Sermon: Ephesians 1:3–14, St John 1:1–18

Preacher:

Paul Thompson

Date:

Sunday 4th January 2026

Venue:

Guildford Cathedral

Service:

9.45 Cathedral Eucharist

Once upon a time when I was at school, now I know you’re looking at me and thinking that was clearly a very long time ago now! I well remember a boy in my year who lived in a local foster home. In truth I have always been in awe and admiration for adults who look after these youngsters at such an early age, particularly as it is so formational for them. Indeed, maybe one or two of you have also been foster parents at some point, I don’t know?

So, this morning I’m going to ask you to imagine such a child growing up within foster care. One day, a letter arrives for the child. It’s not a bill, and it’s not bad news either.

A letter that says: “You are chosen. You belong to our family. We’ve been waiting for you.”

Nothing about that child’s past changes in an instant—but everything about their future does. Their whole identity shifts. They are no longer just “getting by.” They are wanted. Named. Loved.

That feeling—of being chosen, being claimed—is at the heart of our readings today.

In Ephesians, St Paul pours out a long, joyful sentence—almost like he can’t stop himself. He tells us that before the world even began, God had us in mind. Before our successes, before our mistakes, before we ever said a prayer—God actually chose us.

This doesn’t mean God picked perfect people. It means that God decided to love us first.

Just think about that for a moment…it was:

• Before you ever proved anything
• Before you ever failed at anything
• Before anyone ever had an opinion about you

God said, “You are mine.” How incredible is that!

Paul uses carefully chosen Greek words like adopted, redeemed, sealed. These aren’t churchy filler words. They are actually family words. Freedom words. Words of belonging and identity.

And let us also notice this: all of it is described as a gift, not a reward.

A coach once tells a story about choosing his team captain. All the boys expected the strongest, fastest player to be picked. Instead, the coach chose a quiet child who was often sat on the bench, as a replacement substitute.

When asked why this child was chosen, the coach said, “Because when he messes up or makes mistakes, he continues showing up. And when others mess up, he provides encouragement to them.”

Our God is a little like that. God doesn’t choose us because we shine. God chooses us so we can learn to shine.

Then on to those incredible opening words of St John’s Gospel, that I so loved teaching my A level pupils, that take us even further back in time…..before Bethlehem, before even creation itself.

He tells us that God’s Word—the very voice that spoke the universe into being—actually became flesh.

This is important: God doesn’t shout love from a distance. God didn’t send instructions only. God shows up.

St John is honest in saying that when Jesus the Light came into the world, the world didn’t recognize Him. Some rejected Him. Some were confused. Some were afraid.

I hope that can bring real comfort to us. Because it means when we struggle to recognize God in our lives—when faith feels foggy or distant—we are not alone. Even the Light was misunderstood.

Yet St John says something powerful: the darkness did not overcome the light. Not then. Not now. Not ever.

There’s another story of a lighthouse keeper who kept the bright lights burning during a terrible storm, even when there were no more ships on the seas. A friend of his asked him later, “Why bother? No one could see it anyway.” He replied, “I don’t keep the light for the ships I can see. I keep it for the ones I can’t.”

That’s what Christ does for us. He shines not only when life is clear—but especially when we are lost, unsure, or afraid.

In Bringing the readings together…..

The letter to the Ephesians tells us: You were chosen. And St John tells us: God came close.

We are not just chosen from afar—we are met in person. The God who planned our redemption also stepped into our human existence.

And that changes how we live as His followers:

• We don’t have to earn our worth
• We don’t have to hide our brokenness
• We don’t have to fear the darkness

Because we belong to Christ the Light.

This week, I ask you to remember this simple Christian truth:

You are not an accident.
You are not forgotten.
You are not walking alone.

You are chosen—and the Light has come to you.

So, when you perhaps walk into dark places—your workplace, your school, your family struggles—we do not need to worry about being impressive.

Just carry that light as it shines in the darkness, because even a small light, carefully placed by God, can change everything.

And remember that we are all chosen by God, and He is our amazing foster Dad. We are chosen and loved.

Amen.