Church of All Nations

by Rev. Dr John Evans

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Today we continue the agricultural theme we began last week when we heard the parable of the sower. This week the kingdom of heaven is described in the parable of the wheat and the weeds, or as sometimes it is known, the wheat and the tares. Both interestingly involve inefficient and unproductive agriculture; and because of this perhaps, both have an explanation provided which forces the parable in a particular direction.

To flag where we might head in this sermon this morning, I want to say at the outset: Jesus is on about boundaries and balance – two qualities often missing in our lives and in the life of the church.

The parable of the wheat and the weeds is not one of the all-time favourites. Indeed, the parable only appears in Matthew’s gospel and tends not to be widely referred to. For all of that, the parable has a very contemporary edge to it and I think it is most helpful for our life together as the Church, as a society, and also for us as individuals.

I really want to focus on the parable itself, as we did last week, and not so much on the interpretation (vs 36-43). Here, even more than last week with the interpretation of …

by Rev. Dr John Evans

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

It is an oldie, but a goodie: the parable of the sower. However, what can it mean for us today?

During the week several of us attended the seminar with Ched Myers.  Ched Myers is a biblical scholar, but more significantly perhaps, a leading figure in what is known as the radical discipleship movement. For many years now has lived in a Christian community in the US and has had close links with groups here in Melbourne like the House of the Gentle Bunyip. His major work is a commentary on Mark, Binding the Strong Man - written 20 years ago. This commentary in turn has been very influential in understanding the particular context – and the struggles – of the Jesus movement back in first-century Palestine. Myers’ basic position is that he sees the gospel of Mark as being like a political manifesto against the imperial forces of the Roman Empire and their religious collaborators. He presents a persuasive case – especially as he sees Jesus and his movement arising from the periphery of the Roman empire in the inconsequential region of Galilee. Right from the start, Jesus …

by Rev. Dr John Evans

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Do you permit me to make a prediction?

When we look back on the first decade of the 21st century, the years 2001 and 2008 will stand out as being the most significant.

2001 is obvious. The 11th September attacks on the US brought a frightening religious dimension to global issues. This, in turn, led to what will be seen as a monumental mistake, the war in Iraq and, more generally, the so-called war on terror.

2008 will however, be just as crucial and perhaps even more significant. In the first half of this year we have seen the economic changing of the guard. We knew India and China were emerging economies, but it has taken the stumbling of the US economy to see things will be different now. Indeed the whole world economy is stumbling. However, more significantly the world has seen the dire state of the environment and climate change has starkly come into focus. Environmental degradation continues – last week the Russians said the polar ice cap is only half the thickness is was 30 years ago; but the oil price rises have focused the mind enormously. We now realise this stuff is scarce after all. Its use, along with other fossil fuels, just might …