Lectionary resources Ordinary 33 A

Judges 4:1-7 Then prophetess Deborah
Psalm 123 To you I lift up my eyes
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 the Lord will come like a thief in the night
Matthew 25:14-30 The parable of the talents

Hymns suggested by Denis Towner (TIS Together in Song, AHB Australian Hymn Book, SA Sing Alleluia)

A	Hymns for Sunday 33, Yr.A
lesson	Hymn	TiS	AHB	SA
E	A charge to keep I have	573	487
O	A prophet-woman broke a jar	696
G	A spendthrift lover is the Lord	676
G	Almighty Father, who for us thy Son dost give		548
E	Awake, awake! fling off the night		412
E	Be thou my vision	547	455
O	Beauty for brokenness	690
E	Captains of the saintly band		354
G	Christ from whom all blessings flow	440	364
G	Christ's is the world in which we move	677
O/G	Eternal Ruler of the ceaseless round		513
G	Faith will not grow from words alone	691
E	From heaven you came, helpless babe	256
O	God gives us a future	687
O	God has spoken by his prophets	158	92
O	God is my strong salvation	15	493
O	God moves in a mysterious way	126	54
O/E/G	God of grace and God of glory	611	543
G	God who stretched the spangled heavens	163	112
E	I want to walk as a child of the light	643
O	Inspired by love and anger	674
Ps	Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us	729
G	Jesus, friend of little children		524
E	Jesus, united by thy grace		365
E/G	Let us talents and tongues employ	537		59
Ps	Lord, have mercy	735
O	Lord, hear my praying, listen to me	689
G	Mine eyes have seen the glory	315	205
E	No weight of gold or silver	249
E/G	O day of God, draw near	616	547
O	O God of truth, whose living word		507
Ps	Our God, our help in ages past	47	46
G	Praise and thanksgiving, Father, we offer	627	569
Ps	Put all your trust in God	555	464
E	Soldiers of Christ, arise	570	481
G	Take my life, and let it be	520	520
E	The Lord will come and not be slow		194
E	There's a light upon the mountains	276	207
Ps	There's a wideness in God's mercy	136	[72]
G	We have a gospel to proclaim	245	189
E	Who would true valour see	561	467
O	Woman in the night	661

(Numbers refer to The Australian Hymn Book and Sing Alleluia.)
8 A might stronghold is our God
14 Now thank we all our God
50 What shall I do my God to love
153 This, this is the God we adore
200 Come thou long expected Jesus
239 As with gladness men of old
258 When I survey the wondrous cross
452 I come with Christians far and near
487 A charge to keep I have

Sermon summary ( Click here for complete sermon )

The point of the parable of the talents is that we will all be called upon to give an account of how we have used what we have been given. More sharply, the message is that anyone who hides their gift and makes no good use of it is in danger of very severe judgement. [Matthew 25:30.]

We have an English word "talent", and we think of it usually as referring to our natural abilities: one might have a talent for music, another might have a gift of administration, another of teaching, etc. Jesus was really talking of something else.

Ministries such as teaching or prophecy, clearly have their specific spiritual gifts which may well be combined with what we would call natural gifts or talents, to be used for mission of the church and the good of the community. [Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11-13]. There is not a great emphasis here on natural talents. Indeed Paul belittled his own abilities [1 Corinthians 1:17 and see Acts 20:7-10]. The early Christians were poor and humble people [Matthew 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:20-24.]

What then is so precious? What was so important that Jesus taught about it as he did in relation to the end of the life we know and the coming of the kingdom in the parable of the talents? First, what people were being called to account for were things of very great value. One talent was not a small gift, but worth fifteen to twenty years wages. (But compare Matthew 25:14-15 and Luke 19:11-27. The outcome is the same.) What could that be? Where else in the teaching of Jesus do we find him talking of things of great value? "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, ...or finding one pearl of great value ...[Matthew 13:44-46; See also Hymn 105 The great love of God; Matthew 19:21; Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 6:45.]

This then is the treasure, the precious gift, the talent we have been given that we dare not hide away but must let loose in the world: the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the good news of the Kingdom of God. [2 Corinthians 4:6-7; 2 Timothy 1:11-14]. We will be judged on our use of this precious gift.

CALL TO WORSHIP
Open our lips, O Lord:
And we shall declare your praise.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, made haste to help us.
Glory to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, as now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Let us praise the Lord.
The Lord's name be praised.

CONFESSION
For our slowness to recognize your gifts in other people and their calling to be children of God: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
For our reluctance to accept your free gifts and your gracious call to play our part in your ministry: Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
For any cause of division in your body for which we are responsible: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
The good news is that all who trust in Christ will have their sins forgiven and receive eternal life. As you hold this faith, I declare that you are set free from all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Thanks be to God.

OLD TESTAMENT Judges 4:1-7 Then prophetess Deborah
PSALM 123 To you I lift up my eyes
EPISTLE 1 Thess 5:1-11 the Lord will come like a thief in the night
GOSPEL Matthew 25:14-30 The parable of the talents

OFFERING AND DEDICATION
SHARING TIME [Notices, celebrations, requests for intercessions]
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.
For all people in their daily life and work;
for our families, friends and neighbours, and for those who are alone.
For this community, our country, and the world;
for all who work for justice, freedom and peace.
For the just and proper use of your creation;
for the victims of hunger, fear, injustice and oppression.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
for those who minister to the sick, the friendless and the needy.
For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
for all who proclaim the gospel, and for all seek the truth.
For the Uniting Church in Australia,
for James, president of the Assembly,
for ..., Moderator of the Synod,
and for ..., Chairperson of Presbytery, and ..., Presbytery Minister,
for elders and members of the parish council,
and for all who hold office in this congregation;
for all who serve God in the church.
For our own needs, and for others for whom you have called us to pray.
[Silence]
Hear us, Lord
for your mercy is great.
We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of life.
[Silence]
We exalt you, O God our king;
and praise your name for ever and ever.
We give thanks for all those who have died in the peace of Christ, and for the promise of your eternal kingdom.
[Silence]
In Christ you have called us to eternal glory;
to you be praise for ever and ever. Amen.

COLLECT FOR THE DAY
Lord God,
so rule and govern our hearts and minds
by your Holy Spirit,
that, always keeping in mind the end of all things
and the day of judgment,
we may be stirred up to holiness of life here,
and may live with you for ever in the world to come;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

WORD OF MISSION
BLESSING
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.