James – Right Perspective

James 4:13-5:11 There are two types of time. One is the time we see on our watches and mobiles. The other is time from God’s perspective – seeing that life is uncertain, and judgement is coming, and the Lord is returning. If we lose track of time in this sense, it’s disastrous, because then we won’t be living as we should.

James – Ultimate friendship

James 4:1-12 We live in a world in which there is conflict on all sorts of levels – between countries, in communities, in marriages and families, at work, in friendships, and even among believers. What does God think of conflict? Where does it come from? How can we resolve it? This passage gives us the answers.

Habakkuk – the prayer (Lunchtime)

Habakkuk 3:1-16a Samuel Beckett’s play ‘Waiting for Godot’ is about two tramps, in despair, waiting for someone to show up, who never does. Believers can sometimes feel like that – waiting for God to show up in a world of evil and suffering. Habakkuk felt that way. But he ends his book assured that God will come, and finding joy and strength in God as he waits.

Hot topics: What does God think of religion?

Philippians 3:1-11 One of the key accusations of the New Atheists is that religion isn’t simply irrational, but that it’s dangerous and that it leads inevitably to intolerance and violence. Then, of course, the pro-religion voices try to protest by demonstrating the strong correlations between religion and many desirable outcomes such as stable mental health, and happiness, and altruism. And the debate rolls on. But what about God, what does God think of religion? Listen in as we consider this question from the Bible, and as we discover that God is not nearly so pro-religion as we might have expected…