12 February 2023

---

Bible readings for today

• Deuteronomy 30:15-20
• Psalm 119:1-8 
• 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 
• Matthew 5:21-37

Liturgical Colour: GREEN

Collect

God of Israel old and new, 
write in our hearts the lesson of your law; 
prepare our minds to receive the gospel 
made visible in your Son Jesus Christ our Saviour. 
​Amen.

E te Atua o Īharaira o tūāwhakarere, onāianei, tūhia ki ō mātou ngākau ngā akoranga o āu ture; whakaritea ō mātou hinengaro kia whiwhi ai ki te rongopai i whakatinanatia ai i tāu Tama i a Īhu Karaiti tō mātou Kaiwhakaora. Āmine.

Family Matters (Matthew 5:21-37)

This narly passage from Matthew can be a difficult one to preach on! With teaching on anger, adultery, divorce, and the vows we make. With sensitivity for those in your church or group, you may wish to summarise this passage to teaching about how God cares about our relationships, and how we treat our family. 

Anger

In this passage in Matthew 5, Jesus talks about how it was important for people to examine their hearts before presenting a sacrifice at the altar. You can imagine how a sacrificial offering may become token, without any remorse or self-reflection, as God is given a sacrifice of duty.

While we may not have to offer the same sacrifice (anyone have any doves?), we can reflect on the things we do out of duty and obligation, without examining our motives or intentions.  

Confession + forgiveness

This could be a good opportunity to talk about the value of confession - both in our church services, and our personal prayer time. Pete Grieg defines confession as "​We admit to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs."

And confession goes hand in hand with forgiveness - verses 23 & 24 "“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, go and be reconciled to that person."

We are God's field (1 Corinthians 3:1-9)

"​For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building."

Following leaders or God? 

It can be easy to spend our lives following people, other leaders. Perhaps we get in spired by the stories of other Christians, or we follow a particular church speaker or preacher. 

When Paul was talking to the people in todays passage, he reminds them that they don't need to pick sides and follow Apollos or Paul, but we are all co-workers in God's field. 

Quick Questions

Think of the biggest tree that you have seen

• Who planted this tree? When did they plant it? 
• Who watered it? And how often? 

No matter who planted it, God provides the sunshine, the rain and the seed. 

Kids talk

Sermon notes

The Church of Scotland have some worship ideas and sermon notes for adults for this passage, about identity, status and knowledge.

Reflective Questions

• Are we fields that flourish?
• Are we flourishing in the ways of the world, or the ways in which God can have the glory? 
• Who gets the credit for the things in our life that flourish? Ourselves, or God? 
• Are we producing anything in particular that shows we are God's fields?