Category: ‘Tuesday Challenge’

A Domestic Dilemma

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during August 2025]

About two months ago[1] we considered the impact that the news of Israel’s defeat by the Philistines in 1070BC had had on Eli, the high priest at that time. Israel’s most important religious artefact had been captured and two of Eli’s sons had perished in the battle. Their deaths were a punishment for the disreputable way in which they had discharged their responsibilities as priests.
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Knowledge is Strength

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during August 2025]

The people that do know their God shall be strong.
Daniel 11 v32 [KJV]

When we think of the book of Daniel it is likely that we think of lions who lost their appetite, three fire-resistant fellows or a statue with fractured feet. Indeed, even people with little or no knowledge of the Bible will probably recognise those events, but what of the rest of the book? How many of us who claim to be familiar with the Old Testament know much about the content of chapters 7 to 12?
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Speaking of the Future

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during August 2025]

Last week we took a brief look at the prophecy of Amos, one of the minor prophets whose accounts are included in the second half of the Old Testament. The term ‘minor’ relates to the lengths of the books that bear their names; it certainly does not signify that their messages were of any lesser importance.

Are we often tempted to dismiss these minor prophecies as being largely historical and not relevant to our time? A few of the stories, such as the scandal of Hosea’s wife or Jonah attempting to sail off into the sunset, may catch our attention but are we at risk of missing the messages that the rest of these texts may have for us?
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Past, Present, Future

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during July 2025]

The Wikipedia entry for today[1] attributes the destruction of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem to this date in 587BC. Solomon’s Temple was a magnificent structure, described in detail in the books of I Kings and II Chronicles. For several centuries it served as the focal point for the worship of God in Israel.

But the good times did not last. Moses instructed the Israelites to teach the laws of God to their children and their children’s children[2] but, as the years passed, the sincerity and enthusiasm of earlier generations gave way to formality, indifference and eventual neglect. Can we recognise a similar pattern in more modern times?
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Shouldn’t, Couldn’t, Wouldn’t

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during July 2025]

I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Acts 26 v9 [ESVUK]

Saul of Tarsus was convinced that he was working for God, that he was doing what God wanted him to do. Later in his life he came to realise that he should not be doing what he had been doing. Are there times when we too are surprised by the realisation that what we think we are doing for God is not actually what he wants us to do?
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Thanks – a Lot!

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during July 2025]

Thanksgiving is not simply an event; it is a lifestyle of returning, rejoicing and remembering the goodness of God.
Rev Alfred Kaire [1]

As Christians we live with an anticipation of God’s blessings but how often do we thank him in advance? With the exception of the traditional mealtime grace – “For what are about to receive …” – we are usually content to look back and give thanks for the blessings that we have received but neglect to to thank him for those blessings that we are yet to recognise.
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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