The Use of the Talents We Have

14 November, 2011

Delievered by Rev Dr John Evans
Sunday 13 November, 2011

(Note the following was said in the context of a service in which the wider implications of the story of Jesus about the man who went away leaving 5, 2 and one talent(s) with his sevants were  explored.)Let’s be frank – this is a troubling story.The poor person who received just the one talent was thrown into outer darkness where there was to be weeping and gnashing of teeth – which sounds all very gruesome, and not much like a loving God. The demands of the property owner were excessive, extreme  – to reap where he did not sow. It was an impossible demand – indeed just laughable. And then there is the suggestion that it was acceptable for the steward to earn interest off the money – and not simply bury it. Earning  interest – natural enough for us today – but then it was clearly in breach of the Law of Moses. Usury was forbidden. Still is in many cultures. Deuteronomy 23:19 states

You shall not charge interest on loans to another Israelite, interest on money, interest on provisions, interest on anything that is lent …  

So an interpretation could be that by burying his money – this third steward is like some ancient whistle blower, concerned about a demanding, tyrannical master …

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By john | Posted in sermons |

Remember, Renew and Be Ready

7 November, 2011

Delievered vy Rev Dr John Evans
Sunday 6th November, 2011

Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
Psalm 78:1-7 
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 
Matthew 25:1-13

Rugby Union for the uninitiated in the game is a mystery. Apparently it is the game that is played in heaven, but I think I and many others have a different conception to heaven than organised, semi organised – occasionally orgranised chaos, that passes for this football code. The sport does however, have one endearing feature – you may have seen this during the recent World Cup. When it comes to a scrum – that is when eight burly men, usually who have no necks, double over, push and shove and contest for a ball – well at this point the referee endearingly says, always says, “crouch, touch, pause engage”. Crouch, touch, pause, engage. These chaps who have done for a thousand time previously, are reminded again and stepped through the process – every time – “crouch, touch, pause, engage”. Every time there is a scrum – the words go out – crouch, touch pause engage. And then of course it is on for young and old.

So in the great scrum of life – what are the words for us. In the Christian life what are simple instructions so we get it right?

Today we conclude the narrative about the Children of Israel, …

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Bonhoeffer a Martyr for our Time

30 October, 2011

Delivered by Rev Dr John Evans
Sunday 30 October, 2011

Joshua 3:7-17
Psalm 107:1-7, 33-371
Thessalonians 2:9-13
Matthew 23:1-12

Today is Reformation Sunday – the Sunday closest to the 31st October. It is the anniversary of the date that Martin Luther wrote to the Archbishop Mainz and Magdeburg concerning indulgences and other matters. In time these concerns became his 95 theses he nailed to his parish church door. . .  and there thus began the Reformation. Indeed in parts of Europe, the day is a public holiday – and for some reason it is also a public holiday in Chile! Today is also the Sunday closest to All Saints Day – the first day of November; and we this year have a public holiday for it, but I believe that may be for other purposes. It is a day in which we recall all the saints and martyrs of the faith; give thanks for their life and recall their witness.

On the western door of Westminster Abbey, the national shrine of the English, there are 10 statues portraying the martyrs of 20th Century. You may have seen it. One of those is the Dietrich Bonhoeffer – the German theologian who was murdered by the Nazis on the 9th April, 1945 at a prison in Flossenburg – just before the end of …

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By john | Posted in sermons |

Steve Jobs, Moses and Our Future

23 October, 2011

Delivered by Rev Dr John Evans
Sunday 23 October, 2011

Several weeks ago, the founder of Apple Computers, Steve Jobs died. He had been ill with pancreatic cancer, so his death was not unexpected. The reaction to his death was however, unexpected. Huge banner headlines, extensive analysis of his life, and much discussion about his passing on the fortunes of this enormous, iconic technology company, Apple. The gist of the reaction to his death was that he was a creative genius. He had changed the way we lived. His inventions were indeed epoch defining. People struggled to find the comparisons – was he an Edison, an Einstein, a Howard Hughes – even the Messiah.

Amidst all of this hagiography, which as some commentators noted was over the top; I was struck by the following sorts of comments about the future of Apple Computers and their new CEO. So people were saying, that – perhaps not initially – but soon, Apple would have difficulties. It would become extremely conservative in its decision making. It would always be wondering – what would Steve Jobs do? How would Steve have handled this situation or opportunity? It would lose its blythe spirit, creative instinct, its imagination and flair. It would not be free – it would be constrained by that frame of reference: what would Steve Jobs …

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By john | Posted in Uncategorized, sermons |

Christian Civility Today

9 October, 2011

Delivered by Rev Dr John Evans
Sunday 10 October, 2011

Exodus 32:1-14
Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23
Philippians 4:1-9
Matthew 22:1-14

Towards the end of Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi, he writes:

“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Phil.: 8-9)

Some years ago, well it would well over twenty years ago now, I can remember preaching sermons that questioned whether the Christian faith was necessarily about being nice. Christianity was more than just being a good and honourable person. A person worthy of praise. There was an edge to being a follower of Jesus. Commitment was required. Radical commitment was required. A Christian was more than being just a commendable person. The message was, it was a mistake to think being nice, meant that was the same as being a Christian. I don’t know if I went as far as saying as that as a Christian – don’t be nice; but all the same I would have suggested that a bit of table turning in the …

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By john | Posted in sermons |

The Ten Commandments and Bali

2 October, 2011

Delivered by Rev Dr John Evans
Sunday 2 October, 2011

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
Psalm 19
Philippians 3:4b-14
Matthew 21:33-46

Selemat pagi; Good morning!

Greetings from Bali.

Improbably this morning I want to reflect on Jean and my very recent trip to Bali and our visit to Emily and the 10 commandments, and particularly the fourth commandment about keeping the Sabbath. I even want to suggest that there is a message somewhere in the midst of such a comparison for us here in Carton.

First to Bali. It was only lunchtime yesterday, well a very late lunch actually because the plane was delayed due to bad weather, we got back from our rapid-fire visit to Emily. She is well and she sends her greetings to you all. Although I don’t actually think she is missing us much; she is having such a great time. But she appreciates greatly the concern, the support and prayers of this congregation. Jean and I were able to see where she works, meet the people with whom she works – including the Bishop of the Protestant Church of Bali (Bishop Wayan Husada)– (he has a role very similar to our Moderator) and understand a little more of the work she is doing. We were also able to have a little bit of break – though for most of the …

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By john | Posted in sermons |

Season of Creation : Wilderness and Outback

19 September, 2011

Delievered by Rev Dr John Evans
Sunday 18 Septebmer, 2011

Today is the third Sunday of this Season of Creation. Over this period we have been considering the wonders of our world, of God’s creation and celebrating the goodness of God. So we have thought about the trees and forests and last Sunday we considered the earth the land. However, today’s topic of the wilderness and the outback takes a slightly different turn.  A question comes to mind. Is all of God’s creation good?  Remember the refrain in the Genesis saga of creation: God said. . . , God made, or separated  … or some verb, and then comes “And God saw that it was good”. So. . . is all of God’s creation good? Is there are dark side to creation? And if so, what do we make of it?
My number one candidate for exclusion from God’s good creation is the mosquito. They are the most aggravating little critter you can imagine – their buzzing can drive you insane, their bite is ferocious – and you can come up with all sort of splotches and bumps which you are driven to scratch with a fury, and then they can spread disease – horrendous, deadly disease, like malaria. Of course,  I need to take a broad view on the interplay of all …

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By john | Posted in sermons |

Season of Creation: The Earth

12 September, 2011

Delivered by Rev Dr John Evans
Sunday 11 September, 2011

Genesis 3: 14-19; 4: 8-16
Psalm 139: 7-12
Romans 5: 12-17
Matthew 12:38-40

This is the second of our Sundays reflecting on God’s creation. Today we consider the earth, the land.

Now I suggest there are a variety of ways in which may think about the earth. Each way is interrelated – but sadly for us in the West one way has dominated, and we have been left the poorer.

Let me explain.

The earth, land can be considered to be just a part of creation itself. You might call this the Genesis 1 approach.  Earth could be the planet itself. Alternatively it could the earth, the land, as opposed to the sea. Indeed in the mythology of the Ancient Near East, reflected in Genesis – it was only on day three of creation that the dry land, called earth, was separated from the primordial waters. Above the earth was the dome of the sky, and below was Sheol. The earth in this way was all wrapped up with the very act of creation itself. Earth and land are a part of God’s creation.

However, in the great sagas of the ancients, and also of our indigenous brothers and sisters, this earth can be seen in a different light. It is this earth which then gives life – or as …

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By john | Posted in sermons |

The Seaon of Creation: Forests

5 September, 2011

Delivered by Rev Dr John Evans
Sunday 4 September, 2011

Today we begin, during this first month of Spring and through this long period after Pentecost, the Season of Creation. This is will be a special time to give thanks to God for our world, and all of God’s creation; a time to praise God, the Creator and indeed enjoy and appreciate the wonder and beauty of our world. It is also a time, as Professor Habel has suggested – to celebrate with all of God’s creation, life on this small green planet of ours amidst the vast cosmos.  It is a time to remember God’s love of all creation. Indeed this seems to be the theme of several of readings we have heard today. So Paul, while in Athens and seeing the monument to “the unknown god”: takes the opportunity to give God significant creation credentials, and sets the Creator a part from our world. He says:

“The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands” (Acts 17: 24)

He concludes

“In God we live and move and have our being.” (28)

And then in the famous verse of John 3: 16 it is God’s concern for the world, and not just humanity, that God “gave God’s …

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By john | Posted in sermons |

Refugee and Immigration Sunday

29 August, 2011

Delivered by Rev Dr John Evans
Sunday 28 August, 2011

During the week I was reading a book by the great Russian author, Leo Tolstoy. (This is the problem of living in Carlton – you can wander into Readings bookstore and end up buying all sorts of interesting books.) In this book of Tolstoy’s religious writings, he makes these observations:

A person can use their reason to decide on the necessity, the desirability of a certain action, or actions, and then acts on their reason or spiritual impulse. Alternatively a person can perform actions under the influence of their emotions, and then invent intellectual justifications for them.

I sure that is all obvious and little too simple, however, Tolstoy goes on and says that in the first instance of  where a person reaches conformity between action and reason, this is typical of those who profess some kind of religion. They act on the basis of its doctrines as to what they should or should not do. The second is typical of the majority of non religious people who lack this general standard by which they can evaluate the worthiness of their action.

Why was I excited when I …

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By john | Posted in sermons |