The Parable of Our Forgiving Lord - St James Anglican Biggera Waters

The Parable of Our Forgiving Lord

A Story from Today's Service

St James Anglican, Biggera Waters

After church today, I felt compelled to write this. Sometimes a sermon hits you in just the right way, and you know you need to share what happened in that sacred space with others who might need to hear it too.

Today we didn't have our usual priest with us, but God had other plans. Mr. Patrick Innes-Hill, the Principal of Coomera Anglican College, stepped up as our guest lay preacher, and what a gift he was to our congregation.

He tackled one of those tricky Gospel readings - Luke 16:1-13 - you know, the kind that makes you scratch your head and wonder what Jesus was really getting at. But Patrick did something beautiful with it. He helped us see it for what it truly is: The Parable of Our Forgiving Lord.

The Heart of the Message

The story Jesus told isn't really about a shrewd manager or clever business dealings. It's about stewardship and forgiveness when we squander God's gifts. We've all been there - wasteful with our time, careless with our resources, taking for granted the blessings we've been given.

But here's the beautiful part: just like the forgiving rich man in the parable, our Lord shows us mercy even when we mess up. Everything we have is temporary anyway, and we're called to use it wisely, not for our own glory but for God's kingdom.

What This Means for Our Week Ahead

Patrick challenged us to think practically about this parable:

• Can we extend the same forgiveness and grace to others that God shows us daily?

During his sermon, Patrick shared this powerful video that really drove the message home:

Then he said something that really got me thinking. He quoted Philip Yancey's reflection on Hebrews 12:15, and it hit me like a gentle lightning bolt:

"See to it that no one misses out on God's grace."

Patrick pointed out that this little tucked-away phrase is really the Great Commission, isn't it? When we leave church, we're called to spread the Gospel wherever we go. We carry God's grace with us so that in every corner of our world, grace is seen, heard, and felt.

For Those Who Missed Today

Since we didn't have our priest today, I want to make sure everyone knows about our updated Digital Eucharist Service. It's there for you whenever you need that sacred connection.

🌿 This week, I encourage you to take some quiet time out to pray to God. Find a moment of stillness, lift your joys and struggles before Him, and invite His grace to guide your stewardship and forgiveness. 🌿

As I walked out of church today, I couldn't shake the feeling that this message was exactly what our community needed to hear. Sometimes God uses unexpected voices - like a school principal stepping into the pulpit - to remind us of His endless grace and our calling to share it.

My friend Peter also reminded me today of Martin Luther's hymn (TIS 103):
"A mighty fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon, our faithful helper in all need, no matter what may happen."

What a fitting echo of the sermon's message — that even when we squander or stumble, God remains our fortress, our shield, and our faithful helper.

Blessings for the week ahead from all of us at TheGoodNews.
May you go from here carrying God's grace wherever you tread.

The Church of St James was dedicated on 11 May 1988 by The Right Rev Ralph Wicks O.B.E
If you ever visit us, you will note my late friend's name church warden Bert Morris on the plaque - you can read about Bert here on our blog. RIP old friend.