The main theme revolves around the deadly sins, especially envy, lust, and avarice, set against a backdrop of class differences and the superficial nature of charity in the upper classes.

The congregation reacts with a mix of boredom, amusement, and discomfort, reflecting their varying degrees of engagement with the sermon's content.

Ivy accidentally sets her father's trousers on fire while trying to provide him light to see the collection plate.

Self-Denial Sunday is an initiative where the Lordship's household decides to forego their traditional Sunday dinner to save money for charity, specifically for Miss Cissy's soup kitchen.

The family decides to volunteer at the soup kitchen to understand the plight of the poor, though their efforts end up being misguided and ineffective.

The family mistakes a group of Chinese men for a violent threat, revealing their prejudices and fears, but it turns out to be a simple misunderstanding.

The episode satirizes the upper class's performative acts of charity, highlighting their disconnect from the realities of poverty and their superficial understanding of helping the poor.

Miss Cissy is a member of the Lordship's household who leads the initiative to volunteer at the soup kitchen, representing a more genuine, albeit naive, attempt to bridge class divides through charity.

The characters are confronted with their superficial approach to charity and their lack of understanding of the poor, though it's unclear how much they truly learn from the experience.

Through the vicar's sermon and the characters' reactions, the episode comments on the hypocrisy and moral posturing often found within religious institutions and their followers.

The Chinese men's appearance serves as a climax to the soup kitchen scheme, ultimately revealing the family's misconceptions and biases, while also providing a humorous resolution to their misguided efforts.

The episode portrays the class system through the stark contrast between the upper-class characters' frivolous concerns and the real struggles of the poor, emphasizing the social divide.

The deadly sins mentioned include envy, lust, and avarice, with sloth being teased for the next sermon, reflecting the characters' moral and ethical challenges.

The episode uses humor, particularly through misunderstandings, social gaffes, and the characters' obliviousness, to satirize class differences and the ineffectiveness of performative charity.

The overall message critiques the superficial nature of social reform efforts by the upper class, highlighting the need for genuine understanding and empathy towards the less fortunate.