Weekly sermon thoughts for everyday discipleship based on two RCL lectionary readings
#fulcrumsermonthoughts
Sermon thoughts for everyday discipleship
by John Watson
Sunday 7th July 2013
Galatians 6:7-16 and Luke 10:1-11,16-20
We see in today’s Gospel one of the first commissions of Jesus to his followers. This of course will be repeated and extended in Luke 24:48. It is a praxis discipleship that Jesus is modelling. It is as if Jesus is saying ‘If you want to follow me you need to be prepared to follow by your actions, time, ambition, life - not just when it suits you or fits into your current commitments.’ Of course much can be said about levels of commitment and discipleship in our churches, ranging from high level consume all our time at one end of the spectrum and the other being that of a mere attendance on a Sunday morning and nothing else. There is a challenge to all that we let Jesus’ commission shape who we are and our energies.
It also speaks about the way we see discipleship. It is a matter of learning on the job. There is minimum preparation, not much research, and a definite decision to ignore those who ignore you. There is relational mission going on (unsurprising as to the cultural norm of the day in Palestine). Yet also attached to this is the humility they are to enter into - eat what ever is given you, become vulnerable, do not be haughty and expect recompense. The Kingdom speaks of deeper things than an attachment to mere physical goods - how can we speak into a culture that is so attached to consumer items, so fixated to material goods - if we too are letting that guide our thoughts, spending habits and energy? Perhaps we need to learn afresh of the simplicity of these disciples - how can we speak of a prophetic difference if we fail to live it ourselves? How can we seek to challenge the major voices of identity in our society if we have failed to grasp the way in which the Kingdom claims a new identity for us?
There is a threat attached to the mission - lambs among wolves. This mission of challenge and change will bring opposition and rejection. But do not let rejection stop you or discourage you.
Paul ends his letter with an expression he has used elsewhere “the new creation” (2 Cor 5.17) which represent a paradigmatic shift in the way he sees things and people. Here he says let the new creation overcome prejudice and difference. In the joint mission of the Jewish and Gentile churches one cannot claim a superiority over another. The only thing which shapes and defines us is the cross of Jesus - the new creation that comes from that. Cultural and even regional religious differences are not to be defining moments in the churches life. Hostile division cannot be a hallmark of the new humanity. So ‘let us work for the good of all’ and let shalom (peace) Gal. 6:16 and Luke 10:5 be the word we share.
John is the Vicar of St Paul’s, Tupsley and St Andrews, Hampton Bishop in Hereford Diocese. He’s also currently doing Doctoral Studies at Kings College London.