focus at this time of year. Shifting sleeping patterns, preparing to pick up our pens again, the energy to walk and travel to school, evenings occupied by homework – are just a few examples of what we have to dedicate ourselves to if we are to do well in education and achieve our goals both near and far.

Indeed, I hold that this situation which many will be feeling this week gives a special insight into the Gospel passage for this Sunday. Jesus tells us that following Him involves sacrifice. Prioritising taking up the cross over family ties and possessions must be done in order to live as a disciple. This is no small ask. To be a disciple means taking up the cross – the many demands and sacrifices the faith requires, often at the expense of material and worldly interests.

But, just like dedicating ourselves to education bears fruit both now and in the future, so too does embracing the choices and consequences of discipleship lead to great things both in this life and the next.

If you are reading this and the impending start of the academic year is something which involves you – then good luck – take every opportunity and seek to do your best. And remember that choosing the sometimes-difficult path at the expense of the comfortable path can lead to truly great things – forever.

Joe Allen is studying for an MA in Theology at the University of Exeter having graduated with a BA in Theology and Religion in 2021. He is also a Trustee for the charity ‘Action for Stammering Children’.

 

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