Getting your head round Hebrews

This morning at CBC we're starting a new series looking at the New Testament book of Hebrews. Although we're not told who wrote Hebrews and we're not told who it was written to, we do know enough to know that: it was probably written to Jewish Christians, maybe a house church in Rome, possibly around 64-68 AD, and these Christians were experiencing hardship and persecution because of their faith - and they were therefore tempted to turn back to their old religion or water down some of the truths about their new faith. The letter, which is really a long sermon, was written to remind them that Jesus was superior to all that had come before and that the rewards of remaining faithful, as well as the cost of turning away far outweighed the current hardships they were experiencing.

Hebrews is not an easy book to get our heads round - because we don't come from an Old Testament, Jewish background - the basis for so many of the author's arguments. 

Here's a great introductory video from the great people over at the Bible Project.

Being Spirit-led

Seeking to be an authentic community of disciples, becoming more like Jesus - walking in step with God, alongside each other and seeing lives transformed

At CBC our Vision helps us to understand where we are headed, and our seven Core Values shape everything that we do and say.

Last week we took a break from our series, but today we continue our more detailed look at our Core Values. If you have missed any of these posts then use the links to catch up - or use the labels at the bottom of the page.

Our Core Values: Loving, Welcoming, Missional, Servant-hearted, Biblical, Spirit-led and Prayerful.

Today we're going to think about what it means to be Spirit-led.

Isaiah 55:8-9 we read: 

'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'

Later this year we're going to be looking at the book of Judges. There are some fairly horrific stories in Judges, the result of the people turning their backs on God and everyone doing 'as they saw fit'. But there are other stories in the Bible where we find people making what seem to be good decisions - but they do so without asking God - and it turns out they did the wrong thing - because God's ways are not our ways...

One of the things that came out of the Vision and Values process last year was a desire as a church to do what God wants. To listen to God's Spirit and to be led by the Spirit. Not to do the things that we think are good ideas, but to do what God wants. But how easy do we find it to separate out our good ideas from what God is really saying? 

This is part of the reason why we come together as a church meeting to listen to God - as God speaks through each of us. It's why we spend time in prayer - not just speaking but also listening. It's why we read the Bible - getting to know God and what he is like.

I'm sure many of us will have known what we thought was the prompting of the Spirit to do or to say something (usually something we didn't want to do) which we have then not done. Listening to the Spirit is something that we can learn. The more obedient we are, the more we get to know what the prompting of the Spirit feels like. The more we ignore the Spirit the less likely we are to know what the Spirit sounds like.

So the next time that you think that the Spirit is asking you to do something don't ignore him. If you're not sure ask the advice of a trusted mature Christian friend. And then step out in obedience and faith and see what God does.

Why you shouldn't do everything you read in the Bible

Seeking to be an authentic community of disciples, becoming more like Jesus - walking in step with God, alongside each other and seeing lives transformed

At CBC our Vision helps us understand where we are headed and our seven Core Values shape everything that we do and say.

We started to think a bit more about these Core Values a couple of weeks ago - if you missed these posts then use the links below to catch up.

Our Core Values: Loving, Welcoming, Missional, Servant-hearted, Biblical, Spirit-led and Prayerful

This week I want to think about what we mean when we say that we're biblical and what that looks like in practice.

Broadly speaking I guess most of us mean that we believe the Bible and that what we do is governed by what we read in the Bible. The trouble is is that it's not quite as simple as that. We don't do everything that's written in the Bible. 

There are parts of the Old Testament that we would say are cultural and therefore do not apply to us any longer - the question then becomes: how do you decide which bits apply and which bits don't and on what basis do you make that call?

So for example, there will be those who say that it is wrong for a Christian to have a tattoo - and they would base this on Leviticus 19:28. But these same people are happy to ignore another verse earlier in the same chapter verse 19 by wearing clothes that are made of mixed fibres.

And things are not always any easier in the New Testament. Here at CBC we have women in leadership, we have women preachers. Within the Baptist Union we have women ministers. The General Secretary of the Baptist Union is currently a woman. And yet doesn't Paul quite clearly say that this should not be the case in places like 1 Corinthians 14:34?

So what do we mean when we say that we are biblical?

Firstly we recognise that the Bible was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and within its pages we read the story of God and his interaction with men and women throughout history. Therefore when we read the Bible we discover God and find out what he is like.

And although the Bible is divided into two main parts, as well as containing lots of smaller books, it contains one overarching story - and therefore all those smaller parts have to be read and understood within the context of the single overarching story.

At the heart of this story we find Jesus - and the events of the first Easter - the cross and the empty grave. And therefore we learn to read the rest of the story from the perspective of the cross and the empty grave - but also bearing in mind that this story has a beginning and it has an end.

We also appreciate that the times in which we now live are very different to the times when the Bible was written - and therefore all of the Bible is cultural (and not just bits about tattoos or wearing clothes made of two kinds of fibre). And therefore it is never simply the case that we do something because it is written in the Bible.

So when we read the Bible we need to understand first of all what it was saying then - and then ask God to help us answer the question, "if that's what it said then - what is it saying to me now?" So - why is it that Israel were not allowed tattoos? Is it something to do with the practices of the nations around them? And if so why did they have to be different? Are there any similar issues that apply today (which may or may not have anything to do with tattoos)?

Because the Bible is the story of God it is important that we read it. Not just in church on a Sunday but daily - asking God to speak to us as we do so. This is not always easy and there are all kinds of things that can easily get in the way of this discipline.


A number of us here at CBC have committed to reading through the whole of the Bible this year - following the Read Scripture plan from the great people at the Join the Bible Project. One of the great things about this scheme is that at the beginning of every new book, and at various other points along the way they have short (7-8 minute) videos that help explain the book, and provide pointers in understanding what you're reading. You can find out more by visiting their website here.

If you're looking for a book to help you understand and read the Bible I'd highly recommend these two:

How to read the Bible for all its worth and How to read the Bible book by book.

Happy Resurrection Day

It's Resurrection Day - Christ is risen - Hallelujah.

This morning at CBC we celebrated the resurrection by reflecting on how the cross - a symbol that represents death and horror and fear - an instrument of torture and execution - has come to be a symbol of hope and new life and forgiveness and peace.

It's because Jesus died, was buried and rose again.