An Image of God

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge’ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during September 2024]

You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
Deuteronomy 5 v11 [NLT]

How do you react when someone mentions God in your presence? Do you ignore it, dismissing it as blasphemy or ignorance, or does some sort of image come to mind? Perhaps you recall that mankind was made in the image of God but, as we look around at the various shapes and sizes of people, we feel inclined to be somewhat selective in trying to reimagine God. (more…)

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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Why Do Penguins Huddle?

[This reflection by Brian Alton was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 22/Sep/2024]

A Chicago citizen once told evangelist D.L. Moody that he (the citizen) could be just as good a Christian outside a church community as inside it. In response, Moody pointed to a fireplace where coals were blazing fiercely. He removed one coal from the fire, which gradually lost its glow, until it was completely cold. The analogy drawn from this is that it is important to be together in a church community as Jesus followers, so that we don’t lose our ‘glow’. It is inevitable that one’s faith will grow cold without being among other ‘Followers of the Way’. (more…)

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Contributor: Brian Alton
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A Wanderful Time

[A devotional reflection originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during September 2024]

Prayer presents us with a wonderful opportunity, to acknowledge the magnitude of God, to glorify his name, to praise him for salvation, to thank him for all his blessings and to invite him to continue to help us.

Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
Psalm 141 v2 [ESVUK]

(more…)

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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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What Makes a Church Beautiful?

[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 15/Sep/2024]

Recently I was on holiday in Wales with my sister Jean and son David. Jean was keen to attend a local service, so we looked up the parish church online. All the reviews described it as a beautiful church, with particular reference to the stained-glass windows. (more…)

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Contributor: Helen Ruffhead
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Write On

[A devotional reflection originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during September 2024]

A recent comment on one of our earlier reflections posed a question: I was interested to know how you center yourself and clear your mind before writing? I’ve had a hard time clearing my mind in getting my ideas out. I do enjoy writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes tend to be wasted. Perhaps this is an appropriate time to revisit the purpose for these reflections and explain how they come into reality.[1] (more…)

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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Stepping Forward: Making Space

[This reflection by Martin Shorey was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 08/Sep/2024]

Stepping Forward: Making Space for Those Yet to Come

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2 v3-4

I’m reflecting on this passage the morning after our church meeting, where we voted to trial two services on Sunday mornings. The discussions leading up to this decision were long and involved, but at the core of it all is a desire to remove barriers for those seeking God through our Sunday services. (more…)

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Contributor: Martin Shorey
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