Colossians 1/Matthew 28

I would like to share with you something of my 18 years’ experience of working in Industry…

Having left school when I was 15 I went to work for a small family company, founded in 1921, making showers…

Very simply, mixing hot and cold water together…

In 1969 there were two basis products in the domestic range:
 Leonard G72, the world’s first domestic thermostatic shower mixer, launched in 1959
 Mira 8 mechanical shower mixer (launched in 1963, and for over 20 years became Britain’s single most popular shower)

As time went on new ideas started to emerge from other shower companies… more stylish, more flexible (bath), plus introduction of electric showers – sophisticated kettles screwed to the wall…!

In response, the Mira 8 was updated and became known as the Mira 88 (1984) and the Leonard shower was also updated and eventually renamed the Mira 722, later to be replaced by the 723.

And in 1980 the first Mira electric shower was launched – the Miralec supreme, with many more electric showers to follow.

And in 1981 a new concept in thermostatic showers made its debut – the Mira 915 mixer – brought, what was called, thermoscopic – wax capsules - bringing precise temperature control to our homes.

This was followed in 1986 with a range of booster pumps and high-power showers, and the Mira 415, pressure balanced mixing valve, for use with gas combination boilers.

The expansion in its range of mixing valves and associated products has continued to expand over the years…

Regarded as the ‘Rolls Royce’ of showers the reputation of Mira showers, its survival and growth in a competitive market, was built upon innovative design, quality engineering and attention to detail, and supported by an excellent ‘after sales’ service.

And yet, the basic concept has never changed – it’s all about mixing hot and cold water together in order for us to wash away grime… and to reinvigorate us for action…

Why do I share this?

Because there are many parallels with the Christian faith, and we can learn from them…

I would like to make myself clear when I say ‘learn from them’ because that’s exactly what I mean.

There are many similarities which can help us to understand and put into place important aspects of good practice in keeping up to date with the world today.

Like shower valves, which simply mix hot and cold water together, the Christian faith has a simple message which has never changed, and never will.

From the commercial world of showers, washing away grime… and being reinvigorated for action…

…the Christian faith has a message of God’s love for the world expressed through the death of his Son on the cross in order for our sins to be washed away…

…and so bringing us back into a relationship with God with the ability to serve him with our lives…

And this theme is picked up in both of our Bible readings this morning…

The letter to the Colossians is written by Paul while he was under house arrest at Rome, probably at some point around AD60.

Colossae was located on the River Lycus in the Roman province of Asia Minor, in the West of what is now Asiatic Turkey.

It was at one time a very important city but later it declined when the roads were re-routed in favour of the new city of Laodicea, and the site is now uninhabited…

Paul himself had not evangelised this city during any of his missionary journeys.

But we do know that Epaphras, one of Paul’s converts during his Ephesian ministry (Acts 19:10), had travelled to the city in order to preach the gospel there.

This letter is particularly concerned to deal with a false teaching which had arisen within this young church, which had three main features:

• an emphasis upon some secret or mystical knowledge - later to be known as Gnosticism

• a strict set of rules concerning what was legitimate to eat and drink, linked with an emphasis on asceticism – on sobriety

• a tendency to play down the importance of Jesus Christ, and to worship angels

Here, in chapter one, Paul launches into one of the major themes of the gospel, which is of particular importance in the light of the Colossian false teaching.

The theme is that of the majesty of Jesus Christ.

Christ is declared to be the image of the invisible God.

In other words, although God himself cannot be seen, he has chosen to make himself known in a visible and tangible form in Jesus Christ.

Everything is subject to Christ: he possesses God’s total authority - God dwells fully in Christ - through him, and only him, we can have reconciliation with God.

Throughout these verses the implication is clear:

Christ is the unique bearer of divine revelation - Nobody else possesses his spiritual authority.

And we can summarise this passage very simply in that we have:

• A Christ who creates (15-16)
• A Christ who sustains (17-18)
• A Christ who redeems (19-20)
• A Christ who gives purpose (21-23)

Christ is central to our faith and to our living it out - it’s central to:

• our relationship with God
• our relationship with one another
• our relationship with the community (world)

We must not allow ourselves to slip into the ways of the early Colossian church, with that emphasis on dodgy teaching at the expense of Jesus Christ…

Christ is central in serving God and his purpose…

…which is brought out in our second Bible reading – ‘The Great Commission’ – and where Matthew’s gospel comes to its famous conclusion…

Following the death of Jesus, his burial and the fact of the empty tomb, and various appearances after these events, some disciples continued to doubt that he had been raised from the dead.

But Jesus reassures them of the reality of his resurrection and of his continuing presence until the end of time itself.

The great commission is entrusted to the disciples:

They are to go and make disciples of all nations, reaching out beyond the bounds of Israel to the farthest places of the earth.

And the fact that we have read these verses from this gospel is a testimony of the disciples’ effectiveness in doing just that…

There’s a link between Christian faith today and that great commission all those years ago…

…we are able to preach the gospel with the full authority of the risen Christ, assured of his presence and power until he comes again…

In essence, then, we are to grow in our faith, in our relationship with God and one another…

…and we are to grow in our desire and sense of urgency in living out our faith, in sharing the good news of Christ and making disciples…

One certain fact is that the church, generally, is, I’m afraid, falling short on both counts…

I am able to say this because if it wasn’t we would be seeing real growth in our churches, and we’re not…

We are facing change in our world at a rate that can seem to be both frightening and overwhelming.

The rapid progress in technology, especially through computers and the Internet, has made the world a much 'smaller' place, and all with a touch of a button.

With such dramatic developments it's hardly surprising that the changes we have seen over relatively few years are here to stay for the foreseeable future.

I believe we are challenged to address them in terms of the Church, of which we are a part, and the culture in which it stands.

And as I said at the beginning of my sermon, we can learn from Industry and from Commerce…

I said that the reputation of Mira showers, its survival and growth in a competitive market, was built upon innovative design, quality engineering and attention to detail, supported by an excellent ‘after sales’ service.

The reputation of the church, if it is to survive and grow, also needs to be built up through fresh expressions of what church can be.

This must be through the quality of everything that it does with an attention to detail, supported by excellent pastoral care and follow up…

…and this applies to everyone who enquires about the Christian faith and for all those opportunities we have to go out into the community…

The question is, is the Church today – are we - prepared to respond to the reality of the changing world?

Here, in the parish of Kemsing and Woodlands, we are beginning a new period in the life of as we work through the process of creating new vision.

A new vision and a new direction for our churches – with a real sense of purpose…

We famously read in Proverbs 29:18 (AV), ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish’

What we have to share will never change, but the way in which we share it must change…

We don’t have a choice – if we remain as we are the church will surely die…

If we are fully committed to God, in tune with his will and purpose for us as individuals and his church, empowered by his Holy Spirit, then the church will grow.

We are reminded of the Apostle Paul's words in his letter to the Church in Rome (Chapter 12), urging Christians there not simply to follow the crowd, but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds.

Paul is saying ‘be a changed person’, which is to be the essential vocation for us, as individuals, and just as true for the church…

Along the way there will be many challenges and opportunities as we respond to the truth of God’s Word and the needs and expectations of each other, the community and the world beyond...

With this in mind, let’s go forward together:

• in his strength and in the power of the Holy Spirit, seeking God’s will for our lives and His church…

• building up the church family – the Body of Christ – in knowledge, love and a firm commitment to serving him and his purposes…

• with a real desire to make disciples, baptising them in the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Knowing that God has gone before us preparing the way…

…and that Jesus is with us to the very end of the age.

The Venerable Mike Lodge
26 March 2023