[A ‘Tuesday Challenge’ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during October 2024]
As often happens when preparing these reflections, it starts with a question: “Where do I begin …” Fortunately, the actress Julie Andrews is able to offer some advice:
Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start [1]
For us as Christians (and for everybody else but few admit it) that takes us to the earliest verses of the Bible. (more…)
[A ‘Tuesday Challenge’ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during October 2024]
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.”
Isaiah 43 v12 [NIVUK]
The words above were part of a ‘Verse of the Day’ earlier this week.[1] What do they mean? What are the implications for us? (more…)
[A ‘Tuesday Challenge’ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during October 2024]
During the past few weeks we have been encouraged to think of worship as more than just singing songs on a Sunday morning. We heard five sermons exploring the impacts of a wider concept of worship.[1] Worship should:
No doubt, when we heard those sermons we felt a desire to apply them but now, a few weeks later, has that resolution passed the same way as so many others? In short, do the words that we sing on Sunday still ring true on Tuesday morning? (more…)
[A ‘Tuesday Challenge’ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during October 2024]
Last week we thought about the type of image that might come to mind when we hear mention of ‘God’. Starting in the 12th century, religious art shows a tendency to picture God in a dominant, authoritarian way and this often influences modern thought, but the apostle Paul saw things differently:
He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.
Colossians 1 v15 [AMP]
[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…)
[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]