“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” Matthew 16v25.
[Read more…]Rejoice in the Lord always.
Philippians 4v4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice!”
One striking thing about this verse is that it is a command. Paul is telling Christians to rejoice.
That may seem difficult at present. During the last five months there have been many things that we were expecting to do, assuming we could do, that we have been unable to do. There have also been many things that we were hoping would happen which haven’t happened. And there is a continuing uncertainty: when will it all be over? We don’t know. Will it get worse again before it gets better? It may well do.
At the present, I think, many of us may feel more inclined to a sort of “vague feeling of depression” than rejoicing.
[Read more…]“Love one another”
This strange period we are passing through is teaching us many things.
As things have been removed from us, we gain a fresh understanding of the part they play in “normal life”
[Read more…]“Christianity in a time of plague”
A number of weeks ago Tim wrote a book review of “Dying Well” written by John Wyatt. That review can be found here: http://newtownevangelical.org/book-reviews-1/
This is a blog post written by John Wyatt on Christianity during the plague. This is obviously relevant for our time. It is a bit graphic but please read…
[Read more…]“Therefore I Have Hope”
Today we have a book review! As we’ve mentioned previously there is no substitute for reading the Bible. But there are so many good resources for us in English which is something to praise God for.
As a new-ish Dad reading “Therefore I have hope”, wasn’t an easy read if I’m honest. Let me give you the context of the book.
[Read more…]After darkness light!
How would you describe the last few months? I believe the last meeting we had at church was 15th March. How would you describe things since then? Difficult? Testing? Maybe the introverts among us have quite enjoyed the isolation, and when the restrictions are lifted you’ll pretend to be like one of the Japanese soldiers who came out of the jungle in the 1960’s unaware that World War II had ended!
But since the turn of 2020, we’ve seen Covid-19, severe flooding in parts of the UK, fires in Australia, protests about racism, abortion laws becoming more extreme in some countries, divorce laws being changed in our country and, of course, the devastating explosion in Beirut yesterday. I think one of the ways to describe, not only this year, but to describe the world is “darkness”. After the dark, I’m sure all of us hope for light.
[Read more…]Do you really believe the Prosperity Gospel?
A number of weeks ago now we recommended that if you had a Netflix account that you watch the film “American Gospel: In Christ Alone”. It’s exposes various false preachers who have been preaching a prosperity gospel. The film was right to expose such horrendous teaching. However, I wonder whether you and I can actually fall in to a different prosperity gospel?
[Read more…]Difficult sayings of Jesus…
This is the sixth in the series:
“… rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Luke 12:4-5, Matthew 10:28)
[Read more…]Close Encounters (part 2)
Yesterday we saw that Moses, more than anyone in Old Testament scripture, had close encounters with God. We looked at the story of Moses and the burning bush. It was a sign Moses needed cleansing in order to be safe in God’s presence. It pointed us to a greater cleansing, and a greater washing, that Jesus provides for us on the cross.
Today we’re looking at another close encounter Moses had with God. When Moses led God’s people out of Egypt, he was invited to speak again with God. This time the meeting was at Mount Sinai.
[Read more…]Close Encounters (part 1)
Moses, more than anyone in Old Testament scripture, had close encounters with God. One of the first times we see it is in the odd story of the ‘burning bush’. Moses was leading a flock of sheep to the base of Horeb (the mountain of God Exodus 3v1). And then…
[Read more…]