THEME: POVERTY

What does the Bible say about poverty? What are the realities of poverty today, particularly in the UK? How should the Church respond?

THE WORD OF GOD

The Bible has a lot to say about poverty, as James Catford reminds us. In his column he speaks of the revolutionary message of Jesus in the Beatitudes. On the other hand, don't romanticise poverty, he says; 'it is perfectly possible to be mean-spirited and hard of heart in poverty, just as it is in riches'.

Antony Billington reminds us that sometimes poverty is the result of laziness, but sometimes it's systemic injustice. In the Old Testament we're reminded that poverty shouldn't be permanent or multi-generational, a theme also picked up by Helen Paynter: at the Jubilee, 'The poor are set free from the oppression of their poverty. And the rich are set free from the oppression of their wealth.'

In the New Testament, says Billington, 'the Spirit was creating a new people, the kind of society that Israel was originally called to be – a community of worship and generosity – with the desire that there would be no needy person among them'.

APPLICATION

As we're faced with the cost-of-living crisis, Natalie Williams asks, 'Does God care?' How does he provide? Through work; through his people; supernaturally.

SUB-THEMES

Several writers pick up the idea of a 'great reversal' or similar. In 'From Lament to Hope – a lesson from Zarephath' Paul Williams speaks of the 'great inversion' of the penniless and starving widow becoming a channel of grace to the mighty prophet. Helen Paynter speaks of the 'great reset that was to take place twice every century'; according to Ian Paul, 'God’s coming to the world brings a great reversal, when the poor who trust in God are lifted up, and the rich who ignore God and neglect the poor will be put down.'

CASE STUDIES

CAP's Richard Ellwood writes that there are 7.2 million people going without clothing or toiletries. Jesus' proclamation in Luke 4 that 'today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing' is a promise of a future without poverty'. Paul Oxley writes of St Mark's Meals – in Milton Keynes, a fifth of children live in poverty. His church there now serves 100 schools, nurseries and children’s centres all over the city, delivering at least 4,000 boxes every year in a movement that's spreading. JPIT's Paul Morrison offers a forensic dissection of the reality of poverty today and what can be done about it.

PREACHING POINTS

Both Dave Bookless and Helen Paynter offer preaching points. Here are some other things to tease out.

There's nothing inherently noble about poverty, though poor people are protected against some of the dangers of wealth. It can be and often is terribly destructive to the mind, body and spirit.
It's usually the result of human failure and injustice, and it prevents full human flourishing. Poverty is an enemy.
But poverty teaches dependence – a Christian virtue. So it's not entirely simple!
Preaching on poverty should be very carefully done. Better-off people can learn lessons from it, but these lessons should never be detached from the real-life situation of poorer people – or learned apart from genuine encounters with and active compassion for those in this situation.

READING

Founding God’s Nation: Reading Exodus
Leon R. Kas (Yale University Press, 2022)
752 pages, paperback, RRP £20

Lowborn: Growing Up, Getting Away and Returning to Britain's Poorest Towns
Kerry Hudson (Vintage, 2020)
256 pages, paperback, RRP £8.99

A Call to Act: Building a Poverty-Busting Lifestyle
Natalie Williams and Martin Charlesworth (David C Cook, 2020)
224 pages, paperback, RRP £12.99

Walking with the Poor
Bryant L. Myers (Orbis, 2011)
288 pages, paperback, RRP £9.99

The State of Us
Jon Snow (Transworld, 2023)
262 pages, hardback, RRP £20

Please email editor@lwpt.org.uk if you would like a pdf version of the sermon tips.

Preach magazine sermon tips

Preaching from Preach magazine Issue 35, Poverty