Discipleship In Challenging Times: Recent Episodes
Cornerstone Baptist Church Leeds
We are living in unprecedented times. What does it mean to live as an authentic disciple of Jesus right now? What might this look like? How can we know his grace and share it with others when physical contact between people is so limited? This daily podcast seeks to apply the Bible to these and other questions. It will include a Bible reading, a reflection, and a prayer. Peter Morden is Team Leader of Cornerstone Baptist Church, Leeds and author of The Message of Discipleship: Authentic Followers Of Jesus In Today's World (IVP, 2018).
Revelations 22:1-5 In the very beginning God said “Let there be light”. His words in this final chapter of the bible are remarkably similar.
Revelations 21:1-8 God calls us to a new spiritual seriousness, and to a new spiritual joy. These things are not contradictory, rather they run together.
Habakkuk 3:16-19 When all around us is failing, how can we still rejoice in the goodness of God?
Philippians 4:10-23 What are these verses primarily about? As we dig into them today we may be in for a surprise.
Philippians 4:1-9 Today we reflect on a spiritual discipline that can transform our lives.
Philippians 3:1-14 Paul is prison but there is a greater reality that defines his life. What is it?
Philippians 2:19-30 Christ first, other second, ourselves third. What happens when we order our priorities in this way?
Philippians 2:1-11 We praise God for these wonderful verses, yet we also recognise that they are an example and a challenge to us.
Philippians 1:27-30 In these times when so much is uncertain our verses give us a firm place upon which to stand.
Philippians 1:12-26 Paul focuses on Christ whatever the consequences, may we feel this challenge as we engage with the bible today.
Philippians 1:3-11 God calls us into relationship with him, but can that relationship be broken.
Philippians 1:1-2 Paul was a great Christian leader and an apostle, but how does he introduce himself to the Philippians.
Ask Believe Cherish, Philipians 4:4-9 We’re reminded of how we can deal with our worries through these wonderful verses in Philippians 4.
God Your Shield, Psalm 3 In our 300th episode we celebrate the fact that God is our shield in the midst of the battle.
Ourselves And Others, Galatians 6:1-10 There seems to be a contradiction at the heart of our verses. How can we square the circles and appreciate the depth of Paul’s teaching?
In With The New, Galatians 5:13-26 (Especially Verse 22) We are called to live resurrection lives in the power of the spirit. These verses point the way.
Out With The Old, Galatians 5:13-26 (Especially Verse 20) Paul shares the secret of how we break the power of sin in our lives. Dealing not just with the symptoms, but with the cause.
Life By Spirit, Galatians 5:13-26 These verses show us the death and resurrection shape of christian living.
Really Free, Galatians 5:1-12 Paul reminds us not to live by the old ways, but to live by the spirit. How will we respond?
Four Ways To Live, Galatians 4:21-31 These wonderful verses apply the gospel to the way we live day by day.
Use The Difficulty, Galatians 4:8-20 How do we respond when difficulties block our path?
How God Sees Us, Galatians 4:1-7 Being heirs in the kingdom of God carries with it extraordinary privileges. Today we look at one.
Looking Back, Galatians 3:26 - 4:7 The reading of a will is often a significant moment, in these verses God tells us who his beneficiaries are and who shares in his inheritance.
Looking Out, Galatians 3:28 We are called to be all one in Christ Jesus. How well do we work out the implications of this in our Christian communities?
Galatians 3:23-29 In the Gospel we are children of God, and have the rights of sons. What a glorious truth this is.
Galatians 2:15-21 How are we saved, and how are we to live? Is it by faith, or by works? Paul gives a very clear answer.
Galatians 1:11-24 One of the central themes of Galatians is that neither religion or irreligion counts for anything. It is faith in Christ that saves us.
Galatians 1:6-10 The Gospel is not a matter of life and death, it’s more serious than that.
International Rescue, Galatians 1:1-5 These verses remind us of the gospel; that it is an international rescue.
Disciples And Doubters, Matthew 28:1-20 The end of our journey through Matthew’s gospel is the beginning of our journey into mission in the power of the spirit.
Open All hours, Matthew 27:45-56 Jesus’ death is deeply moving, it also makes a real and radical relationship with the living God wonderfully possible.
Faithful God, Matthew 26:36-46 We praise God that he is faithful to us in Jesus. Part of that faithfulness is his daily forgiveness.
The Sheep And The Goats, Matthew 25:31-36 Jesus has some serious words to say about the last judgement. How do we know those who will truly be saved.
Be Ready, Matthew 24:36-51 The bible teaches that Jesus will come to us again. Will we be ready?
Getting To The Heart, Matthew 22:34-40 These verses take us to the very heart of Christian discipleship. How will we put them in to practice today?
The Best Wedding Invitation, Matthew 22:1-14 Covid secure weddings have become a feature of this pandemic. God’s wedding banquet is somewhat different.
Weigh Your Words, Matthew 21:21-32 Many of us over promise and under deliver, these verses challenge us.
The Donkey, Matthew 21:1-11 Jesus rides into Jerusalem as our King, but the way that he does this, is not what we might expect.
More Grace, Matthew 20:1-16 We have a God who is generous to us. We rejoice in his amazing grace.
Marriage Matters, Matthew 19:1-12 Jesus gives us profoundly countercultural teaching about marriage and singleness. How is God calling us to respond?
Back To School, Matthew 18:1-9 There are many things we can learn from the way that Jesus values children.
Mountain Mover, Matthew 17:14-21 In these verses we are challenged to have mountain moving faith, but what does this mean?
On This Rock, Matthew 16:13-20 Jesus says to Peter, on this rock I will build my church. But What does this mean? And how is it relevant for us today?
Faith and Faithfulness, Matthew 15:21-28 This passage can easily confuse us. How are we to understand it?
Walking On Water, Matthew 14:22-36 We have heard of the phrase ‘Walk on Water’. Here we see where this originates, and what it means for us today.
Buried Treasure, Matthew 13:44-46 The Kingdom of Heaven is described as buried treasure. How can we discover it?
It’s Not Fair! Matthew 13:10-12 What Jesus says in these verses seems unfair, but in reality they re full of grace.
We Are Family, Matthew 12:46-50, Matthew 15:3-6 Jesus encourages us to honour our natural family, but he also radically redefines what family means.
A Crisis Of Faith, Matthew 11:1-13 Are we going through a crisis of faith in these difficult days? Surprisingly we see that John the Baptist was there before us.
Worthy, Matthew 10:32-39, Luke 14:26 Jesus says that we should hate our close family, what can this possibly mean?
God’s Compassion, Matthew 9:36, 10:28-31 If we feel harassed and helpless, God has a special message for us through his word.
Whoever You Are, Matthew 9:18-26 God Is Love, but who does he show his love to? Our reading today gives us the answer.
A Touch Of Power, Matthew 8:1-4, 14-17 We are rightly practicing social distancing, but we can still receive a touch fo God’s power.
The Proof Of The Pudding, Matthew 7:15-23 Experience is part and parcel of the Christian life, but how do we know if that experience is genuinely from God?
The Antidote To Worry, Matthew 6:19-34 Worry can easily crowd in and blight out lives. Our verses today help us to address this very common issue.
Just Love, Matthew 5:43-48 Here are some of the most challenging words of scripture. How can we hope to fulfil them?
Blessed, Matthew 5:1-12 We have received great blessing from our God, today we hear the call to share that with others.
Resisting Temptation, Matthew 4:1-11 ‘I can resist everything except temptation’. There are resources in this passage to strengthen us for the battle we face.
You Can Change, Matthew 3:1-12 Repentance is one of the key words of the Christian fait, but what does it mean?
Lost & Found, Psalm 31:1-5, 19-20 How Do we feel when we lose something precious to us? And how does God help us?
Ruth 4 The story of Ruth comes to an end, but the story of God’s salvation is still being written all over the world.
Ruth 3 This reading introduces us to a beautiful picture of God’s salvation. How will we respond?
Ruth 2 God is at work in the lives of the people we read about today. How is he at work in our lives?
Ruth 1 We begin a new series on the book of Ruth, how does this ancient yet very contemporary story speak to us today?
Love And Its Opposite, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 ‘Flee sexual immorality’ challenging but vital words from God.
Bitterness Or Forgiveness, Hebrews 12:14-17 Bitterness can be deeply embedded in our lives, our reading today gives hope that it can rooted out.
Looking Back, Looking Forward, 1 Samuel 7:2-12 We praise God for all that is past, and trust him for all that’s to come.
Esther 4:14 Times are tough and we can easily wish we were somewhere else, but maybe God has called us for such a time as this.
Ruth 1:1-18 Ruth gives us a great example of commitment, an example for us to follow today.
Hannah, 1 Samuel 1:1-20 We sometimes talk about prayer from the heart, what does that look like in practice?
Bruised But Not Broken, Isaiah 42:1-9 ‘A bruised reed he will not break’ is a familiar phrase to many, but what does it mean?
Boxing Day Blues, Isaiah 42:1-4 We have come a long way from the original meaning of Boxing Day. What can we learn from its origins?
Happy Christmas! Luke 2:1-20 Happy Christmas to one and all! How might we celebrate this great day?
The Magi, Matthew 2:1-12 Wise men brought their gifts to Jesus, wise men and women still do.
A Special Trust, Luke 1:26-38 Mary was told some news from God that seemed incomprehensible. How did she respond?
Genealogy And Grace, Matthew 1:1-17 Our verses today seem unpromising at first sight, what can we possibly learn from this long list of names?
Seeking, Psalm 27 Have you ever lost something that is precious to you? How did you respond?
Waiting, Psalm 27 Waiting is hard, but we know that we’re called to do it. What attitude should characterise those who wait for the Lord.
Warfare, Psalm 27 Sometimes people say ‘all I can do is pray’. Today we see that prayer is vital work for God.
Safety, Psalm 27 God promises to be our rock, how can this be true in the press of the everyday troubles that we face?
Worship, Psalm 27 Worship has been described as the missing jewel in the lives of many Christians, might this be true for us?
Messiah, Psalm 27 We begin an advent journey through Psalm 27, how does this Psalm speak to of us Jesus?
Small Is Beautiful, Isaiah 11:1-10 In our verses something so small grows to have cosmic significance, can God also use the small things that we offer to him?
A Widening Light, Isaiah 9:1-7 How do we reconcile our verses today with all the injustice that we see around us.
Festival of Lights, Isaiah 9:1-7 We thank God that Jesus was born as a baby at Bethlehem, but what would this child grow up to be?
God’s Searchlight, Isaiah 9:1-7 We rejoice in the ‘searchlight of science’ but is there an even greater light that shines in our darkness?
The Living Word, Hebrews 4:12-13 We think of Jesus as the living word, but in Hebrews 4 we find that description applied to something else.
The Word In Our Neighbourhood, John 1:1-14 Sometimes our mission can be a bit ‘hit and run’. Jesus gives us a better model.
Marx Or Mary, Luke 1:46-56 Karl Marx is one of the most radical political thinkers of all time. But might Mary be even more radical?
The Spectacular Ordinary Life, Luke 1:46-56 You may feel ordinary and insignificant yet you just might be the person that God is about to use.
Point The Way, John 1:29-34 The character of John the Baptist is often spoken of at advent, what can we learn from him?
Advent As Resistance, Psalm 130 What does advent teach us about resisting our prevailing culture?
Advent as Anticipation, Phillipians 3:15-21 We enter the season advent. But what does this mean, and how can we respond?
Catastrophe, 2 Samuel 11:1-17 Money, Sex and Power are the three great temptations, here we see someone falling into the trap. Will we avoid it ourselves?
God's Kindness, 2 Samuel 9 ‘In a world where we can be anything, be kind’. Our reading today helps us to reflect on that statement.
God's People, God's Place, God's Rule, 2 Samuel 5:1-16 God is at work in this passage, and it points forward to something even more wonderful that God was going to do in the future.
Giant Slaying, 1 Samuel 17:1-7, 32-53 This is a well known story, but do we often interpret it in the wrong way?
Open Heart Surgery, 1 Samuel 16:1-13 You might think that open heart surgery is not in the bible. Our reading today challenges that thinking!
The King Of My Heart, 1 Samuel 8:1-9 The people ask for a king, the reason behind their request speaks powerfully to us today.
‘My Heart Rejoices In The Lord’, 1 Samuel 2:1-10 Hannah trusts in God in challenging times, and God responds. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Grace For You, Luke 22:7-20 Do you have full assurance for Jesus’ love for you? This reflection points the way.
God’s Promise, Matthew 26:17-30 The message of the bible is that God loves us deeply, but how do we know it’s true?
Something's Wrong, John 8:12-20 We live in times that are difficult. How are we called to respond as followers of Jesus?
Love Is God, 1 John 4 Many of us have heard the phrase, 'God Is Love', but it is also accurate to say 'Love Is God'.
Kingdom Values, Luke 10:25-37 Jesus' story about the samaritan takes us deeper into the values of God's kingdom.
Kingdom Come, Mark 4:26-34 The kingdom of God is central to Jesus' ministry, but how are we to understand it?
The Sower And The Seed, Mark 3-4 Do we sometimes write people off, thinking they will never believe? Jesus' words encourage us to change our thinking.
The Parable Of The Soils, Mark 4 We begin a new series on the parables of Jesus. Will we listen to what He has to say?
Dealing With Delay, Luke 17:11-19 There in resurrection power in the name of Jesus. But he doesn’t always answer prayer in the way – and in the time – we hope for. How do we deal with the situation when we pray, yet there is delay and disappointment?
Power In Jesus' Name, Mark 5:21-43 Jesus has amazing power. Will we reach out to him and receive?
Two-Hundred! Psalm 48 200 not out! This episode includes a call to meditate on God’s amazing love, and a song from Ed and Sophie Borrett in celebration.
Priorities, Mark 1:29-45 Many people were flocking to see Jesus the healer. Jesus’ response to the crowds may surprise us.
Do You See? Mark 8:22-23 The two-stage miracle we read about today seems strange. What does it mean and how can we apply it?
The Miracle Of Salvation, John 6:1-15; 35 This final reflection from John 6 focuses on the greatest miracle of them all.
The Miracle Of Multiplication, John 6:1-15 Often we feel we don’t have much to offer to God. If this is us, our reading today contains some amazing good news.
The Miracle Of God's Provision, John 6:1-15 We begin a new series looking at some of the miracles of Jesus. As Jesus feeds the 5000, we see the miracle of God’s provision. Wonderfully, he provides for us too.
360-Degree Devotion, 1 Corinthians 16:13-24 Paul’s call to commitment brings this great letter to a fitting close. How will we respond?
Love In Action, 1 Corinthians 16:1-12 When we think of love and 1 Corinthians many of us automatically think of chapter 13. But chapter 16 is just as important.
The Death of Death, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 We respond do our wonderful future hope with heartfelt praise. But is anything else required of us?
Body Confident, 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 Paul shows us how we can face the ‘last enemy’, death itself.
Future Proofed, 1 Corinthians 15:25-34 Paul’s comments about ‘baptism for the dead’ have been much debated. What does he mean and how should we respond?
Sure Hope, 1 Corinthians 15:12-24 If we truly know our future then our life in the present will be transformed. These are verses which fill us with transforming life and hope.
Solid Ground, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 We have firm foundations for our faith. Will we take our stand on them?
Worship Matters, 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 To say ‘good order in worship is important’ doesn’t sound very exciting. But for Paul, it’s vitally important.
Follow The Way Of Love, 1 Corinthians 13:1-25 We pick up where we left off in our journey through 1 Corinthians. Love is to shape all we do, including the way we use spiritual gifts.
The Celestial City, Revelations 21 The pilgrims approach the ‘Celestial City’, but to reach it they have to cross the ‘river of death’. Christian shrinks back. Will he make it across?
Wrong Way Go Back, Psalm 1 The two pilgrims Christian and Faithful decide whether to take the ‘narrow way’ or the ‘broad way’. Which is the right path, and which will they choose?
Standing With The Persecuted, 2 Timothy 4:6-8 We hear today of the martyrdom of one of Bunyan’s characters, called ‘Faithful’. Will we remember those around the world who are being faithful under persecution today?
EP 182 | Vanity Fair, 2 Timothy 3:1-9 The pilgrims face persecution. We are encourage to keep going under our own difficulties, and pray for those who face persecution for their faith around the world today.
The 'Hill Difficulty' And The Roaring Lions, John 14:6-14 We are called to walk a difficult path as Christian disciples. But it’s by staying on track that we know God’s protection.
Christian Loses His Burden At The Cross, Romans 5:6-9 At the cross God deals with our ‘burden of sin’. Today’s reading helps us see how complete God’s forgiveness is.
Through The Wicket Gate, Acts 16:25-33 We pause our studies in 1 Corinthians to look at some scenes from John Bunyan’s spiritual classic Pilgrim’s Progress. Here the pilgrim begins his relationship with Jesus.
Love Never Fails, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 This great chapters shows us that Christ-shaped Spirit-inspired love will endure when other things have ceased.
EP 177 | Body Positive, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 All of us have a part to play in the church and in God’s purposes for the world. There are no exceptions.
The Common Good, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 Why have we been given spiritual gifts? For our own benefit? Or is there another reason?
Not The Lord's Supper, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 The Corinthians were not celebrating the Lord’s Supper well and were called to ‘examine themselves’. What was it they were doing so badly wrong?
EP 174 | Respect, 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 These are controversial verses. A right understanding of them challenges all of us.
Challenge To Change, 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1 We return to look at 1 Corinthians. Expect to be challenged especially about our relationships with others.
God's Got This, Psalm 25 God ‘confides’ in us. It’s a wonderful thought, but what does it mean?
The Advance, Psalm 18:25-36 God calls us to advance for him. But we are not alone. He is with us every step of the way.
The Retreat, Psalm 18 In these challenging times sometimes we have to ‘retreat’ in order to regroup and go on the advance again. This Psalm reassures us God holds us in those times.
Which Path? 2 Timothy 4:9-22 These verses introduce us to a colourful cast of characters. What might Paul say about if he had known us?
Eyes On The Prize, 2 Timothy 4:6-8 Paul approaches the end of his life knowing he’s run the ‘race’ of discipleship well. In these verses he shares his secret with us.
EP 167 | A Manifesto For The Times, 2 Timothy 4:1-5 Our reading today contains a verse which is a manifesto for our times.
The Bible's True Nature, 2 Timothy 3:14-17 In these famous verses we see the Bible’s true nature. Will we live under its life-giving power?
EP 165 | What Godliness Lead To, 2 Timothy 3:10-13 ‘All those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.’ This challenging verse invites us to follow the way of our Lord who went to the cross for us.
A Serious Warning, 2 Timothy 3:1-9 We return to our reflections on 2 Timothy with a serious warning: following Jesus is not easy. It is however incredibly worthwhile.
Someone To Confide In, Psalm 25:14-22 God confides in us. This is an extraordinary thought, suggesting a deep intimacy with a holy God. Is this really on offer for us?
EP 162 | The Corona Virus Prayer, Psalm 25:14-22 God calls us to pray for our nation. This reflection draws on a prayer from Pete Grieg and 24/7 prayer to help us do this.
Cover Me, Psalm 25:16-22 Face coverings are important for us right now. Even more important is the fact God ‘covers’ us in times of trouble.
The Way Ahead, Psalm 25.4-15 The way ahead looks increasingly challenging in these coronavirus times. Is there a ‘fixed point’ we can look to so we can navigate the journey ahead?
EP 159 | Forget Me Not? Psalm 25:4-7 How do you want to be remembered? This psalm gives a powerful twist of the themes of forgetting and remembering.
EP 158 | Beacons Of Hope, Psalm 25:1-11 God calls us to be people of faith, and beacons of hope for others. How will you share the hope of God with those that you meet today?
Promise Keeper, Psalm 25:1-3 Trust and hope are so important at the moment. But is God really trustworthy or will our hope in him lead to disappointment?
EP 156 | The Right Path, 2 Timothy 2:20-26 What we believe really matters, but how we instruct others matters just as much.
EP 155 | Belief and Behaviour, 2 Timothy 2.14-19 Which of ‘belief’ and ‘behaviour’ is more important? Or are they equally important and closely linked?
Live Differently, 2 Timothy 2.14-19 God is faithful to us. That’s the glory of the gospel. But that same gospel also empowers us to live differently.
He Remains Faithful, 2 Timothy 2:11-13 What happens when we lack faith or struggle as disciples? Will God abandon us? This reading brings us glorious good news.
Love for People, 2 Timothy 2:8-10 We are to find our joy in God and the gospel, but our joy won’t be complete until we share it with others.
The Secret of Suffering Well, 2 Timothy 2:8-10 Discipleship involves suffering as well as joy. Paul and Jesus are both explicit regarding this. So what’s the secret of not only surviving but also thriving in the midst of suffering?
EP 150 | Pass it On, 2 Timothy 2.1-7 We have something precious which has been passed down to us. It is now our responsibility to pass it on to others.
EP 149 |The One Thing you Lack, 2 Timothy 1.15-18 There are many moral people in our world. But according to God’s word they lack one thing.
EP 148 | Guard the Gospel, 2 Timothy 19-14 People say ‘It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere’. But is this true? Paul challenges us to guard the gospel.
EP 147 | A Higher Power, 2 Timothy 1.6-8 We have images of power which include military might and muscle bound weightlifters. Paul also talks about power, but the image he uses is rather different.
EP 146 | Let your Light Shine, 2 Timothy 1.6-8 God has given us spiritual gifts to use in his service. Today we’re encouraged to ‘fan them into flame’.
EP 145 | Family Matters, 2 Timothy 1.3-5 Our verses introduce us to two great women of God. How can we learn from their example?
EP 144 | Those who Stand and Wait…. 2 Timothy 1.1-5 What does the image of a waiter in restaurant have to do with Christian discipleship?
EP 150 | Pass it On, 2 Timothy 2.1-7 We have something precious which has been passed down to us. It is now our responsibility to pass it on to others.
EP 143 | Famous Last Words, 2 Timothy 1.1-2 We begin a new series on 2 Timothy today. The book contains Paul’s ‘famous last words’ and he chooses them well.
The Discipline of Service, Mark 10.35-45 ‘If you live in complete solitude, whose feet will you wash?’ This comment, from an ancient spiritual writer, encourages us to consider the discipline of service.
The Discipline Of Mission, Acts 1:6-11 Mission doesn’t sound like a discipline, but it is. Our reading today points the way for us.
Pilgrims Or Tourists? Hebrews 11:8-12 30th August is John Bunyan Day. We reflect on his example and how it speaks to us today.
Life In The Slow Lane, Exodus 20:8-11 Life in the slow lane? It may sound attractive but is it possible?
EP 138 | The Simple Life, Mark 8 T.S. Elliot once said that people are ‘distracted from distraction by distraction’. How can we simplify, as matter of justice and a spiritual discipline that draws us closer to Jesus?
EP 137 | Fasting and Feasting, Mathew 9.14-17 Are you hungry for God? Don’t miss out on the neglected spiritual discipline of fasting.
EP 136 | Meeting with God And One Another, Hebrews 10. 19-25 We meet with God one to one, but Christian discipleship is not something we work out in isolation.
One to one with God, Matthew 6.5-8 The time you spend with God one to one is vitally important. This reading points the way.
The Long And The Short Of It, Psalm 117 / 119.161-68 (esp. 164) Today we look at the shortest Psalm and the longest Psalm! If we want the joy of Psalm 117, we have to engage with the discipline of Psalm 119.
Finding the Way, 1 Corinthians 10.31 – 11.1 We begin a new series on the spiritual disciplines. If we are to imitate Jesus’ way of life, we quite simply have to reckon with this neglected theme.
EP 132 | Level Up, Colossians 3.22-25 Accountant or Church Minister? Which occupation is more important to God? What if the answer is that they’re equally significant?
The Meaning of Love, 1 John 3.11-18 Love is… what? These crucial verses help us understand and respond to true Christian love.
EP 130 | On the Move, Genesis 12.1-9 God is working his purposes out. Amazingly, he uses us to fulfil them.
EP 129 | Blessed! Genesis 12.1-9 God chooses us and blesses us. We rejoice, but we recognise also we are called for a purpose. This is the message both of the Old Testament and the New.
What’s in a name? Genesis 11.1-8; 12.1-3 We waste our time when we pursue selfish ambition. God has other, much more wonderful, plans for us.
EP 127 | Twice Faithful, Genesis 8.15-22 God is faithful, in creation and salvation. How will you respond to his faithfulness today?
God of Grace, Genesis 6.5-10 Sometimes people assume there is little grace in the OT. But actually it’s a book of grace from first to last. Take God’s dealings with Noah as an example…
Walking with God, Gen 5.1-29 Living in difficult times, Enoch still ‘walked with God’. these verses encourage us to do the same.
The Blame Game, Genesis 3.1-16 These foundational verses show us the reality of sin, but they also point to an even greater reality, that of God’s grace.
Our Potential and Our Frailty, Genesis 1.26-31; 2.7 We’re sometimes told it’s better to burn out than to rust out! This may be true, but is there a better, more biblical way to live? These early chapters of Genesis show us the answer.
122 The Glory of God, Mark 10.35-45 The glory of God sounds wonderful, and it is! But James and John really didn’t know what they were asking when they came to Jesus in our verses today. Jesus response to them reveals something profound about where his glory is to be found.
The God of Surprises, Luke 1.25-38 The incarnation, God made man and born of a woman, is surely the greatest surprise God has ever sprung on humanity! How is God surprising us in our lives today? And what if we responded not with a barrage of questions, but with quite obedience and trust?
The God Who Sees And Hears, Gen 16.1-13 When we are in distress our God sees us hears us. We can rely on him.
Here I am, Jeremiah 1.1-14 (esp. vs7-8) We can be called, recognise we’re equipped, but still feel afraid. This reflection will hopefully help us to say a resounding ‘Here I am’ to our God.
The God who calls, Jeremiah 1.1-14 God calls us to be Jesus’ disciples and within that overarching and universal call there are specific things he gives us to do. But what if we recognise we’re called for something but feel inadequate for the task? Jeremiah faced this dilemma himself…
Responding to the Faithful God, Lamentations 3.19-27 God faithfully shows his love to us, a truth that is perfectly fulfilled in Jesus. But what if we’re in the same position as Jeremiah? What if we recognise God is faithful, yet struggle to see this in our current circumstances? These verses from Lamentations 3 show us how to respond when we’re ‘waiting’ for God to do something.
The Faithful God, Lamentations 3:19-27 God is faithful. That's wonderful phrase! But what does it mean?