Lost and Found: The Parables

Lost and Found - Parables Sunday Worship

Good morning, I’m Swarzy Shire. You’ll usually find me over on BBC Radio 1 & Radio 1Xtra. This morning on Sunday Worship - and all next week on Daily Service - I’m going to be exploring some of Jesus’s best stories - the parables - with musicians from different genres. I’m really excited to hear them unpack their favourite parable and find out how Jesus’ teachings help them live out their faith so authentically in the music industry.

Jesus is a master storyteller - using imagery and word pictures to help us understand heavenly truths - and so I thought I’d sit down with some super talented people in the music who write and compose and sing and bless us with great stories too. 

So to kick things off, I have two incredible guests joining me today: David Melodee from The Compozers - an amazing Afrobeats band - and a real sweet one - Keisha Buchanan from The Sugababes - who are touring again but so many of us loved you in the early 2000s and v ready for more Sugababe goodness this year! 

Intro to first hymn/song - Rachel John - who I’ll be speaking to in Daily Service on Wednesday has recorded some music for us this is the fab hymn - Guide me o thou great jehovah…

MUSIC 1 - Guide me o thou great Jehovah - Rachel John (BBC Recording)

Swarzy

So what is a Parable? Well, unlike fantasy or fables, a Parable is a simple story that Jesus would tell, using commonplace, everyday things to illustrate a profound, spiritual lesson. We’re going to hear the first parable recorded in Matthew’s gospel in a minute - The Parable of the Sower - but as Jesus explains in Matthew 13, His purpose for teaching in parables is two fold: to reveal truth to those willing to hear and to conceal it from those who think they already know it all. 

Discussion

• Question: why did you both say yes to talking to me about this topic today…

• You’ll be sharing your favourite parable soon - so no spoilers just yet!

• Question: The music industry can be both an exciting and challenging place to work as Christians. How have Jesus’s parables helped you navigate the space you’re in?

MUSIC 2 – Amazing Grace – Melodees from Heaven (BBC Recording)

Discussion about David and Keisha’s faith and experience of living authentically as a Christian in the music industry

MUSIC 3 – Your world – Jonathan McReynolds

DAVID’S FAVOURITE PARABLE

1’30 The Parable of the Talents - Matthew 25 14-30 or Luke 19:11-27

14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.' 21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 22 "The man with two bags of gold also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.' 23 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' 24 "Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' 26 "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 " 'So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Discussion - why did you choose this one?

David’s thoughts…The parable of the talents – the master gave talents to his servants – you can just see what was sold and what was benefitted from what was utilised – it reflects in my life and how I’ve developed using my gift, I never want to bury it in the sand, it was taken away from him. Mantra for life.

Faith – regardless of whatever I do, outside, I’m back at church, I’m back to serving straight away, because of words like the parable – let me know that I’ve still got to give it back – still use my gift in church.

When I’m in the world, god is still in control of that, through what we’re doing, we’re still able to speak about Christ and the gift, through our gifting, it’s god that gives us the gift

Always feel confident talking about faith, so many rappers etc, we’ve been put – to be that light, supposed to be that light, this is what we should. 

Set up why you’ve picked ‘I give myself away’

MUSIC 4- “I give myself away" William McDowell

KEISHA’S FAVOURITE PARABLE 

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant Matthew 18 21-35

21 Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church[a] sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ 22 Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. 23 ‘For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; 25 and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees before him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” 27 And out of pity for him, the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

 28 But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow-servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, “Pay what you owe.” 29 Then his fellow-servant fell down and pleaded with him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” 30 But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow-servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, “You wicked sservant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-servant, as I had mercy on you?” 34 And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he should pay his entire debt. 35 So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister[e] from your heart.’

Discussion about why this parable

The servant who asked his master to excuse his debt, and then later on he wouldn't do the same for others, giving the same grace to others, we’re so imperfect, it’s an extension for how God loves us, for how we should be with each other, remembering 

Non of us are perfect, we should consider that when we’re holding on to things, when we’ve been wronged or whatever 

Forgiveness - if someone has extended kindness to you, offer them, I’ve maybe helped people in their time of need, then I maybe didn’t have the same experience, grace

MUSIC 5  - Keisha’s pick ‘Yet - Maverick City 

PRAYERS

Swarzy to pray

David to pray

Keisha to pray

Say The Lord’s Prayer together

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Swarzy concludes programme 

MUSIC 6 - Jesus I do - Mariah Carey featuring the Clark Sisters