MY NEXT SERMON

I AM  PREACHING NEXT ON SUNDAY 24 AUGUST 2025 - at ALL SAINTS' PARISH CHURCH, WINTERSLOW, WILTSHIRE - 9.15 a.m. 

SERMON 221 - SUNDAY 10 AUGUST 2025

Sermon at St. John’s Church, West Grimstead - 8th Sunday after Trinity – Sunday 10 August 2025

Genesis 15:1-6; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16; Luke 12:32-40

May I speak in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and may these words be those of you, Lord, and may they be a blessing to all who listen and hear them.

Did you notice how both our First and Gospel Readings began this morning? On both occasions the Word of God/Jesus started with the phrase “Do not be afraid?”. In fact, that phrase, and words with the same meaning, occurs in the Bible, it is said, 365 times – once for each day of the year but, as I have never counted them, I can’t say for certain that this is true. It does appear, however, more times in the Old Testament than in the New.  Whatever the numerology, it is a phrase which is encouraging to us all reminding us that if we have a belief in the Trinity, we have nothing to fear but fear itself as a previous United States President once stated.

With this in mind, each of our three readings this morning reminds us of God’s awesome, and at the same time, inexplicable or supernatural power.

Of course, I love our First Reading from Genesis – that occasion when God, in a Vision, informed an elderly man, Abram (as he was then known), that despite his age and childlessness, he would found a dynasty – that he would have descendants more numerous than the stars in the sky.  Abram is asked to count them, if he can, and today we know that there are at least 100 billion stars in our Milky Way Galaxy with a further several trillion galaxies in our known Universe.  How awesome is that?  To put it in context, the stars of the cosmos far exceed the grains of sand on every beach in the world!

Abram had been disappointed and fearful that he had no issue of his own and that it would have to be the descendants of one of his slaves who would inherit his wealth – for Abram, we read, was an exceedingly wealthy man. We read that he and his wife, Sarah, were in their eighties and so it seemed a biological impossibility that they could have children. Of course, we know that God’s message to Abram came good and his wishes for a family was answered.

In our second reading, the author of Hebrews, who, for a number of reasons, we do not believe was Paul but probably one of his acolytes, is writing to the Jewish Christian followers, mainly in Jerusalem, who were being persecuted by orthodox Jews and being tempted to give up following Jesus and return to traditional Judaism. For many biblical scholars and general Christians this is the most important epistle after Paul’s letter to the Romans and is a great book to read at times when our faith is being challenged or we have doubts.

The essence of Hebrews is to remind the reader that what has gone on before in the Old Testament is a prophecy and places the New Testament in the context of the history of the Jewish Faith – a continuation and therefore not at variance with Jewish tradition.  Jesus reminded his followers that he had not come to overthrow the Old but to fulfil it.  

The writer, in the passage read out this morning, is reminding his Jewish recipients of his letter of the events portrayed in our First Reading and by Faith and Obedience, Abram/Abraham he received all that had been promised to him and therefore his original fears had been overcome.  Towards the end of the passage, the author reminds his readers that Abraham and his family and followers had also to be treated as strangers and foreigners when they left their homeland but because of their faith and obedience and would reach a better heavenly one.

So here we see again the message of trusting in God and thus overcoming our fear even if the tasks may seem fearful and impossible.  We are to take our faith beyond our small parochial orbit, so to speak, and realise and appreciate the vastness and awesomeness of God’s kingdom.

Our Gospel reading is quite a familiar one but I think it does need some explanation.

Again, the passage begins with Jesus telling his disciples not to be afraid. He is telling them that whatever might happen to them here in Earth, because of their love and generosity and readiness to trust in God, they can receive the Kingdom of Heaven where nothing passes away, nothing rots, (where no moths can destroy as he puts it) unlike here. He is setting the tone to trust and rely on God and not earthly efforts.

In fact, this passage encourages all who believe to detach themselves from material possessions and to invest in heavenly treasures; to live in anticipation of the Lord’s return for, as he says, where your heart is, there you treasure will be also.  To invest in the material world of today is to invest in all that will disappear and not what will endure.  My grandfather in Norfolk worked for the local carpenter and funeral director and he had a very simple life, not storing up riches but by enjoying God’s creation in the countryside around him.  He never had much money or many holidays but simply soaked up the wonderful scenery where he lived.  He once told me that the reason for this was that during all the time he had been working for the funeral director he had never seen pockets in a shroud.  “You can’t take it with you” so he chose not to spend his time on gaining material wealth.  My grandfather indulged in focussing on spiritual riches in his loving and compassionate manner rather than material wealth. As a result, he became my favourite grandparent.  A simple but, in his way, very spiritual man.

Jesus, also in this passage, reminds us, with his analogy of the servants waiting for the return of their master, to be ever vigilant about Jesus’s own return. We must be ready and not found wanting when he does return.  We should practice those virtues which he taught us in the gospel and for this purpose we have the Holy Spirit to assist us in that life of readiness and vigilance expecting his return at any time; not to be complacent or indolent but alert and ready.

Finally, in this gospel passage, Jesus is promising that those who wait and serve will themselves be waited upon and served by the master, highlighting the theme of humble service and turning social hierarchy on its head.  Our humble service will lead, in other words, to God’s graciousness.

In essence, therefore, the three takeaways from our three readings today, and in particular our gospel reading are as follows:

·       As Christians we should trust in God’s provisions for us and not be afraid

 

·       We should prioritise spiritual wealth over material possessions and live with generosity and compassion towards others

• Be ready for Christ's return through a life of service and faith.

So, what is your action plan going forward? Which of these will you prioritise and how will do it?  If you are doing it already, how can you improve upon what you are doing?

A good start is, of course prayer, so let us pray:

"Father God, I come before you acknowledging your awesome power and sovereignty. I recognize that you are the source of all strength and comfort. Help me to replace my fear with your peace, knowing that you are with me always. Help me to be ever ready for your return and to be there for all those in need of your grace and compassion; to be a channel of your love for all creation. Finally, thank you for your unending love and for being my refuge. Through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and ever-present Saviour." 

Amen                                                                                                    MFB/221/06082025