Psalm 103 In one survey readers were asked to describe 2020 in one word – the top three were ‘exhausting’, ‘chaotic’, ‘lost’. For this final service of the year, the only kind of psalm which might feel appropriate is a lament. So how could this psalm of praise possibly be fitting instead?
1 John 4:14 The phrase sine qua non is Latin for something which is indispensable. What for you is the sine qua non of Christmas? What is the key ingredient without which Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas for you? This talk explains why Jesus is the sine qua non not just of Christmas but of life itself.
Christmas is going to be a strange one in 2020, but still not quite as strange as the first Christmas, at which God gave a strange solution to the strange problem of this world.
Romans 6:23 ‘Thankfully, despite everything, Christmas has not been cancelled this year. And that’s just as well, because we could all do with some good news at the end of 2020. And that is what Christmas is – good news of God’s gift to us.
Mark 4:35-5:20 We all have fears. Some are silly ones, but others are deep-rooted, heart-felt fears which threaten to control us. There’s no point just hoping they’ll go away. We need to confront them. Or we need someone who can confront them for us. Jesus is bigger than all our fears, and so the answer to fear is faith – faith in him.
Nehemiah 6:1–7:4 As the building of the wall comes to an end, Nehemiah still faces opposition, as we today face opposition. How can we endure in the face of danger, defamation, deception, and dilution? And how can we make sure that we keep our priorities right as we walk our Christian journey?
Nehemiah 5 What does the bible have to say about injustice? In particular, injustice when it is in the Church? We are to be marked, as people of God, by our justice and generosity— like Nehemiah was — which all stems from the fear of the Lord, we can therefore look forward to an even greater justice and generosity.
Various ‘I am weary, O God, and worn out’. So said a guy called Agur in Proverbs 30 – and so say all of us. Eight months into this pandemic, we are weary. But God tells us where to find refreshment for our bodies, minds, souls, strength, and heart.
Romans 5:1 Every year at Remembrance we give thanks for the peace that we enjoy as a nation, and we remember those whose sacrifice made this peace possible. But it is also an opportunity to reflect on another dimension of peace, which we may perhaps not think about so much, but which is even more important – and that is, peace with God. Why does it matter? And how do we get it?
Mark 4:1-34 Is the kingdom of God the best investment; is it going to succeed; is it worth me investing my time, money, energy, life in this venture? And how does the kingdom grow; what is the business plan; is it working? In this chapter we have a statement by the CEO with all the answers.