CCBC

Bulletin Message (Page 9)

Human Contact – 20 March 2022

Two hundred years ago, French scientists observed a strange creature, human-like, running through the nearby forests. Naturally, local villagers had their own explanations, usually involving some form of monster looking to prey on the weak and vulnerable. The scientists managed to capture the creature only to discover it was actually an eleven-year-old boy who had been abandoned to run wild through the…

Seeing is Believing – 13 March 2022

Have you heard of the phrase ‘seeing is believing’? The stoic philosopher and Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius had a saying that is slightly different; “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” The essence is that we have a tendency to believe, only, what we see and hear. The quest for truth…

“How long, O Lord?” – 6 March 2022

The unfolding horrific events in Ukraine have, no doubt, appalled us all. You may have echoed David’s question above at the beginning of Psalm 13 – “How long, O Lord?” – will You not step in and end this awful suffering and wickedness? Of course, tragically, Ukraine is just one of many areas of violent conflict around the world and we may…

Being a Witness – 27 February 2022

At some point, you may have had to give a witness statement on a car accident or some other incident. You seem to have to repeat over and over again to the police, to the lawyers, to the insurance people what you saw. What you’re not expected to explain is the mechanisms of injury, the details of the trauma, or other details…

Sincerely Held Beliefs – 20 February 2022

There are many reasons people have to reject the teachings of Jesus. In my opinion, one of the most offensive aspects of Jesus’ teachings for Western culture is His claims of exclusivity. Exclusivity isn’t unique to Christianity of course, but it stands in direct opposition to the constant promotion of inclusivity. The idea is this; Jesus says “I am the way, and…

The smallest of margins – 13 February 2022

Are you enjoying watching the Winter Olympics? My only experience of ‘being on the ice’ was many years ago visiting Streatham Ice Rink with our church youth group in London. It was a most terrifying – and expensive – experience: I clung for dear life to the side rail for the 10 yards between 2 openings onto the ice and then hung…

By Faith – 6 February 2022

As a Homegroup we’re coming to the end of our series studying the book of Hebrews. This week we read chapter 11:1-40 which is fondly referred to as the Christian Hall of Fame. It’s a terrific section of Scripture and if you have time this morning I would encourage you to have a read of it yourself. The chapter itself contains a…

The Breath Prayer – 30 January 2022

As we continue through this special month of prayer I came across a very helpful prayer in the latest Baptists Together magazine. During this morning’s service we will be looking at Jesus’ wonderful promise in Luke 11v13: “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give…

A Calm and Quieted Soul – 23 January 2022

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvellous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. Psalm 131: 1,2 Do you have questions of God?…

Power for Patience – 16 January 2022

We’ve all smiled at the ‘prayer’: “Lord, give me patience, and give it to me now”.  Our Bible passage this morning includes Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1v11 that the Christians at Colosse would be “strengthened with all power according to [God’s] glorious might so that [they] may have great endurance and patience”.  Perhaps we might expect that, being strengthened with such mighty…