When the Son of Man Comes Matthew 25:31-46 This is the end of Jesus’ teaching ministry. Three years of wandering and three years of speaking to everyone who would listen reaches its climax here. This is the completion of everything he has tried to reveal. Jesus pictures “the Son of Man” coming in glory. He takes up the …
A Sermon for the Last Sunday before Advent (22/11/20): When the Son of Man Comes Read More »
Theology Matters! Matthew 25:14-30 The Parables of the Talents is an odd parable. It is something of an outlier in Jesus’ story telling. It seems out of place. It is odd because it appears to run counter to most of what Jesus teaches elsewhere. The conclusion seems particularly troublesome: For to those who have more will be given and …
A Sermon for the Twenty Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (15/11/20): Theology Matters! Read More »
Keep awake! You foolish bridesmaids Matthew 25:1-13 Christianity is a religion of looking forward! Perhaps it is hard for people sometimes to recognise that. Much of our talk is, of course, about event that took place 2000 years and more ago. But all of those events, in fact, have a bearing on the future. …
White in the Blood of the Lamb Revelation 7:9-17 These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. On All Saints Day we might ask: “Who are the saints?” Perhaps a slightly facetious answer might be: “Someone …
A Sermon for All Saints Day (01/11/20): White in the Blood of the Lamb Read More »
The Last Two Questions Matthew 22:34-46 Something is happening in Jerusalem. It is one of those moments when everyone knows that a crisis is coming. Like one of those hot heavy afternoons, when the air feels thick, close and dense, that can only end in a thunderstorm before evening. Jesus arrived in the city on …
A Sermon for the Twenty First Sunday after Pentecost (25/10/20): The Last Two Questions Read More »
A Trick Answer to a Trick Question Matthew 22:15-22 Jesus’ answers the question which the Pharisees put to him: “Give therefore to the emperor the things that the emperor’s and to God the things that are God.” There is a fundamental question which God’s people must always answer, how does God’s people live in the …
Accepting the Invitation and Going Properly Dressed Matthew 22:1-14 There is a picture which is repeated all the way through the Bible of what God is offering people. It is the picture of a banquet. Jesus says – on more than one occasion: The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave …
By what authority? Matthew 21:23-33 It has been a dramatic couple of days! Yesterday! Yesterday Jesus rode into Jerusalem in triumph. The crowd welcomed him like some kind of conquering hero, waving palm branches, laying their coats in his way and singing patriotic songs. No sooner had arrived in town than he went up to the Temple. For a …
A Sermon for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (27/09/20): By What Authority Read More »
The Stone that the Builders Rejected Matthew 21:33-46 Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; This was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes”?’ The builders have been incompetent, because they have rejected as useless the stone that …
I’m taking another break from the lectionary this week, to celebrate Harvest Festival. Even in those congregations whose connection with rural life is very remote this seems to remain one of the more important occasions which we celebrate. I once attempted to lead a Harvest Festival in which I failed to include the “We plough …
A Sermon for Harvest Festival: What to do with an abundant harvest Read More »