Last Sunday we started a new teaching series at CBC - 'Promises Kept & Promises Broken' - studies in Joshua & Judges. We're only going to be in Joshua for six weeks, so now, after chapter one, would be a great time to get an overview of the whole book.
If you were following this blog before the prolonged recent break you will already be familiar with the guys over at www.jointhebibleproject.com and their short videos that provide an overview and helpful tips on tackling each book of the Bible.
So why not have a look at their Joshua video below.
This Sunday we're going to be looking at the next three chapters as well as thinking about how we are supposed to make sense of all the killing and violence that we find in this book.
Friday, 9 September 2016
Wednesday, 7 September 2016
Head for heights?
What are you afraid of?
We'll all have different answers to that question. Some will be afraid of spiders, others will be afraid of the dark. And the 'level' of those fears will also vary from person to person. One person's fear of spiders means they run from the room screaming, another person's fear allows them to place a plastic cup over the eight legged culprit - as long as they can do it from arm's length.
During the last week of the summer holidays I remembered that I'm not overly keen on heights. I probably should have remembered this before agreeing to go to 'Clip and Climb'.
Even when you're securely clipped on and in a safe environment and have just seen children half your size conquer the 'stairway to heaven' - none of that stops your body and mind doing some strange things as you get further and further away from the floor!
This Sunday at CBC we began a new teaching series - Promises Kept & Promises Broken: Studies in Joshua & Judges. As Joshua succeeds Moses and looks to lead the people into the Promised Land God commands him to be strong and courageous, not to be afraid or discouraged - because God promises to be with him wherever he goes (Joshua 1:9).
September for many is a time of new beginnings - whether that's starting school, secondary school or going off to university, or starting a new job. And at such times verses like Joshua 1:9 or Philippians 4:6-7 give encouragement.
But they can also be a cause for concern - we face a new situation and we are anxious - what does that say about our faith?
I think that the reality is that most of us experience some level of anxiety when facing a new situation even if we also experience God's peace. But we're not alone. Nehemiah, the guy who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem after the return from the exile was 'very much afraid' in the presence of the king (Nehemiah 2:1-3).
But the important thing was that Nehemiah's actions were not governed by his fear but by his knowledge of what was right in spite of his fear.
The last time the people of Israel were in this position (Numbers 13-14) their response was governed by their fear rather than what they knew God could do and had promised to do. This time round, whilst there may have been an element of fear in the people as they approached their first battle, they did not allow their fear to stop them doing what was right.
Whatever it is that we're anxious or fearful of at the moment - let's make sure that our actions aren't dictated by that fear but by our knowledge of who God is, what God has done and what God has promised.
We'll all have different answers to that question. Some will be afraid of spiders, others will be afraid of the dark. And the 'level' of those fears will also vary from person to person. One person's fear of spiders means they run from the room screaming, another person's fear allows them to place a plastic cup over the eight legged culprit - as long as they can do it from arm's length.
During the last week of the summer holidays I remembered that I'm not overly keen on heights. I probably should have remembered this before agreeing to go to 'Clip and Climb'.
Even when you're securely clipped on and in a safe environment and have just seen children half your size conquer the 'stairway to heaven' - none of that stops your body and mind doing some strange things as you get further and further away from the floor!
This Sunday at CBC we began a new teaching series - Promises Kept & Promises Broken: Studies in Joshua & Judges. As Joshua succeeds Moses and looks to lead the people into the Promised Land God commands him to be strong and courageous, not to be afraid or discouraged - because God promises to be with him wherever he goes (Joshua 1:9).
September for many is a time of new beginnings - whether that's starting school, secondary school or going off to university, or starting a new job. And at such times verses like Joshua 1:9 or Philippians 4:6-7 give encouragement.
But they can also be a cause for concern - we face a new situation and we are anxious - what does that say about our faith?
I think that the reality is that most of us experience some level of anxiety when facing a new situation even if we also experience God's peace. But we're not alone. Nehemiah, the guy who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem after the return from the exile was 'very much afraid' in the presence of the king (Nehemiah 2:1-3).
But the important thing was that Nehemiah's actions were not governed by his fear but by his knowledge of what was right in spite of his fear.
The last time the people of Israel were in this position (Numbers 13-14) their response was governed by their fear rather than what they knew God could do and had promised to do. This time round, whilst there may have been an element of fear in the people as they approached their first battle, they did not allow their fear to stop them doing what was right.
Whatever it is that we're anxious or fearful of at the moment - let's make sure that our actions aren't dictated by that fear but by our knowledge of who God is, what God has done and what God has promised.
Monday, 16 May 2016
Should I go or should I stay?
Last night, here at CBC, we looked at some of the issues around the EU Referendum. We tried to cut through some of the fear and the spin, and we also tried to think about how we come at this issue from a biblical perspective.
Thank you to Amanda who did a great job of presenting both sides of the debate.
Obviously there was a lot of information to take on board - most of which came from the BBC Reality Check. This is well worth a visit and you'll find lots of information about the many many issues involved.
Whilst the Bible says very little on whether or not the UK should leave the EU, it does say a lot about God and what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Often the questions being asked in this debate are the wrong questions. So part of addressing this issue from a biblical perspective requires us to ask the right questions, rather than to try and mine the Bible for answers to the wrong questions.
Is, for example, "How will I be better off?" ever the right question for a Christian to ask when making any decision?
Another helpful resource which takes a look at the main issues in the Referendum debate is "Think, Pray, Vote: EU referendum resources for churches". This 27 page resource outlines the main issues and then asks a series of questions for us to reflect on and consider. These are often not the questions the national media is asking.
A couple of weeks ago I went to a very interesting lunchtime meeting organised by the Jubilee Centre in Cambridge. Again the approach was not to try and persuade Christians which way to vote but to offer comment and reflection on how to evaluate the issues and policy options from a biblical perspective. You will find more resources on their website by clicking here.
If you would like another look at yesterday's presentation you will find it here - the BBC Reality Check is the source for all of the data given.
Thank you to Amanda who did a great job of presenting both sides of the debate.
Obviously there was a lot of information to take on board - most of which came from the BBC Reality Check. This is well worth a visit and you'll find lots of information about the many many issues involved.
Whilst the Bible says very little on whether or not the UK should leave the EU, it does say a lot about God and what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Often the questions being asked in this debate are the wrong questions. So part of addressing this issue from a biblical perspective requires us to ask the right questions, rather than to try and mine the Bible for answers to the wrong questions.
Is, for example, "How will I be better off?" ever the right question for a Christian to ask when making any decision?
Another helpful resource which takes a look at the main issues in the Referendum debate is "Think, Pray, Vote: EU referendum resources for churches". This 27 page resource outlines the main issues and then asks a series of questions for us to reflect on and consider. These are often not the questions the national media is asking.
A couple of weeks ago I went to a very interesting lunchtime meeting organised by the Jubilee Centre in Cambridge. Again the approach was not to try and persuade Christians which way to vote but to offer comment and reflection on how to evaluate the issues and policy options from a biblical perspective. You will find more resources on their website by clicking here.
If you would like another look at yesterday's presentation you will find it here - the BBC Reality Check is the source for all of the data given.
Tuesday, 3 May 2016
Dangerous currents
I don't know if you've ever been caught in a current or a tide but I am sure that it can be a very frightening and dangerous experience.
One moment you're lying back on your inflatable enjoying the sun on your face and the sound of lapping waves, and the next moment when you look up you discover that you're no where near where you thought you were and you're moving further and further away from safety. You weren't aware it was happening but you've slowly been drifting away.
Or else you're rowing or swimming towards a point on the shore, and yet it seems as though you're never going to make it no matter how hard you try - you're either making no headway or you're constantly been blown off course and having to keep on adjusting where you're headed.
On Sunday at CBC we resumed our new series in the New Testament book of Hebrews where there is a warning to pay most careful attention to what we have heard (about Jesus) so that we do not drift away - Hebrews 2:1.
The thing with drifting, certainly at the beginning, is that often we're not even aware that it is happening. And by the time that we do realise it can be too late.
Certainly when you're drifting at sea you only know it is happening if you've got some fixed reference point. If you're floating around with a group of friends on your inflatables you will have no idea whether you're drifting or not - because you'll all be drifting together. The only indication will be your position in relation to a fixed position over the course of time.
When we stop paying careful attention to what we have heard about Jesus it may not seem as though anything has changed, but there is a risk that we are slowly drifting away.
One moment you're lying back on your inflatable enjoying the sun on your face and the sound of lapping waves, and the next moment when you look up you discover that you're no where near where you thought you were and you're moving further and further away from safety. You weren't aware it was happening but you've slowly been drifting away.
Or else you're rowing or swimming towards a point on the shore, and yet it seems as though you're never going to make it no matter how hard you try - you're either making no headway or you're constantly been blown off course and having to keep on adjusting where you're headed.
On Sunday at CBC we resumed our new series in the New Testament book of Hebrews where there is a warning to pay most careful attention to what we have heard (about Jesus) so that we do not drift away - Hebrews 2:1.
The thing with drifting, certainly at the beginning, is that often we're not even aware that it is happening. And by the time that we do realise it can be too late.
Certainly when you're drifting at sea you only know it is happening if you've got some fixed reference point. If you're floating around with a group of friends on your inflatables you will have no idea whether you're drifting or not - because you'll all be drifting together. The only indication will be your position in relation to a fixed position over the course of time.
When we stop paying careful attention to what we have heard about Jesus it may not seem as though anything has changed, but there is a risk that we are slowly drifting away.
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