This Sunday our focus as a parish is upon our Home Groups.

Some of you will know that I have asked for the formation of two further Home Groups and as a Church, we need to uphold that request before God, that they may come into being.

But what is the primary function of the Home Groups?

Our Gospel reading today provides a very good reason for developing our Home Groups, so I want us to look more closely at the Gospel passage and then, following that, Neil McDonald will interview very briefly, two people from our larger home groups to give you a flavour of what happens and then I will conclude with a vision to lead us.

So, to the Word of God first.

We need to put our Gospel reading of Matthew 25.1-13 - ‘the ten virgins’ into context. It forms part of the ‘Olivet Discourse’. The discourse commences at Chapter 24 and concludes at the end of Chapter 25.

The setting is on the Mount of Olives looking across the Kidron Valley to the glory of the temple in Jerusalem. (24.3)

Jesus is alone with his disciples who came to see him privately (24.3).

In looking at the glory of Jerusalem, Jesus outlines that it will not last, that everything will be torn down and, in the course of chapter 24, he discusses what the end times will be like.

He discusses his return, and what that will be like (24.30). And whilst Jesus makes clear that there will be signs of the end of the age, he makes equally clear that the date and time is known to the Father alone (24.36), in other words, do not waste time trying to work out the when!

His theme is watchfulness on the part of the disciples and preparedness (24.42).

In chapter 25, through the use of three parables, - the ten virgins, the talents, and the sheep & the goats, Jesus makes clear that we will be sorted, separated into two groups, and he gives three criteria for that sorting.

The first is that we be fully prepared - the parable of the ten virgins; The second that we be fruitful with all that God has given us - the parable of the talents; and the third that we have and had, compassion on our fellow men - the parable of the sheep and the goats.

Let me summarise those criteria. We must be:

The rewards are very great and of course, the penalties are comparable.

It seems therefore that we need to take very seriously our preparation for the coming of the Lord. We need to be diligent in learning the ways of God and the way that he has ordained for us to live - Kingdom Living - living according to the makers instructions. And we need to acquire and exercise the compassion of Jesus for our fellow men.

Our time here on Sundays, is merely the highlight of our Christian development. But it can be all too like five of the virgins, - in attendance, but not prepared.

That comment about Sunday being the highlight, implies that we have additional time when we grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord..

It is in the Home Group setting that we deepen our preparedness for the coming of the Lord and we do this through study of His Word, through Prayer, and through the acquisition and use of His Gifts.

It is in the Home Group setting that we understand our own, and others talents, and ensure that every opportunity is taken to be fruitful with them. It is in the Home Group setting that we are encouraged to go out with hearts of compassion to our fellow people and it is in the Home Group setting that we are restored and revitalised when we come back battered and bruised.

I am urging everyone, and I mean everyone, to join a home group. I am also asking for deep commitment. Let me explain.

The Scriptures talk about tithing, the full 10% . I want to expand this in the light of Chapter 25 and the teaching of Jesus, because he is asking about our time, time to be prepared; he is asking about our giftings, resources and talents, our fruitfulness; and he is asking about our practical compassion in helping others. Can we tithe our time, talents, & compassion as well as our money?

Let us look at time. Perhaps we work a forty hour week - can we spare four hours a week getting to know God in prayer, reading and worship, including attending a home group?

Let us look at our talents, our training, our abilities. Are using them for the glory of God? Are we using them for worldly issues; or even worse, are we not using them at all?

And what about our compassion for others???????.

Today is House Group Sunday. If we envision our house groups properly, if we join one, if we contribute into one with our time, talents, compassion, and money, we will find a mechanism that enables us to be prepared as Jesus made clear to his disciples, sitting overlooking the Temple.

So over to Neil, briefly.

Neil’s Interviews

In conclusion, I am a fairly ‘over the top’ sort of person, so let me put it this way, I would want to see active membership of home groups ( I include the choir as a specialised home group) mandatory on all of us in St Wilfrids. I want to see the home groups not just studying God’s word, but putting it into active practice within the group. I want to see the home group engaged in times of worship, in times of intercession and in times of ministry one to another. I want to see the home groups reaching out in ministries of compassion - could one adopt eg L’Arche, another adopt one of the schools. I want to see the home groups picking up and restoring their members and then sending them out into the battle in the name of Jesus once again. I want to see powerful evidence that the Holy Spirit is moving amongst you, gifting you, resourcing you and sustaining you as you do the work of Jesus in this place.

Then we will be prepared, fruitful and compassionate with nothing to fear.

Don’t put it off. Please join a home group TODAY.