July 6th

Zechariah 9: 9-12
Romans 7: 15-25a
Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30

What does it mean to follow Jesus?

Last week's readings focussed on what we do in Jesus' name as his disciples 'whoever gives a cup of cold water...'; next week the gospel reading is the parable of the sower, when we will be thinking about what sort of 'ground' we provide for the gospel & how we can be fruitful: this week the focus is on our relationship with Jesus - 'Come to me'.

This feels to me like the core or central point of being a disciples of Jesus. It is our relationship with him which enabled us to serve others and to be fruitful bearers of the gospel.

Zechariah's call to rejoice is based on God's saving grace.
Paul is anxious to point out that we keep making mistakes - but that God can save us from ourselves.

We have a funeral at the first church (Pampisford) where I will be preaching this sermon, and I think I want to reassure people that when everything else is lost to us - our health & strength and even life itself - our relationship with Jesus gives us an assurance of God's grace which will save us.

Well, that's the thinking so far...

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