preview

A Barn Fool

Share to

3 August, 2025Pastor John Strelan

Him needs to buy carrots. Gertrude wrote a letter to she.That pencil is me.

Can you work out what’s wrong with those sentences? Well done. They don’t contain the right pronouns. I’m sure you don’t usually think much about pronouns, but there are a whole bunch of them we use all the time. In fact, there are nine common types of pronouns:

personal pronouns – replace the names of people or things

demonstrative pronouns – point out specific things              

interrogative pronouns – used to ask questions                    

relative pronouns – introduce a dependent clause                

indefinite pronouns – refer to nonspecific things                         

possessive pronouns – show ownership                                              

reflexive pronouns – used when the subject and the object are the same                                                                                        

intensive pronouns – emphasize a noun                                              

reciprocal pronouns – indicate a mutual relationship or action

So, why this lesson on pronouns? Well, simply because knowing the right pronoun can sometimes be a matter of life and death.   

 

Luke 12:13-21

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.’ 14 Jesus replied, ‘Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?’ 15 Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’ 16 And he told them this parable: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, “What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.” 18 ‘Then he said, “This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’” 20 ‘But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” 21 ‘This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich towards God.’

More From 'Sermons'

The 13th Disciple

24 August, 2025 Pastor John Strelan

Words have always fascinated me. Words hold such power. They have the power to destroy and the power to bring life. All the more so when it is God’s words . . . and God’s Word. One word in particular intrigued me from the Gospel reading for this Sunday. In the original Greek the word is prosfwnew (prosphoneo). It’s not a particular common word, nor is it particularly interesting in itself. It just means ‘to call out to’, ‘to address’. But, in Luke’s Gospel it is used only twice and both times with the meaning ‘to call to oneself’.

When Jesus chooses the twelve he ‘calls his disciples to himself’ (Luke 6:13). Then, in this story, Jesus ‘calls a crippled woman to himself’ (Luke 13:12). There were other words Luke could have used but he chose this word to describe both situations. Fascinating. Intriguing. For me, at least.

Well, whatever else that might mean, one thing is for sure: on both occasions Jesus’ call turns nobodies into somebodies.

View

Cracked

17 August, 2025 Pastor John Strelan

It’s all about render these days. You know, the stuff they plaster over brickwork on houses to make them look smooth and polished and appealing. Perfect house, perfect life, right? Isn’t that how we like to present our lives: shiny, polished and rendered? At least on the outside! Cover up the cracks, the chips, the dents, the faded lustre. And everything’s fine as long anyone doesn’t peer too closely.

Perhaps that’s why Jesus upsets so many people? He peers too closely. But, that’s what he’s here to do. To expose the cracks. Which is the opposite to what we would do. But, that’s Jesus; he can be a bit contrary at times! Division not peace! What’s that about? Could it be, in his contrariness, he invites us to discover who we really are, especially as Christians? Not perfect, flawless creatures, but cracked and broken human beings repaired with love. The kind of love that doesn’t hide the imperfections, but mends them and makes them human. And, I suspect, if we could fully embrace our humanness, then the world would find peace.

View

Star Signs

10 August, 2025 Pastor John Strelan

One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, “Jump! I’ll catch you.” He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: “Jump! I will catch you.” But the boy protested, “Daddy, I can't see you.” The father replied, “But I can see you. That’s what matters. Listen for my voice. I’ll catch you. I promise.”

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

View