…I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel… (1 Corinthians 9:22-23 NIV)
This verse reveals Paul’s approach to his evangelistic work. He is not advocating a compromise of the gospel message, but rather calls for consideration, compassion and empathy as the good news about Jesus Christ is shared with people from different social and ethnic backgrounds.

In the lead up to Christmas an Australian Drive Time radio presenter, himself an atheist, was criticised for including a seven minute segment on his show titled: Do you know the story of Jesus’ birth? Listeners complained that it was inappropriate and offensive for him to cover the topic of religion and Christianity. One person tweeted, ‘We are a secular country, and the national broadcaster is supposed to be too.’

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost…Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. Isaiah 55:1,3 (NIVUK)
The good news of this invitation is that all are called to come, eat, drink, and live. To demonstrate all are included the author describes three types of people:

Friday 19 November marks the 41st year of the ‘Children in Need’ telethon and since it was first broadcast in 1980 the charity has raised over £1 billion for disadvantaged children and young people throughout the UK.

…let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! Amos 5:24 (NIVUK)
An important way God spoke to Israel was through the prophets. Some spoke in a very down to earth way and others used visions and obscure language. We often think of prophets as people who foretold the future, but that was not the only way that the Old Testament prophets worked. In general, the prophets’ role was to help people understand what it meant to be the people of God, in their particular circumstances. He spoke for God, and he especially tried to get Israel to turn back to God and back to keeping the covenant when they slipped away from him.

‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ 1 Samuel 3:10 (NIVUK)
Do you ever feel that God couldn’t work with you because you’re too old or too young? Maybe there are things in your past that you think disqualify you from participating with God in accomplishing his purposes. Perhaps you feel inadequate to join with him in what he is doing. If that’s you, then take a look at some of the people God worked with in the opening chapters of 1 Samuel.

There was a news report out this week titled ‘Adapt or die’. It was about environmental change, but it could easily have been about the Christian church. Another news item that caught my eye was about St Michael’s church in Bournemouth that is changing its name to St Mike’s.

Then God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, whom you love – Isaac – and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain that I will show you.’ Genesis 22:2 (NIVUK)
Of all the incidents in Abraham’s life taking his son Isaac to be sacrificed on Mount Moriah is probably the most famous; it is the climax of his life. The narrative is intriguing, riveting, and puzzling all at the same time. As a result, it has been a source of debate for centuries as many have tried to uncover the various nuances of the story.

Is football finally coming home for England after 55 years of hurt? With England through to Sunday’s Euro 2020 final their supporters won’t have long to find out.

Last week I had the opportunity to spend some time in St. Ives, Cornwall, enjoying the good weather and the picturesque scenery. This week the area of St. Ives will host some far more prestigious visitors as the G7 Summit is held at the Carbis Bay hotel.

…God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ Galatians 4:6 (NIVUK)

…no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit. …no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3 (NIVUK)

When you think of the gifts of the Holy Spirit what usually comes to mind? Are they the powerfully obvious ones such as healing, miracles, or speaking in tongues? (1 Corinthians 12:9-10). Or are they the ones connected with disseminating the gospel message like teaching and evangelism? (Ephesians 4:11). Maybe it’s the relational gifts like encouraging, being hospitable (Romans 12:8, 13) or simply helping one another (1 Corinthians 12:28). Each one of us is an individual in God’s sight and he has equipped us differently according to who we are, what he purposes for us, and what the needs are within our local community of faith.

Have you ever looked forward to something with great anticipation only to find that when it arrives it’s a bit disappointing? I’ve been watching Line of Duty, a TV programme about rooting out corruption in the police force, since series one. Last Sunday was the final episode of series six in which a corrupt officer, […]

‘…We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved…’ Acts 15:11 (NIVUK)
The Jerusalem Council recorded in Acts 15 is widely recognised as a watershed moment standing at the centre of the book of Acts theologically. Finally the issue of Gentile inclusion into the purposes of God is addressed and resolved.

Did you read in the news this week of an attempted robbery that took place in Augusta, Georgia? At around 4am one morning a hooded man smashed his way into Diablo’s Southwest Grill, grabbed the till, which was empty, and fled.

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him… Luke 23:33 (NIVUK)
The evening was getting worse. Jesus was betrayed. One by one he was abandoned by his disciples and left to face a sham trial alone. He was beaten. Mocked. Ferried between Herod, Pilate and the Sanhedrin. Bound as a common criminal, he was treated no better than an animal. Exhausted, wounded, and humiliated, the Son of God was crucified. He died an agonising, slow and public death, surrounded by mocking enemies, a heartbroken family and a few disciples watching from the edge of the crowd.

‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.’ Luke 16:19-21(NIVUK)

The parable of ‘Lazarus and the Rich Man’ is unique because it is the only parable in which Jesus names one of the characters. This has led many Bible commentators to conclude that this isn’t a parable at all but rather a true story about the nature of the afterlife. But I would suggest that this interpretation of Jesus’s story entirely misses the point. The parables of Jesus frequently used Second Temple Jewish beliefs to challenge his hearers, and this parable is no different.

This week’s celebration of Commonwealth Day included a speech by The Prince of Wales, in which he said,
The essence of the Commonwealth is its remarkable diversity; a family of some 2.4 billion people from 54 nations across 6 continents, whose traditions, knowledge, and talents offer an incomparable richness of ideas and perspectives on the world we share.

As [Jesus]was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Luke 9:29 (NIVUK)
I like watching films that have some twists and turns in them and it can be annoying when someone spoils the dramatic conclusion. So, spoiler alert: can you imagine if we saw Bruce Willis’s widow standing by his graveside at the beginning of the film The Sixth Sense? Or 15 minutes into Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi told Luke Skywalker that his father is Darth Vader? Not a good ploy for filmmakers…