A worship service was held at 10.30am in the church building on Sunday 19 July.  The service was simultaneously broadcast on the Church Facebook page.  For the next four weeks, you can catch up here.

The Bible passage is Matthew13:24-30, 36-43 and Duncan led the service and preached.

Do listen to the sermon about ‘the parable of the weeds’, which begins at 36:45 on the catch-up.   Duncan began by mentioning the ‘big issues’ the parable deals with. Questions like ‘Where does evil come from?’, and ‘Where is God in relation to evil?’ These are some of the profoundest questions we can ask, he said.

Duncan  then homed in on the parable itself, and drew out some lessons for us from it.

Competing influences

‘There are always,’ he said, ‘hostile forces at work in this world. In any situation in the best of times and in the worst of times there are potentially two kinds of influence acting in and around our lives. There is the influence which is moving in the direction of flourishing and growth, and there is the influence which seems to be moving in the direction of destruction.  I think it’s important on the journey of faith and life to be aware and to be realistic of both of these competing influences.’

Patience and discernment

Duncan’s second point was that the story is encouraging us to be patient, and slow to judge. ‘It can take a considerable period of time, maybe years, to distinguish between those whose lives are shaped by Jesus Kingdom and those that aren’t. The Church of Jesus Christ is a mixed bag when it comes to those who share together in community.

Appearances can be deceptive…..I think Jesus was encouraging his disciples to be people who are not quick to judge other people. We persevere with the people we share life with and we seek to love one another….. There is often the danger of doing great damage in life by acting too hastily especially in relation to judging other people. One of the fruits of God’s spirit is patience.

There will ultimately be judgement, Jesus teaches, but thankfully that judgement isn’t one for us to make. It’s for God who sees the whole picture and the whole story of each of our lives.

So be realistic Jesus teaches life is not a bed of perpetual roses. There will be weeds. Life and situations will be there which have the power to spoil and destroy. But don’t be quick to judge. Be patient.  Time will often refer our perspectives on people and situations both positively and negatively. Err on the side of grace.’

Today’s growth in our gardens

Finally, Duncan challenged us.

What is growing in the garden of our lives today? What are we classifying as wheat and what are we classifying as weeds?  When you look back in your life have you ever been wrong about which was which? I know I have been. Have you ever changed your mind about what is wheat and what is a weed? Sometimes it’s just not as clear cut as we think it is or would like it to be…

Jesus story is an encouragement towards patience and not being too quick to jump to conclusions. Time allows opportunities for growth, change, and new possibilities. So as we tend the fields of our lives and of our faith community, every act of generosity, every prayer offered, every child taught, every neighbour loved, and every injustice resisted becomes a seed planted in hope. The harvest may not come on our timetable, but God’s promises remain sure. Our calling is not to control the harvest but to faithfully steward the field that has been entrusted to our care.’

John adds:  And the question which came alive for me is this: What seed am I sowing today, through these words, this action, these thoughts? And when I speak with or about other people,  or interact with them, am I reinforcing the good seed in their lives, or am I planting poisonous weeds?   What seed am  I sowing today?’