Happy New Year. With only a few hours of 2010 left, and 2011 about to start, it is good to take time to reflect on the past year - remembering the things that God has done and who he is. As we recall his faithfulness, his love, his provision, his care we are able to face the new year, the future, with peace and confidence. Whatever the new year holds God knows already - he's already there - he's promised to walk with us each step of the way.
Friday 31 December 2010
Thursday 23 December 2010
Essential 100
As we come to the end of one year and head into the next it is often a time when people feel it is appropriate to make resolutions and set some goals for the coming year. I expect for a lot of Christians this will involve something along the lines of 'to read the Bible and pray more'.
We know these are good things; activities that we will benefit from; and yet each year we struggle to meet the standards and goals that we set ourselves. And I expect for many of us we feel as if we are in the minority in this - that most of the other people in the church are much more disciplined than we are - and this makes us feel even worse about the whole thing and so we end up being motivated by guilt rather than love.
Of course for the majority of the time that the church has been in existence most of the followers of Jesus have not been able to read a Bible, in their own language, or even have access to one. (And in many parts of the world this continues to be the case today.) Therefore any encounters with the Word of God have been done within the context of a group of local disciples.
Doing anything is always easier when we do it with others. Whatever goals we set for 2011 we are more likely to succeed if we do it with other people. Whether it is a diet, a fitness regime, or a desire to read the Bible, we are more likely to succeed with the encouragement and support of others.
This year as a church we are not going to try and read the whole Bible from start to finish. Instead we are going to follow the Essential 100 reading programme - 100 bite sized readings that cover the key stories in the Bible.
We will read five readings a week and then Sunday's message will be based on the previous week's readings. And there are plenty of ways in which you can follow along with others even if you're not part of a church or no one else in your church is involved.
For all the details click here to visit the E100 website.
As well as a list of all the readings (you'll need to download the free 'E100 readings and planner' from the Resources page of the website) and other resources there are links to Twitter, Facebook, blog sites etc. There is also information on how you can access the readings on your mobile phone - and much more. If you want to get involved find a friend somewhere - local church, cell group, online... - and read together.
We know these are good things; activities that we will benefit from; and yet each year we struggle to meet the standards and goals that we set ourselves. And I expect for many of us we feel as if we are in the minority in this - that most of the other people in the church are much more disciplined than we are - and this makes us feel even worse about the whole thing and so we end up being motivated by guilt rather than love.
Of course for the majority of the time that the church has been in existence most of the followers of Jesus have not been able to read a Bible, in their own language, or even have access to one. (And in many parts of the world this continues to be the case today.) Therefore any encounters with the Word of God have been done within the context of a group of local disciples.
Doing anything is always easier when we do it with others. Whatever goals we set for 2011 we are more likely to succeed if we do it with other people. Whether it is a diet, a fitness regime, or a desire to read the Bible, we are more likely to succeed with the encouragement and support of others.
This year as a church we are not going to try and read the whole Bible from start to finish. Instead we are going to follow the Essential 100 reading programme - 100 bite sized readings that cover the key stories in the Bible.
We will read five readings a week and then Sunday's message will be based on the previous week's readings. And there are plenty of ways in which you can follow along with others even if you're not part of a church or no one else in your church is involved.
For all the details click here to visit the E100 website.
As well as a list of all the readings (you'll need to download the free 'E100 readings and planner' from the Resources page of the website) and other resources there are links to Twitter, Facebook, blog sites etc. There is also information on how you can access the readings on your mobile phone - and much more. If you want to get involved find a friend somewhere - local church, cell group, online... - and read together.
Wednesday 22 December 2010
The Nativity
I don't know if you've been watching the BBC's 'The Nativity' but if not, and you live in the UK, I recommend it. Parts one and two have already been broadcast, but can be seen on iPlayer for the next eight days. Parts three and four will be on tonight and tomorrow night, on BBC1 at 7pm.
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Thursday 16 December 2010
Tuesday 14 December 2010
Character - not comfort
This week we came to the end of our autumn series, 'From Empire to Exile'. In terms of dates we've reached 586 BC and the people of Judah have been exiled by the Babylonians, the city has been destroyed and so has the temple.
But even in this darkest hour there remained a glimmer of hope. There remained a core of people who continued to be faithful to God. One of those was Jeremiah - who had known his fair share of persecution under the reigns of the final four 'bad' kings of Judah. Jeremiah experienced the events of the exile first hand, and as the people are taken away from their homes as captives, as they are settled in a foreign land, as they wonder where their God is - Jeremiah continues to bring God's word to them.
The Old Testament book of Lamentations is a collection of five acrostic poems that move from despair at the current situation, through the acknowledgement that this is the punishment of God - punishment which is deserved, to hope in God for the future.
We all know what it is to live through tough times, but often it is in those tough times that we grow the most. It is then that our character develops - and God is more interested in our character than in our comfort. And yet through our experiences we know that we have a faithful and loving God - who is working out his purposes.
To listen to this message click here
But even in this darkest hour there remained a glimmer of hope. There remained a core of people who continued to be faithful to God. One of those was Jeremiah - who had known his fair share of persecution under the reigns of the final four 'bad' kings of Judah. Jeremiah experienced the events of the exile first hand, and as the people are taken away from their homes as captives, as they are settled in a foreign land, as they wonder where their God is - Jeremiah continues to bring God's word to them.
The Old Testament book of Lamentations is a collection of five acrostic poems that move from despair at the current situation, through the acknowledgement that this is the punishment of God - punishment which is deserved, to hope in God for the future.
We all know what it is to live through tough times, but often it is in those tough times that we grow the most. It is then that our character develops - and God is more interested in our character than in our comfort. And yet through our experiences we know that we have a faithful and loving God - who is working out his purposes.
To listen to this message click here
Thursday 9 December 2010
It's not my fault
It is said that a bad workman blames his tools. Certainly this golfer does!
I wonder if we've ever uttered the words 'it's not my fault' - even if it was.
Last Sunday we looked at the life of king Josiah (2 Kings 22-23), a good king who was compared to king David. One of the things that these two men had in common, and one of the lessons we can take from his story, is that when they were confronted with sin they didn't make excuses, they didn't point the finger at anyone else, but they acknowledged the wrong doing and they confessed and repented.
Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that when a person is a Christian they will be perfect - but we all know that that is just not the case. Whilst we seek to be like Jesus, none of his followers is ever going to be sinless whilst we live here on this earth. We will make mistakes, we'll get things wrong...But what do we do when we realise it? Do we make excuses? Or do we confess and repent, believing in the God who has promised to forgive us (1 John 1:9).
To listen to this message click here.
I wonder if we've ever uttered the words 'it's not my fault' - even if it was.
Last Sunday we looked at the life of king Josiah (2 Kings 22-23), a good king who was compared to king David. One of the things that these two men had in common, and one of the lessons we can take from his story, is that when they were confronted with sin they didn't make excuses, they didn't point the finger at anyone else, but they acknowledged the wrong doing and they confessed and repented.
Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that when a person is a Christian they will be perfect - but we all know that that is just not the case. Whilst we seek to be like Jesus, none of his followers is ever going to be sinless whilst we live here on this earth. We will make mistakes, we'll get things wrong...But what do we do when we realise it? Do we make excuses? Or do we confess and repent, believing in the God who has promised to forgive us (1 John 1:9).
To listen to this message click here.
Wednesday 1 December 2010
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