[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during June 2026]
After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise.
Joshua 10 v9 [NIVUK]
In 1405BC, the route from Gilgal (near Jericho in the Jordan River valley) to Gibeon (in the central Judean highlands) was a gruelling, uphill march of approximately 15 to 20 miles. So why did he do it? And who are ‘them’?
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[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.
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[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during January 2026]
Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready
Joshua 1 v2 [NIVUK]
Miriam had died, Aaron had died and now Moses had died. The three siblings who had led the exodus from Egypt and the journey through the wilderness had gone. What would happen now?
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[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during September 2025]
Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away.[1]
Do you know what time it is? A seemingly straightforward question for which a glance at a nearby screen or timepiece should provide a simple answer. However, as our opening quotation might suggest, there is more to it than that.
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[This reflection by Dazz Jones was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 31/Aug/2025]
Have you ever stood at the edge of something new and felt your stomach twist with nerves? A new school year, a new job, a difficult conversation, or even just a season of life that feels unfamiliar. In moments like these, we might ask ourselves: Do I have what it takes?
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[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during July 2025]
Martin opened Sunday’s message in ‘Yours’[1] with the line “God Provides – Then and Now”. I wonder how many other people first read it – as I did – as “God Provides, Now and Then”? Such mis-readings can start a train of thought which can be the inspiration for a reflection. Other triggers may be a Bible verse, a line from a hymn, a portion of a sermon or even some secular event. The original thought may, or may not, make it into the final text – very often the reflection evolves along a course somewhat different from that initially anticipated.
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