Five get in. Five left out.
Sunday, November 10, 2024
Scriptures: Matthew 25:1-13
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In this sermon on Matthew 25, Jeremy reflected on Jesus’ parable of the ten bridesmaids, The emphasis was on the importance of readiness—not through perfection, but through steady faithfulness and trust. Jeremy argued that the point Jesus was making is that we are all invited into God’s kingdom and that grace is always extended, even when we fall short. Our job isn’t to predict or control when the kingdom will come but to keep our “lamps” lit with small acts of goodness, kindness, and faith in our daily lives in our small corner of the world.
Jeremy questioned our desire to strive for worthiness, suggesting instead that God’s invitation depends not on our achievements, but on our willingness to participate in grace. We will all ultimately fall asleep and miss the groom coming, but we can live and work and do good things trusting that God’s presence will meet us in our faithfulness.
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Community is shaped by the conversations we share. These questions and reflections are a tool to help you meaningfully engage with the themes of this week's teaching.
Connect: Would you call yourself a patient person especially in situations when you’re waiting for something important to happen but you do not know when it will happen? How do you manage your anticipation or uncertainty during times of waiting?
Share: Share how this point that Jeremy made about knowing the time of when the kingdom comes resonates with you.
What do you think about and how do you navigate this tension between working on keeping your little lamp lit and feeling the burden to “change the world”?
Here’s the quote:
"You're only responsible for the tiny little lamp that's in your hand and the little bit of light that you can bring to your slice of the world…That's it— So take joy in it…
And honestly, as simple as that is, it feels kind of meaningful to me…
The staggering beauty of this global information network that we all participate in today is that we can see the suffering of human beings created in the image of God all around this globe.
And therefore we can come to understand the import of our choices on neighbours that we will never meet.
We can consider how, our vote for example, can impact someone whose world will largely never intersect ours — and that is sacred influence to contemplate very carefully…
But at the same time…I think that scope is honestly sometimes too big for us to manage well. And what happens is a sort of paralysis of kindness born from a desire to do maybe …everything…
And sometimes looks like apathy — we withdraw.
But you know what, sometimes it also looks like stridency…
I need to change the world therefore I've got no time for people who don't see things my way…I've seen that. And if I’m honest, I’ve felt that at times…
But you know what, I wanna be on team Mustard Seed here, good , things, world changing things come from small things…
And so the question here is— Jesus, when will the world change?
When will the kingdom come?
When will it ALL be made right?
And the answer returns — Jeremy, maybe just apologize to your son and make that right first…You’ve got a tiny little lamp in your hand— let’s work on keeping that lit for now.”
Reflect: The parable suggests that everyone, even the “wise,” fell asleep waiting for the bridegroom. What does this detail tell you about human limitations and grace?
How might you shift your approach to faith if readiness is more about trust and steady light than perfection?Engage: When reflecting on the five bridesmaids who had the extra oil and the five who wanted to borrow some from them, Jeremy suggested that we can’t “borrow” or “compare” our way into the kingdom.
What do you think about this idea, and how does it challenge or maybe encourage you at this particular point in your life? How do you embrace your unique path to God?Feel free to engage with this quote from the message:
“What Jesus seems to be saying is that you can’t borrow your way into God’s presence…
You are on the guest list, and God expects you to be at the party, but whether you show up or not, this is not up to anyone, but you…It’s not up to who you hang out with, or what church you attend, what family you grew up in. It's not even up to the person who hurt you and drove you away from the thing that you loved…
Because each of our stories are beautifully, wonderfully, sometimes even frustratingly, unique…
And while the downside is that means you can't abdicate your invitation to someone else's RSVP.
It also means that your story is not subject to anyone else attempting to look over your shoulder to see how full your lamp really is…
So sure, maybe we can't borrow our way into the party, but perhaps equally
Maybe we can't compare our way in either.
And maybe part of the pivot here is the reminder that while life is absolutely a team sport, and we all need each others help.
Your path is the only path that gets you to the party you are invited to.
So you can’t borrow anyone else’s light, but maybe that’s because your light is too important to be replaced by a cheap counterfeit born of imitation, when there is a real creative faithful expression of goodness just looking for a chance to break out of you.”
Take away: take a few minutes in silence to reflect on what is one thing that you want to take away from the sermon or the conversation today.
In what one small simple way God is inviting you to be faithful right now, while also completely relying on God’s faithfulness to you?
Prayer from the sermon:
Gracious God of love and invitation,
when you speak the truth that points directly to us
would we not look away or deflect your meaning
but instead receive the grace and the correction
that you hope will bring us closer to your heart.
Sometimes we might wish - that this narrow way would require less of us
and yet we know,
we trust
that your invitation will lead us to become the people you imagine us to be.
And so where we have spoken harshly or quickly to others
without having earned that right by first demonstrating our love
would you forgive us,
where we have had words devoid of love spoken to us
and we have left those conversations — feeling smaller or less than
would you heal us,
and where we have been taught to fear your judgement
might your love and grace flood in,
reminding us of good news
and invitation toward a new way forward.
In the strong name of the risen Christ
we pray,
Amen. -
CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 100
MUSIC Curated by Kevin Borst
Mission House - I Don't Have Much
Josh Baldwin - Made For More
Commons Worship - Be Thou My Vision
Brooke Ligertwood - Holy Song
SERIES BUMPER
Jesus on Judgement
