Sermon: Introduction to Luke Series of Sermons

Year C of the three-year Lectionary has been taking us through Luke’s Gospel recently and I’ve been indebted to Tom Wright (N.T Wright), the current Bishop of Durham and New Testament expert for helping me begin to get my own head around Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom – and particularly the incredible stories, the parables, that he told. I was thinking about a title for the series of sermons, and, while it’s not exactly pithy, here’s what’s been in my mind as I’ve prepared and preached recently: 

'So what's all this about the radical and subversive kingdom of God? Is it upside-down thinking or what?' 

I’ve been careful to say this throughout, but it’s important to understand what a ‘parable’ actually is. Prophets and teachers from the Old Testament onwards used various story-telling devices to challenge Israel to deeper faith and better living. Jesus used parables “in order to break open the world-view of his contemporaries and to invite them to share his vision of God’s kingdom instead.”[1] 

I hope you’re able to ‘catch’ a little of what’s going on here about Jesus’ call to be his disciples – although ‘apprentices’ might be a better word. It’s a radical calling not just to believe certain stuff, but to live in ways that provoke questions from those looking in at the Church. 

The challenge to Christians throughout history has been how to live faithfully and provocatively within the cultural context in which the church finds itself - how to engage with prevailing ideas: to resist these where they’re unhelpful, but also to see the opportunities for Christian witness in ways that are relevant, informed and that take people’s questions about life seriously. 

Too often perhaps, we can find ourselves tempted to withdraw into our own self-protective enclaves. But we can, also, quite unthinkingly, assimilate harmful ideas and practices - secular values and ways of living if you like. Romans 12:2 in The Message says “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking” 

We certainly see both responses in the early church  - and some of the wacky theology that this gave rise to - and the apostle Peter in his first letter was at pains to encourage the new gentile Christians to keep going: to give their utmost in living distinctively different lives. He knew how much they were struggling with the stuff going on around them but had this to say by way of encouragement:   

…do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” [2]  

I hope you find these sermons helpful in making it a little clearer what we’re all supposed to about as the apprentices of the Lord Jesus – and on the way have a bit of a ‘rethink’ about what we’ve made of church by failing to really understand Jesus call to LIVE.