Sermon for July 12th: Mark 6:14-29

Posted by guest blogger Tim Chesterton.

 

My sermon for July 12th, on Mark 6:14-29, is now posted on our church website. Here's the beginning.

It will be ten years next month since I was interviewed by the search committee for the position of rector of this parish of St. Margaret. It was a memorable interview in many ways, but one thing I especially remember was a question I was asked by Murray Tait, who was the People’s Warden at the time; some of you here will remember Murray and his wife Diane, who were very active members of this congregation and now live in Calgary. As near as I can remember it, Murray’s question went something like this: ‘Do you consider it to be part of your job as a preacher, not just to comfort us, but also to challenge us?’

Preachers - who are, after all, paid by their congregations - often have difficulty with that question! And yet we know that this is indeed an important part of our calling. The message of Jesus will not always come across as good news, especially when it calls us to leave sinful ways behind and put God’s word into practice in our daily lives. How do we react to that challenge? Today’s gospel tells us about two people who were challenged by God’s message, and how they reacted to it.

Read the rest here.

Comments

[Mommynator]

Thank you - another inspiration and something to take seriously.

[Nick]

Tim,

Well done !

Nick

[chuck aka XtnYoda]

Thanks for the reflections.

[allyHM]

Fr. Chesterton,

Hello fellow Anglican! I'm part of a formerly Episcopal and now Anglican (AMiA) Lovely sermon. Keep fighting the good fight up there in Canada. :)