CCBC

Posts from 2017

Advent love – 24 December 2017

The traditional theme of this fourth and final Sunday of Advent is love.  This is rightly the climax of Advent when we remember and celebrate again that “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3v16).  The hope, peace and joy that we experience…

Advent joy – 17 December 2017

The traditional theme of this third Sunday of Advent is joy.  The angel told the shepherds that he brought them “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2v10).  Timothy Keller writes that such joy is not “a fizziness or giddiness that goes away in the face of negative circumstances.  It is more like the ballast that…

Advent peace – 10 December 2017

The theme of this second Sunday of Advent is traditionally peace.  It has been said that the way to achieve inner peace is to finish things you’ve started – one person claimed they were well on the way to such peace having finished one evening two bags of crisps, a strawberry cheesecake, a packet of biscuits, a bottle of coke and a…

Advent hope – 3 December 2017

Today marks the beginning of Advent – the lovely season building up to Christmas Day.  The theme of this first Sunday of Advent is traditionally hope.  Christian hope is very different from what the world describes as “hoping for the best” – for instance in regard to the weather, health, football results, even world peace.  By way of contrast, and as defined…

Little by little

I have been overwhelmed by the concern, casseroles, cards and communications I have received as a result of the extremely serious / excruciating / unbearable (delete one or more (or all)) gout I have been suffering in my right foot.  One or two may be relieved / exhilarated / disappointed (again delete whichever doesn’t apply) to hear that I believe I have…

The shadow and the real thing

The Wednesday homegroup has now reached chapter 8 in its studies in the letter to the Hebrews and we were particularly blessed last week to consider the similarities and yet stunning differences between the Old Covenant under Moses and the New Covenant in Christ.  The Life Application Study Bible has a very helpful table illustrating the ‘shadow’ and the ‘reality’, together with…

In our / His thoughts – 12 November 2017

We remember again this weekend all those who have died or been injured in warfare since the First World War.  This year our remembrance is particularly poignant as it is the 100th anniversary of the three month Battle of Passchendaele, with the final assault taking place on 10 November 1917.  For many, the name Passchendaele symbolises the ‘Great War’ in one word…

Spiritual Spa Treatment – 5 November 2017

This morning we will be studying together Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 11v20-30 including His wonderful, gracious invitation in v28-30: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My…

The reformed church – 29 October

On Tuesday 31 October, while some will be ‘celebrating’ Halloween, many will be remembering the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, supposedly launched when Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany.  I say supposedly because there is no real evidence for this (after all B&Q hadn’t yet been established).  What did happen is that on 31 October 1517…

Still waiting – 22 October

I had hoped that I would be announcing the birth of our second grandchild – but we (and especially Fiona) are still waiting.  It is true that we are closer than we’ve ever been, but this may not be the greatest consolation! Paul, however, does write in a similar vein to the Romans – “our salvation is nearer now than when we…