18 August 2024 is the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost.

Rev. Geoff McKee preaches today and his main Bible text is (from the New Testament) Ephesians 5:15-20.

The Apostle Paul is thought to have written his letter to the Church at Ephesus around AD 60 – so, within about 30 years of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The relevant part of Ephesians – from The Message Bible Translation – reads:

Ephesians 5:15-20 (The Message)
11-16 Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.

Wake up from your sleep,
Climb out of your coffins;
Christ will show you the light!

So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!

17 Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

18-20 Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge drafts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.

The writer in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes had reflected on the fleeting nature of human life and the importance of valuing time. The same writer had also expressed the view that God has placed a longing for eternity in our hearts, which we often fail to understand.

Everyday activities, such as waiting during phone calls and waiting for traffic lights to change, can consume significant portions of our lives, emphasising the need to use our time wisely and not in vain.

Ultimately, the message encourages us to seek meaningful connections and experiences, rather than escaping reality through distractions like alcohol.

True fulfillment comes from embracing our shared humanity and worshipping God together.

Link to the video recording of today’s service

Header watercolour image by Vernon Carey.

We most clearly and naturally discover God in the fellowship we enjoy together. The South African concept of ubuntu says this most clearly. Archbishop Desmond Tutu defined it by saying that we belong in a bundle of life. We say “A person is a person through other persons.” It is not “I think, therefore I am”; it is rather: “I am human because I belong. I participate. I share.”

REV. GEOFF MCKEE