Are we prepared to take risks for mission?
Call to worship:
God, your love is ever before me:
I walk continually in your truth.
I come to your altar to proclaim your praise:
I tell of your wonderful deeds.
I love the house where your live,
The place where your glory dwells.
My feet stand on level ground;
Here I will praise the Lord.
Hymn: STF88 – Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the king of creation
1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, brothers and sisters, draw near,
praise him in glad adoration.
2 Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee:
ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
who with his love doth befriend thee.
3 Praise to the Lord, who doth nourish thy life and restore thee,
fitting thee well for the tasks that are ever before thee,
then to thy need he like a mother doth speed,
spreading the wings of grace o’er thee.
4 Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding,
who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,
sheddeth his light, chaseth the horrors of night,
saints with his mercy surrounding.
5 Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the amen sound from his people again:
gladly for aye we adore him.
Joachim Neander (1650–1680)
translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878) and Rupert E. Davies (1909–1994)
Prayers of praise and confession
Holy God,
we praise you for your mighty acts of power and mercy.
You spoke the Word and the world came into being.
You breathed and we became living souls.
We thank you for your wonderful gifts of grace and truth.
You have revealed yourself to us in your Word and in your works.
You have promised us eternal life in your presence.
We adore you, O God, with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
Thank you, God, that all things are possible with you.
If we truly do something in your name,
however hard it has been, you will bless us.
You are always there to guide us,
to keep us on the right track.
Thank you that when we don’t understand something –
such as a camel going through the eye of the needle –
you are there to give us understanding.
You keep us on the straight and narrow way
when we need it most.
Thank you, God, that with you everything is new.
Through you we know we have the way to eternal life.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Take some time thinking about things that get in the way of your relationship with God. Gather in your heart the things you are sorry about, and hold them before God.
Lord, there are so many things that can get in the way of our relationship with you. We offer them to you now and ask that you will forgive us and show us new ways to always put you first. Whatever that may take. Grant us your wisdom, Lord.
As we bow before you now, our hearts contrite:
All things are possible with God.
You call us to yourself and bless us with the assurance that our sins are completely washed away in you.
All things are possible with God.
We thank you for your forgiveness.
We bless you, Lord.
All things are possible with God. Amen.
Reading: Mark 10.17-31 (NIVUK)
The rich and the kingdom of God
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. ‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’
‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good – except God alone. You know the commandments: “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honour your father and mother.”’
‘Teacher,’ he declared, ‘all these I have kept since I was a boy.’
Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!’
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, ‘Children, how hard it is[b] to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, ‘Who then can be saved?’
Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.’
Then Peter spoke up, ‘We have left everything to follow you!’
‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus replied, ‘no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – along with persecutions – and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.’
Hymn: God, the maker of the heavens
God, the maker of the heavens,
and the planet that we share,
show us how to live, like Jesus,
lives of gratitude and care.
Make us mindful of the footprints
from the lives that we pursue.
Make us partners in your mission:
you are making all things new.
God, the gardener of Eden,
teach us how to tend this earth,
learning from the changing seasons,
times of fallow and new birth.
Lord have mercy when we’re careless,
rich resources we misuse.
Use our hands to heal creation:
you are making all things new.
God of labour and vocation,
Lord of science, trade and art,
take our efforts and our passions
make them mirrors of your heart.
Every habitat and creature
loved and valued, God, by you.
May our lives reveal your Kingdom:
you are making all things new.
CCL# 7126825
© Sam Hargreaves / Resound Worship, Administered by Jubilate Hymns Ltd – copyrightmanager@jubilatehymns.co.uk
Reflection
The story of the Rich Young Man is like Mary Poppins. Bear with me on this one… and beware: spoiler alert… (Blame Shirley Ballas dressing as Mary Poppins in ‘Strictly’ last week for my mind making this connection.) Mary Poppins is a great film, full of joy and escapades, but to my mind it all builds up to the scene outside St Paul’s Cathedral. ‘Feed the birds, tuppence a bag’ transforms the film: suddenly what is important is called out, and what the children – indeed the entire family – do hinges on those moments. There are plenty of other films that have that same turning point, the same moment which you are waiting for, hoping for and wondering if there will be a different outcome this time. There never is!
Every time I hear the story of the rich young man – and it is in all three of the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) – I am waiting for that moment when this questioning young man hears the stark truth of a call from Jesus. ‘One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’
Every time I’m hoping either Jesus says something else (“You are closer to heaven than you think,” or “Follow me, and you will have more than you can desire,” or something…) or that the young man does something else. Instead, all we know is that he left sad, “because he had great wealth.”
What do we assume? He didn’t do it. He couldn’t give up the wealth that he had in order to follow Jesus and find his place in heaven.
And I think that is true of most of us. If Jesus came and stood in front of you and gave you the same challenge, I wonder if you would leave sad. Now, I don’t believe that this call to sell everything is the call from Jesus to each and every person – that, I think, would result in absolute chaos! – but I also fear the result of me saying this is that each and every one of us thinks, ‘Well, it’s not me…’
The real message of this story is not to put one’s faith in earthly things, but in God. It may involve risk and sacrifice… but your possessions, your wealth, even your family, are not as important as following Jesus. Note those final verses where Jesus says that no-one who has left home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children… will fail to receive 100 times as much in the present age and the age to come. If we balk at giving up our wealth, how do we feel about giving up our family? Which would you give up first?
Can we hear Jesus asking us to take a risk, to make a sacrifice, and be radical in our discipleship? We complain about low numbers in our churches, about people not wanting to come in. Most mission, however, takes place outside the church building. Dare we take a step of faith and go there, to meet those most in need?
Mission involves taking risks. It means talking to people we don’t usually talk to. It means going out of our way; even saying things that our culture may struggle with. It may make us uncomfortable; it may even fail (in the sense of not living up to our hopes); it will probably involve sacrifice.
The rich young man was being asked to sacrifice everything he owned, but Jesus wasn’t proposing to abandon him. He promised him treasures in heaven, and the honour of following him. Yes, there can be great sacrifice in the serving God, but it is in taking the risk that faith is strengthened and Christ is seen. For we can do nothing without God on our side! And, as Jesus said, ‘All things are possible with God.’
We have a choice:
Like the rich young man, we can hear Jesus’ challenge, but go away sad. We can decide that all we have and own is more important than a place in heaven. We can let our churches dwindle and decline – physically and numerically – but live a happy, safe life.
Or we can heed Jesus’ words, and commit to doing what we can to follow him. To take risks, to make sacrifices, to be radical in our thinking and approach. We can show Jesus matters to us, put our money where our mouths are, let our actions follow our words. We, as a church body, have so much to offer. What exciting adventures is Jesus taking us on now?
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do.
To think about:
- What do you see as the mission of your church?
- How can you take a radical step of faith this week?
Hymn: STF 673 – Will you come and follow me?
1 Will you come and follow me
if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know
and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown
in you and you in me?
2 Will you leave yourself behind
if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind
and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer
in you and you in me?
3 Will you let the blinded see
if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free
and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean,
and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean
in you and you in me?
4 Will you love the ‘you’ you hide
if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside
and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found
to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound
in you and you in me?
5 Lord, your summons echoes true
when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you
and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go
where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow
in you and you in me.
John L. Bell (b. 1949) and Graham Maule (b. 1958)
Prayers of intercession
Loving God, we do not understand the suffering we see in this world. We look for you to bring peace and hope into the challenges and darkness of these times. We pray for the people of Israel, the Lebanon and Gaza, and all the surrounding nations; for Russia and Ukraine; and for ongoing conflicts around the globe. We pray for protection and hope for all those who live in fear, and the many thousands who have abandoned their homes and have nowhere to go. We pray for comfort for those who are injured and damaged, and those who have lost their friends and families.
We pray in faith:
for all things are possible with God.
Caring God, we do not understand the pain we see in our communities. Bring compassion into the decisions of the Government of our nation and those of local leaders. We seek to be people who bring your hope and blessing to those who are hungry and needy in our community, and to challenge others to do the same. We pray for those who are in despair, depression, and desperation, that in the middle of it all you would provide a glimmer of hope.
We pray in faith:
for all things are possible with God.
Faithful God, we do not understand the struggles that face many churches. We look to you to bring good into the leadership of all churches, and enable us all through your Holy Spirit to be people who share your goodness with others and look for signs of hope. We think of churches that are struggling with low numbers, lack of vision and a sense of decline, and ask that they will seek your direction and be open to your leading. We pray that the joy and power of knowing and being loved by you would fire up all Christians and give us a new energy to share the truth of Jesus with others, serving and sharing to change lives.
We pray in faith:
for all things are possible with God.
Almighty God, we do not always understand your Word and your plans for us. We pray that when things are difficult and confusing, we would have the faith to place ourselves in your hands and trust you; and when things are good and going well, we would remember to give you thanks. We remember all those known to us who are sick or suffering in other ways, that they would find comfort and hope in you. May we all be like trusting children who live without fear, knowing that you are always with us, even in the tough times.
We pray in faith:
for all things are possible with God.
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed by your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done
On earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
Hymn: STF 415 – The church of Christ in every age
1 The Church of Christ, in every age
beset by change but Spirit-led,
must claim and test its heritage
and keep on rising from the dead.
2 Across the world, across the street,
the victims of injustice cry
for shelter and for bread to eat,
and never live until they die.
3 Then let the servant Church arise,
a caring Church that longs to be
a partner in Christ’s sacrifice,
and clothed in Christ’s humanity.
4 For he alone, whose blood was shed,
can cure the fever in our blood,
and teach us how to share our bread
and feed the starving multitude.
5 We have no mission but to serve
in full obedience to our Lord:
to care for all, without reserve,
and spread his liberating Word.
Fred Pratt Green (1903–2000)
Blessing:
Go now and proclaim the Gospel,
not just through words but deeds –
through what you say,
what you do,
and who you are.
May others, as they meet with you,
meet with Christ, and know his living presence for themselves.
Amen
Further acknowledgements:
Prayers adapted from Roots on the Web and Nick Fawcett Prayers for all seasons
