[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 06/Sep/2026]
A few weeks ago we looked at God the Father in our sermon series. When Jesus talked about God as Father he was showing how intimately God knows us and loves us. In a recent article, Dazz shared how being a father had helped him to understand more of God’s love for him. I found the same when I became a parent.
(more…)
[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during August 2026]
God called the dry ground ‘land’, and the gathered waters he called ‘seas’. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1 v10 [NIVUK]
In many parts of the northern hemisphere, August is considered a holiday month. The areas where the land and the sea meet are often very popular with holidaymakers with their visions of sandy beaches, calm waves and refreshing breezes. Hoteliers, caterers and ice-cream vendors exploit those attractions knowing that their customers will not count the cost until they get home.
(more…)
[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during August 2026]
And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years’. God made two great lights – the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night.
Genesis 1 v14,16 [NIVUK]
One day last week a large proportion of the population of western Europe spent the evening staring at the sun. They were expecting to see the sun disappear, hopefully only temporarily. Such was the anticipation of this event that some hotels in Spain and Iceland were booked as long as four years ago.
(more…)
[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during June 2026]
And when the south wind blows, you say, “It’s going to be hot,” and it is.
Luke 12 v55 [NIVUK]
In the northern hemisphere the longest daily period of daylight hours has passed and, although we may not notice it yet, the evenings are starting their slow transition to winter darkness.
(more…)
[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during February 2026]
And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.
Joshua 2 v1 [ESVUK]
Is it not a little curious that these two men should choose such a place for their overnight stay? Surely, it is not what we would expect from men who were undertaking a mission from God.
(more…)
[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during November 2025]
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark
John 20 v1 [NIVUK]
Have you ever noticed how often God works in the dark? We live in a non-stop world with cities that never sleep, with systems operational 24-7 and with people constantly on the move. Yet it all began in the dark.
(more…)