Discipleship
Caring Neighbours
11th July 2010
WELCOME TO WORSHIP TODAY. We pray that your time with this community of faith at Ashmore Uniting Church strengthens you for the next part of your journey. Our goal as a Christian community is to be “reaching our changing lives”.
Last Tuesday we were able to do that very thing as the Adult Fellowship introduced “The Baroquas” (a recorder ensemble/friends of Ashmore Uniting Church) to our community. A few other surprises emerged on the day and we’d like to thank Pat Francis for her wonderful gift of entertainment that was shared with all who attended. It is great to see our Adult Fellowship growing as opportunities arise for us to invite our neighbours and friends to be part of God’s vibrant community.
Our Theme today of being Caring Neighbours is at the heart of today’s gospel reading from Luke 10:25-37. Ordinary actions of everyday life have great potential for good. An overview of our readings today invite us to consider how love and compassion are the essence of living faithfully in God’s reign. They call us to shape our lives according to God’s justice and mercy, striving for relationships that enable caring community. This is not always an easy thing to achieve as it challenges our sense of security which usually wants us to stay within our comfort zones. Being a Disciple of Jesus will often call us out of our comfort zones, because God’s reign usually challenges the status quo of the world around us.
This year we are on a journey of discovering what being a disciple of Jesus is about. Jesus has called you to be one of his disciples. I know this because you are here in worship or reading these foote-notes. The Holy Spirit has led you this far through your desire for a deeper life, a more authentic faith and a more certain hope in the God Jesus knows. Jesus has invited you to become one of his apprentices. This is the journey of Discipleship, becoming an apprentice to Jesus. It’s learning to “Love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength, and all your mind…And, loving your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).
It is not because of your strength or skills, but because he knows that if you learn how to think as he thinks and do the kinds of things that he did, you can have an amazing life which leads to eternal life (Luke 10:25). You may not move mountains or walk on water in a literal sense, but I believe that you can begin to learn how to be patient and kind, how to forgive those who have hurt you, and to bless and pray for your enemies. That is just as miraculous as walking on water.
Jesus begins to address these very issues in our Gospel reading from Luke 10:25-37 where Jesus’ “answer” to the question “Who is my neighbour” is a parable that traps the ‘religious person’ who is trying to justify their own position (Luke 10:29). I hope that today you are willing to be the “religious leader” who is challenged by Jesus to “go and do the same” Luke 10:37).
Grace – full finding the heart of faithful discipleship – justice, love, mercy, and compassion…this week…..Rev Brad Foote.
