All Gospel No Germs

Jean-Louis Péchèr, Planting Curate at St Luke's Holbeck, preached on Matthew 10:40-42 on Sunday 28 June 2020. The reading was given by Jade Belton.

In this sermon, Jean-Louis speaks of the Missio Dei (the Mission of God) to make his love known to the world. We're called to continue the mission of Jesus - as he was sent, so we are too. As we have love poured into our hearts, so we are to pour love on a waiting world.

But if I want to embrace this mission, I need to be known as a disciple of Jesus. How will people know that I am a disciple?

Rolf spends time offer some additional reflections on Alistair's sermon from Matthew 10:24-39. Rolf explains where the passage appears, coming as it does after Matthew 9 and its focus on Jesus healing and teaching ministry, and then the opening of Matthew 10 when Jesus selects his 12 disciples who he promptly sends out to the lost sheep.

Rolf considers the way that Jesus doesn't cover up or airbrush away the pains and challenges of being a Christian, drawing on the example of advertisements for the army.

And while there is challenge, the passage also points to the promise of being known and loved by God.

Alistair Kaye, Vicar of St Luke's Holbeck preached on Matthew 10:24-39 on Sunday 21 June 2020. In this sermon Al wants to encourage each and every one of us to trust that, though there is challenges when following Jesus, we are all, individually, called, known and empowered by God. Being a disciple is an adventure with God. The reader is Liz Pennington.

Barbara, Emily and Rolf discuss Jean-Louis's sermon from 14 June where Matthew 5:33-48 was preached. In this discussion the team talk about the importance of giving sermons your best attention (or listening back where you can), the place for digging deep into the Bible, and the value of ancient Lectio Divina. Emily recommends the App 'Lectio 365'  and Barbara the small group 'Look, Learn, Live' at St Luke's. The team talk about what family values informed their homes while growing up, or as parents. They end with Jean-Louis' challenge: what thing are you going to do differently tomorrow?

You can find out more about LECTIO 365 here: https://www.24-7prayer.com/dailydevotional

You  can find out more about LOOK, LEARN, LIVE here: https://stlukesholbeck.org.uk/learn-look-live/

Jean-Louis Péchèr, Planting Curate at St Luke's, preaches on Matthew 5:33-48 on Sunday 14 June 2020. Jean-Louis speaks about the sermons that have preceded this Sunday - over a few months from Easter we've been hearing about the goodness and grace of God. But we think today about our behaviour as God's children - the call to follow the Family Values. Jean-Louis encourages us to inconvenience ourselves for the sake of others. How are we to make a difference in the world? By pursuing our holy and loving Jesus. The reading is given by Barbara Hardy.

Barbara Hardy, Reader at St Luke's,  preaches on Matthew 28:16-20 on Sunday 7 June 2020, which was Trinity Sunday. This is often seen as the sermon preachers want to avoid, but Barbara (on limited time due to the online nature of the sermon) delivers a brilliant summary of the different aspects of the three persons of the Trinity. Barbara turns to Paul's prayer of blessing in 2 Corinthians 13 and elaborates on how God is grace, love and fellowship - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The reading was given by Sue Richardson.

Barbara, Emily and Josh chat about Rolf's sermon from 31 May, Pentecost. The reading was Acts 2:1-21 with lots of fun place names and races! This discussion came amidst the protests and demonstrations across the world in response to the murder of George Floyd, which Rolf picked up in his sermon. After Emily offers a summary of the sermon the team consider the need to be one in Christ, the way crowds are seen by Jesus, how they've made connections to other Christians in the past, what Jesus might do in the current climate, and the real focus of Pentecost - is it about Jesus or the Holy Spirit. The team are honest about the fact that though St Luke's is a diverse church the three contributors are all white and therefore their contribution to the wider debate around race is limited, though it does open up an opportunity to listen, to learn and prayerfully consider what ways we can intervene.

Rolf Mason, Curate at St Luke's, preaches on Pentecost 2020, 31 May, based on the reading from Acts 2:1-21. This sermon came amidst the protests and riots in the USA, which had begun to spread to other countries. The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has been described as murder. This sermon picks up the universal nature of the gospel - the Holy Spirit, the spirit of Jesus, was poured out on all people. There is no place for racism in the church or amongst Christians. Pentecost is also a day chosen by God because of its relationship to harvest and the law - things Jesus talked about.

The service also included a self-penned monologue by our Reader, Barbara Hardy, read from the perspective of Peter.