St Barnabas Swanland, Sunday Sermon Summaries

  Philippians 2: 1-13     Matthew 21: 23-32   A Fruit one of the nine a day we need. My wife tells me every day about how humble and full of humility I am. Oh, sorry, I got that wrong; she reminds me of how I   lack both humbleness and humility.   I looked up the words Humility and humbleness. Humility:   Having a modest, unpretentious view of oneself;  not thinking less of yourself, or having low esteem, but thinking of yourself less;    shifting focus away from your ego to acknowledge your limits, to value others and stay open to learning. Having an accurate self-view, knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Other-centredness. Humbleness: The quality of being modest, free from pride, not thinking you are better or more important than other people. What is the opposite of humility? Arrogance? What is the opposite of humbleness?   Vanity? I don’t think these are listed as fruits of the Spirit. Arrogance: Offensive displa...

  Matthew 20: 1-16 Jonah 3: 1 – 4:11   I’ve got a younger brother and sister.    When we were children, a great treat was sharing a bottle of fizzy lemonade.    (That’s your cue to say ‘Ahhh’)    Now, those who have had children will appreciate that it had to be shared fairly.    So we poured it into the glasses, then got down at eye level and used the bottle cap to bail small amounts of lemonade from one glass to another until we all agreed it was fair. We weren’t taught this, but even at a young age there was some inbuilt need for it to be fair.    We couldn’t stand the thought of one of the others getting more than us. Fairness can be a good thing.    When people are not treated fairly, or equally, because of their race, or sex, or age, then it can, and should, be the driver for change.   In the Bible there are examples of treating others equally, with respect – fairness   e.g. · ...