Sermon at Morning Worship, All Saints’ Church,
Winterslow – Bible Sunday – Sunday 25 October 2026
Nehemiah 8:1-4a (5-6), 8-12; Colossians
3:12-17; Matthew 24:30-35
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.
Last year, at this time, I
also led your service on this Bible Sunday when I told you how, in my early
years, the bible was just a book which gathered dust amongst other unread tomes
in my family home. The only time it was
taken off the shelf was to add the details of a family birth, death or marriage
in its front pages. Indeed, my knowledge of the bible was learned mainly
through school assemblies and, later on, as a choir boy attending Mattins and
Evensong in my local church. The bible itself, a dark gloomy black covered tome
was written in very old King James-style English and not at all easy to
understand. I then went on to tell you
how it wasn’t until my days as a law student in Liverpool that I met an
Evangelical Christian who introduced me to easier understood translations which
opened my eyes to what it actually contained of relevance to modern day life
and became the living word.
Leading on from my own
experience, then, I begin today’s sermon with a question for you - What part
does the Bible play in our everyday lives? Is it a book we read from in church just
on Sundays, a collection of ancient stories and wise sayings, or is it
something much more important? Is it, in fact, a guide to how we should live,
how we should treat one another, and how we should understand our
responsibilities towards our fellow human beings?
On this, Bible Sunday, we
celebrate not just an object but a living Word, Scriptures that form us, shape
us and send us out into the world. Our readings, this morning remind us that
God speaks to us, that we can hear what he is saying to us and by listening we
are led to a life formed by what we receive. In other words, as I said last
year, and I make no apologies in repeating it, reading the Bible is more about
being formed than being informed.
Our first reading, from the
Book of Nehemiah, describes a remarkable gathering of the people of Israel.
After a period of hardship and exile, the people had returned to Jerusalem, and
there was a great desire to hear the Law of God read aloud something which had
not occurred or been allowed during the period of the Exile.
Ezra the priest stood before
the assembled people and read from the Book of the Law. The people listened
attentively as the words were explained so that they could understand their
meaning. Their response was deeply emotional. Some wept as they recognised how
far they had fallen short of God's expectations.
But Ezra and Nehemiah told
them not to remain sorrowful. This was a holy day, a day for rejoicing, for
sharing food and drink, and for remembering God's goodness. Nehemiah declared
those memorable words: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
There is an important lesson
here for us on Bible Sunday. The people did not gather merely to hear words
spoken. They gathered to understand what God expected of them and to renew
their commitment to living according to his teaching.
The reading also contains a
detail which is particularly relevant to our theme today. The people were
instructed to share their food and drink with those who had nothing prepared.
Their response to God's Word was not to be confined to personal feelings or
religious observance. It was to be expressed in practical generosity towards
others.
That is what the Bible
repeatedly teaches us. Our faith is not simply about our relationship with God
as individuals. It is also about the way we treat our neighbours, the way we
respond to hardship, and the way we care for those who are less fortunate than
ourselves.
It is possible to hear the
Bible read every Sunday and still fail to put its message into practice. We may
know the stories, remember familiar verses and take comfort from its promises,
but the real test is whether its teaching changes the way we behave. Back to the mantra – “to be formed not just
informed.”
In a world which so often encourages us to put
ourselves first, the Bible calls us to look beyond our own interests and
recognise the needs and worth of those around us.
Does it make us more patient? More generous?
More forgiving? More aware of the needs of others?
The people in Nehemiah's time were called to
turn their understanding into action. We are called to do the same.
Our second reading, from
Paul's letter to the Colossians, brings this message into sharp focus.
Paul writes: “Clothe
yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.” He goes
on to encourage the Christians to bear with one another, forgive one another,
and above all, to put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
These are powerful words,
and they offer a striking contrast to many of the values promoted by modern
society.
We live in a world which
often measures success by wealth, possessions, status and personal achievement.
We are encouraged to acquire more, achieve more and compete with those around
us. Advertisements continually tell us that happiness can be bought, that we
need the latest possessions, and that our worth can be judged by what we own.
Of course, there is nothing
inherently wrong with working hard, providing for our families, enjoying the
fruits of our labour or planning for the future. Money and possessions can be
used wisely and generously. The danger comes when these things become the main
purpose of our lives, when our own comfort matters more than another person's
suffering, or when we measure people by what they have or their status, rather
than who they are.
When we try to live entirely
on our own terms, without reference to God or concern for others, it becomes
all too easy to put ourselves first. We can become impatient with those who
inconvenience us, indifferent to those who struggle, and resentful of those who
appear to have more than we do. Paul offers us a very different way of living.
He tells us to be
compassionate, even when compassion requires effort; to be kind, even when
kindness is not returned; to be humble, even when pride tempts us to claim the
credit; and to be patient, even when other people frustrate us. He tells us to
forgive, just as the Lord has forgiven us.
These are not merely
pleasant qualities to admire from a distance. They are the practical
foundations of a true Christian life.
Imagine how different our
homes, our communities and our world might be if we genuinely tried to follow
these instructions. How many arguments might be avoided through patience? How
many broken relationships might be restored through forgiveness? How many
lonely people might find comfort through a simple act of kindness from us?
And Paul reminds us that
whatever we do, in word or deed, we should do it in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
What a useful question that
is to ask ourselves each day: Can I honestly say that what I am about to do, or
what I am about to say, reflects the teaching of Jesus?
Our Gospel reading from
Matthew brings us to a further, and very important, point.
Jesus says: “Heaven and
earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
Everything around us is
subject to change. Buildings decay, possessions wear out, fashions come and go,
and the things which seem so important today may be forgotten tomorrow. Even
the achievements of which we are most proud belong to a world that does not
last for ever. Yet Jesus declares that
his words will not pass away.
His teaching about love,
forgiveness, mercy, humility and service remains as relevant now as it was when
he first spoke to his disciples. The world changes, but our need for these
values does not.
Indeed, we might argue that
the more materialistic and self-centred our society becomes, the more urgently
we need to hear them.
The words of Jesus challenge
us not to build our lives entirely around temporary possessions and personal
ambitions, but to consider what has lasting value. They remind us of the two
great commandments: to love God and to love our neighbour as ourselves.
Throughout my whole preaching career it has been these two great commandments
that I have run as the theme throughout my sermons and homilies.
Loving our neighbour does
not mean that we must agree with everyone, or that we can solve every problem
in the world. It means that we treat others with respect, that we seek to
understand before condemning, that we offer help where we can, and that we never
deliberately disregard another person's suffering simply because it does not
affect us personally.
Jesus himself demonstrated
this way of life. He welcomed those whom society rejected, reached out to the
sick, showed mercy to sinners, and placed the needs of others before his own
comfort. Ultimately, he gave his life for the salvation of humankind.
If we call ourselves
Christians, then his example must influence our own conduct. I have always
thought that whenever we struggle with life and/or faith, we need to go back to
the basics of reading the Gospels.
So here is a simple action
plan for us all –
First, let us make time to
read the bible on a regular basis because we need its wisdom and guidance
Secondly, let us allow the
word to challenge us – especially those passages which expose our own
selfishness, pride and lack of generosity
Thirdly, and most
importantly, let us put its actions into practice in our everyday lives.
Let us pray
Father God
May we leave our Bible
Sunday celebrations today, here in church, determined not only to read Your
Word, but to live it; not only to hear the teachings of Your Son, Our Saviour Jesus,
but to follow His example; by not only receiving Your love through Him, but
also sharing that love generously with all whom we meet.
Amen MFB/241/20102026
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