For Starters What is it that you are eagerly awaiting as we come into Christmas. I expect that if you are a 5 year old then it is the promise of a present 3x the size of you! Maybe some of us are looking forward to the promise of a few days off, food, music,Continue reading “A son out of Egypt Hosea 11:1”
Tag Archives: Matthew
Unrepentant (Matthew 11:20-24)
What will it take to get you to repent? That’s quite a blunt way to start an article isn’t it? Repent of what exactly? And who am I to ask that of you? Isn’t the concept of repentance itself all a bit judgemental? Yet at the heart of the Bible’s good news message is aContinue reading “Unrepentant (Matthew 11:20-24)”
What do you see (Matthew 11:1-19)
What do you see when you look at the world around you? The chaos and uncertainty around a contested Presidential result? The devastation caused by a global pandemic. The ongoing climate change crisis? The division and hurt of racism? What do you see when you look at your own life? Weakness, failure, shame? The drudgeryContinue reading “What do you see (Matthew 11:1-19)”
Is it ever okay to run away?
What should Christians do when they face opposition and persecution? Well, it’s obvious isn’t it? Christians are to persevere, to stand their ground and to suffer. Paul talks about how we learn endurance and faith in suffering whilst Peter tells slaves that it is a good thing to suffer for doing good. So when persecutionContinue reading “Is it ever okay to run away?”
Fed to the wolves?
I’m sure that I’m not the only one who finds these words particularly challenging: “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves”[1] Would Jesus do something so reckless as to send his disciples out without defence to certain danger? Is that the act of the good shepherd? I’ve seen itContinue reading “Fed to the wolves?”
The spot in my eye
The other day I mentioned a trip to eye casualty due to getting a persistent floater in my eye. Just to reassure you once again, it was nothing serious but with eyes it is better to be safe than sorry. However, admittedly I didn’t go straight to the hospital. Why? Well apart from a desireContinue reading “The spot in my eye”
Don’t Be Afraid (Matthew 10:16-42)
There are fewer and fewer people alive who can remember the horrors of the Second World War, what it was like to live through the Blitz, how to survive on rations etc. We do sadly have men and women who have served in recent wars, many have suffered terrible injuries as well as PTSD. ThisContinue reading “Don’t Be Afraid (Matthew 10:16-42)”
Something Different
Here is the sermon from yesterday’s Bearwood Chapel service (Matthew 10:1-15)
Jesus and the shamed woman
Yesterday, I wrote about how the woman with an issue of blood experiences shaming from powerful men. Today, I want to highlight how Jesus deals with her differently. All the Gospel writers present her as creeping up quietly, nervously and sneaking a quick touch of her garment. Her aim seems to be to make someContinue reading “Jesus and the shamed woman”
The shaming of a precious woman
In Matthew 9:20-22, Jesus who has just been asked to come with a synagogue ruler and heal his sick daughter is interrupted. A desperate woman reaches out to touch him and is healed. We are told that she has an issue, or haemorrhage of blood. It is possible that this was something along the linesContinue reading “The shaming of a precious woman”
