Two weeks ago, at our evening service, I felt led to speak on identity and who we are in Christ. I believe this is a fundamental issue for us all to grapple with and so have summarised some of the talk below. I pray that it is of real comfort and encouragement to you. We live in a world dominated and yet…

This morning we will be studying Matthew’s account of the transfiguration of Jesus (17v1-13).  This was truly an awesome experience for Peter, James and John as they glimpsed something of the glory of the Lord.  Let me highlight two, perhaps subsidiary, aspects to this remarkable event: Jesus’ temptation – John Stott has pointed out that, if Jesus’ transfigured body was effectively His…

We give thanks today for the ‘harvest’ although, of course, we are blessed here in the UK being able to enjoy each day, throughout the year, the fruits of the global harvest.  Sadly, many across the world go hungry – yet we continue to have access to an abundance of food.  Such abundance reflects God’s bountiful provision – there is more than…

Have you ever wanted God to ‘write on the wall’ with very clear guidance for your life?  This expression comes from Daniel 5 when King Belshazzar of Babylon sees the fingers of a human hand writing a very clear message to him from God, which Daniel then interpreted to him.  Note that in this case God’s message was actually one of Divine…

In Acts 4v23-31 Peter and John report back to the early church that they have been forbidden to speak about Jesus.  Immediately they all “raised their voices together in prayer to God” and asked the Lord for His power to speak His word with great boldness!  The threats and opposition of the religious authorities didn’t in any way deter or discourage them…

I’m reading Timothy Keller’s book “Walking with God through pain and suffering” and, although only part-way through, would really recommend you read it (– in fact anything by Keller is good!).  Gill and Marcelle have recently read it and both found it very helpful. Future bulletin articles may draw further from this book but in the opening chapters Keller examines how suffering…

We have returned safely after a wonderful holiday in France, enjoying great weather, beautiful scenery and very good food.  Talking of food you may be aware that many French restaurants offer the choice of a Menu Formule or various options from an A La Carte menu.  The Menu Formule is a fixed price menu for either two or three courses, with limited…

We often use the words above when saying goodbye to someone – we want them to keep safe, to drive carefully etc.  It’s interesting, however, how words can change their use or meaning over time – for instance the KJV translates Paul’s opening words in Philippians 4v6: “Be careful for nothing”.  Paul is actually talking about anxious care and worry, so the…

Were you struck by Wednesday’s headlines about the awful fires in Greece?  The flames were described as Biblical and apocalyptic – but why would newspaper editors immediately associate deadly fire with the Bible? In many ways such associations may seem to be appropriate.  The Bible contains several stories about fire – we may think, for example, of the burning bush (Exodus 3),…

I was particularly struck at our Wednesday evening homegroup by these words within our study passage, Numbers 14v1-25: “If the Lord is pleased with us, He will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us” (v8).  These were the words of Joshua and Caleb to the whole Israelite assembly when they pleaded…