I was brought up listening to sermons. I learnt that good sermons had stories to keep the interest, three clear points to focus the mind, and alliteration to aid the memory. When I started preaching in my early twenties, I often followed that pattern…
This morning I read Jesus’ words in Matthew 10. It’s hard for me not to revert to my life-time’s habit…
Fear… Many people have fears. Some have a particular phobia – spiders, heights, crowds… Others have fears about their health, family, failures, hidden secrets…
James and his wife both have mental ill-health and are frequently arguing. Counselling has been arranged for them. James is fear-full of the possible results of counselling; he’s also fear-full of what may happen to their marriage if the counselling doesn’t work.
Father… Jesus describes sparrows-knowing and hair-counting Father. He knows and names each sparrow in our garden… as a child I remember looking at bald people, thinking that God has an easier job with them…
Dad used to arrange a family holiday every summer. He organised where we were staying, how we were getting there. He made all the arrangements, paid all the bills… We trusted him to do everything…
Faith… Later Jesus says, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ We bring the burdens of our fears to Jesus, to our heavenly Father who cares about the smallest detail. We trust him with them.
I took a school party of 11/12 year olds to the Scilly Isles off the west coast of Cornwall. The last part of our journey, from the mainland to the islands, was in a helicopter. I was very conscious of our vulnerability, and our reliance on the skills of the pilot…
…We all have fears. Jesus says we have a heavenly Father who knows and cares. He invites us to bring our fears to him and, with vulnerable but determined faith, believe that he can deal with them.
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