Text: Psalm 135:15-18

Introduction

What comes to mind when you hear the term idolatry? Primitive ‘natives’ bowing before a wooden image? Perhaps this might seem faintly ridiculous (though in a post-modern world we are quick to affirm indigenous knowing). I want to encourage us, as the people of God, to think about current issues from a theological and biblical perspective. I will argue that it helps to return to biblical concepts such as idolatry and to see a contemporary relevance. In the next three sermons that I preach, I will look at the natural human attribute of overvaluing (youth), attempts at personal salvation (romantic love) and making leaders divine (politics). Each will reveal a different dynamic, which I think can subvert mature spiritual understanding.

Rather than idolatry, you might prefer a different term. Scott Cormode in his book The Innovative Church talks about the “big lies” which prevent people hearing the gospel. This might be another way of talking about idolatry.

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Texts: Acts 5:27-32; John 20:19-31

So today we have heard two stories directly about belief.

We got the story of Thomas, sometimes called doubting Thomas, who declares that he needs proof to believe in the resurrection. And while he receives it, he is told that others’ will be rewarded for believing without this.

And we have a declaration from Peter to the high priest – the disciples committing themselves to faith in Jesus despite pressure to do otherwise.

And it could be simple to surmise from the pairing of these readings that the lectionary, and whoever wrote it, wants us to remember to be better than Thomas, and have the declarative, certain, faith of Peter.

And I guess I have very deeply held feelings about that, because saying it makes me a bit uncomfortable. And on a shallow look at my discomfort, I would say it’s because there’s a certain type of person who first comes to mind when I think about declarative, certain, faith. A certain type of Christian. And they’re generally a Christian that I’m a bit mad at, really.

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By the end of this sermon I hope to convince you that God is not good at maths. With God 1+1 will always =3! Let’s think about three mathematical equations: 1+1=1, =2, =3. Even with primary school maths two of the three seem wrong, but I think we will discover all are true to life.

Text: John 20: 14-18 Mary turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. He said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni” (which means teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold onto me, because I have not yet ascended to the father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I’m ascending to my father and your father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”.

In this encounter, Mary was surprised, to say the least. I am astonished that the gospel writer John chose this account to be foundational for the Christian church. Who is the primary witness? A woman who has low status in Jewish society (hardly qualified to be a witness in a court of law). In some traditions of the church Mary Magdalene was a woman of uncertain morals. There are lots of surprising details about her confusion of Jesus with a gardener. If you were a gospel writer, surely you would want to provide more convincing evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

But something very surprising happened 2000 years ago. I think we can agree that none of us were there. Maybe we can also agree that it speaks to our human experience. But, how does it fit the three mathematical formulas I have suggested? We will see.

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Text: John 12:1-8. GUC 3 April 2022 Lent 5

Introduction
The gospel portrays an intimate incident in the house of Lazarus. We are reminded that Jesus raised

Lazarus from the dead and he is at the table. Jesus is surrounded by his friends including Martha and Mary. Martha has prepared the meal, and her mention was brief: “Martha served” (12:2). Mary was at the feet of Jesus, “Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus feet and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (12:3) There was some dispute among the disciples and Judas Iscariot suggested that the perfume was wasted on Jesus, “Why was this perfume not sold for 300 denarii and the money given to the poor?” (12:5). Apparently, Judas was more interested in stealing funds from the common purpose.

Today I would like to think with you about how we connect with God. In the gospel account, I would suggest we see four different ways of relating to Jesus. This will be highlighted by attachment theory, which has been influential in education, counselling and childhood development. It has also been applied to our spiritual life. Now, for some necessary groundwork.

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Text Luke 15:11-32 The prodigal son. GUC 27 March 2022

“The pursuit of happiness” is one of our most fundamental rights. It is enshrined in The American Declaration of Independence. This is hardly controversial since almost everyone thinks that wanting to be happy is a good thing. If only it were that simple; unfortunately, I see at least two difficulties.

First, there are many people who have done well – basically have everything a person could want – but are perfectly miserable. Many have sought happiness but not found it. Maslow developed his hierarchy of needs. People have assumed, along with Maslow, that if our basic and higher needs were met, we would be happy.

Let’s stop a person on the street and ask. Fred is employed in a public service clerical job, he is married with two adolescent children. He has an income which meets his family’s basic needs (food, water, warmth, rest), and living in Australia meets his safety needs. He has a stable relationship and friends (belonging and love needs). He did a part-time university degree and feels he has achieved something (esteem needs). Notice that we have ascended the need hierarchy. Neither Fred or I know what Maslow, a child the human potential movement, meant by self-actualization which was placed at the peak of the need’s hierarchy. But Fred has recently talked with his GP and has started anti-depressant medication. Maybe Fred should be happy but he isn’t.

There are countless people just like Fred – who have every reason to be happy but are deeply unhappy for no apparent reason. A couple of my closest friends are ‘in the same boat’. They are older and perhaps with more money but unhappy. The second barrier? You will have to wait until later in the sermon. I will have ‘to set the stage’ with the parable of the prodigal son which is one of the best known in the New Testament.

Reflect: There are three people: the younger brother, older brother and the father. Who do you identify with? Think for a moment. Ask yourself why. What life experiences have you had to make such an emotional connection?

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