One off sermons

I enormously enjoy reading the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles series of books written by an author called Bernard Cornwell, which has been renamed the Last Kingdom series after the title of the first book of the series. I’ve also enjoyed watching — it’s set in the late 9^th century, early 10^th century in England, when groups of Danish Viking raiders were crossing over from Scandinavia to the east coast of England and trying to establish a kingdom here.

Jesus tells what would have been a very familiar story for the people of his day. It’s a favourite story of mine in the Gospels. In fact, just before lockdown, I had an assembly all set up, ready to take into Kemsing Primary School to do, and then I wasn’t able to go in because they had to shut the school. I still have, in a tray in my study, a folder with all my visual aids prepared — even a packet of Blu-Tack — and I’m not hopeful that I will get to go and do that assembly that’s been prepared before I go. But you never know. It’s great fun, this story.

Jesus tells another story about some familiar scenes from everyday life to tell us what the kingdom of heaven is like. Jesus has come, he’s king of this world, the invitation to follow him as king now stands. What is life like in a world where that invitation to follow Jesus is there? And this time the story is based around a wedding party.

There are four stages of the story, and each stage tells us something about what life in this age is like.

Perhaps like me you long for good times to return again: the opportunity to take a holiday whenever, wherever you wish; the opportunity to meet with friends, any number of people, indoors or outdoors; the opportunity to forget face masks, to sit closer than two meters to somebody from another household. Perhaps you long for good times to return.

If you do picture for a moment the Jews of Jesus' day. they longed for good times to return.

A sermon given on Remembrance Sunday 2020, from Ephesians 2:14-22

Modern Christians and the Government

Compared to many countries in the world, we have a fairly good relationship with our government.

Don’t worry, I’m not about to go all political.

A sermon given on Remembrance Sunday 2019, from 2 Peter 1:12-15

A sermon given on Remembrance Sunday 2018

We’ve come together today to remember those who gave their lives during the two great wars of the last century. Every community in England lost huge numbers of people, and we resolved never to forget. We will remember them.

A talk from 9 Lessons and Carols in 2017.

The world can be a dark place.

It’s been quite a year. I searched the internet for newspaper headlines from 2017. I got many screens full, from all over the world.

Here are some:
Suspected cop killer shot dead.
British meat in horse hormone scandal.
Carnage at pop concert.
NHS cuts 15000 beds in 6 years.
UK relations with Russia at all-time low.
Trump ready to strike Kim’s nuclear sites.
Some victims of tower blaze may never be identified.

A sermon given on Remembrance Sunday 2017.

2017 has had us worried at times. We’ve watched the tensions between the United States and North Korea ratchet up. The fear that any actual war could turn nuclear is very sobering.