It was Reformation Day on Friday. Last week we reflected on how the Reformation brought about significant changes to the way we practise our faith. Martin Luther translated the Bible from an ancient little used language (Latin) to the language spoken by everyone in the country, thus placing the Bible in the lap of lay-people. This consequently changed the way communion was shared by lay people, not just demonstrated by the priests. Today we’ll discuss how reformation had a third big consequence: Placing the Word of God in the mouth of lay-people. So we are all part of the priesthood of believers! How do you feel about the fact that you, me and everyone who believes, is a priest? So, let us talk about the most important thing we as believers can have: FAITH!  Â
In the Matthew Bible-reading I would like to use water as the metaphor for that which is between Peter and Jesus, between us and Jesus.   So water is the obstacle between us and Jesus, just like the sea of Galilee was the obstacle between Peter and Jesus. How would you grow your faith so that you could get safely to the other side, to the stead-fast rock? Â
Are you a sinker or a skimmer, a swimmer or a beach-comber?   Relax, there is no wrong answer – because I’d like to discuss the wide range of different ways we each believe and thus the different ways we would each take to get to the other side.   There are many different ways styles of growing your faith!
- Are you a knowledge-gatherer – one who would need at least one Bible, two commentaries and an encyclopaedia to get you in your element? That means your faith may only grow once your mind is connected.
- Are you a contemplative? This may mean that growing faith for you will best occur when you journal; or being on retreat; or when you have time around you to reflect on some spiritual insight.
- If you are a server, your faith will grow best when you serve someone, so for you swimming across to Jesus will only make sense if you can help someone else swim across or by blowing up someone’s floaties…..!
- Maybe you are an activist, in which case faith will only make sense if you can swim upstream, up the waterfall and even change the colour of the water – because activists love changing the world into a better one, even if it means they have to gasp for air under the tumbling waters.
- If your faith grows when you are in nature, and God surprises and delights you with an unexpected flower, with the change of colour when the season heralds the year, then nature is the thing which will nurture you;
- And if worship is your thing – you may be one of those who feel close to tears when a worship song moves you; when a church comes together to pray, when a community open themselves to God.Â
So as you can see, there are many ways to get through the water, and there are probably as many styles as there are people in this church! The big thing is to recognise your style – and then to feel free to grow in your own unique way! Peter wanted eagerly to get to Jesus – and he tried many styles: skimming; sinking – but he kept going….which way will help you to grow?Â
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