James & John's request for the primary place in the Kingdom causes Jesus to remind them that Kingdom values are quite different from those of the world.

The video referred to in the sermon can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7vRsPF8mGo

This Harvest Festival sermon looks at the ambiguity of wealth in the life of King Solomon and modern day Christians, looking at both the dark and bright side of money and how our wealth can be redeemed.

The story of the rich young ruler reminds us that we need to throw off idolatry and covetousness and follow Jesus. Living as Christians we should be living examples of God's Kingdom to those around us as we answer Jesus' demand to 'come follow me'.

Jesus’ injunctions not to worry about food and drink, and to give to the poor, need to be understood in the context of the new community of God’s people that he came to establish. Not only should Christians not be preoccupied by possessions, but also the Christian community must be generous to their poorer members (just as the people of God in the OT were required to be concerned for the poor). We should help those in need in our congregation and poor Christians in other places worldwide.