Weekly Bible Notes and Worship Resources

Ordinary 15 Year A

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Introduction

The Gospel reading today tells the parable of the sower. God is at work in the world, but there is a snag, God expects us to co-operate in order for his will to be achieved. This is important, we have within us the ability to work with God, or to completely do our own thing. God does not control us, he seeks to co-operate with us. We all have that free decision, do I accept and follow God or not?

So ask yourself, how fertile is your life to allow God's seed to grow ?

Opening Verses of Scripture   Romans 8:14

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you
received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.


Collect Prayer for the Day — Before we read we pray

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: graft in our hearts the love of your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of your great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Eternal God, giver of love and peace, you call your children to live together as one family. Give us grace to learn your ways and to do your will, that we may bring justice and peace to all people, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Collect for NCH Sunday

First Bible Reading  Genesis 25; 19-34

This is the account of Abraham's son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. The LORD said to her,
"Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them. The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" That is why he was also called Edom. Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright." "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
 

Isaiah 55: 10 - 13

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."

Second Reading  Romans Chapter 8 :1 – 11

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set
on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those
controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Gospel Reading Matthew Chapter 13 : 1-9, 18-23

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear." "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Post Communion Sentence

Lord God, whose Son is the true vine and the source of life, ever giving himself that the world may live: may we so receive within ourselves the power of his death and passion that, in his saving cup, we may share his glory and be made perfect in his love; for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen.
 

Commentary

The Gospel today has a message. We most usually ask ourselves ‘what kind of soil am I’? Are we rocky ground into which God tries to sow his seed, are we weak and feeble Christians lacking in courage? Are we so preoccupied with cares and worries that we are ineffective and useless soil? Perhaps we should also ask ourselves, ’how effective am I as the seed which God wishes to sow‘?

The sower throwing the seed is the Creator sending out the word. We are that word, we are the seed he scatters. Planted in different communities, families, marriages, work situations, ministries, vocations, God scatters us and plants us in the midst of a variety of situations. The creator sends us forth and expects us to be fruitful. 

The question here for us is: Am I fruitful? In the midst of this community, in this marriage, as a father or mother in this family, as a Christian in this church community, as a minister, as a brother or sister, son or daughter, am I a blessing to the people I live among? Am I a fruitful word in their midst? Am I a good seed sown that raises up good fruit, great yields? What message do I carry to them, what message has God given to them through me? If God has scattered me to this place, these people, this situation, am I his word being creative and bringing forth life? Or will I return to him, barren and void?

The following prayer by Hildegard, expresses the thought that we go out as Christ and must seek to be visible expressions of his body on earth. Charles Royden

O eternal God, turn us into the arms and hands, the legs and feet of your beloved Son, Jesus. You gave birth to him in heaven before the creation of the earth, to become his living body. Make us worthy to be his limbs, and so worthy to share in his eternal bliss. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)

 

Meditation

The debate about how to legislate for those who cannot accept Women Bishops was all over the news for days, so if you read a paper or watch television news you could hardly NOT know! It was our own lovely Bishop of St Albans’ last time at Synod before he retires and he made a speech to remember. He pointed out that 90% of our time in Synod was spent on debating and legislating on domestic issues such as church fees, clergy discipline and the women bishops procedures. This leaves only ten per cent of our time to work on mission, social justice and the other big issues of the day. Bishop Christopher rightly pointed out that Jesus did not commission his followers to go forth and legislate and debate! Once a national church has a large membership, a legal framework and financial responsibilities, then all the rigmarole of management naturally follows. And of course Synod is the legal body responsible for all that administration and management. It is disheartening to note that all the good people gathered together at Synod are focussed on issues of gender and sexuality almost to the exclusion of anything else. In my sermon today I shall be talking about the challenges of global climate change, which formed the basis of a carefully researched document presented to Synod. The other main external issue this time was a motion on Christian in the workplace, and the spiritual implications of work in general. The tone of this debate was simply uplifting, showing the Church at its very best. A great many wise and experienced people from all walks of life are represented on Synod and they brought their experiences to the floor of the debating chamber. The special challenges of excessive work and the stresses that arise from Britons working the longest hours of any country in Europe were discussed. Another member of Synod spoke movingly of the evil of unemployment and the feelings of desperation, dislocation and worthlessness (as well as the obvious economic hardships) that arise from unemployment. The very good work done by ministers in secular employment (like Sam) were mentioned: the very special role they play in presenting a Christian perspective in the business world and the opportunities they have for ministry to colleagues and contacts.
Several speakers mentioned chaplains, in city centres, shopping malls and commercial centres. The chaplain to Canary Wharf in the economic heart of the city minister to thousands of overworked city employees, retail outlet and catering staff in that densely packed centre of stress and opportunity. The general feeling of the debate was that Christians are already alert to the need to spread the Good news and Christ’s love beyond the limitations of Church and the time frame of Sunday. But that we should be alert to the need to support those whose ministry is in this new areas and to divert funding in these new directions. Rev Dr Joan Crossley
 

Hymns

1. Praise to the Lord the Almighty
2. Bind us together, Lord
3. Lead us, heavenly father lead us
4. Breathe on me breath of God
5. O for a thousand tongues to sing
    

Prayers for Sunday and the week ahead

Prayer is a plant, the seed of which is sown in the heart of every Christian,
if it is well cultivated and nourished it will produce fruit, but if it is neglected, it will wither and die.

O Lord, my God, grant us your peace; already, indeed, you have made us rich in all things!
Give us that peace of being at rest, that sabbath peace, the peace which knows no end. (St. Augustine)

Keep us, O God, from pettiness; let us be large in thought, in word, in deed. Let us be done with faultfinding and leave off self-seeking. May we put away all pretences and meet each other, face to face, without self-pity and without prejudice. May we never be hasty in judgment and always generous. Let us take time for all things; make us to grow calm, serene, gentle. Teach us to put in action our better impulses-straightforward and unafraid.

Grant that we may realize it is the little things of life that create difficulties; that in the big things of life we are as one. Oh, Lord, let us not forget to be kind. Amen. (Mary Stewart, Queen of Scots)

I arise today through the strength of heaven; Light of the sun, Splendour of fire, speed of lightning, swiftness of the wind, depth of the sea, stability of the earth, firmness of the rock.
I arise today through God's strength to pilot me; God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me, God's hosts to save me afar and anear, alone or in a multitude.

Christ shield me today against wounding Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today through the mighty strength of the Lord of creation. Amen (Traditional.)

Additional Material

Commentary

The parable of the sower is very familiar and you will have heard many explications of it over the years. I must confess when I hear the parable, I think of my own little attempt to grow lettuce or sunflowers in the garden. When things don’ grow it isn’t of any importance. But Jesus was trying to tell his people that the barriers to growth, spiritual growth, were real and frightening and could mean the difference between life and death. In Jesus’ time the population as a whole were much more keenly aware than most of us now are, of the vital nature of agriculture. The people around Jesus all knew that if the seed did not flourish then starvation, illness and death would shortly follow. This brings a new urgency to the parable.

In his explanation of the story Jesus spoke of the parable as meaning that the types of soil meant different types of personality and their ability to grasp and retain the meaning of the Word. I wonder too, if Jesus’ story might be applicable to each one of us: that we are across our lifetimes quite differently able to be receptive to God’s word? What if we move in and out of being strong healthy productive plants and revert to becoming spindly or drooping plants at others?

People in this congregation often speak to me about their sense of grief about their children or grandchildren either not having any faith or not a faith which takes them to church. I do not feel we should despair. Many people return to regular worship at key change points in their lives: when they have their first child, when their children do not need them quite so much, after a bereavement. I firmly believe that God calls to us. I believe that our hearts are restless till they rest in God, and that we are pulled gently back to Him, if not in our lives then at the end. God will never let go of us, though we may not always be conscious of it. To return to the metaphor that Jesus uses. I think there are times when we are barren soil indeed. Perhaps when we are very sad or vulnerable. We become barren when we are disappointed or feeling lost.

But the sower, God, just keeps on patiently sending out the seed until we are ready to receive it aright! Rev Dr Joan Crossley

 

Performance Targets

From the parable of the sower we can see that even 2000 years ago Jesus had performance targets for Christians. As seed, the message of God’s kingdom is planted in your life, how do you consider God is producing a crop. What yield are you producing, a hundred, sixty or thirty times ?

Hymns (Mission Praise)

1. Be thou my vision,
2. After confession—When I feel the touch
3. Beauty for brokenness
4. Like a mighty river flowing
5. And can it be
6. Lift high the cross
7. Begin my tongue
8. He’s got the whole world
9. As man and woman we were made
10. Love divine
11. May the mind
    
    

O Lord who loves us as a father, who cares for us as a mother, who came to share our life as a brother; we confess our failure to live by your principles. We have not always shown your love. We have not seen or have chosen to ignore the needs of others. Reminds us what it means to be your children. Make us worthy of you. We want you to be proud of us. Help us to see ourselves and others as you see us. Fill our relationships with compassion and love, fill our hearts with faith and hope for our world. Amen.

Eternal God, we believe your purpose is joy for all your children. And we come with our prayers and our fears for this world, where so many have no taste of joy, or have their joy knocked out of them. We pray for parents—the seeds of whose hope of joy and security in their children are never given ground in which to grow. Give us your help and healing. Help us to discover through our difficulties the grace of your Spirit and the power of his liberating love, that comes to its full strength in our weakness. Broken relationships and broken spirits are healed, new starts are made. New hope is given.

Loving God, we thank you for every family where loves nurtures, where forgiveness heals, and children grow and flourish. We remember families in trouble where things have gone wrong and need time and patience, love and forgiveness to be put right. We thank you that we are all your children, heirs to your kingdom. Your love for us is conditional and will carry us safely through fear, anxiety and difficult times; and will also share our happiness and pleasure. We are all your children; secure in the love that you show us through others, and the presence of your Spirit to guide us. Amen.

Give us confidence to learn and grow together, to take our place in your world. Fulfill your purpose in us, your children, and grant us your grace now and forever. Amen

 

 

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ThisisChurch.com acknowledges the following websites which you may also find helpful in considering the lectionary this week:- www.bbc.co.uk/religion, www.textweek.com, www.lectionary.org, www.gbod.org/worship, www.methodist.org.uk, www.churchtimes.co.uk, http://www.cofe.anglican.org