Sermon 8th March 2026 – 3rd Sunday in Lent Text: Romans 5:1-11 – Hope in suffering

 Sermon 8^th March 2026 – 3rd Sunday in Lent

Text: Romans 5:1-11 – Hope in suffering

 

St Paul presents us with a beautiful message of hope and love even in the midst of our most difficult times. Paul begins with a powerful declaration: "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Notice Paul’s statement of when this happens -  We HAVE been justified – we HAVE peace with God. These are present realities not future dreams. And as we learned last week from John 3:16 –God’s love is not something we earn; it is a gift from God from the heart of God  - his unconditional love for us.  Through faith in Jesus, our sins are forgiven, and we are declared righteous.  Which means we don’t have to wait to learn our fate when we face God after we die.

 

In Colossians 3 Paul says we HAVE been raised with Christ already. And in Ephesians 2 he says something even more  profound:  God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. It might not feel like that especially when going through times of suffering but that is part of the mystery that Paul will reveal in our Bible reading today. We are no longer separated from God; instead, we are invited into a relationship of peace with Him. Paul explains that through Christ, we have access to grace in which we stand.  This grace is not just a one-time event; it is the very foundation of our lives as believers in Jesus Christ..

 

In a world filled with chaos and uncertainty, we stand firm in the grace that God has gifted to us. This peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a deep-seated assurance that we are right with God.  It enables us to face the storms of life with confidence, knowing that we are loved and accepted as His children. But now we come up to one of the most difficult, and dare I say, strangest of Paul’s statements.  He says:" We rejoice in our sufferings” Could you imagine sending someone a “congratulations” because you’ve heard they are suffering? But Paul sees suffering as part of a mystery because suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." And it’s all about hope for Paul.

 

Hope is a major part of Paul’s understanding of God. Even in death Paul says in Thessalonians – let us grieve – but no like those who have no hope. In the midst of our struggles, Paul calls on us to rejoice—not for the pain itself but for the work that God is doing within us.  For Paul’s understanding of hope, each trial is an opportunity to grow in our faith and trust in God rather than ourselves. Suffering leads to endurance, endurance forms character, and character gives birth to hope.

This hope is not wishful thinking; it is a confident expectation in the love of God. In fact Paul says he boasts about his suffering because he sees Jesus nearer to him and says “when I am weak, then I am strong”.

 

Paul reminds us that God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit."  In our darkest moments, we can cling to the truth that God’s love is ever-present, assuring us that we are never alone. And God’s love is not dependant on us in any way. In fact, Paul says that it was while we were still sinners, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." It was at our weakest, in our most vulnerable, in our most desperate state, that Christ came to be with us.  At just the right time, while we were still sinners, Jesus gave His life for us. This demonstrates the depth of God’s love—a love that seeks us out, regardless of what we might think of ourselves or what others think of us.

 

God loves us because we are his children. In our Baptism God affirmed that – you are my child whom I love. Paul acknowledges that it is rare for someone to die even for a righteous person, but God’s love surpasses all human understanding.  He didn’t wait for us to become worthy – because that would never happen;  God loved us as we are because he created us. In light of this, Paul reassures us that if we have been justified by His blood, we will be saved from the wrath of God. Our salvation – our home is heaven - is secure in the unconditional love of God for us.

 

Paul concludes this passage with a triumphant declaration: "We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." Through Jesus, we have been restored to right relationship with God our Creator. We are no longer enemies but friends, children of God, co-heirs with Christ.  This reconciliation is the ultimate expression of God’s grace. In this truth, we find not only assurance but also a reason to rejoice – even in our suffering.  Our lives should overflow with gratitude and joy because of what Christ has accomplished for us. And because of this glorious gift, we are called to share this message of hope and reconciliation with the world around us.

 

We are called to be examples of His love, reflecting the light of Christ in our words and deeds. We are called to bring the same hope we have into a world that is struggling to find any hope at all. Our hope is not found in money. Our hope is not found in possessions. Our hope is not found if fame or fortune. Hope for the world is not found in military strength or economic booms. Hope – true hope – is found only in Christ and for that reason Paul highlights that when we go through our times of suffering we remember that we don’t have all the answers. Only Jesus has the answer because at the right time he came to live among us and take away everything that separated us from God. The righteous for the unrighteous.

God made him who had no sin to become our sin so that we would become the righteousness of God. That is our hope.

Sermon 1st March 2026 – 2nd Sunday in Lent Text Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 – an undeserved gift.

 Sermon 1^st March 2026 – 2^nd Sunday in Lent

Text Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 – an undeserved gift.

 

How do you feel when you go into a café – you pay for your coffee or meal – and there you see the “tip jar”. Do you feel guilty if you don’t leave a tip? In Australia we are not as used to “tipping” as in America because our rate of pay is higher.  And you hear people grumbling – why should I give a tip – they get paid – I don’t get a tip for doing my job. In the US you often hear when watching a TV how wait staff say that they rely on their tips to make a living. A tip goes over and above what you owe for what you have received. The café is responsible for paying staff – you pay for your products. A tip is a bonus.

 

If you keep this in mind and look at today’s reading from Paul, I think this is the reasoning Paul is trying to make when it comes to God’s grace and our eternal life. He says - Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. It’s what’s called a quid pro quo – you do something and you receive something in return. Over and above what is due is considered a gift – like a tip. So Paul’s line of reasoning is that what we deserve is very different to what we receive. We deserve God’s eternal judgment. But what we receive is eternal life in heaven. In Romans chapter 6 Paul will make that plainly clear when he says: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

So Paul is making it very clear that there is nothing due to us from God that equates to eternal life. On the contrary – we deserve only death. So the good works we do, do not contribute one iota to our salvation. No. Everything we do, no matter how good is not sufficient for what we owe. That is so hard to understand but it is so freeing. Our eternal life in heaven is a pure undeserved gift from God.

It’s not a tip for the good service we’ve provided.

Paul uses the example of Abraham to explain the gift of God’s righteousness. God wanted to use Abraham (or Abram as he was then known) to show how righteousness works. Righteousness means being made right by God. And it’s there in the first verse: The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your family and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. God was telling Abraham to leave EVERYTHING behind – your country, your family, your father’s house. God was telling Abraham to empty himself and fill the empty void with God – Go to the land “I WILL SHOW YOU”. God didn’t tell Abraham where he was going. He had to trust God leading him. And Paul says - Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. It wasn’t a reward for good works. No. Abraham didn’t know what he was doing – he was simply trusting God.

He didn’t ask “why” or “where am I going”.

 

And that’s where Paul makes a distinction between good works and trust. To one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due.  But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness. That’s what Abraham did. He left everything worldly behind. And this is also what Jesus is trying to teach Nicodemus.

Jesus says - no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.

 

There is nothing in this life that can credit us with the kingdom of God. And Nicodemus is stumped. He doesn’t understand how our earthly good works don’t contribute to God’s righteousness. Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born? Nicodemus only sees the physical born – the flesh – and can’t understand how someone goes through a 2nd physical birth.

How can I re-enter my mother's womb and be born again?

And Jesus corrects him:

No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.

What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

And in the next Chapter, Jesus says to the Samaritan woman at the well - God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Jesus uses an example Nicodemus would have understood – the venomous snakes God sent in the days of Moses because of the Israelites grumbling. To escape death there was nothing they could do except trust God and a bronze serpent that he had Moses erect and to simply look at it and believe. They were still bitten by venomous snakes but by trusting God and looking at the bronze serpent they didn’t die from the venom. Jesus says: just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. No works – just trust. And then we hear the entire work of God through Jesus in one sentence: God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. That’s it. No complicated system of sacrifices. No list of rules we have to follow. No. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

 

The pure Gospel from the one whom Paul says - gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

When we go through times of doubts of our worthiness before God it is easy to look at the things we do to comfort ourselves. But that may provide a temporary comfort but we will find ourselves need to keep going back again and again.

So instead of looking back at what we have done we look to what God has done because that is not temporary but forever. And just as Israel looked at the bronze serpent that was lifted high to save them from death, we keep looking to the cross of Jesus Christ who was lifted high so that we would not perish but receive eternal life.

 

Sermon 22nd February 2026 – 1st Sunday in Lent Text Matthew 4:1-11 – Tempting

 Sermon 22^nd February 2026 – 1^st Sunday in Lent

Text Matthew 4:1-11 – Tempting

 

Although it’s not part of our reading, what happens today comes immediately after Jesus has been baptised. Much like the transfiguration last week, at Jesus’ baptism we see the heavens opened and a voice declaring, “This is my Son, the Beloved.” In Jesus baptism we see on extra detail - The Holy Spirit descended upon him. And then—immediately—the same Holy Spirit leads Him into the wilderness. It’s a reminder, like the Transfiguration, that spiritual highs do not exempt us from spiritual battles.

 

Sometimes God’s special moments prepare us for wilderness experiences as we see in our Baptism rite where the very first question is asked – do you renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways. Baptism sets us on a course opposed to Satan. The wilderness is not a punishment. It is not a sign that God has abandoned us. It is the place where faith is tested and strengthened. Jesus is hungry, alone, physically weak—exactly the kind of moment when temptation feels most persuasive – and Satan knows it. You probably know this wilderness. The wilderness is the season when life feels stripped back: when life fall apart, when grief hits, when uncertainty grows, when we feel spiritually dry, when the people and things we used to rely on for support are no longer there.  The wilderness is where the question “Who am I?” becomes painfully real.

 

The devil begins with something that sounds reasonable to Jesus “You’re hungry. Fix it. Use your power for yourself.” He used the same reasonable comment with Eve. When Eve saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; Why not? It’s there – why would God have placed it there if he didn’t want us to taste it. But Jesus refuses to satisfy his human hunger and fill his hunger for righteousness. He answers with Scripture: “People do not live by bread alone.” This is not a rejection of food.

It is a rejection of a life driven by immediate desire. He chooses trust over impulse. He chooses God’s word over self gratification.

 

In the next temptation the devil quotes Scripture—twisted, weaponised, taken out of context. “Prove who you are. Force God’s hand. Make Him catch you.” If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ If God loves you he won’t let anything happen to you. It was how he tricked Eve:Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’“ But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die;  Satan twisted the words to manipulate Eve.

If God loves you he won’t let anything happen to you. Jesus refuses. “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Faith is not a performance. It is not a bargain. I’ll do this if you do that. It is not a stunt like a magic performance.

 

It’s very much like Peter’s encounter with Simon the sorcerer in Acts: When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! The devil then shows Jesus the kingdoms of the world and offers them in exchange for worship. How many churches fall for this trap? Watering down God’s word to be more entertaining and attract people? This is the temptation to take a shortcut. To grasp power without sacrifice. To claim glory without the cross. The temptation to take one little bite: God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God. But at what cost? Knowing good and evil.

 

Up to that point God had held back evil – God saw the creation and behold it was “very good”. Jesus answers: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” Jesus doesn’t choose the short cut. He chooses the long road. The costly road.

The road of obedience, humility, and love. The road Peter did not want to take when Jesus said he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. But Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

 

Jesus does not overcome temptation by sheer willpower. None of us ever can. He overcomes it by God’s word and promises. Every temptation begins with the same whisper: “If you are the Son of God…” The devil tries to make Jesus doubt the very identity God has just affirmed. And likewise he will do the same with you. You call yourself a Christian? All Christians are hypocrites. That’s how temptation works for us. It attacks our identity as loved and saved Children of God.

It manipulates the Gospel: “You’re not good enough.” “You’re alone.” “You’re unloved.” “You’re a failure.” “You should take control because God won’t come through.” Jesus stands firm because He knows the truth spoken at His baptism: “You are my beloved.” That is the truth that carries Him through the wilderness. And it is the truth that carries us too. We all face temptations—: to define ourselves by what we have, to prove ourselves through achievement, to seek power, control, or shortcuts, to doubt God’s goodness, to forget our identity as beloved children of God.

 

The wilderness exposes our vulnerabilities, but it also reveals God’s faithfulness.At the end of the passage, angels come and care for Jesus. God was there all along. And he is there for you to as Jesus promised in our Baptism. I am with you always till the end of the age. Not “until you mess up” No – always – till the end of the age. The Temptation of Jesus is not about how strong we must be. It is about how faithful Jesus is. He faces the full weight of temptation and remains true.

As the Book of Hebrews reminds us:  We have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Mercy and grace – not judgment.

 

Where Israel fell, where Adam and Eve fell where we fall – Jesus stands firm. And because He stands, we can stand with Him. He is not our example to follow. He is our strength. He is our companion in the wilderness. He is the One who has walked this path before us and walks it with us still. The wilderness is real. Temptation is real. But so is the voice that speaks over us: “You are my beloved.” When you are tested—remember that voice. When you fail – remember that voice.

When you feel alone—remember that voice. Jesus shows us that our identity as children of God is stronger than temptation, God’s word is stronger than the enemy’s lies, The wilderness is not our home but a path we journey through.

 

Sermon Ash Wednesday 2026

 Sermon Ash Wednesday 2026

 

Ash Wednesday is a strange day in the church year. We are not celebrating Jesus’ birth, or rejoicing in his resurrection, or hearing a miracle story. We gather to be marked with ashes. A sign of the cross on the forehead. A reminder of mortality.

Dust we are and to dust we shall return. A confession of our need for hope beyond the grave despite our sinfulness. And so the focus is on repentance as did the people in biblical times who would cover themselves in ashes as a sign of repentance.

And yet, beneath all of that, Ash Wednesday is profoundly hopeful.

It is not a day of despair. It is a day of preparation for the season of Lent. For those who wish to receive the imposition of ashes, when the ashes are placed on our foreheads, we hear the ancient words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Repentance is not meant to shame us. It is meant to free us. We spend so much of our lives pretending we are invincible—that we can do everything, fix everything, control everything. Until we experience a diagnosis of our sickness. Until we hear on the news devastation of life through natural disasters, fatal accidents, acts of terror. We carry burdens we never expected we should carry.

 

Ash Wednesday gently interrupts that illusion that we have all the answers. It reminds us: We are finite. We are fragile.

We are human. And God knows this. God has always known this. The ashes are not a verdict. They are an invitation—to stop pretending, to stop performing, to stop hiding from reality. The prophet Joel when announcing Israel’s gloomy future of coming judgment also gives them hope: “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.” Lent is not about breaking us beyond repair. It is about and invitation to come to God’s grace. It is about turning away from the things that drain life from us— resentment, fear, pride, distraction, self reliance— and turning toward the One who gives life.

 

Repentance is not punishment. Repentance is restoration. It is the moment the prodigal son realises he can still go home. It is the moment the lost sheep is lifted onto the shepherd’s shoulders. It is the moment we discover that God has been waiting and searching for us all along. The ashes are not placed on us in a random shape. They form a cross. The same symbol we received when the sign of the cross was made on our foreheads at our baptism The symbol of death becomes the sign of life. I love that part of our communion liturgy during Lent. Who on the tree of the cross gave salvation to all that where death began there life might be restored – that he who by a tree once overcame might by a tree be overcome.

 

So death, the mark of our mortality becomes the mark of our salvation through the death of Christ. Ash Wednesday holds these two truths together: We are dust. We are beloved. We are broken,—but we are also redeemed. We are sinners,—but we are also embraced by grace. The cross on our foreheads is a reminder that Jesus meets us exactly where we are. Lent is not a season of self-improvement. It is a season of surrender. A season of reflection It is a time to let go of what is crushing the soul. A time to make space for God. A time to walk with Jesus toward the cross—not in fear, but in trust.

 

Just as Peter, James and John could not stay on the mountaintop – we too must journey through the ashes to the glory. Some people give something up for Lent. Some people take something on – a time of service to others. But the heart of Lent is not the practice itself. The heart of Lent is repentance as we return to God and received the gift of life. When God formed Adam, God bent down into the dust and breathed his own life of breath into the dust.

 

So when we receive ashes today it is not a sign of separation from God. We are being drawn close to the God who loves his Creation who is in his own image. The God who created us from dust and walked among us in dust and rose from a tomb  meets us again today. Not with condemnation. But with compassion. Death is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of our life with God.

 

So Ash Wednesday is a journey from dust to resurrection. From confession to forgiveness. From wandering to homecoming. So as we receive the ashes, may we hear these word’s as God’s promise: Remember that you are dust.

And may this Lent be a season of truth, tenderness, and transformation— a season where we discover again that God’s mercy is deeper than our sin, and God’s love is stronger than death.

 

Sermon 15th February 2026 – 5th Sunday after Epiphany Text: Matthew 17:1-9 – Transfigured

 Sermon 15^th February 2026 – 5^th Sunday after Epiphany

Text: Matthew 17:1-9 – Transfigured

 

Today, we gather to reflect on a profound moment in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is known as the Transfiguration.

This event is a powerful declaration of the divine nature of Christ to prepare his disciples for the most challenging moment in Jesus’ ministry that they are about to witness – his suffering and death. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain.  Mountains have a deep significance as they are where God’s people encounter God’s presence; We have Moses receiving the Law on Sinai in today’s Old Testament reading. Elijah experiences God in the still whisper on Mt Horeb.  Jesus takes His closest disciples away from the busyness of life to reveal His divine glory. Jesus reveals the glory of his divine nature to strengthen them for the frailty of his human nature as he experiences suffering and death. He does this so they do not lose their faith in him.

 

As they reach the mountain top something incredible happens.  Jesus is transfigured before them. His face shines like the sun, and His clothes become as white as light.  This is a moment of revelation that reveals Jesus’ true hidden glory. Jesus reveals that he is not just a teacher or leader; He is the glorious Son of God, fulfilling the law and the prophets, as represented by Moses and Elijah appearing beside Him. In this glorious transfiguration and in the events to follow we witness the reality that Jesus is both fully God and fully human.

 

Likewise in the world – Jesus is not a moral example to follow – he is not an inspirational leader – he is our Lord and Saviour. Without faith our eyes will only see the humanity and what the world does to him still today. The humiliation – the ridicule – the mockery of the church and children of God. Much like without faith we only see water, bread and wine. But with faith we see and receive the glory of God hidden in the earthly elements. The glory of Christ is revealed to us as a glimpse of what is to come—the resurrection and the ultimate victory over sin and death.  As Paul says in Colossians 3 - your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Likewise Holy Communion is a foretaste of the feast to come.

 

For us today, it serves as a reminder that our faith is not based merely on moral teachings or good ethics but on the divine person of Jesus, who goes beyond all understanding. The disciples' reaction is a combination of confusion and fear.  It is understandable;  Encountering the divine is both awe-inspiring and terrifying.  Peter, in an attempt to capture this extraordinary moment, suggests building 3 shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, wanting to cling to the glory of what he has witnessed.  Peter does what many of us would do. He tries to hold onto the moment. “Lord, it is good for us to be here. Let me build three shelters…” It’s such a human response.

 

When something holy happens, we want to preserve it, protect it, freeze it in place. But the voice of God interrupts, declaring, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” This divine declaration emphasizes the importance of listening to Jesus, the beloved Son. Listen to what in particular? If we remember that the same declaration happened at his Baptism – this is my son whom I love – in our own Baptism Jesus made a promise: I am with you always.

That is something we can listen to continually particularly when we go through difficult times. Listen to Him when He says,

“Blessed are the peacemakers.” Listen to Him when He says, “Love your enemies.” Listen to Him when He says, “Come to me, all who are weary.” Listen to Him when He says, “Take up your cross and follow me.” Listen to Him when He says, “I am with you always.”

 

It is the tension of Christians who face both glory and suffering as saint and sinner. The world is full of noise—opinions, fears, distractions, demands. But on the mountain, God cuts through it all; Sometimes as only a quiet whisper as Elijah experienced: Our lives won’t always be mountain top experiences: We find ourselves wanting to hold onto moments of intense emotion or revelation but that just doesn’t happen.

 

So we are reminded not to dwell on the mountaintop experiences because they won’t always last. But to listen to Jesus and follow Him back into our ordinary lives, where our true transformation occurs.

The Transfiguration is not just about what happens on the mountain; it is about what happens when we come down.

And notice that they did not come down alone.  Jesus came with them. True transformation happens as we listen to Jesus and apply His teachings in our lives, thereby reflecting His light in a world that desperately needs it. As we heard last week – let your light shine so others see God’s glory through us.

 

So how do we maintain the light of the Transfiguration? Listen to Jesus: In a world full of noise and distraction, prioritizing time in prayer and reading our bibles is essential.  Jesus desires to speak to us and guide us into a more profound encounter with Him. Live in His Light: After the mountain, we are called to shine His light in our actions, attitudes, and relationships. How we treat others reflects our understanding of His love and glory. Embrace Transformation: Transformation often requires surrender—letting go of old habits, beliefs, and fears. Ask the Lord to help you identify areas in your life that need His transforming touch. Share the Experience: While we are not to dwell on our mountaintop experiences, we are called to share our encounters with Christ in ways that inspire and uplift others.

 

So the transfiguration teaches us: We need moments of revelation which come to us in: Times of worship, prayer, Scripture, community— Moments that remind us who Jesus is and who we are. That’s why we cannot stay on the mountain.

Faith is lived out in the everyday in kindness, forgiveness, justice, compassion toward our neighbour. And Jesus goes with us. The Jesus who shines in glory is the same Jesus who touches us when we are afraid. The same Jesus who leads us down the mountain walks with us through every valley. Your testimony could be the key that opens someone else’s heart to Jesus. So as we move forward from this moment, let us remember that we are all invited to the mountain—to experience Christ’s glory and then return renewed and transformed to make a difference in the world around us. May we carry the light of Christ within us, reflecting His love, grace, and truth in every aspect of our lives. Amen.

 

Sermon 8th February 2026 – 5th Sunday after Epiphany Text: Matthew 5:13-20 – Salt of the earth

 Sermon 8^th February 2026 – 5^th Sunday after Epiphany

Text: Matthew 5:13-20 – Salt of the earth

 

Have you ever been to a market and seen clothing that is around half the price of what you would pay in stores? You soon discover they are fakes – knock offs. They have the same branding – they look the same – and you can’t understand why the real brands cost so much more when there doesn't seem to be any difference. But over time you begin to see the difference.  When you wash them and they fade or go out of shape. They break down soon after buying them. But you can’t tell the difference when you first buy them by looking at them.

 

I heard an interesting comment that you don’t learn what is fake by studying them looking for faults. You study the original – the real ones and you can then quickly discover the fakes once you are very accustomed to the real product. The same can be said of the Christian faith. Many people are disillusioned with the Christian faith because what they see doesn’t really represent what the Christian faith should be. And that happens when the Church believes that its mission is to be like the world it lives in. That is not what we are called to do. Jesus says we are called to be the salt of the earth.

 

Salt has various functions which can also represent the mission of the church. Salt is used to flavour. Could you imagine fish n chips without salt? It would be so bland. In fact many people don’t taste food first to see if it needs salt – they reach and add salt automatically. But imagine if you reached for the sugar by accident. It looks like salt but you would immediately notice the difference when you taste it. Likewise the Church brings flavour to the world when it teaches true Christian principles. Forgiveness instead of retribution – turning the other cheek. Unconditional love – even loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us. Sometimes that becomes counter-culture when we have to call out injustices and don’t accept the changes of the world as we point out error. Just think how counter-culture Jesus was when he asked his Father to forgive those who were crucifying him. When he ate with sinners – when he touched lepers – associated with Samaritans. But forgiveness doesn’t mean overlooking or accepting sinful behavour but seeing reconciliation with God as always an open path – like the woman who was caught in adultery. She was not condemned but told to ‘sin no more’. But Jesus points out that following God’s commandments are not only important but essential. As Jesus says: Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.

 

And that’s where another quality of salt comes in – to preserve. Even with modern methods of preserving food such as refrigeration, salt is God’s gift of preserving food by creating a hostile environment for bacteria.  Likewise the Church preserves the beauty of God’s world by preserving God’s presence in the world. We only have to look at what happens to our world when God’s presence is ignored. Immorality and unethical behaviour prevails and in fact confuses people where evil is called good and good is called evil. Sin is called ‘fun’ – progressiveness – enlightenment – modern times.

It’s like buying a product on the internet – the picture looks like the real product – they even use the authentic brand names – but it’s so cheap. So you buy it and when it arrives it sort of looks like a real product but then over time it begins to become faulty. Likewise, through sin, we don’t recognise the path we are going on when we start to reduce our time with God. We don’t realise the harm it is doing to our relationship with God. Life looks the same but -  We don’t’ worship as much – we don’t pray as much – we don’t read God’s word as much – and soon we can’t tell the difference between the ways of the world and the ways of God. And that’s where God’s presence reveals the way we’ve been heading and it can be a real shock to understand what we have allowed our lives to be affected by. We don’t realised how far we have strayed from God.

 

And that’s the 3rd use of salt – to heal. Salt has strong healing qualities. Many gargle salt water to heal a sore throat.

Salt water can be used to heal infections. But salt can also hurt when it does its healing – as the saying goes – rubbing salt into a wound. It stings – but so too God’s healing can be painful as we realise what we have done. Repentance is not easy which is why it’s easier to justify ourselves rather than have God justify. It is easier to remove ourselves from God so we don’t experience guilt. Which is what Adam and Eve did – they hid from God. John’s revelation said he saw a double edged sword coming out of Jesus’ mouth in the vision of Jesus that he saw. Jesus himself said - Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Likewise the book of Hebrews says -  For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Jesus’ words – his law – is like a surgeon’s scalpel that needs to cut deep in order to heal. And it can leave scars – as Jacob discovered after his wrestle with God. He received his blessing – he received his new name – but he walked away with a lifelong limp. His name became Israel which means one who struggles with God.

 

Likewise our lifelong journey with God can be a struggle as we are constantly called back from our sinfulness. But then comes the healing. The Grace of God that comes from the cross – the new tree of life whose leaves are the healing of the nation. And this is what God has called on us to reveal to the world as his light. Sometimes it is easier to keep our faith private. It’s safer. We’ll just go to church – feel secure about our salvation. But Jesus needs our faith to be seen. Jesus says: You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

 

Even Paul experienced the nervousness of proclaiming his faith despite his personal experience with Jesus. He said: I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God. Let us remember – the church doesn’t need the world to accept it.  The world needs the church to be the salt and light of the world. It needs a true Church not one that has lost its saltiness. It needs a Church to shine in the world so the world will give glory to God and know the true healing that he brings. And just like salt enhancing the taste of your food – as King David said in Psalm 34. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Sermon 1st February 2026 – 4th Sunday after Epiphany Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 – Opposite qualities

 Sermon 1^st February 2026 – 4^th Sunday after Epiphany

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 – Opposite qualities

 

Today, we reflect on a profound message from the Apostle Paul which challenges our understanding of wisdom, power, and identity as followers of Christ. Paul begins with a bold statement: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” What a contrast Paul reveals – and nothing in between – it’s either a message of foolishness or salvation. It’s so true. Many think we are foolish for believing what they believe to be a fairly tale – a man made story no different to other novels of fiction. To many the cross is just a fashion accessory. But in reality it is a symbol of suffering, shame, and death used by the Roman world in Jesus’ time. But through Jesus the cross has been transformed from suffering and death to salvation and hope.

 

In a world that values strength, success, and intelligence, the idea that God would choose the path of the cross seems absurd.  Yet, Paul asserts that this “foolishness” is where true power lies. What does it mean for us today?  It leads us to examine the ways we seek power and strength in our lives, sometimes at odds with the message of the cross. Paul quotes Isaiah, asserting that God will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the intelligent. The world’s wisdom often leads us to pride and self-reliance, while God’s wisdom requires humility and dependence, or as Paul says of Jesus – he emptied himself. That is what Paul will go on to discover for himself in 2nd Corinthians with his “thorn in the flesh – and that when he is weak then he is strong.

 

Our achievements and intellect can direct our faith to reliance on ourselves, distancing us from the grace we are called to embrace.  We must recognize that God often chooses the weak and the foolish in the eyes of the world to reveal His truth.

And then Paul gets very personal. Paul reminds the Corinthians, “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.” Many were not wise by human standards, influential, or of noble birth.This is a radical reminder of how God views us—not through the lens of worldly standards, but through the lens of grace. In Christ, our identity is not determined by our status, accomplishments, or intellect, but by God’s love for us. (John 3:16) It’s like what God said to Moses about why he chose Israel out of all the other possibilities –

In Deuteronomy 7 it says:

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you.

As Paul says in 2 Corinthians, in Christ we are a new creation.

 

Each of us is chosen, not for our merit, but because of God’s grace and love. Paul concludes by proclaiming that Christ Jesus has become for us wisdom from God. Christ is the embodiment of the wisdom and power of God.  In our own lives, we often chase after wisdom in human terms—more degrees, titles, and awards. Just as Paul does, Jesus also teaches that true blessing is found in the opposite of the what the world points us to for strength. Jesus says:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This highlights humility and reliance on God.  It is an acknowledgment that we are spiritually bankrupt without Jesus.

When we realize our need for grace, we open ourselves to the Kingdom.

 

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. They will be comforted knowing that death leads to eternal life in Heaven with God with no more suffering or death. Unlike the world that sees death as the end, we, through Christ, see death as the beginning.

 

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Those who are meek are not weak; they possess the strength to trust in God’s timing and justice.

 

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. This desire for righteousness drives us toward God’s standards. God has a hunger for righteousness as Paul points out in 2 Corinthians – God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. This hunger is met when we seek God’s presence, His Word, and His ways to know true inner peace.

 

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. And that’s because mercy reflects God’s character.  In showing mercy to others, we mirror God’s love. The LORD is full of compassion and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love.

As we forgive and show compassion, we ourselves experience God’s grace.

 

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. When our hearts are aligned with God’s purpose, we can experience His presence in our lives. To see God is to experience His presence in a real and profound way.

 

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Peacemakers actively work to resolve conflicts and promote harmony.  In doing so, they reflect God’s reconciling nature.  We become agents of peace in a world being torn apart with division.

 

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Persecution is a reality for those who stand firm in their faith.  And it comes in many forms – physical, spiritual, emotional. Jesus assures us that enduring hardship for His name’s sake aligns us with the Kingdom.  Our suffering is not in vain; it is how Christ’s power rests on us which sees Paul even rejoicing in his suffering that leads to hope.

 

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Throughout bible history those who speak God’s truth have been rejected and persecuted. But as Jesus says – love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

 

These are all opposite kingdom qualities to the worldly qualities that we are told we should aspire to. They are qualities that the world tells us that there is something wrong with us. However, the true wisdom lies in knowing Jesus and acknowledging our need for Him.

 

As we grow in this relationship, we discover our identities as beloved and redeemed children of God, sent forth to share this incredible message of hope with the world. So we are urged to ask ourselves: Where do we seek wisdom and power?

Do we become discouraged by our perceived lack of strength or status? The message of the cross invites us into a different reality, one where our weaknesses are not a hindrance, but a gateway to experience God’s grace more fully. Let us embrace the foolishness of the cross, and in doing so, become examples of divine wisdom, love, and grace. Let us carry this message proudly into the world, knowing that there is power in our vulnerability and strength in our faith in Christ.